SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

SECTION 4 COUNTY PROFILE

2016 HMP UPDATE CHANGES  For the 2016 HMP update, the County Profile Section contains updated information regarding Mercer County's physical setting, population and demographics and trends, general building stock, land use and trends, and critical facilities. Additionally, future development trends in the county are now included in Section 4.

This profile describes the general information of the county (physical setting, population and demographics, general building stock, and land use and population trends) and critical facilities located in Mercer County. In Section 5, specific profile information is presented and analyzed to develop an understanding of the study area, including the economic, structural, and population assets at risk and the particular concerns that may be present related to hazards analyzed (for example, a high percentage of vulnerable persons in an area).

4.1 GENERAL INFORMATION Mercer County is known as ’s capital county and located in the central part of the State, between New York City and Philadelphia. Ten percent of the entire population of the United States is within 75 miles of Mercer County. The county has 12 municipalities that cover a total area of 226 square miles. According to the 2010 Census, the population of Mercer County was 366,513. Mercer County is bounded to the north by Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, to the south by Burlington and Monmouth Counties, to the east by Middlesex County, and to the west by the and Bucks County (Pennsylvania). Figure 4-1 illustrates Mercer County, its municipalities, and the surrounding jurisdictions.

Mercer County is named in honor of General Hugh Mercer and was officially founded in 1838. The history of the county dates back to the American Revolutionary War. General George Washington led the famous December crossing of the Delaware River into Mercer County. Once the Revolutionary War ended, the City of Trenton and Princeton Township served as the temporary Federal Capital (Mercer County 2016).

4.1.1 PHYSICAL SETTING This section presents the physical setting of Mercer County, including: hydrography and hydrology, topography and geology, climate, and land use/land cover.

Hydrography and Hydrology There are numerous waterways that flow through the County. The Delaware River forms the western border of the county. Other bodies of water include: , Back Creek, Bear Creek, , Big Bear Brook, Bridegroom Run, Canoe Brook, Cherry Run, Crosswicks Creek, Doctors Creek, Duck Pond Run, Ewing Creek, Harrys Brook and Branches (1, 2, 2-1, and 2-2), Jacobs Creek, , Little Shabakunk Creek, , Miry Run, Mountain Brook and Branch 2, New Sharon Branch, North Branch Pond Run, Pleasant Run, , Sand Run, Shabakunk Creek, Shady Brook, Shipetaukin Creek, Stony Brook, Timber Run, Tributary A (Indian Run), Tributary A to Little Shipetaukin Creek, Tributary B to Shipetaukin Creek, Tributary C to Shipetaukin Creek, Tributary to Van Horn Brook, Van Horn Brook, and West Branch Shabakunk Creek (Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] 2016). Figure 4-2 illustrates the waterbodies of Mercer County.

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Figure 4-1. Overview Map of Mercer County, New Jersey

Source: New Jersey Geographic Information Network (NJGIN)

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Figure 4-2. Waterbodies in Mercer County

Source: NJGIN

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Watersheds A watershed is the area of land that drains into a body of water such as a river, lake, stream, or bay. It is separated from other systems by high points in the area such as hills or slopes. It includes not only the waterway itself but also the entire land area that drains to it. Drainage basins generally refer to large watersheds that encompass the watersheds of many smaller rivers and streams.

In New Jersey, the state is divided into 20 Watershed Management Areas (WMA), which are made up of smaller watersheds. Mercer County is located in three of the 20 WMAs that are discussed further below: Millstone River (WMA 10); Central Delaware (WMA 11); and Assiscunk, Crosswicks, and Doctors (WMA 20). Figure 4-3 illustrates the watersheds of the State of New Jersey with Mercer County highlighted.

Watershed Management Area 10 – Millstone WMA 10 includes the Millstone River and its tributaries. The Millstone River itself is a tributary to the . This watershed lies in parts of Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, and Monmouth Counties. The Millstone River is 38 miles long and flows from Millstone Township in Monmouth County to the Raritan River near Manville and Bound Brook. Major tributaries include the Stony Brook, , Bear Brook, Ten Mile River, Six Mile River, and Bedens Brook. The largest impoundment is Carnegie Lake. Land use in the Millstone Watershed is primarily suburban development with scattered agricultural areas although there is extensive, recent development present in the upper portion of the watershed (NJDEP 2012).

Watershed Management Area 11 – Central Delaware WMA 11, known as the Central Delaware Tributaries, affects the drainage in 24 municipalities within the counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, and Monmouth. The predominant drainage funnels to the Delaware River or the Delaware & Raritan (D&R) Canal. WMA 11 covers approximately 272 square miles and is dominated by the Assunpink Creek and its tributaries to the south and much smaller creeks in the northern portions. Land uses in this area range from agricultural to urban, most notably in the State Capital, the City of Trenton. The land area has also been heavily impacted by suburban development. There are four subwatersheds in WMA 11: Lockatong Creek/Wickecheoke Creek, Hakihokake/Harihokake/Nishisakawick Creek, Alexauken Creek/Moore Creek/Jacobs Creek, and Assunpink Creek (NJDEP 2012).

Watershed Management Area 20 – Assiscunk, Crosswicks, Doctors WMA 20 includes the Assiscunk, Blacks, Crafts, Crosswicks, Doctors, Duck and Mill Creeks. This WMA includes 26 municipalities spanning four counties: Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean and covering an area of 253 square miles. Crosswicks Creek is 25 miles long and drains an area of 146 square miles to the Delaware River at Bordentown. Major tributaries include Jumping Brook, Lahaway Creek, North Run and Doctors Creek. Tides affect this stream up to the Crosswicks Mill Dam. Allentown Lake, Oakford Lake, Prospertown Lake and Imlaystown Lake are major impoundments in the Crosswicks Creek Watershed (NJDEP 2012).

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Figure 4-3. Watersheds of New Jersey

Source: NJDEP Note: The location of Mercer County is depicted by the blue circle.

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Note: 1 Upper Delaware 11 Central Delaware 2 Walkill 12 Monmouth 3 Pompton, Pequanock, Wanaque, Ramapo 13 Barnegat Bay 4 Lower Passaic, Saddle 14 Mullica 5 Hackensack, Hudson, Pascack 15 Great Egg Harbor 6 Upper and Mid Passaic, Whippany, Rockaway 16 Cape May 7 Arthur Kill 17 Maurice, Salem, Cohansey 8 North and South Branch Raritan 18 Lower Delaware 9 Lower Raritan, South River, Lawrence 19 Rancocas 10 Millstone 20 Assiscunk, Crosswick, Doctors

Topography and Geology Mercer County is generally flat and low-lying, with a few hills closer to the Delaware River. The topography of the county varies and consists of gently undulating coastal plains with numerous swamps and sparse vegetation, and ranges in elevation from 100 to 130 feet above mean sea level in the Township of Hightstown to moderately sloping uplands with relatively narrow floodplains in the Township of Lawrence. Baldpate Mountain located near Pennington is the highest point in the county at 480 feet above sea level. The lowest point is the Delaware River which is at sea level.

