Editing West Windsor, New Jersey

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

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Landingsite statue.JPG
|imagesize                = 250x200px
|image_caption            = ''[[The War of the Worlds (1938 radio drama)|War of the Worlds]]'' monument in [[Grovers Mill, New Jersey|Grovers Mill]]
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               = West Windsor Seal.jpg

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

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
|subdivision_type1        = State
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|New Jersey}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New Jersey|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = {{flagicon image|}} [[Mercer County, New Jersey|Mercer]]
|government_footnotes     = <ref name=DataBook/>
|government_type          = [[Faulkner Act]] [[Faulkner Act (mayor–council)|Mayor-Council]]
|governing_body           = Township Council
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Hemant Marathe (term ends December 31, 2025)<ref name=Mayor/>
|leader_title1            = [[City manager|Administrator]]
|leader_name1             = Marlena Schmid<ref>[https://www.westwindsornj.org/business-administrator-home Business Administrator], Township of West Windsor. Accessed March 20, 2023.</ref>
|leader_title2            = [[Municipal clerk]]
|leader_name2             = Gay Huber<ref>[https://www.westwindsornj.org/departments/township-clerk Township clerk], Township of West Windsor. Accessed March 20, 2023.</ref>
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = February 21, 1798

<!-- 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><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.ST10/0400000US34 GCT-PH1: Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – State – Place and (in selected states) County Subdivision from 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212202644/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.ST10/0400000US34 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed June 12, 2012.</ref>
|area_magnitude           =
|area_total_km2           = 68.00
|area_land_km2            = 66.17
|area_water_km2           =  1.83
|area_total_sq_mi         = 26.25
|area_land_sq_mi          = 25.55
|area_water_sq_mi         =  0.71
|area_water_percent       =  2.69
|area_rank                = 101st of 565 in state<br>3rd of 12 in county<ref name=CensusArea/>

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/>
|population_total         = 29518
|population_rank          = 82nd of 565 in state<br>7th of 12 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 = 1155.3
|population_density_rank  = 367th of 565 in state<br>10th of 12 in county<ref name=LWD2020Density/>
|population_est           = 30509
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name=Census2020/><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|882124|Township of West Windsor}}, [[Geographic Names Information System]]. Accessed March 14, 2013.</ref>
|elevation_m              =
|elevation_ft             = 92
|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|40.290253|-74.627672|region:US-NJ_type:city(27,000)|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 08550 – [[Princeton Junction, New Jersey|Princeton Junction]] and 08540 – [[Princeton, New Jersey]]<ref>[http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=west%20windsor&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code], United States Postal Service. Accessed September 17, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/njzips.htm Zip Codes], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed December 2, 2013.</ref>
|area_code                = [[Area code 609|609]]<ref>[http://www.area-codes.com/search.asp?frmNPA=&frmNXX=&frmState=NJ&frmCity=West%20Windsor&frmCounty=Mercer Area Code Lookup – NPA NXX for West Windsor, NJ], Area-Codes.com. Accessed April 26, 2015.</ref>
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 3402180240<ref name=CensusArea/><ref>[https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey], Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.</ref><ref name="GR2">[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 1, 2019.</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0882124<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|www.westwindsornj.org}}}}
|footnotes                =
}}

'''West Windsor''' is a [[Township (New Jersey)|township]] in [[Mercer County, New Jersey|Mercer County]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]]. Located at the cross-roads between the [[Delaware River|Delaware Valley region]] to the southwest and the [[Raritan River|Raritan Valley region]] to the northeast, the township is considered to be an outer-ring [[suburb]] of [[New York City]] in the [[New York metropolitan area]], as defined by the [[United States Census Bureau]].<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 March 29, 2018.</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census]], the township's population was 29,518,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> its highest [[United States census|decennial count]] ever and an increase of 2,353 (+8.7%) from the 27,165 recorded at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 5,258 (+24.0%) from the 21,907 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>

West Windsor and adjacent [[East Windsor, New Jersey|East Windsor]] were established by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]] on February 9, 1797, and incorporated on February 21, 1798, as two of the state's initial group of 104 townships, by partitioning provincial [[Windsor Township, New Jersey|Windsor Township]].<ref name=Story/>

The [[Borough of Princeton, New Jersey|Borough of Princeton]], now part of [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]], was formed from a portion of the township on February 11, 1813.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. [https://nj.gov/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. 175. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The township is closely associated with the more widely known municipality and several localities within West Windsor use ''Princeton'' in their name, the most notable of those being [[Princeton Junction, New Jersey|Princeton Junction]]. The Princeton 08540 post office facility is located within West Windsor, and covers parts of the township designated by Princeton mailing addresses.<ref name=NYT2011/>

A portion of [[Princeton University]], covering {{convert|400|acres}} south of [[Lake Carnegie (New Jersey)|Lake Carnegie]], is located in West Windsor.<ref name=Princeton>[https://www.princeton.edu/campusplan/about/history/pdf/ch1-CampusAsWorkInProgress.pdf The Campus as a Work in Progress], [[Princeton University]]. Accessed July 19, 2014.</ref> The university agreed in 2009 to make an annual [[payment in lieu of taxes]] of $50,000 that would be indexed to inflation to cover {{convert|81|acres}} of land in the township that the university had purchased in 2002.<ref>[http://www.westwindsornj.org/press_release_120209.html West Windsor Receives $51,900 From Princeton University] Township of West Windsor, December 2, 2009. Accessed April 23, 2012.</ref>

West Windsor is frequently ranked among some of the highest-income municipalities in New Jersey. In 2008, ''[[Forbes]]'' listed West Windsor as the 15th most affluent neighborhood in the U.S.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/2008/12/08/america-affluent-neighborhoods-forbeslife-cx_ls_1209realestate_slide_7.html?thisSpeed=15000 Twenty Most Affluent US Neighborhoods], Forbes. Accessed December 29, 2008.</ref> Using 2012–2016 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, [[NJ.com]] listed the township as the 9th highest-income in the state in its January 2018 article "The 19 wealthiest towns in New Jersey, ranked."<ref>Petenko, Erin. [https://www.nj.com/data/2018/01/the_19_towns_where_residents_take_home_150k_or_mor.html#incart_m-rpt-2 "The 19 wealthiest towns in New Jersey, ranked"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], January 2018. Accessed December 2, 2019. "A note about the data: The source of this data is median household income in the 2012–2016 American Community Survey snapshot, compared with the 2007–2011 ACS snapshot. All of the towns have a median income of more than $150,000. Towns with a high margin of error were excluded.... 9. West Windsor township, Mercer County Median income: $167,629"</ref> Based on data from the [[American Community Survey]] for 2013–2017, West Windsor residents had a [[median household income]] of $175,684, ranked 4th in the state among municipalities with more than 10,000 residents, more than double the statewide median of $76,475.<ref>Raychaudhuri, Disha. [https://www.nj.com/data/2019/06/the-wealthiest-towns-in-nj-ranked.html "The wealthiest towns in N.J., ranked"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], June 7, 2019. Accessed November 4, 2019. "The median household income in N.J. is $76,475, recent Census data shows.... A note about the data: The data comes from 2013–2017 American Community Survey conducted by U.S. Census Bureau. Smaller towns with less than 10,000 residents were excluded from the list.... 4. West Windsor, Mercer County Median income: $175,684"</ref>

==History==
[[File:Schenck Farmstead Farmhouse.jpg|alt=The {{circa}} 1790 Schenck Farmstead - the West Windsor History Museum.|left|thumb|The {{circa}} 1790 Schenck Farmstead, at 50 Southfield Road, Functions as the West Windsor History Museum and the headquarters of the Historical Society of West Windsor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Schenck Farmstead|url=https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/|access-date=2020-09-29|website=The Schenck Farmstead|language=en}}</ref>]]
Prior to individual European land acquisition and settlement around the turn of the 18th century, the primary residents of West Windsor were the [[Lenape]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. The Assanhicans (Assunpinks) were the subtribe that inhabited the greater Trenton area; artifacts from their society are still found in West Windsor.<ref name=Lenape>[https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/lenape.html Indigenous Peoples], Historical Society of West Windsor. Accessed December 17, 2024.</ref>

In 1634, and English captain named Thomas Yong explored the Delaware River, up to the general Trenton area. Had his crew followed the Assunpink northeastward, their path would have taken them to the general West Windsor area. However, they did not, and the identity of the first European person to set foot in West Windsor is unknown.<ref name=Lenape/>

The West Windsor area was within [[Piscataway Township, New Jersey|Piscataway Township]] when it was chartered on December 18, 1666. This changed upon the formation of Middlesex County in 1683.<ref name="West Windsor's Predecessors">[https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/predecessors.html West Windsor's Predecessors], Historical Society of West Windsor. Accessed December 17, 2024.</ref>

[[File:Washington Road Elm Allée (east side).jpg|thumb|left|[[Washington Road Elm Allée]]]]
New Windsor Township (West Windsor's predecessor), known later as Windsor Township, was unofficially formed in 1730/1731, and officially created by [[Royal Charter]] on March 9, 1751, from a partition of Piscataway Township.<ref name="West Windsor's Predecessors"/> Its borders encompassed today's West Windsor Township, [[East Windsor, New Jersey|East Windsor Township]], [[Hightstown, New Jersey|Hightstown Borough]] and [[Robbinsville Township, New Jersey|Robbinsville Township]], as well as present-day Princeton southeast of Nassau Street and portions of present-day [[Millstone Township, New Jersey|Millstone Township]] and [[Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey|Monroe Township]].<ref name="West Windsor's Predecessors"/> In 1756, [[Princeton University|The College of New Jersey]] relocated to [[Nassau Hall]] in the village of Princeton. When West Windsor and East Windsor were created from the division of Windsor Township on February 9, 1797, West Windsor's boundaries extended up to Nassau Street.<ref name="West Windsor's Predecessors"/> Following the 1838 formation of Mercer County and further land acquisitions by Princeton in 1843 and 1853, West Windsor's borders were again redefined to reflect the township's current {{convert|26.84|sqmi}}.<ref name="History" />

