Business View Magazine | December 2020

377 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2020 F or many residents of Readington Township, New Jersey, family roots are planted as deeply into the soil as the crops of their forefathers. Since the 17th century the area has been an agricultural hub, beginning as early as 1730 when “Readings” Township was formed by charter of King George II. Mayor Jonathan Heller reports, “We are a rural community on the outskirts of the suburban sprawl of New Jersey. Our roots are agribusiness, we are a farming community from the late 1700s and we have been trying to maintain our rural American feel.” Readings officially became Readington Township in 1798 when a number of villages were incorporated. Located in Hunterdon County, the township is bordered by the Lamington River and Rockaway Creek on the north, Somerset County to the east, and in the south, the South Branch of the Raritan River. Today, it continues to be the largest township in the county, boasting almost 48 sq. miles and a population of about 17,000. Township Committee and Planning Board member John Albanese notes, “When you come to Readington you will find a lot of different sections. The downtown area is Whitehouse Station and we have another part of town called Three Bridges, and other areas that were formerly villages that are now incorporated into the township.” Readington’s agricultural roots are a source of pride for residents. To that end, diligent preservation of the past is at the core of the township’s planning process as it moves forward to embrace the ever-changing ways of today and prepare for what may come tomorrow. “We have quite a good heritage preservation commission, in terms of preserving some of the existing housing stock that’s ancient,” notes Township Planning Board Chair Ron Monaco. “The word for me is balance. We’re trying to balance inevitable growth with some open space purchases and recreational areas and businesses that are required to help pay the taxes. It’s READINGTON TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY D E E P L Y R O O T E D