North Brunswick, New Jersey


North Brunswick is a township in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is centrally located in the Raritan Valley region within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 43,905, an increase of 3,163 from the 2010 census count of 40,742, which in turn reflected an increase of 3,455 from the 36,287 counted in the 2000 census.
North Brunswick is located south of New Brunswick. It was named for its earlier-established neighbor, South Brunswick. Brunswick comes from New Brunswick, which was named after the German city of Braunschweig, formerly translated in English as Brunswick or for the British royal House of Brunswick. North and South Brunswick, in turn, became the namesakes for East Brunswick. Alternatively, the city gets its name from King George II of Great Britain, the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

History

The area that would become North Brunswick had been settled by the Lenape Native Americans. European settlers from France and The Netherlands acquired land in 1772 from the Lenape that would become North Brunswick.
North Brunswick was first mentioned in Middlesex Freeholder Board minutes of February 28, 1779. North Brunswick Township was incorporated on February 21, 1798, by the New Jersey Legislature's Township Act of 1798 as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township have since separated to create East Brunswick and Milltown. Territorial exchanges were made with Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey in 1850 and 1858, with South Brunswick in 1856 and with New Brunswick in 1860, 1917 and 1929.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 12.31 square miles, including 12.03 square miles of land and 0.28 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Adams, Berdines Corner, Black Horse, Bodines Corner, Franklin Park, Georges Road, Livingston Park, Maple Meade, Patricks Corner and Red Lion. The northern portion of the township, near the New Brunswick border, is mainly middle class while the southern and eastern sections tend to be more affluent, with a few homes priced around $1 million.
The township borders the municipalities of East Brunswick, Milltown, New Brunswick and South Brunswick in Middlesex County; and Franklin Township in Somerset County.
Like many other New Jersey communities, North Brunswick is 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 North Brunswick Community Park, which opened in April 2007. The nearby Pulda Farm, on Route 130 at Wood Avenue, however may be developed into an age-restricted community pending legal challenge. 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 what may be built on the property. There is also discussion of building an NJ Transit commuter railroad station on the site, along the Northeast Corridor Line. Other parcels slated for development into retail shopping centers include the currently wooded corner of Route 130 and Adams Lane diagonally across from the Maple Meade Plaza.
North Brunswick is part of the watershed of the Lawrence Brook, a tributary of the Raritan River. The brook's watershed covers that also includes East Brunswick, Milltown, New Brunswick and South Brunswick. Farrington Lake, part of the Lawrence Brook watershed, is a freshwater reservoir bordered by North Brunswick, East Brunswick and South Brunswick.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 43,905 people in the township, comprised of 15,339 households and 11,099 families. The population density was. There were 15,789 housing units in the township. The racial makeup was 39.3% White, 20.9% Black or African American, 24.6% Asian, 0.2% Native American, and 3.8% multiracial. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race were 20.9% of the population.
The 2017-2021 American Community Survey reported 15,339 households, with an average household size of 2.70 persons. Of those households, 11,229 households were families. The average household size of families was 3.22 persons. 32.7% households had children under the age of 18. The population under the age of 18 years was 9,707, and the population over the age of 65 years was 5,845.
The median household income of the township was $103,488 and the mean income was $129,117. Both numbers were reported in 2021 inflation-adjusted dollars. The per-capita income was $46,291. Of the 30,408 people who were 25 years or older, 88.88% had at least a high school diploma, 50.95% had at least a bachelor's degree, and 21.95% had a graduate or professional degree. Approximately 9% of the population is below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 and over. The poverty rate of families stood at 5.2%.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 40,742 people, 14,551 households, and 10,404 families in the township. The population density was. There were 15,045 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 46.61% White, 17.47% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 24.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 8.16% from other races, and 3.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.73% of the population.
Of the 14,551 households, 35.7% had children under the age of 18; 53.4% were married couples living together; 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.5% were non-families. Of all households, 22.3% were made up of individuals and 6.3% 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 3.22.
23.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.2 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $78,469 and the median family income was $91,053. Males had a median income of $60,285 versus $50,018 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,944. About 4.5% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

At the 2000 United States census there were 36,287 people, 13,635 households and 9,367 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 13,932 housing units at an average density of. 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, 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.
23.0% of the population were 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 household income in the township was $61,325, and the median income for a family was $70,812. Males had a median income of $48,961 versus $35,971 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,431. 4.7% of the population and 2.7% of families were below the poverty line. 4.7% of the population and 2.7% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total people living in poverty, 4.0% were under the age of 18 and 8.5% were 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.

Government

Local government

North Brunswick is governed using the Faulkner Act's Mayor-Council-Administrator form of local government in New Jersey. The township is one of three of 564 municipalities in the state governed under this form. It was formed as a result of a Charter Study in 1982. One of the variations available under the Faulkner Act, the Mayor is directly elected by the voters and serves a term of four years, while the Township Council is comprised of six Council Members elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two council seats up for election each year. 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 boards and committees.
, the Mayor of North Brunswick is Francis "Mac" Womack III, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. He has been mayor of the town since 2004. The Township Council is comprised of Council President Mary Hutchinson, Ralph Andrews, Robert Davis, Amanda Guadagnino, Rajesh Mehta and Cologero "Carlo" Socio.
In April 2021, the Township Council selected Rajesh Mehta from a group of candidates submitted by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Claribel Cortes until she stepped down from office the previous month when she was sworn into office as Middlesex County Surrogate.
In April 2020, the Township Council selected Claribel Cortes from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant following the death of Robert Corbin.
Former mayors include Paul Matacera, who served for more than 16 years, and David Spaulding, the township's first Republican mayor in more than 25 years.