South Bound Brook, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
South Bound Brook, New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
Borough
|
||
.jpg)
Delaware and Raritan Canal locks
|
||
|
||
Location of South Bound Brook in Somerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
|
||
Census Bureau map of South Bound Brook, New Jersey
|
||
 South Bound Brook, New Jersey
Location in Somerset County, New Jersey
South Bound Brook, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
South Bound Brook, New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  New Jersey |
|
| County |  Somerset |
|
| Formed | Unknown (within Franklin Township) | |
| Renamed | March 16, 1869 (as Bloomington Town) | |
| Renamed | May 29, 1891 (as South Bound Brook Town) | |
| Incorporated | May 1, 1907 | |
| Named for | Bound Brook (Raritan River) | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough | |
| • Body | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2) | |
| • Land | 0.65 sq mi (1.67 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2) 12.84% | |
| Area rank | 526th of 565 in state 19th of 21 in county |
|
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 4,863 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
4,811 | |
| • Rank | 382nd of 565 in state 17th of 21 in county |
|
| • Density | 7,543.4/sq mi (2,912.5/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 59th of 565 in state 2nd of 21 in county |
|
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08880
|
|
| Area code(s) | 732 | |
| FIPS code | 3403568730 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 885401 | |
South Bound Brook is a small town, called a borough, located in Somerset County, in the state of New Jersey. In 2020, about 4,863 people lived here. This was a small increase from the 2010 count.
The area that is now South Bound Brook started as a part of Franklin Township. It was first called Bloomington in 1869. Later, in 1891, its name changed back to South Bound Brook. The town officially became its own borough in 1907.
Contents
History of South Bound Brook
The land where South Bound Brook is now was once home to the Lenape Native Americans. The first European settlers arrived in 1681. A community grew near a stream called Bound Brook. This stream flows into the Raritan River. The town gets its name from this stream, which was an important boundary.
The area was first settled by Dutch families. They grew many apple and peach orchards. The Abraham Staats House was built around 1740. It was used as a headquarters by Baron Von Steuben during the American Revolutionary War. Today, this historic house is a museum.
A wooden bridge was built over the Raritan River in 1761. It was named Queen's Bridge in 1767. This bridge was very important during the Revolutionary War. Both sides used it many times. The wooden bridge was replaced with a steel bridge in 1875. This steel bridge was updated again in 1984.
On January 4, 1777, General George Washington made a big decision here. He decided to move his troops to Morristown for the winter. This ended his successful Trenton-Princeton campaign.
The Battle of Bound Brook
The Battle of Bound Brook happened on April 13, 1777. It was a part of the New York and New Jersey campaign during the American Revolutionary War. The Continental Army lost this battle. About 4,000 British troops defeated them.
Early on April 13, 1777, Hessian soldiers attacked over the Queen's Bridge. American soldiers fought back with strong fire. But the Hessian troops pushed forward. They made the Americans retreat from their positions. The battle continued through the streets of Bound Brook.
The Reformed Church on Main Street was built in 1848. It is now a local historical site. It was originally called the Dutch Reformed Church of Bound Brook. It has changed very little over the years.
Modern Changes and Growth
South Bound Brook has worked to improve its downtown area. Main Street has new sidewalks, lights, and signs. Many stores have been updated.
A large factory, GAF Manufacturing, was located here for over 100 years. After it closed, the site was empty for two decades. Now, new townhomes have been built there. These homes are along the Delaware and Raritan Canal. They bring a new look and more residents to the downtown area.
A new group of condominiums was completed in 2010. These are located on Elizabeth Street.
Geography and Location
South Bound Brook covers about 0.74 square miles (1.92 km2). Most of this area is land. About 12.84% is water.