Historically, West Windsor relied heavily upon agriculture. Common products were wheat, tomatoes, rye, and potatoes.<ref>[https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/agriculture.html Agriculture], Historical Society of West Windsor. Accessed December 17, 2024.</ref> This farming identity dominated the township from its first settlement until the last half of the 20th century, and was really only extinguished upon the township's most rapid period of growth from the late 1970s-the 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Suburban Development|url=https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/suburban-development.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=The Schenck Farmstead|language=en}}</ref>

However, this agrarian dominance incentivized the institution of slavery as well. Although records are sparse, township censuses indicate 190 slaves in Windsor Township in 1790. In West Windsor, there were 21 slaves in 1830 and 3 in 1840. Additionally, several late 1700s wills and 1800s "abandonments" show the presence of slavery in the township around the turn of the 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Slavery|url=https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/slavery.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=The Schenck Farmstead|language=en}}</ref>

West Windsor never developed a centralized "downtown." Instead, The township contained within it (entirely or partly) several small hamlets whose names and locations are still identifiable and/or in use in contemporary times.<ref name="History" /> They are as follows:

:* Aqueduct Mills – centered at Mapleton Avenue, Lower Harrison Street, and the Millstone River. Partly located in Plainsboro.<ref>[https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/aqueduct.html Aqueduct], West Windsor History. Accessed September 29, 2020.</ref>
:* Canal/Princeton Basin – at the intersection of Alexander Road and the [[Delaware and Raritan Canal|Delaware & Raritan Canal]]. Partially located in Princeton.
:*[[Clarksville, Mercer County, New Jersey|Clarksville]] – at the intersection of Route 1 and Quakerbridge Road.
:*[[Dutch Neck, Mercer County, New Jersey|Dutch Neck]] – at the intersection of Village Roads East/West and South Mill Road.
:*[[Edinburg, New Jersey|Edinburg]] – at the intersection of Old Trenton and Edinburg Roads.
:* Jugtown/Queenston – at the intersection of Nassau and Harrison Streets. Now fully located in Princeton.<ref>[https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/queenston Queenston], West Windsor History. Accessed September 29, 2020.</ref>
:*[[Grover's Mill, New Jersey|Grovers Mill]] – at the intersection of Cranbury and Clarksville Roads.
:*[[Penns Neck, New Jersey|Penns Neck]] – Centered at the intersection of Washington Road and Route 1.
:*[[Port Mercer, New Jersey|Port Windsor/Mercer]] – at the end of Quakerbridge Road at the Delaware Canal. Partially located in Lawrence.
:*[[Princeton Junction, New Jersey|Princeton Junction]] – Initially centered at the [[Princeton Junction station|Princeton Junction Train Station]].<ref name="History" /> Manifested after the mid-1860s relocation of the Camden and Amboy Railroad line (now the Northeast Corridor) and opening of the current station.

[[Grover's Mill, New Jersey|Grover's Mill]] in West Windsor was the site [[Orson Welles]] chose for the Martian invasion in his infamous 1938 radio broadcast of ''[[The War of the Worlds (radio)|The War of the Worlds]]''.<ref name=History>[http://www.westwindsornj.org/history.html History], Township or West Windsor. Accessed April 6, 2012. "Martians from the Orson Welles produced radio drama based on the book The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. In this drama, the audience was told that an alien spacecraft had landed on a farm near Grovers Mill, located in West Windsor."</ref>

During the later part of the 20th century the township underwent dramatic changes, driven mainly by a major boom in new housing developments. For generations, West Windsor had existed mostly as a sparsely populated agricultural community according to a 1999 article in ''[[The New York Times]]'', the township "has grown into a sprawl of expensive houses in carefully groomed developments, and home to nearly 20,000 people", since the 1970s.<ref>Peterson, Iver. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/12/nyregion/our-towns-fast-food-not-so-fast-suburb-says.html "Our Towns; Fast Food? Not So Fast, Suburb Says"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', September 12, 1999. Accessed July 11, 2016. "Take West Windsor. Until a little over a generation ago, it was little more than the open farmland that separated Princeton from the New Jersey Turnpike. But since the 1970's, it has grown into a sprawl of expensive houses in carefully groomed developments, and home to nearly 20,000 people."</ref>

The West Windsor post office was found to be infected with anthrax during the [[2001 anthrax attacks]].<ref name=NYT2011>Kleinfeld, N. R. [https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/28/nyregion/a-nation-challenged-the-sites-anthrax-closes-a-3rd-new-jersey-post-office.html A Nation Challenged: The Sites; Anthrax Closes a 3rd New Jersey Post Office], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 28, 2001. Accessed September 17, 2011. "New Jersey health officials said the bin at the Princeton Main Post Office in neighboring West Windsor tested positive for what they said was a tiny, 'single colony' of anthrax. Some 60 to 70 people work at the center."</ref>

In April 2002, a memorial was dedicated to the seven residents of West Windsor who died in the [[September 11 terrorist attacks]].<ref>[http://www.voicesofseptember11.org/dev/memorials.php?mem_id=413 West Windsor 9/11 Memorial], Voices of September 11. Accessed December 2, 2013.</ref><ref>Erminio, Vinessa. [https://www.nj.com/news/2021/09/faces-of-the-new-jersey-victims-of-sept-11.html "Faces of the New Jersey victims of Sept. 11: A tribute in photos to 734 victims with ties to the Garden State"], ''[[nj.com]]'', September 11, 2021. Accessed July 3, 2023.</ref>

In October 2019, the Historical Society of West Windsor published an online museum exploring the history of West Windsor.<ref>[https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/ Home Page ], The West Windsor History Museum. Accessed September 29, 2020.</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:2013-05-04 12 53 55 View west along the Assunpink Creek in West Windsor Township in New Jersey.jpg|thumb|left|View west along the [[Assunpink Creek]] in West Windsor.]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township had a total area of 26.25 square miles (68.00&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), including 25.55 square miles (66.17&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land and 0.71 square miles (1.83&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of water (2.69%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

[[Princeton Junction, New Jersey|Princeton Junction]] (with a 2010 Census population of 2,465)<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3460960 DP-1 – Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Princeton Junction CDP, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212135932/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3460960 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed April 23, 2012.</ref> is an [[Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] located within West Windsor.<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US34021 GCT-PH1 – Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Mercer County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212204035/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US34021 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 23, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www2.census.gov/acs2010_5yr/summaryfile/UserTools/Geography/NJ.xls 2006–2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 23, 2013.</ref><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 July 23, 2013.</ref> Other unincorporated communities in the township include [[Berrien City, New Jersey|Berrien City]], [[Dutch Neck, Mercer County, New Jersey|Dutch Neck]], [[Edinburg, New Jersey|Edinburg]], [[Grover's Mill, New Jersey|Grover's Mill]], [[Millstone, Mercer County, New Jersey|Millstone]], [[Penns Neck, New Jersey|Penns Neck]], [[Port Mercer, New Jersey|Port Mercer]], Post Corner,{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} and Princeton Ivy East{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Local Place Names], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed August 21, 2020.</ref>

The township borders the municipalities of [[East Windsor, New Jersey|East Windsor]], [[Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey|Hamilton]], [[Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey|Lawrence Township]], [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]] and [[Robbinsville Township, New Jersey|Robbinsville]] in Mercer County; and [[Plainsboro Township, New Jersey|Plainsboro]] in [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]].<ref>[https://global.mapit.mysociety.org/area/883299/touches.html Areas touching West Windsor Township], MapIt. Accessed March 15, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.dvrpc.org/Mapping/Maps/pdf/Mercer_MCDs.pdf Municipalities within Mercer County, NJ], [[Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission]]. Accessed November 15, 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>

The [[Howard Hughes Corporation]] has proposed redevelopment of a {{convert|653|acres|adj=on}} tract of land bounded by the Northeast Corridor train line, Route 1, and Quakerbridge Road, which includes land once owned by [[American Cyanamid]] and last used up until 2002 as an agricultural research facility by [[BASF]]; in of 2017 a plan was proposed to create [[mixed-use development]] that would include 2,000 residences along with {{convert|1300000|sqft}} of retail and commercial space on the site, which is currently zoned for commercial use.<ref>Rojas, Cristina. [http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2017/02/mixed-use_project_planned_for_653-acre_site_off_ro.html#incart_river_home "Mixed-use project planned for 653-acre site off Route 1"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', February 19, 2017. Accessed February 19, 2017. "For more than a decade, the 653-acre former American Cyanamid complex has sat vacant, a ghost town of rundown buildings overgrown with weeds and brush.... The proposal envisions about 2,000 housing units, retail and office space, walking trails and parks and potential sites for a hotel and school. For much of the site's history, the buildings were used as an agricultural research facility and was last occupied in 2002 by German chemical giant BASF."</ref><ref>Xu, Vincent. [https://mercerspace.com/2017/02/17/developer-submits-plans-for-1976-homes-at-quakerbridge-road-site/ "Developer submits plans for 1,976 homes at Quakerbridge Road site"], Mercerspace, February 17, 2017. Accessed March 27, 2017. "The Howard Hughes Corporation has proposed an ambitious mixed-use development plan with nearly 2,000 residential units and more than 1.3 million square feet of commercial space.... Howard Hughes submitted a concept plan to West Windsor Township on Feb. 10. At this point the proposal is effectively a wish list, since the land is commercially zoned for more than 6 million square feet of research, office and light manufacturing."</ref> The local school district has developed a report identifying significant potential growth in the number of students enrolling from this and other residential development in both West Windsor and Plainsboro.<ref>[http://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=34347937 Impact Of Residential Developments On WW-P Schools; Projected Residential Developments in West Windsor and Plainsboro], [[West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District]]. Accessed March 27, 2017.</ref> In 2019, Atlantic Realty purchased the property, and in November 2020 they and the township reached an agreement to restrict the tract to non-residential use and convert it to warehouse space. The West Windsor Planning Board granted approval to build 5.5 million square feet of warehouse space (called "Bridge Point 8") on June 29, 2022."<ref>[https://midjersey.news/2022/07/01/5-5-million-square-foot-with-seven-buildings-mega-warehouse-project-bridge-point-8-approved-in-west-windsor/ "5.5+ Million Square Foot With Seven Buildings, Mega-Warehouse Project, Bridge Point 8 Approved In West Windsor"], MidJersey.News, July 1, 2022. Accessed July 29, 2022. "A two-phased development to construct seven warehouse buildings, with a total footprint of 5,563,117 +/- square feet at 4201 Quakerbridge Road, was approved at a Planning Board Meeting on June 29, 2022 with a vote 6 to 2 approving the project."</ref>

