Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey


Monroe Township is a township located in southern Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is centrally located within the Raritan Valley region and is an outer-ring suburb of New York City within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 48,594, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 9,462 from the 39,132 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 11,133 from the 27,999 counted in the 2000 census. Monroe Township also comprises the largest land area of any municipality in Middlesex County, at approximately.
Monroe Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1838, from portions of South Amboy Township, based on the results of a referendum held that same day. Portions of the township were taken to form East Brunswick, Cranbury, and Jamesburg.
There are several age-restricted communities in Monroe Township. Despite significant senior citizen population growth, the median age in Monroe has changed from 52.5 in 1990, increasing to 58.9 in 2000, before decreasing to 53.2 in 2010, as more growth recently has resulted from single-family detached homes than from senior citizen developments. Based upon analysis of data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports for 2022 and 2023, Monroe Township was ranked as the safest small city in the United States.
WWW monroetwp.com

History

The earliest settlers in what would become Monroe Township were the Lenape Native Americans. Monroe Township was founded in April 1838 and named in honor of the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe.
For many decades, the township area was largely a farming community. After parts of the township grew into the more densely populated neighborhoods of Helmetta, Jamesburg, and Spotswood in the late 19th century, they seceded. Railroads came into Monroe from just about the very beginning, starting with the Camden and Amboy Rail Road in the 1830s and 1840s.
In 1905, Bernarr Macfadden, the proponent of physical culture, came to the part of Monroe near Helmetta and Spotswood, and attempted to set up a camp called "Physical Culture City", where he could teach his beliefs in relative peace. However, in 1907, Macfadden was arrested for distribution of pornography and the camp dissolved. The area of this camp became the Outcalt neighborhood.
The New Jersey State Home for Boys, later known as the Training School for Boys, and now the New Jersey Training School for Boys, was established near Jamesburg. It was opened in 1867 as a home for troubled youth; however, by the mid-20th century, its purpose was to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents. One of the better known residents of the State Home was Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band was a counselor there for many years during the 1960s before he found fame as a saxophone player with Springsteen.
The township became more suburban between 1960 and 1968, when the New Jersey Turnpike opened up Exit 8A in the western part of Monroe, in conjunction with the effort to develop the Leisure World age-restricted community of Rossmoor. Since then, at least five more communities for senior citizens have joined Rossmoor: Concordia, Clearbrook, Greenbriar at Whittingham, The Ponds, Encore, Stonebridge, and the Regency at Monroe, with more under development. At the same time, and over the next few decades, suburban communities for people of all ages spread into the northern parts of Monroe Township, prompting the expansion of several schools and the construction of new ones. Since 1980, in addition to the age restricted communities, Monroe has added shopping centers, synagogues, a large Hindu mandir, a recreation center, and a new library.
Circa 1980, it was found that a landfill which was located at the corner of what is now Spotswood Gravel Hill Road and Carnegie Street, contaminated the ground water which forced Outcalt residents to get municipal-supplied water. The site had been run as a landfill for municipal waste since 1955, first by the township and later by an independent operator.
On March 22, 2006, ten residents of Monroe Township, from The Ponds retirement community, were killed in a tour bus accident in the Andes mountains in northern Chile. The tour had been arranged by Jewish organization B'nai B'rith.
Since the early 2000s, Monroe has experienced a surge in residential development. New communities are being erected, usually around Route 33 and the New Jersey Turnpike. Portions of Monroe's farmland are receiving commercial zoning. Roads have been widened to allow for the extra vehicular volume. Warehouses are being/have been constructed in the last few years along CR 535, located near the 8A toll gate. The northern section of the township is already developed, with developers heading further south in Monroe to start new communities. New adult communities have set ground in central Monroe, along Route 33 and on CR 615. While these new senior citizen housing units are being built, luxury homes are also being constructed.
There is an ongoing expansion of the Monroe Township High School that is relocating it onto portions of Thompson Park. This project slowly received approval after an archaeological study concluded that the land was not historically significant, except about of land. The controversy that led to the study involved a Lenape settlement, Bethel Indian Town, which protesters contended existed on the site, whereas supporters of the move of the high school claimed that Bethel Indian Town was a half-mile away. In late April 2008, construction started on the new high school, which then opened in September 2011. The old high school building is now being reused as the middle school. By early 2008, the State Preservation Office and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection approved the de-accession of the land as a protected park. Ground breaking began immediately, only to be halted in June 2008 when additional remains were found. The consultant identified these stone foundation remains as a 19th-century farmstead, with no earlier association.
The township's Route 33 Land Development Task Force is considering options for developing the area of land along Route 33 from the township's border with East Windsor to Millstone Township.
This proposal would include the construction of new luxury houses, a new grocery store, a baseball park, a performing arts center, a bus stop, new restaurants, and new businesses.
In May 2021, Monroe Township coordinated a financial relief effort toward the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
The former Holmes–Tallman House is listed on both the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the only such home in Monroe Township. Constructed in 1860, the Italiante-style home covered. A proposed 2013 amendment to the township's master plan rezoned the site to commercial, which would allow potential reuse of the site. The house was demolished in 2025, before which efforts were made to preserve artifacts and to document the interior and exterior of the home.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township comprised a total area of 42.19 square miles, including 41.94 square miles of land and 0.24 square miles of water. It is the largest municipality in Middlesex County in terms of total area.
Clearbrook, Concordia, Encore at Monroe, Forsgate, Monroe Manor, Regency at Monroe, Renaissance at Monroe, Rossmoor, Stonebridge, The Ponds, and Whittingham are unincorporated communities and census-designated places located within Monroe Township.
Monroe completely surrounds Jamesburg, making them one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. The township borders Cranbury, East Brunswick, Helmetta, Old Bridge Township, South Brunswick and Spotswood in Middlesex County; East Windsor in Mercer County; and Manalapan Township and Millstone Township in Monmouth County.

