North Brunswick Township, New Jersey

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 12.3 square miles (31.8 km²), of which, 12.0 square miles (30.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.88%) is water.

Farrington Lake is a popular fishing and recreation area located roughly parallel between U.S. Route 130 and Riva Avenue. Motor boats are not allowed, but rowboats and kayaks can be launched from a point adjacent to the lake's Washington Place crossing. Many of the locals enjoy both the view and versatility.

Like many other New Jersey communities, North Brunswick is constantly faced with the issues of suburban sprawl and open space preservation. The Otken Farm property on Route 130 between Adams Lane and Renaissance Boulevard was purchased by the township to be converted into a public park, which opened in April 2007.⁷⁸ The nearby Pulda Farm, on Route 130 at Wood Avenue, however will be developed into an age-restricted community barring the success of a pending legal challenge.⁹ 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 the eventual mix of retail businesses and residences allowed to be built on the property. There is also discussion of building a New Jersey Transit commuter railroad station on the site, connecting to the Northeast Corridor Line. Other parcels slated for development into retail shopping centers include the former General Automotive property at the intersection of Routes 1 and 130, and the currently wooded corner of Route 130 and Adams Lane diagonally across from the Maple Meade Plaza.¹⁰¹¹

Demographics

As of the census³ of 2000, there were 36,287 people, 13,635 households, and 9,367 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,018.3 people per square mile (1,165.6/km²). There were 13,932 housing units at an average density of 1,158.8/sq mi (447.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 62.73% White, 15.27% African American, 0.17% Native American, 14.20% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.70% from other races, and 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.40% of the population.

There were 13,635 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township is $61,325, and the median income for a family is $70,812. Males have a median income of $48,961 versus $35,971 for females. The per capita income for the township is $28,431. 4.7% of the population and 2.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.0% are under the age of 18 and 8.5% are 65 or older.

In addition to the township's residents, an average daily population of 1,182 inmates are housed at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center, located on Route 130 at Apple Orchard Lane.¹³

Government

Local government

North Brunswick Township is one of a small number of municipalities using the Mayor-Council-Administrator form of local government in New Jersey. It was formed as a result of a Charter Study in 1982. As a variant of the Faulkner Act, the Mayor is directly elected by the voters and serves a term of four years. The North Brunswick Township Council is composed of six Council Members elected at large. Council terms of office are three years on a staggered basis, with two Council seats are up for election each year.¹⁴ The primary responsibilities of the Council are to serve as the legislative body of the township, approve the annual budget presented by the Mayor, approve payment of bills and serve as liaisons to several Boards and Committees.

The Mayor of North Brunswick is Francis "Mac" Womack III, whose term of office ends December 31, 2011.¹⁵ Members of the Township Council are Council President Bob Davis, Council Vice President Bob Corbin, Ralph Andrews (2007), Rhonda Lyles, Cathy Nicola and Carlo Socio.¹⁶

Federal, state and county representation

North Brunswick is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 17th Legislative District.¹⁷

Education

Transportation

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.³¹ A highlight of the carnival is a fireworks show by Grucci.³²

Notable residents

References

^ USGS GNIS: Township of North Brunswick, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 15, 2007.
^ ^a ^b Census data for North Brunswick township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 2007.
^ ^a ^b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 172.
^ North Brunswick park begins to take shape, North Brunswick Sentinel, September 28, 2006.
^ North Brunswick opens 105-acre park to public, North Brunswick Sentinel, April 19, 2007.
^ Court reinstates suit by Pulda housing objectors, North Brunswick Sentinel, February 1, 2007.
^ The Shoppes at N.B. plan wins board's approval, North Brunswick Sentinel, March 16, 2006.
^ Some residents oppose Rt. 130 retail center, North Brunswick Sentinel, September 22, 2005.
^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 2000, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
^ Adult Corrections, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 31, 2007.
^ Form of Municipal Government, Township of North Brunswick. Accessed July 5, 2006.
^ Mayor-Council: Mayor, Township of North Brunswick. Accessed March 18, 2007.
^ North Brunswick Township Council, Township of North Brunswick. Accessed March 18, 2007.
^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 61. Accessed August 30, 2006.
^ Municipalities, Congressman Rush D. Holt Jr. Accessed June 29, 2008.
^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
^ Elected County Officials, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed February 21, 2007.
^ Data for the North Brunswick Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed September 15, 2008.
^ New Jersey Department of Transportation. "Route 130 straight line diagram". Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
^ New Jersey Department of Transportation. "Route 171 straight line diagram". Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
^ New Jersey Department of Transportation. "Route 26 straight line diagram". Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
^ New Jersey Department of Transportation. "Route 26 straight line diagram". Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
^ New Jersey Department of Transportation. "Route 27 straight line diagram". Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
^ New Jersey Department of Transportation. "Route 91 straight line diagram". Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
^ New Jersey Department of Transportation. "Route 682 straight line diagram". Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
^ New Jersey Department of Transportation. "Route 610 straight line diagram". Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
^ Report On Demographic Distribution Of New Jersey Citizens Of Italian Descent, New Jersey Italian and Italian American Heritage Commission, Dec. 2005
^ Carnevale Italiano returns next week, North Brunswick Sentinel, July 13, 2006.
^ Rockers to stage holiday show at State Theatre: No. Brunswick resident, Styx guitarist Burtnik plans Xmas Xtravaganza, North Brunswick Sentinel, December 9, 2004.
^ Mel Harris Biography, accessed March 17, 2007.
^ Giase: Letting Howard leave could haunt Man U, The Star-Ledger by Frank Giase, February 20, 2007. " Howard has been on loan to Everton since he lost the Man U starting goalkeeping job to Edwin van der Sar last season, but the loan will be made permanent at the end of the season when the North Brunswick native is expected to sign a five-year contract."
^ Did You Hear The One About The @&%#! Comic?:By sinking to new lows, comedy in New York is rising., New York (magazine), April 5, 2004. "On his website, Jim Norton has posted dozens of photos of himself with celebrities as varied as Ozzy Osbourne, LL Cool J, and Laura Bush. He also has photos of himself growing up in North Brunswick, New Jersey, under the heading a photographic list of reasons i am obsessed with blowing my brains out."
^ Gadino, Dylan p. "Sketching up with Aries Spears", Punchline, accessed April 15, 2007. "His family – his mother, Doris Spears is a renowned jazz singer – moved to New Jersey where he eventually dropped out of North Brunswick Township High School when he was 17."
^ Linwood grad catches on as Rutgers wideout, North Brunswick Sentinel, May 17, 2007

Contents

History

Geography