Green Brook Township, New Jersey


Green Brook Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 7,203, reflecting an increase of 1,549 from the 5,654 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,194 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 and Watchung. 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. 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 brook 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 in size.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 4.481 square miles, including 4.473 square miles of land and 0.008 square miles of water.
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 and Dunellen in Middlesex County; and Plainfield in Union County.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $115,268 and the median family income was $123,796. Males had a median income of $74,231 versus $75,703 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $49,068. 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. There were 1,916 housing units at an average density of 418.4 per square mile. 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.

Government

Local government

Green Brook Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 of 565 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At a reorganization meeting, held each year within the first week of January, the Committee elects a Mayor and a Deputy Mayor for that year from among its members.
, members of the Green Brook Township Committee are Mayor Patrick N. Boccio, Deputy Mayor James Benscoter, Francis "Frank" Gaffney, Gerard "Jerry" Searfoss, James R. Van Arsdale.

Federal, state and county representation

Green Brook Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 22nd state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 4,545 registered voters in Green Brook Township, of which 920 were registered as Democrats, 1,219 were registered as Republicans and 2,401 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 63.1% were registered to vote, including 85.7% of those ages 18 and over.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 53.5% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.1%, and other candidates with 1.4%, among the 3,110 ballots cast by the township's 4,774 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,814 votes, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,532 votes and other candidates with 34 votes, among the 3,415 ballots cast by the township's 4,470 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,896 votes, ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,290 votes and other candidates with 30 votes, among the 3,225 ballots cast by the township's 3,910 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.5%.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.3% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.8%, and other candidates with 2.0%, among the 1,899 ballots cast by the township's 4,810 registered voters, for a turnout of 39.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,548 votes, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 648 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 182 votes and other candidates with 21 votes, among the 2,424 ballots cast by the township's 4,527 registered voters, yielding a 53.5% turnout.

Education

The Green Brook School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 788 students and 80.9 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 9.7:1. Schools in the district are
Irene E. Feldkirchner Elementary School with 387 students in grades PreK-4 and
Green Brook Middle School with 400 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, and Long Hill Township attend the school. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,982 students and 155.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Somerset County and 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

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.

Notable people

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