Location of Glen Gardner in Hunterdon County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Hunterdon County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Glen Gardner is located at the extreme western border of Lebanon Township and was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 26, 1919, from portions of both Lebanon Township and Bethlehem Township based on the results of a referendum held that same day. Portions of the borough were ceded to Hampton borough in 1931.[21]
The area that is now Glen Gardner had been known as Eveland's Tavern for tavernkeeper John Eveland. Later, the area was variously called Spruce Run Mills and Sodom. The name of both the community and post office were officially changed to Glen Gardner in 1871 to mark the glen of the Spruce Run and in honor of the Gardner brothers who owned a chair and frame factory in the area.[22][23][24][25]
As part of the 1931 settlement reached between the two municipalities to resolve a border dispute dating back to the borough of Glen Gardner's formation in 1919, Hampton paid Glen Gardner $4,000 (equivalent to $77,000 in 2022) for 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land that officially became part of the borough of Hampton.[26]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.55 square miles (4.01 km2), all of which was land.[1][2]
Of the 768 households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18; 45.1% were married couples living together; 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 43.5% were non-families. Of all households, 35.3% were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.97.[18]
21.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 34.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.6 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $73,750 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,026) and the median family income was $98,693 (+/− $9,105). Males had a median income of $62,434 (+/− $12,072) versus $49,417 (+/− $13,970) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,184 (+/− $4,006). About 1.2% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.[35]
2000 census
At the 2000 United States census,[15] there were 1,902 people, 805 households and 474 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,217.6 inhabitants per square mile (470.1/km2). There were 829 housing units at an average density of 530.7 per square mile (204.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.69% White, 0.89% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.47% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.42% of the population.[33][34]
There were 805 households, of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 34.2% of all households 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 2.33 and the average family size was 3.07.[33][34]
Age distribution was 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 41.2% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.[33][34]
The median household income was $59,917, and the median family income was $75,369. Males had a median income of $50,776 versus $40,179 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,647. About 4.2% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.[33][34]
Government
Local government
Glen Gardner borough hall
Glen Gardner is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, which is the state's most common form of government.[36] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council has six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[6] The borough form of government used by Glen Gardner is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[37][38] This seven-member governing body enacts local ordinances, levies municipal taxes and conducts the affairs of the borough. The mayor and borough council conducts all of its business during monthly meetings open to the public.[39]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of Glen Gardner is Republican Mattias E. Schroeter, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Michael Gronau (R, 2023), James Ayotte (R, 2025), Jason Hollenstein (R, 2025), Richard J. Mitterando (R, 2024), Don Robertella (R, 2023) and Sue Welch (R, 2024).[3][40][23][41][42][43][44][45]
In April 2021, the borough council appointed Jason Hollenstein to fill the council seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Lisa Fielding until she resigned from office the previous month.[46][47] Hollenstein served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[43]
James Ayotte was selected in May 2020 from a list of three names submitted by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Sandra Sutton-Lavis until she resigned from her seat in April.[48] After serving on an interim basis, Ayotte was elected to serve the remainder of the term at the November 2020 general election.[44]
In 2018, the borough had an average property tax bill of $5,894, the lowest in the county, compared to an average bill of $9,738 in Hunterdon County and $8,767 statewide.[49][50]
Federal, state and county representation
Glen Gardner is located in the 7th Congressional District[51] and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.[52][53][54]
Hunterdon County is governed by a Board of Chosen Commissioners comprised of five members who are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the commissioners select one member to serve as the board's Director and another to serve as Deputy Director, each for a one-year term.[60][61] As of 2024[update], Hunterdon County's Commissioners are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,097 registered voters in Glen Gardner, of which 249 (22.7%) were registered as Democrats, 347 (31.6%) were registered as Republicans and 500 (45.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was 1 voter registered to other parties.[74]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 54.7% of the vote (438 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.3% (347 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (16 votes), among the 810 ballots cast by the borough's 1,144 registered voters (9 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 70.8%.[75][76] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 54.0% of the vote (445 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 44.1% (363 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (12 votes), among the 824 ballots cast by the borough's 1,102 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.8%.[77] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57.9% of the vote (453 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 41.0% (321 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (8 votes), among the 783 ballots cast by the borough's 1,027 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.2.[78]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.7% of the vote (386 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.4% (121 votes), and other candidates with 1.9% (10 votes), among the 525 ballots cast by the borough's 1,118 registered voters (8 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.0%.[79][80] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.6% of the vote (410 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 19.4% (114 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.8% (52 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (6 votes), among the 589 ballots cast by the borough's 1,088 registered voters, yielding a 54.1% turnout.[81]
Education
Clinton-Glen Gardner School District is school district based in the Town of Clinton, that serves students from Clinton Town and Glen Gardner Borough in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Clinton Public School.[82][83] Before Glen Gardner, a non-operating district, was consolidated into the district, students from the borough had attended the district's school as part of a sending/receiving relationship. Other students attend the school on a tuition basis.[84] Formerly known as the Town of Clinton School District, the district's board of education voted in November 2009 to revise the name to Clinton-Glen Gardner School District to reflect the merger.[85] As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 427 students and 38.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1.[86]
Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.[90]
Transportation
Route 31 in Glen Gardner
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 10.89 miles (17.53 km) of roadways, of which 7.84 miles (12.62 km) were maintained by the municipality, 1.36 miles (2.19 km) by Hunterdon County and 1.69 miles (2.72 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[91]
^ abAbout, Borough of Glen Gardner. Accessed November 18, 2019. "The Borough of Glen Gardner gets its name from 'Glen' the area in which the town is situated, between two mountains with a stream (Spruce Run) running through the center and 'Gardner' the name of the family of five inventive and business-minded brothers who put the town on the map. The first inhabitants were the Lenni Lenape Indians with the first European settlers arriving just before the American Revolution."
