Hamilton Township is a township and the most populous municipality in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the largest suburb of Trenton, the state's capital, which is located to the township's west. The township is situated within the New York metropolitan area as defined by the United States Census BureauNew York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 28, 2014. but directly borders the Philadelphia metropolitan area and is part of the Federal Communications Commission's Philadelphia Designated Market Area.- Philadelphia Market Area Coverage Maps, Federal Communications Commission. Accessed December 28, 2014. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 92,297, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 3,833 (+4.3%) from the 2010 census count of 88,464, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,355 (+1.6%) from the 2000 census count of 87,109.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. The township was the state's ninth-largest municipality in 2010 and 2020,Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022. after having been ranked 10th in 2000.The Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships in 2010 in New Jersey: 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed October 28, 2017.

Hamilton was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 11, 1842, from portions of the now-defunct Nottingham Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Chambersburg on April 1, 1872, and annexed by Trenton in 1888, and by Wilbur on April 24, 1891, and annexed by Trenton in 1898.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 162. Accessed May 28, 2024. Hamilton Township derives its name from the village of Hamilton Square, which might have been named for Alexander Hamilton.History of Hamilton Township, Hamilton Township Historical Society, 1999Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.

In 2006, Hamilton Township was ranked by Morgan Quitno Press as the 18th-safest city in the United States, out of 369 cities nationwide.Morgan Quitno 12th Annual Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall, Morgan Quitno. Accessed October 28, 2017. In the company's 2005 survey, the Township was ranked 15th safest of 354 cities surveyed nationwide.Morgan Quitno 11th Annual Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall , accessed June 4, 2006.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 40.31 square miles (104.41 km2), including 39.44 square miles (102.14 km2) of land and 0.87 square miles (2.26 km2) of water (2.17%).

Although Hamilton is one of the largest townships in New Jersey it doesn't have a true "downtown", but a number of settlements within the township form smaller commercial centers. Groveville (with a 2020 Census population of 3,106), Hamilton Square (12,679), Mercerville (13,447), White Horse (9,791) and Yardville (6,965) are all census-designated places and unincorporated communities located within the township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Briar Manor, Broad Street Park, Bromley, Chewalla Park, Creston, DeCou Village, Deutzville, Duck Island, East Trenton Heights, Edgebrook, Extonville, Golden Crest, Gropps Lake, Haines Corner, Hutchinson Mills, Lakeside Park, Maple Shade, North Crosswicks, Nottingham, Oil City, Pond Run, Quaker Bridge, Quaker Gardens, Rosemont, The Orchards, Trenton Gardens, Warner Village, White City and Yardville Heights.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Van Nest Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife management area operated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife.New Jersey Wildlife Management Areas, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife. Accessed November 24, 2015.Van Nest Refuge Mercer County - Hamilton Township, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife. Accessed November 24, 2015.

The township borders the municipalities of Lawrence Township, Robbinsville Township, Trenton and West Windsor in Mercer County; Bordentown City, Bordentown Township, Chesterfield Township and North Hanover Township in Burlington County; Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County; and Falls Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.Areas touching Hamilton Township, MapIt. Accessed November 26, 2019.Municipalities within Mercer County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed February 23, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census

+Hamilton township, Mercer County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010% 1990% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)78,33172,11864,53055,19990.50%82.79%72.94%59.81%Black or African American alone (NH)4,2796,90710,04211,7244.94%7.93%11.35%12.70%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)818693670.09%0.10%0.11%0.07%Asian alone (NH)1,8052,2262,8904,1212.09%2.56%3.27%4.46%Pacific Islander alone (NH)N/A224114N/A0.03%0.05%0.02%Other race alone (NH)511041113480.06%0.12%0.13%0.38%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)N/A1,1751,1442,545N/A1.35%1.29%2.76%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2,0064,4719,61318,2792.32%5.13%10.87%19.80%Total86,55387,10988,46492,297100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 88,464 people, 34,534 households, and 23,759 families in the township. The population density was . There were 36,170 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 78.38% (69,340) White, 11.78% (10,419) Black or African American, 0.17% (149) Native American, 3.29% (2,914) Asian, 0.09% (79) Pacific Islander, 4.27% (3,775) from other races, and 2.02% (1,788) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.87% (9,613) of the population.

Of the 34,534 households, 28.0% had children under the age of 18; 51.3% were married couples living together; 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.2% were non-families. Of all households, 26.3% were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09.

21.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $72,026 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,663) and the median family income was $87,512 (+/− $2,631). Males had a median income of $58,674 (+/− $3,519) versus $45,661 (+/− $1,733) for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,344 (+/− $701). About 3.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Hamilton township, Mercer County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 17, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 87,109 people, 33,523 households, and 23,667 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 34,535 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 85.15% White, 8.16% African American, 0.14% Native American, 2.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.19% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.13% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Hamilton township, Mercer County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 17, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Hamilton township, Mercer County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 19, 2012.

There were 33,523 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the township the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $57,110, and the median income for a family was $66,986. Males had a median income of $46,360 versus $33,673 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,441. About 2.8% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy As of late 2005, much of the new residential development in Hamilton has been geared to accommodating the aging baby boomer generation. New retirement communities and assisted-living facilities outpace that of new traditional residential communities. Such construction has been spurred by several factors. The first being that the public is skeptical of growing school budgets due to its already large size. Hamilton voters have often rejected increases in school budgets in their yearly elections to keep already high taxes from growing higher. As a result, the planning board has been reluctant to authorize construction of housing that will increase the student population. Another reason is a series of improvements to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hamilton. It is situated next to where most of the under-developed land in the township used to be, land that is now home to the active older-adult communities.

As of October 2016, significant construction has been done to further build up the Hamilton Township area. Multiple new retirement communities have been constructed, as well as multiple new restaurants, banks, gas stations and convenience stores along Route 33. Hamilton Township continues to expand rapidly to accommodate the increase in citizens residing in the community.

Parks and recreation