Bedminster is a township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 8,272, an increase of 107 (+1.3%) from the 2010 census count of 8,165, which in turn reflected a decline of 137 (−1.7%) from the 8,302 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. Located within the Raritan Valley region, Bedminster is part of the Somerset Hills of northern Somerset County, bordering both Hunterdon and Morris counties.
Bedminster was settled in 1710 by Dutch, German, and Scots-Irish immigrants. It was named after Bedminster, then in Somerset, England, and now a district of Bristol.Lurie, Maxine N.; and Mappen, Marc. "Bedminster", p. 66. Encyclopedia of New Jersey, Rutgers University Press, 2004. . Accessed January 30, 2014.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015. Bedminster Township was created by Royal charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct. It was incorporated formally by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken on March 28, 1912, to form Peapack-Gladstone.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 221. Accessed May 1, 2026.
It is known for having one of the most historic Revolutionary War sites in the United States at what is known as the Pluckemin Continental Artillery Cantonment Site, which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. General Henry Knox, chief of the Continental Army artillery, was the leader responsible for building what was the country's first military artillery training academy, the forerunner to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
In 2012, Forbes.com listed Bedminster as 486th in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $555,243.Brennan, Morgan. "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes 2012", Forbes, October 16, 2012. Accessed February 18, 2020.
Geography and climate According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 26.38 square miles (68.31 km2), including 26.12 square miles (67.66 km2) of land and 0.25 square miles (0.66 km2) of water (0.96%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bedminster CDP, Burnt Mills, Greater Cross Roads, The Hills (split between Bedminister and Bernards Township), Lamington, Pluckemin, Pottersville (split between Bedminster and Tewksbury Township in Hunterdon County), Union Grove, and Vliettown.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 22, 2015.
The township borders Peapack-Gladstone and Far Hills to the northeast, Bernards Township to the east, and Branchburg and Bridgewater Township to the south in Somerset County, Readington Township to the southeast and Tewksbury Township to the west in Hunterdon County, and Chester Township to the north in Morris County.Areas touching Bedminster Township, MapIt. Accessed March 18, 2020.Municipalities, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed March 18, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 8,165 people, 4,100 households, and 2,021 families in the township. The population density was 313.1 per square mile (120.9/km2). There were 4,349 housing units at an average density of 166.8 per square mile (64.4/km2). The racial makeup was 86.41% (7,055) White, 2.06% (168) Black or African American, 0.02% (2) Native American, 8.68% (709) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.03% (84) from other races, and 1.79% (146) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.36% (519) of the population.
Of the 4,100 households, 19.7% had children under the age of 18; 39.0% were married couples living together; 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 50.7% were non-families. Of all households, 44.4% were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.76.
17.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 80.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 79.5 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $93,103 (with a margin of error of +/− $11,367) and the median family income was $124,057 (+/− $14,892). Males had a median income of $76,047 (+/− $23,293) versus $61,650 (+/− $7,236) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $66,422 (+/− $8,900). About 0.9% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 8, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 8,302 people, 4,235 households, and 2,100 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 4,467 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 90.05% White, 1.75% African American, 0.11% Native American, 6.41% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.84% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Bedminster township, Somerset County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 8, 2012., United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2012.
There were 4,235 households, out of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.4% were non-families. Of all households, 44.0% were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.96 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the township the population was spread out, with 17.8% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 40.3% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $71,550, and the median income for a family was $96,890. Males had a median income of $71,136 versus $48,589 for females. The per capita income for the township was $53,549. About 1.9% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Economy Bedminster was the corporate headquarters of AT&T Corporation prior to its merger with SBC Communications; the combined company is now known as AT&T Inc. and is headquartered in Dallas.Dalton, Richard J. Jr."SBC, spawn of AT&T, now in talks to buy it", Newsday, January 28, 2005. Accessed May 8, 2012. "AT&T's residential business, on the other hand, was once its core but has faced more competition amid lower profits as cellular service providers and cable companies edged their way into the phone business. So last year, AT&T, based in Bedminster, N.J., discontinued marketing residential long-distance service to new customers." AT&T's Global Network Operations Center, which monitors traffic worldwide on AT&T's network, is currently located in Bedminster.Staff. "AT&T Races to Expand the Network", The New York Times, September 3, 2009. Accessed May 8, 2012. "About an hour outside of New York City in Bedminster, N.J., AT&T's Global Network Operations Center monitors patterns of usage across AT&T's network of communications systems, including its wireless, IP and data networks." It was also the corporate headquarters for Verizon Wireless before relocation to nearby Basking Ridge in 2006.
Sports Trump National Golf Course: owned by Donald Trump, the course features 36 holes designed by Tom Fazio, with fees to join of over $150,000.
Government Local government Bedminster Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025. The Township Committee is composed of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 77."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. At an annual reorganization meeting held during the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor.Your Municipal Government , Bedminster Township. Accessed June 3, 2011.
, members of the Bedminster Township Committee are Mayor Lawrence F. Jacobs (R, term on township committee ends December 31, 2027; term as mayor ends 2026), R. Colin Hickey (R, 2026), Gina Lisa-Fernandez (R, 2028), Renee Mareski (R, 2024) and William M. Rosen (R, 2028).Township Committee, Bedminster Township. Accessed January 12, 2026.2025 Municipal Data Sheet, Bedminster Township. Accessed January 12, 2026.2025 Directory of County & Municipal Offices, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2026.2025 General Election November 4, 2025 Official Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, December 1, 2025. Accessed January 1, 2026.2024 General Election November 5, 2024 Certified Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, November 20, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.2023 General Election November 7, 2023 Certified Official Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, November 29, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.
In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $6,182, the lowest in the county, compared to an average bill of $9,975 in Somerset County and $8,767 statewide.2018 Property Tax Information, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated January 16, 2019. Accessed November 7, 2019.Marcus, Samantha. "These are the towns with the lowest property taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 30, 2019. Accessed November 7, 2019. "New Jersey’s average property tax bill may have hit $8,767 last year — a new record — but taxpayers in some parts of the state pay just a fraction of that.... The average property tax bill in Bedminster Township was $6,182 in 2018, the lowest in Somerset County."
Emergency services Emergency services in the township are offered by the Far Hills-Bedminster Fire Department, Bedminster Township Police DepartmentPolice, Bedminster Township. Accessed December 14, 2022. and Far Hills-Bedminster First Aid Squad.Home Page, Far Hills-Bedminster First Aid Squad. Accessed December 14, 2022.