The area that would become North Brunswick had been settled by theLenapeNative Americans. European settlers from France and The Netherlands acquired land in 1772 from the Lenape that would become North Brunswick.[24]
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'sTownship Act of 1798 as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships.[25] Portions of the township have since separated to createEast Brunswick (February 28, 1860) andMilltown (January 29, 1889). Territorial exchanges were made withFranklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey in 1850 and 1858, withSouth Brunswick in 1856 and withNew Brunswick in 1860, 1917 and 1929.[25]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 12.31 square miles (31.88 km2), including 12.03 square miles (31.16 km2) of land and 0.28 square miles (0.71 km2) of water (2.24%).[1][2]
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.[26] 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.[27]
Like many other New Jersey communities, North Brunswick is faced with the issues ofsuburban sprawl and open space preservation. The 104.91-acre (42.46 ha)[31][32] 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.[33][34] The nearby Pulda Farm, on Route 130 at Wood Avenue, however may be developed into anage-restricted community pending legal challenge.[35] Re-development of the site of the formerJohnson & Johnson pharmaceutical plant onU.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 anNJ Transit commuter railroad station on the site, along theNortheast 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.[36]
The2020 United States census counted 43,905 people in the township, comprised of 15,339 households and 11,099 families. The population density was 3,649.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,408.9/km2). There were 15,789 housing units in the township. The racial makeup was 39.3% (17,255)White, 20.9% (9,176)Black or African American, 24.6% (10,801)Asian, 0.2% (103)Native American, and 3.8%multiracial.Hispanic or Latino persons of any race were 20.9% (9,175) of the population.[48]
The 2017-2021American 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% (5,105) households had children under the age of 18.[49] The population under the age of 18 years was 9,707, and the population over the age of 65 years was 5,845.[50]
The median household income of the township was $103,488 (+/- $5,388) and the mean income was $129,117 (+/- $11,272). Both numbers were reported in 2021 inflation-adjusted dollars.[51] The per-capita income was $46,291 (+/- $4,254).[52] Of the 30,408 people who were 25 years or older, 88.88% (27,027) had at least ahigh school diploma, 50.95% (15,493) had at least abachelor's degree, and 21.95% (6,675) had agraduate or professional degree.[53] 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.[54] The poverty rate of families stood at 5.2%.[55]
The2010 United States census counted 40,742 people, 14,551 households, and 10,404 families in the township. Thepopulation density was 3,396.2 per square mile (1,311.3/km2). There were 15,045 housing units at an average density of 1,254.1 per square mile (484.2/km2). The racial makeup was 46.61% (18,991)White, 17.47% (7,116)Black or African American, 0.42% (171)Native American, 24.27% (9,888)Asian, 0.04% (15)Pacific Islander, 8.16% (3,323) fromother races, and 3.04% (1,238) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.73% (7,223) of the population.[17]
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.[17]
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.[17]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $78,469 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,515) and the median family income was $91,053 (+/− $3,268). Males had a median income of $60,285 (+/− $3,591) versus $50,018 (+/− $2,499) for females. Theper capita income for the township was $32,944 (+/− $1,441). About 4.5% of families and 6.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.[56]
At the2000 United States census[14] there were 36,287 people, 13,635 households and 9,367 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,018.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,165.4/km2). There were 13,932 housing units at an average density of 1,158.8 per square mile (447.4/km2). 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% fromother races, and 2.89% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 10.40% of the population.[46][47]
There were 13,635 households, of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% weremarried 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.[46][47]
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.[46][47]
Themedian 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. Theper capita income for the township was $28,431. 4.7% of the population and 2.7% of families were below thepoverty 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.[46][47]
In addition to the township's residents, an average daily population of 1,182 inmates are housed at the Middlesex CountyAdult Correctional Center, located on Route 130 at Apple Orchard Lane.[57]
North Brunswick is governed using theFaulkner 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.[58][59] It was formed as a result of a Charter Study in 1982. One of the variations available under theFaulkner 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 electedat-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two council seats up for election each year.[6] 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.[60]
As of 2024[update], theMayor 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.[3] The Township Council is comprised of Council President Mary Hutchinson (D, 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term), Ralph Andrews (D, 2025), Robert Davis (D, 2026), Amanda Guadagnino (D, 2025), Rajesh Mehta (D, 2026) and Cologero "Carlo" Socio (D, 2024).[61][62][63][64][65]
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.[66]
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.[67]
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.
