Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey


Monroe Township is a township in southern Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the outer-ring suburbs of the New York Metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 39,132, reflecting an increase of 11,133 from the 27,999 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 5,744 from the 22,255 counted in the 1990 Census.
Monroe Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1838, from portions of South Amboy Township, based on the results of a referendum held that same day. Portions of the township were taken to form East Brunswick, Cranbury, and Jamesburg.
There are several age-restricted communities in the township. Despite major senior citizen growth, the median age in Monroe has changed from 52.5 in 1990, increasing to 58.9 in 2000, before decreasing back to 53.2 in 2010, as more growth has been from single-family detached homes more recently than with senior citizen developments. Monroe had the third-largest increase in population of any municipality in the state between 2010 and 2014, growing by 3,678 to 42,810, following two more urban locations, Jersey City and Elizabeth.

History

The earliest settlers in what would become Monroe Township were the Lenape Native Americans.
Monroe Township was founded in 1838 and named in honor of the President of the United States James Monroe.
For many decades, it was largely a farming community. After parts of the township grew into the more densely packed neighborhoods of Helmetta, Jamesburg, and Spotswood in the late 19th century, they seceded. Railroads came into Monroe from just about the very beginning, starting with the Camden and Amboy Rail Road in the 1830s and 1840s.
In 1905, Bernarr Macfadden, the proponent of physical culture, came to the part of Monroe near Helmetta and Spotswood, and attempted to set up a camp called "Physical Culture City", where he could teach his beliefs in relative peace. However, in 1907, Macfadden was arrested for distribution of what was in those times considered pornography and the camp dissolved. The area of this camp became the Outcalt neighborhood.
The New Jersey State Home for Boys, later known as the Training School for Boys, and now the New Jersey Training School for Boys was established near Jamesburg. It was opened in 1867 as a home for troubled youth; however, by the mid-20th century, its purpose was to incarcerate juvenile delinquents. One of the better known residents of the State Home was Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band was a counselor there for many years during the 1960s before he found fame as a sax player with Springsteen.
The township became more suburban between 1960 and 1968, when the New Jersey Turnpike opened up Exit 8A in the western part of Monroe, in conjunction with the effort to develop the Leisure World age-restricted community of Rossmoor. Since then, at least five more communities for senior citizens have joined Rossmoor: Concordia, Clearbrook, Greenbriar at Whittingham, The Ponds, Encore and the Regency at Monroe, with more under development. At the same time, and over the next few decades, suburban communities for people of all ages spread into the northern parts of Monroe Township, prompting the expansion of several schools and the construction of new ones. Since 1980, in addition to the age restricted communities, Monroe has added shopping centers, a synagogue, a recreation center, and a new library.
Circa 1980, it was found that a landfill which was located at the corner of what is now Spotswood Gravel Hill Road and Carnegie Street, contaminated the ground water which forced Outcalt residents to get municipal-supplied water. The site had been run as a landfill for municipal waste since 1955, first by the township and later by an independent operator.
On March 22, 2006, ten residents of Monroe Township, from The Ponds retirement community, were killed in a tour bus accident in the Andes mountains in northern Chile. The tour had been arranged by the Jewish organization, B'nai B'rith. As Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine put it,
Of the 12 people killed, one couple was from Stamford, Connecticut. The bodies that were recovered were flown back to Monroe Township for funerals on Sunday March 26, 2006.
Over the past years, Monroe has had a surge in residential development. New communities are being erected, usually around the Turnpike. Portions of Monroe's farmland are receiving commercial zoning. Roads have been widened to allow for the extra vehicular volume. Warehouses are being/have been constructed in the last few years along CR 535, located near the 8A toll gate. The northern section of the township is already developed, with developers heading further south in Monroe to start new communities. New adult communities have set ground in central Monroe, along Route 33, and on CR 615. While these new senior citizen housing units are being built, luxury homes are also being constructed. However, many senior citizens are opposed to these new construction plans since new homes would bring in more children, and therefore raise their school taxes.
There is an ongoing expansion of the Monroe Township High School that is relocating it onto portions of Thompson Park. This project slowly received approval after an archaeological study concluded that the land was not historically significant, except about of land. The controversy that led to the study involved a Lenape settlement, Bethel Indian Town, which protesters contended existed on the site, whereas supporters of the move of the high school claimed that Bethel Indian Town was a half-mile away. In late April 2008, construction started of the new high school.
By early 2008, the State Preservation Office and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection gave full sanction to the de-accession of the land as a protected park. Ground breaking began immediately, only to be halted in June of 2008 when additional remains were found. The consultant identified these stone foundation remains as a 19th-century farmstead, with no earlier association.

