Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Area residents often refer to all of Lawrence Township as Lawrenceville
. Lawrenceville is a census-designated place
and unincorporated area located within Lawrence Township. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the Postal Service
(which is in Lawrenceville) instructs many Lawrence Township residents to use Lawrenceville, Princeton
or Trenton
in their mailing address, and not Lawrence Township.
of 2000, there were 29,159 people, 10,797 households, and 7,233 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,317.0 people per square mile (508.5/km²). There were 11,180 housing units at an average density of 504.9 per square mile (195.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 79.22% White, 9.28% African American, 0.08% Native American, 7.91% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.79% from other races
, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.
There were 10,797 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $67,959, and the median income for a family was $82,704 (these figures had risen to $81,718 and $100,506 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $56,681 versus $38,468 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $33,120. About 2.6% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
form of municipal government. The township is governed by a Council consisting of a Mayor
and four Council Members who are elected at-large
in partisan elections to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election every other year. The Mayor is selected by the Council from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting to serve a term of one year.
, the Lawrence Township Council consists of
Mayor
Greg Puliti,
Bob Bostock,
Jim Kownacki,
Pam Mount and
Michael Powers.
The Township's Municipal Manager is Richard S. Krawczun.
Recent mayors of Lawrence Township include:
New Jersey Lottery
is headquartered in the One Lawrence Park Complex in Lawrence Township.
serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are four elementary schools —
Eldridge Park Elementary (K-3; 240 students)
Ben Franklin Elementary (PreK-3; 448)
Lawrenceville Elementary (PreK-3; 375)
Slackwood Elementary (PreK-3; 264) —
Lawrence Intermediate School (4-6; 877),
Lawrence Middle School
(7-8; 588) and
Lawrence High School
(9-12; 1,158). Students from Robbinsville Township (known as Washington Township until 2007) had attended Lawrence High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship
which ended with the final group of seniors who graduated in the 2006-07 school year.
Lawrence Township is home to two parochial schools operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton
: Notre Dame High School is a coeducation
al, Roman Catholic
, college preparatory school
for students in grades 9-12; and Saint Ann School, which serves 341 students in pre-3 through eighth grade.
Lawrenceville is home to the Lawrenceville School
, a coeducational, independent boarding school
for grades 9-12, founded in 1810.
Rider University
is a private university with its main campus just south of Lawrenceville.
While not educating anyone particularly, Lawrence Townships most notable involvement in education is being the headquarters location for the Education Testing Service ("ETS"); see section on "Business" below.
in West Jersey
. The township was named by the early Quaker
settlers after Maidenhead
, a Thames River
village west of London
. It became part of the newly-created Hunterdon County
on March 11, 1714. Maidenhead Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on February 21, 1798.
On January 24, 1816, the municipality was renamed Lawrence Township, in honor of Captain James Lawrence
— commander of the frigate USS Chesapeake
and one of the naval heroes of the War of 1812
— best known for his dying command of "Don't Give up the Ship." Lawrence Township became part of Mercer County at its creation on February 22, 1838. Portions of the township were taken to form Millham Township
(February 10, 1882, annexed by Trenton
in 1888).
On September 23, 2003, at approximately 8:25am, an F1
tornado
ripped through Lawrence Township. The tornado followed a path along Princeton Pike and caused widespread damage to homes. There were no fatalities.
Quaker Bridge Mall
is a two-level, indoor shopping center located in Lawrenceville on U.S. 1, near Interstate 295. The mall opened in 1975, and has over 100 retail establishments. The mall's anchor store
s include J.C. Penney
, Lord & Taylor
, Macy's
, Sears
and Old Navy
. The mall has a gross leasable area
of 1,102,000 ft².
The business district of Lawrenceville is small, but stable. The Lawrence Shopping Center and other businesses along U.S. Route 1
provide additional commercial clusters in the township.
The transmitter for WKXW-FM
, better known as New Jersey 101.5, is located near the Quaker Bridge Mall.
