Location of High Bridge in Hunterdon County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Hunterdon County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
High Bridge was originally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 29, 1871, from portions of Clinton Township and Lebanon Township. On February 19, 1898, the borough of High Bridge was incorporated from portions of the township, with the remainder returned to Clinton and Lebanon Townships five days later.[20]
The borough is located on the South Branch of the Raritan River in the north central part of Hunterdon County. Water from the South Branch was a valuable power source for one of the first ironworks in the United States, established in the 1740s by William Allen and Joseph Turner of Philadelphia.[21] Allen was the mayor of Philadelphia, a Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and a prominent landowner in New Jersey. In 1859, the Central Railroad of New Jersey began a five-year construction project of a 112-foot-high (34 m), 1,300-foot-long (400 m) bridge across the river from which structure the locality ultimately took its name.[22][23]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.43 square miles (6.30 km2), including 2.39 square miles (6.19 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of water (1.65%).[1][2] It is drained by the South Branch of the Raritan River.
Of the 1,418 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18; 58.3% were married couples living together; 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.2% were non-families. Of all households, 22.9% were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.06.[17]
24.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 32.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 101.4 males.[17]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $90,037 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,054) and the median family income was $108,148 (+/− $6,913). Males had a median income of $77,500 (+/− $10,021) versus $47,936 (+/− $5,291) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,866 (+/− $4,587). About none of families and 0.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[36]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[14] there were 3,776 people, 1,428 households, and 1,051 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,566.0 inhabitants per square mile (604.6/km2). There were 1,478 housing units at an average density of 613.0 per square mile (236.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.24% White, 0.79% African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.12% of the population.[34][35]
There were 1,428 households, out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.10.[34][35]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.[34][35]
The median income for a household in the borough was $68,719, and the median income for a family was $75,357. Males had a median income of $56,607 versus $35,450 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,276. About 1.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.[34][35]
Economy
High Bridge has a downtown (Main Street) that is home to eateries, services and professionals. Circa Restaurant, at the center of Main Street, has received acclaim from a variety of sources including a food editor from The New York Times who proclaimed, "Circa is the kind of place I wish were in my town."[37]
The businesses are collectively marketed by the High Bridge Business Association, which assists its member businesses through co-operative advertising, press releases, goodwill and other benefits.[38]
Parks and recreation
Union Forge Park
High Bridge serves as the southern terminus of a rail trail that was created out of the former Central Railroad of New JerseyHigh Bridge Branch. The trail is maintained by Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation and is called the Columbia Trail. The trail runs northeastward from the center of the borough (at the junction of Main Street and Church Street) towards Califon, through a scenic area outside the borough limits, known as the Ken Lockwood Gorge.[39][40]
Union Forge Park is High Bridge's main public park, located by the South Branch Raritan River and the Taylor Wharton complex. Another park is the Borough Commons, situated at the start of the Columbia Trail. A grant received by the Union Forge Heritage Association in 2008 provided for the creation of the Taylor Steelworkers Historical Greenway, which stretches 5+1⁄4 miles (8.4 km) around the borough, starting at Columbia Trail and connecting the borough's parks and other historic sites.[41]
The High Bridge Hills golf course, located near Route 31, provides another means of recreation in the small town.[42]
Government
Local government
High Bridge is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[43] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the six-member borough council. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[5] The borough form of government used by High Bridge is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The borough council decides committee and liaison assignments for council members. Appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[44][45][3]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of High Bridge Borough is Democrat Michele Lee, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Borough Council are Kenneth Doyle (D, 2025), Natalie Ferry (D, 2023), Christopher Graham (D, 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term), Curtis Nowell (D, 2025), Alan Schwartz (R, 2023) and Steven Silvestri (R, 2024).[3][46][47][48][49][50][51]
High Bridge Borough Council meeting agendas and minutes are available on the borough website.[52]
In February 2022 the borough council selected Christopher Graham from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Leigh Ann Moore until she stepped down from office. Graham won election outright in November 2022 and will now serve the balance of the term of office to December 2024.[53]
In April 2016, the borough council selected Keir LoIacono from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat of Mike Stemple, who had resigned from office the previous month.[54]
In November 2014, the borough council selected Stephen Strange to fill the vacant seat expiring in 2016 of Victoria Miller, who had resigned from office in the previous month.[55] In the November 2015 general election, Strange was elected to serve the balance of the term.[56]
Federal, state and county representation
High Bridge is located in the 7th Congressional District[57] and is part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district.[58]
