East Brunswick Township, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| East Brunswick, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Middlesex |
| Incorporated | February 28, 1860 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Faulkner Act |
| - Mayor | William P. Neary (D) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 22.4 sq mi (58.0 km²) |
| - Land | 22 sq mi (56.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 121 ft (37 m) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 08816 |
| Area code(s) | 732 |
| FIPS code | 34-19000[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882163[3] |
| Website: www.eastbrunswick.com | |
East Brunswick is a suburban Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey near the Raritan River. According to the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 46,756. Route 18 runs through the eastern part of the township. The town lies on Exit 9 of the New Jersey Turnpike.
It was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1860, from portions of both Monroe Township and North Brunswick Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Washington town within the township (February 23, 1870; became independent as South River on February 28, 1898), Helmetta (March 20, 1888), Milltown (January 29, 1889) and Spotswood (April 15, 1908).[4]
Based on the results of the 2000 Census, New Jersey's center of population is located on Milltown Road in East Brunswick.[5]
Contents |
[edit] History
The general area of central New Jersey was once occupied by the Lenape Native Americans. Around the late 1600s, settlers began arriving in the northern part of East Brunswick, and by the mid-1800s, a small village had formed in the southeastern part, known as the Old Bridge section of the town. This area is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The area today known as East Brunswick was composed of parts of North Brunswick and Monroe townships. The township was incorporated in 1860 and grew steadily as a rural farming community.
After decades as a quiet farming area, East Brunswick began to change in the 1930s. Large scale housing and road construction, especially after World War II, transformed the sleepy community into a large suburban town. The extension of the New Jersey Turnpike to East Brunswick in 1951 led to a sharp spike in population growth.
In the early 1970s a citizens group Concerned Citizens of East Brunswick sued the New Jersey Turnpike Authority over a proposed major widening project. The citizens group effectively won this case gaining concessions in turnpike design, scale and mitigation measures for noise and air quality. The citizens group presented technical data from their own experts and prevailed in what was one of the earliest technical confrontations regarding urban highway design related to environmental factors in U.S. history.
[edit] Geography
East Brunswick is located at (40.434239, -74.405040)[6]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 58.0 km² (22.4 mi²) of which 56.9 km² (22.0 mi²) is dry land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) is water (1.92%).
East Brunswick Township borders South River and the Sayreville on the east; Old Bridge Township on the southeast; Spotswood and Helmetta on the south; Monroe Township and South Brunswick Township on the southwest; North Brunswick Township and Milltown on the northwest; and New Brunswick and Edison Township on the north.
The town is located 35 miles southwest of New York City.
Lawrence Brook, a tributary of the Raritan River, runs through the township.
[edit] Climate
Jan 38°F 21°F 30°F 4.10 in. 71°F (2002) -13°F (1984) Feb 41°F 23°F 32°F 2.98 in. 75°F (1985) -7°F (1979) Mar 50°F 31°F 41°F 4.11 in. 88°F (1998) 6°F (1984) Apr 61°F 40°F 50°F 4.08 in. 95°F (2002) 16°F (1982) May 72°F 50°F 61°F 4.57 in. 95°F (1996) 30°F (1983) Jun 80°F 59°F 70°F 3.86 in. 97°F (1988) 40°F (1980) Jul 85°F 64°F 75°F 4.97 in. 103°F (1999) 45°F (1982) Aug 84°F 63°F 73°F 4.46 in. 101°F (2001) 40°F (1982) Sep 77°F 55°F 66°F 4.38 in. 98°F (1983) 35°F (1989) Oct 65°F 43°F 54°F 3.39 in. 88°F (1997) 25°F (1983) Nov 54°F 35°F 45°F 3.95 in. 82°F (2003) 13°F (1989)
Dec 43°F 27°F 35°F 3.93 in. 76°F (1998) -7°F (1980)[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 2,711 |
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| 1940 | 3,706 | 36.7% | |
| 1950 | 5,699 | 53.8% | |
| 1960 | 19,965 | 250.3% | |
| 1970 | 34,166 | 71.1% | |
| 1980 | 37,711 | 10.4% | |
| 1990 | 43,548 | 15.5% | |
| 2000 | 46,756 | 7.4% | |
| Est. 2006 | 47,649 | [7] | 1.9% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[8] | |||
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 46,756 people, 16,372 households, and 13,081 families residing in the township. The population density was 822.4/km² (2,129.7/mi²). There were 16,640 housing units at an average density of 292.7/km² (758.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 77.56% White, 2.83% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 16.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. 4.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Ancestries include Italian (15.0%), Irish (13.8%), Polish (11.5%), German (10.6%), Russian (7.8%), United States (4.2%).[9]
English is spoken by 71.25% of the township. The most common languages spoken other than English are Chinese (5.22%), Spanish (3.7%), Russian (3.14%), and Arabic (2.5%).[10]
Of the 16,372 households, 40.5% included children under the age of 18, 68.6% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $75,956 in 2000, with a 2005 estimate of $84,200[9], and the median income for a family was $86,863. Males had a median income of $60,790 versus $38,534 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,286. 2.8% of the population and 2.1% of families were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
The median price of a home is $419,500.[9]
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The Township of East Brunswick was established in 1860. Since January 1, 1965, the Township has operated under the Mayor-Council Plan E form of government pursuant to the Faulkner Act, Chapter 69A of Title 40 of the New Jersey Statutes.[11][12]
The Mayor is the chief executive of the community who is chosen for a four year term at the regular Presidential election in November and serves part-time. While the Mayor does not preside over, nor have a vote on the Council, he or she may vote in the case of a tie on the question of filling a Council vacancy. The Mayor also has veto power over ordinances, but vetoes can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the Council.
