The earliest inhabitants of the area that would become Dunellen were theLenapeNative Americans; several Lenape sites in Dunellen were identified as part of a comprehensive survey in 1915.[25][26] European settlers were drawn to the area as early as 1682, attracted by the productive agricultural land.[27]
Railroad access from New York City to present-day Dunellen began in 1840.[28] Dunellen grew from its start in 1867 with the construction of a railroad station, which was originally called New Market station, serving the nearby community of the same name inPiscataway.[29] When it was originally constructed, the tracks were at grade level with North Avenue and the railroad was the Elizabethtown and Somerville Railroad, which later became part of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The Central Railroad of New Jersey created the residential development in the area which it owned surrounding its train station.[28] The railroad brought industry to the area.
The Art Color factory built in 1925 was Dunellen's principal industry and produced as many as 10 million magazines a month. The W. F. Hall Printing Company of Chicago bought Art Color in 1931, and ran it until 1968, when it closed the plant there.[30]
Of the 2,566 households, 33.0% had children under the age of 18; 49.4% were married couples living together; 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.3% were non-families. Of all households, 24.9% were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.36.[20]
23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.4 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $74,375 (with a margin of error of +/− $13,504) and the median family income was $88,527 (+/− $13,868). Males had a median income of $48,542 (+/− $13,495) versus $43,920 (+/− $12,613) for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $30,960 (+/− $3,015). About 5.6% of families and 8.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.[41]
As of the2000 United States census[17] there were 6,823 people, 2,451 households, and 1,710 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,573.9 inhabitants per square mile (2,538.2/km2). There were 2,520 housing units at an average density of 2,428.0 per square mile (937.5/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 84.07%White, 3.66%African American, 0.25%Native American, 3.56%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 6.38% fromother races, and 2.07% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 14.80% of the population.[39][40]
There were 2,451 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% weremarried couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.30.[39][40]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.[39][40]
The median income for a household in the borough was $59,205, and the median income for a family was $67,188. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $34,130 for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $26,529. About 1.4% of families and 3.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.[39][40]
Dunellen is governed under theborough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[42] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions electedat-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 elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[7] The borough form of government used by Dunellen 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 canveto ordinances subject to anoverride 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.[43][44]
As of 2024[update], themayor of Dunellen isRepublican Jason F. Cilento, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the borough council (with party and term-end year in parentheses) are Council President Teresa Albertson (R, 2024), Crisol-Iris Lantz (R, 2026), Joseph Paltjon (R, 2024), Trina G. Rios (R, 2025), Daniel Cole Sigmon (R, 2025) and Harold VanDermark (R, 2026).[4][45][46][47][48]
In October 2021, the borough council selected Harold VanDermark from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Tremayne Reid until he resigned earlier that month. VanDermark will serve on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.[49]
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.[56] 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 3,775 registered voters in Dunellen, of which 1,063 (28.2%) were registered asDemocrats, 726 (19.2%) were registered asRepublicans and 1,983 (52.5%) were registered asUnaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered asLibertarians orGreens.[72]
In the2012 presidential election, DemocratBarack Obama received 56.1% of the vote (1,387 cast), ahead of RepublicanMitt Romney with 42.3% (1,047 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (39 votes), among the 2,488 ballots cast by the borough's 3,842 registered voters (15 ballots werespoiled), for a turnout of 64.8%.[73][74] In the2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 52.9% of the vote (1,478 cast), ahead of RepublicanJohn McCain with 44.5% (1,244 votes) and other candidates with 1.8% (50 votes), among the 2,794 ballots cast by the borough's 3,883 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.0%.[75] In the2004 presidential election, RepublicanGeorge W. Bush received 50.0% of the vote (1,260 ballots cast), outpolling DemocratJohn Kerry with 48.0% (1,211 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (44 votes), among the 2,521 ballots cast by the borough's 3,666 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 68.8.[76]
In the2013 gubernatorial election, RepublicanChris Christie received 64.7% of the vote (982 cast), ahead of DemocratBarbara Buono with 33.2% (503 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (32 votes), among the 1,540 ballots cast by the borough's 3,894 registered voters (23 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 39.5%.[83][84] In the2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 54.6% of the vote (944 ballots cast), ahead of DemocratJon Corzine with 34.1% (589 votes), IndependentChris Daggett with 8.9% (153 votes) and other candidates with 1.9% (33 votes), among the 1,728 ballots cast by the borough's 3,744 registered voters, yielding a 46.2% turnout.[85]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 17.82 miles (28.68 km) of roadways, of which 14.29 miles (23.00 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.48 miles (3.99 km) by Middlesex County and 1.05 miles (1.69 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation.[97]
TheDunellen station offersNJ Transit service on theRaritan Valley Line.[101] There is a ticket office open only during morning rush hour and a small waiting area at this stop. There are now automated ticket machines located next to the office. A simple station, there are two tracks with two small side platforms. The station is located on a high embankment.[102]
Juggling Life is anon-profit organization whose purpose is to inspire and emotionally heal ill and/or disadvantaged children through juggling and the arts.[106]
^abKuperinsky, Amy."'The Jewel of the Meadowlands'?: N.J.'s best, worst and weirdest town slogans", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, January 22, 2015. Accessed July 12, 2016. "Dunellen, in Middlesex County, is 'Small Enough to Know You, Large Enough to Serve You.' Councilman Jason Cilento says the slogan is 'a bit of a mystery,' and that it's easier to explain the nickname 'Railroad Town,' for its reputation as a bedroom community for New York commuters."
