Jamesburg, New Jersey

History

Jamesburg was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 19, 1887, when it was created from portions of Monroe Township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 15, 1887. Jamesburg's incorporation was confirmed on April 15, 1915. The borough was named for James Buckelew, who established a mill that became the nucleus of what became Jamesburg.

On July 17, 2005, approximately 7 to 8 inches (18 to 20 cm) of rain fell in Jamesburg, flooding areas on West Railroad Avenue, East Church Street, Pergola Avenue, Willow Street, Forsgate Drive, and Gatzmer Avenue. Roughly 75 to 100 families were evacuated from their homes and housed at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.883 square miles (2.289 km²), including 0.877 square miles (2.272 km²) of land and 0.006 square miles (0.016 km²) of water (0.71%).

The borough is the older and more urban core area located in the center of and completely surrounded by Monroe Township, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 5,915 people, 2,172 households, and 1,492 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,741.8 per square mile (2,603.0/km²). The borough contained 2,267 housing units at an average density of 2,583.9 per square mile (997.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 73.90% (4,371) White, 8.84% (523) Black or African American, 0.85% (50) Native American, 4.53% (268) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 9.42% (557) from other races, and 2.47% (146) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 22.38% (1,324) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,172 households, 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% 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 3.26.

In the borough, 25.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.9 years. For every 100 females the census counted 102.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 100.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $52,169 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,781) and the median family income was $69,531 (+/- $13,862). Males had a median income of $49,615 (+/- $9,412) versus $50,164 (+/- $5,717) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,668 (+/- $3,584). About 4.9% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 6,025 people, 2,176 households, and 1,551 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,148.2 people per square mile (2,769.4/km²). There were 2,240 housing units at an average density of 2,657.6 per square mile (1,029.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 82.82% White, 8.83% African American, 0.20% Native American, 2.22% Asian, 3.80% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.06% of the population.

There were 2,176 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $59,461, and the median income for a family was $67,887. Males had a median income of $45,019 versus $33,333 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,325. About 3.0% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Thompson Park is located on the south western edge of Jamesburg and is also partially in the neighboring town of Monroe. Thompson Park takes up at total of 675 acres (2.73 km²). The 30-acre (120,000 m²) Manalapan Lake is located on the eastern edge of the park. The park in total has four tennis courts, four basketball courts, two handball courts, three baseball fields, a softball field, many soccer fields, multiple picnic groves equipped with grills, three hiking/biking trails, fishing, animal haven, and a gazebo.

The park has three entrances. Two are located on Perrineville Road, and one is located on Forsgate Drive.

Monroe Township Soccer Club hosts a tournament every year on the soccer fields that are located in the park.

Local government

Jamesburg 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 Jamesburg, 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 the Borough of Jamesburg is Democrat Marlene Lowande, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Daria Ludas (D, 2017), Thomas Busco Jr. (D, 2018), Thomas Gibbons (R, 2016), Colleen Rutsky (D, 2017), Shannon Spillane (R, 2016) and Sandy Sussman (D, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

Jamesburg is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 14th state legislative district.

New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District is represented by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, Ewing Township). 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 14th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Linda R. Greenstein (D, Plainsboro Township) and in the General Assembly by Daniel R. Benson (D, Hamilton Township, Mercer County) and Wayne DeAngelo (D, Hamilton Township). 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 2,996 registered voters in Jamesburg, of which 935 (31.2%) were registered as Democrats, 450 (15.0%) were registered as Republicans and 1,611 (53.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 58.4% of the vote (1,103 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 40.1% (757 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (29 votes), among the 1,906 ballots cast by the borough's 2,998 registered voters (17 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 63.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 55.7% of the vote (1,172 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 42.0% (884 votes) and other candidates with 1.4% (29 votes), among the 2,104 ballots cast by the borough's 3,075 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 49.3% of the vote (1,017 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 48.8% (1,006 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (20 votes), among the 2,061 ballots cast by the borough's 3,036 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 67.9.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.9% of the vote (762 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 34.3% (409 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (22 votes), among the 1,201 ballots cast by the borough's 3,010 registered voters (8 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 39.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 54.7% of the vote (752 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 35.1% (482 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.9% (108 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (20 votes), among the 1,374 ballots cast by the borough's 2,952 registered voters, yielding a 46.5% turnout.

Education

The Jamesburg Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2013-14 school year, the district's two schools had an enrollment of 667 students and 47.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.0:1. Schools in the district (with 2013-14 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are John F. Kennedy Elementary School for grades K-5 (486 students) and Grace M. Breckwedel Middle School for grades 6-8 (181 students).

Jamesburg High School, founded in 1905, graduated its last class in June 1979. Since 1980, Jamesburg's high school students attend Monroe Township High School in Monroe Township, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Monroe Township School District. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 2,068 students and 160.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

With annual tuition costs per student at Monroe Township High School rising past $16,000 as the Monroe district has added debt service costs into their tuition charges, the Jamesburg Public Schools looked for an alternate high school in the area to send students at lower cost, which would have started with the freshman class in 2012-13, though students already enrolled at Monroe Township High School would continue their attendance there until they graduate. The Jamesburg district contacted 18 districts and received interest from high schools in the Freehold Regional High School District, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, Old Bridge Township Public Schools, South Amboy Public Schools and the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, which had been sent demographic information in July 2011 about the Jamesburg high school population as part of their review process. By October 2011, the district decided to maintain sending students to Monroe Township, as had been done since 1979.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 16.53 miles (26.60 km) of roadways, of which 11.67 miles (18.78 km) were maintained by the municipality and 4.86 miles (7.82 km) by Middlesex County.

The only major roads that pass through are solely county routes. They include County Route 522, County Route 612, County Route 615, and County Route 625 (Perrineville Road).

The closest limited access road is the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) at Exit 8A in surrounding Monroe Township. Route 612 provides a connection between the Turnpike/Route 32 and CR 520.

Public transportation

Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT) shuttles provide service to and from Jamesburg on several routes across the county.

Notable people

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