Middlesex County is governed by aBoard of County Commissioners, whose seven members are electedat-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects from among its members a commissioner director and deputy director.[76] As of 2025[update], Middlesex County's Commissioners (with party affiliation, term-end year, and residence listed in parentheses) are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 22,079 registered voters in North Brunswick Township, of which 8,302 (37.6%) were registered asDemocrats, 2,410 (10.9%) were registered asRepublicans and 11,352 (51.4%) were registered asUnaffiliated. There were 15 voters registered asLibertarians orGreens.[92]
United States presidential election results for North Brunswick[93][94]
In the2012 presidential election, DemocratBarack Obama received 68.4% of the vote (10,367 cast), ahead of RepublicanMitt Romney with 30.4% (4,605 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (175 votes), among the 15,264 ballots cast by the township's 23,172 registered voters (117 ballots werespoiled), for a turnout of 65.9%.[95][96] In the2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 65.0% of the vote (10,290 cast), ahead of RepublicanJohn McCain with 33.3% (5,270 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (156 votes), among the 15,837 ballots cast by the township's 22,580 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.1%.[97] In the2004 presidential election, DemocratJohn Kerry received 58.4% of the vote (8,180 ballots cast), outpolling RepublicanGeorge W. Bush with 40.3% (5,643 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (125 votes), among the 14,010 ballots cast by the township's 20,477 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 68.4.[98]
United States Gubernatorial election results for North Brunswick[99]
In the2013 gubernatorial election, RepublicanChris Christie received 54.6% of the vote (4,326 cast), ahead of DemocratBarbara Buono with 44.1% (3,496 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (99 votes), among the 8,034 ballots cast by the township's 23,385 registered voters (113 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 34.4%.[100][101] In the2009 gubernatorial election, DemocratJon Corzine received 48.3% of the vote (4,482 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 43.7% (4,056 votes), IndependentChris Daggett with 5.9% (547 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (95 votes), among the 9,279 ballots cast by the township's 21,714 registered voters, yielding a 42.7% turnout.[102]
United States Senate election results for North Brunswick1[103]
TheNorth Brunswick Township Public Schools serve students inpre-kindergarten throughtwelfth grade.[105] As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 6,096 students and 530.0 classroom teachers (on anFTE basis), for astudent–teacher ratio of 11.5:1.[106] Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from theNational Center for Education Statistics[107]) are North Brunswick Township Early Childhood Center[108] with NA students in Pre-K, John Adams Elementary School[109] with 565 students in grades K–4, Arthur M. Judd Elementary School[110] with 786 students in grades Pre-K–4, Livingston Park Elementary School[111] with 594 students in grades K–4, Parsons Elementary School[112] with 703 students in grades K–4, Linwood School[113] with 1,356 students in grades 5–6, North Brunswick Township Middle School[114] with NA students in grades 7–8, andNorth Brunswick Township High School[115] with 1,886 students in grades 9–12.[116]
U.S. Route 1, the largest and busiest road in North Brunswick
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 101.51 miles (163.36 km) of roadways, of which 77.57 miles (124.84 km) were maintained by the municipality, 7.23 miles (11.64 km) by Middlesex County and 16.71 miles (26.89 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation.[124]Major roads in North Brunswick include:[125]
NJ Transit provides local bus service on the811 and814 routes.[139][140]
Middlesex County RIDE shuttles provide service on routes operating across the county,[141] including the M1 route, which operates betweenJamesburg and theNew Brunswick train station[142] and the M5 Jersey Avenue/Brunswick-Commercial Avenue Shuttle.[143]
TheRaritan River Railroad ran through North Brunswick, but is now defunct along this part of the line. Proposals have been made to use the line as alight rail route.[145]
There are various communities within North Brunswick. One of many is the Italian American community. TheItalian American community of North Brunswick and other Middlesex County towns celebrate their heritage annually at Carnevale Italiano, a decades-oldcarnival 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.[146] A highlight of the carnival is afireworks show byGrucci.[147]
Each year, the sports associations of the township host the North Brunswick Youth Sports Festival. The Heritage Day Committee which consists of Township residents (appointed by the Mayor of North Brunswick) and Liaisons from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (DPRCS) hosts a Heritage Day Event each year in North Brunswick Community Park. This festival showcases the many cultures that make up North Brunswick.
