Mercer County, New Jersey

Mercer County
The New Jersey State House and its golden dome at Trenton in 2006
The New Jersey State House and its golden dome at Trenton in 2006
Flag of Mercer County
Official seal of Mercer County
Nickname: 
The Capital County
Map of New Jersey highlighting Mercer County
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
Map of the United States highlighting New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°17′N 74°42′W / 40.28°N 74.70°W / 40.28; -74.70
Country United States
State New Jersey
Founded1838
Named forHugh Mercer
SeatTrenton
Largest municipalityHamilton Township (population)
Hopewell Township (area)
Government
 • County executiveBrian M. Hughes (D, term ends December 31, 2023)
Area
 • Total228.86 sq mi (592.7 km2)
 • Land224.44 sq mi (581.3 km2)
 • Water4.42 sq mi (11.4 km2)  1.9%
Population
 • Total387,340
 • Estimate 
(2022)
380,688
 • Density1,724.9/sq mi (666.0/km2)
Congressional districts3rd, 12th
Websitewww.mercercounty.org

Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its county seat is Trenton, also the state capital, prompting its nickname The Capital County. Mercer County alone constitutes the Trenton–Princeton metropolitan statistical area and is considered part of the New York combined statistical area by the U.S. Census Bureau, but also directly borders the Philadelphia metropolitan area and is included within the Federal Communications Commission's Philadelphia Designated Media Market Area.

As of the 2020 United States census, the county retained its position as the state's 12th-most-populous county, with a population of 387,340, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 20,827 (+5.7%) from the 366,513 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn had reflected an increase of 15,752 (+4.5%) from the 350,761 enumerated at the 2000 census The most populous municipality in Mercer County at the 2020 census was Hamilton Township, with 92,297 residents, while Hopewell Township was the largest in area.

The county was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 22, 1838, from portions of Burlington County (Nottingham Township, now Hamilton Township), Hunterdon County (Ewing Township, Lawrence Township, Trenton, and portions of Hopewell Township), and Middlesex County, (West Windsor Township and portions of East Windsor Township). The former Keith Line bisects the county and is the boundary between municipalities that previously had been separated into West Jersey and East Jersey.

Trenton–Mercer Airport in Ewing Township is a commercial and corporate aviation airport serving Mercer County and its surrounding vicinity. The official residence of the governor of New Jersey, known as Drumthwacket, is located in Princeton, and is listed on both the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. Mercer County contains 12 municipalities, the fewest of any county in New Jersey, and equal to Hudson County. The county is located in the Central Jersey region.

Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike, the future U.S. Route 1 through Mercer County, 1904
Holder Tower in Princeton University, one of the world's most prominent research universities

Etymology

The county was named for Continental Army General Hugh Mercer, who died as a result of wounds received at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. Continental Army Brigadier General Hugh Mercer served in the Continental Army during the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton in 1777. A Scotsman that fled to British North America after the failed Jacobite Rebellion, he worked closely with George Washington in the American Revolution. On January 3, 1777, Washington's army was en route to Princeton, New Jersey. While leading a vanguard of 350 soldiers, Mercer's brigade encountered two British regiments and a mounted unit. A fight broke out at an orchard grove and Mercer's horse was shot from under him. Getting to his feet, he was quickly surrounded by British troops who mistook him for George Washington and ordered him to surrender. Outnumbered, he drew his saber and began an unequal contest. He was finally beaten to the ground, bayoneted repeatedly (seven times), and left for dead. Legend has it that a beaten Mercer, with a bayonet still impaled in him, did not want to leave his men and the battle and was given a place to rest on a white oak tree's trunk, and those who remained with him stood their ground. The Mercer Oak, against which the dying general rested as his men continued to fight, appears on the county seal and stood for 250 years until it collapsed in 2000.

