Bernards Township (Melisurgo, Len. "Here's the right way to pronounce 25 N.J. town names everyone botches", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 23, 2017. Accessed June 22, 2023. "Bernards Township & Bernardsville (Somerset County) Outsiders frequently say ber-NARDS, with the emphasis on the last syllable. But the correct pronunciation is BERN-ards, with the emphasis on the first syllable.") 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 27,830, an increase of 1,178 (+4.4%) from the 2010 census count of 26,652, reflecting an increase of 2,077 (+8.5%) from the 24,575 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 on the eastern end of the Somerset Hills region, the township is a bedroom suburb of New York City in the much larger New York metropolitan area, located within the Raritan Valley region.Capuzzo, Jill P., "Living in Basking Ridge, N.J.: A Polished Past and Polite People", The New York Times, Published April 2, 2013. Accessed July 24, 2023.

History Bernards Township was originally formed by royal charter on May 24, 1760, as Bernardston Township from remaining portions of Northern precinct.Sadlouskos, Linda. "250th anniversary tea to celebrate Bernards history", Courier News, January 6, 2010. Accessed March 22, 2011. "The events commemorate the 250th anniversary of the granting of a charter from British King George II to create the township of Bernardston, Kennedy said." It was incorporated as Bernards Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to form Warren Township (March 5, 1806), Far Hills (April 7, 1921) and Bernardsville (March 6, 1924).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. The township celebrated its 250th charter anniversary in May 2010.

A set of referendums to create independent boroughs from portions of Bernards Township were held in June 1921, which would have left only Liberty Corner and Lyons remaining in Bernards Township if all three proposals had been approved; The referendum in Far Hills passed and the vote in Bernardsville failed in 1921, but ultimately passed in 1924. Voters rejected the creation of proposed borough of Basking Ridge by a more than 4–1 margin."Ridge Defeats Borough Act", Bernardsville News, June 9, 1921. Accessed July 18, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Basking Ridge by defeating the borough proposition today by a majority of 127 votes, chose to remain in the Township with Bernardsville and Liberty Corner. There were 161 ballots cast against the borough and 34 in favor."

The township was named for Sir Francis Bernard, 1st Baronet, who served as governor of the Province of New Jersey.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In: Basking Ridge, N.J.;A Rich Hamlet That Gobbled Up a Town", The New York Times, November 19, 1995. Accessed October 11, 2015. "The name Bernards Township was given to the area in 1760 by King George II to honor Sir Francis Bernard, Provincial Governor of New Jersey from 1758 to 1760."

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 24.33 square miles (63.01 km2), including 24.20 square miles (62.68 km2) of land and 0.13 square miles (0.33 km2) of water (0.52%).

The township is roughly bounded by the Second Watchung Mountain in the southwest, the Dead River swamp on the south, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Passaic River, and Millington Gorge in the east.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Basking Ridge, Franklin Corners, Green Knoll, Hardscrabble, The Hills (split between Bernards Township and Bedminster), Liberty Corner, Lyons, Madisonville, Mount Horeb, Somerset Mills, State Park, Stone House and White Bridge.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 22, 2015.O'Brien, Walter. , Courier News, August 22, 2007. Accessed July 4, 2012. "Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, Lyons and West Millington remain unincorporated areas inside Bernards." Martinsville is an unincorporated area in Bridgewater Township, whose 08836 ZIP Code also covers portions of Bernards Township.

The township borders Bedminster Township and Far Hills to the west, Bernardsville to the northwest, Bridgewater Township to the southwest, and Warren Township to the southeast in Somerset County and Harding Township to the northeast and Long Hill to the east in Morris County.Areas touching Bernards Township, MapIt. Accessed March 19, 2020.Municipalities, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed March 19, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 26,652 people, 9,783 households, and 6,897 families in the township. The population density was 1,113.6 per square mile (430.0/km2). There were 10,103 housing units at an average density of 422.1 per square mile (163.0/km2). The racial makeup was 81.83% (21,809) White, 1.89% (504) Black or African American, 0.08% (20) Native American, 13.80% (3,679) Asian, 0.03% (7) Pacific Islander, 0.55% (147) from other races, and 1.82% (486) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.95% (1,054) of the population.

Of the 9,783 households, 40.0% had children under the age of 18; 61.7% were married couples living together; 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.5% were non-families. Of all households, 26.6% were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.27.

28.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $123,285 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,030) and the median family income was $153,906 (+/− $14,565). Males had a median income of $123,390 (+/− $9,621) versus $86,272 (+/− $9,195) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $67,809 (+/− $4,972). About 2.1% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 4, 2012.

2000 census At the 2000 United States census there were 24,575 people, 9,242 households and 6,487 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 9,485 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 89.20% White, 1.44% African American, 0.05% Native American, 7.85% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.63% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Bernards township, Somerset County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 10, 2013., United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 10, 2013.

There were 9,242 households, of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.17.

Age distribution was 27.7% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $107,204, and the median income for a family was $135,806. Males had a median income of $95,758 versus $60,865 for females. The per capita income for the township was $56,521. About 0.6% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy The headquarters of Fedders, Hitachi Power Systems USAHitachi Power Systems - Contact Us . Accessed January 1, 2010. and Verizon Wireless are located in the township. Verizon Communications, which maintains its world headquarters in New York City, has located operations of its major business units in buildings that were formerly AT&T's world headquarters.Verizon New Operations Center Basking Ridge , bestofnj.com

Government

Local government Bernards Township operates 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. The Township Committee is comprised 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 and another as Deputy Mayor.

, members of the Bernards Township Committee are Mayor Ana Duarte McCarthy (D, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2026), Deputy Mayor John Tompkins (D, term as deputy mayor ends December 31, 2026; term on committee ends December 31, 2026), Jennifer L. Asay (R, 2027), Andrew J. McNally (R, 2027) and Brett Hodges (D, 2028).Township Committee, Bernards Township. Accessed May 19, 2024. "Bernards Township operates under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, elected by the public in partisan elections for three-year terms of office on a staggered schedule, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.... At the annual Reorganization meeting held in January, the Mayor is elected by the committee from among its members."2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Bernards Township. Accessed May 19, 2024.2023 Directory of County & Municipal Offices, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed September 18, 2023.2023 General Election November 7, 2023 Certified Official Results RESULTS, Somerset County, New Jersey, November 29, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.General Election November 8, 2022 Final Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, updated November 23, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.2021 General Election Winning Candidates, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.

Federal, state and county representation