Neighborhoods and historical place names

Monroe Township is not officially broken down into traditional neighborhoods, but over the years, residents have given names to various unincorporated neighborhoods within the township. Three common names heard in the township are Mill Lake Manor and Outcalt. For those who have lived in Mill Lake Manor, the area is broken down further into the "Old" and "New" Manor. The Manor also encompasses the developments of Inwood. The neighborhood east of Spotswood-Englishtown Road, centered on Monmouth Road, extending down to 1st Avenue, is called North Manor or Manor Heights.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Applegarth, Gravel Hill, Half Acre, Hoffman, Jamesburg Gardens, Lower Jamesburg, Matchaponix, Middlesex Downs, Mounts Mills, Old Church, Outcalt, Pineview Estates, Prospect Plains, Spotswood Manor, Texas, and Wyckoffs Mills.
Historical railroads :
  • Camden and Amboy Railroad
  • Freehold and Jamesburg Railroad
  • Pennsylvania Railroad Amboy Division
  • Jamesurg Railroad Amboy Division

Demographics

RaceNumberPercentage
White 30,18562.1%
Black or African American 1,6553.4%
Native American640.1%
Asian12,91326.6%
Pacific Islander50.0%
Other/Mixed3,0216.2%
Hispanic or Latino2,7465.7%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 48,594 people and 20,289 occupied housing units in the township.
Monroe Township, like Middlesex County overall, has experienced a rapid growth rate in its Indian American population, with an estimated 5,943 as of 2017, which was 23 times the 256 counted as of the 2000 Census; and Diwali is celebrated by the township as a Hindu holiday. The Om Sri Sai Balaji Hindu temple hosts the largest indoor statue of the deity Hanuman in the United States.
Monroe has simultaneously emerged as a growing hub for congregations of Jewish Americans, hosting since 2010 the largest public menorah in New Jersey to celebrate Chanukah.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 39,132 people, 16,497 households, and 10,872 families in the township. The population density was. There were 18,002 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 81.55% White, 3.92% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 12.60% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.28% of the population.
Of the 16,497 households, 22.4% had children under the age of 18; 60.2% were married couples living together; 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.1% were non-families. Of all households, 31.1% were made up of individuals and 25.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.
18.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 17.0% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 34.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 85.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 80.9 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $74,202 and the median family income was $99,727. Males had a median income of $84,790 versus $57,058 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,959. About 2.6% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 27,999 people, 12,536 households, and 8,236 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 13,259 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the township was 93.31% White, 2.93% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.34% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.38% of the population.
There were 12,536 households, out of which 15.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 28.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.70.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 16.0% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 16.3% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 43.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,306, and the median income for a family was $68,479. Males had a median income of $56,431 versus $35,857 for females. The per capita income for the township was $31,772. About 1.3% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Monroe Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of eight schools, had an enrollment of 6,906 students and 546.3 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.6:1. Schools in the district are
Applegarth Elementary School with 442 students in grades 4–5,
Barclay Brook Elementary School with 366 students in grades PreK–2,
Brookside Elementary School with 406 students in grades 3–5,
Mill Lake Elementary School with 479 students in grades PreK–2,
Oak Tree Elementary School with 588 students in grades PreK–3,
Woodland Elementary School with 252 students in grades 3–5,
