Hillsborough, NJ

Hillsborough Township has a population of around 38,000 people. Located in Somerset County, Hillsborough was first settled by the Dutch in the mid-17th century. Hillsborough officially became Hillsborough Township after receiving its charter in 1771. It was previously known as the "Westering Precinct of Somerset County."

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Hillsborough Township is a collection of small villages:

• Blackwells Mills is located on the Millstone River. It is home of the Blackwells Mills Canal House, which was built in the 1800s.
• Flagtown was purchased in 1700 by Jacob Flagg. This area was the headquarters of the Hillsborough Company during the American Revolutionary War.
• Belle Mead was originally a farming area. Today, Belle Mead consists of large single-family homes and estates. This community has a stable population and low residential turn-around.
• South Branch dates back to 1750 and was popular for it impromptu boxing matches. Today, this community has a population of about 1,500 residents. The majority of the homes in this area are owner-occupied.
• Neshanic, founded in the mid-1700s, was known for leather production and peach farming. Today, the area is an unincorporated community of Hillsborough.
• South Branch Historic District is the location of a number of Italian and Greek Revival-style homes.
• Nashanic Mills and Historic District is the home of the Nashanic Mill, which was built in 1810. The mill that stands in this area today is not the original. The Nashanic Historic District, located along the Raritan River, was included into the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
• Millstone Valley Agricultural District was made famous in the 1700s and 1800s because of the various military events that took place here. Today, this area is known for its restaurants, shopping and outdoor recreation opportunities.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Hillsborough is less than 15 miles from both Princeton and New Brunswick, giving its residents access to many local employers. Aside from Princeton University, some other large employers in the Princeton area include Berlitz International, NRG Energy and Covance Inc. In the New Brunswick area, Johnson & Johnson has thousands of employees. Additionally, there are many medical facilities in New Brunswick, such as Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and St. Peter's University Hospital.

Neighboring Bridewater Township is home to several of Somerset County's largest employers. Located less than 10 miles from Hillsborough Township, Bridgewater's companies include Alpharma, ICI Americas, Ortho Biotech Products, and Sanofi-Aventis.

FAMILY FUN

• Sourland Mountain Preserve occupies several thousand acres of land. Visitors to the preserve can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, bird watching and horseback riding.
• Somerset Valley Playhouse is a community theater group formed by a local elementary school's PTA. This group is now located in an old one-room schoolhouse. Performances continue throughout the year and auditions are open to all community members.

EDUCATION

Health Choice and Holistic Massage School offers education in holistic medicine and the art of massage.

EVENTS

• Breakfast With Santa offers a breakfast buffet where kids can get their picture taken with Santa Claus. Reservations and tickets are required.
• Annual Duke Island Park Walk is open to all community members and is designed to get families outside for fresh air and exercise. Similar health-oriented events have been a priority of the town's current mayor in recent years.
• Annual Red Ribbon Family Sock Hop is hosted by the Life Skills Committee. A fundraising event to continue Drug Free programs in the local schools, this Sock Hop features a disc jockey, dancing, fun activities for kids and refreshments.
• Annual Firefighter Olympics is a day-long competition, during which firefighters from numerous companies compete in various events. This event is free and open to the community.

BEST BETS

• Van der Veer-Harris House is a Colonial Revival-style home from the late 1700s.
• Huff House and Farmstead is located in Flagtown and was built in the early- to mid-1800s. This property was used as a single-family home and farm.
• Elmendorf House, also known as the Frelinghuysen-Elmendorf Residence, dates back to the early 1800s. This Greek Revival-style home was a single-family home.
• Nevius Street Bridge is a historic truss bridge that connects Raritan and Hillsborough. The bridge dates back to the 1840s and recently underwent renovations.
• Duke Gardens, open since 1964, contains a large glass house and various gardens.
• Duke Farms covers several thousand acres and dates back to the late 1800s. This property was owned by James Buchanan Duke and includes some nine lakes and several dozen buildings. Today, visitors can take tours of the estate, and the property often hosts special events.
• Cat Tail Brook Bridge is a single-arch stone bridge that was built in 1825.
• Higginsville Road Bridges are a pair of bridges built in the late 1800s - one by the Milliken Brothers of New York, and the other by the Wrought Iron Bridge Co. - that cross the Raritan River in South Branch.

SHOPPING

An Indoor Flea Market is held at the Hillsborough Municipal Building. Residents can spend a day browsing and shopping from local vendors or rent a table to hawk wares themselves.

LOCAL MEDIA

Hillsborough's local radio stations include:

• WOR 710 AM - talk
• WABC 770 AM - news
• WPHY 930 AM - sports
• WCHR 1040AM - religious
• WZZO 95.1 FM - rock
• WCTO 96.1 FM - country
• WCBS 101.1 FM - oldies
• WKTU 103.5 FM - dance
• WWPR 105.1 FM - hip-hop