Editing Cranbury, New Jersey

{{Short description|Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, US}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Cranbury, New Jersey
|official_name            = 
|settlement_type          = [[Township (New Jersey)|Township]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = 23 North Main Street, Cranbury, NJ - entrance.jpg
|imagesize                = 250x200px
|image_caption            = Cranbury Town Hall, housed in the former [[Old Cranbury School]], a [[New Jersey Register of Historic Places|state]] and [[National Register of Historic Places|federal]] historic landmark
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = Cranbury NJ seal.png

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Middlesex County New Jersey Cranbury Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Cranbury in [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]] highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Middlesex County in [[New Jersey]] highlighted in orange (right).
|image_map1               = Census Bureau map of Cranbury Township, New Jersey.png
|mapsize1                 = 250x200px
|map_caption1             = Census Bureau map of Cranbury Township, New Jersey
|pushpin_map              = USA New Jersey Middlesex County#USA New Jersey#USA
|pushpin_label            = Cranbury
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]]##Location in [[New Jersey]]##Location in the United States
|pushpin_relief           = yes
|pushpin_mapsize          = 250x200px

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States}}}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|New Jersey}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New Jersey|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex]]
|government_footnotes     = <ref name=DataBook/>
|government_type          = [[Township (New Jersey)|Township]]
|governing_body           = Township Committee
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Lisa Knierim ([[Democratic Party (New Jersey)|D]], term ends December 31, 2025)<ref name=Committee/>
|leader_title1            = [[City manager|Administrator]]
|leader_name1             = Denise Marabello<ref>[https://www.cranburytownship.org/administration Administration], Cranbury Township. Accessed January 5, 2025.</ref>
|leader_title2            = [[Municipal clerk]]
|leader_name2             = Debra A. Rubin<ref>[https://www.cranburytownship.org/clerk-registrar Clerk / Registrar], Cranbury Township. Accessed January 5, 2025.</ref>
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = March 7, 1872

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name=CensusArea>[https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_cousubs_34.txt 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 1, 2020.</ref>
|area_magnitude           =
|area_total_km2           = 34.79
|area_land_km2            = 34.40
|area_water_km2           =  0.39
|area_total_sq_mi         = 13.43
|area_land_sq_mi          = 13.28
|area_water_sq_mi         =  0.15
|area_water_percent       =  1.12
|area_rank                = 181st of 565 in state<br>9th of 25 in county<ref name=CensusArea/>

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=LWD2020/>
|population_total         = 3842
|population_rank          = 418th of 565 in state<br>24th of 25 in county<ref name=LWD2020Density>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/dmograph/est/mcd/density.xlsx Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref>
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 289.2
|population_density_rank  = 479th of 565 in state<br>25th of 25 in county<ref name=LWD2020Density/>
|population_est           = 3960
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name=PopEst/>

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = −05:00
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|Eastern (EDT)]]
|utc_offset_DST           = −04:00
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Gnis|882160|Township of Cranbury}}, [[Geographic Names Information System]]. Accessed March 5, 2013.</ref>
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = 82
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR1">[https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>
|coordinates              = {{coord|40.31345|-74.520233|region:US-NJ_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 08512<ref>[http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=Cranbury&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Cranbury, NJ], [[United States Postal Service]]. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/njzips.htm Zip Codes], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed September 2, 2013.</ref>
|area_code                = [[Area code 609|609]]<ref>[http://www.area-codes.com/search.asp?frmNPA=&frmNXX=&frmState=NJ&frmCity=Cranbury Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Cranbury, NJ], Area-Codes.com. Accessed September 2, 2013.</ref>
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 3402315550<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR2">[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey], Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 30, 2022.</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0882160<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR3">[http://geonames.usgs.gov US Board on Geographic Names], [[United States Geological Survey]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>
|website                  = {{nowrap|{{URL|https://www.cranburytownship.org}}}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Cranbury''' is a [[Township (New Jersey)|township]] in southern [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]], within the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the township's population was 3,842,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 15 (−0.4%) from the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] count of 3,857,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 630 (+19.5%) from the 3,227 counted in the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2010/2010data/table7cm.xls 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.</ref>

Located within the [[Raritan River|Raritan Valley region]], Cranbury is roughly equidistant between [[New York City]] and [[Philadelphia]], contributing to it being a regional historical, cultural, and commercial hub of [[Central New Jersey]] (the township is known for its [[logistics]] industry) and as an outer-ring [[bedroom suburb|commuter]] [[suburb]] of New York City within the [[New York metropolitan area]].<ref name=CranburyCommercialIndustrial>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/mercer/2019/03/these-towns-have-some-of-the-steadiest-tax-rates-in-the-state-whats-their-secret.html?outputType=amp|title=These towns have some of the steadiest tax rates in the state. What's their secret?|author=Olivia Rizzo|publisher=NJ Advance Media|date=March 9, 2019|access-date=June 21, 2023|quote=Adding Ratables - Cranbury’s low municipal tax rate is partially the result of the township establishing a robust warehouse district that, in the past decade, welcomed Wayfair, Amazon and Home Depot...Both Route 130 and the New Jersey Turnpike run through the small Middlesex County township, making it an ideal location.}}</ref><ref>Capuzzo, Jill P. [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/realestate/cranbury-nj-one-town-many-personalities.html "Living in Cranbury, N.J.; One Town, Many Personalities"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 25, 2014. Accessed October 2, 2023.</ref><ref>[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/econ/ec2012/csa/EC2012_330M200US408M.pdf New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed October 2, 2023.</ref> The municipal taxes generated by the industrial properties have helped to keep residential property taxes steady over time.