Monroe Township Middle School with 1,704 students in grades 6–8 and
Monroe Township High School with 2,620 students in grades 9–12.
Thompson Park
During the 1991–1992 academic school year, Mill Lake Elementary School received the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve. This honor was followed during the 1998–1999 academic school year, to Barclay Brook Elementary School across town. Both of Monroe Township's Pre-K through third grade schools received the recognition.
About 300 students from Jamesburg attend Monroe Township High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Jamesburg Public Schools that has been in effect since 1980.
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.

Sports

The township has three cricket fields, which host amateur leagues and tournaments. The township is the home of the United Cricket Club, which participates in the US Cricket League. In 2023, Monroe Township High School launched New Jersey's first ever high school cricket team.

Parks and recreation

Thompson Park is a park, connected to sports fields operated by Monroe Township High School, and straddles both Monroe Township and Jamesburg. It is the largest park in the Middlesex County Park System, and features Lake Manalapan where people could fish. The park also has its own dog park, various hiking trails, and a small fenced in zoo that has various native and exotic animals on display.
Other parks in the township include Veteran's Park Playground and Spray Park, James Monroe Memorial Park, Thomas L. Allen Softball Complex, Daniel P. Ryan Field, and Monroe Township Soccer Complex.
In 2023, Monroe Township started a park expansion plan that will last several years and is split up into multiple phases. Phase 1, which will last up until 2026, includes adding new pickleball and volleyball courts at the senior citizen center as well as at Patriot Park. Other locations that will have upgrades included in the first phase are the Monroe Township Community Garden and Veterans Park. Phase 2 will take 4–10 years, including renovations and adding new infrastructure such as parking lots and playgrounds.

Government

Local government

Monroe Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council system of New Jersey municipal government. The township is one of 71 municipalities statewide governed under this form. The governing body is comprised of a directly-elected mayor and a five-member township council, all elected on a partisan basis in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election. There are three township council seats elected from wards, which come up for vote together, followed two years later by the two at-large seats and the mayoral seat.
, the Mayor of Monroe Township is Democrat Stephen Dalina, who is serving a term of office ending December 31, 2027. Dalina had been appointed to office in 2021 and was elected for a full term in November 2023. Members of the Township Council are Council President Rupa P. Siegel, Vice President Michael A. Markel, Miriam Cohen, Charles G. Dipierro and Terence G. Van Dzura.
In January 2021, the Township Council selected councilmember Stephen Dalina from a list of three candidates nominated to fill the seat as mayor expiring in December 2023 that became vacant following the death of Gerald Tamburro the previous month. In February 2021, Terence Van Dzura was selected from the three candidates nominated to fill the at-large seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Dalina until he took office as mayor. Dalina and Van Dzura served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when they were elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
In March 2017, the Township Council selected Miriam Cohen from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that was vacated the previous month by Leslie Koppel when she took office on the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. In November 2017, Cohen was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
In January 2016, the Township Council appointed Blaise Dipierro to fill the Second Ward seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Gerald W. Tamburro until he stepped down to take office as mayor; Dipierro will serve on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.
The New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission operates the New Jersey Training School, a juvenile detention center for boys, in the township. In 2018, the state approved funding to close the two Civil War-era youth prisons in New Jersey. It has not been decided yet what will be done with the property after its closure.

