Robbinsville Township is a township in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located on the border of the New York metropolitan area and the Philadelphia metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 15,476, its highest decennial count ever. Inspired by its central geographical location within New Jersey, Robbinsville's motto is Be at the Center of it All.

The township was incorporated as in 1859 as Washington Township. It changed its name to Robbinsville in 2008, the name of a settlement within the township, after the politician George R. Robbins.

Robbinsville has the only team to reach the Little League Softball World Series four times in seven years. It is home to the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, one of the largest Hindu temples in the world.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 20.58 square miles (53.30 km2), including 20.44 square miles (52.94 km2) of land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km2) of water (0.68%).

Located at the cross-roads between the Delaware Valley region to the southwest and the Raritan Valley region to the northeast, the township is considered part of the New York Metropolitan area as defined by the United States Census Bureau,New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 29, 2018. but borders the Philadelphia metropolitan area and is part of the Federal Communications Commission's Philadelphia Designated Market Area.- Philadelphia Market Area Coverage Maps , Federal Communications Commission. Accessed March 29, 2018.

The township borders East Windsor, Hamilton Township, and West Windsor Township in Mercer County; and Allentown, Millstone Township and Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County.Areas touching Robbinsville Township , MapIt. Accessed January 5, 2015.Municipalities within Mercer County, NJ , Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 15, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries , New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Allens Station, Carsons Mills, Hillside Terrace, Meadows Terrace, New Canton, New Sharon, Pages Corners, Robbinsville Center and Windsor.Locality Search , State of New Jersey. Accessed January 5, 2015.

History What is now Robbinsville Township was originally incorporated as Washington Township (named for George Washington) by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1859, from portions of East Windsor.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 165. Accessed May 30, 2024.

On November 6, 2007, voters approved by a vote of 1,816 to 693"A change of name but town's the same" , The Times, November 7, 2007. Accessed November 30, 2019. a measure that changed the township's name from Washington Township (the name of five other municipalities in New Jersey) to Robbinsville, named after a settlement within the township. The official changeover took place January 1, 2008, as signs and other items with "Washington" on them began to be changed.1 Of N.J.'s 6 Washington Townships Changes Name , NBC 10, November 7, 2007. While this and other sources state that the change was immediate, the Township Clerk stated that the change would take place on January 1, 2008. It is named for George R. Robbins, who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1855 to 1859 and lived in the area.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names , New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 26, 2015.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 13,642 people, 5,087 households, and 3,591 families in the township. The population density was . There were 5,277 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 81.59% (11,131) White, 3.12% (426) Black or African American, 0.10% (13) Native American, 12.67% (1,729) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.71% (97) from other races, and 1.80% (246) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.13% (564) of the population.

Of the 5,087 households, 41.7% had children under the age of 18; 60.0% were married couples living together; 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.4% were non-families. Of all households, 25.8% were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.26.

28.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $92,440 (with a margin of error of +/− $11,773) and the median family income was $124,816 (+/− $10,353). Males had a median income of $96,156 (+/− $4,577) versus $65,327 (+/− $8,597) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $44,149 (+/− $2,813). About 2.7% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Robbinsville township, Mercer County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 12, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 10,275 people, 4,074 households, and 2,815 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 4,163 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 91.00% White, 2.89% African American, 0.14% Native American, 4.31% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Robbinsville township, Mercer County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 12, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Robbinsville township, Mercer County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 12, 2012.

There were 4,074 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 37.9% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $71,377, and the median income for a family was $90,878. Males had a median income of $61,589 versus $44,653 for females. The per capita income for the township was $35,529. About 2.5% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

In November 2004, township residents voted to change their form of government from a Township Committee to a Mayor-Council form under the Faulkner Act. The new form of government took effect as of July 1, 2005.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 135. Form of government listed as Township."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. The Mayor-Council form of government is used by 71 of the state's 564 municipalities.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. In this form, the governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the Township Council, each functioning as an independent branch of government, with all members elected at-large to four-year terms of office on a non-partisan basis as part of the November general election. The Mayor is the Chief Executive of the Township and heads its Administration. The Mayor may attend Council meetings but is not obliged to do so. The council is the legislative branch. Elections are held in odd-numbered years with three council seats up together and the two other seats (and the mayoral seat) up for election two years later. At the annual organizational meeting held during the first week of January of each year, the Council selects a President and Vice President to serve for one-year terms. The Council President chairs the meetings of the governing body.Form of Government , Robbinsville Township. Accessed November 30, 2019. "The Mayor-Council Plan also is known as the 'strong mayor' form. It provides for the direct election of the mayor, who serves a four-year term. This form is designed for a mayor to be independent of council, in charge of the administration of the municipality." Following an ordinance passed in December 2011, municipal elections were shifted from May to November, with the terms of all township council members then serving extend by six months, to December 31.Township Code § 2-6 Membership; term of office. , Robbinsville Township. Accessed June 30, 2015. "The Township Council shall consist of five members, elected at-large by the voters of the Township at the regular nonpartisan municipal election to be held at the time of the November general election. The terms of the members of the Council shall be four years, beginning on January 1 following such election. Accordingly, the terms of the Council members holding office at the time of the adoption of this ordinance shall be extended until December 31 beyond the expiration of their present term of office.:Editor's Note: "This ordinance" refers to Ord. No. 2011-26, adopted 12-22-2011."

, the Mayor of Robbinsville Township is Michael J. Todd.Office of the Mayor , Robbinsville Township. Accessed June 22, 2022. Members of the Township Council are Council President Deborah Blakely (2030), Vice President Hal English (2030), Christine "Chris" Ciaccio (2028), Ravi Patni (2026) and Amit Chopra (2028).Township Council , Robbinsville Township. Accessed June 22, 2022.2022 Municipal Data Sheet , Robbinsville Township. Accessed June 22, 2022.Mercer County Elected Officials , Mercer County, New Jersey, as of January 6, 2021. Accessed April 28, 2022.General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results , Mercer County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.General Election November 2019 Official Results (Amended November 25, 2019) , Mercer County, New Jersey, updated December 9, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.