North Brunswick, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
North Brunswick, New Jersey
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Township
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Rutgers Gardens in North Brunswick
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Location of North Brunswick in Middlesex County highlighted in pink
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 North Brunswick, New Jersey
Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
North Brunswick, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
North Brunswick, 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 | |
| First mention | February 28, 1779 | |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 | |
| Named for | Braunschweig, Germany or King George II of Great Britain | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor-Council-Administrator | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 12.31 sq mi (31.88 km2) | |
| • Land | 12.03 sq mi (31.16 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.28 sq mi (0.71 km2) 2.24% | |
| Area rank | 187th of 565 in state 10th of 25 in county |
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| Elevation | 121 ft (37 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 43,905 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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44,108 | |
| • Rank | 50th of 565 in state 11th of 25 in county |
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| • Density | 3,649.0/sq mi (1,408.9/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 183rd of 565 in state 13th of 25 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08902
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| Area code(s) | 732 and 908 | |
| FIPS code | 3402352560 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882164 | |
| Website | ||
North Brunswick is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It is located in the central part of the state, within the larger New York metropolitan area. In 2020, about 43,905 people lived there. This was a good increase from 2010.
North Brunswick is south of New Brunswick. It was named after its neighbor, South Brunswick. The name "Brunswick" comes from the German city of Braunschweig. It might also be named after King George II of Great Britain. Later, East Brunswick was named after North and South Brunswick.
Contents
History of North Brunswick
The land that is now North Brunswick was first home to the Lenape Native Americans. European settlers from France and the Netherlands bought land from the Lenape in 1772.
North Brunswick was first mentioned in official records on February 28, 1779. It officially became a township on February 21, 1798. This happened because of the Township Act of 1798 in New Jersey. North Brunswick was one of the first 104 townships created in the state. Over time, parts of North Brunswick became other towns. These include East Brunswick in 1860 and Milltown in 1889. The township also traded land with nearby towns like Franklin Township and New Brunswick.
Geography and Natural Features
North Brunswick covers about 12.31 square miles (31.88 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Areas within the Township
Several smaller communities are located inside North Brunswick. These include Adams, Black Horse, Livingston Park, and Maple Meade. The northern part of the township, closer to New Brunswick, is mostly middle class. The southern and eastern areas tend to be wealthier.
Neighboring Towns
North Brunswick shares borders with several other towns. These are East Brunswick, Milltown, New Brunswick, and South Brunswick. It also borders Franklin Township in Somerset County.
Protecting Open Spaces
Like many towns in New Jersey, North Brunswick works to protect its open spaces. The township bought a large piece of land called Otken Farm. This land was turned into the North Brunswick Community Park, which opened in 2007. There are also plans to build new things on the site of a former Johnson & Johnson plant. This might include a new train station.
Waterways and Lakes
North Brunswick is part of the Lawrence Brook watershed. This brook flows into the Raritan River. The watershed also includes other nearby towns. Farrington Lake is a freshwater reservoir that borders North Brunswick.
Population and People
North Brunswick has grown quite a bit over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 2,312 | — | |
| 1810 | 3,980 | — | |
| 1820 | 4,275 | 7.4% | |
| 1830 | 5,274 | 23.4% | |
| 1840 | 5,866 | 11.2% | |
| 1850 | 10,019 | 70.8% | |
| 1860 | 1,145 | * | −88.6% |
| 1870 | 1,124 | −1.8% | |
| 1880 | 1,251 | 11.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,238 | −1.0% | |
| 1900 | 847 | * | −31.6% |
| 1910 | 990 | 16.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,399 | 41.3% | |
| 1930 | 3,622 | 158.9% | |
| 1940 | 4,562 | 26.0% | |
| 1950 | 6,450 | 41.4% | |
| 1960 | 10,099 | 56.6% | |
| 1970 | 16,691 | 65.3% | |
| 1980 | 22,220 | 33.1% | |
| 1990 | 31,287 | 40.8% | |
| 2000 | 36,287 | 16.0% | |
| 2010 | 40,742 | 12.3% | |
| 2020 | 43,905 | 7.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 44,108 | 8.3% | |
| Population sources: 1790–1920 1840 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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Facts from the 2020 Census
In 2020, North Brunswick had 43,905 people. There were 15,339 households. The population density was about 3,649 people per square mile. The town is very diverse. About 39.3% of residents were White, 20.9% Black, and 24.6% Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 20.9% of the population.
About 32.7% of households had children under 18. The average household size was 2.70 people. The median household income was $103,488 in 2021. This means half of the households earned more, and half earned less. Most adults (88.88%) had at least a high school diploma. Many (50.95%) also had a college degree. About 9% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Education in North Brunswick
The North Brunswick Township Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The school district has six schools. In the 2019–2020 school year, there were 6,096 students. There were also 530 teachers. This means there were about 11.5 students for every teacher.
Schools in the District
- North Brunswick Township Early Childhood Center (Pre-K)
- John Adams Elementary School (Grades K–4)
- Arthur M. Judd Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–4)
- Livingston Park Elementary School (Grades K–4)
- Parsons Elementary School (Grades K–4)
- Linwood School (Grades 5–6)
- North Brunswick Township Middle School (Grades 7–8)
- North Brunswick Township High School (Grades 9–12)
Two schools have won the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence. John Adams School won in 1998–1999. The high school won in 1999–2000.
Other Education Options
Students in Middlesex County can apply to special high school programs. These are offered by the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools. They provide career and technical education.
Some parts of Rutgers University are in North Brunswick. DeVry University also has a campus here.
Getting Around North Brunswick
North Brunswick has many roads and highways.
Major Roads
- U.S. Route 130
- U.S. Route 1: This is the biggest and busiest highway in North Brunswick.
- Route 26 (also known as Livingston Avenue)
- Route 27 (along the western border)
- Route 91 (also known as Jersey Avenue)
- Route 171 (Georges Road)
- Several County Routes, like Finnegans Lane and Adams Lane.
Major highways like Interstate 287 and the New Jersey Turnpike are close by.
Public Transportation
NJ Transit Rail Operations (NJT) offers train service. You can catch trains to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan from the Jersey Avenue station in New Brunswick. There are plans for a new train station in North Brunswick. It would be built on the site of the old Johnson & Johnson plant. This new station would help people get around easily.
NJ Transit also provides local bus service on routes 811 and 814. Middlesex County RIDE shuttles offer service across the county. Suburban Trails buses go to New York City.
Community Life and Events
North Brunswick has a lively community with many different cultures.
Italian American Community
The Italian American community is a big part of North Brunswick. They celebrate their heritage every year at the Carnevale Italiano. This is a carnival organized by the Italian-American Social Club. It's a big event in North Brunswick's culture. A special part of the carnival is a fireworks show by Grucci.
Youth Sports Festival
Each year, the town's sports groups host the North Brunswick Youth Sports Festival. This event brings young athletes together.
Heritage Day
The Heritage Day Committee organizes a Heritage Day Event every year. It takes place at the North Brunswick Community Park. This festival celebrates the many different cultures that make up North Brunswick.
Famous People from North Brunswick
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to North Brunswick.
- James Altucher (born 1968), a writer and podcaster.
- Glen Burtnik (born 1955), a songwriter and former member of the band Styx.
- Tim Howard (born 1979), a famous goalkeeper for the United States men's national soccer team.
- Jim Norton (born 1968), a comedian and actor.
- Aries Spears (born 1975), a comedian and actor from MADtv.
- Tiquan Underwood (born 1987), a wide receiver who played in the NFL.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de North Brunswick para niños
