Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monroe Township, New Jersey
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Township
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| Nickname(s):
"Tree City", "The Education City"
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Monroe Township highlighted in Middlesex County
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Census Bureau map of Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey.
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 Monroe Township, New Jersey
Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Monroe Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Monroe Township, 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 | April 9, 1838 | |
| Named for | James Monroe | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 42.19 sq mi (109.26 km2) | |
| • Land | 41.94 sq mi (108.63 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.24 sq mi (0.63 km2) 0.58% | |
| Area rank | 47th of 565 in state 1st of 25 in county |
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| Elevation | 92 ft (28 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 48,594 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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48,568 | |
| • Rank | 41st of 565 in state 8th of 25 in county |
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| • Density | 1,158.6/sq mi (447.3/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 365th of 565 in state 23rd of 25 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08831
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| Area code(s) | 609, 640, 732, and 848 | |
| FIPS code | 3402347280 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882159 | |
Monroe Township is a community in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It's located in the central part of the state. The township is a suburb of New York City.
In 2020, about 48,594 people lived in Monroe Township. This was a big increase from previous years. It's also the largest town in Middlesex County by land area.
Monroe Township became an official township on April 9, 1838. It was created from parts of another township called South Amboy. Over the years, some parts of Monroe Township became separate towns.
Monroe Township has several communities just for older adults. Even with many senior residents, the town has seen more families with children move in recently. In 2022 and 2023, Monroe Township was named one of the safest small cities in the United States.
Contents
History of Monroe Township
The first people to live in the area that is now Monroe Township were the Lenape Native Americans. Monroe Township was founded in April 1838. It was named after James Monroe, who was the fifth President of the United States.
For many years, Monroe Township was mostly a farming area. Later, some parts of the township grew into bigger towns like Helmetta and Jamesburg. These towns then became separate from Monroe. Railroads arrived in Monroe in the 1830s and 1840s, helping the area grow.
In 1905, a man named Bernarr Macfadden tried to create a special camp in Monroe. He called it "Physical Culture City." He wanted to teach people about healthy living there. This area is now known as the Outcalt neighborhood.
A special school for young people was opened near Jamesburg in 1867. It was called the New Jersey Training School for Boys. Famous people like Clarence Clemons, a saxophone player for Bruce Springsteen, worked there.
Monroe Township started to become more suburban between 1960 and 1968. This happened when the New Jersey Turnpike opened a new exit (Exit 8A) in the western part of Monroe. This made it easier for people to travel to and from the area.
Around this time, new communities for older adults, like Rossmoor, were built. Since then, many more such communities have been added. At the same time, new neighborhoods for families of all ages also grew in the northern parts of Monroe. This led to schools being expanded and new ones being built.
Since 1980, Monroe has also added many new places. These include shopping centers, places of worship, a recreation center, and a new library.
Around 1980, the local water supply was affected in the Outcalt neighborhood. This meant residents needed to get water from the town's main supply.
Since the early 2000s, Monroe has seen a lot of new homes being built. New communities are appearing, especially near Route 33 and the New Jersey Turnpike. Some of Monroe's farmland is now being used for businesses. Roads have been made wider to handle more cars. Large buildings called warehouses have also been built near the Turnpike exit.
The Monroe Township High School has been expanded and moved to a new location. This project was approved after studies showed the land was not historically important, except for a small part. The new high school opened in September 2011. The old high school building is now used as the middle school.
Monroe Township is also planning new developments along Route 33. These plans include new luxury homes, a grocery store, a baseball park, and new restaurants and businesses.
In May 2021, Monroe Township helped with a relief effort for the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
Geography of Monroe Township
Monroe Township covers about 42.19 square miles (109.26 km²). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. It is the largest town in Middlesex County by total area.
Several smaller communities are located within Monroe Township. These include Clearbrook, Concordia, and Rossmoor.
Monroe Township completely surrounds the town of Jamesburg. This means Jamesburg is like a "doughnut hole" inside Monroe. Monroe Township also shares borders with several other towns. These include Cranbury Township and East Brunswick Township in Middlesex County. It also borders towns in Mercer County and Monmouth County.
Neighborhoods and Historic Places
Monroe Township has several smaller areas that residents have named over time. Two common names are Mill Lake Manor and Outcalt. Mill Lake Manor is further divided into "Old" and "New" Manor.
Other smaller communities and historic places in the township include Applegarth, Gravel Hill, and Half Acre.
