911 county road 579, Delaware Twp., NJ 08867

Delightfully rural Delaware Township measures just over 37 square miles in western Hunterdon County. Rolling fields, farmland and forests characterize the bucolic scenery in this peaceful part of the state which shares a border with the Delaware River. Neighboring towns include Lambertville, Raritan Township, East and West Amwell, Franklin Township and Kingwood Township. Incorporated in 1838, Delaware's earliest settlers actually came to farm the land in the 1700s. Today, a population of about 4,500 residents are scatted throughout long-established communities named Sergeantsville, Croton, Locktown, Sand Brook, Raven Rock and Rosemont.

In addition to the Delaware River, the township's southern borders include the Delaware and Raritan Canal. New Jersey's last covered bridge is also located in Delaware Township; the circa 1872 landmark crosses over the Wickecheoke Creek, connecting Rosemont and Sergeantsville.

Community Life

Sergeantsville (the first syllable is pronounced "serge," not "sarge,") is located in the middle of Delaware Township and contains the post office, town hall and elementary school. This part of the township was named for Charles Sergeant, a soldier who served in the Revolutionary War.

Sergeantsville hosts a seasonal farmer's market across the street from the historic stone municipal building on Route 604. Locally produced fruit and vegetables as well as handmade goods and plants are displayed Saturday mornings from 8:30 until noon in the spring, summer and early fall.

One of the annual highlights that brings visitors from all over the region is the "Thanksgiving in the Country" home tour that takes place in Sergeantsville each November. Several local homes are chosen for their distinctive architectural or historic characteristics, and all proceeds for this fundraiser go to the Facial Reconstruction Unit of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Residents participate in Recreation Commission programs for all ages. These include volleyball and basketball teams for teens and adults and senior yoga. There are also day trips to local attractions, a concert series at the Locktown Stone Church, children's visit with Santa Claus, a Community Day with hot air balloon launch and town-wide yard sale on the township's schedule.

Transportation

Local and state roadways in Delaware Township include Routes 12, 29 and 202. Exit 15 of Interstate 78/22 is located in the next town over, Franklin Township. Its location in the far western part of New Jersey makes Delaware Township commutable to business and corporate centers in towns like Princeton which is approximately 20 miles away, Trenton at 24 miles away or Philadelphia located 48 miles from the township. Midtown Manhattan is a trip of about 75 miles.

Education

The Delaware Township School on Rosemont-Ringoes Road serves students in kindergarten through grade eight. The school is located on 26 acres in Sergeantsville.

High school students from Delaware Township attend Hunterdon Central Regional High School on Route 31 in Flemington. One of the largest campus-style high school districts in New Jersey, Hunterdon Central Regional High School is sited on 72 acres and includes four general classroom buildings, a music/communications building, a 2,000 seat field house and an instructional media center. The music/communications building houses an FM radio station and cable television station. About 3,100 students attend from Delaware, East Amwell, Raritan and Readington Townships and Flemington Borough.

Real Estate

Homes in Delaware Township run the gamut from restored early Colonial dwellings dating back to the early 1700s and antique fieldstone manors to luxury properties set on lot sizes of ten, 20, or 30-plus acres. Land offerings, historic homes, working farms, Victorians, and water-facing homes along a creek or stream are also found in the township's housing stock. There are neighborhoods of handsome homes and a selection of newer townhomes as well.

Local Attractions

Bull's Island State Park: Consisting of 79 acres, Bull's Island Recreation Area is situated on Bull's Island at Raven Rock along the Delaware River. It is a part of the 3,578-acre Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park and offers a boat launch, fishing and a nature trail. Visitors enjoy kayaking, tubing or canoeing along the river. The park entrance is located at 2185 Daniel Bray Highway.

Virginia Napurano Cultural Arts Center: The arts center hosts live music and art shows in a historic country church at 522 Rosemont-Ringoes Road in the Sergeantsville section of the township.

Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge: Crossing over the Wickecheoke Creek-a tributary of the Delaware River--this westbound, one lane only, wood-covered bridge is the oldest covered bridge in the state of New Jersey. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge was built in 1872. It was named in honor of Richard Green Sergeant, a farmer who operated the nearby Sergeant's Mills and was known locally as Green Sergeant. In 1960 it was condemned as unsafe for heavy traffic and subsequently dismantled. Local residents protested the removal of the bridge, so it was rebuilt in 1961 using steel girders and reinforcements to strengthen the original lumber. This bridge is notable for being the last-standing historic bridge in the state; New Jersey once had approximately 75 covered bridges. It is located along Rosemont Ringoes Road.

Sergeantsville General Store: Established in 1847 at 601 Rosemont Ringoes Road, the store is located on the ground floor of charming three-story Victorian. Cyclists and local residents stop in for coffee, sandwiches, soup, and surprisingly, Chinese food.