The Mayor of East Brunswick is William P. Neary (D); he was first elected in 1996.[13]
The Township Council is the legislative body. There are five members elected at large for staggered four-year terms at the general election held in even-numbered years. The Council's powers consist of: adopting all ordinances; reviewing, revising and adopting the budget; making appropriations; levying taxes; authorizing bond issues; providing for the internal structure of the local government; providing by ordinance for the creation and abolition of jobs; fixing salaries; and establishing general municipal policy.
The Council has the authority to initiate hearings for the purposes of gathering information for ordinance making, airing public problems and supervising the spending of its appropriations.
Members of the Township Council are:[14]
| Name | Elected | Political Party | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| William P. Neary | 1996 | Democrat | Mayor |
| Catherine Diem | 2002 | Democrat | Council President |
| Edward Luster | 2006 | Democrat | Council Vice President |
| Donald Klemp | 1996 | Democrat | Councilman |
| Nancy Pinkin | 2004 | Democrat | Councilwoman |
| David Stahl | 2002 | Democrat | Councilman |
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
East Brunswick is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 18th Legislative District.[15]
New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District, covering all of Hunterdon County and portions of Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, and Somerset County, is represented by Rush D. Holt Jr. (D). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 18th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Barbara Buono (D, Edison) and in the Assembly by Peter J. Barnes III (D, Edison) and Patrick J. Diegnan (D, South Plainfield).[16] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[17]
Middlesex County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis. As of 2008, Middlesex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel (Milltown), Freeholder Deputy Director Stephen J. "Pete" Dalina (Fords), Camille Fernicola (Piscataway), H. James Polos (Highland Park), Ronald Rios (Carteret), Christopher D. Rafano (South River) and Blanquita B. Valenti (New Brunswick).[18]
[edit] Education
The East Brunswick Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The school system consists of 8 elementary schools: Bowne-Munro, Central, Chittick, Frost, Irwin, Lawrence Brook, Memorial and Warnsdorfer. All students in kindergarten through grade 5 attend the elementary school closest to them.
There are two middle-level schools; Hammarskjold Middle School (HMS) for grades 6 and 7, and Churchill Junior High School (CJHS) for grades eight and nine. The secondary school of the district is East Brunswick High School (EBHS).
[edit] Transportation
Route 18 passes through East Brunswick, and is an important artery connecting not only to New Brunswick/U.S. Route 1 to the Jersey Shore, but also to the New Jersey Turnpike (which also passes through the township). Route 18 connects with Exit 9 of the Turnpike around mile marker 83.43. Currently, there are 15 lanes at the 9 toll gate. The Turnpike's Joyce Kilmer service area is located between Interchanges 8A and 9 northbound at milepost 78.7.[19]
At the present time, there are plans to widen the Turnpike between Exit 9 in East Brunswick Township to Exit 8A in Monroe Township. This would change the turnpike's dual-dual configuration to "3-3-3-3" (as opposed to 2-3-3-2). East Brunswick currently houses the section of the turnpike where an extra lane in the outer truck lanes begins/merges (which is located south of Exit 9).
