Princeton Junction, New Jersey

For the railroad station, see Princeton Junction station.

Princeton Junction, New Jersey
Census-designated place
Princeton Junction train station
Location in Mercer County (right) and the state of New Jersey (left)
Princeton Junction Location in Mercer County Show map of Mercer County, New Jersey Princeton Junction Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Princeton Junction Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°19′24″N74°37′16″W / 40.323294°N 74.621157°W / 40.323294; -74.621157
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Mercer
Township	West Windsor
Area [1]
• Total	1.85 sq mi (4.80 km2)
• Land	1.82 sq mi (4.72 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)  1.48%
Elevation [2]	60 ft (22 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	2,475
• Density	1,357.65/sq mi (524.26/km2)
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes	08550 (Princeton Junction) 08540 (Princeton) [4]
Area code	609
FIPS code	34-60960 [5] [6] [7]
GNIS feature ID	02389708 [5] [8]

Princeton Junction is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) ^[9] located within West Windsor township, Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ^{[10] [11]} As of the 2020 census, the CDP's population was 2,475. ^[3]

History

The earliest known photograph of the Princeton Junction train station - c. 1870s. The station building was originally located on the northwest side of the railroad tracks.

Following the mid-1860s relocation of the Camden & Amboy rail line from next to the Delaware & Raritan Canal to the present location of the Northeast Corridor, and the subsequent construction of a train station south of the intersection of Washington Road and the new rail line, a community called "Princeton Junction" developed. This community originally featured several farmhouses, a hotel, a general store, a feed mill, and several other businesses centered around the intersection of Station Drive and Washington Road, profiting off of access to other cities provided by the rail line. ^[12]

The construction of the neighborhood of Berrien City (focused around Scott Avenue, Alexander Road, and Berrien Avenue) starting in the 1910s represented West Windsor's first planned development. Following the reconstruction of the Washington Road railroad bridge in 1939, the business center of the community shifted to the intersection of Washington Road and Cranbury Road, where a lumber yard, service station, liquor store, strip mall, several gas stations, and several more businesses operated for decades. ^[12]

Following World War II, the Princeton Junction population grew with the construction of residential developments such as Sherbrooke Estates, Windsor Chase, and Wellington Estates. ^[12]

Princeton Junction is currently the proposed site of a "transit village" to be built northwest of the train station. ^[12]

In October 2019, the Historical Society of West Windsor published an online museum exploring the history of West Windsor - including that of Princeton Junction. ^[12]

Geography

Typical neighborhood in Princeton Junction, photo taken along Cranbury Road (County Route 615)

Princeton Junction is in eastern Mercer County, in the northern part of West Windsor Township. The northeastern boundary of the community is the Millstone River, across which is Plainsboro Township in Middlesex County. Bear Brook, a tributary of the Millstone, forms the eastern border of Princeton Junction, and the CDP extends north as far as U.S. Route 1. Trenton, the state capital, is 11 miles (18 km) to the southwest, the borough of Princeton is 4 miles (6 km) to the northwest, and New Brunswick is 16 miles (26 km) to the northeast. Part of the Berrien City development is in the southwest corner of the CDP.

Princeton Junction's name comes from the train station of the same name, now on the Amtrak and New Jersey Transit Northeast Corridor. The station is the junction between this main line and a spur served by the "Dinky" train, run by New Jersey Transit, to Princeton itself.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Princeton Junction CDP has a total area of 1.855 square miles (4.804 km²), including 1.823 square miles (4.722 km²) of land and 0.032 square miles (0.083 km²) of water (1.72%). ^[1]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1990	2,362		—
2000	2,382		0.8%
2010	2,465		3.5%
2020	2,475		0.4%
Population sources: 2000 [13] 2010 [14] 2020 [3]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 2,465 people, 921 households, and 696 families in the CDP. The population density was 1,349.8 people per square mile (521.2 people/km²). There were 940 housing units at an average density of 514.7 units per square mile (198.7 units/km²). The racial makeup was 74.81% (1,844) White, 2.43% (60) Black or African American, 0.16% (4) Native American, 18.62% (459) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.42% (35) from other races, and 2.56% (63) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.44% (134) of the population. ^[14]

Of the 921 households, 35.0% had children under the age of 18; 68.6% were married couples living together; 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.4% were non-families. Of all households, 20.8% were made up of individuals and 11.5% 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 3.08. ^[14]

25.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.2 males. ^[14]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census ^[6] there were 2,382 people, 842 households, and 681 families living in the CDP. The population density was 491.8 people/km² (1,274 people/sq mi). There were 858 housing units at an average density of 177.2 units/km² (459 units/sq mi). The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.99% White, 2.02% African American, 0.13% Native American, 8.86% Asian, 0.76% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.06% of the population. ^[13]

There were 842 households, out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.0% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.1% were non-families. 15.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.14. ^[13]

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males. ^[13]

The median income for a household in the CDP was $116,668, and the median income for a family was $127,617. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $58,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $44,113. None of the families and 1.5% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 5.3% of those over 64. ^[13]

Business and industry

The turn of the century saw the closure of Lick-It ice cream, a tiny kiosk-like yellow building that served ice cream to walk-in and drive-through customers, always including a trademark nonpareil in the ice cream. The site is now occupied by PNC Bank opened in 2006. ^[15]