The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville is home to one of the nine ESF Summer Camp locations. These camps are located in five different states in the mid-Atlantic. The camp has won multiple awards for safety. The camp offers activities for ages 4 to 16 and offers a variety of activities including an all-sports camp.
and Interstate 295, describe a semicircle through Lawrence. The Interstate route numbers change at the highway's intersection with U.S. Route 1
, the other major highway bisecting the municipality. U.S. 1 is in effect three different roads: the original route from Trenton to New Brunswick
in the southern half of the Township, the limited access Trenton Freeway, and the combined road in the northern half that serves as a regional arterial linking the Interstates with New Brunswick
and Route 18. U.S. Route 206
is the main artery within the township itself, running from Trenton to Princeton roughly north-to-south. It is a segment of the historic Lincoln Highway
, and before that, it was part of the main New York-Philadelphia Post road. Locals refer to it alternately as Route 206 or Lawrence Road. Major county routes that pass through include County Route 533
, County Route 546
and County Route 569
.
Lawrence Township is famous for the "abrupt ending" of Interstate 95
. This resulted from politics in Somerset County that eliminated its planned connection of the Somerset Freeway to Interstate 287
. When driving on I-95 north while approaching the interchange for U.S. Route 1, the 95 designation abruptly ends and the highway turns south and becomes Interstate 295. Motorists are then forced to find an alternate route, either by taking US 1 north, or (are directed by signs) to take Interstate 295 south to the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195)
east and to the New Jersey Turnpike
(the continuation of Interstate 95) at Exit 7A in Robbinsville Township.
The busy Northeast Corridor
rail line, carrying Amtrak
and New Jersey Transit
trains, runs along the eastern edge of the township. The nearest stations are at Hamilton
and Princeton Junction
.
A rail spur used to run to Lawrenceville from Trenton, but was discontinued in the 1970s and is now a bicycle trail. From Lawrenceville, a trolley line to Princeton existed from 1900 to 1941, but was dismantled before World War II
, and the right-of-way largely has reverted to neighboring landowners.
The nearest airport is Trenton-Mercer Airport
, formerly known as the Mercer County Airport, in Ewing. Lawrence Township is roughly equidistant to Philadelphia International Airport
and Newark Liberty International Airport
, the nearest airports with commercial passenger service.
is located at 4378 Quakerbridge Road, along the Delaware and Raritan Canal
near the border of West Windsor Township
and Princeton Township
. The house was built in the 1830s as housing for the bridgetender and his family. The bridgetender was needed to open the swing bridge when canal boats came through, then close it to allow traffic to cross over the canal.
The Delaware and Raritan Canal has an intact walking towpath for most of its length. Additional walking trail areas in the township include Shipetaukin Woods, Carson Road Woods, and part of Rosedale Park. Lawrence Township is part of the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail, currently under development.
Jasna Polana was the home of John Seward Johnson I
of Johnson & Johnson
. His widow converted it into Tournament Players Club at Jasna Polana golf course.
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Lawrenceville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Lawrence Township in Mercer County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP population was 3,887...
. Lawrenceville is a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
and unincorporated area located within Lawrence Township. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
(which is in Lawrenceville) instructs many Lawrence Township residents to use Lawrenceville, Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
or Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
in their mailing address, and not Lawrence Township.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 29,159 people, 10,797 households, and 7,233 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,317.0 people per square mile (508.5/km²). There were 11,180 housing units at an average density of 504.9 per square mile (195.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 79.22% White, 9.28% African American, 0.08% Native American, 7.91% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.79% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.
There were 10,797 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $67,959, and the median income for a family was $82,704 (these figures had risen to $81,718 and $100,506 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $56,681 versus $38,468 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $33,120. About 2.6% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Lawrence Township operates under the Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)
The Faulkner Act, or Optional Municipal Charter Law, provides for New Jersey municipalities to adopt a Council-Manager government.The council consists of 5, 7, or 9 members elected by the public...
form of municipal government. The township is governed by a Council consisting of a Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and four Council Members who are elected at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
in partisan elections to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election every other year. The Mayor is selected by the Council from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting to serve a term of one year.
, the Lawrence Township Council consists of
Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Greg Puliti,
Bob Bostock,
Jim Kownacki,
Pam Mount and
Michael Powers.
The Township's Municipal Manager is Richard S. Krawczun.