Federal, state and county representation

Monroe Township is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 14th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 29,992 registered voters in Monroe Township, of which 11,616 were registered as Democrats, 5,448 were registered as Republicans and 12,912 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 16 voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Middlesex County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Major highways serving Monroe Township include the New Jersey Turnpike, Route 32 and Route 33. Exit 8A of the Turnpike is located on the western edge of Monroe Township, with a nine-lane toll gate featuring a "modified" double trumpet interchange. A number of county routes pass through Monroe Township, including County Route 535, County Route 527, County Route 522, County Route 625, County Route 619, County Route 615, County Route 614, County Route 613 and County Route 612.
Other limited-access roads that are accessible outside the municipality include Interstate 195 in neighboring Millstone Township and the Garden State Parkway in bordering Old Bridge Township.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority had proposed to build two roads that were to pass through Monroe. The first was the Driscoll Expressway which was to start from the Garden State Parkway at exit 80 in South Toms River and end north of exit 8A along the turnpike in South Brunswick. This project was terminated in the 1980s. The other was a west–east spur, Route 92. It would have started at U.S. Route 1 just north of the intersection with Ridge Road in South Brunswick and ended at the Exit 8A toll gate in Monroe Township. However, this was cancelled on December 1, 2006, and the Authority instead focused on the turnpike widening between Exit 6 and Exit 8A.

Public transportation

Rail
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Jamesburg and Monroe Township had a major railway in the area, which was the Freehold and Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad. This railway was owned and operated by the Camden & Amboy Railroad Company. Surveying for the line began on September 8, 1851, grading began on October 19, 1852, and the first track was laid on April 4, 1853. The first section of line was opened on July 18, 1853. The establishment of the Freehold & Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad caused this region to become a transportation hub. The Freehold and Jamesburg Railroad was abandoned by the early 1930s. A portion of the former railroad's right-of-way was later approved to be sold by the New Jersey Board of Public Utility Commissioners to Jersey Central Power & Light Company in 1966, with occasional freight service still being utilized through the Freehold Industrial Track.
The Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line is a proposal by New Jersey Transit to restore passenger railway service to the region, by utilizing the same tracks as the Freehold Industrial Track. Jamesburg would be a potential railway stop on the proposed 'MOM' Line.
The nearest train stations to the Monroe area are located at Metuchen, New Brunswick, and Princeton Junction, all along on the Northeast Corridor Line.
Bus
NJ Transit provides bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 138 and 139 routes. Coach USA Suburban Transit and Academy Bus Lines provide weekday commuter service to PABT and to Wall Street.
Middlesex County Area Transit shuttles provide weekday service to and from Monroe on routes operating across the county. The M1 route operates between Jamesburg and the New Brunswick train station, and the M2 route connects Jamesburg, Helmetta and Spotswood with East Brunswick, including the Brunswick Square Mall.

Healthcare

Monroe Township is served by CentraState Healthcare System. Located in neighboring Freehold Township, the 287-bed hospital is a partner of Atlantic Health System and is affiliated with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. CentraState Healthcare system also provides healthcare through its various family practices in communities across western Monmouth and southern Middlesex counties in central New Jersey. One of those six family practices has an office located in Monroe Township.
The next closest hospitals to the township are Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in nearby Plainsboro Township, the Old Bridge Division of Raritan Bay Medical Center in nearby Old Bridge Township, and Saint Peter's University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in nearby New Brunswick.

Notable people

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