Carteret, New Jersey


Carteret is a borough in northeastern Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population reached 25,326, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,482 from the 2010 census count of 22,844, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,135 from the 20,709 counted in the 2000 census.
WWW ci.carteret.nj.us

History

Carteret was originally created as the borough of Roosevelt on April 11, 1906, from portions of Woodbridge Township, based on the results of a referendum approved on May 22, 1906. The name was changed to Carteret as of November 7, 1922. The borough was also called Carteret during the period from December 19, 1921, to January 16, 1922. The borough was named after Sir George Carteret, one of the first proprietors of the province of New Jersey, and his son Philip Carteret, the first royal governor of New Jersey. Their name refers to the first village the De Carteret family had control over, namely in the French region of Normandy. They are also known to have controlled the island of Jersey, in the English Channel, hence the name of the State of New Jersey.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.96 square miles, including 4.39 square miles of land and 0.57 square miles of water.
The Rahway River forms the northern boundary of Carteret, with Linden on the other side of the river in Union County. Joseph Medwick Park is a greenway of parkland along the banks of the river. The Arthur Kill is the eastern boundary with Staten Island, New York City, 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, East Rahway, Lamar, Silvan Beach, South Carteret, West Carteret 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.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 22,844 people, 7,591 households, and 5,686 families in the borough. The population density was 5,171.1 per square mile. There were 8,148 housing units at an average density of 1,844.4 per square mile. The racial makeup was 50.68% White, 14.85% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 19.04% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 11.18% from other races, and 3.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.93% of the population.
Of the 7,591 households, 37.1% had children under the age of 18; 50.1% were married couples living together; 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.1% were non-families. Of all households, 20.7% 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.
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 population had 94.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $58,614 and the median family income was $69,192. Males had a median income of $47,405 versus $42,971 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,346. 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.

2000 census

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. There were 7,320 housing units at an average density of. 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 23.4% 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

Carteret Stages, a film production complex covering and estimated to cost $1 billion, is undergoing development at the waterfront.
Portions of the borough are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone, one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. The borough was selected in 1994 as one of a group of 10 zones added to participate in the program and one of four of those chosen based on a competition. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the UEZ, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate at eligible merchants. Established in March 1995, the borough's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in March 2026.
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.
The Carteret Performing Arts Center opened in 2021.

Government

Local government

Carteret is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, 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 includes six members, who are 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 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.
, the mayor of Carteret is Democrat Daniel J. Reiman, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. The members of the Borough Council are Council President Dennis DiMascio, Vincent Bellino, Jorge Diaz, Ajmar "AJ" Johal, Randy Krum and Susan R. Naples.
First elected in 2002, Reiman was paid an annual salary of $102,610 in 2016, placing him 13th among the highest-paid mayors in the state. He has been elected for 6 consecutive elections, some of them unopposed.
In May 2016, the borough council selected Ajmar Singh Johal from three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that became vacant following the death of Joseph W. "Skippy" Sitarz the previous month.
Members of Carteret's 13.9% South Asian community have been active in 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 [New Jersey's New Jersey's 19th legislative district|19th legislative district|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.

Emergency services

The borough maintains a 50-person police department. An October 2017 report by NJ.com found that Officer Joseph Reiman, brother of Mayor Daniel Reiman, accounted for 20% of the police department's 115 arrests that involved the use of force in the two years following his July 2015 hiring.
The Carteret Volunteer First Aid Squad, established in 1934, ended operations in April 2013 after becoming financially insolvent. Starting in April 2013, emergency medical services in the borough are provided around the clock by the EMS division of the Carteret Fire Department.
The Borough of Carteret hired its first firefighter in the late 19th century. The department relied on a single paid firefighter up until 1920, when paid staff was expanded to five firefighters to operate the borough's first motorized fire truck. In the 1950s with the construction of the New Jersey Turnpike, which included an exit in Carteret, the department started to purchase trucks designed for safe operation fighting vehicle fires on busy high-speed highways.
In August 1990, a pipeline carrying jet fuel burst in Carteret. The Carteret Fire Department joined with personnel from GATX Terminals Corporation and the Middlesex County Hazardous Materials Unit to construct a temporary dike to prevent the fuel from flowing into the Arthur Kill.
Up until 2011, Carteret would request help from fireboats of the Fire Department of New York when there was a waterfront fire. In 2011, through the assistance of a FEMA Port Security Grant, the department acquired its first fireboat. The vessel cost $297,000.
In December 2014, the Courier News reported on an investigation of serious sexual harassment targeting the department's sole female firefighter.

Federal, state and county representation

Carteret is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 19th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 12,538 registered voters in Carteret, of which 5,187 were registered as Democrats, 1,373 were registered as Republicans and 5,974 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.

Education

The Carteret School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 4,009 students and 315.9 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.7:1. Schools in the district are
Columbus School with 625 students in grades PreK–4,
Nathan Hale School with 439 students in grades PreK–4,
Private Nicholas Minue School with 527 students in grades PreK–4,
Carteret Middle School with 567 students in grades 5–6,
Carteret Junior High School with 586 students in grades 7–8 and
Carteret High School with 1,182 students in grades 9–12.
In 2016, borough voters turned down a ballot proposal to switch from an elected school board to an appointed board.
Eighth grade students from all of Middlesex County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Middlesex County Magnet Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its schools in East Brunswick, Edison, Perth Amboy, Piscataway and Woodbridge Township, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.
Saint Joseph School serves students in Pre-K–8 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.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Middlesex County and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
The only major road that passes through Carteret is the New Jersey Turnpike. Interchange 12 of the turnpike, located in the borough, was updated as part of an $80 million project that added five additional toll lanes and new ramps to CR 602.

Public transportation

NJ Transit local bus service is provided on the 116 route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, New York City and Perth Amboy, and on the 48 route to Elizabeth and Perth Amboy.
There are plans to introduce ferry service between Waterfront Park and Lower Manhattan via Arthur Kill and Kill van Kull. As of 2021, funding for the construction of a landing dock and purchase of a boat was in place. As of 2023, dredging had been completed and construction of bulkhead was underway. Mayor Daniel J. Reiman, expected the ferry terminal to be complete by 2025 but construction didn't begin till December of that year.
Ground was broken for the ferry terminal on December 12, 2025 with an anticipated opening of 2028. The terminal will feature a ticket and waiting area, retail and event space and a restaurant and bar. The terminal site will feature 700 parking spaces with a designated bus station for NJ Transit buses, municipal jitneys and for rideshare such as Uber and Lyft. The municipal Jitneys will connect to the Rahway and Woodbridge train stations.

Notable people

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