^The Changing Landscape of North Brunswick,Rutgers University. Accessed November 25, 2012. "The aptness of the name 'North Brunswick' has proven a puzzle to many modern historians, since the township is actually situated south of New Brunswick and west of East Brunswick. However, during the early part of the 19th century, the area was commonly referred to as the 'north ward of New Brunswick' and the township is located north of the earlier organized Township of South Brunswick."
^Amato, Jennifer."North Brunswick opens 105-acre park to public",North Brunswick Sentinel, April 19, 2007. Accessed September 10, 2015. "Anyone seeking active or leisure recreation is now able to visit the North Brunswick Community Park, a 105-acres tract set off Route 130 that has been converted from the former Otken farm to accommodate a myriad of recreational uses for all county residents."
^What We Do, Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership. Accessed November 15, 2019. "The Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership, Inc. (LBWP) is a not-for-profit organization with the mission to protect the water in a 48-square-mile area, the Lawrence Brook watershed (USGSHUC code: 02030105130); this area extends over parts of 5 municipalities: New Brunswick, East Brunswick, North Brunswick, South Brunswick, and Milltown; it also covers most of Rutgers University's Cook Campus."
^"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 15.Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. "The Mayor-Council-Administrator Form of municipal government was added to the Optional Municipal Charter Law in 1981. As of July 1, 2011 only three municipalities, the townships of Berkeley Heights, North Brunswick and West Milford, had adopted it."
^Form of Municipal Government, Township of North Brunswick. Accessed May 12, 2020. "The North Brunswick Township Governing body is the only [sic] 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. Council members are elected to serve three year terms. Council terms are staggered so that two Council seats are up for election each year."
^Township Council, Township of North Brunswick. Accessed May 28, 2024. "The North Brunswick Township Council is composed of six Council Members elected at large. Council terms of office are three years and two Council seats are up for election each year."
^Loyer, Susan."North Brunswick Township Council welcomes newest member",Courier News, April 7, 2021. Accessed May 2, 2022. "Councilman Rajesh Mehta was sworn in Monday to fill the unexpired term of Claribel Cortes, who was sworn in as Middlesex County surrogate last month. In addition to Mehta, the local Democratic organization submitted the names of two other candidates for consideration – Ann Rosenzweig and Connie Adamo."
^Loyer, Susan."North Brunswick welcomes Claribel Cortes, first Latina to township council",Courier News, April 27, 2020. Accessed May 12, 2020. "North Brunswick – The Township Council recently welcomed its first Latina member, who will fill the vacancy created by last month's death of veteran Councilman Robert Corbin.... Cortes was appointed April 9 and sworn into the position April 18. The term expires at the end of the year, but Cortes said she will run in November for a three-year term."
^Biography, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Watson Coleman and her husband William reside in Ewing Township and are blessed to have three sons; William, Troy, and Jared and three grandchildren; William, Kamryn and Ashanee."
^Board of County Commissioners,Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed May 1, 2022. "The residents of Middlesex County's 25 municipalities elect seven persons to serve as members of the Board of County Commissioners. The Commissioners are elected at large to staggered three-year terms in the November general election. In January of each year, the Board reorganizes, selecting one Commissioner to be County Commissioner Director and another to be County Commissioner Deputy Director."
^"Governor - Middlesex County"(PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. January 29, 2014. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on February 20, 2014. RetrievedDecember 4, 2019.
^Heyboer, Kelly."How to get your kid a seat in one of N.J.'s hardest-to-get-into high schools", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, February 23, 2019. Accessed February 8, 2025. "Middlesex County has two stand-alone career academies for high-achieving students: the Academy for Science, Math and Engineering Technology, located on the campus of Middlesex County College in Edison, and the Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences in Woodbridge. How to apply: Students must attend a mandatory information session and submit an application by November of their 8th grade year."