Vegetative cover across Mercer County varies with topography and land use characteristics. Native woodlands found in the higher elevations are primarily hardwood with a predominance of oak and sweetgums. The flatter regions of the county support wooded swamps consisting primarily of maples and sweetgum and other water- tolerant vegetation.

Climate The State of New Jersey is located approximately halfway between the equator and the North Pole, resulting in a climate that is influenced by wet, dry, hot and cold airstreams, making a highly variable environment. The dominant feature of the atmospheric circulation over North America, including New Jersey, is the broad, undulating flow from west to east across the middle latitudes of the continent. This pattern exerts a major influence on the weather throughout the State (Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist [ONJSC] Date Unknown).

The State of New Jersey is divided into five distinct climate zones. Distinct variations in the day-to-day weather between each of the climate zones is a result of the geology distance from the Atlantic Ocean, and prevailing atmospheric flow patterns. The five climate zones in New Jersey are: Northern, Central, Pine Barrens, Southwest, and Coastal (ONJSC Date Unknown). Mercer County is located in the Northern and Central Climate Zones, which are described below.

The Northern Climate Zone covers approximately one-quarter of New Jersey and consists mainly of elevated highlands and valleys which are part of the Appalachian Uplands. This zone can be characterized by having a continental type of climate with minimal influence from the Atlantic Ocean, except when the winds contain an easterly component. Annual snowfall averages 40 to 50 inches. During the warmer months, thunderstorms are responsible for most of the rainfall. The climate zone has the shortest growing season, about 155 days (ONJSC Date Unknown).

The Central Zone has a northeast to southwest orientation, running from New York Harbor and the Lower Hudson River to the great bend of the Delaware River in the vicinity of Trenton. This region has many urban locations with large amounts of pollutants produced by the high volume of automobile traffic and industrial processes. The concentration of buildings and paved surfaces serve to retain more heat, thereby affecting the

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-6 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE local temperatures. Because of the asphalt, brick, and concrete, the observed nighttime temperatures in heavily developed parts of the zone are regularly warmer than surrounding suburban and rural areas. This phenomenon is often referred to as a "heat island" (ONJSC Date Unknown).

The climate of Mercer County is largely continental due primarily to the prevailing westerly winds. The mean annual rainfall is approximately 44 inches. Summer temperatures range from an average monthly high of approximately 84°F to an average monthly low of approximately 66°F. Winter temperatures range from an average monthly high of approximately 40°F to an average monthly low of approximately 26°F. Most storms that impact the county originate in the west, but occasionally a coastal storm moves in from the east (FEMA FIS 2016).

Land Use, Land Cover, and Land Use Trends According to the Mercer County Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan, currently, the county contains few areas that resemble the agricultural landscape of its past. Suburban development with increasingly larger homes on larger lots are what is predominantly found in the outer suburban rings surrounding the City of Trenton. In the vicinity of Interstate interchanges, business parks and warehouse construction have occurred on former farmland (Mercer County Department of Planning 2008).

Over the last half of the 20th century, Mercer County shifted from primarily industrial production to a more service/professional employment based economy. During this time period, the county’s residential and employment centers shifted from the City of Trenton to its suburbs, including the Townships of Ewing and Lawrence. This part of the county is home to four colleges/universities, a regional hospital, and primary employment centers (Urban Land Institute 2004).

In 2007, the majority, or 48.8 percent, of the land in Mercer County was designated as urban land. By 2012 there was a slight decrease in urban land, indicating that approximately 48.1 percent of the county was urban. In 2007, 18.6 percent was forested land; 15.6-percent was wetlands land; 1.1 percent was barren land; and 14.2 percent was agricultural lands. When compared with the 2012 land use land cover data set, there has been an increase in agricultural land (7.8-percent) and wetlands (0.4-percent), while there has been a slight decrease in forested land (-0.2-percent) and substantial decrease in barren land (-14.4 percent). Refer to Table 4-1 and Figure 4-4 below.

Table 4-1. Land Use Summary for Mercer County, 2007 and 2012

1995/97 Data 2002 Data 2007 Data 2012 Data Percent Percent of of Percent of Percent Land Use Mercer Mercer Mercer of Mercer Category Acreage County Acreage County Acreage County Acreage County Agriculture 29,235 20.1% 27,719 19.1% 20,566 14.2% 22,166 15.3% Barren 1,489 1.0% 1,981 1.4% 1,661 1.1% 1,421 1.0% Forest 27,614 19.0% 27,071 18.6% 27,043 18.6% 26,468 18.2% Urban 60,303 41.5% 65,754 45.3% 70,936 48.8% 69,952 48.1% Wetlands 24,586 16.9% 23,574 16.2% 22,708 15.6% 22,818 15.7% Source: NJDEP (2012 LULC) Note: Urban land includes residential, industrial, transportation, and recreational land. Water is excluded from the table above.

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Figure 4-4. 2012 Land Use Land Cover for Mercer County

Source: NJDEP 2012

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Open Space Almost one in five acres of Mercer County’s total land is preserved in some way. These lands are preserved as public parkland or nonprofit land, conservation easements with public access, or privately-owned preserved farmland. Mercer County has an open space and farmland preservation program that was initiated in 1989 when county residents approved the first open space preservation tax. Prior to the tax, the county owned 4,530 acres of county parkland and 189 acres of preserved farmland. Today, there are an additionally 5,270 acres of county owned and operated parkland (including conservation land with public access), 5,383 additional acres of preserved farmland, and 4,454 acres operated and maintained by the municipalities and/or non-profits. Overall, the county’s Open Space Preservation Tax has been leveraged to preserve 15,107 acres. This, added to the pre- 1989 total and the acres preserved by other means, brings the total land area of protected land to over 28,000 acres (Mercer County Master Plan 2010).

