Bridgewater Township, New Jersey

Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater
Location in Somerset County
Bridgewater
Location in New Jersey
Bridgewater
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°35′32″N 74°36′14″W / 40.592358°N 74.60401°W / 40.592358; -74.60401
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountySomerset
Royal charterApril 4, 1749
IncorporatedFebruary 21, 1798
Named afterEnglish town of Bridgwater
Government
  TypeFaulkner Act Mayor-council
  BodyTownship Council
  MayorMatthew Moench (R, term ends December 31, 2024)
  AdministratorMichael Pappas
  Municipal clerkGrace W. Njuguna
Area
  Total
32.36 sq mi (83.81 km2)
  Land31.89 sq mi (82.59 km2)
  Water0.47 sq mi (1.23 km2)  1.46%
  Rank76th of 565 in state
4th of 21 in county
Elevation
138 ft (42 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
45,977
  Estimate 
(2023)
45,814
  Rank46th of 565 in state
2nd of 21 in county
  Density1,441.8/sq mi (556.7/km2)
   Rank342nd of 565 in state
9th of 21 in county
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes
08807 - Bridgewater
08836 – Martinsville
08805 – Bound Brook
Area code(s)732 and 908
FIPS code3403507720
GNIS feature ID0882171
Websitewww.bridgewaternj.gov

Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located within the heart of the Raritan Valley region. Situated within Central New Jersey and crisscrossed by several major highways, the township is known for being both the regional commercial hub for Somerset County (home to Bridgewater Commons and different corporate headquarters) and as a suburban bedroom community of New York City within the New York metropolitan area. The township is located roughly 32 miles (51 km) away from Manhattan and about 20 miles (32 km) away from Staten Island.

Bridgewater Township was created by Royal charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct. It was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, under the Township Act of 1798. During the nineteenth century, portions of the township were taken to form Warren Township (March 5, 1806), Branchburg Township (April 5, 1845), Somerville (March 25, 1863), Raritan (April 3, 1868) and Bound Brook (March 24, 1869).

As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 45,977, an increase of 1,513 (+3.4%) from the 2010 census count of 44,464, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,524 (+3.5%) from the 42,940 counted in the 2000 census.