^Triolo, John; and Marren-Licht, Liz.Dunellen, p. 7.Arcadia Publishing, 2012.ISBN9780738591612. Accessed December 3, 2019. "The Dunellen area was verdant farmland settled by early colonialists, such as David Coriell in 1682, Reune Runyon in 1736, Cornelius Boice in 1768, and Peter Marcellas and Zacharaiah Pound in 1780."
^abDunellen Transit Hub Strategic Plan, Borough of Dunellen, June 2019. Accessed December 3, 2019. "The railroad from New York was extended to the area now known as Dunellen in 1840. The Borough of Dunellen, incorporated in 1887 when it separated from Piscataway, was built by the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The railroad company owned the land, built the railroad and subdivided the surrounding farmland into a residential community."
^Borough Council Meeting Minutes for October 18, 2021, Borough of Dunellen. Accessed May 23, 2022. "Whereas, Tremayne Reid resigned his position as Councilperson for the Borough of Dunellen on October 4, 2021; and WHEREAS, the Democratic Municipal Committee has presented to the Dunellen Borough Council the names of three eligible persons to fill the vacancy; and... NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Dunellen, that Harold Vandermark be selected to fill the vacancy of the Council seat held by Tremayne Reid, said term to expire on December 31, 2022, with the intervening General Election to be held on November 8, 2022 to select a candidate to fill the remaining term of Tremayne Reid that would have expired on December 31, 2023."
^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."
^Dunellen Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Dunellen Public Schools. Accessed August 28, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades kindergarten through twelve in the Dunellen School District.. Composition: The Dunellen School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Dunellen."
^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."
^"Horace Butterworth Dies in Washington",Courier News, December 11, 1939. Accessed March 23, 2025, viaNewspapers.com. "Dunellen - Word has been received here of the death of Horace Butterworth, brother of Mrs. Walter A. Houghtaling, 265 S. Washington Ave., in Washington, D. C., on Friday, (Dec. 8, 1939).... He made his home here with Mr. and Mrs. Houghtaling since his retirement."
^Staff."'Bob' Fitzsimmons Robbed.",The New York Times, March 19, 1913. Accessed May 30, 2012. "The home of 'Bob' Fitzsimmons, the ex-champion prizefighter, at Dunellen, was robbed of $1500 worth of silverware some time within the last few days, while the family was away."
^Burling, Stacey."Catholic Health East names a new leader",The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 16, 2009. Accessed July 18, 2019. "Persichilli, who grew up in Dunellen, N.J., began her career in health care as a staff nurse after graduating from the St. Francis School of Nursing, Trenton, in 1968."
^LaGorce, Tammy."In Person; Gotcha! Stay Tuned",The New York Times, January 1, 2006. Accessed July 18, 2019. "'It's great when people you admire like what you're doing,' Mr. Scharpling, who grew up in Dunellen, writes forMonk in Summit and lives with his wife in Woodbridge, said before a recentBest Show."
^Triolo, John; and Marren-Licht, Liz.Dunellen, p. 124.Arcadia Publishing, 2012.ISBN9780738591612. Accessed April 10, 2016. "Walter Stone, chief writer for theHoneymooners television series, was born in Dunellen in 1920."
^abSister City: Val Tidone, Italy, Boroug hof Dunellen. Accessed May 23, 2022. "On July 2, 2018, the Mayor and Borough Council approved a resolution establishing the sister relationship with Val Tidone, Italy.... In order to promote exchanges in educational, cultural, recreational and economic fields, the Borough of Dunellen agreed to the Sister City relationship with the towns of Borgonovo V.T. and Castel San Giovanni."
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