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South Bound Brook, New Jersey
Borough
Borough of South Bound Brook
Delaware and Raritan Canal locks
Delaware and Raritan Canal locks
Map of South Bound Brook in Somerset County. Inset: Location of Somerset County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Map of South Bound Brook in Somerset County. Inset: Location of Somerset County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of South Bound Brook, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of South Bound Brook, New Jersey
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Somerset
Formed Unknown (within Franklin Township)
Renamed March 16, 1869 (as Bloomington Town)
Renamed May 29, 1891 (as South Bound Brook Town)
Incorporated May 1, 1907
Named for Bound Brook (Raritan River)
Government
 • Type Borough
 • Body Borough Council
Area
 • Total 0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2)
 • Land 0.65 sq mi (1.67 km2)
 • Water 0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2)  12.84%
Area rank 526th of 565 in state
19th of 21 in county
Elevation
46 ft (14 m)
Population
 • Total 4,563
 • Estimate 
(2019)
4,518
 • Rank 394th of 566 in state
17th of 21 in county
 • Density 6,933.8/sq mi (2,677.2/km2)
 • Density rank 65th of 566 in state
2nd of 21 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08880
Area code(s) 732
FIPS code 3403568730
GNIS feature ID 885401

South Bound Brook is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 4,563, reflecting an increase of 71 (+1.6%) from the 4,492 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 307 (+7.3%) from the 4,185 counted in the 1990 Census.

What is now South Bound Brook was originally formed as a town within Franklin Township. On March 16, 1869, the name of the community was changed to Bloomington, which lasted until May 29, 1891, when the name reverted to South Bound Brook town. South Bound Brook was incorporated as an independent borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 11, 1907, based on the results of a referendum held on May 1, 1907.

History

Queen's Bridge, South Bound Brook
Queen's Bridge, South Bound Brook

The area was first settled in 1681 and a community was established near the Bound Brook stream of the same name, which flows into the Raritan River via the Green Brook on the eastern side of the borough. The brook, which was mentioned as a boundary in a Native American deed, provides the source of the borough's name.

The area was originally a Dutch community with apple orchards and just west peach orchards. The Abraham Staats House (c. 1740), located on the south side of Main Street, served as the headquarters of Baron Von Steuben during the American Revolutionary War. The house today is privately owned.

A wooden bridge over the Raritan River was erected as early as 1761 and named Queen's Bridge in 1767. Later, it became a covered bridge. During the Revolutionary War, the bridge was used repeatedly by both sides including during the Battle of Bound Brook in 1777. In 1875, the wooden bridge was replaced by a steel pipe truss bridge. More than 100 years later, that bridge was itself replaced by a steel girder bridge in 1984, still using the old pillars. The bridge was renovated and paved in 2007.

At this spot in what on January 4, 1777, General Washington decided to move his troops to Morristown for the winter, thus ending the victorious Trenton-Princeton campaign, rather than attack New Brunswick.

The Battle of Bound Brook, one of the battles in the New York and New Jersey campaign during the American Revolutionary War, occurred on April 13, 1777, and resulted in a defeat for the Continental Army, who were routed by about 4,000 troops under British command.

At dawn on April 13, 1777, Hessian Captain Ewald's assault over the Queens Bridge spanning the Raritan River between South Bound Brook and Bound Brook was pinned down by "murderous fire" from the American soldiers stationed at half moon battery. Advancing North along present day Easton Avenue, Hessian Colonel Donop pushed aside American outposts and arrived 15 minutes after Ewald's attack had faltered. Advancing over the Queens Bridge, Donop's troops engaged the Americans causing them to retreat from the battery. Donop, Ewald's, and General Grant's troops pursued the American troops as they fought through the streets of Bound Brook.

The Reformed Church, also on Main Street (near borough hall) was built in 1848 and has been declared a local historical site by the borough council. Originally called the Dutch Reformed Church of Bound Brook, it has gone through very few changes over the years. A pipe organ received from Andrew Carnegie has been removed, and the stained glass windows, which had been added well after the original construction. The Reverend Thomas DeWitt Talmadge was a member and preached at the church.

Originally part of Franklin Township and named Bloomington, South Bound Brook was incorporated as a borough by the New Jersey Legislature in 1907.

In the mid-1970s a teen from the town created a plan for an environmental commission and presented it to the council. James Manley got his commission and the first order of business was to find out what the white piles of waste on the tow path between the Delaware and Raritan Canal and Raritan River consisted of. It turned out to be 17% crystal asbestos by volume. Since there was no New Jersey State regulation for the disposal, this became a landmark case. The waste was hauled in dump trucks through Bound Brook to the floodplain south of West Main Street and dumped. A trail of asbestos dust led from the old dump site to the new dump location.

Redevelopment

The main downtown street in South Bound Brook, known as Main Street, has been refurbished with new sidewalks, lighting, signage and a number of newly renovated stores.

A roofing material manufacturing facility known as GAF Manufacturing was located in South Bound Brook for over a century along Main Street. The site was dormant for about two decades and sat as an eyesore and reminder of the town's industrial past. New townhomes have been built on the GAF Manufacturing site, along the Delaware and Raritan Canal, which provide the downtown area a new modern look and many new residents.

Part of the redevelopment is being held up by a lawsuit by John Fanaro of Fanaro Carpeting over the right of eminent domain, as the borough tried to seize property along Main Street that is in front of the new townhomes. The redevelopment plan called for the older stores to be razed and replaced with new stores that had parking in back and a dozen rental apartments on the second floor.

A new condominium development along Elizabeth Street in the central part of town was finished in 2010.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.755 square miles (1.955 km2), including 0.658 square miles (1.704 km2) of land and 0.097 square miles (0.250 km2) of water (12.81%).