The new high school opened in September 2011. The old high school building is now being reused as the middle school.
The township's Route 33 Land Development Task Force is considering options for developing the area of land along Route 33 from the township's border with East Windsor Township to Millstone Township. This proposal would include the construction of new luxury houses, a new grocery store, a baseball park, a performing arts center, a bus stop, new restaurants, and new businesses.
As of March 2020, Monroe Township is suffering from Covid-19. All public schools were closed until further notice.
Amid the George Floyd Protests, a peaceful protest began around 12 PM in Thompson Park on June 7, 2020. The protests were also in Jamesburg.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Monroe township had a total area of 42.232 square miles, including 41.974 square miles of land and 0.258 square miles of water. At 42 square miles, it is the largest municipality in Middlesex County in terms of total area.
Clearbrook Park, Concordia, Rossmoor, and Whittingham are unincorporated communities and census-designated places located within Monroe Township.
Monroe completely surrounds Jamesburg, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. The township borders Cranbury Township, East Brunswick Township, Helmetta, Old Bridge Township, South Brunswick Township, and Spotswood in Middlesex County; East Windsor Township in Mercer County; and Manalapan Township and Millstone Township in Monmouth County.

Neighborhoods and historical place names

Though Monroe is not officially broken down into traditional neighborhoods, but, over the years residents have given names to various parts of the township. Three common names heard in the township are Mill Lake Manor and Outcalt. For those who have lived in Mill Lake Manor, the area is broken down further into the "Old" and "New" Manor. The Manor also encompasses the developments of Inwood. The neighborhood east of Spotswood-Englishtown Road, centered on Monmouth Road, extending down to 1st Avenue, is called North Manor or Manor Heights.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Applegarth, Clearbrook, Gravel Hill, Half Acre, Hoffman, Jamesburg Gardens, Lower Jamesburg, Matchaponix, Middlesex Downs, Mounts Mills, Old Church, Outcalt, Pineview Estates, Prospect Plains, Spotswood Manor, Texas, and Wyckoffs Mills.
Historical railroads :
Monroe Township has experienced a rapid growth rate in its Indian American population, with an estimated 5,943 as of 2017, which was 23 times the 256 counted as of the 2000 Census; and Diwali is celebrated by the township as a Hindu holiday. Monroe has simultaneously emerged as a growing hub for congregations of Jewish Americans, hosting the largest public menorah in New Jersey to celebrate Hanukkah in 2018.

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $74,202 and the median family income was $99,727. Males had a median income of $84,790 versus $57,058 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,959. About 2.6% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 27,999 people, 12,536 households, and 8,236 families residing in the township. The population density was 667.6 people per square mile. There were 13,259 housing units at an average density of 316.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 93.31% White, 2.93% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.34% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.38% of the population.
There were 12,536 households out of which 15.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 28.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.70.
In the township the population was spread out with 16.0% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 16.3% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 43.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,306, and the median income for a family was $68,479. Males had a median income of $56,431 versus $35,857 for females. The per capita income for the township was $31,772. About 1.3% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Monroe Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council system of New Jersey municipal government. The township is one of 71 municipalities statewide governed under this form. The governing body is comprised of a directly-elected mayor and a five-member township council, all elected on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. There are three township council seats elected from wards, which come up for vote together, followed two years later by the two at-large seats and the mayoral seat.
, the Mayor of Monroe Township is Democrat Gerald W. Tamburro, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Township Council are Council President Miriam Cohen, Vice President Elizabeth A. "Betty" Schneider, Leonard Baskin, Stephen Dalina, Charles G. Dipierro.
In March 2017, the Township Council selected Miriam Cohen from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that was vacated the previous month by Leslie Koppel when she took office on the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. In November 2017, Cohen was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
In January 2016, the Township Council appointed Blaise Dipierro to fill the Second Ward seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Gerald W. Tamburro until he stepped down to take office as mayor; Dipierro will serve on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.