Hunterdon County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised of five members who are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the commissioners select one member to serve as the board's Director and another to serve as Deputy Director, each for a one-year term.[63] As of 2025[update], Hunterdon County's Commissioners are
Director John E. Lanza (R; Raritan Township, 2025),[64]
Deputy Director Shaun C. Van Doren (R; Tewksbury Township, 2026),[65]
Jeff Kuhl (R; Raritan Township, 2027),[66]
Zachary T. Rich (R; West Amwell Township, 2025)[67] and
Susan Soloway (R; Franklin Township, 2027).[68][69]
As of November 7, 2017, there were a total of 2,587 registered voters in High Bridge.[citation needed]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.4% of the vote (893 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 47.8% (846 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (32 votes), among the 1,788 ballots cast by the borough's 2,497 registered voters (17 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 71.6%.[76][77] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 48.6% of the vote (938 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 48.4% (936 votes) and other candidates with 2.1% (41 votes), among the 1,932 ballots cast by the borough's 2,487 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.7%.[78] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 55.9% of the vote (1,012 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 43.0% (778 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (25 votes), among the 1,811 ballots cast by the borough's 2,315 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.2.[79]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.3% of the vote (778 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 28.5% (320 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (24 votes), among the 1,136 ballots cast by the borough's 2,469 registered voters (14 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.0%.[80][81] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.6% of the vote (819 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 27.1% (367 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 10.3% (139 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (15 votes), among the 1,352 ballots cast by the borough's 2,433 registered voters, yielding a 55.6% turnout.[82]
The High Bridge district previously operated High Bridge High School. In October 1972, voters agreed to place the high schoolers at North Hunterdon Regional High School. High Bridge High closed in 1973.[96] In 1975, high school students in High Bridge, except 12th grade students (seniors) already at North Hunterdon, were moved to Voorhees High.[97]
Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.[98]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 21.00 miles (33.80 km) of roadways, of which 18.99 miles (30.56 km) were maintained by the municipality and 2.01 miles (3.23 km) by Hunterdon County.[99]
County Route 513 is the main road that passes through and connects to Route 31 to the west.[100]Interstate 78 is accessible via Routes 513 and 31 in neighboring Clinton Township.
Public transportation
Originally a vital junction for the Central Railroad of New Jersey in hauling iron ore from northern New Jersey via its High Bridge Branch which headed north toward Wharton and High Bridge station[101] now serves as the westernmost station on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line.[102][103] It is located at the southern end of the station. The parking lot for the station is located one block to the west. The station only uses the southern track for inbound and outbound trains. There is a station building that is no longer used and there are two small shelters. This station has limited weekday service and no weekend service. The station has been the western terminus of the line since 1983, the year NJ Transit commenced operations. Between 1983 and 1989, NJ Transit reached Phillipsburg, New Jersey on the former Central Railroad of New Jersey mainline. Since that time, the route between High Bridge and Phillipsburg has been inactive. NJ Transit considers making plans for bringing service back to Phillipsburg again in the future.
There is also service available between Flemington and Hampton on the Hunterdon LINK Route 15.[104]
Points of interest
Solitude House, built c. 1710–1725, became the centerpiece of the iron plantation that became Union Forge Ironworks. Later called Taylor Iron and Steel Company, it eventually became known as Taylor-Wharton. John Penn, the last royal governor of Pennsylvania, and Benjamin Chew, the last chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, were political prisoners at Solitude House during the American Revolutionary War. Five generations of the Taylor family managed the business and continued to live in the house, until 1938. Acquired by the Borough in 2001, and previously operated as a museum. The Union Forge Heritage Association operated Solitude House Museum from 2002 to 2012.[105] The museum is now at the Turner–Chew–Carhart Farm in nearby Union Township.[106]
The Taylor Steel Workers Historical Greenway, created by the Union Forge Heritage Association, connects to the Columbia Trail.[107]
The TISCO Headquarters, constructed in 1742 for the Union Iron Works, is the oldest office building in New Jersey.[108]
Lake Solitude Dam, replacing the crib dam of 1858, replaced in 1909, is the last remaining example of a buttress dam in New Jersey, built by master engineer Frank S. Tainter.[109]
Springside Farm was established by Archibald S. Taylor, as the agricultural farm of the Taylor Iron and Steel Company. Covering 90 acres (36 ha), the site includes buildings dating back to 1803, some of which have deteriorated over the years.[110]
Howard Menger (1922–2009), UFO contactee whose writings on the subject include The High Bridge Incident, about his initial contact with aliens, when he was ten years old[114]
^Lawlor, Julia. "If You're Thinking of Living In/High Bridge, N.J.; Steel Town Reborn as Family Community", The New York Times, December 23, 2001. Accessed September 1, 2015. "In 1742, two Philadelphia businessmen, William Allen and Joseph Turner, leased a 3,000-acre tract from the King of England in what is now High Bridge. They began operating an iron forge, mining iron from the surrounding hills and cutting down the forests to fuel the forge. The business was eventually purchased by Robert Taylor, who supplied cannonballs for the Revolutionary Army."
^History of High Bridge, High Bridge Borough. Accessed September 1, 2015. "High Bridge was named for a 1,300 foot-long, 112 foot-high bridge built by the Central Railroad Company across the South Branch of the Raritan River. It was too costly to maintain and was subsequently filled in with an earthen embankment, leaving a double-arch culvert through which the River and Arch Street pass through. Construction of the embankment began in 1859 and took five years to complete."