{{Panorama
|image   = File:Panorama_of_D&R_Canal.jpg
|height  = 200
|width   = 400
|alt     = A panorama of the D&R Canal and the Millstone River
|caption = The [[Millstone River]] as it enters into the [[Delaware & Raritan Canal|D&R Canal]], on the border of West Windsor and [[Plainsboro Township, New Jersey|Plainsboro Township]].
}}

==Climate==
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, West Windsor Township has a Hot-summer [[Humid continental climate]] (''Dfa'').	
	
{{Weather box	
| width = auto	
| single line = Y	
| location = West Windsor Twp (40.2928, -74.6259), Elevation {{convert|95|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2022	
| Jan record high F  =	71.7
| Feb record high F  =	77.6
| Mar record high F  =	88.1
| Apr record high F  =	95.2
| May record high F  =	95.4
| Jun record high F  =	98.0
| Jul record high F  =	102.6
| Aug record high F  =	101.4
| Sep record high F  =	97.5
| Oct record high F  =	93.8
| Nov record high F  =	80.7
| Dec record high F  =	75.6
| year record high F =	102.6
| Jan high F  = 	40.2
| Feb high F  = 	42.7
| Mar high F  = 	50.5
| Apr high F  = 	62.9
| May high F  = 	72.5
| Jun high F  = 	81.7
| Jul high F  = 	86.3
| Aug high F  = 	84.5
| Sep high F  = 	78.1
| Oct high F  = 	66.1
| Nov high F  = 	55.4
| Dec high F  = 	45.3
| year high F = 	63.9
| Jan low F  = 	23.3
| Feb low F  = 	24.8
| Mar low F  = 	31.7
| Apr low F  = 	41.5
| May low F  = 	51.1
| Jun low F  = 	60.3
| Jul low F  = 	65.6
| Aug low F  = 	63.8
| Sep low F  = 	56.8
| Oct low F  = 	45.0
| Nov low F  = 	35.4
| Dec low F  = 	28.5
| year low F = 	44.1
| Jan record low F  =	-11.3
| Feb record low F  =	-4.3
| Mar record low F  =	3.8
| Apr record low F  =	17.8
| May record low F  =	31.7
| Jun record low F  =	40.1
| Jul record low F  =	46.4
| Aug record low F  =	41.2
| Sep record low F  =	34.9
| Oct record low F  =	23.9
| Nov record low F  =	9.6
| Dec record low F  =	-0.1
| year record low F =	-11.3
| precipitation colour = green	
| Jan precipitation inch  = 	3.53
| Feb precipitation inch  = 	2.72
| Mar precipitation inch  = 	4.26
| Apr precipitation inch  = 	3.69
| May precipitation inch  = 	4.05
| Jun precipitation inch  = 	4.53
| Jul precipitation inch  = 	4.94
| Aug precipitation inch  = 	4.43
| Sep precipitation inch  = 	4.17
| Oct precipitation inch  = 	4.02
| Nov precipitation inch  = 	3.31
| Dec precipitation inch  = 	4.33
| year precipitation inch = 	47.96
| Jan snow inch  = 	8.1
| Feb snow inch  = 	8.7
| Mar snow inch  = 	4.1
| Apr snow inch  = 	0.1
| May snow inch  = 	0.0
| Jun snow inch  = 	0.0
| Jul snow inch  = 	0.0
| Aug snow inch  = 	0.0
| Sep snow inch  = 	0.0
| Oct snow inch  = 	0.2
| Nov snow inch  = 	0.7
| Dec snow inch  = 	3.7
| year snow inch = 	25.5
| Jan dew point F =	21.5
| Feb dew point F =	22.2
| Mar dew point F =	27.7
| Apr dew point F =	37.2
| May dew point F =	49.1
| Jun dew point F =	59.4
| Jul dew point F =	64.2
| Aug dew point F =	63.5
| Sep dew point F =	57.6
| Oct dew point F =	45.9
| Nov dew point F =	34.9
| Dec dew point F =	27.3
| year dew point F =	42.6
| source = PRISM<ref name=PRISM>{{cite web |url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM|access-date=July 14, 2023}}</ref>	
| source 2 = NOHRSC (Snow, 2008/2009 - 2022/2023 normals)<ref name=NOHRSC>{{cite web |url=https://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/snowfall/|title=NOHRSC|access-date=June 29, 2023}}</ref>}}

==Ecology==
According to the [[A. W. Kuchler]] U.S. [[potential natural vegetation]] types, West Windsor Township would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian [[Oak]] (''104'') with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern [[Hardwood]] Forest (''25'').<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">[https://databasin.org/datasets/1c7a301c8e6843f2b4fe63fdb3a9fe39 U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)], Data Basin, Accessed November 26, 2019.</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1810=  1714
| 1820=  1918
| 1830=  2129
| 1840=  1536
| 1850=  1596
| 1860=  1497
| 1870=  1428
| 1880=  1396
| 1890=  1329
| 1900=  1279
| 1910=  1342
| 1920=  1389
| 1930=  1711
| 1940=  2160
| 1950=  2519
| 1960=  4016
| 1970=  6431
| 1980=  8542
| 1990= 16021
| 2000= 21907
| 2010= 27165
| 2020= 29518
| estimate=30509
| estyear=2023
| estref=<ref name=Census2020/><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>1800–1920<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 July 23, 2013.</ref> 1840<ref>[[Francis Bowen|Bowen, Francis]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=DnUFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA231 ''American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year 1843''], p. 231, David H. Williams, 1842. Accessed July 23, 2013.</ref> 1850–1870<ref>Raum, John O. [https://books.google.com/books?id=5qZ4AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA276 ''The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1''], p. 276, J. E. Potter and Company, 1877. Accessed July 23, 2013. "West Windsor contained a population in 1850 of 1,596; in 1860, 1,497; and in 1870, 1,428."</ref><br> 1850<ref>[[J. D. B. De Bow|Debow, James Dunwoody Brownson]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=25TicJOdU0AC&pg=PA139 ''The Seventh Census of the United States: 1850''], p. 139. R. Armstrong, 1853. Accessed July 23, 2013.</ref> 1870<ref>Staff. [https://books.google.com/books?id=gNwIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA260 ''A compendium of the ninth census, 1870''], p. 260. United States Census Bureau, 1872. Accessed July 23, 2013.</ref> 1880–1890<ref>Porter, Robert Percival. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8gUkQkJdLpsC&pg=PA98 ''Preliminary Results as Contained in the Eleventh Census Bulletins: Volume III – 51 to 75''], p. 98. United States Census Bureau, 1890. Accessed July 14, 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 June 12, 2012.</ref> 1910–1930<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=kifRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA714 ''Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 – Population Volume I''], United States Census Bureau, p. 714. Accessed June 11, 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/DPDP1/0600000US3402180240 DP-1 – Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for West Windsor township, Mercer County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212100925/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0600000US3402180240 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed April 23, 2012.</ref><ref name=LWD2010>[http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_mer/westwindsor1.pdf Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for West Windsor township] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402032513/http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_mer/westwindsor1.pdf |date=April 2, 2012 }}, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed April 23, 2012.</ref> 2020<ref name=Census2020>[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/westwindsortownshipmercercountynewjersey QuickFacts West Windsor township, Mercer County, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref><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></small>
}}
AOL/NeighborhoodScout named West Windsor in 2009 as the best neighborhood to raise children because of its school district (top 7% in New Jersey, top 3% nationwide), prevailing family type (families with school-aged children), and neighborhood safety (safer than 97% of neighborhoods).<ref>[http://realestate.aol.com/home-values/family-friendly-neighborhoods Family-Friendly Neighborhoods], AOL / NeighborhoodScout. Accessed May 31, 2009.</ref> As of January 2018 the township's population was the second most educated in the state of New Jersey, according to an analysis by NJ.com. The percent of residents with a bachelor's degree or higher was 81.7%, with 48% of residents holding advanced graduate or professional degrees.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/data/2018/01/25_towns_in_nj_with_the_most_number_of_college-edu.html|title=The 25 most educated towns in N.J., ranked|work=The Star-Ledger|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

