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Green Brook Township, New Jersey
Township
Township of Green Brook
Motto(s): 
"Small Enough to Know You, Large Enough to Get Things Done".
Map of Green Brook Township in Somerset County. Inset: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey.
Map of Green Brook Township in Somerset County. Inset: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Green Brook Township, New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Green Brook Township, New Jersey.
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Somerset
Incorporated April 2, 1872 (as North Plainfield Township)
Reincorporated November 8, 1932 (as Green Brook Township)
Named for Green Brook
Government
 • Type Township
 • Body Township Committee
Area
 • Total 4.42 sq mi (11.43 km2)
 • Land 4.41 sq mi (11.42 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)  0.18%
Area rank 285th of 565 in state
13th of 21 in county
Elevation
246 ft (75 m)
Population
 • Total 7,203
 • Estimate 
(2019)
7,007
 • Rank 314th of 566 in state
14th of 21 in county
 • Density 1,610.5/sq mi (621.8/km2)
 • Density rank 325th of 566 in state
7th of 21 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08812
Area code(s) 732 and 908
FIPS code 3403527510
GNIS feature ID 0882172
Website

Green Brook Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. It is centrally located within the Raritan Valley region. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 7,203, reflecting an increase of 1,549 (+27.4%) from the 5,654 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,194 (+26.8%) from the 4,460 counted in the 1990 Census.

What is now Green Brook was originally created as North Plainfield Township on April 2, 1872, from portions of Warren Township. Portions of the township were taken to form North Plainfield borough (June 9, 1885) and Watchung (March 23, 1926). Green Brook was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 8, 1932, replacing North Plainfield Township, based on the results of a referendum held that same day.

Most of Green Brook shares ZIP Code 08812 with Dunellen.

The township describes itself as "Small Enough to Know You, Large Enough to Get Things Done".

History

In 1872, a tract of land was subdivided off from Warren Township. Thirteen years later, in 1885, the Borough of North Plainfield was created from a section of the subdivided land. The land at that time was designated as North Plainfield. In 1926, the Borough of Watchung was carved out of North Plainfield Township. The municipality's name was changed to Green Brook Township in 1932.

Green Brook Township takes its name from the waterway that passes through the township called the Green Brook that rises in the Watchung Mountains several miles away, feeding from many smaller brooks and ponds along the way, as it flows in a southwesterly direction for a distance of 15 miles (24 km). It then continues southwestward and flows into the Raritan River at Bound Brook, which provides access to the New York City area and the Atlantic Ocean. The broo was named for the color of its water.

Also contained within the township is Washington Rock State Park, which commemorates the spot where George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette watched the movement of the British soldiers during the American Revolutionary War, mainly the months of May and June 1777. The park was established on March 17, 1913, and is about 34 acres (140,000 m2) in size.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 4.481 square miles (11.605 km2), including 4.473 square miles (11.584 km2) of land and 0.008 square miles (0.021 km2) of water (0.18%).

The township is in the Raritan Valley, a line of places in central New Jersey. Green Brook lies in the northern division of Raritan Valley along with the borough of North Plainfield.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Seeley Mills and Washington Rock.

The township borders the municipalities of Bridgewater Township, North Plainfield, Warren Township and Watchung in Somerset County; Middlesex borough in Middlesex County; and both Dunellen and Plainfield in Union County.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 3,217
1890 4,250 32.1%
1900 654 −84.6%
1910 886 35.5%
1920 1,116 26.0%
1930 544 −51.3%
1940 763 40.3%
1950 1,155 51.4%
1960 3,622 213.6%
1970 4,302 18.8%
1980 4,640 7.9%
1990 4,460 −3.9%
2000 5,654 26.8%
2010 7,203 27.4%
2019 (est.) 7,007 −2.7%
Population sources:
1880-1920 1880-1890
1890-1910 1910-1930
1930-1990 2000 2010
* = Lost territory in previous decade.

Census 2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,203 people, 2,375 households, and 1,945 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,610.5 per square mile (621.8/km2). There were 2,448 housing units at an average density of 547.3 per square mile (211.3/km2)*. The racial makeup of the township was 73.54% (5,297) White, 3.37% (243) Black or African American, 0.04% (3) Native American, 20.21% (1,456) Asian, 0.04% (3) Pacific Islander, 1.12% (81) from other races, and 1.67% (120) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.86% (494) of the population.

There were 2,375 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 14.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the township, the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 90.3 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $115,268 (with a margin of error of +/- $15,162) and the median family income was $123,796 (+/- $10,668). Males had a median income of $74,231 (+/- $16,708) versus $75,703 (+/- $8,965) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $49,068 (+/- $5,197). About 0.9% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,654 people, 1,893 households, and 1,508 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,234.7 people per square mile (476.6/km2). There were 1,916 housing units at an average density of 418.4 per square mile (161.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 88.43% White, 1.68% African American, 0.07% Native American, 7.99% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.09% of the population.

There were 1,893 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.0% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the township the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $80,644, and the median income for a family was $87,744. Males had a median income of $52,147 versus $46,434 for females. The per capita income for the township was $37,290. About 1.7% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

2018-05-29 15 23 30 View east along U.S. Route 22 at Cramer Avenue in Green Brook Township, Somerset County, New Jersey
US 22 in Green Brook

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 36.19 miles (58.24 km) of roadways, of which 25.49 miles (41.02 km) were maintained by the municipality, 7.47 miles (12.02 km) by Somerset County and 3.23 miles (5.20 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

U.S. Route 22 is the most prominent highway directly serving Green Brook. County Route 527 and County Route 529 also pass through.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 822 route.

Community organizations

There are several committees and organizations within the township of Green Brook. Green Brook has a Baptist church on Greenbrook Road. There is the Green Brook Seniors, which is held at the Senior Center. This is a place for all township seniors to meet and participate in different events. Green Brook also has a Lions Club, which volunteers for different causes. The Green Brook Recreation Committee is a volunteer organization that provides programs and event for all residents.

Education

The Green Brook School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 770 students and 81.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.4:1. Schools in the district (with 2019-20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Irene E. Feldkirchner Elementary School with 374 students in grades PreK-4 and Green Brook Middle School with 393 students in grades 5-8.

Green Brook's public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren Township. Students from Green Brook and from the neighboring communities of Watchung, Warren Township (in Somerset County), and Long Hill Township (in Morris County) attend the school. As of the 2019–20 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,948 students and 160.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

Notable people

See also (related category): People from Green Brook Township, New Jersey

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Municipio de Green Brook (Nueva Jersey) para niños

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