History

Founded February 22, 1838, from portions of surrounding counties, Mercer County has a historical impact that reaches back to the pivotal battles of the American Revolutionary War. On the night of December 25–26, 1776, General George Washington led American forces across the Delaware River to attack the Hessian forces in the Battle of Trenton on the morning of December 26, also known as the First Battle of Trenton. Following the battle, Washington crossed back to Pennsylvania. He crossed a third time in a surprise attack on the forces of General Charles Cornwallis at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek, on January 2, 1777, also known as the Second Battle of Trenton, and at the Battle of Princeton on January 3. The successful attacks built morale among the pro-independence colonists. Ewing Church Cemetery in Ewing is one of the oldest cemeteries in the area, having served the Ewing community for 300 years. It is home to the burial places of hundreds of veterans from The Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War.

Since 1790, Trenton has served as the state's capital, earning the county the name "the Capitial County." After the Legislature relocated to Trenton from Perth Amboy in 1790, it purchased land for £250 and 5 shillings and constructed a new state house, designed by Philadelphia-based architect Jonathan Doane, beginning in 1792. The Doane building was covered in stucco, measured 150 by 50 feet (46 by 15 m), and housed the Senate and Assembly chambers in opposite wings. To meet the demands of the growing state, the structure was expanded several times during the 19th century. New Jersey, along with Nevada, is the only state to have its capital be located at the border with another state, as Trenton across the Delaware River from Pennsylvania.

The county experienced rapid urbanization and population growth during the first half of the 20th century due to the growth of industrialization in places such as the city of Trenton. Mercer County has the distinction of being the famed landing spot for a fictional Martian invasion of the United States. In 1938, in what has become one of the most famous American radio plays of all time, Orson Welles acted out his The War of the Worlds invasion. His imaginary aliens first "landed" at what is now West Windsor Township. A commemorative monument is erected at Grover's Mill park.

There were 27 Mercer County residents killed during the September 11 attacks in Lower Manhattan. A 10-foot (3.0 m) long steel beam weighing one ton was given to the county by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in March 2011 and is now displayed at Mercer County Park.

Geography and climate

Map
Interactive map of Mercer County, New Jersey

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of 228.86 square miles (592.7 km2), of which 224.44 square miles (581.3 km2) was land (98.1%) and 4.42 square miles (11.4 km2) was water (1.9%).

The county is generally flat and low-lying on the inner coastal plain with a few hills closer to the Delaware River. Baldpate Mountain, near Pennington, is the highest hill, at 480 feet (150 m) above sea level. The lowest point is at sea level along the Delaware River.

Climate

Most of Mercer has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) except for the southern portion of the county near and including Trenton where a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) exists. The hardiness zones are 6b and 7a.