===2010 census===

The [[2010 United States census]] counted 27,165 people, 9,449 households, and 7,606 families in the township. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1062.6|/sqmi}}. There were 9,810 housing units at an average density of {{convert|383.7|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup was 54.94% (14,924) [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 3.67% (998) [[Black (U.S. census)|Black or African American]], 0.09% (25) [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 37.71% (10,245) [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.04% (10) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.97% (263) from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#Race|other races]], and 2.58% (700) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 4.47% (1,213) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 9,449 households, 45.5% had children under the age of 18; 73.0% were married couples living together; 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.5% were non-families. Of all households, 16.7% were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.23.<ref name=Census2010/>

28.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.4 males.<ref name=Census2010/> 
[[File:Dutch Neck NJ.jpg|thumb|Dutch Neck neighborhood]]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 [[American Community Survey]] showed that (in 2010 [[inflation adjustment|inflation-adjusted]] dollars) [[median household income]] was $137,265 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,610) and the median family income was $156,110 (+/− $6,769). Males had a median income of $120,662 (+/− $6,410) versus $71,151 (+/− $9,841) for females. The per capita income for the township was $59,946 (+/− $3,307). About 3.6% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3402180240 DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for West Windsor township, Mercer County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212083447/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3402180240 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed April 23, 2012.</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census]]<ref name="GR2" /> there were 21,907 people, 7,282 households, and 5,985 families residing in the township. The population density was {{convert|842.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 7,450 housing units at an average density of {{convert|286.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the township was 71.53% White, 2.76% African American, 0.08% Native American, 22.76% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.08% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.07% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>[http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/0603402180240.pdf Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for West Windsor township, Mercer County, New Jersey]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed April 23, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3402180240 DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for West Windsor township, Mercer County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212095157/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3402180240 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 13, 2012.</ref>

As of the 2000 Census, 8.31% of West Windsor's residents identified themselves as being of [[Han Chinese|Chinese]] ancestry. This was the fourth highest percentage of people with Chinese ancestry in any place in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.<ref>[http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Chinese.html Chinese Communities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110232258/http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Chinese.html |date=November 10, 2006 }}, [[EPodunk]]. Accessed August 23, 2006.</ref>

There were 7,282 households, out of which 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 14.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.36.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 31.8% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $116,335, and the median income for a family was $127,877. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $56,002 for females. The per capita income for the township was $48,511. About 2.0% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

== Economy ==
West Windsor's economy includes a mix of corporate, retail and local services. [[NRG Energy]], a company specializing in electricity generation and retail, has its corporate headquarters located in West Windsor.<ref>Mulvaney, Nicole. [https://www.nj.com/mercer/2014/08/west_windsor_officials_tout_sustainability_elements_of_nrg_energys_new_40m_headquarters.html "NRG Energy's new $40M headquarters in West Windsor taps into power-saving technology"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], August 29, 2014. Accessed October 11, 2024. "From its solar paneled parking canopies to its rainwater storage system and other energy-saving elements in between, NRG Energy's new $40 million headquarters will be a true "green development," township officials said today. West Windsor's planning board in May granted real estate developer Boston Properties approval to construct a 120,500-square-foot building in Carnegie Center that NRG, a power generation and retail electricity business, will move into by the first quarter of 2016."</ref><ref>[http://www.nrgenergy.com/contact/index.htm Contact Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626020620/http://www.nrgenergy.com/contact/index.htm |date=June 26, 2014 }}, [[NRG Energy]]. Accessed July 25, 2010. "211 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ 08540-6213."</ref><ref>[https://www.westwindsornj.org/images/maps/Zoning-Map.pdf Zoning Map], Township of West Windsor. Accessed October 11, 2024.</ref>

The township benefits from its proximity to New York City and Philadelphia, making it an attractive location for businesses and sectors such as finance, technology, and healthcare. Several small and medium-sized enterprises operate within the township, ranging from local startups to regional offices of larger corporations.<ref> [https://www.westwindsornj.org/development-activity Development Activity], West Windsor Township. Accessed September 29, 2024.</ref> Retail centers, such as the [[MarketFair]] in West Windsor, and the nearby [[Quaker Bridge Mall]] in [[Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey|Lawrence Township]], also drive commerce and attract customers from surrounding communities.<ref>[https://www.marketfairshoppes.com/press-release/lifestyle-center-marketfair-reopens-center-with-increased-health-and-safety-measures-june-29 "Lifestyle Center MarketFair Reopens Center with Increased Health and Safety Measures June 29"], [[MarketFair]], press release dated June 30, 2020. Accessed October 11, 2024. "MarketFair is a 242,000 square foot retail destination located along Route 1 in West Windsor, New Jersey."</ref>

Agriculture remains a small but notable part of West Windsor's economy, with local farms contributing to the region's farmers' markets and community-supported agriculture programs. These farms offer fresh produce and promote agricultural practices that appeal to environmentally-conscious residents. <ref>[https://www.westwindsorfarmersmarket.org/ West Windsor Farmers Market] West Windsor Community Farmers' Market. Accessed September 29, 2024.</ref> The township's support for green initiatives and environmentally-friendly policies has also made it an appealing place for businesses and residents focused on sustainability. <ref>[https://mercersustainabilitycoalition.org/west-windsor-township/ West Windsor Township: Solar and Sustainability Initiatives],  Mercer County Sustainability Coalition. Accessed October 11, 2024.</ref>

==Arts and culture==
The West Windsor Arts Center is the junction where the arts and community meet. They offer performances, classes, workshops, exhibitions, literary arts events and various other special events. It is located in the historic Princeton Junction Firehouse.<ref>[http://westwindsorartscenter.org/west-windsor-arts-center.html Home Page], West Windsor Arts Center. Accessed July 11, 2016.</ref>

The Mercer County Italian-American Festival, established in 2000 and held annually in West Windsor, celebrated its 20th annual event in September 2019.<ref>[http://www.italianamericanfestival.com/ Home page], Mercer County Italian American Festival. Accessed August 22, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://www.nj.com/times/2019/09/mercer-county-italian-american-festival-to-celebrate-20th-anniversary-in-september.html "Mercer County Italian American Festival to celebrate 20th anniversary in September"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', September 12, 2019. Accessed December 2, 2019. "The Mercer County Italian American Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary Sept. 27–29 and is pulling out all the stops with a full lineup of entertainment, food and attractions. The festival was started in 2000 by Festival Association President, Cav. John Scarpati, in direct response to what he felt was the diminishing presence of the Italian American Culture with which he grew up."</ref>

===MCTV 26===
Mercer County Television channel 26 is an [[Distance education|Educational-access television]] station in West Windsor that is owned and operated by [[Mercer County Community College]]. The [[student television station]] is transmitted to all of [[Mercer County, New Jersey]], via cable TV channel 26 on [[Xfinity]] and [[Optimum]], reaching an excess of 90,000 households. MCTV was added as Verizon FiOS channel 20 in Mercer County starting in 2009.<ref>[https://www.k12academics.com/student-television-stations/mctv-26 Mercer County Television (MCTV 26)], K12 Academics (company). Accessed December 2, 2019. "In January 2009, MCTV became available on Verizon FiOS channel 20 in Mercer County."</ref>

== Parks and recreation==
[[Mercer County Park|Richard J. Coffee Mercer County Park]] is located on Old Trenton Road. Administered by the [[Mercer County Park Commission]] and located primarily in West Windsor, it has athletic fields, a dog park, picnic grounds, a newly renovated boathouse and marina on [[Mercer Lake]], bike trails and an ice skating rink that is home to the Mercer Bulldogs special hockey team.<ref>[http://www.mercercountyparks.org/facilities/ice-skating-center Mercer County Ice Skating Center], Mercer County Park Commission. Accessed August 22, 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.mercerspecialhockey.com Home page], Mercer Special Hockey. Accessed August 22, 2014.</ref>

The West Windsor Community Park is a {{convert|123|acres|adj=on}} public park which serves as the primary park for active recreation. Facilities include a playground, jogging/bicycling paths, basketball courts, dog parks, a skate park, tennis courts and [[pickleball]] courts. This park also features 3 baseball fields and an indoor baseball facility where many children go to train. The park is also home to the West Windsor Waterworks Family Aquatics Center.<ref>[http://www.westwindsornj.org/parksfacility.html Parks and Recreation Facilities], Township of West Windsor. Accessed October 26, 2015.</ref>

Duck Pond Park is a {{convert|120|acres|adj=on}} park under construction located off Meadow Road between the intersections with Clarksville Road and Bear Brook Road, bordering [[Duck Pond Run]]. It is designed to be a "second community park" for the township. As of 2015, lighted soccer fields have been completed and in use by the West Windsor–Plainsboro Soccer Association, as well as tennis, volleyball and basketball courts. Future plans include a playground, picnic areas, an amphitheater, and a fishing pond.<ref>[http://www.westwindsornj.org/press-releases/press_release_010213.html Two Parks under Development in West Windsor], Township of West Windsor, January 2, 2013. Accessed November 15, 2015. "Duck Pond Park, measures 123.48 acres in area. Named after the stream it borders, Duck Pond Run, the park will be a second 'community' park for West Windsor, located on the north side of the Northeast Corridor train line."</ref>

== Government ==

=== Local government ===
[[File:West Windsor Township, NJ municipal building, Dec. 2024.jpg|thumb|right|West Windsor Township municipal building]]
West Windsor is governed under the [[Faulkner Act]] (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) within the [[Faulkner Act (mayor–council)|mayor-council]] form of New Jersey municipal government (Plan 6), implemented based on the recommendations of a [[Charter Study Commission]] as of July 1, 1993.<ref name=DataBook>''2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University – Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 70.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=10 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 10. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[http://www.dudley-2010.com/Faulkner%20Act%2046pages.pdf The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law], [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]], July 2007. Accessed December 2, 2013.</ref> The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<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> From the time of its formation in 1797, until 1993, the township was governed by a [[Township (New Jersey)|township committee]], which combined both executive and legislative authority. In May 1993, West Windsor residents voted to change their form of government to a Faulkner Act form of government.