East Brunswick is 25.5 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark / Elizabeth, via the New Jersey Turnpike. John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens is 51.1 miles away, traveling via the Belt Parkway after crossing through Staten Island.
New Jersey Transit bus service is provided on the 134 and 138 routes to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, on the 68 to Jersey City, and on the 811, 815 and 818 local routes.[20]
[edit] Points of interest
- Over 50 acres of parkland and open spaces provide an array of recreational opportunities. The Division of Parks maintains 12 developed and 3 undeveloped parks with extensive facilities for tennis, basketball, hangball (a local sport), handball, roller skating, soccer, and baseball. Playgrounds, nature trails and lakes and rivers for fishing and boating complete a well-rounded system that beckons young and old alike to enjoy rest and recreation close to home. The township is also the home of Crystal Springs Family Aquatic Center, a township-operated waterpark for residents of all ages.
Playhouse 22 - East Brunswick's Community Theatre and Performing Arts - will be residing in the new multi-purpose community arts center to be opened this winter at Heavenly Park, East Brunswick's newest park. Recognized in 2000, as Community Theatre of the Year in New Jersey, Playhouse 22 has staged many hit musicals, dramas, comedies and original works. The East Brunswick Arts Commission also hosts the annual Young Musicians Concert, featuring high school students, as well the Visual Arts' League Arts Festival every June around the Municipal Complex.[21]
- The Tower Center complex includes two 23-story office towers and a 15-story Hilton Hotel, located at the intersection of the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 18. The two towers are among the tallest structures in Central Jersey, and can be plainly seen for several miles up and down the Turnpike and U.S. Route 1 and 18. The towers are so tall that they cast a shadow into the Rutgers Village neighborhood in New Brunswick.
- Several Weird NJ destinations are in East Brunswick, including the Mary Murray Ferry (seen from the Turnpike) and Port Street, near Helmetta.
- The town also has a golf course (Tamarack) as well as the County Fair Grounds, the Giarmese Farm, and Lake-View Day Camp.
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of East Brunswick Township include: Colie Edison, a cast member from MTV's Real World Denver
- Lorie Van Auken, one of the "Jersey Widows" (aka "Jersey Girls" and "Witches of East Brunswick", by Ann Coulter) - who lost her husband Kenneth in the attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. She was very vocal in demanding the US administration to investigate the intelligence failures which led to 9/11.
- Chris Cimino, WNBC weatherman.[22]
- Wally Dallenbach, Sr., professional car racer.[23]
- Marc Ecko (1972-), clothing designer.[24]
- Actress Hallie Kate Eisenberg (1992-) and brother, Jesse Eisenberg (1983-).[25]
- Margaret Kemble Gage (1734-1824), who allegedly spied on her husband General Thomas Gage in order to supply military intelligence to the American Revolutionary Army.
- Actor Dule Hill (1975-), Currently plays Burton Guster on Psych
- Tomas Kalnoky, singer and guitarist of Streetlight Manifesto and formerly Catch 22
- Chris Greer, drummer of the band Catch 22
- Greg T The Frat Boy, radio personality on Z100
- Tomas Kalnoky (1980-), former member of the third wave ska bands Catch 22 and Streetlight Manifesto
- Mindy Kleinberg, née Rubin, one of the "Jersey Widows" (aka "Jersey Girls" and "Witches of East Brunswick", by Ann Coulter) - who lost her husband Alan Kleinberg in the attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. She was very vocal in demanding the US administration to investigate the intelligence failures which led to 9/11.
- Doug Lawrence (1969-), the voice of evil and power hungry Plankton and various other characters from the animated TV series SpongeBob SquarePants.[citation needed]
- Anne Milgram, New Jersey Attorney General.[26]
- Josh Miller, NFL Super Bowl winning punter.[27]
- Heather O'Reilly, Olympic games gold medalist.[28]
- Matt Pinfield, MTV VJ/Rolling Stone writer.[29]
- The band Streetlight Manifesto
- Jack Petruzzelli, guitarist & singer with The Fab Faux, an internationally-renowned Beatles tribute band. Also played on-stage with Eric Clapton, Joan Osborne, Dixie Chicks & others.
- Badal Roy, tabla player
- Daniel Shalikar and Joshua Shalikar, child actors who played Adam Szalinski in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience at several Disney theme parks themed to the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids film series.
