Bernards Township () is a township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 27,830,
Located on the eastern end of the Somerset Hills region, the township is a bedroom suburb of New York City in the much larger New York metropolitan area, located within the Raritan Valley region.
History
Bernards Township was originally formed by royal charter on May 24, 1760, as Bernardston Township from remaining portions of 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). The township celebrated its 250th charter anniversary in May 2010.
The township was named for Sir Francis Bernard, 1st Baronet, who served as governor of the Province of New Jersey.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 24.33 square miles (63.01 km<sup>2</sup>), including 24.20 square miles (62.68 km<sup>2</sup>) of land and 0.13 square miles (0.33 km<sup>2</sup>) of water (0.52%). Martinsville is an unincorporated area in Bridgewater Township, whose 08836 ZIP Code also covers portions of Bernards Township.
The township borders Bedminster Township and Far Hills to the west, Bernardsville to the northwest, Bridgewater Township to the southwest, and Warren Township to the southeast in Somerset County and Harding Township to the northeast and Long Hill to the east in Morris County.