[[File:West Windsor - First Township Meeting - April 8 1797.jpg|alt=First township minutes from April 8, 1797.|left|thumb|First township minutes from April 8, 1797. At this meeting, the original township officers were elected. Followed the township's February 9, 1797 formation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Government|url=https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/government.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=The Schenck Farmstead|language=en}}</ref>]]
The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member Township Council. Under the township's mayor-council form of government, the mayor and council function as independent branches of government. The mayor is the chief executive of the township and heads its administration. The mayor is elected in a [[non-partisan democracy|non-partisan]] election and serves for a four-year term. The mayor may attend council meetings but is not obligated to do so. The council is the legislative branch. The five members of the township council are elected on a non-partisan basis for four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two seats (and the mayoral seat) or three seats up for vote in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election. At the annual organizational meeting held during the first week of January of each year, the Council elects a president and vice president to serve for one-year terms. The council president chairs the meetings of the governing body.<ref>[http://www.westwindsornj.org/council_history-organization.html Township Government – History and Organization], West Windsor Township. Accessed December 2, 2019. "West Windsor Township was established by an Act of the N.J. legislature on Feb. 9, 1797, and the Township was governed by a Township Committee, which had both executive and legislative authority until 1993. In May of 1993 West Windsor residents voted to change their form of government from a Township Committee to a Mayor Council form. The new government was initiated on July 1, 1993."</ref><ref>[https://www.westwindsornj.org/mayor-council/council Township Council], West Windsor Township. Accessed June 14, 2022. "The Township Council is the legislative branch of the government. The five Council members are representatives of the people and are elected by the entire township regardless of neighborhood or election district. The Township Council members are elected on a non-partisan basis for four-year, staggered terms."</ref> Starting in 2011, the township's elections were shifted from May to November as part of an effort to lower costs of running standalone municipal elections and as part of an effort to increase voter participation.<ref>Costa, Samantha. [http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/11/one_week_after_election_west_w.html "Close race in West Windsor shows every vote counts"], ''[[The Times (Trenton)|The Times]]'', November 16, 2011. Accessed April 26, 2015. "Township officials sought to save money by switching their election from May to November this year; what they got was an extremely tight race."</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, the mayor of West Windsor is Hemant Marathe, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025;<ref name=Mayor>[https://www.westwindsornj.org/mayor-council/mayor Office of the Mayor], West Windsor Township. Accessed June 14, 2022.</ref> Marathe is the first Indian-American to serve as the township's mayor.<ref>Sohrabji, Sunita. [http://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/electrical-engineer-hemant-marathe-elected-first-indian-american-mayor-of/article_1da74350-c643-11e7-ba04-b7be6dc25ee7.html "Electrical Engineer Hemant Marathe Elected First Indian American Mayor of West Windsor, New Jersey"], ''IndiaWest'', November 10, 2017. Accessed January 1, 2018. "Electrical engineer Hemant Marathe won West Windsor, New Jersey's mayoral race Nov. 7, becoming the first Indian American mayor of the small town.Marathe took 3,327 votes, or 48 percent, beating out fellow Indian American Kamal Khanna, who came in second place with 31 percent of the votes; and Yan Mei Wang, who captured 20 percent."</ref> Members of the West Windsor Township Council are Council President Andrea Sue Mandel (2023), Council Vice President Michael Ray Stevens (2023), Sonia Gawas (2023), Linda Geevers (2023) and Martin Whitfield (2025).<ref>[https://www.westwindsornj.org/council-members Township Council Members], West Windsor Township. Accessed June 8, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.westwindsornj.org/images/finance/2023-Introduced-Budget.pdf], West Windsor Township. Accessed June 8, 2023.</ref><ref name=MercerOfficials>[https://www.mercercounty.org/home/showpublisheddocument/19807/637462972595470000 Mercer County Elected Officials], [[Mercer County, New Jersey]], as of January 6, 2021. Accessed April 28, 2022.</ref><ref name=Mercer2021>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Mercer/111513/web.278093/#/summary General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results], [[Mercer County, New Jersey]], updated November 20, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Mercer2019>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Mercer/98876/Web02.236009/#/ General Election November 2019 Official Results (Amended November 25, 2019)], [[Mercer County, New Jersey]], updated December 9, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

In June 2017, council president Peter Mendonez resigned from office. Council vice president Allison Miller was chosen to serve as acting council president and Jyotika Bahree was appointed to fill the vacant seat left by Miller expiring in December 2019.<ref>Muchhal, Siddharth. [https://communitynews.org/2017/07/11/west-windsor-council-selects-jyotika-bahree-fill-vacancy/ "West Windsor Council selects Jyotika Bahree to fill vacancy"], ''Community News'', July 11, 2017. Accessed January 1, 2018. "West Windsor Township Council June 26 selected Jyotika Bahree to fill the vacancy created by the sudden and still-unexplained resignation of former council president Peter Mendonez.... Also, the council opted not to select a new council president, and Miller, as vice president, will act as council’s presiding officer through the end of the year, according to township clerk Sharon Young."</ref> In the November 2018 general election, Yingchao "YZ" Zhang was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Mercer2018>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Mercer/92451/Web02.221448/#/ General Election November 6, 2018 Official Results], [[Mercer County, New Jersey]], updated November 13, 2018. Accessed January 1, 2019.</ref>

In June 2015, the township council selected Hemant Marathe to fill the vacant seat expiring December 2015 of Kristina Samonte, who had resigned from office in the previous month as she was relocating out of the township.<ref>Xu, Vincent. [http://www.wwpinfo.com/index.php/component/us1more/?key=6-12-15-ww-news "Council Appoints Marathe, Revisits Affordable Housing"], ''West Windsor & Plainsboro News'', June 12, 2015. Accessed July 3, 2015. "Council sided with familiarity and experience, unanimously selecting former School Board president to serve the final half-year of Kristina Samonte's council term. Samonte resigned her position last month because her family is moving out of town."</ref>

=== Federal, state and county representation ===
West Windsor 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 15th 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#15 Districts by Number for 2011–2020], New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

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

{{NJ Legislative 15}}

{{NJ Mercer County Freeholders}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 16,034 registered voters in West Windsor, of which 5,384 (33.6%) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 2,968 (18.5%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 7,672 (47.8%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|unaffiliated]]. There were 10 voters registered as [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]] or [[Green Party (United States)|Greens]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-mercer-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary – Mercer], New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 21, 2012.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential Elections 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://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-mercer.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results – November 5, 2024 – Mercer County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|25.6% ''3,581''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''71.1%'''  ''9,927''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |3.3% ''462''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2020|2020]]<ref name="2020Elections">{{cite web|url=https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-mercer.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results – November 3, 2020 – Mercer County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=June 20, 2021}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|22.2% ''3,423''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''76.5%'''  ''11,821''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.3% ''208''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016|2016]]<ref name="2016Elections">{{cite web|url=https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-mercer.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results – November 8, 2016 – Mercer County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|24.6% ''3,197''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''72.3%'''  ''9,415''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |3.1% ''404''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012]]<ref name="2012Elections">{{cite web|url=https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2012/2012-presidential-mercer.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results – November 6, 2012 – Mercer County|date=March 15, 2013|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 23, 2014}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|35.7% ''4,401''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''63.1%'''  ''7,769''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.2% ''148''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008]]<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-mercer.rev.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Mercer County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 21, 2012.</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|33.8% ''4,092''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''65.2%'''  ''7,895''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.0% ''125''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004]]<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_mercer_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Mercer County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 21, 2012.</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.2% ''4,596''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.1%'''  ''6,753''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |0.7% ''79''
|-
|}

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 63.1% of the vote (7,769 cast), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 35.7% (4,401 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (148 votes), among the 14,045 ballots cast by the township's 17,891 registered voters (1,727 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 78.5%.<ref name="2012Elections" /><ref name=2012VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-mercer.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast – November 6, 2012 – General Election Results – Mercer County|date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 23, 2014}}</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Obama received 64.3% of the vote (7,895 cast), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 33.3% (4,092 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (125 votes), among the 12,273 ballots cast by the township's 16,548 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-mercer.rev.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Mercer County], New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 21, 2012.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Gubernatorial Elections 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">[https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2021/2021-general-election-results-governor-mercer.pdf 2021 General Election Results: Governor Mercer County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 14, 2021. Accessed March 14, 2023.</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|27.6% ''2,445''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''71.4%''' ''6,324''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.0% ''84''
|-
| 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-mercer.pdf|title=Governor – Mercer County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101135257/http://www.njelections.org/2017-results/2017-general-election-results-governor-mercer.pdf|archive-date=January 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.9% ''2,710''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''65.5%''' ''5,399''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.7% ''139''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013]]<ref name="2013Elections">{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-mercer.pdf|title=Governor – Mercer County|date=January 29, 2014|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''63.0%''' ''4,983''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.3% ''2,793''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.7% ''137''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009]]<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-mercer.pdf 2009 Governor: Mercer County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822213742/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-mercer.pdf |date=August 22, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 21, 2012.</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.4% ''3,436''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''49.5%'''  ''3,918''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |6.4% ''508''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2005|2005]]<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2005governor's_results-mercer.pdf 2005 Governor: Mercer County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707151030/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2005governor%27s_results-mercer.pdf |date=July 7, 2016 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections. Accessed December 31, 2017.</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.1% ''3,414''
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.6%''' ''4,144''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.3% ''176''
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 63.0% of the vote (4,983 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 35.3% (2,793 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (137 votes), among the 8,181 ballots cast by the township's 17,648 registered voters (268 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.4%.<ref name=2013Elections/><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-mercer.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast – November 5, 2013 – General Election Results – Mercer County|date=January 31, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 23, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] received 49.5% of the vote (3,918 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 43.4% (3,436 votes), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 6.0% (474 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (34 votes), among the 7,914 ballots cast by the township's 16,267 registered voters, yielding a 48.7% turnout.<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-mercer.pdf 2009 Governor: Mercer County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822213742/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-mercer.pdf |date=August 22, 2012 }}, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 21, 2012.</ref>

