Bedminster, New Jersey

Bedminster is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, roughly 35 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia. It's part of the New York metropolitan area and falls within the Middlesex-Somerset-Union Metropolitan Statistical Area. Among New Jersey residents, Bedminster is known for its affluent, semi-rural character, high property values, and large estates. In recent years, it's also become associated with former President Donald Trump, whose golf club on the borough's outskirts has drawn sustained national attention.

The local economy has moved through distinct phases: agriculture and dairy farming gave way to light manufacturing, which then shifted toward professional services. Today, corporate offices, healthcare facilities, and high-end real estate drive much of the commercial activity. Route 202 and Route 206 are the borough's main arteries, connecting it to Princeton to the south, Morristown to the north, and Interstate 78 to the east. New York City sits roughly an hour away by car under normal traffic conditions.

History

The Lenape people lived on this land long before Europeans arrived. The Unami-speaking band of Lenape hunted, fished, and farmed along the waterways of what is now central New Jersey. Dutch and English settlers began arriving in the late 17th century, establishing farms along the North Branch of the Raritan River. Somerset County itself was established in 1688, with Bedminster among its earliest settled portions.

Bedminster Township was formally incorporated on February 21, 1798, under New Jersey's act to incorporate townships, making it one of the original townships of Somerset County. The borough as a separate municipal entity came later in the 19th century as suburban growth pulled apart the denser village core from the surrounding rural areas.

During the American Revolutionary War, Somerset County was an active theater of operations. After the Battle of Princeton in January 1777, General George Washington moved his forces through the county while repositioning toward Morristown. Local roads in the Bedminster area served as supply and movement corridors. The Morris family, prominent landowners in Somerset County during the 18th and 19th centuries, held substantial acreage in the region. Their influence on local land use shaped development patterns for generations.

Gradual suburban expansion came to the borough during the 20th century as automobile ownership rose and Route 202 was improved. Corporate campuses began appearing in the broader Somerset County corridor from the 1960s onward. AT&T established a major presence in nearby Basking Ridge, drawing professional workers who settled across the surrounding townships and boroughs, including Bedminster. That shift was transformative. The borough went from a quiet farming community to one of New Jersey's most expensive residential addresses.

Geography

Bedminster sits in the central portion of Somerset County, in rolling hills and open farmland characteristic of the Raritan Valley. The North Branch of the Raritan River flows through the area, historically providing water power for mills and defining natural corridors for settlement. To the north lie Peapack-Gladstone and Far Hills; to the east, Bernards Township (Basking Ridge); and to the south and west, Lamington and Pluckemin.

The topography is more varied than much of central New Jersey. The Watchung Mountains rise to the east. The Sourland Mountains define the southern horizon. Total area is approximately 13 square miles, the large majority of which is land. Climate follows the Mid-Atlantic pattern with warm, humid summers and cold winters. Average annual precipitation runs around 46 inches, distributed relatively evenly through the year. This rainfall and the underlying geology support productive farmland, and working farms remain visible throughout the borough despite development pressure.

Several county and municipal open spaces preserve portions of the original agricultural character. Stream corridors along the North Branch Raritan have become a focus of conservation efforts by Somerset County and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, given the borough's location near the river's headwaters.

Government and Politics

The borough operates under New Jersey's borough form of municipal government. A six-member Borough Council and a mayor, all elected at-large to staggered three-year terms, make up the governing body. Municipal elections follow the partisan May primary and November general election calendar.

Somerset County has historically leaned Republican in state and federal elections. Bedminster reflects that pattern. The borough's political profile gained national significance after Donald Trump purchased property in the area and established his primary New Jersey residence at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. Trump has spent considerable time there since leaving the White House in January 2021. The club has hosted visits from political allies and foreign dignitaries, drawing scrutiny from journalists and federal investigators alike.

Education

The Somerset Hills Regional School District serves Bedminster's public school students, along with the neighboring borough of Far Hills and portions of Bernards Township. The district operates elementary, middle, and high school programs, with Somerset Hills High School serving students in grades 9 through 12.

The 2025 Bedminster school budget proposed a tax levy increase of approximately 6.77 percent, reflecting rising operational costs and capital needs. Residents concerned about property tax burdens paid attention. Home values and existing tax bills are already among the higher figures in Somerset County.

Private schooling options exist in nearby Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone. Many Bedminster families commute to independent schools in Bernardsville and Morristown.

Demographics

Bedminster is a small, relatively affluent community. The borough's population has stayed below 3,000 residents for most of the past several decades, which distinguishes it from the more densely populated townships surrounding it. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, median household incomes consistently rank well above New Jersey state medians, themselves among the highest in the nation.

The housing stock leans toward large single-family homes on substantial lots. Horse properties and gentleman farms remain common, particularly in the western portions of the borough. Equestrian activity is part of the local culture. Population density is low relative to much of northeastern New Jersey, and it's one of the defining characteristics that residents and real estate listings regularly cite.

Economy

Today, Bedminster's economy rests on several pillars: high-end residential real estate, professional services, corporate activity in the broader Somerset County corridor, and tourism tied primarily to its golf facilities. Agriculture, once the economic foundation, has declined but still exists. A handful of working farms and farm stands operate within and immediately adjacent to the borough.