== History ==
A deed for a sale of land and improvements dated March 1, 1698, is the earliest evidence of buildings constructed in present-day Cranbury. A home in Cranbury was used by [[Alexander Hamilton]] and the [[Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette|Marquis de Lafayette]] as a headquarters during the [[American Revolutionary War]], and they were visited by General [[George Washington]] on June 26, 1778. It was during this visit, when George Washington hedged out plans to intercept the British's retreat from [[Philadelphia]] to [[New York City]], during the tail end of Britain's [[Philadelphia campaign]].<ref>[https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-15-02-0591 From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 26 June 1778], Founders Online at [[National Archives and Records Administration]]. Accessed December 3, 2019.</ref> This continued pursuit led to the fated events of the [[Battle of Monmouth]] (which took place nearby in modern-day [[Freehold Township, New Jersey|Freehold Township]] and [[Manalapan Township, New Jersey|Manalapan Township]], preserved currently as [[Monmouth Battlefield State Park]]), a major turning point for the Revolutionary War.<ref name=NYT1997>Cheslow, Jerry. [https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/16/realestate/historic-sparsely-settled-and-loving-it.html "Historic, Sparsely Settled -- and Loving It"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 16, 1997. Accessed July 14, 2011. "The Middlesex County community is celebrating the 300th anniversary of the first documented European settlement in the area.... Cranbury pays tuition to send 106 high school students to nearby Princeton High School. According to Cranbury's Chief School Administrator, Robert J. Bartoletti, 87 percent of the town's youngsters go on to higher education.... As part of the addition, the 28,000-volume Cranbury Public Library, which shares space with the school library, is also being expanded to 6,000 square feet from 4,000 and the school's computers are to be enhanced through the networking of all of the classrooms into the library."</ref><ref>[https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-15-02-0572 To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 25 June 1778], Founders Online at [[National Archives and Records Administration]]. Accessed December 3, 2019.</ref> As part of orders issued during the presidency of George Washington, maps of Cranbury were made showing the presence of a church, a mill and 25 other buildings. Fleeing after he killed [[Alexander Hamilton]] in [[Burr–Hamilton duel|their 1804 duel]], [[Aaron Burr]] stopped in Cranbury to exchange horses and eat a local inn.<ref>Cheslow, Jerry. [https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/29/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-of-living-in-cranbury.html "If You're Thinking of Living in: Cranbury"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 29, 1991. Accessed February 20, 2024. "Aaron Burr, fleeing to Philadelphia after killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel in Weehawken in 1804, stopped at what is now the Cranbury Inn at the southern end of Main Street to eat and change horses."</ref>

During its earliest years, the location was usually spelled as "Cranberry". Rev. Joseph G. Symmes argued in 1857 that the name was spelled improperly and that the suffix "bury" was more appropriate, leading the name of the community and brook to be changed to "Cranbury" in 1869.<ref name=History>[https://www.cranburytownship.org/history_main.html History], Cranbury Township. Accessed December 3, 2019. "The marshy land near the mill site might have grown cranberries, hence the name. On 18th Century maps, the name appears as Cranberry and Cranberry Town. In 1857, Reverend Joseph G. Symmes felt the name was incorrectly spelled and suggested it be changed to Cranbury. In Old English 'bury' (connoting 'burgh') could be spelled bury, bery, or berry. In 1869, the town and the brook were renamed Cranbury."</ref> The name has been attributed to wild cranberries that grew in the area.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=11 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''], New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.</ref> The so-called [[Hightstown rail accident]] occurred in or near Cranbury, in 1833. According to [[John Quincy Adams]], who was aboard the train and who wrote in his diary about it, the train was {{convert|3|mi}} from Hightstown when the disaster struck, putting the accident near what is now Cranbury Station.<ref>[http://www.masshist.org/jqadiaries/doc.cfm?id=jqad39_179 John Quincy Adams diary 39, 1 December 1832 - 31 May 1835, page 179], [[Massachusetts Historical Society]]. Accessed September 2, 2013.</ref><ref>A history book on Cranbury says the accident happened 4 miles from Hightstown, putting the accident near today's retirement communities in Monroe Township. However, the book refers to John Quincy Adams' diary. See Chambers, John Whiteclay. [https://books.google.com/books?id=SkQp8XKVXEwC&pg=PA50 ''Cranbury: A New Jersey Town from the Colonial Era to the Present''], p. 50. [[Rutgers University Press]], 2012. {{ISBN|9780813553580}}. Accessed November 10, 2015.</ref> Among the passengers aboard were [[Tyrone Power (1795-1841)|Tyrone Power]] and [[Cornelius Vanderbilt]].

Cranbury was incorporated as a township by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]] on March 7, 1872, from portions of both [[Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey|Monroe Township]] and [[South Brunswick, New Jersey|South Brunswick Township]]. Portions of the township were taken on April 1, 1919, to form [[Plainsboro Township, New Jersey|Plainsboro Township]].<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. [https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf ''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''], Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 169-170. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref> The township celebrated its tricentennial in 1998. [[Updike Parsonage Barn]], originally constructed {{circa}} 1759, was disassembled, relocated and reconstructed in 2010 at its current location in Barn Park.<ref>[https://www.cranburytownship.org/Parks/Barn_Park.html Barn Park], Cranbury Township. Accessed December 3, 2019. "The Parsonage barn originally belonged to the Parsonage Plantation, c. 1759, of the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury. It was dismantled in 2004 and stored for five years. In 2010, a foundation was laid and the repaired timbers were re-erected with funding from the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society, Cranbury Landmarks, Inc., and the Township of Cranbury."</ref>

In 2017, Cranbury, along with the municipalities of [[Bellmawr, New Jersey|Bellmawr]], [[Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey|Egg Harbor Township]], [[Montclair, New Jersey|Montclair]], and [[Woodbridge Township, New Jersey|Woodbridge Township]], were the original five municipalities that had authorized dispensaries for the sale of [[Cannabis in New Jersey|medical cannabis]] in their municipality, years before the [[Cannabis in New Jersey|legal sale of recreational cannabis]] began in 2022.<ref>Guion, Payton. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/marijuana_legalization_would_mean_tough_choices_fo.html#incart_most-commented_hudson_article "Marijuana legalization would force tough choice for N.J. towns"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], November 15, 2017. Accessed November 15, 2017. "NJ Advance Media reached out to mayors in all five towns that have medical dispensaries: Bellmawr, Cranbury, Egg Harbor, Montclair and Woodbridge."</ref> However, in July 2021 the township reversed the previous ordinance and unanimously passed a new ordinance that banned all types of cannabis businesses from operating within the municipality.<ref>Duggan, Julia. [https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2021/07/14/cranbury-joins-long-list-nj-towns-ban-weed-businesses/7917550002/ "Cranbury joins long list of NJ towns to ban weed businesses"], ''[[Courier News]]'', July 15, 2021. Accessed November 17, 2022. "The Cranbury Township Council unanimously passed an ordinance Monday that bans all types of marijuana businesses from operating here."</ref>

