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North Brunswick, New Jersey
Township
Township of North Brunswick
Rutgers Gardens in North Brunswick
Rutgers Gardens in North Brunswick
North Brunswick Township highlighted in Middlesex County.
North Brunswick Township highlighted in Middlesex County.
North Brunswick, New Jersey is located in Middlesex County, New Jersey
North Brunswick, New Jersey
North Brunswick, New Jersey
Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
North Brunswick, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
North Brunswick, New Jersey
North Brunswick, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
North Brunswick, New Jersey is located in the United States
North Brunswick, New Jersey
North Brunswick, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Middlesex
First mention February 28, 1779
Incorporated February 21, 1798
Named for Braunschweig, Germany or King George II of Great Britain
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council-Administrator
 • Body Township Council
Area
 • Total 12.31 sq mi (31.88 km2)
 • Land 12.03 sq mi (31.16 km2)
 • Water 0.28 sq mi (0.71 km2)  2.24%
Area rank 187th of 565 in state
10th of 25 in county
Elevation
121 ft (37 m)
Population
 • Total 40,742
 • Estimate 
(2019)
41,431
 • Rank 50th of 566 in state
10th of 25 in county
 • Density 3,396.2/sq mi (1,311.3/km2)
 • Density rank 192nd of 566 in state
14th of 25 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08902
Area code(s) 732 and 908
FIPS code 3402352560
GNIS feature ID 0882164
Website

North Brunswick is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. It is centrally located in the Raritan Valley region within the New York Metropolitan area. At the 2020 United States Census, the population was 43,905, reflecting an increase of (+7.5%) from the 40,742 counted in the 2010 Census, which had in turn increased by 3,455 (+12.3%) from the 36,287 counted in the 2000 Census. Located south of the city of New Brunswick, North Brunswick was named for its earlier-established neighbor, South Brunswick, New Jersey. The "Brunswick" comes from New Brunswick, which was named after the German city of Braunschweig (formerly translated in English as Brunswick) or for the British royal House of Brunswick. North and South Brunswick, in turn, became the namesakes for East Brunswick. Alternatively, the city gets its name from King George II of Great Britain, the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

History

North Brunswick was first mentioned in Middlesex Freeholder Board minutes of February 28, 1779. North Brunswick Township was incorporated on February 21, 1798 by the New Jersey Legislature's Township Act of 1798 as the state's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township have since separated into East Brunswick Township (February 28, 1860), and Milltown (January 29, 1889).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 12.272 square miles (31.783 km2), including 11.997 square miles (31.071 km2) of land and 0.275 square miles (0.712 km2) of water (2.24%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Adams, Berdines Corner, Black Horse, Bodines Corner, Franklin Park, Georges Road, Livingston Park, Maple Meade, Patricks Corner and Red Lion. The northern portion of the township, near the New Brunswick border, is mainly middle class while the southern and eastern sections tend to be more affluent, with a few homes priced around $1 million.

The township borders East Brunswick Township, Milltown, New Brunswick and South Brunswick Township in Middlesex County, and Franklin Township in Somerset County.

Like many other New Jersey communities, North Brunswick is faced with the issues of suburban sprawl and open space preservation. The 105.21-acre (42.58 ha) Otken Farm property on Route 130 between Adams Lane and Renaissance Boulevard was purchased by the township to be converted into North Brunswick Community Park, which opened in April 2007. The nearby Pulda Farm, on Route 130 at Wood Avenue, however may be developed into an age-restricted community pending legal challenge. Re-development of the site of the former Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical plant on U.S. Route 1 between Adams Lane and Aaron Road is currently the subject of a public hearing process that will determine what may be built on the property. There is also discussion of building an NJ Transit commuter railroad station on the site, along the Northeast Corridor Line. Other parcels slated for development into retail shopping centers include the currently wooded corner of Route 130 and Adams Lane diagonally across from the Maple Meade Plaza.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 2,312
1810 3,980
1820 4,275 7.4%
1830 5,274 23.4%
1840 5,866 11.2%
1850 10,019 70.8%
1860 1,145 −88.6%
1870 1,124 −1.8%
1880 1,251 11.3%
1890 1,238 −1.0%
1900 847 −31.6%
1910 990 16.9%
1920 1,399 41.3%
1930 3,622 158.9%
1940 4,562 26.0%
1950 6,450 41.4%
1960 10,099 56.6%
1970 16,691 65.3%
1980 22,220 33.1%
1990 31,287 40.8%
2000 36,287 16.0%
2010 40,742 12.3%
2020 43,905 7.8%
Population sources: 1790-1920
1840 1870 1880-1890
1890-1910 1910-1930
1930-1990 2000 2010
* = Lost territory in previous decade.

2010 Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 40,742 people, 14,551 households, and 10,404 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,396.2 per square mile (1,311.3/km2). There were 15,045 housing units at an average density of 1,254.1 per square mile (484.2/km2)*. The racial makeup of the township was 46.61% (18,991) White, 17.47% (7,116) Black or African American, 0.42% (171) Native American, 24.27% (9,888) Asian, 0.04% (15) Pacific Islander, 8.16% (3,323) from other races, and 3.04% (1,238) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.73% (7,223) of the population.