- Philip Streczyk, World War II hero.[30]
- James Crawford Thom (1835-1898), artist
- Cenk Uygur Host of The Young Turks on Air America Radio.[citation needed]
- Jim Vallely, Emmy Award winner writer from Arrested Development.[citation needed]
- Lenny Veltman (1967-), Reality Show Contestant on The Apprentice.[citation needed]
- Cary Woodworth (1977-), actor.[citation needed]
- Henrietta Christian Wright, writer.[31]
- Aaron Yoo (1979-), actor, recently starred in the film 21.
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Township of East Brunswick, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ 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. 170.
- ^ "East Brunswick, N.J., Represents State's Population Center.", The Star-Ledger, March 27, 2001. Accessed September 17, 2007. " And the center of New Jersey, according to 2000 census data, is a litter-strewn patch of woods on Milltown Road in East Brunswick. Demographers call it the center of population, the place that would require the least amount of travel if all the state's 8.4 million residents were to converge on one spot.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Census data for East Brunswick township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2007.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ a b c City Data for East Brunswick, New Jersey, City-data.com. Accessed April 7, 2006.
- ^ MLA Language Map Data Center, Modern Language Association. Accessed January 5, 2008.
- ^ Mayor and Administrator, East Brunswick Township. Accessed June 7, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 84.
- ^ Mayor and Administrator
- ^ Mayor and Township Council Members, Township of East Brunswick. Updated January 8, 2008.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 56. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ 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.
- ^ New Jersey Turnpike: Joyce Kilmer Service Area, accessed May 31, 2006.
- ^ Middlesex County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed June 21, 2007.
- ^ PLAYHOUSE 22 IS COMING BACK, Playhouse 22. Accessed May 29, 2008.
- ^ Chris Cimino profile, WNBC, accessed March 25, 2007. "He currently resides with his family in East Brunswick, NJ."
- ^ "Dallenbach lays down task of laying down CART's law", The Star-Ledger, November 18, 1999. Accessed August 7, 2007. "Dallenbach, a native of East Brunswick, says the new chief steward will face a very different situation than he did in 1980."
- ^ Video: New York graffiti artist 'tags' US presidential Air Force One Boeing 747-200B, Flight International, April 18, 2006. "Ecko, who was born in Orange County, California and moved to East Brunswick, New Jersey to found Eckō Unltd in 1992, says he painted the aircraft to protest against laws against outdoor art in various cities including New York."
- ^ Child actress and East Brunswick resident Hallie Kate Eisenberg visits The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital, accessed May 4, 2007.
- ^ "Corzine Nominates New Chief Justice and Attorney General", Governor of New Jersey press release dated June 4, 2007. Accessed June 22, 2007.
- ^ Josh Miller player profile, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ North Carolina's Heather O'Reilly Captures Honda Soccer Award, Atlantic Coast Conference press release dated December 20, 2006. Accessed May 4, 2007. "The East Brunswick, N.J. Native Is Also Automatically Nominated for Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Award."
- ^ "POPSPOT", The Star-Ledger, February 6, 2000. Accessed August 7, 2007. "Home on the farm Matt Pinfield didn't stay off television for long. The East Brunswick native and enthusiastic Jersey guy left his longtime MTV VJ gig in August, but returned to TV Monday night, when a new weekly show, Farmclub.com, debuted on the USA network."
- ^ No Place Like Old United States, Much Decorated Sergeant Says. Accessed October 2, 2007. 'Before the war, he lived near East Brunswick, N.J., the home of his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Semchemko."
- ^ Micale, Jennifer. "A walk around the block: History echoes down the streets of this old town within a town", Home News Tribune, January 23, 2003. Accessed September 16, 2007. "Built in 1844, the Old Bridge Baptist Church rears its white steeple on Kossman Street, not far from the home of Henrietta Christian Wright, a children's author in the mid-1800s whose mother, Rachel, was brutally murdered there in 1906."
[edit] External links
- East Brunswick, New Jersey
- East Brunswick Public Schools
- East Brunswick Public Schools's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the East Brunswick Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- East Brunswick Public Library
- East Brunswick History [http://www.ebdirectory.com/ East Brunswick Directory
- East Brunswick Rescue Squad
- East Brunswick Fire District #1
- East Brunswick Independent Fire Company/Fire District #2
- East Brunswick Fire District #3
- East Brunswick Police Department
- If You're Thinking of Living in: East Brunswick, The New York Times, December 2, 1990
- Tower Center complex
- East Brunswick Township, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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