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
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