^Cook, Karla. "Dining/High Bridge; Having Fun, With Mussels and More", The New York Times, October 15, 2006. Accessed March 3, 2023. "Yet Circa is the kind of place I wish were in my town. The space is magical; only the steak breaks the $30 mark in the dinner category; and Mr. Coury, who graduated from the French Culinary Institute and worked at the Ryland Inn in Whitehouse, the Frenchtown Inn and Nodo in Princeton, is having fun."
^Brickman, Rachael S. "New trail will trace High Bridge's history", and ending as Amesbury Furnace circa 1753 in Clinton Township Hunterdon County Democrat, October 5, 2008. Accessed October 15, 2013. "The Union Forge Heritage Association has received a $24,500 Recreational Trails Program grant from the state in order to create a 5.25-mile trail around the borough. The project, which will be known at the Taylor Steelworkers Historical Greenway, will begin at the Columbia Trail and will pass a number of local landmarks including Lake Solitude, the Solitude House museum and the Union Forge before ending up at Springside Farm."
^O'Brien, Walter. "High Bridge swears in newest council member", Hunterdon Review, April 19, 2016. Accessed July 10, 2016. "The Borough Council Thursday, April 14, swore in new Councilman Keir LoIacono, who takes the seat vacated by former Councilwoman Karen Scarcia, who resigned on Wednesday, March 16. Scarcia was re-elected in November 2015 and her term would have expired on Dec. 31, 2018. LoIacono will now finish out that unexpired term."
^Wright, Terry. "High Bridge appoints Tewksbury teacher to Council vacancy", Hunterdon County Democrat, November 26, 2014. Accessed April 21, 2015. "Stephen Strange, a third-grade teacher in Tewksbury Township Elementary School, is the newest member of Borough Council. The Council appointed him to fill the seat of Victoria Miller, who resigned effective Oct. 31. Voters will elect somebody to the post in the November 2015 election."
^Elected and Appointed Officials, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025. "As top governing officials of Hunterdon County, the five Commissioners are chosen by popular vote in the November general elections. The term of office is for three years and the current compensation is $16,000 a year, with an extra $1,000 for the Director. One or two of the five members is elected each year."
^John E. Lanza, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025.
^Shaun C. Van Doren, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025.
^Jeff Kuhl, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025.
^Zachary T. Rich, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025.
^Susan Soloway, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025.
^High Bridge Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, High Bridge School District. Accessed May 4, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eighth in the High Bridge School District. Composition: The High Bridge Public School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of High Bridge Borough."
^Voorhees High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 3, 2016. "Voorhees High School has consistently ranked among the top high schools in New Jersey and was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2015. With an enrollment of 1,095 students in grades 9-12, the school serves the communities of Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township, and Tewksbury Township."
^Information Regarding Choice of District School, North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. Accessed January 4, 2015. "In the past, parents and students of the North Hunterdon High School sending districts were able to select either North Hunterdon High School or Voorhees High School as their school of choice.... As our student population continued to grow and our two high schools reached, and exceeded, 90% capacity, the option of choosing Voorhees was eliminated in the 2005-2006 school year for the North Hunterdon sending districts (Bethlehem Township, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough and Union Township – Clinton Town students still have choice as they are classmates at Clinton Public School with Glen Gardner students, who attend Voorhees)."
^About the District North Hunterdoon-Voorhees Regional High School District. Accessed January 4, 2015. "North Hunterdon High School educates students from: Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough, Union Township; Voorhees High School educates students from: Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township, Tewksbury Township"
^Heyboer, Kelly. "How to get your kid a seat in one of N.J.'s hardest-to-get-into high schools", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 2017. Accessed November 18, 2019. "Hunterdon County's vo-tech district has three academies for high-achieving students, all operating in partnerships with local high schools.... The academies are open to all students in the county. Students in the 8th grade are required to submit an application, schedule an interview and take a placement exam."
^Robbins, Gene. "High Bridge Asks: What To Do With Old Springside Farm, TISCO Property?", Hunterdon County Democrat, June 19, 2009. Accessed March 28, 2018. "The 90-acre Springside Farm, preserved by the borough in 2001, lies off Nassau Road and East Main Street. It is a complex of 19th- and 20th-century barns and an 1803 home that has been vacant for years. Buildings are in varying stages of decay."
^About Us, New Jersey Astronomical Association. Accessed January 4, 2015.
^Dey, Jim. "Naomi Jakobsson", The News-Gazette, May 11, 2014. Accessed January 4, 2015. "The Jakobssons met in the early 1960s in High Bridge, N.J., a city were Naomi grew up and where Eric was working at a cryogenics laboratory."
^Historic ClintonArchived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine, Clinton, New Jersey. Accessed February 20, 2011. "George W. Taylor, son of Archibald Taylor, was raised at 'Solitude', a special elitist residential area that became High Bridge."
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