Raritan, NJ

Raritan, New Jersey

Introduction to Raritan, New Jersey

Raritan, New Jersey is 12 miles W of Edison, New Jersey (center to center) and 27 miles SW of Newark, New Jersey. It is located in Somerset County and has a population of 6,338.

Raritan History

The early settlers were primarily of Dutch origin. On April 3, 1868, Raritan was officially established as a subdivision of the Bridgewater Township. However, there were numerous lawsuits between the township and the community throughout the 1930s and 1940s. In May 1948, a referendum was passed, and an Act of the New Jersey Legislature incorporated the Borough of Raritan on June 12, 1948. This borough included the old town, as well as parts of Bridgewater Township. According to research, the community was named after the local river, which in turn was named after a tribe that had inhabited the area. During the Civil War and World War I, woollen mills in Raritan produced blankets for the troops.

Raritan and Nearby Attractions

• Crane Phillips Living Museum
• Albert Einstein House
• Duke Island Park
• Cora Hartshorn Arboretum & Bird Sanctuary
• Turtle Back Zoo
• Reeves-Reed Arboretum

Things To Do In Raritan

Raritan offers easy access to numerous museums including the Crane Phillips Living Museum, the East Brunswick Museum, and the Princeton University Art Museum. The Duke Island Park provides facilities for picnicking and biking and also offers nature trails. Princeton Battlefield, a historical site near Raritan, is the site of a 1777 battle in which George Washington's troops defeated the British forces. The Washington Crossing Historical Park features a famous painting by Emanuel Leutze. Cora Hartshorn Arboretum & Bird Sanctuary, the Turtle Back Zoo, the Reeves-Reed Arboretum, and Northlandz theme park are other popular attractions in the area.

Raritan Transportation

Air transportation is available from the Newark Liberty International Airport.

Raritan Higher Education

Raritan Valley Community College, Devry Institute, Rutgers University, and Princeton University are some of the colleges near Raritan.

High Points

Raritan strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in New Jersey):

Category	Trophy
Short Commute Times (vs. State)	Top 12%
Racial Diversity (vs. Peers)	Top 16%
Well-Paid Single Women (vs. Peers)	Top 18%
Well-Paid Single Men (vs. Peers)	Top 19%

Comparative Profile of Raritan, NJ

Comparing Raritan to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in New Jersey (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Racial Diversity
Well-Paid Single Women
Well-Paid Single Men
Children Under 5 Years Old
Senior Citizens
Age of the Population
Female Share of the Population
Male Share of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Portion of People Married
Average Household Size

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
People in Middle Class or Better
Median Family Income
College Educated Adults
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Walking and Biking to Work
Public Transportation Use
Working at Home
Short Commute Times

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
People Living Alone
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Affordability of Rents
Housing Recently Built
Affordability of Property Taxes

Raritan Almanac

Raritan Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Raritan Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Nearby Cities and Towns

Raritan Colleges

(List of All New Jersey Colleges)

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