Recent mayors of Lawrence Township include:
- 2003 - Greg Puliti (D)
- 2004 - Mark Holmes (D)
- 2005 - Pamela Mount (D)
- 2006 - Michael Powers (D)
- 2007 - Greg Puliti (D)
- 2008 - Mark Holmes (D)
- 2009 - Pamela Mount (D)
- 2011 - Greg Puliti (D)
Federal, state and county representation
Lawrence Township is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 15th Legislative District.New Jersey Lottery
New Jersey Lottery
The New Jersey Lottery is run by the government of New Jersey. Its games consist of Powerball, Mega Millions, Pick-6, Jersey Cash 5, Pick-4, Pick-3, and scratch tickets. The Lottery is headquartered in the One Lawrence Park Complex in Lawrence Township, Mercer County.New Jersey Lottery players must...
is headquartered in the One Lawrence Park Complex in Lawrence Township.
Education
The Lawrence Township Public SchoolsLawrence Township Public Schools
The Lawrence Township Public Schools are comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from Lawrence Township, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States....
serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are four elementary schools —
Eldridge Park Elementary (K-3; 240 students)
Ben Franklin Elementary (PreK-3; 448)
Lawrenceville Elementary (PreK-3; 375)
Slackwood Elementary (PreK-3; 264) —
Lawrence Intermediate School (4-6; 877),
Lawrence Middle School
Lawrence Middle School
Lawrence Middle School is a junior high school for students in grades 7 and 8 in Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA. It is located adjacent to Lawrence High School...
(7-8; 588) and
Lawrence High School
Lawrence High School (New Jersey)
Lawrence High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in the Lawrenceville section of Lawrence Township, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States, serving grades 9-12 as part of the Lawrence Township Public Schools. LHS was built in 1967...
(9-12; 1,158). Students from Robbinsville Township (known as Washington Township until 2007) had attended Lawrence High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship
Sending/receiving relationship
A sending/receiving relationship is one in which a public school district sends some or all of its students to attend the schools of another district. This is often done to achieve costs savings in smaller districts or continues after districts have grown as part of a historical relationship...
which ended with the final group of seniors who graduated in the 2006-07 school year.
Lawrence Township is home to two parochial schools operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton
Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in southern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes the counties of Burlington, Monmouth, Ocean, and Mercer ....
: Notre Dame High School is a coeducation
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
al, Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, college preparatory school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
for students in grades 9-12; and Saint Ann School, which serves 341 students in pre-3 through eighth grade.
Lawrenceville is home to the Lawrenceville School
Lawrenceville School
The Lawrenceville School is a coeducational, independent preparatory boarding school for grades 9–12 located on in the historic community of Lawrenceville, in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, U.S., five miles southwest of Princeton....
, a coeducational, independent boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
for grades 9-12, founded in 1810.
Rider University
Rider University
Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
is a private university with its main campus just south of Lawrenceville.
While not educating anyone particularly, Lawrence Townships most notable involvement in education is being the headquarters location for the Education Testing Service ("ETS"); see section on "Business" below.
History
What is now Lawrence Township was originally formed as Maidenhead Township on February 20, 1697, while the area was still part of Burlington CountyBurlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
in West Jersey
West Jersey
West Jersey and East Jersey were two distinct parts of the Province of New Jersey. The political division existed for 28 years, between 1674 and 1702...
. The township was named by the early Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
settlers after Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
, a Thames River
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
village west of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It became part of the newly-created Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
on March 11, 1714. Maidenhead Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on February 21, 1798.
On January 24, 1816, the municipality was renamed Lawrence Township, in honor of Captain James Lawrence
James Lawrence
James Lawrence was an American naval officer. During the War of 1812, he commanded the USS Chesapeake in a single-ship action against HMS Shannon...
— commander of the frigate USS Chesapeake
USS Chesapeake (1799)
USS Chesapeake was a 38-gun wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She was one of the original six frigates whose construction was authorized by the Naval Act of 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed these frigates to be the young navy's capital ships...
and one of the naval heroes of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
— best known for his dying command of "Don't Give up the Ship." Lawrence Township became part of Mercer County at its creation on February 22, 1838. Portions of the township were taken to form Millham Township
Millham Township, New Jersey
Millham was a township that existed in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States, from 1882 to 1888.Millham was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 10, 1882 from portions of Lawrence Township. On March 30, 1888, the township was annexed by...