The corporate presence is felt more at the county level than strictly within Bedminster's boundaries, but residents benefit from proximity to major employers. AT&T's longtime campus in neighboring Basking Ridge employed thousands of professional workers whose spending and residency patterns shaped the entire region's economy for decades. Healthcare is another significant sector. Morristown Medical Center and Somerset Medical Center serve the surrounding region and represent major employment bases within commuting range.

Trump National Golf Club Bedminster is the borough's highest-profile private commercial establishment and a draw for golf tourism. The club has hosted major professional tournaments and generates local economic activity. It's also generated controversy and legal scrutiny (see below).

Trump National Golf Club Bedminster

Trump National Golf Club Bedminster is a private golf club located on Lamington Road in Bedminster. Donald Trump purchased the former Lamington Farm property in 2002, roughly 500 acres of rolling Somerset County farmland, and developed it into a golf facility with two 18-hole courses, a clubhouse, and a residential compound that serves as his primary New Jersey residence.

The club hosted the 2022 PGA Championship, one of professional golf's four major championships, in May of that year. This brought significant national media attention to Bedminster. The decision to hold the tournament at a Trump-owned property was contested within the PGA of America following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, but the organization ultimately proceeded with the event.

Scrutiny has come from multiple directions beyond golf. In 2022, federal investigators examining Trump's handling of classified documents after leaving office focused partly on the Bedminster property. Trump was alleged to have shown a classified map to visitors during a plane trip. Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation produced a detailed memo outlining evidence gathered in the classified documents case, with Bedminster referenced as a location where sensitive materials may have been handled. Federal charges were ultimately dismissed, but the investigation kept Bedminster in national news coverage for two years.

Employment practices at the club have also prompted legal action. In January 2026, two former employees filed suit against Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, alleging violations of labor law. Local media has documented health code violations at the club, a recurring point of discussion among New Jersey residents familiar with the property.

Culture

Community life centers on schools, historic churches, and a calendar of local events that blend old agricultural traditions with contemporary suburban sensibilities. The Bedminster Fall Festival brings residents together annually with local vendors, crafts, and entertainment. It functions as one of the primary communal gatherings of the year.

Equestrian culture runs deep here. The Somerset Hills area, of which Bedminster is the geographic and social heart, has hosted horse shows and fox hunting for well over a century. Several active horse farms remain within the borough. The Somerset Hills Horse Show draws competitors and spectators from across the region each summer.

Nearby academic institutions shape the demographic and cultural character of the broader Somerset Hills community. Princeton University is roughly 25 miles south; Rutgers University's main campus is about 20 miles east. Advanced degrees and professional backgrounds are common. The Bedminster Public Library serves as a community gathering point, offering programs and collections that reflect the interests of an educated, engaged residential population.

Attractions

Bedminster's appeal to visitors is primarily natural and historical rather than commercial. The rolling hills, horse farms, and preserved open space give it a visual character distinct from most of central New Jersey. Hiking and trail access via Somerset County's park system, including paths along the North Branch of the Raritan River, draw outdoor enthusiasts from the surrounding region.

The historic Bedminster Inn, located in the village center, has served as a landmark dining destination for decades. It occupies a restored 18th-century building that reflects the area's colonial-era architecture. Bedminster Town Hall, another historic structure, anchors the village and hosts municipal functions.

Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, while private, is perhaps the borough's most nationally recognized address. The 2022 PGA Championship brought thousands of spectators to the area and placed Bedminster on a sporting and media map well beyond New Jersey's borders.

The Somerset County Historical Society, based in nearby Somerville, maintains collections and programs relevant to Bedminster's history. Their records cover early settlement, the Revolutionary War period, and 19th-century agricultural life in the Raritan Valley.

Notable Residents

Bedminster has attracted prominent residents over its history, drawn by the area's privacy, natural character, and proximity to New York City. Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, has used Bedminster as his primary New Jersey residence since establishing Trump National Golf Club there in the early 2000s. His presence has made the borough a recurring location in national political coverage.

John Witherspoon, the 18th-century Presbyterian minister and signatory of the Declaration of Independence, was associated with the broader Somerset County region during his tenure as president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). His primary residence was in Princeton.

The Morris family, among the most prominent landowning families in colonial and early federal New Jersey, held extensive property in Somerset County including land in the Bedminster area. Their influence on regional development during the 18th and early 19th centuries was substantial, touching governance, land use, and commerce across the county.

Transportation

Car travel is the primary means of transportation in Bedminster. Route 202 runs through the borough, connecting it southward toward Princeton and northward toward Morristown and the New York state line. Route 206 runs nearby, providing another north-south corridor linking the borough to Somerville to the east and the Sourland Mountain region to the south. Interstate 78, accessible within a few miles via connector roads, provides the most direct route to Newark Liberty International Airport and New York City to the east, and to the Lehigh Valley and points west.

Public transit options are limited. The closest NJ Transit rail service is at Far Hills station, served by the Raritan Valley Line. That line runs eastward through Somerville and Bound Brook to Newark Penn Station and connects to New York Penn Station via transfer. Bus service in the borough itself is minimal. Car ownership is effectively necessary for most residents.

The Pennsylvania Railroad historically served the Somerset Hills area. The Far Hills station building dates to the railroad era. NJ Transit assumed operation of the Raritan Valley Line in the 1980s as part of the state's broader takeover of commuter rail services in New Jersey.