Table 4-2. Parks and Open Space in Mercer County

Park Name Acreage Municipality Owner Abbott Marshlands 2,000 Hamilton Township County Baldpate Mountain 1,132 Hopewell Township County Herrontown Woods Arboretum 142 Princeton County Titusville (Hopewell Township) (portion in Howell Living History Farm 215 County Hunterdon County) John A. Roebling Park TBD Hamilton Township County West Windsor, Hamilton and Lawrence Mercer County Park 2,500 County Townships Mercer Meadows 1,600 Pennington and Lawrence Townships County Millyard Park 0.5 Trenton County Princeton Battlefield 681 Princeton State South Riverwalk Park 6.5 Trenton County Washington Crossing State Park 3,575 Titusville (Hopewell Township) State Wildlife Center Titusville (Hopewell Township) County Source: Mercer County Parks Commission 2016

Agriculture A majority of agricultural land in Mercer County is found in the Township of Hopewell and the northern portion of the Township of Lawrence. Farmland is also found in the Townships of West Windsor, Robbinsville, and East Windsor. The Township of Hamilton, especially near its border with Burlington and Monmouth Counties, has significant acres of farmland. According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, the total acreage of farmland in Mercer County was 19,744 acres, approximately 13.6% of the county’s total land area. There were 272 farms in the county and the average size of farms was 73 acres. The market value of agricultural products sold in Mercer County was over $19.7 million ($16.4 million in crops and $3.3 million in livestock, poultry and their products). The 2012 Census of Agriculture also indicated that 170 farm operators reported farming as their primary occupation (USDA 2012a). Table 4-3 shows the acreage of agricultural land in Mercer County.

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Table 4-3. Agricultural Land in Mercer County in 2012

Harvested Land in Farms Total Cropland Cropland Irrigated Land Number of Farms (acres) (acres) (acres) (acres) 272 19,744 12,395 11,155 1,073 Source: USDA 2012b

Metropolitan Statistical Area Metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) are geographic entities delineated by the New Jersey Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use by federal statistical agencies in collecting, tabulating, and publishing federal statistics. A MSA is defined as having a large nucleus, together with adjacent communities which have a high degree of social and economic integration with that core (U.S. Census 2013a).

Mercer County is located within the Trenton-Ewing MSA. Figure 4-5 illustrates the different statistical areas in New Jersey and parts of New York State.

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Figure 4-5. New York-Newark Combined Statistical Area and Adjacent Statistical Areas

Source: U.S. Census 2013b Note: The red circle indicates the approximate location of Mercer County and the Trenton-Ewing MSA

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4.2 POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS DMA 2000 requires that HMPs consider the risk and vulnerability of socially vulnerable populations to natural hazards. These populations can be more susceptible to hazard events, based on a number of factors including their physical and financial ability to react or respond during a hazard and the location and construction quality of their housing. For the purposes of this planning process, vulnerable populations in Mercer County include children, elderly, low-income, the physically or mentally disabled, non-English speakers and the medically or chemically dependent.

4.2.1 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Mercer County had a population of 366,513 people, a slight increase from the 2000 U.S. Census population of 350,761 people. Table 4-4 presents the socially vulnerable population statistics for Mercer County based on the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census data. Figure 4-6 shows the distribution of the general population density (persons per square mile) in 2010 by census block. Population density has a strong correlation with hazard vulnerability and loss. Urban areas tend to have larger populations and numbers of structures; therefore, these areas tend to experience greater loss during hazard events.

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Table 4-4. Mercer County Population Statistics

2010 U.S. Census 2000 U.S. Census * Pop. % Pop. Low- % Low- Pop. % Pop Low- % Low- Pop. % Pop. Under Under Income Income Pop. % Pop. Under Under Income Income Municipality Total 65+ 65+ 16 16 Pop.* Pop. Total 65+ 65+ 16 16 Pop.* Pop. East Windsor Township 27,192 3,152 11.6% 6,572 24.2% 758 2.8% 24,919 1,989 8.0% 5,312 21.3% 977 3.9% Ewing Township 35,790 5,275 14.7% 5,844 16.3% 1,328 3.7% 35,707 5,613 15.7% 5,681 15.9% 1,551 4.3% Hamilton Township 88,464 13,956 15.8% 18,724 21.2% 3,033 3.4% 87,109 13,617 15.6% 17,722 20.3% 4,240 4.9% Hightstown Borough 5,494 530 9.6% 1,313 23.9% 155 2.8% 5,216 560 10.7% 1,081 20.7% 222 4.3% Hopewell Borough 1,922 213 11.1% 462 24.0% 10 <1% 2,035 214 10.5% 470 23.1% 57 2.8% Hopewell Township 17,304 2,449 14.2% 4,576 26.4% 177 1.0% 16,105 1,845 11.5% 3,791 23.5% 139 <1% Lawrence Township 33,472 4,611 13.8% 6,692 20.0% 1,262 3.8% 29,159 3,906 13.4% 5,441 18.7% 1,230 4.2% Pennington Borough 2,585 460 17.8% 682 26.4% 134 5.2% 2,696 388 14.4% 710 26.3% 42 1.6% Princeton 28,572 4,015 14.1% 5,195 18.2% 1,215 4.3% 30,230 3,784 12.5% 4,679 15.5% 1,165 3.9% Robbinsville Township 13,642 1,319 9.7% 3,920 28.7% 446 3.3% 10,275 979 9.5% 2,589 25.2% 363 3.5% Trenton City 84,913 7,442 8.8% 21,278 25.1% 8,940 10.5% 85,403 9,765 11.4% 21,338 25.0% 9,820 11.5% West Windsor Township 27,163 2,925 10.8% 7,724 28.4% 536 2.0% 21,907 1,357 6.2% 6,272 28.6% 318 1.5% Mercer County (Total) 366,513 46,347 12.6% 82,982 22.6% 17,994 4.9% 350,761 44,017 12.5% 75,086 21.4% 20,124 5.7% Source: Census 2010 (U.S. Census Bureau); HAZUS-MH 2.1 (for 2000 U.S. Census data) Note: Pop. = population * Individuals below poverty level (Census poverty threshold for a 3-person family unit is approximately $18,522)

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4.2.2 VULNERABLE POPULATIONS Identifying concentrations of vulnerable populations can assist communities in targeting preparedness, response and mitigation actions. For the purposes of this planning process, vulnerable populations in Mercer County include children, elderly, low-income, the physically or mentally disabled, non-English speakers, and the medically or chemically dependent.