^About Our Schools,Middlesex County Magnet Schools. Accessed February 8, 2025. "These high schools are free public schools that offer hands-on, integrated learning opportunities for students in grades 9-12 interested in all types of careers as well as higher education. Any student who resides anywhere in Middlesex County's 25 municipalities student may apply to the school district. If accepted, the home school district will permit the student to attend and will organize daily transportation at no cost to the student's family."
^Friedman, Alexi."Anthem Institute files notice to shutter career training schools in N.J., lay off 160",The Star-Ledger, August 4, 2014. Accessed September 10, 2015. "The financially-troubled career training school Anthem Institute has filed plans to shutter its four New Jersey campuses and lay off 163 adjunct teachers and administrative staffers, part of a companywide restructuring that includes a potential sale.... The New Jersey locations are in Cherry Hill, Jersey City, North Brunswick and Parsippany, whose campus opened in 1970."
^History, Our Town Center. Accessed November 25, 2012.
^Frasinelli, Mike."New NJ Transit station planned for Northeast Corridor rail line",The Star-Ledger, January 8, 2013. Accessed January 11, 2015. "NJ Transit has plans for a 'flyover' track and a new train station in North Brunswick to improve on-time performance and commuting choices on the Northeast Corridor — North America's busiest rail line."
^Preserving Rail Rights of Way in Middlesex CountyArchived October 16, 2020, at theWayback Machine,Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed December 3, 2019. "On this basis the following rail lines may merit future investigation on their feasibility for accommodating a light rail and/or busway type of passenger service. Raritan River Railroad. South Amboy, Sayreville, South River, East Brunswick, Milltown, North Brunswick, New Brunswick - This corridor could address some of the east-west travel needs in the central area of the County providing a transit way that would link the City of South Amboy and the City of New Brunswick. This could also provide a viable commuter travel alternative to the heavily used Route 18 Corridor."
^Wiliams, Alex."Why Self-Help Guru James Altucher Only Owns 15 Things",The New York Times, August 6, 2016. Accessed February 9, 2021. "But Mr. Altucher seems like an unlikely person to look to for solace. Bookish, contrarian and given to speaking in staccato bursts, this skinny computer geek from North Brunswick, N.J., is like the anti-Anthony Robbins, the strapping self-help star."
^Staff."Bush pardons 14 individuals",Associated Press, November 24, 2008. Accessed January 30, 2013. "Bush also commuted the prison sentences of John Edward Forte of North Brunswick, N.J., and James Russell Harris of Detroit, Mich. Both were convicted of cocaine offenses."
^Traster-Polak, Tina."Farmer Fights to Keep His Piece of Earth",The New York Times, May 1, 1994. Accessed January 29, 2013. "In response to the controversy, Assemblywoman Joanna Gregory-Scocchi, a North Brunswick resident, has introduced a bill that would prohibit state Green Acres funds from being used to acquire farmland against a landowner's will."
^Beckerman, Jim."He set the beat for a slew of rock legends -- Drummer who played with greats enjoys the small-club experience",The Record, July 31, 2005. Accessed January 30, 2013. "You wouldn't know that Ron Howden, the easygoing English drummer who now thumps away behind a half-dozen central Jersey blues bands, is a living link to half the great rock legends of the 20th century. 'I put it down to a couple of words: I've been around a bit,' says Howden, now a North Brunswick resident."
^Calhoun, Ada."Did You Hear The One About The @&%#! Comic?:By sinking to new lows, comedy in New York is rising",New York, April 5, 2004. Accessed January 30, 2013. "On his website, Jim Norton has posted dozens of photos of himself with celebrities as varied as Ozzy Osbourne, LL Cool J, and Laura Bush. He also has photos of himself growing up in North Brunswick, New Jersey, under the heading a photographic list of reasons i am obsessed with blowing my brains out."
^Gadino, Dylan P."Sketching up with Aries Spears",Punchline, accessed April 15, 2007. "His family – his mother, Doris Spears is a renowned jazz singer – moved to New Jersey where he eventually dropped out of North Brunswick Township High School when he was 17."
^Staff."Former Rutgers star Tiquan Underwood faces decisive season with Jacksonville Jaguars",The Star-Ledger, July 17, 2011. Accessed January 30, 2013. "Underwood, a North Brunswick native and a graduate of Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, has spent the better part of the summer training at the University of Minnesota with Fitzgerald and a number of other NFL players as part of Fitzgerald's annual workout sessions."
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