North Brunswick Township is a Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 36,287. North Brunswick was named for neighboring New Brunswick, New Jersey, which in turn was named after the German city of Braunschweig (formerly translated in English as Brunswick) or for the British royal House of Brunswick.

History

North Brunswick was first mentioned in Middlesex Freeholder Board minutes of February 28, 1779. North Brunswick Township, covering the area "Northward of New Brunswick" was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township have been taken to form East Brunswick Township (February 28, 1860), and Milltown (January 29, 1889).^[1]

Geography

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

North Brunswick is bordered by New Brunswick on the north, East Brunswick and Milltown on the east, Franklin Township on the west, and South Brunswick on the southwest.

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

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.^[2][3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5][6]

Demographics

As of the census 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/kmē). There were 13,932 housing units at an average density of 1,158.8/sq mi (447.5/kmē). 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.^[7]

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.^[8] 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.^[9] 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.^[10]

Federal, state and county representation

North Brunswick is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 17th Legislative District.^[11]

Education

The North Brunswick Township Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics^[12]) are the four elementary schools ? John Adams Elementary School (K-5; 554 students), Arthur M. Judd Elementary School (PreK-5; 667), Livingston Park Elementary School (K-5; 534), Parsons Elementary School (K-5; 611) ? Linwood Middle School for grades 6 - 8 (1,319) and North Brunswick Township High School for grades 9-12 (1,727), which has been recognized by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

Cook College of Rutgers University is located on College Farm Road off Route 1. DeVry University has a campus in North Brunswick on U.S. Route 1 between Milltown Road and Ryders Lane. The Chubb Institute has a branch on Route 1 on the Technology Centre of New Jersey campus.

Transportation

Major roads in North Brunswick include:

• U.S. Route 130, which begins at an intersection with Route 171's terminus.^[13][14]
• US 1, which is the largest highway that passes through North Brunswick.^[15]
• New Jersey Route 26, which is a major connector to New Brunswick.^[16]
• New Jersey Route 27, a road that runs along the western border.^[17]
• New Jersey Route 91, another connector road to New Brunswick.^[18]
• County Route 682, also known as Finnegans Lane, a 1.05 mile road near the southern border.^[19]
• County Route 610, also known as Deans Lane, a road that goes through the southern region of North Brunswick near the unincorporated area of Deans.^[20]

Amtrak has a freight railyard connected to the Northeast Corridor line at Adams Station, located in the vicinity of Adams Lane and Route 1. New Jersey Transit originates trains to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan during peak hours from the Jersey Avenue station in New Brunswick. A New Jersey Transit station on the Northeast Corridor Line is being proposed for the former Johnson & Johnson site on Route 1 and Aaron Road by the new owners of the site.

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.^[21] A highlight of the carnival is a fireworks show by Grucci.^[22]

Notable residents

• Glen Burtnik, songwriter, recording artist, performer; former member of the band Styx^[23]
• Mel Harris, American actress, known especially for her role on TV's thirtysomething.^[24]
• Tim Howard, Everton FC goalkeeper who was the first American to play for Manchester United F.C.'s first team.^[25]
• Jim Norton, comedian, actor.^[26]
• Aries Spears, comedian, actor, performer on Fox's MADtv.^[27]
• Tiquan Underwood, wide receiver for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.^[28]

References

External links

• North Brunswick Township website
• North Brunswick Township Public Schools
• Data for the North Brunswick Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• North Brunswick Sentinel community newspaper

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