Age Children are considered vulnerable because they are dependent on others to safely access resources during emergencies. The elderly are more apt to lack the physical and economic resources necessary for response to hazard events and are more likely to suffer health-related consequences making recovery slower. Those living on their own may have more difficulty evacuating their homes. The elderly are also more likely to live in senior care and living facilities (described in Section 4.6) where emergency preparedness occurs at the discretion of facility operators.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the median age in Mercer County was 36.2 years. Of the 2010 population, 12.6-percent (46,347 persons) of the population were age 65 and older. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 12.5-percent (44,017 persons) of the county’s population were age 65 and older.

Figure 4-7 shows the distribution of persons over age 65 in Mercer County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 22.6-percent (82,982 persons) of the county population were age 16 or younger, while the 2000 U.S. Census indicates 21.4-percent (75,086 persons) were age 16 or younger. Figure 4-8 shows the distribution of persons under the age 16 in Mercer County.

Income Of the total population, economically disadvantaged populations are more vulnerable to hazards because they are likely to evaluate their risk and make decisions based on the major economic impact to their family and may not have funds to evacuate. Based on the 2009-2013 American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates, per capita income in Mercer County was estimated at $37,465 and the median household income was $73,480 (in 2013 inflation-adjusted dollars). It is estimated that in Mercer County, over 16-percent of households receive an income between $50,000 and $74,999 per year, and 10.9-percent of households receive over $200,000 annually.

The 2009-2013 American Community Survey estimates approximately 17.3-percent (22,662 households) of the households in Mercer County make less than $25,000 per year and are therefore below the poverty level. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013 poverty thresholds, the weighted average thresholds for a family of four in 2013 was $23,834; for a family of three, $18,552; for a family of two, $15,142, and for unrelated individuals, $11,888. Figure 4-9 shows the distribution of low income persons.

It is noted that the U.S. Census data for household income provided in HAZUS-MH includes two ranges (less than $10,000 and $10,000-$20,000/year) that were totaled to provide the “low-income” data used in this study. This does not correspond exactly with the “poverty” thresholds established by the U.S. Census Bureau, which identifies households with two adults and two children with an annual household income below $23,624 per year as “low income” for this region. This difference is not believed to be significant for the purposes of this planning effort.

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Physically or Mentally Disabled Based on the 2009-2013 American Community Survey, the total non-institutionalized population of Mercer County is 361,363, which is approximately 98.6 percent of the total population. Approximately 35,635 of these residents are living with a disability. About 10.1 percent of these residents are under the age of 18 and about 39.2 percent are 65 years or older.

Non-English Speakers According to the 2009-2013 American Community Survey, 30.0 percent of the county’s population over the age of 5 primarily speaks a language other than English at home. This is slightly less than the state average of 30.3 percent. Of the county’s population, 15.4 percent speak Spanish, 8.5 percent speak other Indo-European languages, 4.7-percent speak Asian and Pacific Islander languages, and 1.4 percent speak other languages.

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Figure 4-6. Distribution of General Population Density for Mercer County, New Jersey

Source: U.S. Census 2010

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Figure 4-7. Distribution of Persons over the Age of 65 in Mercer County, New Jersey

Source: U.S. Census 2010

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Figure 4-8. Distribution of Children Under the Age of 16 in Mercer County, New Jersey

Source: U.S. Census 2010

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Figure 4-9. Distribution of Low-Income Populations in Mercer County, New Jersey

Source: U.S. Census 2010

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4.2.3 POPULATION TRENDS This section discusses population trends to use as a basis for estimating future changes of the population and significantly change the character of the area. Population trends can provide a basis for making decisions on the type of mitigation approaches to consider and the locations in which these approaches should be applied. This information can also be used to support planning decisions regarding future development in vulnerable areas.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mercer County’s 2010 population was 366,513 persons, which is a 4.5 percent increase from the 2000 U.S. Census population of 350,761. Between 1900 and 2010, the county has experienced overall growth. The largest increase in population was between 1900 and 1910 when the population increased by 31.76 percent. The smallest increase was between 1970 and 1980 when the population increased by 1.23 percent. According to the U.S. Census, the 2014 population estimate for Mercer County shows an increase of 1.37 percent since the 2010 U.S. Census. Table 4-5 displays the population trends from 1900 to 2014 in Mercer County.

Table 4-5. Mercer County Population Trends, 1900 to 2014

Percent Change in Population Year Population Population Change 1900 95,365 N/A N/A 1910 125,657 30,292 31.76% 1920 159,881 34,224 27.24% 1930 187,143 27,262 17.05% 1940 197,318 10,175 5.44% 1950 229,781 32,463 16.45% 1960 266,392 36,611 15.93% 1970 304,116 37,724 14.16% 1980 307,863 3,747 1.23% 1990 325,824 17,961 5.83% 2000 350,761 24,937 7.65% 2010 366,513 15,752 4.49% 2014 371,537 5,024 1.37% Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2016; New Jersey Department of Labor 2016 Note: N/A = Not Applicable Change in population and percent in population change was calculated from available data.

Table 4-6 shows the 10 largest municipalities in Mercer County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Hamilton Township was the most populous municipality, comprising 24.13 percent of the county’s total population.

Table 4-6. Ten Largest Municipalities in Mercer County (2010 Census)

Rank Municipality 2010 Population 1 Hamilton Township 88,464 2 Trenton City 84,913 3 Ewing Township 35,790 4 Lawrence Township 33,472 5 East Windsor Township 27,190

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Rank Municipality 2010 Population 6 West Windsor Township 27,165 7 Hopewell Township 17,304 8 Princeton Township 16,265 9 Robbinsville Township 13,642 10 Princeton Borough 12,307 Source: U.S. Census 2010 Note: Princeton Borough and Princeton Township merged as one community in 2013 (after the 2010 Census); therefore, this table includes information for both the borough and township.

Table 4-7 shows the population trends in Mercer County, between 2000 and 2010. Between 2000 and 2010, Robbinsville Township experienced the largest growth in population, a 32.8 percent increase from 2000 to 2010. During this same time period, four municipalities saw a decrease in their population: Princeton Borough (-13.3 percent), Hopewell Borough (-5.5 percent), Pennington Borough (-4.1 percent) and the City of Trenton (-0.5 percent).

