South Brunswick, New Jersey

History

South Brunswick Township was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the community was primarily agricultural. The Straight Turnpike, now U.S. Route 1, was constructed in 1804. The township got its named from New Brunswick, which in turn was named after the city of Braunschweig (called Brunswick in the Low German language), in state of Lower Saxony, in Germany. Braunschweig was an influential and powerful city in the Hanseatic League, later in the Holy Roman Empire, and was an administrative seat for the Duchy (and later Principality) of Hanover. Shortly after the first settlement of New Brunswick in colonial New Jersey, George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and Elector of Hanover, of the House of Hanover (also known as the House of Brunswick), became King George I of Great Britain (1660–1727). Alternatively, the city derived its name from King George II of Great Britain, the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

In 1872, the Legislature first reduced the size of South Brunswick with the creation of the separate Cranbury Township from the southern portion of South Brunswick. In 1885, it redefined and enlarged the boundaries of Cranbury, and Plainsboro Township was formed in 1919. The present boundaries of South Brunswick date back to this last change.

During the 20th century, South Brunswick saw extensive transformation with the impact of changes in transportation technology. The New Brunswick and Trenton Fast Line began operation in 1900, a trolley line running parallel to the Old Straight Turnpike of 1804 (Route 1), intersecting George's Road just north of the Five Corners intersection in Dayton. This trolley provided daily passenger and freight service, stopping at a local crossroads. The New Jersey Turnpike opened in 1951, again roughly parallel to Route 1, on the eastern edge of the Township. One effect of the Turnpike opening up Interchange 8A (just outside the township) was the transformation of the agricultural area on the southeast corner of South Brunswick to that of a burgeoning industrial development. Significant portions of land between Route 130 and the turnpike consist largely of warehouses.

In 1980, the township's population approached 18,000. In 1990, this figure reached 25,792 and by 2010, South Brunswick had over 43,000 residents. Much of the township's 42 square miles (110 km²) remain undeveloped and there are still significant amounts of wetlands, woodlands and open space within the community.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 41.039 square miles (106.290 km²), including 40.648 square miles (105.278 km²) of land and 0.391 square miles (1.012 km²) of water (0.95%).

Dayton (2010 Census population of 7,063), Heathcote (5,821), Kendall Park (9,339), Kingston (1,222 of a total CDP population of 1,493, with the balance in Franklin Township) and Monmouth Junction (2,887) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within South Brunswick Township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include: Cottageville, Deans, Franklin Park, Fresh Ponds, Little Rocky Hill, Sand Hills, South Brunswick Terrace and Ten Mile Run.

Because the township is served by several different zip codes, Dayton, Monmouth Junction, Kendall Park, Kingston, Jamesburg, Cranbury, Princeton and even North Brunswick are often used in place of the township's name, even when referring to areas located beyond their defined boundaries.

Dayton was first known simply as The Cross Roads, where James Whitlock built a tavern on Georges Road around 1750. Early enterprises included a brick manufacturer and large nursery. In 1866, the name was changed from Cross Roads to Dayton, in honor of William L. Dayton, an attorney for the Freehold and Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad. Dayton had helped settle disputes arising from the location of a railroad right-of-way. He was later a United States Senator, was the first Republican nominee for Vice President (in 1856), and Minister to France.

Deans originated from its location on both Crosswicknung Trail (Georges Road) and Lawrence Brook. Dams were built on the brook, creating Deans Pond.

With increased mobility and a growing population, the suburban style residential development was born after the World War II and Kendall Park was begun in the 1950s. Kendall Park is located off Route 27, the old Indian trail and major thoroughfare of earlier centuries.

Kingston's location on the Lenape Assunpink Trail where it crossed the Millstone River was the prime factor in its early prominence. Kingston was by far the most active and important community, being situated on both the heavily traveled King's Road and Millstone River, combining commercial activities of both mills and taverns. The Kingston Village Advisory Committee, jointly appointed by the South Brunswick and Franklin Township Councils, reports to the Township Council on matters of concern to residents of Kingston. Kingston has been designated as a Village Center by the New Jersey State Planning Commission and is overseen by an advisory commission that consists of seven members from Franklin Township and South Brunswick.

Monmouth Junction was created as the junction of three rail branches, the New York division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Rocky Hill and the Jamesburg and Freehold.

