South Brunswick, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South Brunswick, New Jersey
Township
Davidson's Mill Pond on the Lawrence Brook, site of the former grist mill
Seal
Location of South Brunswick within Middlesex County, highlighted in pink
Census Bureau map of South Brunswick, New Jersey
South Brunswick, New Jersey Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey Show map of Middlesex County, New Jersey South Brunswick, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey South Brunswick, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Middlesex
Earliest mention	February 28, 1778
Incorporated	February 21, 1798
Government
• Type	Faulkner Act (council–manager)
• Body	Township Council
Area
• Total	41.02 sq mi (106.23 km2)
• Land	40.61 sq mi (105.19 km2)
• Water	0.40 sq mi (1.04 km2)  0.98%
Area rank	51st of 565 in state 2nd of 25 in county
Elevation	82 ft (25 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	47,043
• Estimate  (2023)	46,565
• Rank	43rd of 565 in state 9th of 25 in county
• Density	1,158.3/sq mi (447.2/km2)
• Density rank	366th of 565 in state 24th of 25 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes	08810 – Dayton 08824 – Kendall Park 08852 – Monmouth Junction 08528 – Kingston 08540 - Princeton 08512 - Cranbury
Area code(s)	609 and 732
FIPS code	3402368790
GNIS feature ID	0882162

South Brunswick is a township located in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, acting as a suburb of New York City. In 2020, the township had a population of 47,043 people. This was the highest number of residents ever recorded for South Brunswick.

The area was first mentioned on February 28, 1778. It was officially made a township on February 21, 1798. Over time, parts of South Brunswick were used to create other towns. These include Cranbury in 1872 and Plainsboro in 1919.

South Brunswick is known as a great place to live. In 2021, Niche.com listed Monmouth Junction, a community within the township, among the top 10 "Best Places to Live in New Jersey." SafeWise also named South Brunswick one of the "100 Safest Cities in America" in 2021.

History of South Brunswick

Red Maple Farm

South Brunswick Township became an official township on February 21, 1798. For many years in the 1700s and 1800s, it was mostly a farming area. The Straight Turnpike, now called Route 1, was built in 1804.

The township got its name from New Brunswick. New Brunswick was named after a city in Germany called Braunschweig. This German city was very important in the past. It was also linked to King George I and King George II of Great Britain.

In 1872, the size of South Brunswick was made smaller when Cranbury was created from its southern part. Later, in 1919, Plainsboro was formed. The borders of South Brunswick today are the same as they were after these changes.

During the 1900s, South Brunswick changed a lot because of new ways to travel. A trolley line started in 1900, running next to Route 1. This trolley helped people and goods move around daily. In 1951, the New Jersey Turnpike opened. It runs along the eastern side of the township. This highway helped turn the farming areas into busy industrial zones, with many warehouses.

In 1980, about 18,000 people lived in South Brunswick. By 2020, this number grew to over 47,000 residents. Even with this growth, a large part of the township's 42 square miles (109 km2) is still undeveloped. It has many wetlands, woodlands, and open spaces.

Geography and Local Areas

South Brunswick covers about 41.02 square miles (106.23 km2). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.

Several communities are located within South Brunswick. These include Dayton, Heathcote, Kendall Park, Kingston, and Monmouth Junction. Each of these is also a census-designated place (CDP), which means the U.S. Census Bureau tracks their populations separately.

Other smaller areas within the township are Cottageville, Deans, Franklin Park, Fresh Ponds, Little Rocky Hill, Sand Hills, South Brunswick Terrace, and Ten Mile Run.

Because South Brunswick uses several different ZIP Codes, people sometimes use the names of nearby towns like Dayton or Kendall Park even when talking about areas outside those specific communities.

Community Spotlights

Dayton

Dayton was first known as The Cross Roads. Around 1750, James Whitlock built a tavern there. Early businesses included a brick maker and a large plant nursery. In 1866, the name changed to Dayton. This honored William L. Dayton, a lawyer who helped with railroad issues. He later became a U.S. Senator and was the first Republican candidate for Vice President.

Deans

Deans got its start because it was located where two important paths met: Crosswicknung Trail (Georges Road) and Lawrence Brook. Dams were built on the brook, creating Deans Pond.

Kendall Park

After World War II, more people started moving to suburban areas. Kendall Park, located off Route 27, began to be built in 1957. Route 27 was an old Native American trail and a major road for centuries.

Kingston

Kingston was a very important early community. It was located where the Lenape Assunpink Trail crossed the Millstone River. This spot was on the busy King's Road, which helped trade. Kingston had mills and taverns, making it a lively place. The Kingston Village Advisory Committee helps look after the community. Kingston is recognized as a special "Village Center" by the state of New Jersey.

Monmouth Junction

Monmouth Junction was created because three different railroad lines met there. These were parts of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Jamesburg and Freehold Railroad.

Waterways and Natural Areas

The Lawrence Brook, a smaller river that flows into the Raritan River, runs through the middle of South Brunswick. The township also has areas that are part of the Manalapan Brook and Millstone River watersheds. These are all connected to the larger Raritan River system.

Pigeon Swamp State Park is a state park in South Brunswick. It has 1078 acres (436 ha) of undeveloped land. The Pigeon Swamp Ledger is an old document from 1780. It shows how landowners worked together to drain the Pigeon Swamp. This was allowed by a special law from New Jersey.

A panorama of Davidson's Mill Pond in the central portion of the township

South Brunswick shares borders with several other towns. In Middlesex County, it borders Cranbury, East Brunswick, Monroe Township, North Brunswick, and Plainsboro. It also borders Princeton in Mercer County and Franklin Township in Somerset County.