Table 4-7. Population Trends in Mercer County by Municipality

Percent 2000 2010 Change in Population Municipality U.S. Census U.S. Census Population Change East Windsor Township 24,919 27,190 2,271 9.1% EwingTownship 35,707 35,790 83 0.2% Hamilton Township 87,109 88,464 1,355 1.6% HightstownBorough 5,216 5,494 278 5.3% Hopewell Borough 2,035 1,922 -113 -5.6% Hopewell Township 16,105 17,304 1,199 7.4% Lawrence Township 29,159 33,472 4,313 14.8% Pennington Borough 2,696 2,585 -111 -4.1% Princeton Borough 14,203 12,307 -1,896 -13.3% PrincetonTownship 16,027 16,265 238 1.5% Robbinsville Township 10,275 13,642 3,367 32.8% Trenton City 85,403 84,913 -490 -0.6% West Windsor Township 21,907 27,165 5,258 24.0% Source: U.S. Census 2010 Note: Princeton Borough and Princeton Township merged as one community in 2013 (after the 2010 Census); therefore, this table includes information for both the borough and township.

Over the next 15 years, from 2010 to 2032, Mercer County has a projected population growth of 8.35 percent. Based on New Jersey Department of Labor population projections, the county population is expected to reach 381,000 by 2022, and 397,100 by 2032 (Figure 4-10).

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Figure 4-10. Mercer County Population Projections, 2010 to 2032

Source: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development 2016

4.3 GENERAL BUILDING STOCK The 2000 U.S. Census data identified 125,807 households (133,280 housing units) in Mercer County. The 2010 U.S. Census data identified 133,155 households (143,169 housing units) in Mercer County. Between 2000 and 2010, the county experienced a 5.84 percent increase in households and a 7.42 percent increase in housing units, respectively. The U.S. Census defines household as all the persons who occupy a housing unit, and a housing unit as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, a group of rooms, or a single room that is occupied (or if vacant, is intended for occupancy) as separate living quarters. Therefore, you may have more than one household per housing unit. The median price of an owner-occupied home in Mercer County was estimated at $286,900 (U.S. Census 2013).

For this update, the default general building stock in HAZUS-MH was updated and replaced with a custom building inventory for Mercer County, both at the aggregate and structure level. The building stock update was performed using the most current parcel and tax assessment data provided by the Mercer County and the NJ Department of the Treasury. The building footprint spatial layer provided by the County was also utilized for this update. The estimated replacement cost value for each structure was calculated using this data and 2015 RS Means valuations. For the purposes of this plan, there are approximately 114,668 structures identified in the county. The estimated replacement cost for the county is approximately $130.2 billion. Estimated content value was calculated by using 50 percent of the residential improvement value, and 100 percent of the non-residential improvement values. Actual content value various widely depending on the usage of the structure. Approximately 91.9 percent of the total buildings in the county are residential, which make up approximately 64.9 percent of the building stock structural value associated with residential housing. Table 4-7 presents building stock statistics by occupancy class for Mercer County.

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Table 4-8. Number of Buildings and Replacement Cost Value by Occupancy Class

All Occupancies Residential Commercial Industrial Replacement Cost Estimated Estimated Value (Improved + Replacement Cost Replacement Replacement Municipality Count Structure Contents Contents) Count Value Count Cost Value Count Cost Value East Windsor Township 5,588 $4,713,262,397 $3,033,521,694 $7,746,784,091 4,741 $5,039,222,110 516 $1,493,792,453 19 $259,575,289 Ewing Township 13,014 $10,470,290,258 $7,409,525,751 $17,879,816,009 11,640 $9,182,293,522 705 $3,287,392,306 52 $440,960,003 Hamilton Township 35,102 $14,635,652,974 $9,441,951,837 $24,077,604,811 32,891 $15,581,103,412 1,579 $5,436,904,251 105 $1,260,383,756 HightstownBorough 1,830 $1,040,636,623 $670,676,839 $1,711,313,462 1,708 $1,109,879,351 51 $264,868,184 4 $4,557,577 Hopewell Borough 1,114 $405,534,148 $235,389,122 $640,923,271 1,046 $510,435,079 58 $110,683,756 0 $0 Hopewell Township 8,580 $6,211,923,029 $3,634,656,808 $9,846,579,837 8,114 $7,731,798,663 282 $1,305,558,332 24 $73,603,072 Lawrence Township 9,968 $9,658,065,565 $6,112,749,924 $15,770,815,489 9,085 $10,635,946,921 515 $3,126,765,446 17 $119,863,490 PenningtonBorough 1,237 $737,487,055 $412,507,276 $1,149,994,332 1,158 $974,939,337 76 $164,484,236 0 $0 Princeton 8,289 $6,340,801,143 $4,273,646,398 $10,614,447,542 7,351 $6,201,464,236 438 $1,296,244,030 5 $10,271,532 RobbinsvilleTownship 4,238 $4,806,811,575 $2,515,692,054 $7,322,503,629 4,125 $6,873,358,563 95 $342,089,363 4 $49,984,183 Trenton City 17,975 $12,166,482,966 $8,045,172,445 $20,211,655,411 16,296 $12,363,931,563 1,360 $6,642,976,706 24 $41,696,218 West Windsor 7,733 $8,038,682,090 $5,247,156,801 $13,285,838,892 7,292 $8,374,575,866 348 $3,820,734,854 3 $1,338,593 Township Mercer County 114,668 $79,225,629,824 $51,032,646,950 $130,258,276,775 105,447 $84,578,948,623 6,023 $27,292,493,918 257 $2,262,233,712 (Total) Source: Mercer County; NJ Department of the Treasury 2015

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-23 March 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

The 2010-2014 American Community Survey for Mercer County identified that the majority of housing units (48.6 percent) in Mercer County are one-unit detached units. The 2013 U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns data identified 9,701 business establishments employing 185,368 people in Mercer County. The professional, scientific, and technical service industry has the most number of establishments in the county, with 1,615 establishments. This is followed by the retail trade with 1,304 establishments, and the healthcare and social assistance industry with 1,304 establishments (U.S. Census 2013).

Figure 4-11 through Figure 4-13 show the distribution and exposure density of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings in Mercer County. Exposure density is the dollar value of structures per unit area, including building content value. The densities are shown in units of $1,000 ($K) per square mile. Viewing exposure distribution maps, such as Figure 4-11 through Figure 4-13, can assist communities in visualizing areas of high exposure and in evaluating aspects of the study area in relation to the specific hazard risks.

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-24 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Figure 4-11. Distribution of Residential Building Stock Value in Mercer County

Source: Mercer County; NJ Department of the Treasury 2015

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-25 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Figure 4-12. Distribution of Commercial Building Stock Value in Mercer County

Source: Mercer County; NJ Department of the Treasury 2015

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-26 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Figure 4-13. Distribution of Industrial Building Stock Value in Mercer County

Source: Mercer County; NJ Department of the Treasury 2015

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-27 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

4.4 ECONOMY As discussed in the Local Mitigation Handbook, after a natural hazard event, economic resiliency drives recovery. An understanding of the major employers and economic sectors in the county whose losses or inoperability would impact the community and its ability to receive from a disaster is essential.