In 2019, the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society saved the 1713 East Jersey Cottage from demolition and had the building relocated across Old Trenton Road, onto its original 1693 Fullerton tract, the 1752 Philipse property and the 1760 Bodine farm. The building retained its intact hand-hewn post and beam structure with pegged [[mortise and tenon]] joints and rubble nogging.<ref>[https://www.cranburyhistory.org/post/1700s-house-a-rediscovered-connection-to-18th-century-cranbury "1713 East Jersey Cottage - A Rediscovered Connection to 18th Century Cranbury"], Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society, August 31, 2022. Accessed May 10, 2023. "The Cranbury Museum is once again open, and features an exhibit telling the story of the 1713 East Jersey Cottage. Rediscovered and saved by the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society, the 1700s House was relocated to Millstone Park in late 2019."</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Brainerd Lake, Cranbury, NJ.jpg|thumb|Brainerd Lake in the center of the township]]
[[File:2020-10-09 15 09 27 View north along Middlesex County Route 535 (Half Acre Road) at U.S. Route 130 in Cranbury Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|[[U.S. Route 130]] is a major commercial and [[light industry|light-industrial]] highway in Cranbury.<ref name=CranburyCommercialIndustrial/>]]
[[File:Cranbury-twp-nj.png|thumb|Cranbury Township highlighted in Middlesex County]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township had a total area of 13.43 square miles (34.79&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), including 13.28 square miles (34.40&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land and 0.15 square miles (0.39&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of water (1.12%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

[[Cranbury (CDP), New Jersey|Cranbury CDP]] (2010 Census population of 2,181<ref>[http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/cdp/cranburycdp.pdf Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Cranbury CDP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006152653/http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/cdp/cranburycdp.pdf |date=2011-10-06 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed July 14, 2011.</ref>) is an [[Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) located within Cranbury Township.<ref name=CPH232>[https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-32.pdf 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 28, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US34023 GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Middlesex County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212200723/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US34023 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed November 28, 2012.</ref> Despite the match between the name of the Township and the CDP, the two are not one and the same, as was the case for most paired Township / CDP combinations (i.e., a CDP with the same as its parent township) before the 2010 Census, when most such paired CDPs were coextensive with a township of the same name.<ref name=CPH232/>

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Brain Grove Lake, [[Cranbury Station, New Jersey|Cranbury Station]], Wescott, and [[Wyckoffs Mills, New Jersey|Wyckoffs Mills]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

The township borders [[Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey|Monroe Township]], [[Plainsboro Township, New Jersey|Plainsboro Township]] and [[South Brunswick, New Jersey|South Brunswick Township]] in Middlesex County; and [[East Windsor Township, New Jersey|East Windsor Township]] in [[Mercer County, New Jersey|Mercer County]].<ref>[http://global.mapit.mysociety.org/area/883277/touches.html Areas touching Cranbury Township], MapIt. Accessed July 13, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Government/Pages/Municipalities.aspx Municipalities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201181824/http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Government/Pages/Municipalities.aspx |date=February 1, 2020 }}, [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]]. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf New Jersey Municipal Boundaries], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
| 1880= 1509
| 1890= 1422
| 1900= 1428
| 1910= 1424
| 1920= 1083 | 1920n=*
| 1930= 1278
| 1940= 1342
| 1950= 1797
| 1960= 2001
| 1970= 2253
| 1980= 1927
| 1990= 2500
| 2000= 3227
| 2010= 3857
| 2020= 3842
| estimate=3960
| estyear=2023
| estref=<ref name=PopEst>[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/mcds/totals/SUB-MCD-EST2023-POP-34.xlsx Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023], [[United States Census Bureau]], released May 2024. Accessed May 16, 2024.</ref>
| footnote=Population sources:<small><br>1880–1920<ref>[https://dspace.njstatelib.org/xmlui/handle/10929/25218?show=full ''Compendium of censuses 1726-1905: together with the tabulated returns of 1905''], [[New Jersey Department of State]], 1906. Accessed September 2, 2013.</ref> 1880–1890<ref>Porter, Robert Percival. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8gUkQkJdLpsC&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98 ''Preliminary Results as Contained in the Eleventh Census Bulletins: Volume III - 51 to 75''], p. 98. [[United States Census Bureau]], 1890. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref><br>1890–1910<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=T9HrAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA337 ''Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910: Population by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions, 1910, 1900, 1890''], [[United States Census Bureau]], p. 337. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref> 1910–1930<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=kifRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA717 ''Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I''], [[United States Census Bureau]], p. 717. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref><br>1940–2000<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2kpub/njsdcp3.pdf#page=27 Table 6: New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1940 - 2000], Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, August 2001. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> 2000<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/><br>2010<ref name=Census2010>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0600000US3402315550 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Cranbury township, Middlesex County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212102046/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0600000US3402315550 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref><ref name=LWD2010>[http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_mid/cranbury1.pdf Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Cranbury township] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006152709/http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_mid/cranbury1.pdf |date=2011-10-06 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref> 2020<ref name=LWD2020>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_Mun/MCD%200_All.pdf Total Population: Census 2010 - Census 2020 New Jersey Municipalities], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref><br>* = Lost territory in previous decade.<ref name=Story/></small>
}}

===2010 census===
The [[2010 United States census]] counted 3,857 people, 1,320 households, and 1,060 families in the township. The [[population density]] was 291.2 per square mile (112.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,371 housing units at an average density of 103.5 per square mile (40.0/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup was 80.53% (3,106) [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 3.45% (133) [[Black (U.S. census)|Black or African American]], 0.10% (4) [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 13.74% (530) [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.03% (1) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.36% (14) from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#Race|other races]], and 1.79% (69) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 2.57% (99) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 1,320 households, 41.4% had children under the age of 18; 71.3% were married couples living together; 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.7% were non-families. Of all households, 17.5% were made up of individuals and 7.8% 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 3.21.<ref name=Census2010/>

27.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 15.1% from 25 to 44, 35.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.2 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 [[American Community Survey]] showed that (in 2010 [[inflation adjustment|inflation-adjusted]] dollars) [[median household income]] was $131,667 (with a margin of error of +/− $21,076) and the median family income was $146,250 (+/− $24,045). Males had a median income of $122,566 (+/− $25,917) versus $60,781 (+/− $22,066) for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $55,236 (+/− $5,718). About 3.1% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3402315550 DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Cranbury township, Middlesex County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212084711/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3402315550 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census]]<ref name="GR2" /> there were 3,227 people, 1,091 households, and 877 families residing in the township. The population density was {{convert|240.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,121 housing units at an average density of {{convert|83.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the township was 88.78% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.26% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 7.41% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.22% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.33% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 1.70% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>[http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/0603402315550.pdf Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Pompton Lake borough, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801125133/http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/0603402315550.pdf |date=2012-08-01 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3402315550 DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Cranbury township, Middlesex County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212094910/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3402315550 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref>