Climate data for Trenton, New Jersey (Trenton–Mercer Airport) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1865–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 73
(23)
78
(26)
87
(31)
93
(34)
99
(37)
100
(38)
106
(41)
105
(41)
101
(38)
94
(34)
83
(28)
76
(24)
106
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 62.7
(17.1)
62.7
(17.1)
74.2
(23.4)
83.0
(28.3)
88.6
(31.4)
93.4
(34.1)
96.3
(35.7)
94.3
(34.6)
89.7
(32.1)
81.4
(27.4)
72.0
(22.2)
64.2
(17.9)
97.2
(36.2)
Average high °F (°C) 39.7
(4.3)
42.8
(6.0)
50.8
(10.4)
62.9
(17.2)
72.4
(22.4)
81.0
(27.2)
86.0
(30.0)
84.0
(28.9)
77.1
(25.1)
65.5
(18.6)
54.5
(12.5)
44.4
(6.9)
63.4
(17.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 32.0
(0.0)
34.3
(1.3)
41.7
(5.4)
52.5
(11.4)
62.0
(16.7)
71.0
(21.7)
76.3
(24.6)
74.4
(23.6)
67.4
(19.7)
55.7
(13.2)
45.4
(7.4)
36.8
(2.7)
54.1
(12.3)
Average low °F (°C) 24.3
(−4.3)
25.9
(−3.4)
32.7
(0.4)
42.1
(5.6)
51.6
(10.9)
60.9
(16.1)
66.6
(19.2)
64.8
(18.2)
57.7
(14.3)
45.9
(7.7)
36.3
(2.4)
29.3
(−1.5)
44.8
(7.1)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 7.2
(−13.8)
10.0
(−12.2)
17.9
(−7.8)
29.0
(−1.7)
37.7
(3.2)
48.3
(9.1)
57.0
(13.9)
54.4
(12.4)
43.2
(6.2)
31.6
(−0.2)
21.8
(−5.7)
14.8
(−9.6)
5.1
(−14.9)
Record low °F (°C) −16
(−27)
−14
(−26)
0
(−18)
11
(−12)
31
(−1)
39
(4)
46
(8)
39
(4)
34
(1)
21
(−6)
9
(−13)
−8
(−22)
−16
(−27)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.29
(84)
2.63
(67)
3.97
(101)
3.63
(92)
3.99
(101)
4.25
(108)
4.39
(112)
4.22
(107)
4.09
(104)
3.79
(96)
3.18
(81)
4.04
(103)
45.47
(1,155)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.9
(20)
8.6
(22)
4.9
(12)
0.5
(1.3)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.25)
0.5
(1.3)
4.3
(11)
26.8
(67.85)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.1 10.1 11.0 11.5 12.0 11.9 10.8 10.0 8.6 10.0 8.5 11.0 125.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 4.6 4.3 2.6 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 2.3 14.4
Average relative humidity (%) 65.4 61.7 58.0 57.0 62.1 66.1 66.2 68.8 69.8 68.8 66.9 66.5 64.8
Average dew point °F (°C) 21.7
(−5.7)
22.8
(−5.1)
28.1
(−2.2)
37.7
(3.2)
48.7
(9.3)
59.4
(15.2)
63.9
(17.7)
63.5
(17.5)
57.0
(13.9)
45.6
(7.6)
35.9
(2.2)
26.5
(−3.1)
42.7
(5.9)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 163.1 169.7 207.4 227.2 248.1 262.8 269.2 252.5 215.0 201.5 149.3 140.1 2,505.9
Percent possible sunshine 54 57 56 57 56 58 59 59 57 58 50 48 56
Source 1: NOAA (sun 1961–1981)
Source 2: PRISM Climate Group (humidity and dew point)


Climate data for Lawrence, Mercer County (40.2833, -74.7015), Elevation 62 ft (19 m), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981-2022
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 71.6
(22.0)
77.6
(25.3)
88.2
(31.2)
95.4
(35.2)
95.6
(35.3)
98.3
(36.8)
102.9
(39.4)
100.8
(38.2)
97.6
(36.4)
93.8
(34.3)
80.8
(27.1)
75.4
(24.1)
102.9
(39.4)
Average high °F (°C) 40.4
(4.7)
43.0
(6.1)
50.8
(10.4)
63.2
(17.3)
72.7
(22.6)
81.9
(27.7)
86.5
(30.3)
84.8
(29.3)
78.2
(25.7)
66.3
(19.1)
55.5
(13.1)
45.4
(7.4)
64.2
(17.9)
Average low °F (°C) 23.7
(−4.6)
25.2
(−3.8)
32.1
(0.1)
42.0
(5.6)
51.6
(10.9)
60.7
(15.9)
66.1
(18.9)
64.3
(17.9)
57.3
(14.1)
45.6
(7.6)
35.8
(2.1)
28.9
(−1.7)
44.5
(6.9)
Record low °F (°C) −9.9
(−23.3)
−2.0
(−18.9)
4.9
(−15.1)
17.9
(−7.8)
32.6
(0.3)
41.8
(5.4)
48.0
(8.9)
42.2
(5.7)
36.4
(2.4)
24.7
(−4.1)
10.8
(−11.8)
0.0
(−17.8)
−9.9
(−23.3)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.56
(90)
2.76
(70)
4.26
(108)
3.68
(93)
4.04
(103)
4.48
(114)
4.94
(125)
4.44
(113)
4.18
(106)
4.12
(105)
3.32
(84)
4.37
(111)
48.15
(1,223)
Average dew point °F (°C) 21.8
(−5.7)
22.5
(−5.3)
28.0
(−2.2)
37.5
(3.1)
49.2
(9.6)
59.4
(15.2)
64.4
(18.0)
63.6
(17.6)
57.7
(14.3)
46.1
(7.8)
35.1
(1.7)
27.5
(−2.5)
42.8
(6.0)
Source: PRISM