Climate and Weather

South Brunswick has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters. In winter, high temperatures are usually between 38 and 43 degrees Fahrenheit (3 to 6 degrees Celsius). Lows are between 19 and 24 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 to -4 degrees Celsius). The coldest temperature ever recorded was -16 degrees Fahrenheit (-27 degrees Celsius).

In summer, high temperatures are usually between 84 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit (29 to 31 degrees Celsius). It often gets hotter than 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). The hottest temperature ever recorded was 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius). Summer lows are between 63 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit (17 to 19 degrees Celsius).

South Brunswick can get a lot of snow in winter, sometimes up to 3 feet (91 cm). About 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm) of rain falls each month, spread evenly throughout the year. Sometimes, there can be long dry periods. During winter and early spring, "nor'easters" can happen. These storms can bring blizzards or floods to the northeastern United States. Hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, and earthquakes are rare.

Population and People

2020 Census Information

A suburban street in the neighborhood of Kendall Park

In 2020, the U.S. Census counted 47,043 people living in South Brunswick. This was an 8.4% increase from 2010. The population was made up of different groups: 48.1% Asian, 35.5% White, 7.6% Black, and 7.5% Hispanic or Latino. About 5.5% of people reported having two or more races. There were 16,647 homes in the township.

2010 Census Information

In 2010, South Brunswick had 43,417 people. There were 15,069 households and 11,694 families. The population density was about 1068 people per square mile. The racial makeup was 52.08% White, 7.71% Black, 0.17% Native American, and 35.91% Asian. About 6.04% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households (44.3%) had children under 18. Most families (66.1%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.88 people, and the average family had 3.33 people.

About 27.7% of the population was under 18. The median age was 38.6 years. This means half the people were younger than 38.6, and half were older.

Economy and Jobs

South Brunswick has several major employers. These companies provide many jobs for people in the township.

Education in South Brunswick

The South Brunswick Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. The school district has grown a lot in recent years. Student enrollment has more than doubled since 1991. The high school alone grew to nearly 2,000 students by 2001 and added another 1,000 students in the next ten years.

For the 2021–22 school year, the district had 10 schools and 8,071 students. There were 676.8 teachers, meaning about 11.9 students for every teacher.

The schools in the district are:

• Brooks Crossing Elementary School (grades K-5)
• Brunswick Acres Elementary School (grades K-5)
• Cambridge Elementary School (grades PreK-5)
• Constable Elementary School (grades K-5)
• Greenbrook Elementary School (grades K-5)
• Indian Fields Elementary School (grades K-5)
• Monmouth Junction Elementary School (grades PreK-5)
• Crossroads Middle School North (grades 6–8)
• Crossroads Middle School South (grades 6-8)
• South Brunswick High School (grades 9–12)

St. Augustine of Canterbury School is a private elementary school in Kendall Park. It serves students from Pre-K through 8th grade. In 2016, this school was named a National Blue Ribbon School. This award recognizes schools for being excellent in academics.

Religion

South Brunswick is a diverse community with many different religions. The Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ) serves the Muslim community. Chabad of South Brunswick has been serving the local Jewish community since 1978. There is also the Princeton Japanese Church in Monmouth Junction, which serves the Japanese community in the area. It started in 1991.

Historic Places

Kingston Mill Historic District

The Kingston Mill Historic District is a historic area that covers 49 acres (20 ha). It includes the community of Kingston, New Jersey. This area is special because it was important for engineering, settlement, industry, and transportation.

In 1683, Henry Greenland built the first tavern here for travelers. The current Kingston Mill, also known as the Kingston Gristmill, was built in 1888. It was the third mill at this location. In 1755, Jacob Skilman built a gristmill and sawmill on the Millstone River. This was along the historic King's Highway. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

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  Kingston Mill on the Millstone River

• 

  The Kingston Bridge (1798), built to replace one demolished by George Washington's troops to prevent British pursuit

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  The mile marker from 1798, showing the distance to Philadelphia (45 miles) and New York City (50 miles)

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  Colonial on King's Highway

Transportation and Roads

View north along the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) just north of Exit 8A in South Brunswick

As of 2010, South Brunswick had about 192.83 miles (310.33 km) of roads. The township maintained most of these roads. The county and state also maintained some.

The most important highway in South Brunswick is a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) section of the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95). This highway runs through the eastern part of the township. Other major highways include U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 130, Route 27, and Route 32. Several county roads also pass through the township.

Public Transportation Options

Near the intersection of Route 32 and 130, there is a park and ride lot. From here, people can take buses to New York City. Suburban Transit offers bus service to different parts of Manhattan.

Another company, OurBus, also offers bus service to Midtown Manhattan during busy times.

The Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT) Shuttle provides bus service across the county. It connects to other NJ Transit buses and train services.

There is a plan called the Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line. It would bring passenger train service back to the region. Herrod Boulevard and Monmouth Junction could be potential train stops in South Brunswick.

The closest train stations are at Princeton Junction and New Brunswick. These stations are on the Northeast Corridor Line.

Healthcare Services

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center (PMC) is a hospital located in nearby Plainsboro Township. It serves the greater Princeton area in central New Jersey. PMC is a large hospital with 355 beds. It is owned by the Penn Medicine Health System. Many doctor's offices are also located in South Brunswick, including in Dayton.

Other hospitals close to South Brunswick include CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge Township, and Saint Peter's University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Notable People from South Brunswick

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to South Brunswick. Here are a few:

See also

In Spanish: Municipio de South Brunswick para niños