There were 1,091 households, out of which 46.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.31.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.4% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $111,680, and the median income for a family was $128,410. Males had a median income of $94,683 versus $44,167 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $50,698. About 0.7% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

== Economy ==
Cranbury is host to many warehouses along Route 130 and the roads leading to the NJ Turnpike. A company making the [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scout]] Pinewood Derby cars is also here. Cranbury was noted for a used [[Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce]] dealership located in the center of township, but it has gone out of business. The alternative energy business [[Brilliant Light Power]], which occupies a building formerly occupied by Creative Playthings, is in fact located in East Windsor, in an area served by the Cranbury Post Office.

The [[Associated University Presses]] is an academic publishing company supplying textbooks to colleges and universities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aupresses.com/|title=Associated University Presses|website=Associated University Presses|access-date=February 2, 2018}}</ref>

== Government ==

=== Local government ===
[[File:23 North Main Street, Cranbury, NJ.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Cranbury Town Hall, the [[Old Cranbury School]]]]
Cranbury Township is governed under the [[Township (New Jersey)|township]] form of government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''], [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> 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; all terms of office end on December 31.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 70.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=7 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 7. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor. In 1990, the Cranbury Township Committee was expanded from three to five members and the position of Township Administrator was established by ordinance.<ref name=Committee/>

{{As of|2025}}, members of the Cranbury Township Committee are Mayor Lisa Knierim ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2025), Deputy Mayor Eman El-Badawi (D, term on committee ends 2027; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), Robert Christopher (D, 2027), Barbara F. Rogers (D, 2025) and Matthew A. Scott (D, 2026).<ref name=Committee>[https://www.cranburytownship.org/township-committee Township Committee], Cranbury Township. Accessed January 5, 2025. "The Township Committee is the governing body established by State law for the Township form of government. The membership of the Cranbury Township Committee was expanded from three to five in January 1990. The terms of the members are for three years, staggered, so that at least one member is up for election every year. The membership annually chooses one of the members as Mayor."</ref><ref>[https://www.cranburytownship.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif4296/f/uploads/municipal_budget_2024.pdf 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Cranbury Township. Accessed April 21, 2024.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2024>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Middlesex/122847/web.345435/#/summary Tuesday, November 5 General Election Official Results], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]], updated November 27, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2023>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Middlesex/119048/web.317647/#/summary November 7, 2023 General Election Official Results], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]], December 7, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Middlesex/116148/web.307039/#/summary November 8, 2022 General Election Official Results], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]], updated November 22, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>

In 2023, the township had the lowest effective property tax rate in Middlesex County at 1.621%.<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/njbonds/treasury/taxation/pdf/lpt/gtr/2023taxrates.pdf 2023 General Tax Rates], [[New Jersey Department of Treasury]]. Accessed January 5, 2025</ref> In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $11,960, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.<ref>Marcus, Samantha. [https://www.nj.com/politics/2019/04/these-are-the-towns-with-the-highest-property-taxes-in-each-of-njs-21-counties.html "These are the towns with the highest property taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], April 22, 2019. Accessed November 5, 2019. "The average property tax bill in New Jersey was $8,767 last year. But there can be big swings from town to town and county to county.... The average property tax bill in Cranbury Township was $11,960 in 2018, the highest in Middlesex County."</ref>

=== Federal, state and county representation ===
Cranbury Township is located in the 12th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 14th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>[https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf ''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''], New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#14 Districts by Number for 2011-2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 12}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 14}}

{{NJ Middlesex County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,768 registered voters in Cranbury Township, of which 836 (30.2%) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 684 (24.7%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 1,246 (45.0%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 2 voters registered as either [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]] or [[Green Party (United States)|Greens]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-middlesex-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Middlesex], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential election results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2024 United States presidential election in New Jersey|2024]]<ref name="2024Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-middlesex.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 5, 2024 - Middlesex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.2% ''892''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''60.7%'''  ''1,497''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |3.1% ''61''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2020|2020]]<ref name="2020Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-middlesex.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 3, 2020 - Middlesex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2022}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.5% ''872''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''63.2%'''  ''1,596''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.2% ''55''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016|2016]]<ref name="2016Elections">{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.gov/state/elections/2016-results/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-middlesex.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 8, 2016 - Middlesex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.1% ''794''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.9%'''  ''1,196''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |7.0% ''150''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.gov/state/elections/2016-results/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-middlesex.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Middlesex County|date=March 15, 2013|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 23, 2014}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.9% ''971''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''52.0%'''  ''1,076''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.1% ''22''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008]]'''<ref name="state.nj.us">[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-middlesex.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Middlesex County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref>
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.3% ''986''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.0%'''  ''1,153''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.3% ''29''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004]]'''<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_middlesex_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Middlesex County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref>
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.8%''' ''1,044''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|48.0%  ''987''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |0.9% ''23''
|-
|}