There were 14,551 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the township, the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.5 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 95.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,469 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,515) and the median family income was $91,053 (+/- $3,268). Males had a median income of $60,285 (+/- $3,591) versus $50,018 (+/- $2,499) for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,944 (+/- $1,441). About 4.5% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Roads and highways

2021-07-16 13 26 09 View north along U.S. Route 1 from the overpass for the ramp to U.S. Route 130 in North Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey
View north along US 1, the largest and busiest road in North Brunswick

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 101.51 miles (163.36 km) of roadways, of which 77.57 miles (124.84 km) were maintained by the municipality, 7.23 miles (11.64 km) by Middlesex County and 16.71 miles (26.89 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Major roads in North Brunswick include:

  • U.S. Route 130, which begins at an intersection with Route 171's terminus.
  • U.S. Route 1, the largest highway in North Brunswick.
  • New Jersey Route 26, also known as Livingston Avenue.
  • New Jersey Route 27, along the western border.
  • New Jersey Route 91, also known as Jersey Avenue.
  • New Jersey Route 171, which starts at the northern terminus of Route 130 as Georges Road in the Berdines Corner section of township and enters New Brunswick.
  • County Route 682, also known as Finnegans Lane, a 1.05-mile (1.69 km) along the southern border.
  • County Route 680, also known as How Lane
  • County Route 620, concurrent with Nassau Street east of Georges Road/Route 171.
  • County Route 608, in two sections known as Cozzens Lane and Adams Lane.
  • County Route 606, also known as Milltown Road.

Limited access roads are accessible outside the township, such as Interstate 287 in bordering Franklin Township. The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) is accessible from exits in East Brunswick and South Brunswick.

Public transportation

NJ Transit Rail Operations (NJT) originates trains to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan during peak hours from the Jersey Avenue station in New Brunswick. A new North Brunswick station on its Northeast Corridor Line has been proposed for the former Johnson & Johnson site on Route 1 and Aaron Road. In January 2013 NJT announced that the station would be built in 2018 in conjunction with the transit-oriented development. In addition to the new station the agency plans to build a flyover (balloon loop and flying junction) called the Mid-Line Loop south of the new station allowing trains turn around and enter and leave the Northeast Corridor without crossing over tracks. The new Mid-Line Loop would be in the location of a current minor Amtrak yard, Adams Yard, which is part of the larger County Yard complex.

NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 811 and 814 routes.

Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT) shuttles provide service on routes operating across the county, including the M1 route, which operates between Jamesburg and the New Brunswick train station and the M5 Jersey Avenue/Brunswick-Commercial Avenue Shuttle.

Suburban Trails offers service to and from New York City on Route 100 between Princeton and the Port Authority Bus Terminal; and Route 600 between East Windsor and Wall Street in Downtown Manhattan.

The Raritan River Railroad ran through North Brunswick, but is now defunct along this part of the line. Proposals have been made to use the line as a light rail route.

Community

There are various communities within North Brunswick. One of many is the Italian American community. The Italian American community of North Brunswick and other Middlesex County towns celebrate their heritage annually at Carnevale Italiano, a 20-year-old carnival organized by the Italian-American Social Club. This event has been a huge part of North Brunswick's culture, as Middlesex County ranks fourth out of New Jersey's 21 counties in its population of Italian Americans. A highlight of the carnival is a fireworks show by Grucci.

Each year, the sports associations of the township host the North Brunswick Youth Sports Festival. The township high school also hosts a heritage day each year in Babbage Park. This festival showcases the many cultures that make up North Brunswick.

Education

The North Brunswick Township Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 6,096 students and 530.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.5:1. Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are North Brunswick Township Early Childhood Center with NA students in PreK, John Adams Elementary School with 565 students in grades K-4, Arthur M. Judd Elementary School with 786 students in grades PreK-4, Livingston Park Elementary School with 594 students in grades K-4, Parsons Elementary School with 703 students in grades K-4, Linwood School with 1,356 students in grades 5-6, North Brunswick Township Middle School with NA students in grades 7-8 and North Brunswick Township High School with 1,886 students in grades 9-12.

John Adams School was recognized in 1998-99 as a National Blue Ribbon Award School of Excellence. The district's high school was recognized in 1999–2000.

Eighth grade students from all of Middlesex County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at Middlesex County Academy in Edison, the Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences in Woodbridge Township and at its East Brunswick, Perth Amboy and Piscataway technical high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Portions of the Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (formerly Cook College) is located on College Farm Road off Route 1 on the northern end of the township. DeVry University has a campus in North Brunswick on U.S. Route 1 between Milltown Road and Ryders Lane. Chamberlain College of Nursing's administrative offices are located on the DeVry University site. Anthem Institute had a branch on Route 1 on the Technology Centre of New Jersey campus that closed in 2014 as part of a group of closures nationwide.

Notable people

See also (related category): People from North Brunswick, New Jersey

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with North Brunswick include:

  • James Altucher (born 1968), hedge-fund manager, author, podcaster and entrepreneur.
  • Glen Burtnik (born 1955), songwriter, recording artist and performer who is a former member of the band Styx.
  • Sean Cameron (born 1985), footballer who most recently played for Miami FC in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.
  • John Forté (born 1975), music producer for the rap group the Fugees.
  • Joanna Gregory-Scocchi (born 1959), former member of the New Jersey General Assembly.
  • Mel Harris (born 1956), actress, known for her role on TV's thirtysomething.
  • Tim Howard (born 1979), aka "The Secretary of Defense," goalkeeper for the United States men's national soccer team and for Colorado Rapids in the Major League Soccer.
  • Ron Howden (born 1945), drummer of 1970s British band Nektar.
  • Jim Norton (born 1968), comedian and actor.
  • Aries Spears (born 1975), comedian, actor, performer on Fox's MADtv.
  • Tiquan Underwood (born 1987), wide receiver who has played in the NFL.
  • Michael J Babcock, Executive Producer for TMZ Sports.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Municipio de North Brunswick para niños

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