== Education ==

===Colleges and universities===
West Windsor is the site of the West Windsor Campus of [[Mercer County Community College]].<ref>[http://www.mccc.edu/welcome_campus_tour_index.shtml Campus Photo Tour & Map of West Windsor Campus], Mercer County Community College. Accessed April 23, 2012</ref>

Princeton University's satellite campus is located in West Windsor.<ref name=Princeton/>

===Public===
[[File:Dutch Neck Elementary School.jpg|thumb|alt=Dutch Neck Elementary School in December 2018.|Dutch Neck Elementary School in December 2018. Constructed in 1917 to replace the township's 1 and 2-room school houses, in use since the mid-1700s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Education|url=https://www.westwindsorhistory.com/education.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=The Schenck Farmstead|language=en}}</ref>]]
West Windsor and [[Plainsboro Township, New Jersey|Plainsboro]] are part of a combined school district, the [[West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District]], which serves students in [[pre-kindergarten]] through [[twelfth grade]] from the two communities.<ref>[https://www.straussesmay.com/seportal/Public/DistrictPolicy.aspx?policyid=0110&id=6c82966230db4424bbf2482b4f68ab49 West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification], West Windsor-Plainsboro School District. Accessed December 12, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through twelve in the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Composition: The West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of West Windsor and Plainsboro Township."</ref> The district has four elementary schools (grades Pre-K/K–3), two upper elementary schools (grades 4 and 5), two middle schools (grades 6–8) and two high schools (grades 9–12).<ref>[https://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/about_us About Us], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022. "Ten schools will serve our students. Three elementary schools - Dutch Neck Elementary School, Maurice Hawk Elementary School, and Wicoff Elementary School - accommodate kindergarten through Grade 3. Town Center Elementary School serves students in kindergarten through Grade 2. Millstone River School serves students in Grades 3 through Grade 5, and Village School serves children in Grades 4 and 5. Students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 are assigned to one of two middle schools - Community Middle School and Thomas R. Grover Middle School. Two high schools, High School North and High School South, serve students in Grades 9 through 12."</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of 10 schools, had an enrollment of 9,386 students and 773.2 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a [[student–teacher ratio]] of 12.1:1.<ref name=NCES>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&details=1&ID2=3417700&DistrictID=3417700 District information for West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the [[National Center for Education Statistics]]<ref>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417700 School Data for the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>) are 
Dutch Neck Elementary School<ref>[https://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/schools/dutch_neck_elementary Dutch Neck Elementary School], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref> (located in West Windsor: 704 students; in grades K-3), 
Maurice Hawk Elementary School<ref>[https://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/schools/maurice_hawk_elementary/ Maurice Hawk Elementary School], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref> (West Windsor: 723; K-3), 
Town Center Elementary School<ref>[https://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/schools/town_center_elementary/ Town Center Elementary School], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref> (Plainsboro: 431; PreK-2), 
J.V.B. Wicoff Elementary School<ref>[https://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/schools/wicoff_elementary/ J.V.B. Wicoff Elementary School], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref> (Plainsboro: 349; K-3), 
Millstone River School<ref>[https://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/schools/millstone_river_school/ Millstone River School], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref> (Plainsboro: 967; 3–5), 
Village School<ref>[http://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/schools/village_school/ Village School], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref> (West Windsor: 617; 4–5), 
Community Middle School<ref>[http://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/schools/community_middle_school/ Community Middle School], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref> (Plainsboro: 1,131; 6–8), 
Thomas R. Grover Middle School<ref>[http://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/schools/grover_middle_school/ Thomas Grover Middle School], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref> (West Windsor: 1,208; 6–8), 
[[West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North]]<ref>[https://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/schools/high_school_north/ West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref> (Plainsboro: 1,521; 9–12) and 
[[West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South]]<ref>[https://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/schools/high_school_south/ West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref> (West Windsor: 1,649; 9–12).<ref>[https://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/schools Schools], West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/home/showpublisheddocument/19752/637756867571870000#page=30 ''2021-2022 Charter and Public Schools Directory''], [[Mercer County, New Jersey]]. Accessed December 12, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/selectreport/2022-2023/21/5715 School Performance Reports for the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://homeroom6.doe.state.nj.us/directory/school/districtid/5715 New Jersey School Directory for the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> The district is overseen by a directly elected nine-member [[board of education]] whose seats are allocated to the two constituent municipalities based on population, with five of the nine seats allocated to West Windsor.<ref>[https://www.west-windsor-plainsboro.k12.nj.us/about_us/board_of_education Board of Education], [[West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District]]. Accessed June 13, 2024. "Members of the Board of Education are elected by qualified voters in the communities of West Windsor and Plainsboro Townships. Members are elected to three-year terms and normally three seats are up for election each spring. The Board of Education is composed of four elected representatives from Plainsboro and five elected representatives from West Windsor, all of whom serve without remuneration."</ref>

Three of the district's schools have been recognized by the [[National Blue Ribbon Schools Program]]. West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South was recognized during the 1992–1993 school year and Maurice Hawk Elementary School was recognized in 1993–1994,<ref name=blueribbon>[http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982–1983 through 1999–2002 (PDF)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326055622/http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf |date=March 26, 2009 }}, United States Department of Education. Accessed December 2, 2013.</ref> while West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North was recognized in the 2006–2007 school year.<ref>[http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2006/2006-schools.html Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized in 2006], United States Department of Education. Accessed December 2, 2013.</ref>

Eighth grade students from all of Mercer County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the [[Mercer County Technical Schools]], a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its Health Sciences Academy, STEM Academy and Academy of Culinary Arts, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.<ref>Heyboer, Kelly. [https://www.nj.com/education/2017/05/how_to_get_your_kid_into_one_of_njs_elite_high_sch.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]], May 2017. Accessed November 18, 2019. "Mercer County has a stand-alone specialized high school for top students: a Health Sciences Academy at the district's Assunpink Center campus. The district also offers a STEM Academy at Mercer County Community College. How to apply: Students can apply online in the fall of their 8th grade year."</ref><ref>[https://www.mcts.edu/high-school-programs/ High School Programs], [[Mercer County Technical Schools]]. Accessed November 18, 2019.</ref>

===Private===
The [[Wilberforce School]], a K–12 school founded in 2005 that offers a [[Classical Christian education]], moved to new facilities in the township in 2014.<ref>Mulvaney, Nicole. [http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2014/02/wilberforce_school_finds_new_home_at_windsor_athletic_center.html "Wilberforce School finds new home at Windsor Athletic Center"], ''[[The Times (Trenton)|The Times]]'', February 11, 2014. Accessed March 15, 2016. "The West Windsor location was exactly what the Wilberforce officials were looking for — about 22,000 square feet of space to house an additional 100 students as they launch its high school programming in the 2014–15 school year, Whitman said."</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===

====Roads and highways====
[[File:2021-07-16 11 08 35 View north along U.S. Route 1 (Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike) from the overpass for Mercer County Route 533 (Quaker Bridge Road-Province Line Road) in West Windsor Township, Mercer County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|[[U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey|U.S. Route 1]] in West Windsor]]
{{As of|2010}}, the township had a total of {{convert|151.84|mi}} of roadways, of which {{convert|123.43|mi}} were maintained by the municipality, {{convert|24.16|mi}} by Mercer County and {{convert|4.25|mi}} by the [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_Mercer.pdf Mercer County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction], New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed December 2, 2013.</ref>

[[U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey|U.S. Route 1]] is the largest and busiest highway in West Windsor, crossing the northwestern sections of the township, oriented southwest to northeast.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000001__-.pdf#page=4 U.S. Route 1 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated May 2018. Accessed December 2, 2019.</ref> [[County Route 533 (New Jersey)|CR 533]] (Quakerbridge Road) passes along the western border with Lawrence.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000533__-.pdf#page=3 County Route 533 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated November 2012. Accessed December 2, 2019.</ref> [[County Route 526 (New Jersey)|CR 526]]<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000526__-.pdf County Route 526 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated October 2012. Accessed December 2, 2019.</ref> and [[County Route 571 (New Jersey)|CR 571]]<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000571__-.pdf#page=15 County Route 571 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated October 2012. Accessed December 2, 2019.</ref> are multiplexed together from the northwestern part of the township until they split in the center of the municipality. [[County Route 535 (New Jersey)|CR 535]] passes through in the south and serves Mercer County Community College.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000535__-.pdf#page=3 County Route 535 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated October 2012. Accessed December 2, 2019.</ref> [[New Jersey Route 64|Route 64]] is a short, unsigned state highway that runs {{convert|0.32|mi}} concurrent with CR 526/CR 571 where they cross the [[Northeast Corridor]] rail line.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000064__-.pdf Route 64 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated March 2014. Accessed December 2, 2019.</ref>

Other major roads that are accessible in neighboring municipalities include: [[Interstate 295 (Delaware–Pennsylvania)|Interstate 295]] in Hamilton and Lawrence, [[Interstate 195 (New Jersey)|Interstate 195]] in Hamilton and Robbinsville, and the [[New Jersey Turnpike]] ([[Interstate 95 in New Jersey|Interstate 95]]) in Robbinsville (Exit 7A) and East Windsor (Exit 8).