In 2009, Princeton Junction saw the closure of an Acme Supermarket, which had been an anchor tenant in the Windsor Plaza Shopping Center for nearly 40 years; the 33,000-square-foot (3,100 m²) store closed in the face of the opening of larger and more modern supermarkets nearby. ^[16]

Some residents blame the "deterioration" of the central Princeton Junction area on a lack of political consensus. ^[17]

Education

All of West Windsor, including Princeton Junction, is served by the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. ^[18]

Notable people

See also: Category:People from West Windsor, New Jersey

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Princeton Junction include:

• Kevin Barry (born 1978), baseball player^{[ citation needed ]}
• Douglas Forrester (born 1953), former gubernatorial candidate^{[ citation needed ]}
• Ethan Hawke (born 1970), actor ^[19]
• Matt Lalli (born 1986), professional lacrosse player for the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse ^[20]
• Ben H. Love (1930–2010), eighth Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, serving from 1985 to 1993 ^[21]
• James Murphy (born 1970), singer, songwriter, DJ, electronic musician (as LCD Soundsystem) ^[22]
• John Forbes Nash Jr. (1928–2015), mathematician ^[23]
• Bryan Singer (born 1965), film director, writer and producer ^{[24] [25]}

Note

• Christopher McQuarrie (born 1968), screenwriter, was born either in Princeton Junction, where he was raised, or in nearby Princeton. Different sources — and in the case of All Movie Guide, the same source — give both places. Note that Princeton Junction has no hospital. ^{[26] [27]}

References

1. "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: New Jersey". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Princeton Junction Census Designated Place, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed November 21, 2012.
3. Census Data Explorer: Princeton Junction CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 15, 2023.
4. "TIGERweb: Princeton Junction CDP, New Jersey: PUMAs, UGAs, and ZCTAs". Geography Division, U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
5. Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 21, 2016.
6. U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
7. Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed June 9, 2023.
8. US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
9. State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.
10. New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed November 20, 2012.
11. Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 19, 2015.
12. "Princeton Junction". THE SCHENCK FARMSTEAD. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
13. DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Princeton Junction CDP, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 20, 2012.
14. DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Princeton Junction CDP, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 20, 2012.
15. "Building & Product Are Green", Community News, December 1, 2006. Accessed December 18, 2023. "On the corner lot where the popular Lick-It ice cream stand once stood, PNC Bank is opening its new West Windsor branch, at 38 Princeton-Hightstown Road, with a community celebration featuring a free money giveaway, celebrity guest Joe Morris, former running back of the New York Giants, free food, and prizes."
16. "Acme supermarket is closing after 39 years in West Windsor", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 18, 2009. Accessed December 18, 2023. "A key tenant is moving out of a shopping center that was the focus of much redevelopment talk during the township's recent planning for a town center in Princeton Junction. Acme Markets confirmed this week it is closing its 39-year-old supermarket on Princeton-Hightstown Road. The 33,000 square foot market, which will be shuttered on May 7, has been dwarfed by bigger supermarkets that have emerged in West Windsor and Lawrence over the past decade."
17. "WW's Problem: Lots of Talk, Little Action". West Windsor & Plainsboro News. October 23, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
18. 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Mercer County, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 24, 2024.
19. Spiegel, Phyllis. "The Sun Rises on Ethan Hawke", U.S. 1, July 5, 2006. Accessed July 22, 2016. "Now 36, Ethan Hawke, who grew up in Princeton Junction, is an Academy Award-nominated movie star, a director, the author of two novels, and he has appeared in several major stage productions."
20. Matt Lalli, Colgate Raiders men's lacrosse. Accessed September 21, 2015. "Hometown: Princeton Junction, N.J. High School: West Windsor Plainsboro... Born on March 27, 1986 in Princeton, N.J."
21. Staff. "Jersey Man to Head Scouts", The New York Times , October 21, 1984. Accessed November 21, 2012. "Mr. Love, who is 54 years old and lives in Princeton Junction, N.J., has headed the organization's Northeast region, based in Dayton, N.J."
22. "LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy on Bringing Back New York's Disco Days – New York Magazine"
23. Blakinger, Mary. "After 30 Years, He Beat A Disease Winner Of Nobel Prize Has Another Amazing Feat.", The Philadelphia Inquirer , October 9, 2000. Accessed November 21, 2012. "These days, Nash, who lives in Princeton Junction, is a senior research mathematician at Princeton University."
24. Weinraub, Bernard. "FILM; An Unusual Choice for the Role of Studio Superhero", The New York Times , July 9, 2000. Accessed November 21, 2012. "As a child, Mr. Singer grew up in Princeton Junction, N.J."
25. Longsdorf, Amy. "Suspects Director Twists The Twist" ^{[ dead link ]}, The Morning Call , September 10, 1995. Accessed November 21, 2012. "Though Suspects is set in New York and Los Angeles, Singer is a Jersey boy through and through. He grew up in Princeton Junction, the adopted son of an environmental activist mom and Maidenform exec dad."
26. Buchanan, Jason (2015). "Christopher McQuarrie". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2012. Birthplace: Princeton, New Jersey, USA ... Born in Princeton Junction, NJ, in 1968...
27. "Christopher McQuarrie". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015. Birth Place: Princeton, New Jersey, USA