The borough borders Bound Brook, Bridgewater Township and Franklin Township in Somerset County; and both Middlesex Borough and Piscataway in Middlesex County.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 671
1890 801 19.4%
1900 883 10.2%
1910 1,024 16.0%
1920 1,302 27.1%
1930 1,763 35.4%
1940 1,928 9.4%
1950 2,905 50.7%
1960 3,626 24.8%
1970 4,525 24.8%
1980 4,331 −4.3%
1990 4,185 −3.4%
2000 4,492 7.3%
2010 4,563 1.6%
2019 (est.) 4,518 −1.0%
Population sources:
1880-1920 1880-1890
1890-1910 1910-1930
1930-1990 2000 2010

Census 2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,563 people, 1,733 households, and 1,120 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,933.8 per square mile (2,677.2/km2). There were 1,865 housing units at an average density of 2,834.0 per square mile (1,094.2/km2)*. The racial makeup of the borough was 67.19% (3,066) White, 10.10% (461) Black or African American, 0.13% (6) Native American, 6.14% (280) Asian, 0.04% (2) Pacific Islander, 11.83% (540) from other races, and 4.56% (208) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.28% (1,245) of the population.

There were 1,733 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.6 years. For every 100 females there were 105.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 102.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,427 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,959) and the median family income was $83,438 (+/- $13,065). Males had a median income of $61,042 (+/- $10,592) versus $44,063 (+/- $4,877) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,112 (+/- $3,774). About 1.0% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 4,492 people, 1,632 households, and 1,103 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,765.3 people per square mile (2,223.6/km2). There were 1,676 housing units at an average density of 2U.S. Census, 151.1/sq mi (829.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 78.01% White, 7.77% African American, 0.27% Native American, 4.10% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.57% from other races, and 3.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.89% of the population.

There were 1,632 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $48,984, and the median income for a family was $58,214. Males had a median income of $36,955 versus $30,082 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,131. About 3.6% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

The main attraction in South Bound Brook is the Delaware and Raritan Canal, which forms the northern and eastern boundaries of the town. The canal and its D&R Canal Trail are used for numerous recreational purposes from light boating to hiking and biking. Also of note is the Raritan River which lies on the far side of the canal and provides further recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing. The Queens Bridge crosses the canal and river, connecting to Bound Brook.

The Raritan River Greenway is a proposed path that would link Branchburg Township to the East Coast Greenway with the Delaware and Raritan Canal trail in South Bound Brook.

Points of interest

Orthodox Cathedral of St. Andrew in South Bound Brook
St. Andrew Memorial Church was built as a memorial honoring victims of the Holodomor and serves as the headquarters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA is headquartered in South Bound Brook. St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary, St. Andrew's Memorial Church, and a large Ukrainian Orthodox cemetery right behind the church, where graves of many politicians from the Ukrainian People's Republic era can be visited, are located on the south side of the town.

Flooding issues

While South Bound Brook does not have the legacy of flooding that its sister town Bound Brook on the north bank of the Raritan River has, flooding can be a problem in South Bound Brook during major river flooding events, such as a 100-year flood event. In September 1999, the remnants of Hurricane Floyd caused a record flood crest on the Raritan River. While escaping the worst flooding, due to its elevated perch above the Raritan River, South Bound Brook did experience flood waters in the two- to three-foot range near the canal, including in portions of the downtown area along Main Street.

Transportation

2018-05-30 11 48 59 View north along Somerset County Route 527 (Main Street) between Clinton Street and Elm Street in South Bound Brook, Somerset County, New Jersey
CR 527 in South Bound Brook, the most significant highway in the boro

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 12.51 miles (20.13 km) of roadways, of which 9.01 miles (14.50 km) were maintained by the municipality and 3.50 miles (5.63 km) by Somerset County.

County Route 527 is the most significant road to pass through South Bound Brook. Interstate 287, which provides access and connections to large parts of New Jersey and New York City, passes just to the southwest of South Bound Brook in Franklin Township, with two interchanges providing quick access to South Bound Brook.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides frequent train service on the Raritan Valley Line to/from Penn Station Newark and Penn Station New York via the nearby Bound Brook Train Station, which is about a five- to ten-minute walk from downtown South Bound Brook.

NJ Transit bus service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan is provided on the 114 and 117 routes, with service to Newark available on the 65 bus line.

Education

Robert Morris
Robert Morris

The South Bound Brook School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Robert Morris School, named after Robert Morris, a financier of the American Revolution. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 449 students and 37.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Bound Brook High School in Bound Brook, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Bound Brook School District. As of the 2017–18 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 601 students and 45.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.2:1.

Notable people

See also (related category): People from South Bound Brook, New Jersey

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with South Bound Brook include:

  • Heidi Bohay (born 1959), actress and television host.
  • Thomas H. Caffrey (born 1893), Wisconsin State Assemblyman.
  • Tunis Craven (1813–1864), commanding officer of the USS Tecumseh, an iron-hulled, single-turret monitor, commissioned in 1864 and sunk in the Battle of Mobile Bay. After being hit by a torpedo (actually moored mines) the Tecumseh began to heel rapidly; and men scrambled to abandon ship. Comdr. Craven arrived at the foot of the ladder leading to the main deck simultaneously with the pilot, John Collins. Craven stepped back, saying "After you, pilot," thus permitting Collins to escape. His gallantry cost Craven his life, for the ship sank in a frightfully fast 25 seconds. Resident of South Bound Brook from approximately 1844–1864.
  • Thomas De Witt Talmage (1832-1902), preacher, clergyman and divine, who was a member of the Reformed Church on Main Street in South Bound Brook.

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See also

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