The Lawrence Brook, a tributary of the Raritan River, flows through the township.

Pigeon Swamp State Park is a New Jersey state park located on Deans Rhode Hall Road (Middlesex CR-610). The park has 1,078 acres (4.36 km²) of undeveloped land.

The township borders Cranbury Township, East Brunswick Township, Monroe Township, North Brunswick Township and Plainsboro Township in Middlesex County; Princeton in Mercer County; and Franklin Township in Somerset County.

Climate

South Brunswick is in the humid continental climate zone. Average Winter-time high temperatures range from 38 to 43 °F (3 to 6 °C), and the lows range from 19 to 24 °F (−7 to −4 °C) degrees with the record low being −16 °F (−27 °C). Average summer-time high temperatures range from 84 to 87 °F (29 to 31 °C), though temperatures exceed 90 °F (32 °C) often with the record high being 105 °F (41 °C). The summertime lows range from 63 to 67 °F (17 to 19 °C) degrees. South Brunswick can receive much snow during the winter months, sometimes up to 3 feet (0.91 m). About 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm) of rain falls every month, and is evenly spread throughout the year, though the area can go through long periods of drought or long-lasting periods with little to no rain. During winter and early spring, South Brunswick can in some years experience "nor'easters", which are capable of causing blizzards or flooding throughout the northeastern United States. Hurricanes and tropical storms (such as Hurricane Irene in 2011), tornadoes and earthquakes are rare.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 43,417 people, 15,069 households, and 11,694 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,068.1 per square mile (412.4/km²). The township contained 15,708 housing units at an average density of 386.4 per square mile (149.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 52.08% (22,611) White, 7.71% (3,348) Black or African American, 0.17% (72) Native American, 35.91% (15,592) Asian, 0.02% (8) Pacific Islander, 1.52% (658) from other races, and 2.60% (1,128) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.04% (2,624) of the population.

Out of a total of 15,069 households, 44.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% 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 3.33.

In the township, 27.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females the census counted 93.9 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 90.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $100,950 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,777) and the median family income was $116,127 (+/- $5,529). Males had a median income of $81,297 (+/- $2,632) versus $55,477 (+/- $3,835) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,468 (+/- $1,430). About 2.1% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 37,734 people, 13,428 households, and 10,084 families residing in the township. The population density was 923.5 people per square mile (356.6/km²). There were 13,862 housing units at an average density of 339.3 per square mile (131.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 70.49% White, 7.88% African American, 0.13% Native American, 18.04% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.08% of the population.

As of the 2000 census, 10.48% of South Brunswick's residents identified themselves as being of Indian American ancestry, which was the seventh-highest of any municipality in the United States and the fourth highest in New Jersey – behind Edison (17.75%), Plainsboro Township (16.97%) and Piscataway Township (12.49%) – of all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

There were 13,428 households out of which 43.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the township the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $78,737, and the median income for a family was $86,891. Males had a median income of $61,637 versus $41,554 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,104. About 2.1% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Playmobil USA, subsidiary of the Brandstätter Group, has its headquarters in Dayton in the township.

The largest Hyundai dealership in the country, Brad Benson Hyundai is located here.

Top employers

Major employers in the township include:

Local government

South Brunswick Township operates within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager form of municipal government. Members of the Township Council are elected at-large to four-year terms in partisan elections on a staggered basis with either two or three seats up for election every other year; The mayoral seat is up for election directly by the voters in the year when two seats are up for election. At an reorganization meeting held in January after each election, the council selects a deputy mayor from among its members.

As of 2016, members of the Township Council are Mayor Frank Gambatese (D, term on council and as mayor ends December 31, 2018), Deputy Mayor Christopher J. Killmurray (D; 2018), Joseph J. Camarota Jr. (D; 2016), Charlie Carley (D; 2016) and Josephine "Jo" Hochman (D, 2016).