Mercer County is home to top higher education institutions, Fortune 500 companies, the state Capital and a workforce that ranks among the most highly educated in the nation. The county offers its current and prospective employers an ideal location for their businesses due to the county’s proximity to the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. Mercer County features businesses from various industries including education, health services, business services, and leisure and hospitality. Additionally, the county boasts of a strong workforce in the professional, scientific and technical services industries. The top five industries, based on number of employees, in Mercer County includes: Government; Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Health Care and Social Assistance; Educational Services; and Retail Trade (Mercer County 2016).

The City of Trenton serves as the New Jersey State Capital and the Mercer County Seat. The state government is the largest employer in the city and has a workforce of more than 20,000 (City of Trenton 2004).

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-28 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

4.5 DEVELOPMENT TRENDS AND NEW DEVELOPMENT An understanding of population and development trends can assist in planning for future development and ensuring that appropriate mitigation, planning, and preparedness measures are in place to protect human health and community infrastructure. DMA 2000 requires that communities consider land use trends, which can impact the need for, and priority of, mitigation options over time. Land use and development trends significantly impact exposure and vulnerability to various hazards. For example, significant development in a hazard area increases the building stock and population exposed to that hazard.

Local zoning and planning authority is provided for under the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law, which gives municipalities zoning and planning authority. Refer to Sections 6 and 9 for further details on the planning and regulatory capabilities for the county and each municipality. Potential future development in the next five years, as identified by each municipality, is noted in the following table and figure. Refer to Section 9 which evaluates the potential new development exposure to natural hazards.

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-29 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Table 4-8. Potential New Development in Mercer County

Address/Block and Municipality Property Name Type Number of Structures Description/Status Lot East Windsor (T) Windsor Cove – Pulte Residential 54 S/F Endeavor/Discovery Blvd. Completed

East Windsor (T) Woods @ East Windsor Residential 84 24 Lanning Blvd. In Progress

East Windsor (T) Shoppes @ East Windsor Commercial 16 Unit 540 Route 130 In Progress

Ewing (T) Parkway Ave Mixed Approx. 1000 total units 1400 Parkway Ave Planning 1 Building- 25,000 112 West Delaware Pennington (B) Pennington School Educational In Construction Square Feet Avenue/Block 502, Lot 4, 150 Single Family Springside Development / Detached and Attached. Gordon Road, btwn Robbinsville (T) Residential In construction Sharbell Corp. Three independent Retail Bresnahan and Route 130 Building. Hankins Road / Bear Large Single Family 18 Single Family 42 Acres, Hankins Road, Robbinsville (T) In Construction Creek Estates Residential Detached 1500ft East of South Lane Multiple Mixed- use Route 130SB at Hankins Commercial structures. Route 130SB at Hankins Robbinsville (T) Rd /Ct Hankins Road Commercial In construction Stipmalls and Detached Rd LLC fixed Structures New Canton Way, Various Large Commercial/ Distribution Commercial / Distribution Montgomery Way, John Robbinsville (T) Warehouses / Matrix Complete Centers Centers Henry Drive, Applegate Corp. Drive Extension Route 33 East, between Town Center – South / In process under Economic Robbinsville (T) Mixed Use Res/Com. N/A Route 526 and Sharbell Corp. review. Washington Blvd. Condos and Potential Springside Development Congregate Care, Gordon Road - Northside In process, under Economic Robbinsville (T) N/A Future Plan including plans for at Route 130 review commercial development Lawrence (T) Bristol-Myers Squib Commercial 3 4101 Princeton Pk Under Construction

Lawrence (T) Dunkin Donuts Mixed 1 2098 Brunswick Pike Under Construction

Lawrence (T) Costco Commercial 1 4100 Quakerbridge Rd Under Construction

Lawrence (T) Carrago Park 2 Residential 1 Colt Circle Unknown

Lawrence (T) Athletic Facility Commercial 1 Spruce Street Unknown

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer, New Jersey 4-30 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Table 4-8. Potential New Development in Mercer County

Address/Block and Municipality Property Name Type Number of Structures Description/Status Lot Princeton University - Baynard Lane at Oak Currently Under Princeton Residential 320 units Merwick Stanworth Lane Construction Princeton University - Lakeside Road - Faculty Currently Under Princeton Residential 329 units Lakeside Road Construction Ewing (T) Bear Tavern Greene Residential 315 Block: 373 Lot 2.01 In Progress

Ewing(T) ParksideVillage Residential 50 "Block186,Lots2&9;

Block 193.06, Lots 2 & 9" In Progress

Hamilton(T) HamiltonChase Residential 109units Block2154–Lot12.02 UnderConstruction

Hamilton (T) Panfilli Residential 21 units Block 2226 – Lot 1-18 Under Construction

Hamilton (T) Walmart Commercial 160,000 sq ft Block 1589 – Lot 167 Under Construction

Hamilton (T) Twin Ponds Residential 144 units Block 2173 – Lot 16 Under Construction

Hamilton(T) HomewoodSuites Hotel 117Rooms Block2594–Lot17 Completed2015

Hamilton (T) Homestead Assisted Living 221,116 sq ft Block 2173 – Lot 8 Under Construction

Hamilton(T) Sharbell Residential 55Lots Block2575–Lot47.01

Hamilton (T) Hewitt Square Residential 94 units Block 2176 – Lot 2

Hamilton(T) SunCap Warehouse 343,477sqft Block2610–Lot26

Hamilton (T) IPT Warehouse 339,000 sq ft Block 2591 Lot1 Blk 78.01, L 15; Blk Hopewell (T) The Hamptons Residential 19 units 78.02, L6-9; Blk78.03, 92% Complete L2-7, Blk 78.05, L 1 Block 102 Lot 1 Mixed Preliminary And Final Site Pennington (B) Heritage At Pennington Residential 80 Units In 19 Buildings Residence Zone Plan Review Trenton (C) Rush Crossing Residential 281 Blocks 1401 & 1501 Complete 220 Apartments; 92 Amended preliminary/final West Windsor (T) Bear Creek Senior Living Residential Assisted living site plan approval granted Preliminary major West Windsor (T) Princeton Research Lands Residential 16 detached single family subdivision approval granted West Windsor (T) West Windsor Gardens II Residential 120 Apartments Under Construction

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer, New Jersey 4-31 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Table 4-8. Potential New Development in Mercer County