(February 10, 1882, annexed by Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
in 1888).
On September 23, 2003, at approximately 8:25am, an F1
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
ripped through Lawrence Township. The tornado followed a path along Princeton Pike and caused widespread damage to homes. There were no fatalities.
Business and commerce
Lawrence Township is home to the headquarters of:- Bristol-Myers SquibbBristol-Myers SquibbBristol-Myers Squibb , often referred to as BMS, is a pharmaceutical company, headquartered in New York City. The company was formed in 1989, following the merger of its predecessors Bristol-Myers and the Squibb Corporation...
's Pharmaceutical Research Institute (the corporate headquarters of BMS is in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) - The Lenox division of Department 56Department 56Department 56 is a manufacturer of holiday collectibles, ornaments and giftware, known for their lit Christmas village collections and their Snowbabies collection. It is owned by Enesco.-History:...
(which has announced plans to move to Pennsylvania) - Educational Testing ServiceEducational Testing ServiceEducational Testing Service , founded in 1947, is the world's largest private nonprofit educational testing and assessment organization...
.
Quaker Bridge Mall
Quaker Bridge Mall
Quaker Bridge Mall is a two-level, major shopping center located in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, on U.S. Route 1 near Interstate 295. The mall opened in 1975, and has over 120 retail establishments. Owned by Simon Property Group, the mall's anchor stores include J.C. Penney, Lord & Taylor,...
is a two-level, indoor shopping center located in Lawrenceville on U.S. 1, near Interstate 295. The mall opened in 1975, and has over 100 retail establishments. The mall's anchor store
Anchor store
In retail, an anchor store, draw tenant, anchor tenant, or key tenant is one of the larger stores in a shopping mall, usually a department store or a major retail chain....
s include J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
, Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
and Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
. The mall has a gross leasable area
Gross leasable area
Gross leasable area in the retail development industry is a term applied to shopping malls, lifestyle centers, outlet malls and other retail centers to indicate the amount of floor space available to be rented...
of 1,102,000 ft².
The business district of Lawrenceville is small, but stable. The Lawrence Shopping Center and other businesses along U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 1 is a United States highway which parallels the East Coast of the United States, running from Key West, Florida in the south to Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border in the north. Of the entire length of the route, of it runs through New Jersey...
provide additional commercial clusters in the township.
The transmitter for WKXW-FM
WKXW-FM
WKXW is a radio station based just outside of Trenton, New Jersey. The station is licensed to serve the Trenton area on 101.5 MHz FM and is also streamed on the station's website. It is owned by Townsquare Media...
, better known as New Jersey 101.5, is located near the Quaker Bridge Mall.
The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville is home to one of the nine ESF Summer Camp locations. These camps are located in five different states in the mid-Atlantic. The camp has won multiple awards for safety. The camp offers activities for ages 4 to 16 and offers a variety of activities including an all-sports camp.
Transportation
Two major transportation routes traverse the Township. Part of the Interstate Highway network, Interstate 95Interstate 95 in New Jersey
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway that traverses the full extent of the East Coast of the United States, from Florida to Maine...
and Interstate 295, describe a semicircle through Lawrence. The Interstate route numbers change at the highway's intersection with U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 1 is a United States highway which parallels the East Coast of the United States, running from Key West, Florida in the south to Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border in the north. Of the entire length of the route, of it runs through New Jersey...
, the other major highway bisecting the municipality. U.S. 1 is in effect three different roads: the original route from Trenton to New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
in the southern half of the Township, the limited access Trenton Freeway, and the combined road in the northern half that serves as a regional arterial linking the Interstates with New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
and Route 18. U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206 is a long north–south United States highway in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, United States. Only about a half a mile of its length is in Pennsylvania; the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge carries it over the Delaware River into New Jersey, where it is the remainder of the route...
is the main artery within the township itself, running from Trenton to Princeton roughly north-to-south. It is a segment of the historic Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
, and before that, it was part of the main New York-Philadelphia Post road. Locals refer to it alternately as Route 206 or Lawrence Road. Major county routes that pass through include County Route 533
County Route 533 (New Jersey)
County Route 533 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from the White Horse Circle, in Hamilton Township to County Route 527 in Bound Brook. Route 533 shares a major concurrency with U.S...