====Public transportation====
[[Image:Acela2007.jpg|thumb|right|An ''[[Acela Express]]'' speeding through West Windsor.]]
[[Princeton Junction station]], a [[Northeast Corridor]] stop on [[Amtrak]] and [[NJ Transit]], is located within West Windsor. Amtrak's [[Keystone Service]] and [[Northeast Regional (Amtrak)|Northeast Regional]] routes stop at Princeton Junction which is ranked as one of the ten busiest train stations in the Northeast.<ref name ="NJT12" /> The station had 6,800 average weekday boardings in 2012, the fourth-highest of any NJ Transit station in the state.<ref name ="NJT12">[http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/FactsAtaGlance.pdf NJ Transit Facts at a Glance – Fiscal Year 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906064945/http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/FactsAtaGlance.pdf |date=September 6, 2015 }}, New Jersey Transit. Accessed December 2, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://westwindsornj.weebly.com/train-station.html Train Station], West Windsor Township Business Opportunities. Accessed December 2, 2013. "The Princeton Junction Train Station (PJC) is the second busiest train station on the Northeast corridor of New Jersey and the eighth most heavily used Amtrak station in New Jersey, providing efficient rail service into important business destinations such as New York, Philadelphia, and Newark Liberty International Airport."</ref>

Running between the Princeton Junction station and the [[Princeton station (NJ Transit)|Princeton station]] is what is known to locals as the "[[Princeton Branch|Dinky]]." The Dinky is a one-car train that shuttles back and forth many times a day between the two stations. Traveling {{convert|2.7|mi}} each way, it is the shortest regularly scheduled passenger route in the United States.<ref>Reed, J. D. [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/31/nyregion/the-little-engine-that-can.html "The Little Engine That Can"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 31, 2002. Accessed May 10, 2011. "So the single car, operated by New Jersey Transit, plies back and forth about every half hour between the magnolia-budded tranquility of the university campus and the hard-edged, workday bustle of Princeton Junction a mere {{convert|2.7|mi|km}} away, making it perhaps the shortest regularly scheduled passenger route in America."</ref>

NJ Transit bus service to [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]] is provided via the [[600 (New Jersey bus)|600]], [[603 (New Jersey bus)|603]], [[609 (New Jersey bus)|609]], with other area service on the [[605 (New Jersey bus)|605]] route.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090522212335/http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=BusRoutesMercerCountyTo Mercer County Bus/Rail Connections], New Jersey Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed September 17, 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.njtransit.com/pdf/maps/sam/148samap.pdf Mercer County Rider Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126071745/https://www.njtransit.com/pdf/maps/sam/148samap.pdf |date=November 26, 2019 }}, [[NJ Transit]]. Accessed November 27, 2019.</ref>

The Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association offers service on Route 130 between the West Windsor Campus of [[Mercer County Community College]] and [[East Windsor Township, New Jersey|East Windsor Township]] / [[Hightstown, New Jersey|Hightstown]].<ref>[https://gmtma.org/mercer-county-bus-service/ Mercer County Bus Service], Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association. Accessed December 2, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://gmtma.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/mccc-east-windsor-hightstown-flyer-5.pdf Route 130 Bus Service from East Windsor-Hightstown to MCCC's West Windsor Campus], Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association. Accessed December 2, 2019.</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]]. 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> The PMC network offers a wide array of services at its main campus location in Plainsboro, along with its network of primary and specialty care through its family-based physician practice locations across Central Jersey.<ref>[https://www.princetonhcs.org/care-services/princeton-medicine], Penn Medicine: Princeton Health, Princeton Medicine Physicians. Accessed July 4, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.princetonhcs.org/care-services/princeton-medicine/locations], Penn Medicine: Princeton Health, Princeton Medicine Physicians Locations. Accessed July 4, 2023.</ref> One of those physician practices has a primary and specialty care unit in West Windsor, located on [[County Route 571 (New Jersey)|Princeton-Hightstown Road]].<ref>[https://www.princetonhcs.org/care-services/princeton-medicine/locations/primary-and-specialty-care], Penn Medicine: Princeton Health, Physician Practices, Primary and Specialty Care. Accessed July 4, 2023.</ref>