Historic railroads that used to run through Monroe Township include the Camden and Amboy Railroad. These railroads are no longer active.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 2,453 | — | |
| 1850 | 3,001 | 22.3% | |
| 1860 | 3,132 | * | 4.4% |
| 1870 | 3,253 | 3.9% | |
| 1880 | 3,017 | * | −7.3% |
| 1890 | 2,153 | * | −28.6% |
| 1900 | 1,829 | −15.0% | |
| 1910 | 2,238 | 22.4% | |
| 1920 | 2,625 | 17.3% | |
| 1930 | 2,894 | 10.2% | |
| 1940 | 3,034 | 4.8% | |
| 1950 | 4,082 | 34.5% | |
| 1960 | 5,831 | 42.8% | |
| 1970 | 9,138 | 56.7% | |
| 1980 | 15,858 | 73.5% | |
| 1990 | 22,255 | 40.3% | |
| 2000 | 27,999 | 25.8% | |
| 2010 | 39,132 | 39.8% | |
| 2020 | 48,594 | 24.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 48,568 | 24.1% | |
| Population sources: 1840–1920 1840 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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In 2020, Monroe Township had 48,594 people living there. The population is diverse. Many people of Asian descent live in Monroe. The town also has a growing number of Jewish Americans. Monroe Township celebrates Diwali, a Hindu holiday, and has the largest public menorah in New Jersey for Chanukah.
Education in Monroe Township
The Monroe Township School District serves students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. There are eight schools in the district.
Some of the schools include:
- Applegarth Elementary School (grades 4–5)
- Barclay Brook Elementary School (grades Pre-K–2)
- Brookside Elementary School (grades 3–5)
- Mill Lake Elementary School (grades Pre-K–2)
- Oak Tree Elementary School (grades Pre-K–3)
- Woodland Elementary School (grades 3–5)
- Monroe Township Middle School (grades 6–8)
- Monroe Township High School (grades 9–12)
The new high school opened in 2011. The old high school building is now the middle school.
Two elementary schools in Monroe Township have received the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence. This is a very high honor for schools in the United States.
About 300 students from Jamesburg also attend Monroe Township High School. This is part of a special agreement between the two towns.
Students from all over Middlesex County can apply to special high school programs. These programs focus on careers and technical skills. They are offered by the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools.
Sports in Monroe Township
Monroe Township has three cricket fields. These fields are used for amateur leagues and tournaments. The United Cricket Club, which plays in the US Cricket League, is based here. In 2023, Monroe Township High School started New Jersey's first high school cricket team.
Parks and Recreation
Thompson Park is a large park covering about 675 acres. It is connected to the sports fields of Monroe Township High School. This park is the biggest in the Middlesex County Park System.
The park has Lake Manalapan, where people can fish. You can also go rowing on the lake. Thompson Park also has a dog park, hiking trails, and a small zoo with local and exotic animals.
Other parks in Monroe Township include Veteran's Park Playground and Spray Park, James Monroe Memorial Park, and the Monroe Township Soccer Complex.
Getting Around Monroe Township
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Roads and Highways
Monroe Township has many miles of roads. Most of these are maintained by the town itself. Major highways like the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) pass through Monroe. Exit 8A of the Turnpike is located on the western side of the township.
Other important roads include Route 32 and Route 33. Several county roads also run through Monroe Township.
Public Transportation
Trains
In the past, Monroe Township and Jamesburg had a major railway called the Freehold and Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad. This railway was active in the 1800s and early 1900s. It helped the area become a transportation hub. The railway was closed by the 1930s.
There is a plan called the Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line. It would bring passenger train service back to the area. Jamesburg might be a stop on this new train line.
The closest train stations to Monroe are in Metuchen, New Brunswick, and Princeton Junction. These stations are on the Northeast Corridor Line.
Buses
NJ Transit offers bus service from Monroe Township to Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Other bus companies also provide weekday bus service for commuters.
Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT) shuttles also run on weekdays. These buses connect different parts of Monroe and other towns in the county.
Healthcare
Monroe Township is served by CentraState Healthcare System. This hospital is located in nearby Freehold Township. It works with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. CentraState also has family doctor offices in Monroe Township and other nearby areas.
Other hospitals close to Monroe Township include Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro Township and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
Notable People from Monroe Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Monroe Township:
- Randy Beverly (born 1944), a football player who helped the New York Jets win the Super Bowl in 1969.
- Nick Dini (born 1993), a baseball player who played for the Kansas City Royals.
- Peter P. Garibaldi (1931–2023), a politician who was the mayor of Monroe Township.
- Leonard Leo (born 1965), a lawyer and activist.
- Antonio Pierce (born 1978), a football player who played for the New York Giants.