^"Pact Reached In Hunterdon Co. Dispute", Courier News, April 8, 1931. Accessed March 3, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "A compromise having been effected between the boroughs of Hampton and Glen Gardner, Hunterdon county, over the annexation of a portion of the latter by Hampton, no opposition to the proposition was presented at a hearing on Senate Bill 344, introduced by Senator Horace G. Prall, before the Boroughs and Townships Committee here Monday. Anthony M. Houck, Jr., counsel for Hampton borough, explained the terms of the compromise reached by the neighboring boroughs, whereby Hampton will take about 20 acres of Glen Gardner territory instead of 46 acres claimed. The purpose of the annexation is to straighten out a long disputed boundary line question which has existed since Glen Gardner incorporated as a borough about 13 years ago.... The actual land value placed on the annexed portion by Borough Treasurer Waters was $200 an acre or approximately $4,000."
^Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2021, Borough of Glen Gardner. Accessed May 4, 2022. "Lisa Fielding- Effective April 1, 2021. Mayor Schroeter accepted Ms. Fielding’s resignation with regret and thanked her for all her hard work. This is Ms. Fielding last Council meeting."
^Borough Council Regular Meeting Minutes for April 21, 2021, Borough of Glen Gardner. Accessed May 4, 2022. "Mayor Schroeter stated candidates to fill Council vacancy created by the resignation of Lisa Fielding were provided. He introduced candidate Jason Hollenstein who was in attendance of tonight’s meeting..... A motion was made by Gronau and seconded by Mitterando to appoint Jason Hollenstein to fill Council vacancy.... Mayor thanked Council and all congratulated Mr. Hollenstein."
^Borough Council Special Meeting Minutes for May 13, 2020, Borough of Glen Gardner. Accessed May 4, 2022. "Nomination To Fill 1 Year Unexpired Term Council Vacancy-Seat Formerly Held By Sandra Sutton-Lavis - Term Expires Upon Certification Of November 3, 2020 General Election - A motion was made by Fielding and seconded by Welch to nominate Jim Ayotte to fill the unexpired council vacancy. Roll Call: Ayes: Fielding, Gronau, Mitterando, Robertella, Welch. No nays. Motion carried."
^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 Glen Gardner Borough was $5,894 in 2018, the lowest in Hunterdon County."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^Board of County Commissioners, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023. "As top governing officials of Hunterdon County, the five Commissioners are chosen by popular vote in the November general elections. The term of office is for two or three years and the current compensation is $16,000 a year, with an extra $1,000 for the Director. One or two of the five members is elected each year."
^Letter dated November 30, 2009, Clinton Public School. Accessed May 23, 2013. "Previously named the Town of Clinton Board of Education and Town of Clinton School District, the passing of the by-law changed the names to be The Clinton-Glen Gardner Board of Education and The Clinton-Glen Gardner School District.... This change occurred as a result of the State government's June 30, 2009 passing of PL 2009 c. 78 which required the elimination of non-operating school districts and the creation of a merged district between the non-operating and receiving school."
^Heyboer, Kelly. "How to get your kid a seat in one of N.J.'s hardest-to-get-into high schools", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 2017. Accessed November 18, 2019. "Hunterdon County's vo-tech district has three academies for high-achieving students, all operating in partnerships with local high schools.... The academies are open to all students in the county. Students in the 8th grade are required to submit an application, schedule an interview and take a placement exam."
^Weinstein, Allen. Perjury: The Hiss-Chambers Case, p. 133. Hoover Press, 2013. ISBN9780817912260. Accessed December 31, 2015. "Whitaker and Esther moved early in 1932 to a farmhouse at Glen Gardner, New Jersey, owned by a friend named Franklin Speier"
^Wyllis Cooper, 56, Scenarist, Dead, copy of obituary from The New York Times, June 23, 1955, accessed April 23, 2007. "High Bridge, N.J., June 22 -- Wyllis Cooper, writer, director and producer for films, radio and television, died today at a local hospital after a long illness. He was 56 years old and resided in the neighboring community of Glen Gardner."
^Smith, Steve. "Getz is surprised over mat success", Courier News, January 26, 1984. Accessed July 1, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Lee Getz is certainly resilient.... Getz came to Rutgers a year ago on a football scholarship, but a knee injury suffered during the summer after his senior year at Voorhees forced the Glen Gardner resident to red-shirt his initial football and wrestling seasons."
^via Associated Press. "Jersey Ex-Senator Joins Navy", The New York Times, September 23, 1943. Accessed October 14, 2013. "Wesley L. Lance, 34 years old, of Glen Gardner, NJ, who resigned as State Senator from Hunterdon County two months ago, was inducted into the Navy today, the Newark Recruiting Office of the Navy Department announced."
^Staff. "New York City Marathon; U.S. Women Make Changes", The New York Times, November 6, 1994. Accessed July 20, 2011. "Two leading American runners, Kim Jones, 36, of Spokane, Wash., and Anne Marie Letko, 25, of Glen Gardner, N.J., said they have learned how to overcome the problems that knocked them out of last year's New York City Marathon, Jones by running with a medicated atomizer to combat her chronic asthma and Letko by controlling her pace and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration."
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