Bordentown Township, NJ became a separate municipality on January 31, 1852, when the New Jersey State Legislature approved its creation, formally distinguishing it from Chesterfield and Mansfield Townships. Early government was informal enough that the first Township Committee meetings took place in a shed, then in a private home, until a dedicated Township Hall was built on Cemetery Lane in 1903. Expansion followed in deliberate steps, including a 1931 annexation of land bordered by Crosswicks Creek, Groveville Road, and Sandhill Road, and later civic investments tied to population growth. The population today is just over 12,000.

Flat water routes and straight corridors still influence how people move outdoors. The Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park towpath follows the original canal alignment that once carried coal and freight between the river and inland cities. Walkers, runners, cyclists, and anglers use the trail daily, entering from neighborhood access points for short loops or longer rides toward Trenton and Princeton. Crystal Lake Park offers a contrasting setting, with a stocked fishing lake, paved walking paths, picnic tables, and open lawn space that stays active during weekday evenings and quieter weekend mornings. Crosswicks Creek provides access for kayaking and shoreline fishing when water levels allow, especially after seasonal rains. 

Short drives add variety without requiring planning. Many residents cross into neighboring Bordentown City to walk along Farnsworth Avenue, spend time at the riverfront, or browse historic storefronts dating back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Seasonal parades and waterfront events held there draw township residents year after year, functioning as shared attractions without duplicating infrastructure inside township boundaries.

Morning traffic often slows here on purpose. City Line Shopping Center brings together a range of everyday storefronts, with ShopRite anchoring the plaza and drawing steady grocery traffic alongside Bordentown Jewelers, which handles custom pieces, repairs, and appraisals, Asia Nails offering manicure and pedicure services, and H&R Block operating as a seasonal and year-round tax office. Nearby, Turtle Beans Coffee runs an independently owned café focused on roasted coffee, espresso-based drinks, and baked items, with an indoor seating area that supports longer visits rather than quick pick up only. 

Warm bread and full display cases pull steady traffic toward Mastoris Diner, a long-established landmark just outside township borders that remains part of daily life for many residents. Its in-house bakery produces pastries, cakes, and breads throughout the day, while an expansive menu serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner during long operating hours. Cold pours and small-batch releases add another option to the local food and drink mix. Tindall Road Brewing Co. operates as a craft brewery producing rotating beers brewed on site, with a taproom that offers pints, flights, and seasonal releases rather than a fixed lineup.

One of the township’s most significant historic presences was the New Jersey Manual Training and Industrial School for Colored Youth, a 400-acre vocational campus overlooking the Delaware River that operated from 1894 to 1955 and earned national recognition as the “Tuskegee of the North.” The Veterans Memorial Monument stands as a focal point of reflection, honoring local service members and reinforcing how civic history here is acknowledged through permanent, shared spaces rather than temporary displays.

Canal corridors, older structures, and constant movement here create conditions that attract pests where they don’t belong. Fuessel Pest Control helps home and business owners in Bordentown Township, NJ address pest problems before they interfere with daily living. Contact us today for an estimate.