State government

The New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission operates the New Jersey Training School, a juvenile detention center for boys, in the township.

Federal, state and county representation

Monroe Township is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 14th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 29,992 registered voters in Monroe Township, of which 11,616 were registered as Democrats, 5,448 were registered as Republicans and 12,912 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 16 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.5% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 45.8%, and other candidates with 0.7%, among the 22,840 ballots cast by the township's 31,297 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.0%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.9% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.4% and other candidates with 0.7%, among the 22,875 ballots cast by the township's 29,295 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 55.7% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 43.2% and other candidates with 0.4%, among the 20,405 ballots cast by the township's 25,675 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 79.5.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.2%, and other candidates with 0.8%, among the 16,180 ballots cast by the township's 31,967 registered voters, for a turnout of 50.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 48.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 45.1%, Independent Chris Daggett with 5.5% and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 17,277 ballots cast by the township's 29,164 registered voters, yielding a 59.2% turnout.

Education

The Monroe Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2017-18 school year, the district and its six schools had an enrollment of 5,995 students and 448.5 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1. Schools in the district are
Barclay Brook Elementary School,
Mill Lake Elementary School,
Oak Tree Elementary School,
Applegarth Elementary School,
Brookside Elementary School,
Woodland Elementary School,
Monroe Township Middle School and
Monroe Township High School.
With the completion of the new high school in 2013, the former high school was reconfigured as a middle school for grades 6-8, and Applegarth was added to the district's elementary schools.
During the 1991–1992 academic school year, Mill Lake Elementary School received the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve. This honor was followed during the 1998–99 academic school year, to Barclay Brook Elementary School across town. Both of Monroe Township's pre-K through third grade schools received such an esteemed honor.
About 300 students from Jamesburg attend Monroe Township High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Jamesburg Public Schools that has been in effect since 1980.
Eighth grade students from all of Middlesex County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at Middlesex County Academy in Edison, the Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences in Woodbridge Township and at its East Brunswick, Perth Amboy and Piscataway technical high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Middlesex County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Major highways serving Monroe Township include the New Jersey Turnpike, New Jersey Route 32 and New Jersey Route 33. Exit 8A of the Turnpike is located on the western edge of Monroe Township, with a nine-lane toll gate featuring a "modified" double trumpet interchange. A number of county routes pass through Monroe Township, including County Route 535, County Route 527, County Route 522, County Route 625, County Route 619, County Route 615, County Route 614, County Route 613 and County Route 612.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority had proposed to build two roads that were to pass through Monroe. The first was the Driscoll Expressway which was to start from the Garden State Parkway at exit 80 in South Toms River and end 3 miles north of exit 8A along the turnpike in South Brunswick. This project was terminated in the 1980s. The other was a west-east spur, Route 92. It would have started at U.S. Route 1 just north of the intersection with Ridge Road in the township of South Brunswick and would have ended at the Exit 8A toll gate in Monroe Township. However, this was cancelled on December 1, 2006 and the Authority instead focused on the Turnpike widening between Exit 6 and Exit 8A.

Public transportation

provides bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 138 and 139 routes.
Middlesex County Area Transit shuttles provide service to and from Monroe on routes operating across the county. The M1 route operates between Jamesburg and the New Brunswick train station and the M2 Route connects Jamesburg, Helmetta and Spotswood with East Brunswick including the Brunswick Square Mall.
Some of the age-restricted communities, such as Rossmoor and Concordia, have their own transportation services within the communities.

Notable people

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