The borough is next to several other towns. These include Bound Brook, Bridgewater Township, and Franklin Township in Somerset County. It also borders Middlesex Borough and Piscataway in Middlesex County.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 671 | — | |
| 1890 | 801 | 19.4% | |
| 1900 | 883 | 10.2% | |
| 1910 | 1,024 | 16.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,302 | 27.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,763 | 35.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,928 | 9.4% | |
| 1950 | 2,905 | 50.7% | |
| 1960 | 3,626 | 24.8% | |
| 1970 | 4,525 | 24.8% | |
| 1980 | 4,331 | −4.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,185 | −3.4% | |
| 2000 | 4,492 | 7.3% | |
| 2010 | 4,563 | 1.6% | |
| 2020 | 4,863 | 6.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 4,811 | 5.4% | |
| Population sources: 1880–1920 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
|||
In 2010, South Bound Brook had 4,563 people living there. There were 1,733 households. About 30.1% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.63 people.
The population was made up of different groups. About 67.19% were White. About 10.10% were Black or African American. About 6.14% were Asian. And 27.28% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Parks and Outdoor Fun
The most popular outdoor spot in South Bound Brook is the Delaware and Raritan Canal. It runs along the north and east sides of the town. The canal and its D&R Canal Trail are great for many activities. People enjoy boating, hiking, and biking here.
The Raritan River is also nearby, across the canal. It offers more chances for boating and fishing. The Queens Bridge crosses both the canal and the river. It connects South Bound Brook to Bound Brook.
There is a plan for a path called the Raritan River Greenway. This path would connect different towns. It would also link to the Delaware and Raritan Canal trail.
Schools and Learning
The South Bound Brook School District serves students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. These students attend Robert Morris School. This school is named after Robert Morris, who helped fund the American Revolution. In the 2020–21 school year, the school had 425 students.
For high school, students go to Bound Brook High School in Bound Brook. This is part of a special agreement between the school districts. In the 2020–21 school year, Bound Brook High School had 652 students.
Emergency Services
South Bound Brook has its own police department. It has 13 members, including a Chief and other officers. The police department uses Somerset County Communications for all emergency calls.
The South Bound Brook Fire Department has been helping the town for over 100 years. They have several fire trucks and a chief's vehicle. Their chief is Sean Lambertz.
The South Bound Brook First Aid Squad helps with medical emergencies. They have two ambulances. They respond to calls at night and on weekends. During weekdays, Somerset Medical Center EMS Units help out.
The Office of Emergency Management plans for emergencies. They update the town's emergency plan every year. They also help with recovery after big emergencies.
Interesting Places to Visit
The Abraham Staats House was built around 1740. It was the headquarters for General Baron von Steuben during the Revolutionary War. This house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. It is a great example of old Dutch architecture.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA has its main office in South Bound Brook. You can find St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary and St. Andrew's Memorial Church here. There is also a large Ukrainian Orthodox cemetery behind the church. Many important Ukrainian politicians are buried there.
-
St. Andrew Memorial Church was built to honor victims of the Holodomor. It is the main church for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.
Flooding Concerns
South Bound Brook is generally higher than its neighbor, Bound Brook. But it can still experience flooding. This happens during very large river floods, like a "100-year flood." In 1999, a big storm called Hurricane Floyd caused record flooding on the Raritan River. South Bound Brook saw some floodwaters near the canal and in parts of Main Street.
Getting Around Town
_between_Clinton_Street_and_Elm_Street_in_South_Bound_Brook,_Somerset_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Roads and Highways
As of 2010, South Bound Brook had about 12.51 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the town. County Route 527 is the most important road that goes through South Bound Brook. Interstate 287 is a major highway nearby. It offers quick ways to get to South Bound Brook.
Public Transportation
NJ Transit provides train service from the nearby Bound Brook Train Station. You can take trains to Penn Station Newark and Penn Station New York. The train station is just a short walk from downtown South Bound Brook.
NJ Transit also offers bus service. Buses on routes 114 and 117 go to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. The 65 bus line goes to Newark.
Famous People from South Bound Brook
Here are some people who have lived in or are connected to South Bound Brook:
- Heidi Bohay (born 1959), an actress and TV host.
- Tunis Craven (1813–1864), a naval officer. He was the commander of the USS Tecumseh. He bravely gave up his chance to escape a sinking ship to save his pilot.
- Thomas De Witt Talmage (1832–1902), a famous preacher. He was a member of the Reformed Church on Main Street.
See also
In Spanish: South Bound Brook para niños