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 52.0% of the vote (1,076 cast), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 46.9% (971 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (22 votes), among the 2,082 ballots cast by the township's 2,839 registered voters (13 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 73.3%.<ref name=2012Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-middlesex.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Middlesex County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-middlesex.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Middlesex County|date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Democrat Barack Obama received 53.0% of the vote (1,153 cast), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 45.3% (986 votes) and other candidates with 1.3% (29 votes), among the 2,176 ballots cast by the township's 2,777 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.4%.<ref name="state.nj.us"/> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 50.8% of the vote (1,044 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat [[John Kerry]] with 48.0% (987 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (23 votes), among the 2,055 ballots cast by the township's 2,510 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 81.9.<ref name="Presidential Election 2004"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Gubernatorial Election results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2021|2021]]<ref name="2021Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2021/2021-general-election-results-governor-middlesex.pdf|title=Governor - Middlesex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2022}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.6% ''727''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.3%''' ''999''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.1% ''18''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2017|2017]]<ref name="2017Elections">{{cite web|url=http://www.njelections.org/2017-results/2017-general-election-results-governor-middlesex.pdf|title=Governor - Middlesex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101082423/http://www.njelections.org/2017-results/2017-general-election-results-governor-middlesex.pdf|archive-date=January 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.2% ''655''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.6%'''  ''716''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.2% ''17''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013]]<ref name="2013Elections">{{cite web|url=http://nj.gov/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-middlesex.pdf|title=Governor - Middlesex County|date=January 29, 2014|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910072807/http://www.nj.gov/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-middlesex.pdf|archive-date=September 10, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''67.1%''' ''941''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.3%  ''439''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.6% ''22''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009]]'''<ref name="2009Elections">{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.gov/state/elections/election-results/2009-governor_results-middlesex.pdf|title=Governor - Middlesex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=January 2, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.6%''' ''901''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.5%  ''585''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |9.4% ''155''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2005|2005]]'''<ref name="2005Elections">{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.gov/state/elections/election-results/2005governor's_results-middlesex.pdf|title=Governor - Middlesex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=January 2, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.9%''' ''787''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.7%  ''691''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |3.2% ''49''
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 67.1% of the vote (941 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 31.3% (439 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (22 votes), among the 1,421 ballots cast by the township's 2,850 registered voters (19 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.9%.<ref name=2013Elections/><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-middlesex.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Middlesex County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Republican Chris Christie received 54.6% of the vote (901 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 35.5% (585 votes), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 8.7% (144 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (11 votes), among the 1,649 ballots cast by the township's 2,711 registered voters, yielding a 60.8% turnout.<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-middlesex.pdf 2009 Governor: Middlesex County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017230558/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-middlesex.pdf |date=2012-10-17 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref>

== Education ==
[[File:PrincetonHighSchool Front.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Princeton High School (New Jersey)|Princeton High School]]]]
{{Main|Cranbury School District}}
The [[Cranbury School District]] serves children in public school for [[pre-kindergarten]] through [[eighth grade]] at Cranbury School.<ref>[https://4.files.edl.io/42c8/10/03/18/132749-ae3e3d27-e3df-4df7-a46d-a3e2bd941f64.pdf Cranbury Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification], Cranbury School District. Accessed September 23, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades K through 8 in the Cranbury School District. Composition: The Cranbury School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Cranbury Township."</ref><ref>[https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/selectreport/2022-2023/23/0970 School Performance Reports for the Cranbury Township School District], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://homeroom6.doe.state.nj.us/directory/school/districtid/0970 New Jersey School Directory for the Cranbury School District], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 453 students and 59.1 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a [[student–teacher ratio]] of 7.7:1.<ref name=NCES>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&details=1&ID2=3403540&DistrictID=3403540 District information for Cranbury Township School District], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> For the 2016–17 school year, Cranbury School was formally designated as a [[National Blue Ribbon Schools Program|National Blue Ribbon School]], the highest honor that an American public school can achieve. This was also earned during the 1996–97 and 2009-10 school years.<ref>[https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/assets/reports/2019/1982_to_2019_nbrs_schools.pdf National Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982 Through 2019 (PDF)], [[United States Department of Education]]. Accessed September 1, 2024.</ref><ref>[http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2009/national.pdf#page=13 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools: All Public and Private Schools], [[United States Department of Education]], p. 13. Accessed July 15, 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2016/national.pdf#page=20 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Non-Public], [[National Blue Ribbon Schools Program]]. Accessed November 13, 2016.</ref>

For [[ninth grade|ninth]] through [[twelfth grade]]s, students move on to [[Princeton High School (New Jersey)|Princeton High School]] in [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]], as part of a [[sending/receiving relationship]] with the [[Princeton Public Schools]].<ref name=NYT1997/><ref>[http://www.nj.gov/education/pr/1415/narrative/21/4255/000.html Princeton Public Schools 2015 Report Card Narrative], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed June 1, 2016. "As we strive to serve the more than 3500 students from the Princeton and Cranbury communities, we do so knowing that our work with them in the classroom, on the athletic field, and on the stage matters deeply to each one and to the larger society into which they will graduate."</ref><ref>Capuzzo, Jill P. [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/realestate/cranbury-nj-one-town-many-personalities.html "Cranbury, N.J.: One Town, Many Personalities"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 25, 2014. Accessed November 2, 2014. "About 545 students in prekindergarten through Grade 8 attend Cranbury School, which has twice been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. For grades 9 to 12, they move on to Princeton High School, where there are 1,445 students."</ref><ref>Staff. [http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2010/03/cranbury_trims_23_jobs_in_wake.html "Cranbury trims 23 jobs in wake of aid reduction"], ''[[The Times (Trenton)|The Times]]'', March 25, 2010. Accessed November 2, 2014. "Cranbury public schools serve about 600 students in [[pre-kindergarten]] through [[eighth grade]]. The district's high school students attend Princeton High School."</ref> Cranbury Township is granted a seat on the Princeton Regional Schools [[Board of Education]], with the designated representative only voting on issues pertaining to Princeton High School and district-wide issues.<ref>[http://www.princetonk12.org/Board/Members Board of Education Members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103043816/http://www.princetonk12.org/Board/Members |date=2014-11-03 }}, [[Princeton Public Schools]]. Accessed November 2, 2014.</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,532 students and 130.2 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a [[student–teacher ratio]] of 11.8:1.<ref>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3413410&ID=341341003182 School data for Princeton High School], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Cranbury students had attended [[Hightstown High School]] and then [[Lawrence High School (New Jersey)|Lawrence High School]] before the relationship was established with Princeton.<ref>Kilby, David. [http://www.centraljersey.com/archives/cranbury-hhs-alumni-recalls-how-school-used-to-be/article_faa02f65-d6ba-5861-b592-df7860b8bc53.html "Cranbury: HHS alumni recalls how school used to be"], CentralJersey.com, June 24, 2011. Accessed October 3, 2017. "Cranbury stopped sending its students to HHS in 1965, then it began sending its students to Hightstown-East Windsor High School. Cranbury students soon would go to Lawrence High School, then to Princeton High School, which is where they go today."</ref>

