 The Borough of Flemington
The land that comprises Flemington was originally the territory of the Lenni-Lenape Indians, as was all of Hunterdon County. In 1712, as part of a land parcel of 9170 acres, the Flemington acreage was acquired by William Penn and Daniel Coxe.
Flemington is surrounded by the Township of Raritan and is located in the near geographic center of the Township. The Borough is also the County Seat of Hunterdon. Raritan Township comprises only a little more than one fourth of the old Amwell Township (embracing the territory of the townships of Raritan, Delaware, East and West Amwell) which was purchased from the Indians in 1703. Raritan was formed from Amwell in 1838. One of the eastern townships of central Hunterdon County, Raritan is rhombic shaped resulting in its extreme northern and western points reaching far into the townships adjoining it to the north and west. In 1756, Samuel Fleming purchased part of this land, and built his home which still stands on Bonnell Street, and "Fleming's Town" was born.
The surrounding fertile farmland dictated that the beginnings of Flemington should be essentially agricultural. Early German and English settlers engaged in industries dependent on farm products. As time passed poultry and dairy farms superseded crops in agricultural importance.
In 1785, Flemington was chosen as the County Seat of Hunterdon. Fire destroyed the old courthouse in 1826 and the City of Lambertville made an attempt to have the Seat moved, to no avail. Flemington remained the County Seat and the Courthouse which stands today on Main Street was built.
The Union Hotel, across the street from the Courthouse was built in 1814 by Neal Hart. After Hart's death in 1837, the hotel was purchased by his son and then in 1850 the partnership of Bartles, Bonnell and Fleming. It was during this ownership that the business became known by its current name.
By 1980 sixty-five percent of Flemington borough had been included on the New Jersey State Register of Historic Places and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1856, the Hunterdon County Agricultural society purchased 40 acres of land that would accommodate the people, exhibits and livestock for the County (Flemington) Fair. The purpose of this Fair was to promote competition between farmers, stock raisers and machinery manufacturers. In the year 2003, the County Fair found a new home in Raritan Township.
The Trial that Put Flemington on the Map...
On a cold rainy night, March 1, 1932, in the remote rural area near Hopewell, New Jersey, Charles A. Lindbergh, Jr., twenty months old, was kidnapped. Sometime between 8:00 p.m., when his nurse, Betty Gow, checked on the sleeping baby, and 10:00 p.m., when she once again checked on him before retiring for the night, "The Eaglet" (as the newspapers called him) had been removed from his crib...
The most dramatic change in Flemington was its transformation into a major factory outlet center, which is called Liberty Village and Turntable Junction. With over sixty-five stores, it has become one of the finest high quality manufactures outlet shopping complexes in the Country.
Historic Flemington is a community which maintains many faces from the Flemington Fair to Liberty Village, from art and craft shows to stock car racing, from small family owned businesses to large industrial enterprises and it is all maintained in a quaint country atmosphere.
POPULATION: 4,203 (2002 estimation) AREA: 1.3 square miles
The Township of Raritan
LOCATION - In the heart of Hunterdon County, surrounding the Borough of Flemington, at the intersection of US Routes 202, 31 and 12
AREA - 38.6 square miles
AREA ROADWAYS - U.S. Routes 202, 31, 12, 22, I-287, I-78, I-95
POPULATION - 19,809 (2000 Census)
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District consist of four elementary schools and two middle school serving Flemington and Raritan Township communities with a goal to foster student's intellectual growth in nurturing the total child by offering programs and experiences in and beyond the classroom. A comprehensive and innovative technology plan enhances its instructional program in preparing students for the demands of the 21st century.
HIGH SCHOOL
Hunterdon Central Regional High School is widely recognized as a leader in delivery and instructional technology. As a national Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and New Jersey's First Star School, the only school to achieve Star School status in two consecutive years, Hunterdon Central offers students a broad academic and co-curricular program that provides balance and flexibility for individual planned programs of study. Students benefit from Hunterdon Central's block schedule format which enhances a delivery of instruction that actively engages them in the kinds of problem solving activities they will need to succeed in the 21st century.
POLYTECH
Hunterdon County Polytech offers a wide array of programs for both the high school student and for the adult population. Generally students enroll in Polytech when they are in their sophomore or junior year of high school, however, students can start a program in their senior year. Upon completion of a program students can exercise a Tech Prep option (not available in all program areas) and continue their education at the community college level, seek employment through a cooperative education program or enter an apprentice training program.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Raritan Valley Community College, serving Hunterdon and Somerset County residents for over thirty years, offers 65 associate degrees and certificates. In addition, customized training programs and noncredit courses are available for those seeking personal and professional development. The College is committed to offering a quality and affordable education through effective teaching, liaison with the community's businesses and state-of-the-art technology.
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