Dunellen, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dunellen, New Jersey
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Borough
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Dunellen NJ Transit station
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| Nickname(s):
"The Railroad Town"
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| Motto(s):
"Small Enough to Know You, Large Enough to Serve You."
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Location of Dunellen in Middlesex County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Middlesex County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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Census Bureau map of Dunellen, New Jersey
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 Dunellen, New Jersey
Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Dunellen, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Dunellen, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | Middlesex | |
| Incorporated | October 28, 1887 | |
| Named for | Dunellen station | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough | |
| • Body | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.06 sq mi (2.75 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.06 sq mi (2.75 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0.00% | |
| Area rank | 495th of 565 in state 23rd of 25 in county |
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| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,637 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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8,176 | |
| • Rank | 305th of 565 in state 21st of 25 in county |
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| • Density | 7,191.1/sq mi (2,776.5/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 65th of 565 in state 4th of 25 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08812
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| Area code(s) | 732 and 908 | |
| FIPS code | 3402318490 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885198 | |
Dunellen (pronounced dun-EL-en) is a small town called a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It's located in the Raritan Valley region of central New Jersey. Dunellen is known as "The Railroad Town." Its motto is "Small Enough to Know You, Large Enough to Serve You."
In 2020, about 7,637 people lived in Dunellen. The town was officially formed on October 28, 1887. It separated from Piscataway Township. Dunellen got its name from the local train station, which was part of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
Contents
History of Dunellen
Early Settlers and Native Americans
The first people to live in the Dunellen area were the Lenape Native Americans. Their ancient sites were found in Dunellen in 1915. European settlers started coming to this area around 1682. They liked the land because it was good for farming.
The Railroad's Arrival
Trains started coming to what is now Dunellen in 1840. The town really began to grow in 1867. This was when a train station was built. It was first called New Market station. The railroad was very important for the town's growth. It brought new businesses and people to the area.
Dunellen's Main Industry
A big factory called Art Color was built in Dunellen in 1925. This factory printed many magazines. It produced as many as 10 million magazines each month! The W. F. Hall Printing Company bought Art Color in 1931. The factory closed down in 1968.
Geography and Location
Dunellen covers about 1.06 square miles (2.75 square kilometers) of land. It is located in the Raritan Valley area of central New Jersey. This area has many communities. Dunellen is part of the central group of towns.
Dunellen shares its borders with several other towns. These include Middlesex and Piscataway Township in Middlesex County. It also borders Green Brook Township in Somerset County. Lastly, it borders Plainfield in Union County.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 817 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,060 | 29.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,239 | 16.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,990 | 60.6% | |
| 1920 | 3,394 | 70.6% | |
| 1930 | 5,148 | 51.7% | |
| 1940 | 5,360 | 4.1% | |
| 1950 | 6,291 | 17.4% | |
| 1960 | 6,840 | 8.7% | |
| 1970 | 7,072 | 3.4% | |
| 1980 | 6,593 | −6.8% | |
| 1990 | 6,528 | −1.0% | |
| 2000 | 6,823 | 4.5% | |
| 2010 | 7,227 | 5.9% | |
| 2020 | 7,637 | 5.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 8,176 | 13.1% | |
| Population sources: 1880–1920 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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Dunellen's population has grown over the years. In 2010, there were 7,227 people living in the borough. By 2020, the population had grown to 7,637 people. This was an increase of about 5.7%. The town is a mix of different cultures and backgrounds.
Education in Dunellen
Local Schools
The Dunellen Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. There are three schools in the district. In the 2020-21 school year, about 1,238 students attended these schools.
- John P. Faber School: This school teaches students from PreK to 5th grade.
- Lincoln Middle School: This school is for students in grades 6-8.
- Dunellen High School: This high school serves students in grades 9-12.
Vocational School Options
Students in eighth grade from all of Middlesex County can apply to special high school programs. These are offered by the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools. These schools teach skills for different careers. They have schools in Edison, Woodbridge Township, East Brunswick, Perth Amboy, and Piscataway. Students do not have to pay tuition to attend these schools.
Transportation Options
_at_Middlesex_County_Route_529_(Washington_Avenue)_in_Dunellen,_Middlesex_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Roads and Highways
Dunellen has many roads that help people get around. As of 2010, there were about 17.82 miles of roads. Most of these roads are kept up by the town itself. Important roads that go through Dunellen include New Jersey Route 28 and County Route 529.
Public Transportation
The Dunellen station is a train stop for NJ Transit. It is on the Raritan Valley Line. You can buy tickets at the station or use automated machines. The station has two tracks and two small platforms.
NJ Transit also offers bus services. Routes 113 and 114 go to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Local bus routes like 59, 65, and 66 also serve the area. Suburban Transit offers a bus route (700) between Dunellen and Atlantic City.
Community Organizations
- Juggling Life: This is a non-profit organization. Its goal is to help and inspire children who are sick or facing challenges. They use juggling and other arts to do this.
Famous People from Dunellen
Many interesting people have connections to Dunellen:
- Tom Brislin (born 1973): A keyboard player and songwriter. He has been with the band Kansas since 2018.
- Bob Fitzsimmons (1863–1917): A famous boxer. He was the first boxer to win world titles in three different weight classes.
- Bob Maier (1915–1993): A baseball player. He played third base for the Detroit Tigers. His team won the 1945 World Series.
- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (born 1999): A talented hurdler and sprinter. She won Gold Medals in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics.
- Judith Persichilli (born 1949): A nurse and health care leader. She has served as the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health.
- William Marsh Rice (1816–1900): A businessman who left his money to start Rice University.
- Tom Scharpling (born 1969): An author, writer, and radio host. He created and hosts The Best Show.
- Walter Stone (1920–1999): A writer for popular TV shows like The Honeymooners.
- Frank Umont (1917–1991): A Major League Baseball umpire.
Sister Cities
Dunellen has special connections with two towns in Italy. These are called "sister cities."