Eighth grade students from all of Middlesex County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the [[Middlesex County Magnet Schools]], a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its schools in [[East Brunswick Magnet School|East Brunswick]], [[Edison Academy Magnet School|Edison]], [[Perth Amboy Magnet School|Perth Amboy]], [[Piscataway Magnet School|Piscataway]] and [[Woodbridge Academy Magnet School|Woodbridge Township]], with no tuition charged to students for attendance.<ref>Heyboer, Kelly. [https://www.nj.com/news/g66l-2019/02/1b0ab48c995308/how-to-get-your-kid-a-seat-in-one-of-njs-hardesttogetinto-high-schools.html "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]], February 23, 2019. Accessed February 8, 2025. "Middlesex County has two stand-alone career academies for high-achieving students: the Academy for Science, Math and Engineering Technology, located on the campus of Middlesex County College in Edison, and the Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences in Woodbridge. How to apply: Students must attend a mandatory information session and submit an application by November of their 8th grade year."</ref><ref>[https://www.mcmsnj.net/about About Our Schools], [[Middlesex County Magnet Schools]]. Accessed February 8, 2025. "These high schools are free public schools that offer hands-on, integrated learning opportunities for students in grades 9-12 interested in all types of careers as well as higher education. Any student who resides anywhere in Middlesex County's 25 municipalities student may apply to the school district. If accepted, the home school district will permit the student to attend and will organize daily transportation at no cost to the student's family."</ref>

=== Public libraries ===
The Cranbury Public Library serves Cranbury residents and opened in a brand-new building in November 2022 at 30 Park Place West. Prior to the free-standing building, the library shared a facility with the Cranbury School from 1968 until summer 2020 when the school evicted the library to provide additional learning space during the COVID-19 pandemic. From early 2021 to November 2022, the library operated out of a pocket library on North Main Street. The free-standing library was built with funds donated through a capital campaign by the Cranbury Public Library Foundation from 2010 through 2022, as well as funds from surplus operating revenue saved from prior to 2008 when the Cranbury School started charging rent. In 2020, the library applied for and was awarded a $2.39 million grant from the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act |url=https://www.njstatelib.org/services_for_libraries/new-jersey-library-construction-bond-act/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=New Jersey State Library |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=NYT1997/><ref>[http://www.cranburypubliclibrary.org/ Home page], Cranbury Public Library. Accessed June 30, 2021.</ref>

== Historic district ==
{{Infobox NRHP
  | name = Cranbury Historic District
  | nrhp_type = HD | nocat = yes
  | image = 26, 28 North Main Street, Cranbury, NJ.jpg
  | caption = Historic houses on North Main Street
  | location= Main and Prospect streets; Maplewood and Scott avenues; Bunker Hill Road; Symmes Court; Westminster, Park and Wesley places
  | locmapin = 
  | built = 
  | architecture = Bungalow/craftsman, Greek Revival, Vernacular Italianate
  | added = September 18, 1980
  | area = {{convert|175|acre}}
  | refnum = 80002502<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2013a|refnum=80002502}}</ref>
  | designated_other1_name = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
  | designated_other1_abbr = NJRHP
  | designated_other1_link = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
  | designated_other1_date = August 9, 1979
  | designated_other1_number = 1830<ref name=NJRHP>{{cite web |title=New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Middlesex County |url=https://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/1identify/nrsr_lists/MIDDLESEX.pdf#page=1 |publisher=[[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] - Historic Preservation Office |page=1 |date=September 28, 2021 }}</ref>
  | designated_other1_num_position = bottom
  | designated_other1_color = #ffc94b
}}

The Cranbury Historic District is a {{convert|175|acre|adj=on}} [[historic district (United States)|historic district]] encompassing the village of Cranbury along Main and Prospect streets; Maplewood and Scott avenues; Bunker Hill Road; Symmes Court; Westminster, Park and Wesley places. It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on September 18, 1980, for its significance in architecture and commerce. The district includes 177 [[contributing buildings]], including the [[Old Cranbury School]], which was added individually to the NRHP in 1971.<ref name="nrhpdoc">{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=80002502}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Cranbury Historic District |publisher=[[National Park Service]]|first1=Terry |last1=Karschner |first2=Ruth |last2=Walsh |date=January 1979 }} With {{NRHP url|id=80002502|photos=y|title=accompanying 77 photos}}</ref> Many buildings on Cranbury's Main Street and in the surrounding area date to the 18th or 19th century.

<gallery heights="150px" widths="225px" mode="nolines">
File:1 North Main Street, Cranbury, NJ.jpg|The John S. Silvers Mansion, built in 1886 
File:Cranbury, New Jersey 005.jpg|The Cranbury Inn
</gallery>

=== Cranberry Mills ===

The nomination form describes how "Cranbury is the best preserved 19th century village in Middlesex County" and states that "While there are many small mill towns in New Jersey, few are in such an undisturbed environment as that of Cranbury."<ref name=History/><ref name="nrhpdoc"/> The John S. Silvers Mansion, built 1886, features [[Queen Anne style architecture]].<ref name="nrhpdoc"/> The Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center of the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society is located in a former gristmiller's house and has a display on Cranberry Mills.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center |url=https://www.cranburyhistory.org/history-center-1 |publisher=Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society}}</ref> Cranberry Mills is an exemplary historic showcase of Cranbury's importance as a bustling [[mill town]] during the 18th/19th centuries. It was located along [[Cranbury Brook]], a tributary of the [[Millstone River]] (which in turn is a major tributary of the [[Raritan River]]).

<gallery heights="150px" widths="225px" mode="nolines">
File:6 South Main Street, Cranbury, NJ.jpg|Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center 
File:Cranberry Mills, Cranbury, NJ - information sign.jpg|Information on Cranberry Mills
</gallery>

=== Places of worship ===
The First Presbyterian Church was founded {{circa|1740}} and the current church was built in 1839. The United Methodist Church was built in 1848. Both are contributing properties of the historic district.<ref name="nrhpdoc"/>

<gallery heights="170px" widths="170px" mode="nolines">
File:1stPresbyterianCranbury.jpg|First Presbyterian Church
File:United Methodist Church, Cranbury, NJ.jpg|United Methodist Church
</gallery>

== Infrastructure ==

===Transportation===

====Roads and highways====
[[File:2021-05-23 17 54 52 View south along Interstate 95 (New Jersey Turnpike) from the overpass for Middlesex County Route 615 (Cranbury Station Road) in Cranbury Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|250px|View south along the 12-lane [[New Jersey Turnpike]] ([[Interstate 95 in New Jersey|Interstate 95]]) near exit 8A in Cranbury]]
{{As of|2010|5}}, the township had a total of {{convert|51.25|mi}} of roadways, of which {{convert|31.08|mi}} were maintained by the municipality, {{convert|12.85|mi}} by Middlesex County and {{convert|3.16|mi}} by the [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] and {{convert|4.16|mi}} by the [[New Jersey Turnpike Authority]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_Middlesex.pdf Middlesex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

