Carteret, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Carteret had a total area of 5.000 square miles (12.950 km²), including 4.418 square miles (11.442 km²) of land and 0.582 square miles (1.509 km²) of water (11.65%).

The Rahway River forms the northern boundary of Carteret (Linden is on the other side of the river), and the Arthur Kill is the eastern boundary (with Staten Island, New York on the opposite side). Woodbridge Township borders Carteret on all land-based boundaries.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Canda, Chrome (in the borough's southeast), East Rahway, Lamar, Silvan Beach, South Carteret, West Carteret (the portion west of the New Jersey Turnpike) and West Chrome.

Demographics

Carteret's Sikh community, variously estimated at 1,000 to 2,500, is the largest concentration of Sikhs in the state. The Gurudwara Singh Sabha Sahib, the borough's first gurudwara, had rented a location in Carteret in 1998 before moving to a permanent location in the nearby Port Reading section of Woodbridge Township in 2005.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 22,844 people, 7,591 households, and 5,686 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,171.1 per square mile (1,996.6/km²). The borough contained 8,148 housing units at an average density of 1,844.4 per square mile (712.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 50.68% (11,577) White, 14.85% (3,393) Black or African American, 0.35% (80) Native American, 19.04% (4,349) Asian, 0.05% (12) Pacific Islander, 11.18% (2,553) from other races, and 3.85% (880) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 30.93% (7,066) of the population.

Out of a total of 7,591 households, 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.51.

In the borough, 25.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.1 years. For every 100 females the census counted 94.3 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 91.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $58,614 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,733) and the median family income was $69,192 (+/- $10,119). Males had a median income of $47,405 (+/- $4,676) versus $42,971 (+/- $4,266) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,346 (+/- $2,095). About 11.8% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 20,709 people, 7,039 households, and 5,208 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,747.4 people per square mile (1,833.9/km²). There were 7,320 housing units at an average density of 1,678.1 per square mile (648.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 50.7% White, 14.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 19.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 11.2% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.9% of the population.

There were 7,039 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the borough the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $47,148, and the median income for a family was $54,609. Males had a median income of $40,172 versus $28,132 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,967. About 8.6% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Portions of Carteret are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.

Carteret is the location of the primary data center for the NASDAQ OMX Group's stock exchange.

Carteret was the headquarters of the defunct electronics chain Nobody Beats the Wiz.

Local government

Carteret is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Carteret, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

As of 2016, the mayor of Carteret is Democrat Daniel J. Reiman, whose term of office ends December 31, 2018. The members of the Borough Council are Council President Vincent Bellino (D, 2016), Jorge Diaz (D, 2016), Dennis DiMascio (D, 2018), Randy Krum (D, 2017), Ajmar "AJ" Johal (D, 2018) and Susan Naples (D, 2017).

In May 2016, the borough council selected Ajmar Johal from three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that had been held by Joseph W. "Skippy" Sitarz until his death the previous month.

Carteret's 13.9% South Asian community has been very active and influential in the local government, serving on several governing boards and contesting elections. Members of notable activity in the government include Sultan M. Babar, an alternate member of the board of health and the head of its medical department. Babar also ran for borough council and was a candidate in the Democratic primaries. He has been chosen to represent the 10th delegate district part of Middlesex County, which consists of 18th and 19th state legislative districts, as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Other members of notability are Amijit Cheema, member of the Planning Board; and Hardyal Singh Johal, former member of the Planning Board.

Federal, state and county representation

Carteret is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 19th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Carteret had been part of the 13th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District is represented by Frank Pallone (D, Long Branch). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 19th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph Vitale (D, Woodbridge Township) and in the General Assembly by Craig Coughlin (D, Woodbridge Township) and John Wisniewski (D, Sayreville). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Middlesex County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose seven members are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects from among its members a Freeholder Director and Deputy Director. As of 2015, Middlesex County's Freeholders (with party affiliation, term-end year, residence and committee chairmanship listed in parentheses) are Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios (D, term ends December 31, 2015, Carteret; Ex-officio on all committees), Freeholder Deputy Director Carol Barrett Bellante (D, 2017; Monmouth Junction, South Brunswick Township; County Administration), Kenneth Armwood (D, 2016, Piscataway; Business Development and Education), Charles Kenny ( D, 2016, Woodbridge Township; Finance), H. James Polos (D, 2015, Highland Park; Public Safety and Health), Charles E. Tomaro (D, 2017, Edison; Infrastructure Management) and Blanquita B. Valenti (D, 2016, New Brunswick; Community Services). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Elaine M. Flynn (D, Old Bridge Township), Sheriff Mildred S. Scott (D, 2016, Piscataway) and Surrogate Kevin J. Hoagland (D, 2017; New Brunswick).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 12,538 registered voters in Carteret, of which 5,187 (41.4%) were registered as Democrats, 1,373 (11.0%) were registered as Republicans and 5,974 (47.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 74.5% of the vote (5,997 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 24.9% (2,002 votes), and other candidates with 0.6% (46 votes), among the 8,124 ballots cast by the borough's 13,032 registered voters (79 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 62.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 65.8% of the vote (5,387 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 32.3% (2,643 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (63 votes), among the 8,182 ballots cast by the borough's 12,390 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.0%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 57.1% of the vote (4,283 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 41.3% (3,097 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (56 votes), among the 7,495 ballots cast by the borough's 11,749 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 63.8.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 50.8% of the vote (2,224 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 48.2% (2,112 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (42 votes), among the 4,564 ballots cast by the borough's 13,247 registered voters (186 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 34.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 51.6% of the vote here (2,460 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 40.7% (1,938 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 4.5% (213 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (36 votes), among the 4,765 ballots cast by the borough's 12,073 registered voters, yielding a 39.5% turnout.

Education

The Carteret School District serves students in pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's five schools had an enrollment of 3,626 students and 268.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.53:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are three elementary schools — Columbus School (598 students; in grades PreK-5), Nathan Hale School (537; PreK-5) and Private Nicholas Minue School (636; PreK-5) — Carteret Middle School for grades 6-8 (864) and Carteret High School for grades 9-12 (991).

Saint Joseph School serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grades as part of Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church and is overseen by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.

A private rabbinical college, Yeshiva Gedola of Carteret, opened in 2006.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 59.24 miles (95.34 km) of roadways, of which 52.95 miles (85.21 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.77 miles (7.68 km) by Middlesex County and 1.52 miles (2.45 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

The only major road that passes through the center is the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95). Exit 12 of the turnpike is in the borough, and recently has been refurbished by adding more toll lanes and new ramps to CR 602.

Public transportation

NJ Transit local bus service is provided on the 116 route to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and on the 48 route to Elizabeth.

Notable people

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