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

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

{{div col}}
* [[Jack Aker]] (born 1940), former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the [[New York Yankees]] and [[New York Mets]]<ref>Reader, Bill. [https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20060709/pilotsbios09/seattle-pilots--where-are-they-now "Seattle Pilots ... Where are they now?"], ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', July 9, 2006. Accessed July 6, 2014. "Aker, 65, lives in West Windsor, N.J., with his wife Jane Charnin-Aker, who won $250,000 on ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' in 2001."</ref>
* [[Kevin Barry (baseball)|Kevin Barry]] (born 1978), former [[Atlanta Braves]] [[relief pitcher]]<ref>Meggitt, Jane. [http://examiner.gmnews.com/news/2006/0713/Front_Page/017.html Braves give Barry a shot at major league pitching] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530231832/http://examiner.gmnews.com/news/2006/0713/Front_Page/017.html |date=May 30, 2008 }}, Allentown Examiner, July 3, 2006. Accessed February 22, 2011. "Kevin grew up in West Windsor, and the two dated while Samantha attended Allentown High School and The College of New Jersey in Ewing. He went to West Windsor High School and Rider University in the Lawrenceville section of Lawrence. The couple married in 2003."</ref>
* [[Kevin G. Chapman]], author and attorney<ref>[https://www.communitynews.org/news/west-windsor-author-kevin-g-chapman-publishes-third-novel/article_e5e67932-0f33-508b-a1ad-bbe24981dfad.html "West Windsor author Kevin G. Chapman publishes third novel"], ''Community News'', December 12, 2018, updated January 11, 2022. "Kevin G. Chapman, a resident of West Windsor, has published his third novel—a crime thriller titled ''Righteous Assassin'' (A Mike Stoneman Thriller). Chapman, a 23-year resident of West Windsor, is an attorney for whom fiction writing is a passion."</ref>
* [[Aneesh Chopra]] (born 1972), first [[Chief Technology Officer of the United States]]<ref>Tracy, Ryan. [http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-16/1240286719138260.xml&coll=5 "Obama taps WW-PS alum for technology post"], ''[[The Times (Trenton)|The Times]]'', April 21, 2009. Accessed February 22, 2011. "President Obama has picked a graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School to be the nation's first chief technology officer. Aneesh Chopra, 36, graduated from West Windsor's south campus in 1990 and spent the last three years as secretary of technology under Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine."</ref>
* [[Stanley Dancer]] (1927–2005), harness racing driver and trainer<ref>[[Frank Litsky|Litsky, Frank]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/09/sports/othersports/09dancer.html Stanley Dancer, Harness Racing Champion, Dies at 78], ''[[The New York Times]]'', September 9, 2005. Accessed February 22, 2011.</ref>
* [[Eileen Filler-Corn]] (born 1964), member of the [[Virginia House of Delegates]] since 2010 who was chosen in 2019 to become the first woman to serve as [[List of Speakers of the Virginia House of Delegates|Speaker]]<ref>[[David Wildstein|Wildstein, David]]. [https://newjerseyglobe.com/national/new-virginia-house-speaker-is-new-jerseyan-who-worked-to-oust-chris-smith-in-1986/ "New Virginia House Speaker is New Jerseyan who worked to oust Chris Smith in 1986; Eileen Filler-Corn grew up in West Windsor"], New Jersey Globe, November 9, 2019. Accessed November 22, 2019. "Eileen Filler-Corn grew up in West Windsor, and after graduating Ithaca College, returned to New Jersey to work on Democrat Jeff Laurenti’s congressional campaign in the 4th district.... West Windsor-Plainsboro High School Yearbook, 1982"</ref>
* [[Douglas Forrester]] (born 1953), former mayor of West Windsor Township who was the Republican Party nominee for U.S. Senator in 2002 and for Governor of New Jersey in 2005<ref>Chen, David W. [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/03/nyregion/metrocampaigns/03forrester.html Forrester Makes a Dogged Ascent Despite Setbacks], ''The New York Times'', November 3, 2005. Accessed February 22, 2011.</ref>
* [[John W. Hartmann]] (born 1967), politician who served in the [[New Jersey General Assembly]] from the [[New Jersey's 15th legislative district|15th Legislative District]] from 1992 to 1994<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZL7tYBLB1m0C&q=%22John+W.+Hartmann%22+toronto+georgetown ''Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 205, Part 2''], p. 245. J. A. Fitzgerald, 1993. Accessed March 14, 2023. "John W. Hartmann, Rep., West Windsor - He was graduated from Princeton Day School and, in 1989, received a bachelor of arts degree in history at Georgetown University."</ref>
* [[Ethan Hawke]] (born 1970), actor<ref>[http://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/ethanhawke/ Profile of Ethan Hawke], ''Hello''. Accessed February 22, 2011. "Born in Austin, Texas, on November 6, 1970, Ethan was just three years old when his parents divorced and he and his mother moved across the country to settle in West Windsor, New Jersey."</ref>
* [[Sachidananda Kangovi]] (born 1948), engineer and author<ref>[https://ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/patents/html/9070154 US Patent 9070154: Method for provisioning subscribers, products, and services in a broadband network], [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]]. Accessed February 5, 2025 "Inventors: Kangovi; Sachidanada (Princeton Junction, NJ)"</ref> 
* [[Katie Kellner]] (born 1991), [[Long-distance running|distance runner]] and coach who specializes in the [[marathon]]<ref>[https://www.orlando2024trials.com/athlete/205/34/katie-kellner Katie Kellner], [[2024 United States Olympic trials (marathon)]]. Accessed April 24, 2025. "Hometown: West Windsor, NJ. High School: West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South"</ref>
* [[Kris Kolluri]] (born {{circa|1969}}), former Commissioner of the [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]<ref>[http://www.njsda.gov/Archive/2008/11/11.06.08/nr_11.06.08.html Kris Kolluri Appointed as CEO of SDA: DOT Commissioner to join Authority on December 1, 2008], New Jersey Schools Development Authority press release dated November 6, 2008. Accessed February 22, 2011.</ref>
* [[Matt Lalli]] (born 1986), professional lacrosse player for the [[Boston Cannons]] of [[Major League Lacrosse]]<ref>[http://www.gocolgateraiders.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=240 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."</ref>
* [[Paul Lansky]] (born 1944), composer<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/2244601|title=Context and Computer Composition – Andrew R. Brown|website=researchgate.net}}</ref>
* [[Ben H. Love]] (1930–2010), the eighth Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America serving from 1985 to 1993<ref>Staff. [https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/21/nyregion/jersey-man-to-head-scouts.html Jersey Man to Head Scouts], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 21, 1984. Accessed June 12. 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."</ref>
* [[Brad Mays]] (born 1955), screenwriter, award-winning stage and film director<ref>Persico, Joyce J. [https://www.nj.com/mercer/2013/10/documentary_explores_how_princeton_dealt_with_the_political_and_racial_upheaval_of_the_late_1960s_ea.html "Documentary explores life in Princeton during the late 1960s, early 1970s"], ''[[The Times (Trenton)|The Times]]'', October 6, 2013. Accessed February 5, 2025."A self-described oddball who grew up in the Edinburg section of West Windsor, Mays said he never seemed to fit in at the Dutch Neck school he attended."</ref>
* [[Ramesses McGuiness]] (born 2000), [[association football|footballer]] who plays for the [[United States Virgin Islands national soccer team|U.S. Virgin Islands national team]]<ref>Feil, Justin. [https://communitynews.org/2017/10/17/brothers-push-soccer-success-ww-p-high-school-south/ "Brothers push each other to soccer success for WW-P High School South"], ''Community News'', October 17, 2017. Accessed February 23, 2020. "Ramesses Moore-McGuinness thinks often of his roots. Before every soccer game and after every goal he scores, the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South senior captain says a little prayer for St. Croix, where he was born and raised.... The boys moved to West Windsor to live with their aunt in 2015 and last spring, their dad moved up from St. Croix to join them."</ref>
* [[Christopher McQuarrie]] (born 1968), screenwriter, director and producer who is a regular collaborator of director [[Bryan Singer]], with whom he co-wrote the screenplay of Singer's ''[[Public Access (film)|Public Access]]'', wrote the screenplay for ''[[The Usual Suspects]]'', co-wrote and produced ''[[Valkyrie (film)|Valkyrie]]'' and co-wrote ''[[Jack the Giant Slayer]]'' and ''[[Edge of Tomorrow]]''<ref>Biese, Alex. [http://www.app.com/story/entertainment/arts/2015/05/01/geeky-movies-see-spring-summer/26626963/ "11 geeky movies to see this spring and summer"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', May 1, 2015. Accessed October 26, 2015. "Us Jersey guys have got to stick together. Princeton Junction native Christopher McQuarrie has written a number of films for Tom Cruise, who grew up in Glen Ridge, including ''Valkyrie'' (2008), ''Jack Reacher'' (2012) and ''Edge of Tomorrow'' (2014)."</ref>
* [[Lyle and Erik Menendez]] (born 1968), notorious 1990s California convicted criminals<ref>Timnick, Lois via ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104550473/lyle-and-erik-menendez-profile/ "Tapes: Hatred inspired former N.J. brothers to kill parents"], ''[[Courier News]]'', March 29, 1991. Accessed June 27, 2022, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "Lyle and Erik Menendez lived with their parents in a succession of Princeton-area homes throughout their teen-age years. From a house they rented in West Windsor in 1977, the family relocated two years later to the exclusive Elm Ridge park section of Hopewell Township."</ref><ref>via [[Associated Press]]. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104550826/menendez-brothers-local-angle/ "Menendez became abusive when criticized, brother-in-law says"], ''[[Courier News]]'', September 3, 1993. Accessed June 27, 202, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "The Menendez family moved to West Windsor in 1977 and later lived in Hopewell Township before moving to an estate in Princeton."</ref>
* [[Glenn Michibata]] (born 1962), retired professional tennis player who has been tennis coach of the [[Princeton Tigers]]<ref>[http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=607990 Glenn Michibata] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714215432/http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=607990 |date=July 14, 2014 }}, [[Princeton Tigers]]. Accessed October 26, 2015. "Michibata and his wife Angie live in West Windsor with their daughter Cori and son Matthew."</ref>
* [[James Murphy (electronic musician)|James Murphy]] (born 1970), singer, songwriter, DJ, electronic musician (as [[LCD Soundsystem]])<ref>Battaglia, Andy. [https://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/profiles/29425/ "Shut Up and Dance"], ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'', March 15, 2007. Accessed January 13, 2022. "Murphy grew up a suburban punk-rocker in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, where he stayed for a year after high school to train as a competitive kickboxer (he still speaks with pride about his reputation as the weird kid who never lost a fight)."</ref>
* [[John Forbes Nash Jr.]] (1928–2015), Nobel Prize-winning mathematician who was the subject of the film ''[[A Beautiful Mind (film)|A Beautiful Mind]]''<ref>Staff. [https://apnews.com/2173a7f2c8a19a66344ed69d0898142c "John Forbes Nash May Lose N.J. Home"], [[Associated Press]], March 14, 2002. Accessed July 6, 2014. "West Windsor, N.J. (AP) _ John Forbes Nash, whose life is chronicled in the Oscar-nominated movie ''A Beautiful Mind,'' could lose his home if the township picks one of its proposals to replace a nearby bridge."</ref>
* [[Taktin Oey]] (born 1986), composer<ref>Staff. [http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/stories/specialprojects/2004_middlesex.html "The Star-Ledger Scholars 2004: Taktin Oey"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', May 16, 2004. Accessed October 26, 2015. "Taktin's father, Lie-Yauw, is a research scientist at Princeton. His mother, Chisato Oey, works at home. He has two younger sisters, Shoni, 12, and Yuzki, 10. They live in Princeton Junction."</ref>
* [[Fernando Perez (baseball)|Fernando Perez]] (born 1983), former [[Tampa Bay Rays]] outfielder, current [[San Francisco Giants]] coach<ref>[[Alan Schwarz|Schwarz, Alan]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/sports/baseball/05perez.html The Rays Receive Help From an Unlikely Place], ''The New York Times'', October 4, 2008. Accessed February 22, 2011. "A native of West Windsor, N.J., who each off-season rents an apartment with friends in a different neighborhood of New York, Perez was named the Rays' minor league player of the year for hitting .288 with 43 stolen bases at Class AAA Durham this season, only his third as a switch-hitter."</ref>
* [[Steve Rogers (baseball)|Steve Rogers]] (born 1949), former MLB pitcher who played for the [[Montreal Expos]]<ref>Miller, Lynn. [http://www.wwpinfo.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=75&twindow=&mad=No&sdetail=2933&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1108&hn=wwpinfo&he=.com "Sugar Plum Role For WW Teen In ''Nutcracker''"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529071255/http://www.wwpinfo.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=75&twindow=&mad=No&sdetail=2933&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1108&hn=wwpinfo&he=.com |date=May 29, 2008 }}, West Windsor & Plainsboro News, November 30, 2007. Accessed April 14, 2008. "Rogers, 16, is a junior at High School South. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she has lived in West Windsor for eight years. Her father, Steve Rogers, a former baseball player, works at the Major League Baseball Players Association."</ref>
* [[Bryan Singer]] (born 1965), film and television director<ref>[[Bernard Weinraub|Weinraub, Bernard]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/09/movies/film-an-unusual-choice-for-the-role-of-studio-superhero.html "Film: An Unusual Choice for the Role of Studio Superhero"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', July 9, 2000. Accessed July 6, 2014. "As a child, Mr. Singer grew up in Princeton Junction, N.J."</ref>
* [[David Zhuang]] (born 1963), Olympic table tennis player<ref>Magaraci, Joel. [http://www.nj.com/olympics/index.ssf/2008/08/west_windsors_david_zhuang_kno.html "West Windsor's David Zhuang knocked off in table tennis"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', August 19, 2008. Accessed July 6, 2014.</ref>
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|West Windsor Township, New Jersey}}
{{Portal|New Jersey}}
*[https://www.westwindsornj.org/ Official township web site]
*[https://westwindsorhistory.com Historical Society of West Windsor web site]

{{Mercer County, New Jersey}}

{{Geographic Location (8-way)
 | Centre =West Windsor  
 | North =[[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]]
 | Northeast =[[Plainsboro Township, New Jersey|Plainsboro]]
 | East =[[East Windsor, New Jersey|East Windsor]]      
 | Southeast =
 | South =[[Robbinsville Township, New Jersey|Robbinsville]]     
 | Southwest =[[Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey|Hamilton]]
 | West =[[Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey|Lawrence Township]]      
 | Northwest =
 | image =  
}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}
{{Raritan River}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:West Windsor, New Jersey| ]]
[[Category:1798 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Faulkner Act (mayor–council)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1798]]
[[Category:Townships in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Townships in Mercer County, New Jersey]]