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, most of Mercer County would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25) with a dominant section of Northeastern Oak/Pine (110) Southern Mixed Forest (26) in the far east near Hightstown.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
184021,502
185027,99230.2%
186037,41933.7%
187046,38624.0%
188058,06125.2%
189079,97837.7%
190095,36519.2%
1910125,65731.8%
1920159,88127.2%
1930187,14317.1%
1940197,3185.4%
1950229,78116.5%
1960266,39215.9%
1970304,11614.2%
1980307,8631.2%
1990325,8245.8%
2000350,7617.7%
2010366,5134.5%
2020387,3405.7%
2022 (est.)380,688−1.7%
Historical sources: 1790–1990
1970-2010 2010-2019 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, Mercer County has a population of 387,340, making it the 12th most populous county in the state. The racial makeup of the county is quite diverse with 62.3% of the population identifying as white (and 46.7% as non-Hispanic whites), 21.6% of the population being black/African American, and 12.6% of the county's population identifying as Asian. 19.4% of Mercer County is Hispanic/Latino, 0.9% of the population is American Native/Alaskan Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 2.6% identify as two or more races.

5.4% of Mercer County is under the age of 5, while 21.2% are under the age of 18, and 16.0% are over the age of 65. The female population of the county stands at 50.8%, which is in line with the state as a whole.

There are 150,657 housing units in Mercer County, with 63.5% of them being owned by the occupiers. There are 131,440 households with an average of 2.67 persons per household.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 366,513 people, 133,155 households, and 89,480 families in the county. The population density was 1,632.2 per square mile (630.2/km2). There were 143,169 housing units at an average density of 637.6 per square mile (246.2/km2). The racial makeup was 61.39% (225,011) White, 20.28% (74,318) Black or African American, 0.33% (1,194) Native American, 8.94% (32,752) Asian, 0.08% (295) Pacific Islander, 6.24% (22,856) from other races, and 2.75% (10,087) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.09% (55,318) of the population.

Of the 133,155 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18; 48.2% were married couples living together; 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.8% were non-families. Of all households, 26.9% were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.16.

22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93 males.

Economy

Based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the county had a gross domestic product of $36.0 billion in 2021, ranked seventh in the state and a 6.7% increase from the prior year.

In 2015, the county had a per capita personal income of $63,720, the sixth-highest in New Jersey, and ranked 121st of 3,113 counties in the United States. Mercer County stands among the highest-income counties in the United States, with the Bureau of Economic Analysis having ranked the county as having the 78th-highest per capita income of all 3,113 counties in the United States (and the sixth-highest in New Jersey) as of 2009. Trenton's role as New Jersey's state capital contributes significantly to Mercer County's economic standing. 9.5% of the population is considered at or below the poverty line.

The median household income in Mercer County is $83,306. 89.6% of the population has a high school diploma, and 43.5% of the county's population has a bachelor's degree or higher, one of the highest rates in the state, as of the 2020 census.

Government

County government

Mercer County Courthouse in Trenton
Drumthwacket, the official residence of the Governor of New Jersey, is located in Princeton and is listed on both the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.

Mercer County has a county executive form of government, in which the Mercer County Executive performs executive functions, administering the operation of the county, and a Board of County Commissioners acts in a legislative capacity. The county executive is directly elected to a four-year term of office. The seven-member Board of County Commissioners, previously known as the Board of Chosen Freeholders, is elected at-large to serve three-year staggered terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election each year. The Board is led by a Commissioner Chair and vice-chair, selected from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting held in January. The Commissioner Board establishes policy and provides a check on the powers of the County Executive. The Board approves all county contracts and gives advice and consent to the County Executive's appointments of department heads, and appointments to boards and commissions. The Commissioner Board votes to approve the budget prepared by the Executive after review and modifications are made. In 2016, freeholders were paid $29,763 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $31,763. That year, the county executive was paid $164,090 per year.