Address/Block and Municipality Property Name Type Number of Structures Description/Status Lot Use variance approved; 64 Bed variance and West Windsor (T) Artis Senior Living Residential Alzheimer/dementia preliminary/final site plan facility approval granted Windsor Business Park Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Commercial 26, 466 sq. ft. office West approval granted Phase II-Final Site Plan West Windsor (T) Princeton Overlook Commercial 140,000 sq. ft. office approval granted Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Rite Aid Phase II Commercial 6,000 sq. ft. retail approval granted 3,000,000 sq. ft. Office, Research & Development, General development plan West Windsor (T) Sarnoff Corporation Commercial and Hotel/Conference approval granted Center PJ Metro Office Park, Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Commercial 97,024 sq. ft. office Phase II approval granted F1 - 100,000 sq. ft. office; F2 - 100,000 sq. ft. office; Carnegie Center II (East Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Commercial F3 - 241,800 sq. ft. office; Side) approval granted F4 - 130,000 sq. ft. office; F5 - 84,900 sq. ft. office Carnegie Center II (West General development plan West Windsor (T) Commercial 814,800 sq. ft. office Side) Phase C approval granted Carnegie Center West - Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Commercial 130,000 sq. ft. office Bldg 901 approval granted Carnegie Center West - West Windsor (T) Commercial 121,500 sq. ft. office Under Construction Bldg 804 Windsor Plaza - Mixed 16 Apartments; 8,500 sq. Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Mixed Use Bldg ft. retail pending West Windsor Commerce Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Commercial 186,606 sq. ft. office Center approval granted Princeton International Preliminary/final major site West Windsor (T) Trading and Consulting Commercial 5,236 sq. ft. office plan & bulk variances Ltd. approval granted D-1 variance; 20 Apartments; 52,160 sq. West Windsor (T) Ellsworth Realty Assoc. Mixed preliminary/final site plan ft. new retail approval granted Princeton Junction West Windsor (T) Commercial 33,000 sq. ft. office Under Construction Commons

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer, New Jersey 4-32 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Table 4-8. Potential New Development in Mercer County

Address/Block and Municipality Property Name Type Number of Structures Description/Status Lot 19 Roszel Road Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Commercial 50,250 sq. ft. office Associates approval granted 2,800 sq. ft. retail; 1,505 West Windsor (T) Marketfair/Re-Tenanting Mixed Under Construction sq. ft. outdoor dining Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Aqueduct Assoc. Commercial 29,414 sq. ft. office approval granted 40 Apartments; 72 Preliminary/final major Apartments; 51 West Windsor (T) Toll Bros-Maneely Mixed subdivision and site plan Townhouses; 20,000 sq. pending ft. retail; 192 Corp. suites D-1, D-2, C-1 variances; 4,960 sq. ft. retail; 3,377 Minor subdivision; West Windsor (T) Tri-State Petro Mixed sq. ft. car wash; 16 preliminary/final site plan fueling stations approval granted Institutude for Islamic West Windsor (T) Religious 30,900sq.ft.Mosque Under Construction Studies, NJ West Windsor (T) PNC Bank Commercial 2,915 sq. ft. Under Construction D-4 variance; C bulk West Windsor (T) Wegman's Food Market Commercial 10,800 sq. ft. retail variance; preliminary/final site plan approval granted Amended preliminary/final West Windsor (T) Princeton Arms Center Commercial 37,600 sq. ft. retail site plan approval granted Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Mack Cali (Palladium) Mixed 749,410 sq. ft. approval granted Hilton Garden Inn & 164 rooms; 128,414 sq. ft. Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Mixed Office Park office approval granted Eden Institutde Preliminary/final site plan West Windsor (T) Educational 15,590 sq. ft. Foundation approval granted 8,352 sq. ft. day care; WWM Properties West 18,801 sq. ft. retail; 114 West Windsor (T) Mixed D-1 use variance pending LLC. townhouses; 40 garden apartments; 24 condos D-1 Use variance, D-4 West Windsor (T) 3717 Route #1 LLC. Commercial 5,605 sq. ft. office variance pending

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer, New Jersey 4-33 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Figure 4-14. Potential New Development in Mercer County

Source: Mercer County

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-34 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

4.6 CRITICAL FACILITIES

Critical and essential facilities are necessary for a Critical facilities are those facilities considered community’s response to and recovery from natural hazard critical to the health and welfare of the population events. A comprehensive inventory of critical facilities in and that are especially important following a hazard. Mercer County was developed from various sources including As defined in this HMP, critical facilities include the Mercer County Office of Emergency Management and essential facilities, transportation systems, lifeline utility systems, high-potential loss facilities and used for the risk assessment in Section 5. hazardous material facilities.

The inventory developed for the 2016 HMP update is Essential facilities are a subset of critical facilities considered sensitive information. It is protected by the that include those facilities that are important to Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) program ensure a full recovery following the occurrence of a hazard event. For the county risk assessment, this and under New Jersey Executive Order 21. Therefore category was defined to include police, fire, individual facility names and addresses are not provided in emergency medical services (EMS), emergency this HMP. A summary of the facility types used for the risk operations centers (EOCs), schools, shelters, senior assessment are presented further in this section. facilities and medical facilities.

Emergency Facilities are for the purposes of this 4.6.1 ESSENTIAL FACILITIES plan, emergency facilities include police, fire, EMS and EOCs. This section provides information on emergency facilities, hospital and medical facilities, schools, shelters and senior care and living facilities. Figure 4-15 illustrates the inventory of these essential facilities in Mercer County.

Emergency Facilities For the purposes of this HMP update, emergency facilities include police, fire, emergency medical services (EMS) and emergency operations centers (EOC). Mercer County has a highly coordinated and interconnected network of emergency facilities and services at the county and municipal level. The Mercer County Office of Emergency Management serves as the primary coordinating agency between local, state and federal agencies.

Each municipality is responsible for maintaining its own fire department. Each municipality also maintains its own police department, with the exception of Hopewell Borough, which receives police services from Hopewell Township. Additionally, each municipality maintains its own emergency medical service facilities.

Overall, there are 24 enforcement facilities, 59 fire and emergency medical services facilities and two emergency operation centers in Mercer County.

Hospital and Medical Facilities Mercer County has a dynamic health care industry that includes hospitals, adult day care centers, and long-term care facilities. The major health centers in the county are Capital Health Medical Center in Hopewell Township and Trenton, Mercer Medical Center in Trenton, Robert Wood Johnson in Hamilton Township, St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, and the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital. Additionally, adult care and long-term care facilities and other specialized medical centers are located throughout the county.