, County Route 546
County Route 546 (New Jersey)
County Route 546, abbreviated CR 546, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway begins at the Washington Crossing Bridge at Titusville, New Jersey and extends from Route 29 in Hopewell Township to U.S...
and County Route 569
County Route 569 (New Jersey)
County Route 569, abbreviated CR 569, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Quakerbridge Road in Lawrence Township to Broad Street in Hopewell Borough.-Route description:...
.
Lawrence Township is famous for the "abrupt ending" of Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in New Jersey
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway that traverses the full extent of the East Coast of the United States, from Florida to Maine...
. This resulted from politics in Somerset County that eliminated its planned connection of the Somerset Freeway to Interstate 287
Interstate 287
Interstate 287 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. states of New Jersey and New York. It is a partial beltway around New York City, serving the northern half of New Jersey and the counties of Rockland and Westchester in New York...
. When driving on I-95 north while approaching the interchange for U.S. Route 1, the 95 designation abruptly ends and the highway turns south and becomes Interstate 295. Motorists are then forced to find an alternate route, either by taking US 1 north, or (are directed by signs) to take Interstate 295 south to the Central Jersey Expressway (I-195)
Interstate 195 (New Jersey)
Interstate 195 is an auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its western end is at I-295 and Route 29 just south of Trenton, New Jersey in Hamilton Township, Mercer County while its eastern end is at the Garden State Parkway, Route 34 and Route...
east and to the New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
(the continuation of Interstate 95) at Exit 7A in Robbinsville Township.
The busy Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
rail line, carrying Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
and New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
trains, runs along the eastern edge of the township. The nearest stations are at Hamilton
Hamilton (NJT station)
Hamilton is a New Jersey Transit station on the Northeast Corridor Line, in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. Also at this station is the NJ Transit Hamilton Township bus garage...
and Princeton Junction
Princeton Junction (NJT station)
Princeton Junction Station at West Windsor is a New Jersey Transit and Amtrak rail station on the Northeast Corridor located in Princeton Junction, an area within West Windsor Township in New Jersey, USA...
.
A rail spur used to run to Lawrenceville from Trenton, but was discontinued in the 1970s and is now a bicycle trail. From Lawrenceville, a trolley line to Princeton existed from 1900 to 1941, but was dismantled before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the right-of-way largely has reverted to neighboring landowners.
The nearest airport is Trenton-Mercer Airport
Trenton-Mercer Airport
Trenton-Mercer Airport , formerly known as Mercer County Airport, is a public airport located in Ewing, New Jersey, four miles northwest of the central business district of Trenton, a city in Mercer County, New Jersey...
, formerly known as the Mercer County Airport, in Ewing. Lawrence Township is roughly equidistant to Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport is a major airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region and in Pennsylvania...
and Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
, the nearest airports with commercial passenger service.
Points of interest
The Port Mercer Canal HousePort Mercer Canal House
The Port Mercer Canal House is located at 4278 Quakerbridge Road in Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey. It is situated along the Delaware and Raritan Canal near the border of West Windsor Township and Princeton Township, New Jersey. The house was built in the 1830s as housing for...
is located at 4378 Quakerbridge Road, along the Delaware and Raritan Canal
Delaware and Raritan Canal
The Delaware and Raritan Canal is a canal in central New Jersey, United States, built in the 1830s that served to connect the Delaware River to the Raritan River. It was intended as an efficient and reliable means of transportation of freight between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City,...
near the border of West Windsor Township
West Windsor Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of Census 2010, West Windsor had a population of 27,165. The median age was 39.6. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 54.9% White, 3.7% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 37.7% Asian, 1.0% some other race and 2.6% reporting two or more races...
and Princeton Township
Princeton Township, New Jersey
Also Princeton Borough is an independent municipality completely surrounded by the township.Princeton North is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Princeton Township....
. The house was built in the 1830s as housing for the bridgetender and his family. The bridgetender was needed to open the swing bridge when canal boats came through, then close it to allow traffic to cross over the canal.
