High Bridge, New Jersey

Climate

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, High Bridge had a population of 3,546. The median age was 41.5 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.^[36][37]

97.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.0% lived in rural areas.^[38]

There were 1,424 households in High Bridge, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.8% were married-couple households, 16.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[36]

There were 1,517 housing units, of which 6.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.^[36]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 3,648 people, 1,418 households, and 1,004 families in the borough. The population density was 1,526.9 per square mile (589.5/km²). There were 1,481 housing units at an average density of 619.9 per square mile (239.3/km²). The racial makeup was 93.17% (3,399) White, 1.32% (48) Black or African American, 0.22% (8) Native American, 3.18% (116) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.74% (27) from other races, and 1.37% (50) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.00% (219) of the population.^[17]

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.^[39]

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]

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.^[45] 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.^[3] 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.^[46][47][4]

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).^{[4][48][49][50][51][52][53]}

High Bridge Borough Council meeting agendas and minutes are available on the borough website.^[54]

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.^[55]

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.^[56]

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.^[57] In the November 2015 general election, Strange was elected to serve the balance of the term.^[58]

Federal, state and county representation

High Bridge is located in the 7th Congressional District^[59] and is part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district.^[60]

For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).^[61] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).^[62]

For the 2026–2027 session, the 16th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Andrew Zwicker (D, South Brunswick) and in the General Assembly by Mitchelle Drulis (D, East Amwell Township) and Roy Freiman (D, Hillsborough Township).^[63]

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.^[64] As of 2025^[update], Hunterdon County's Commissioners are Director John E. Lanza (R; Raritan Township, 2025),^[65] Deputy Director Shaun C. Van Doren (R; Tewksbury Township, 2026),^[66] Jeff Kuhl (R; Raritan Township, 2027),^[67] Zachary T. Rich (R; West Amwell Township, 2025)^[68] and Susan Soloway (R; Franklin Township, 2027).^[69][70]

Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are Clerk Mary H. Melfi (R; Flemington, 2026),^[71][72] Sheriff Fredrick W. Brown (R; Alexandria Township, 2025)^[73][74] and Surrogate Heidi Rohrbach (R; Lebanon Township, 2028).^[75][76]

Politics

As of November 7, 2017, there were a total of 2,587 registered voters in High Bridge.

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%.^[78][79] 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%.^[80] 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.^[81]

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%.^[82][83] 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.^[84]

Roads and highways

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.^[102]

County Route 513 is the main road that passes through and connects to Route 31 to the west.^[103] 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^[104] now serves as the westernmost station on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line.^[105][106] 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.^[107]