Schools More than 200 schools, ranging from elementary to post-secondary education, service the county. Several municipalities have their own school systems, while several others are serviced by regional school districts. During an emergency event, many of these facilities can function as shelters. The primary higher education

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-35 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE school in Mercer County are The College of New Jersey, Rider University, Princeton University, Thomas Edison State College, and Mercer County Community College.

There is a total of 206 education facilities located in Mercer County.

Shelters Many schools, community centers and municipal buildings may serve as a shelter during an emergency.

Senior Care and Living Facilities It is important to identify and account for senior facilities, as they are highly vulnerable to the potential impacts of disasters. Understanding the location and numbers of these types of facilities can help manage effective response plan post disaster. There are 29 identified senior facilities located within the county.

Government Buildings In addition to the facilities discussed, other county and municipal buildings and department of public works facilities are essential to the continuity of operations pre-, during and post-disasters. There are over 160 government facilities located in the county.

4.6.2 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS One of Mercer County’s strongest assets is its transportation infrastructure. Air and land are available and major roadways include Interstates 95, 195, and 295, State Routes 27, 29, 31, 33, 129, 156, and 175, US Routes 1, 130, and 206, and the New Jersey Turnpike. There are three airports in the county, as well as 23 heliports, two bus facilities, and 11 rail facilities. Figure 4-16 illustrates the transportation facilities in Mercer County.

Bus Service NJ Transit provides an extensive transportation service to the majority of the county. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that bus services supply on-demand transportation access within ¾ mile of each scheduled route; in addition to this service, the County’s Transportation Resources to Assist the Disabled and Elderly (TRADE) also provides an on-demand transportation service to these residents (Mercer County Master Plan, 2010).

Rail Service NJ Transit and Amtrak provide passenger and commuter rail services to Mercer County, with the Northeast Rail Corridor is the major commuter line for the County. CSX and Conrail also service two freight rail lines through the county.

Air There are three airports located in Mercer County. The Trenton-Mercer airport is a FFA-certified commercial airport. Though Newark International and Philadelphia International are the two major regional airports, the Trenton-Mercer airport is suited to provide regional support should exceed their capacity (Mercer County Master Plan, 2010).

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-36 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Figure 4-15. Essential Facilities in Mercer County

Source: Mercer County

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-37 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Figure 4-16. Transportation Facilities in Mercer County

Source: Mercer County

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-38 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

4.6.3 LIFELINE UTILITY SYSTEMS This section presents communication, potable water, wastewater, and energy resource utility system data. Due to heightened security concerns, local utility lifeline data sufficient to complete the analysis have only partially been obtained.

Potable Water Mercer County relies on a combination of groundwater and surface water to provide the county with a potable water supply. The Wastewater Management Plan (2013) details data from NJDEP to list the major water supplies for the county. These suppliers are summarized in Table 4-9. Mercer County identified four potable water pumps, one well, and one water tower as critical.

Table 4-9. Major Water Suppliers and Municipalities Served

Water Supplier Municipalities Aqua New Jersey Hamilton Square Robbinsville Township, Hamilton Township Hightstown Water Department Hightstown Borough Hopewell Borough Water Department Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township (portions) Hopewell Township Water & Sewer Pennington Borough, Hopewell Township Lawrence Water Company Lawrence Township Ewing Township, Trenton City, Hamilton Township (portions), Lawrence Trenton Water Works Township (portions), Hopewell Township (portions) Lawrence Township, Princeton, West Windsor Township, Hopewell New Jersey American Water Township Source: Mercer County Wastewater Management Plan, 2013

Wastewater Facilities The major wastewater management planning areas in the county include, the Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority (SBRSA), East Windsor Municipality Utilities Authority, the Ewing-Lawrence Sewerage Authority, and the Trenton Sewer Utility.

Table 4-10. Major Wastewater Facilities and Municipalities Servd

Wastewater Utility Municipalities Trenton Sewer Utility City of Trenton Ewing-Lawrence Sewerage Authority Ewing Township, Lawrence Township, Hopewell Township SBRSA – River Road STP Princeton, West Windsor Township SRBSA – Pennington STP Pennington Borough, Hopewell Township SBRSA – Hopewell STP Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township Hamilton WPCF Hamilton Township, West Windsor Township, Robbinsville Township Hightstown AWWTP Hightstown Borough East Windsor MUA East Windsor Township, Hightstown Borough, Robbinsville Township Source: Mercer County Wastewater Management Plan, 2013

Additional minor wastewater facilities that service single developments, sites or other properties are located in Hamilton Township, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, and West Windsor Township (Wastewater Management Plan, 2013).

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-39 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Energy Resources PSE&G is the primary electric and gas utility company in Mercer County with JCP&L also providing electric to several of the communities. There were three electric facilities, as well as three electric substations identified by the county as critical. In addition to these facilities, the County also identified three natural gas facilities as critical. Figure 4-17 illustrates the location of the utility lifelines in Mercer County.

4.6.4 HIGH-POTENTIAL LOSS FACILITIES High-potential loss facilities include dams, levees, chemical storage facilities and military installations. Figure 4-18 displays the general locations of these facilities in the county. Dams are discussed further below.

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), there are four hazard classifications of dams in New Jersey. The classifications relate to the potential for property damage and/or loss of life should the dam fail:

 Class I (High-Hazard Potential) - Failure of the dam may result in probable loss of life and/or extensive property damage  Class II (Significant-Hazard Potential) - Failure of the dam may result in significant property damage; however loss of life is not envisioned.  Class III (Low-Hazard Potential) - Failure of the dam is not expected to result in loss of life and/or significant property damage.  Class IV (Small-Dam Low-Hazard Potential) - Failure of the dam is not expected to result in loss of life or significant property damage.

According to the NJDEP Bureau of Dam Safety, there are 96 dams located in Mercer County, eight of which are classified with a high-hazard potential.

4.6.5 OTHER FACILITIES The Planning Committee identified additional facilities (user-defined facilities) as critical. These facilities include cultural assets, a variety of public housing developments, parks and other recreation locations, correctional facilities, religious facilities, general transportation facilities, and post offices. Figure 4-19 illustrates the general locations of these facilities in the county.

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-40 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Figure 4-17. Utility Lifelines in Mercer County

Source: Mercer County

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Figure 4-18. High-Potential Loss Facilities in Mercer County

Source: NJDEP

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-42 June 2016 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE

Figure 4-19. Other Facilities in Mercer County

Source: Mercer County

DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Mercer County, New Jersey 4-43 June 2016