As of 2023, the County Executive is Brian M. Hughes (D, Princeton, term of office ends December 31, 2023). Mercer County's Commissioners are Commissioner Chair Lucylle R. S. Walter (D, Ewing Township, term as commissioner and as chair ends December 31, 2023), Vice Chair John A. Cimino (D, Hamilton Township, term as commissioner and as vice chair ends 2023), Samuel T. Frisby Sr. (D, Trenton, 2024), Cathleen M. Lewis (D, Lawrence Township, 2025), Kristin L. McLaughlin (D, Hopewell Township, 2024), Nina D. Melker (D, Hamilton Township, 2025) and Terrance Stokes (D, Ewing Township, 2024).

Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term). Mercer County's constitutional officers are County Clerk Paula Sollami-Covello (D, Lawrence Township, 2025), Sheriff John A. Kemler (D, 2023) and Surrogate Diane Gerofsky (D, 2026).

No Republican has won countywide office since 2000. Law enforcement on the county level is provided by the Mercer County Sheriff's Office and the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. The Mercer County Prosecutor is Angelo J. Onofri of Hamilton Township, who took office in December 2016 after being nominated by Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie and being confirmed by the New Jersey Senate. Mercer County constitutes Vicinage 7 of the Superior Court of New Jersey. The vicinage is seated at the Mercer County Criminal Courthouse, located at 400 South Warren Street in Trenton. The vicinage has additional facilities for the Civil, Special Civil, General Equity, and Family Parts at the Mercer County Civil Courthouse, located at 175 South Broad Street, also in Trenton. The Assignment Judge for Mercer County is Mary C. Jacobson.

Federal representatives

Portions of the 3rd and 12th Congressional Districts cover the county. For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 3rd congressional district is represented by Andy Kim (D, Moorestown). For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District is represented by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, Ewing Township).

State representatives

Mercer County is covered by three legislative districts.

District Senator Assembly Municipalities
14th Linda R. Greenstein (D) Wayne DeAngelo (D)

Daniel R. Benson (D)

East Windsor Township, Hamilton Township, Hightstown Borough and Robbinsville Township.

The remainder of this district includes portions of Middlesex County.

15th Shirley Turner (D) Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)

Anthony Verrelli (D)

Ewing Township, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township,

Pennington Borough, Trenton and West Windsor Township. The remainder of this district includes portions of Hunterdon County.

16th Andrew Zwicker (D) Sadaf F. Jaffer (D)

Roy Freiman (D)

Princeton. The remainder of this district covers portions of Hunterdon County, Middlesex County and Somerset County.

Politics

Mercer County is a reliably Democratic county; it has gone for Republicans only three times (1956, 1972, 1984) since 1936. In each presidential election of the 21st century, the Democratic candidate earned at least 60% of the vote. Since the 2008 election, every municipality has voted for the Democratic candidate. As of October 1, 2021, there were a total of 265,703 registered voters in Mercer County, of whom 121,653 (45.8%) were registered as Democrats, 41,701 (15.7%) were registered as Republicans and 98,343 (37.0%) were registered as unaffiliated. There were 4,006 voters (1.5%) registered to other parties.

In 2008, the county voted for Barack Obama by a 35.4% margin over John McCain, with Obama winning New Jersey by 14.4% over McCain. He won by a similar margin in 2012 and Hillary Clinton did so in 2016. Joe Biden won the county by 40.0% in 2020, the widest margin for anyone since 1964 by winning with 69.1% of the vote (122,532 votes) to Trump's 29.1% (51,641 votes).