Several major roads and highways pass through the township<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/middlesex.pdf Middlesex County Road Map], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref> Cranbury hosts a {{convert|4|mi|adj=on}} section of [[Interstate 95 in New Jersey|Interstate 95]] (the [[New Jersey Turnpike]]).<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000095__-.pdf#page=12 Interstate 95 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated August 2014. Accessed December 3, 2019.</ref> While there are no exits in Cranbury, the township is accessible by the Turnpike in neighboring [[East Windsor Township, New Jersey|East Windsor Township]] (Exit 8) and [[Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey|Monroe Township]] (Exit 8A). The Molly Pitcher Service Area is located at mile marker 71.7 on the southbound side.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/our-roadways.html Travel Resources: Interchanges, Service Areas & Commuter Lots], [[New Jersey Turnpike]]. Accessed July 14, 2011.</ref>

Other significant roads passing through Cranbury include [[U.S. Route 130]],<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000130__-.pdf#page=23 U.S. Route 130 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated March 2018. Accessed December 3, 2019.</ref> [[County Route 535 (New Jersey)|County Route 535]],<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000535__-.pdf#page=6 County Route 535 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated October 2012. Accessed December 3, 2019.</ref> [[County Route 539 (New Jersey)|County Route 539]],<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000539__-.pdf#page=22 County Route 539 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated October 2012. Accessed December 3, 2019.</ref> [[County Route 615 (Middlesex County, New Jersey)|County Route 615]]<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/12000615__-.pdf Middlesex County Route 615 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated May 2011. Accessed December 3, 2019.</ref> and [[County Route 614 (Middlesex County, New Jersey)|County Route 614]].<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/12000614__-.pdf#page=2 Middlesex County Route 615 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated May 2011. Accessed December 3, 2019.</ref>

====Public transportation====
Middlesex County offers the M6 MCAT shuttle route providing service to [[Jamesburg, New Jersey|Jamesburg]] and [[Plainsboro Township, New Jersey|Plainsboro Township]].<ref>[http://www.kmm.org/kmm_transit.php Mass Transit], Keep Middlesex Moving. Accessed October 2, 2014.</ref>

===Healthcare===
[[File:Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center]]]]
[[Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center]] is a 355-bed regional [[non-profit]], [[Tertiary care|tertiary]] and [[Teaching hospital|academic medical center]] located in neighboring [[Plainsboro Township, New Jersey|Plainsboro Township]]. The hospital services the greater [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]] region in [[Central Jersey|central New Jersey]]. It is owned by the [[Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania|Penn Medicine Health System]] and is the only such hospital in the state of New Jersey.<ref>[https://www.princetonhcs.org/our-locations/pmc], Penn Medicine: Princeton Medical Center, Our locations. Accessed July 4, 2023.</ref>

Other nearby regional hospitals and healthcare networks that are accessible to the township include [[CentraState Medical Center]] in [[Freehold Township, New Jersey|Freehold Township]], the [[Old Bridge Township, New Jersey|Old Bridge Township]] division of [[Raritan Bay Medical Center]], and [[Saint Peter's University Hospital]] and [[Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital]] in nearby [[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]].

== Notable people ==
{{Category see also|People from Cranbury, New Jersey}}
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Cranbury include:

