About Bridgewater
Brief History
The thirty-three square mile area which is now
the Township of Bridgewater was originally purchased from a local Indian tribe. Chartered
by King George II of England in 1749, and incorporated in 1899, Bridgewater is a modern
suburban municipality with a balance of residential and commercial uses. In the early
years, Bridgewater was known as a farming town. What is now Somerville and Raritan were
once part of Bridgewater Township until they broke away years after the chartering.
Today, as was said, Bridgewater is a diverse and thriving township with a mix of both
rural and suburban life.Township is prime ground for many new and large businesses,
including Sanofi-Aventis, J&J, MetLife, and Phillips-Van Heusen. Bridgewater has
progressed rapidly from its rural roots, and will continue to grow in the future.
Population of
Bridgewater
1980 Census: 29,175
1990 Census: 32,509
2000 Census: 42,940