United States presidential election results for Mercer County, New Jersey
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 51,641 29.14% 122,532 69.14% 3,050 1.72%
2016 46,193 29.23% 104,775 66.29% 7,090 4.49%
2012 47,355 30.48% 104,377 67.19% 3,623 2.33%
2008 50,223 31.32% 107,926 67.29% 2,229 1.39%
2004 56,604 37.86% 91,580 61.25% 1,326 0.89%
2000 46,670 34.43% 83,256 61.42% 5,633 4.16%
1996 40,559 30.79% 77,641 58.94% 13,526 10.27%
1992 50,473 34.75% 71,383 49.14% 23,404 16.11%
1988 65,384 48.31% 68,712 50.77% 1,249 0.92%
1984 71,195 51.55% 66,398 48.07% 528 0.38%
1980 53,450 41.57% 60,888 47.35% 14,244 11.08%
1976 58,453 44.67% 69,621 53.20% 2,782 2.13%
1972 69,303 52.03% 62,180 46.68% 1,708 1.28%
1968 45,354 36.13% 63,218 50.36% 16,957 13.51%
1964 35,081 28.70% 86,985 71.17% 148 0.12%
1960 46,924 38.69% 74,166 61.16% 179 0.15%
1956 56,029 51.35% 52,684 48.29% 392 0.36%
1952 50,423 46.40% 57,751 53.15% 488 0.45%
1948 37,794 42.26% 49,690 55.56% 1,952 2.18%
1944 36,844 41.23% 52,383 58.61% 144 0.16%
1940 37,190 42.49% 50,121 57.26% 222 0.25%
1936 29,283 37.75% 47,702 61.50% 579 0.75%
1932 33,715 50.41% 30,284 45.28% 2,880 4.31%
1928 41,056 59.21% 27,908 40.25% 374 0.54%
1924 30,689 59.53% 14,639 28.40% 6,223 12.07%
1920 29,626 63.46% 15,713 33.66% 1,344 2.88%
1916 14,213 55.75% 10,621 41.66% 659 2.59%
1912 5,676 26.88% 7,773 36.80% 7,671 36.32%
1908 14,941 58.99% 9,288 36.67% 1,100 4.34%
1904 14,900 60.60% 8,528 34.69% 1,158 4.71%
1900 13,878 61.66% 7,861 34.93% 769 3.42%
1896 13,847 66.84% 5,970 28.82% 901 4.35%

In the 2009 New Jersey gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie lost the county with 39.27% of the vote (39,769 votes) to incumbent Democratic governor Jon Corzine's 54.51% (55,199 votes), while Independent candidate Chris Daggett won 5.36% of the vote. (5,424 votes). In the 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election, Republican governor Chris Christie became the only Republican to win the county since 1993 with 51.9% of the vote (48,530 votes) to Democrat Barbara Buono's 46.3% (43,282 votes). In the 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial election, Democrat Phil Murphy won the county 64.9% to (59,992 votes) 33.1% (30,645 votes). In the 2021 gubernatorial election, Republican Jack Ciattarelli received 34.1% of the vote (34,617 ballots cast) to Democrat Phil Murphy's 65.1% (66,151 votes).

Gubernatorial elections results
Gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic
2021 34.1% 34,617 65.1% 66,151
2017 33.1%' 30,645 64.9% 59,992
2013 51.9% 48,530 46.3% 43,282
2009 39.3% 39,769 54.5% 55,199
2005 39.2% 38,871 57.1% 56,592
2001 33.6% 31,705 60.9% 57,513
1997 45.2% 44,056 50.9% 54,977
1993 52.0% 45.9%
1989 30.2% 29,987 68.4% 67,962
1985 63.2% 53,562 35.6% 30,212
1981 43.8% 43,156 54.8% 53,897
1977 32.0% 32,994 63.4% 65,371
1973 21..4% 20,859 73.3% 71,527

Transportation

The Delaware and Raritan Canal in Hopewell Township
Nassau Street in Princeton

Roads and highways

Mercer County has county routes, state routes, U.S. Routes and Interstates that all pass through. As of 2010, the county had a total of 1,524.30 miles (2,453.12 km) of roadways, of which 1,216.48 miles (1,957.73 km) were maintained by the local municipality, 175.80 miles (282.92 km) by Mercer County, 118.99 miles (191.50 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, 1.19 miles (1.92 km) by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and 12.43 miles (20.00 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

The county roads that traverse through are County Route 518 (only in the Hopewells), County Route 524, County Route 526, County Route 533, County Route 535, County Route 539, County Route 546, County Route 569, County Route 571, and County Route 583.

The state routes that pass through Mercer are Route 27 (only in Princeton), Route 29, Route 31, Route 33, Route 129, and Route 133 (only in East Windsor). There are three U.S. Routes that pass through Mercer County: U.S. Route 1, which bisects the county, U.S. Route 130, and U.S. Route 206.

