Known for its splendid country scenery and charming historic hamlets, Union Township in north-central Hunterdon County measures about 20 square miles. It borders the equally appealing municipalities of Clinton, Franklin, Holland, Bethlehem, Lebanon and Alexandria. While the township is surrounded by natural beauty and farmland, it also enjoys a central location near Interstate 78, Clinton and Flemington. Incorporated in 1853, the 2010 census reported Union Township's population as 5,908 residents.

In 2013, New Jersey Monthly magazine rated Union Township 5th out of the Top 100 New Jersey towns based on home values, property taxes, crime rate, school performance and lifestyle. A relaxed, semi-suburban atmosphere is a major draw for home buyers.
Residents here have a choice of single-family home neighborhoods like The Sanctuary, Village Square or North Hill Estates, condominiums at Union Hill or townhomes at Union Gap Village.

Designated historic districts within the township include Norton, Pattenburg and Jutland. At one time Pattenburg and Jutland had railroad stops, enabling them to grow as village centers with schools, small businesses, churches and homes springing up as a result

History

The township's name comes from the Union Furnace, an iron slitting and rolling mill constructed in 1742. Not surprisingly, the mill forged cannonballs for the Revolutionary War, as well as farming tools and horseshoes until it closed in the 1780s. Spruce Run Reservoir was created on the site of the old furnace in 1961.

Formally established in 1853, Union Township's earliest days can still be glimpsed in some of the area's old taverns, farmhouses and historic districts. This heritage was recognized by Hunterdon County in 1976, when the county's Cultural and Heritage Commission identified 125 historically-significant properties. Still extant are over 100 structures which originally appeared on the 1860 Farm Map of Union Township.

Real Estate

When much of the forested property was cultivated and cleared to fuel the Union Furnace in the 1700s, that land was developed into farms. Today, these wide open spaces provide an enviable backdrop for equestrian farms, agro-tourism businesses and luxury homes. The area's housing market provides a diverse collection of custom homes, contemporaries, antique and historic houses, vintage Colonials, ornate Victorians, ranches, and maintenance-free townhomes and condominiums. A selection of cul-de-sac neighborhoods present spacious single-family homes.

Transportation

Located about 55 miles west of New York City, Union Township is about 66 miles north of Philadelphia and 44 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport. Since it's situated in the western part of the state and county, Pennsylvania is about 12 miles away, starting with Easton just across the Delaware River. Interstate 78/22 traverses Union Township at Exits 11, 12 and 13.

NJ Transit train service to Manhattan is available in neighboring Annandale, and New York-bound bus service is available on Trans-Bridge Lines. Buses leave from the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse in Hampton to Port Authority in midtown. Trans-Bridge also offers service to Newark Liberty International Airport, JFK Airport and the cruise ship terminals along the Hudson River.

Education

The Board of Education in Union Township oversees two local schools: the Union Township Elementary School and Union Township Middle School. The Union Township Elementary School at 149 Perryville Road in the Hampton section of the Township has classrooms for pre-k through grade 4. In addition to the regular academic curriculum, students have special instruction in art, computers, library, gym and music. The school also has an enrichment program.

The Union Township Middle School at 165 Perryville Road serves students in grades 5 to 8. It was named a Reward School by the New Jersey Department of Education, one of only two schools in Hunterdon County and 57 in the state to receive the designation, which is reserved for schools that have demonstrated high levels of overall performance. These high performing schools demonstrate proficiency levels at the top 10% of the state for every category of students. Core academic programs are enhanced by athletic programs and clubs for art, computers, drama, science and student council. The middle school also has Reading Olympics, a Jazz Band and National Junior Honor Society.

Students from Union Township in grades 9 through 12 attend North Hunterdon High School at 1445 Route 31 in Annandale, part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. North Hunterdon High School attained the highest award a school can achieve when it was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education in 2002. The high school has also been publicized by media outlets including The Washington Post, Newsweek and New Jersey Monthly for their outstanding academic and athletic programs. Additionally, North Hunterdon High School received Best Practice Awards from the New Jersey Department of Education in Mathematics, Special Education, Music and Science.

As regional high school students, Union Township residents are joined by fellow students from Bethlehem Township, Clinton Township, Lebanon Borough and Franklin Township.

Recreation

The Union Township Recreation Committee oversees youth programs in baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball and tennis. The committee also allows youth volunteers to attend the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. certification clinic, which helps coaches, parents and administrators conduct safe, healthy and enjoyable recreation programs for young athletes.

Parks

Finn Road Park on Finn Road offers 132 acres consisting of a half-mile walking path, a 5K moderate hiking trail through woodlands and farm fields, little league, full-size baseball and soccer fields, a playground, snack shack and a covered picnic pavilion. The park is located about a mile and a half from the Union Township schools.

Millbrook Park is located near Exit 11 of Interstate 78 West on Strotz Road. It has a full-size soccer field and a Little League baseball field.

Hoffman Park in the Hampton section is county-run and accessed by a main entry at 26 Baptist Church Road or an alternate eastern entrance at 751 Mechlin Corner Road. Named for the Hoffman family and located on the former site of their farm, there are 353 acres of hiking trails, 32 ponds, forests, meadows and open space. The Hoffmans were best known as proprietors of the Hoffman Beverage Company in Irvington, a popular business that produced bottled sodas until 1953.

Spruce Run Recreation Area is a New Jersey state park located on Van Sykles Road surrounding the Spruce Run Reservoir. As the third-largest reservoir in the state, it measures 1,290 acres and is circled by15 miles of shoreline. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, camping, picnicking and hiking.

Local Attractions

Norton is the section of Union Township where the historic Union Furnace was located. Established by Philadelphia businessmen Joseph Turner and William Allen in 1742, the Union Iron Works represented unprecedented growth in the township during the Revolutionary War era. Union Farm was a summer home in Norton owned by William Allen, and legend has it that Martha Washington was a frequent guest there.

Hunterdon Hills Playhouse is set on 90 picturesque acres overlooking a lake and its schedule of dinner presentations have entertained legions of theater-goers since 1981. Sited in a former dairy barn, the playhouse is located in the Hampton section of Union Township on Route 173.

The Pattenburg House is one of the oldest taverns in Hunterdon County; it was established in 1872 and claims to have never closed its doors to the public, even during prohibition. Today, diners can savor a craft beer and pub-style offerings in this historic building. Pattenburg is sited in the western part of the township near the former Bellewood Park, a circa 1904 amusement park that attracted the tourist trade to its rides, dancing pavilion and restaurant. Bellewood Park closed at the outset of World War I.