| Bloomsbury, New Jersey | |
| Settlement Type: | Borough |
| Seal Type: | wordmark |
| Seal Size: | 200px |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Image Map1: | Census_Bureau_map_of_Bloomsbury,_New_Jersey.png |
| Mapsize1: | 250x200px |
| Map Caption1: | Census Bureau map of Bloomsbury, New Jersey |
| Pushpin Map: | USA New Jersey Hunterdon County#USA New Jersey#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Bloomsbury |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Hunterdon County##Location in New Jersey##Location in the United States |
| Pushpin Relief: | yes |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Hunterdon |
| Government Type: | Borough |
| Governing Body: | Borough Council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Vicky Papics (R, term ends December 31, 2023)[1] |
| Leader Title1: | Administrator / Municipal clerk |
| Leader Name1: | Lisa A. Burd (as a shared service with Greenwich Township)[2] |
| Established Title: | Incorporated |
| Established Date: | March 30, 1905 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [3] |
| Area Total Km2: | 2.49 |
| Area Land Km2: | 2.42 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.08 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 0.96 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 0.93 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.03 |
| Area Water Percent: | 3.23 |
| Area Rank: | 509th of 565 in state 24th of 26 in county[4] |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 792 |
| Population Rank: | 542nd of 565 in state 25th of 26 in county[5] |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 849.4 |
| Population Density Rank: | 402nd of 565 in state 12th of 26 in county |
| Population Est: | 796 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | −05:00 |
| Timezone Dst: | Eastern (EDT) |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −04:00 |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [6] |
| Elevation Ft: | 335 |
| Coordinates Footnotes: | [7] |
| Coordinates: | 40.6569°N -75.0762°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 08804[8] [9] |
| Area Code: | 908 exchange: 479[10] |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 3401906370[11] [12] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0885162[13] |
| Blank2 Name: | School district |
| Blank2 Info: | Phillipsburg School District |
Bloomsbury is a borough in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 792, a decrease of 78 (−9.0%) from the 2010 census count of 870, which in turn reflected a decline of 16 (−1.8%) from the 886 counted in the 2000 census.[14]
Bloomsbury was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 30, 1905, from portions of Bethlehem Township.[15]
Bloomsbury was once known as "Johnson's Iron Works", owned by Robert Johnson, on the north bank of the river. The current name is derived either from the Bloom family, influential in the early history of the town, or from the iron ore processed into masses of wrought iron that are known as "blooms".
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.49 km2), including 0.93 square miles (2.41 km2) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) of water (3.23%).[4] The borough borders the municipalities of Bethlehem Township in Hunterdon County; and Franklin Township, Greenwich Township and Pohatcong Township in Warren County.[16] [17] [18] Bloomsbury is located on the south side of the Musconetcong River in the northwest corner of Hunterdon County and is the third-smallest municipality in Hunterdon County.
The 2010 United States census counted 870 people, 337 households, and 237 families in the borough. The population density was 991.9 per square mile (383.0/km2). There were 358 housing units at an average density of 408.1 per square mile (157.6/km2). The racial makeup was 95.40% (830) White, 1.03% (9) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 1.84% (16) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.34% (3) from other races, and 1.38% (12) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.02% (35) of the population.
Of the 337 households, 38.6% had children under the age of 18; 57.3% were married couples living together; 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.7% were non-families. Of all households, 24.0% were made up of individuals and 6.8% 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 3.09.
27.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 105.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 101.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $98,571 (with a margin of error of +/− $19,026) and the median family income was $106,324 (+/− $11,687). Males had a median income of $71,000 (+/− $9,149) versus $50,417 (+/− $7,595) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $42,141 (+/− $6,038). About 2.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.[19]
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 886 people, 322 households, and 252 families residing in the borough. The population density was 975.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 342 housing units at an average density of 376.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the borough was 98.19% White, 0.34% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population.[20] [21]
There were 322 households, out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 15.8% of all households 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 2.74 and the average family size was 3.11.[20] [21]
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 38.4% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.[20] [21] The median income for a household in the borough was $64,375, and the median income for a family was $67,500. Males had a median income of $51,053 versus $33,750 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,392. About 4.8% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.[20] [21]
Bloomsbury 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.[22] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A 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.[23] The borough form of government used by Bloomsbury 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 mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[24] [25]
, the mayor of Bloomsbury is Republican Vicky Papics, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Todd Dangelo (R, 2025), Megan Henry (R, 2024), Scott McClaymont (R, 2025), Chris Smith (R, 2024), Daniel Smith (R, 2023; appointed to serve an unexpired term) and Eric Weger (R, 2023).[26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33]
Bloomsbury is located in the 7th Congressional District[34] and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.[35] [36] [37]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 546 registered voters in Bloomsbury, of which 120 (22.0%) were registered as Democrats, 227 (41.6%) were registered as Republicans and 199 (36.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[38]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 55.3% of the vote (223 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.7% (172 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (8 votes), among the 404 ballots cast by the borough's 561 registered voters (1 ballot was spoiled), for a turnout of 72.0%.[39] [40] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 55.0% of the vote (254 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.6% (197 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (8 votes), among the 462 ballots cast by the borough's 551 registered voters, for a turnout of 83.8%.[41] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 64.1% of the vote (302 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 33.5% (158 votes) and other candidates with 1.6% (9 votes), among the 471 ballots cast by the borough's 563 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 83.7.[42]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.0% of the vote (189 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25.1% (65 votes), and other candidates with 1.9% (5 votes), among the 260 ballots cast by the borough's 551 registered voters (1 ballot was spoiled), for a turnout of 47.2%.[43] [44] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.1% of the vote (210 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 22.2% (75 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 12.4% (42 votes) and other candidates with 1.8% (6 votes), among the 338 ballots cast by the borough's 549 registered voters, yielding a 61.6% turnout.[45]
The Bloomsbury School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Bloomsbury Public School.[46] [47] As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 103 students and 16.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 6.3:1.[48] In the 2016–2017 school year, the district had the 11th-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state.[49] The district participates in the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, having been approved on November 2, 1999, as one of the first ten districts statewide to participate in the program.[50] Seats in the program for non-resident students are specified by the district and are allocated by lottery, with tuition paid for participating students by the New Jersey Department of Education.[51]
Public school students from Bloomsbury in ninth through twelfth grades attend Phillipsburg High School in Phillipsburg in Warren County, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Phillipsburg School District. The high school also serves students from four other sending communities: Alpha, Greenwich Township, Lopatcong Township and Pohatcong Township.[52] [53] [54] As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,809 students and 133.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.6:1.[55]
Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.[56]
, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Hunterdon County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[57]
Several major roads run through the borough.[58] Interstate 78 / U.S. Route 22[59] pass through the north and connects Bloomsbury at Exit 7 with Route 173.[60]
The major county road that passes through is County Route 579.[61]
Public transportation is limited to The LINK, a public bus service which serves Hunterdon County. Funding for operation of the Hunterdon County LINK System is provided by Hunterdon County, NJ Transit and the Federal Transit Administration.[62]
Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad), runs through the southwest part of Bloomsbury along the border with Bethlehem Township on its way to Phillipsburg, New Jersey.[63]
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Bloomsbury include: