Bernards Township History: The Asian Origins Initiative

UPDATE: January 19, 2026
A few researchers at the Mr. Local History Project are looking for a few Chinese and Indian residents interested in tracing the roots of these two growing communities in Bernards Township to the first families to become Basking Ridge residents. Strong ties to the local community will be important. If interested in working on this important project send us your contact information and we’ll invite you to the working group kickoff session at the Bernards Township Library.

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In recent decades, Bernards Township, New Jersey has seen significant growth in its Asian community, making it one of the fastest rising racial groups in the area. Over the past few decades the percentage of residents identifying as Asian has climbed steeply from just a few percent in the 1980s and 1990s to roughly about 24 – 25 percent of the population today, reflecting broader demographic shifts in the township. This change includes increasing numbers of families with roots in India, China, Korea, and other Asian countries, and it is reflected not only in census data but also in local school enrollment and community life. The Asian demographic now represents one of the largest minority groups in the township, and local history projects are actively seeking to trace the early families and stories that helped shape this growing part of the community.

Demographic Highlights

Researching Diversity

We are honoring those in our neighborhood who have identified themselves as Asian, according to the census. Statistics have shown that the Asian American community (including India and Chinese) has seen double-digit growth in Bernards Township over the past two decades. Our goal is to locate some originating Asian American families who pioneered by moving to Bernards Township.

According to the US Census, Asian Americans include people who indicate their race(s) on the census as “Asian” or reported entries such as “Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Other Asian“. In 2017, Asian Americans comprised 5.6% of the U.S. population; including multiracial Asian Americans, that percentage increased to 6.9%.

Bernards Township Census Data

Census data is one of the most important tools we have for understanding how a community changes over time. Since 1960, the US Census has evolved from offering broad population totals and limited racial categories to providing detailed, town level insights into race, ethnicity, age, housing, and economic trends. Earlier censuses often grouped residents into just a few classifications, making it difficult to tell the full story of who lived in a place and how that population was shifting. Beginning in 1980 and expanding dramatically through 1990, 2000, 2010, and the most recent census, the data became more precise, consistent, and locally accessible, allowing historians, planners, and residents to track long term growth, migration, and cultural change with far greater clarity.

Today, census data serves not only as a snapshot of a single moment in time, but as a living historical record that helps communities understand their past and plan for their future.

• 2023: Population Bernards Township -Asian 24.1% 6,709 of 27,840 total.
• 2018: Population Bernards Township -Asian 19% 5,152 of 27,114 total.
• 2010: Population Bernards Township -Asian 13.8% 3,678 of 26,652 total.
• 2000: Population Bernards Township -Asian 7.8% 1,931 of 24,575 total.
• 1990: 3.1% (525 of 17,199) 2023 master plan
• 1987: Event: The Hills Development begins selling housing units.
• 1980: Population Bernards Township Asian Community – Census 0.5% 81 of 12,928 total.
  • So there are 81 families recognized in 1980 (check home sales)
• 1976: Event: AT&T opens its headquarters in Basking Ridge, N.J.
• 1970: Population Bernards Townwide Census 13,305
• 1960: Population Bernards Township Census: 9,019

Bernards Township Population Trends

Bernards Township was originally formed by royal charter on May 24, 1760, as Bernardston Township from the remaining portions of the Northern precinct. It was incorporated as Bernards Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey’s initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to form Warren Township (March 5, 1806), Far Hills (April 7, 1921) and Bernardsville (March 6, 1924). Bernards Township celebrated its 250th charter anniversary on May 24, 2010. The township was named for Sir Francis Bernard, 1st Baronet, who served as governor of the Province of New Jersey in 1760.

Iselin, New Jersey

As I’ve traveled to India many times, it was always fun to hear when I told them, “I’m from a New Jersey town just outside New York City, and to my surprise, they always asked if I was near Iselin. For a guy that grew up in New Jersey, it was a weird comment…until I learned. According to the 2017 American Community Survey, 42.6% of Iselin residents identified themselves as Indian American, the highest percentage for any census-designated place in the United States. It is rumored that the first two consultants from India worked for Goldman Sachs and chose Iselin as their base location. The rest, as they say, is history!

Researchers Needed

If you’d like to work on our historic demographics project, please write us and we’ll contact you.

• History of Indo-Americans in the United States
• History of Chinese Americans in the United States

More MLHP Local History Posts

The Founding Families of Bernards Township (Basking Ridge)

The History of Bernards Township Street Names

The History of Worship in Basking Ridge

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