NEW JERSEY 12 : North and Central - Flemington; Princeton

Compared with much of New Jersey, the 12th is wealthier, whiter and more educated. Occupying a western chunk in the middle of the state, the 12th meanders east almost to the coast. Taking in most of the wealthy and ethnically diverse town of East Brunswick and moving through Monmouth County, the 12th stops just short of the Jersey Shore communities on the Atlantic Ocean coast.

Despite its jagged shape, the district covers a swath of similar towns. Office parks dominate the landscape in these uniformly white-collar communities. Midsize towns, such as Ewing and Princeton, have benefited from economic growth but found themselves stuck with the side effects of suburban sprawl. Flemington has earned a reputation as a destination for outlet shopping and weekend getaways.

Towns built with old money, as well as growing suburban affluence, make the 12th solidly Republican, although it has a small Democratic constituency anchored by the academic community in Princeton.

Major Industry
Education, military, pharmaceuticals

Military Bases
Fort Monmouth (Army), 6,113 civilian, 824 military; Naval Air Propulsion Center, 547 military, 212 civilian (1997)

Population
594,577 (1990)

Cities
East Brunswick (unincorporated), 43,548 (1990); Ewing (unincorporated), 34,185 (1990)

People
61% urban; 12% age 65+ (ranks 12 of 13 in state; middle third nationally); 67% married couples, 32% married couples with children; 40% college educated (ranks first of 13 in state; top third nationally); 76% white collar (ranks first of 13 in state; top third nationally), 15% blue collar (ranks 13 of 13 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Race
90% white, 5% black, 4% Asian; 3% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$54,630 (ranks second of 13 in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Monmouth - site of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial.

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