* [[Melanie Balcomb]] (born 1962), head coach of the [[Vanderbilt Commodores]] women's basketball team<ref>Konick, Emery Jr. [https://archive.today/20130131200830/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mycentraljersey/access/1799558811.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+17,+2004&author=EMERY+KONICK+JR&pub=Home+News+Tribune&desc=Women's+sports+at+center+court&pqatl=google "Women's sports at center court"], ''[[Home News Tribune]]'', August 17, 2004. Accessed July 14, 2011. "Melanie Balcomb of Cranbury is the head women's basketball coach at Vanderbilt and one of the most successful young women's coaches in the nation."</ref>
* [[Todd Beamer]] (1968–2001), passenger aboard [[United Airlines Flight 93]], who said "[[Let's roll]]" to fellow passengers with whom he was planning an attack on terrorists who had taken over the cockpit<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/20010922gtenat4p4.asp 13-minute call bonds her forever with hero], ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'', September 22, 2001. "Beamer, 32, of Cranbury, N.J., was the only passenger who dialed zero for the Airfone operator."</ref>
* [[Scott Brunner]] (born 1957), [[quarterback]] who played in the NFL from 1981 to 1986, most notably for the [[New York Giants]]<ref>[http://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2005/oct/halloffame100504.html "UD Hall of Fame names nine new members"], [[University of Delaware]], October 5, 2004. Accessed February 19, 2020. "Scott Brunner... He currently resides in Cranbury, N.J., and has three children, daughters Ashley (20) and Whitney (16) and son Adam (16)."</ref>
* [[Ronald C. Davidson]] (1941–2016), physicist, professor and scientific administrator who served as the first director of the [[MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center]] and as director of the [[Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory]]<ref>Chang, Kenneth. [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/30/science/ronald-c-davidson-pioneer-of-fusion-power-dies-at-74.html "Ronald C. Davidson, Pioneer of Fusion Power, Dies at 74"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', May 29, 2016. Accessed May 30, 2016. "Ronald C. Davidson, who oversaw one of the biggest advances in fusion energy research, attempting to replicate the power of the sun, died on May 19 at his home in Cranbury, N.J. He was 74."</ref>
* [[Wendy Gooditis]] (born Gwendolyn Wallace in 1960), politician who represents [[Virginia's 10th House of Delegates district]] in the [[Virginia House of Delegates]]<ref>[https://www.wendygooditis.com/about About], Wendy Gooditis. Accessed February 19, 2020. "Wendy was raised to work hard and serve others. She grew up in Cranbury, New Jersey with two older brothers."</ref>
* [[Noah Harlan]], [[independent film]]maker<ref>Rubin, Debra. [https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/day-school-and-punk-rock-collide-in-teen-novel/ "Day school and punk rock collide in teen novel"], ''[[New Jersey Jewish News]]'', December 6, 2010. Accessed February 19, 2020. "The South Orange native author spoke to NJJN by phone from her Manhattan home, where she lives with her Emmy Award-winning filmmaker husband Noah Harlan, a Cranbury native who grew up attending Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction."</ref>
* [[Ralph Izzo]], businessman and former nuclear physicist; chairman, president and CEO of [[Public Service Enterprise Group]]<ref>Johnson, Tom. [https://www.njspotlight.com/2013/07/13-0710-1452/ "Profile: Ralph Izzo — Chairman, President, Chief Executive of PSEG"], NJ Spotlight News, July 24, 2013. Accessed September 23, 2021. "Hometown: Cranbury Township, where he lives with his wife and son and daughter."</ref>
* [[Hughie Lee-Smith]] (1915–1999), artist<ref>Raynor, Vivien. [https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/12/nyregion/art-review-a-painter-s-evolution-visual-and-political.html "Art Review; A Painter's Evolution, Visual and Political"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 12, 1995. Accessed July 5, 2012. "Hughie Lee-Smith was born in Florida and schooled in Ohio and Michigan, notably at the Cleveland Institute of Art and Wayne State University in Detroit. He is nonetheless a New Jersey artist, and not just because of the many years he has lived in Cranbury."</ref>
* [[Cicero Hunt Lewis]] (1826–1897), merchant<ref>Gaston, Joseph. [https://books.google.com/books?id=bG4UAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA106 ''Portland, Oregon, its history and builders:in connection with the antecedent explorations, discoveries, and movements of the pioneers that selected the site for the great city of the Pacific, Volume 2''], [[S. J. Clarke Publishing Company]], 1911. Accessed July 5, 2012. "The width of the continent separated Mr. Lewis from his birthplace after he came to the northwest for he was a native of Cranbury, Middlesex county, New Jersey, his birth having there occurred on the 22d of November, 1826."</ref>
* [[Robert Lougy]], judge on the [[New Jersey Superior Court]] who served as acting [[New Jersey Attorney General]] in 1996<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases16/pr20160229c.html "Governor Christie Names Robert Lougy as Acting State Attorney General"], [[Attorney General of New Jersey]], press release dated February 29, 2016. Accessed February 19, 2020. "A resident of Cranbury, Lougy graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1994 and received his law degree from Columbia Law School in 2002."</ref>
* [[Charles McKnight]] (1750–1791), physician during and after the American Revolutionary War<ref>[http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=718 Charles McKnight's Surgical Kit], [[Smithsonian Institution]]. Accessed May 30, 2016. "Charles McKnight was born in Cranbury, New Jersey, 10 October 1750."</ref>
* [[Jan Morris]] (1926–2020), Welsh travel writer and historian, lived in Cranbury for several months in the 1950s whose impressions of the town are recorded in the book ''Coast to Coast: A Journey Across 1950s America''<ref>[[Jan Morris|Morris, Jan]]. [http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto050920082057343308&page=1 "Once upon a time in America"]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''[[Financial Times]]'', May 9, 2008. Accessed August 27, 2008. "When I was resident in Cranbury more than half a century ago, it was a rustic haven in flat farmland country, with the remains of slave shacks, an 18th century inn, proud memories of the revolutionary war and a firehouse where firemen chewed the cud on kitchen chairs on the sidewalk outside, exchanging bucolic prejudices."</ref>
* [[Henry Perrine]] (1797–1840), physician, horticulturist and enthusiast for introducing tropical plants into cultivation in the US<ref>Wilkinson, Jerry. [http://www.keyshistory.org/IK-dr-perrine1.html "Dr. Henry Perrine of Indian Key"], Florida Keys History Museum. Accessed November 13, 2016. "Henry Edward Perrine was a descendant of a French Huguenot family who settled in New Jersey around 1665. He was born April 5, 1797 at Cranbury, New Jersey and taught school in Rockyhill, N.J. as a youth."</ref>
* [[Jessica Ware|Jessica Lee Ware]] (born 1977), Canadian-American [[Evolutionary biology|evolutionary biologist]] and [[Entomology|entomologist]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jessica L. Ware {{!}} Entomological Society of America |url=https://www.entsoc.org/jessica-l-ware |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=www.entsoc.org |language=en}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
Cranbury is referenced in the 2014 movie ''[[Edge of Tomorrow]]'', as the hometown of Major William Cage (played by [[Tom Cruise]]). When asked if people of Cranbury plant cranberries, Cage answered: "Tomatoes, best I've ever had."<ref>Whitty, Stephen. [https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2014/05/edge_of_tomorrow_review_tom_cruise_saves_the_world_maybe.html "''Edge of Tomorrow'' review: Tom Cruise saves the world, maybe"], ''[[Inside Jersey]]'', May 28, 2014. Accessed August 25, 2022. "Tom Cruise is the hero (from Cranbury, N.J. no less) and he does the usual heroic Tom Cruise things — running hard, riding a motorcycle and acting cocky."</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Washington's Headquarters during the Revolutionary War]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, New Jersey]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Chambers, John Whiteclay. ''Cranbury: A New Jersey Town From the Colonial Era to the Present''. (Rivergate Books / [[Rutgers University Press]]; 2012)

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.cranburytownship.org Cranbury Township official website]
* [https://www.cranburypubliclibrary.org Cranbury Public Library website]
* [https://www.cranburyschool.org/ Cranbury Township School District]
* {{NJReportCard|23|0970|0|Cranbury School}}
* [https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3403540 Data for Cranbury Township School], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051218153330/http://phs.prs.k12.nj.us/ Princeton High School]
* [http://www.cranburyhistory.org Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society]
* {{cite web|title=Cranberry Mills |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=36117 |publisher=[[The Historical Marker Database]]}}

{{Geographic Location
 | Centre    = Cranbury Township
 | North     = [[South Brunswick, New Jersey|South Brunswick Township]]
 | Northeast = 
 | East      = [[Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey|Monroe Township]]
 | Southeast = 
 | South     = [[East Windsor Township, New Jersey|East Windsor Township]]
 | Southwest = 
 | West      = [[Plainsboro Township, New Jersey|Plainsboro Township]]
 | Northwest = 
 | Surrounds = 
}}
{{Middlesex County, New Jersey}}
{{NRHP in Middlesex County, New Jersey}}
{{Raritan River}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cranbury, New Jersey| ]]
[[Category:1872 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Cannabis in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1872]]
[[Category:Township form of New Jersey government]]
[[Category:Townships in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Townships in Middlesex County, New Jersey]]