Mercer County houses a few limited access roads, such as Interstate 295, Interstate 195, and the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95). (Mercer is the only county in the state that hosts I-95 and both its auxiliary routes.) I-295 functions as a partial ring-road around the Trenton area, while I-195 serves as an east–west expressway from Trenton to the Jersey Shore. The Turnpike (I-95) passes through the southeastern section of the county, and serves as a major corridor to Delaware, Washington, D.C. to the south, and New York City and New England towards the north. Two turnpike interchanges are located within Mercer County: Exit 7A in Robbinsville Township and Exit 8 in East Windsor Township.

Before 2018, Interstate 95 abruptly ended at the interchange with US 1 in Lawrence Township, and became I-295 south. Signs directed motorists to the continuation of I-95 by using I-295 to I-195 east to the New Jersey Turnpike. This was all due in part to the cancellation of the Somerset Freeway that was supposed to go from Hopewell Township in Mercer County up to Franklin Township in Somerset County.

The section of I-95 west of the US 1 interchange in Lawrence was re-numbered as part of I-295 in March 2018, six months before a direct interchange with Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Turnpike opened. This planned interchange indirectly prompted another project: the New Jersey Turnpike Authority extended the 'dual-dual' configuration (inner car lanes and outer truck / bus / car lanes) to Interchange 6 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County from its former end at Interchange 8A in Monroe Township, Middlesex County. This widening was completed in early November 2014.

Public transportation

Mercer hosts several NJ Transit stations, including Trenton, Hamilton and Princeton Junction on the Northeast Corridor Line, as well as Princeton on the Princeton Branch. SEPTA provides rail service to Center City Philadelphia from Trenton and West Trenton. Long-distance transportation is provided by Amtrak train service along the Northeast Corridor through the Trenton Transit Center.

NJ Transit's River Line connects Trenton to Camden, with three stations in the county, all within Trenton city limits, at Cass Street, Hamilton Avenue and at the Trenton Transit Center.

Mercer County's only commercial airport, and one of three in the state, is Trenton–Mercer Airport in Ewing Township, which is served by Frontier Airlines, offering nonstop service to and from points nationwide.

Municipalities

Index map of Mercer County municipalities (click to see index)

The 12 municipalities in Mercer County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units and area) are:

Municipality
(with map key)
Map key Municipal
type
Population Housing
Units
Total
Area (sq. mi.)
Water
Area (sq. mi.)
Land
Area (sq. mi.)
Pop.
Density (pop./sq. mi.)
Housing
Density (houses/sq. mi.)
Communities
East Windsor Township 6 township 27,190 10,851 15.74 0.10 15.65 1,737.6 693.4

Allens Station, Eiler Corner, Etra, Hickory Corner, Locust Corner, Millstone, Twin Rivers CDP (7,443)