The Delaware and Raritan Canal has an intact walking towpath for most of its length. Additional walking trail areas in the township include Shipetaukin Woods, Carson Road Woods, and part of Rosedale Park. Lawrence Township is part of the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail, currently under development.
Jasna Polana was the home of John Seward Johnson I
John Seward Johnson I
John Seward Johnson I was one of the sons of Robert Wood Johnson I . He was also known as J. Seward Johnson, Sr. and Seward Johnson...
of Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
. His widow converted it into Tournament Players Club at Jasna Polana golf course.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Lawrence Township include:- David BrearleyDavid BrearleyDavid Brearley was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention and signed the U.S...
(1745–90), signer of the United States ConstitutionUnited States ConstitutionThe Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
and Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme CourtNew Jersey Supreme CourtThe New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
from 1779-1789. - George H. Brown (1810–65), represented in the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1853 to 1855. - Scott Lee Brunner (born 1957), football quarterback in the NFL who played for the New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1980 to 1983. - Richard J. CoffeeRichard J. CoffeeRichard J. Coffee is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who served in the New Jersey Senate and as chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.-Biography:...
(born 1925), member of the New Jersey SenateNew Jersey SenateThe New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
. - Josue LajeunesseJosue LajeunesseJosue Lajeunesse is one of the main subjects of a documentary called The Philosopher Kings, which discusses the life stories of several American university custodians....
, featured in the documentary The Philosopher KingsThe Philosopher Kings (film)The Philosopher Kings is a documentary film directed by Patrick Shen, and produced by Greg Bennick, about custodial workers at major U.S...
. A custodianJanitorA janitor or custodian is a professional who takes care of buildings, such as hospitals and schools. Janitors are responsible primarily for cleaning, and often some maintenance and security...
of Princeton UniversityPrinceton UniversityPrinceton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and a taxiTaxicabA taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
driver, he is active in raising money to provide clean water and other basic amenities to his native town of Lasource, HaitiLasource, HaitiLa Source is a town in Haiti.It was mentioned in a recent documentary film called The Philosopher Kings. One former resident who has emigrated to the United States, Josue Lajeunesse, has been active in bringing a clean water source closer to the village, whose residents had previously needed to...
. - Thorn LordThorn LordBalfour Bowen Thorn Lord was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from New Jersey.-Biography:Lord was born in 1906 in Plainfield, New Jersey to Carroll P. Lord, a New England cotton merchant, and Frances E. Troy of Asheville, North Carolina. The family moved South two years later...
(1906–65), politician. - Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.General Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf KCB , also known as "Stormin' Norman" and "The Bear", is a retired United States Army General who, while he served as Commander of U.S. Central Command, was commander of the Coalition Forces in the Gulf War of 1991.-Early life:Schwarzkopf was born in Trenton, New...
(born 1934), retired United States Army General who was commander of the Coalition Forces in the Gulf WarGulf WarThe Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
of 1991. - Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr.Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr.Major General Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf was the first superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. He is best known for his involvement in the Lindbergh kidnapping case. He was the father of General H...
(1895–1958), first superintendent of the New Jersey State PoliceNew Jersey State PoliceThe New Jersey State Police is the state police force for the state of New Jersey. It is a general-powers police agency with state wide jurisdiction when requested by the Governor, designated by Troop Sectors.-History:...
. - Elizabeth SocolowElizabeth Socolow-Life:She is a native of New York City, has taught at Rutgers University, Vassar College, Yale University, Barnard College, Wayne State University, University of Michigan Dearborn.A member of U.S. 1 Poets’ Cooperative, She edited U.S...
, poet. - Jon StewartJon StewartJon Stewart is an American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian...
(born 1962), of The Daily ShowThe Daily ShowThe Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
. - Shirley TurnerShirley TurnerShirley K. Turner is an American Democratic Party politician, who has been serving in the New Jersey State Senate since 1998, where she represents the 15th Legislative District....
(born 1941), New Jersey State Senator.
External links
- Lawrence Township website
- Lawrence Township Public Schools
- Data for the Lawrence Township Public Schools, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Friends of Carson Road Woods