Warren Township is a community in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 15,311, reflecting an increase of 1,052 (+7.4%) from the 14,259 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 3,429 (+31.7%) from the 10,830 counted in the 1990 Census.

Warren was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans and was settled in the 1720’s by European farmers. As early as 1900, it became a destination for wealthy residents looking to escape nearby New York City.  Warren was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1806, from portions of Bernards Township and Bridgewater Township. The south-eastern half of the original township (which was close to a railroad and contained most of the population) was separated off as North Plainfield Township (since renamed to Green Brook Township) on April 2, 1872. Warren is named for Revolutionary War patriot, General Joseph Warren, who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

In July 2009, CNNMoney.com ranked Warren #6 in its list of “Best Places to Live” in the United States, citing in particular its schools, June carnival (the Lions Club’s annual “Expo”), “wide open spaces” (generally 1.5 acres (6,100 m2) per house), 74 “working farms” (“taxed-as-farmland” tracts, but rural, nevertheless), and proximity to New York City.

Education

The Warren Township Schools serve public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools in the district (with 2010-11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics.  There are four elementary schools (for grades K-5) — Central School (317 students), Mt. Horeb School (356, includes Pre-K), Angelo L. Tomaso School (355), and Woodland School (361) — along with Warren Middle School (804) for grades 6-8.

Students in public school for grades 9-12 attend Watchung Hills Regional High School, which serves students from Warren as well as the neighboring communities of Watchung, Green Brook (in Somerset County), and Long Hill Township (in Morris County).

Notable people

Notable current and former residents of Warren Township include:

Monica Crowley (born 1968), conservative radio and TV talk show personality.

Donald DiFrancesco (born 1944), former N.J. Senate president and Acting Governor.

Mike Ferguson (born 1970), former U.S. Congressman.

James L. Flanagan, electrical engineer.

Bob Franks (1951–2010), former N.J. legislative leader and U.S. Congressman.

Emma Fursch-Madi (1847–1894), French operatic soprano.

Gloria Gaynor (born 1949), singer, known for I Will Survive.

Chris Kratt (born 1969) host of Kratts’ Creatures and Zoboomafoo as well as Be the Creature, which runs on the National Geographic Channel.

Martin Kratt (born 1965), brother of Chris, and also an educational nature show host.

Brielle LaCosta (born 1984), 2010 Miss New Jersey International.

James Morris (born 1947), opera singer.

Calvin Pace (born 1980), outside linebacker for the New York Jets.

Adam Riess (born 1969), Nobel Prize winner in Physics, 2011.

Dan Schulman, president of American Express, former founding CEO of Virgin Mobile USA.

Ravi Shankar (1920–2012), musician and composer best known for his work on the sitar.

Jeffrey Vanderbeek, owner of the New Jersey Devils.

Points of interest

Wagner Farm Arboretum

Mount Bethel Meeting House, c. 1770

Kirch-Ford House, c. 1770

Torino’s (traditionally: the King George Inn), c. 1820

Springdale United Methodist Church, c. 1840

Mount Horeb United Methodist Church, 1867

Hofheimer Mausoleum (sometimes colloquially referred to as the “Tomb of the 12 Nuns”)

source: wikipedia.org

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