Ewing Township 11 township 35,790 13,926 15.60 0.35 15.25 2,346.9 913.2 Altura, Braeburn Heights, Briarcrest, Briarwood, Churchill Green, Ewing, Ewing Park, Ewingville, Fernwood, Ferry Road Manor, Fleetwood Village, Glendale, Green Curve Heights, Hampton Hills, Heath Manor, Hickory Hill Estates, Hillwood Lakes, Hillwood Manor, Mountainview, Parkway Village, Prospect Heights, Prospect Park, Scudders Falls, Shabakunk Hills, Sherbrooke Manor, Somerset, Spring Meadows, Village on the Green, Weber Park, West Trenton, Wilburtha, Wynnewood Manor
Hamilton Township 8 township 88,464 36,170 40.39 0.90 39.49 2,240.2 915.9 Briar Manor, Broad Street Park, Chewalla Park, Creston, Deutzville, Duck Island, East Trenton Heights, Edgebrook, Extonville, Golden Crest, Groveville CDP (2,945), Haines Corner, Hamilton Square CDP (12,784), Hutchinson Mills, Lakeside Park, Maple Shade, Mercerville CDP (13,230), North Crosswicks, Nottingham, Pond Run, Quaker Bridge, Quaker Gardens, Rosemont, The Orchards, Trenton Gardens, Warner Village, White Horse CDP (9,494), Yardville CDP (7,186), Yardville Heights
Hightstown 5 borough 5,494 2,108 1.24 0.03 1.21 4,536.0 1,740.4
Hopewell 1 borough 1,922 817 0.70 0.00 0.70 2,735.2 1,162.7
Hopewell Township 12 township 17,304 6,551 58.91 0.88 58.03 298.2 112.9 Akers Corner, Baldwins Corner, Bear Tavern, Centerville, Coopers Corner, Glenmoore, Harbourton, Harts Corner, Marshalls Corner, Moore, Mount Rose, Pleasant Valley, Stoutsburg, Titusville, Washington Crossing, Woodsville
Lawrence Township 10 township 33,472 13,239 22.06 0.25 21.81 1,534.8 607.1 Bakersville, Clarksville, Colonial Lakelands, Coxs Corner, Eldridge Park, Franklin Corner, Harneys Corner, Lawrence Station, Lawrenceville CDP (3,887), Lewisville, Port Mercer, Princessville, Quaker Bridge, Rosedale, Slackwood, Sturwood Hamlet
Pennington 2 borough 2,585 1,083 0.96 0.00 0.96 2,703.9 1,132.8
Princeton 3 borough 28,572 10,302 18.36 0.43 17.93 1,593.53 574.6 Cedar Grove, Port Mercer, Princeton North
Robbinsville Township 7 township 13,642 5,277 20.49 0.18 20.32 671.5 259.7 Known as Washington Township until November 2007
Allens Station, Carsons Mills, Hillside Terrace, Meadows Terrace, New Canton, New Sharon, Pages Corners, Robbinsville CDP (3,041), Windsor
Trenton 4 city 84,913 33,035 8.16 0.51 7.65 11,101.9 4,319.2 Battle Monument, Berkeley Square, Cadwalader Heights, Central West, Chambersburg, Chestnut Park, Coalport/North Clinton, Downtown Trenton, Duck Island, East Trenton, Ewing/Carroll, Fisher/Richey/Perdicaris, Franklin Park, Glen Afton, Greenwood/Hamilton, Hanover/Academy, Hillcrest, Hiltonia, Lamberton, North 25, North Trenton, Parkside, Pennington/Prospect, South Trenton, Stuyvesant/Prospect, The Island, Top Road, Villa Park, West End, Wilbur
West Windsor Township 9 township 27,165 9,810 26.27 0.71 25.56 1,062.6 383.7

Berrien City, Clarksville, Dutch Neck, Edinburg, Edinburg Park, Golf View Manor, Grover's Mill, Old Mill Farms, Penns Neck, Port Mercer, Post Corner, Princeton Colonial Park, Princeton Estates, Princeton Ivy East, Princeton Junction CDP (2,465), Sherbrook Estates

Mercer County county 366,513 143,169 228.89 4.33 224.56 1,632.2 637.6

Historical Municipalities

Map
Interactive map of municipalities in Mercer County.

Sports

Mercer County has a number of large parks. The largest, Mercer County Park is the home for the US Olympic Rowing Team's training center.

Mercer County is also the home of the Trenton Thunder baseball team, playing in the MLB Draft League, and the Jersey Flight of the National Arena League. The Thunder were formerly the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees playing in the Eastern League before the 2021 Minor League reorganization. The minor league hockey team, the Trenton Titans, established in 1999 and operating as the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms, disbanded before the start of the 2013–14 season.

Collegiate athletics

Mercer County is also home to several college athletic programs, including two NCAA DI schools. Rider University competes as the Rider Broncs in the MAAC. In wrestling, Rider is a member of the Eastern Wrestling League. The Princeton Tigers compete in the Ivy League.

The College of New Jersey Lions compete in the NCAA DIII as a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference and the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

Mercer County Community College competes as the Mercer Vikings as a member of the Garden State Athletic Conference and the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Education

School districts in the county include:

K-12
9-12
Special

There is a state-operated school, Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf.

Higher education

Mercer County is home to Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary, the Institute for Advanced Study, Rider University, Westminster Choir College, The College of New Jersey, and Thomas Edison State University. Mercer County Community College is a county-run community college located in West Windsor.

Points of interest

Wineries

  • Hopewell Valley Vineyards
  • Working Dog Winery, in East Windsor Township

See also


This page was last updated at 2023-10-05 10:48 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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