Federal, state and county representation

South Brunswick Township is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, South Brunswick Township had been in the 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 16th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Christopher Bateman (R, Branchburg) and in the General Assembly by Jack Ciattarelli (R, Hillsborough Township) and Andrew Zwicker (D, South Brunswick). 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 24,751 registered voters in South Brunswick Township, of which 8,318 (33.6%) were registered as Democrats, 3,528 (14.3%) were registered as Republicans and 12,894 (52.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 11 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 64.3% of the vote (11,583 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 34.6% (6,233 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (194 votes), among the 18,141 ballots cast by the township's 25,947 registered voters (131 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 62.7% of the vote (11,452 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 35.7% (6,530 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (176 votes), among the 18,275 ballots cast by the township's 24,803 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.7%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 56.8% of the vote (9,346 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 42.1% (6,925 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (128 votes), among the 16,457 ballots cast by the township's 22,147 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.3.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 59.1% of the vote (5,608 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 39.6% (3,755 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (128 votes), among the 9,576 ballots cast by the township's 26,340 registered voters (85 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 47.3% of the vote (5,355 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 44.1% (4,991 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.7% (758 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (90 votes), among the 11,311 ballots cast by the township's 23,974 registered voters, yielding a 47.2% turnout.

Education

The South Brunswick Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district has grown substantially in recent decades, with district enrollment more than doubling in the two decades from 1991 and high school enrollment doubling to nearly 2,000 in the decade prior to 2001, and increasing by another 1,000 in the subsequent decade.

As of the 2011–12 school year, the district's 10 schools had an enrollment of 8,997 students and 613.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.67:1. Schools in the district (with 2011–12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are seven elementary schools — Brooks Crossing Elementary School (grades K-5; 827 students), Brunswick Acres Elementary School (PreK-5; 555), Cambridge Elementary School (PreK-5; 552), Constable Elementary School (PreK-5; 529), Greenbrook Elementary School (K-5; 459), Indian Fields Elementary School (K-5; 630) and Monmouth Junction Elementary School (K-5; 397) – Crossroads Middle Schools North and South(6–8; 1,095 and 1,108 respectively) and South Brunswick High School (9–12; 2,845) for grades 9–12.

St. Augustine of Canterbury School is PreK-8 elementary school in Kendall Park operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. In 2016, the school was one of ten schools in New Jersey, and one of private schools, recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education, a recognition celebrating excellence in academics.

Roads and highways

South Brunswick hosts U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 130, Route 27, Route 32, and Interstate 95 (the New Jersey Turnpike). A few county routes, such as 535 and 522, pass through the township. US 1 passes through in the western part while US 130 runs through the center-eastern part. Other limited access roads that are accessible outside the township include Interstate 287 in neighboring Franklin Township.

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 192.83 miles (310.33 km) of roadways, of which 151.43 miles (243.70 km) were maintained by the municipality, 21.09 miles (33.94 km) by Middlesex County and 16.75 miles (26.96 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 3.56 miles (5.73 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

South Brunswick houses about a 3½ mile section of the New Jersey Turnpike in the eastern part of the township, and a few Turnpike ramps that lead to the toll gate for Interchange 8A which lies just inside the municipality's border with Monroe Township. Due to heavy congestion on the ramp to Route 32 west, the Turnpike Authority replaced it with a new two-lane ramp that extends from the toll gate to the intersection of CR 535 and Thatcher Road. Motorists must then take 535 south to access 32 west.

From 1991 to 2014, the "dual-dual" setup (inner and outer roadways) of the Turnpike ended just south of Interchange 8A; construction on the extension of this set-up south to Interchange 6 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County was completed in early November 2014. An additional lane was constructed in each direction on the outer truck lanes from Interchange 8A to Interchange 9 in East Brunswick Township around the same time.

A number of proposed Turnpike Authority maintained roads were to traverse South Brunswick. The first was the Driscoll Expressway which was to start from the Garden State Parkway at exit 80 in Toms River and end 3 miles north of exit 8A along the turnpike in South Brunswick. This was cancelled in the 1980s. The other proposed road was a west-east spur, Route 92. While the majority of the spur was to be in South Brunswick, it was to begin at US 1, just north of the intersection with Ridge Road in South Brunswick and terminate at the tollgate for Exit 8A. However this was cancelled on December 1, 2006.

Public transportation

Near the intersection of Route 32 and 130, there is a park and ride, where commuters can take buses to New York City. Suburban Transit offers service on Line 300 to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Grand Central Terminal and Manhattan's East Side, while Line 600 serves Downtown Manhattan / Wall Street.

Commuter bus service to Midtown Manhattan is also offered by discount commuter transportation company OurBus, during peak hours.

The Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT) Shuttle offers scheduled service across the county, with connections to NJ Transit buses and train service.

Notable people

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