text:
Cranbury, New Jersey

Cranbury is a township in southern Middlesex County, within the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 3,842, a decrease of 15 (−0.4%) from the 2010 census count of 3,857, which in turn reflected an increase of 630 (+19.5%) from the 3,227 counted in the 2000 census.

Located within the Raritan Valley region, Cranbury is roughly equidistant between New York City and Philadelphia, contributing to it being a regional historical, cultural, and commercial hub of Central New Jersey (the township is known for its logistics industry) and as an outer-ring commuter suburb of New York City within the New York metropolitan area. The municipal taxes generated by the industrial properties have helped to keep residential property taxes steady over time.

History
A deed for a sale of land and improvements dated March 1, 1698, is the earliest evidence of buildings constructed in present-day Cranbury. A home in Cranbury was used by Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette as a headquarters during the American Revolutionary War, and they were visited by General George Washington on June 26, 1778. It was during this visit, when George Washington hedged out plans to intercept the British's retreat from Philadelphia to New York City, during the tail end of Britain's Philadelphia campaign. This continued pursuit led to the fated events of the Battle of Monmouth (which took place nearby in modern-day Freehold Township and Manalapan Township, preserved currently as Monmouth Battlefield State Park), a major turning point for the Revolutionary War. As part of orders issued during the presidency of George Washington, maps of Cranbury were made showing the presence of a church, a mill and 25 other buildings. Fleeing after he killed Alexander Hamilton in their 1804 duel, Aaron Burr stopped in Cranbury to exchange horses and eat a local inn.

During its earliest years, the location was usually spelled as "Cranberry". Rev. Joseph G. Symmes argued in 1857 that the name was spelled improperly and that the suffix "bury" was more appropriate, leading the name of the community and brook to be changed to "Cranbury" in 1869. The name has been attributed to wild cranberries that grew in the area. The so-called Hightstown rail accident occurred in or near Cranbury, in 1833. According to John Quincy Adams, who was aboard the train and who wrote in his diary about it, the train was 3 mi from Hightstown when the disaster struck, putting the accident near what is now Cranbury Station. Among the passengers aboard were Tyrone Power and Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Cranbury was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1872, from portions of both Monroe Township and South Brunswick Township. Portions of the township were taken on April 1, 1919, to form Plainsboro Township. The township celebrated its tricentennial in 1998. Updike Parsonage Barn, originally constructed c. 1759, was disassembled, relocated and reconstructed in 2010 at its current location in Barn Park.

In 2017, Cranbury, along with the municipalities of Bellmawr, Egg Harbor Township, Montclair, and Woodbridge Township, were the original five municipalities that had authorized dispensaries for the sale of medical cannabis in their municipality, years before the legal sale of recreational cannabis began in 2022. However, in July 2021 the township reversed the previous ordinance and unanimously passed a new ordinance that banned all types of cannabis businesses from operating within the municipality.

In 2019, the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society saved the 1713 East Jersey Cottage from demolition and had the building relocated across Old Trenton Road, onto its original 1693 Fullerton tract, the 1752 Philipse property and the 1760 Bodine farm. The building retained its intact hand-hewn post and beam structure with pegged mortise and tenon joints and rubble nogging.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 13.43 square miles (34.79 km2), including 13.28 square miles (34.40 km2) of land and 0.15 square miles (0.39 km2) of water (1.12%).

Cranbury CDP (2010 Census population of 2,181 ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Cranbury Township. Despite the match between the name of the Township and the CDP, the two are not one and the same, as was the case for most paired Township / CDP combinations (i.e., a CDP with the same as its parent township) before the 2010 Census, when most such paired CDPs were coextensive with a township of the same name.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Brain Grove Lake, Cranbury Station, Wescott, and Wyckoffs Mills.

The township borders Monroe Township, Plainsboro Township and South Brunswick Township in Middlesex County; and East Windsor Township in Mercer County.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 3,857 people, 1,320 households, and 1,060 families in the township. The population density was 291.2 per square mile (112.4/km2). There were 1,371 housing units at an average density of 103.5 per square mile (40.0/km2). The racial makeup was 80.53% (3,106) White, 3.45% (133) Black or African American, 0.10% (4) Native American, 13.74% (530) Asian, 0.03% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.36% (14) from other races, and 1.79% (69) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.57% (99) of the population.

Of the 1,320 households, 41.4% had children under the age of 18; 71.3% were married couples living together; 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.7% were non-families. Of all households, 17.5% were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.21.

27.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 15.1% from 25 to 44, 35.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $131,667 (with a margin of error of +/− $21,076) and the median family income was $146,250 (+/− $24,045). Males had a median income of $122,566 (+/− $25,917) versus $60,781 (+/− $22,066) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $55,236 (+/− $5,718). About 3.1% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 3,227 people, 1,091 households, and 877 families residing in the township. The population density was 240.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,121 housing units at an average density of 83.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 88.78% White, 2.26% African American, 7.41% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.70% of the population.

There were 1,091 households, out of which 46.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.6% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.4% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $111,680, and the median income for a family was $128,410. Males had a median income of $94,683 versus $44,167 for females. The per capita income for the township was $50,698. About 0.7% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Cranbury is host to many warehouses along Route 130 and the roads leading to the NJ Turnpike. A company making the Boy Scout Pinewood Derby cars is also here. Cranbury was noted for a used Rolls-Royce dealership located in the center of township, but it has gone out of business. The alternative energy business Brilliant Light Power, which occupies a building formerly occupied by Creative Playthings, is in fact located in East Windsor, in an area served by the Cranbury Post Office.

The Associated University Presses is an academic publishing company supplying textbooks to colleges and universities.

Local government
Cranbury Township is governed under the township form of government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form. 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; all terms of office end on December 31. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor. In 1990, the Cranbury Township Committee was expanded from three to five members and the position of Township Administrator was established by ordinance.

, members of the Cranbury Township Committee are Mayor Eman El-Badawi (D, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2024), Deputy Mayor Lisa Knierim (D, term on committee ends 2025, term as deputy mayor ends 2024), Michael J. Ferrante (D, 2024), Barbara F. Rogers (D, 2025) and Matthew A. Scott (D, 2026).

In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $11,960, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.

Federal, state and county representation
Cranbury Township is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 14th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,768 registered voters in Cranbury Township, of which 836 (30.2%) were registered as Democrats, 684 (24.7%) were registered as Republicans and 1,246 (45.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 52.0% of the vote (1,076 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 46.9% (971 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (22 votes), among the 2,082 ballots cast by the township's 2,839 registered voters (13 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.0% of the vote (1,153 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 45.3% (986 votes) and other candidates with 1.3% (29 votes), among the 2,176 ballots cast by the township's 2,777 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.8% of the vote (1,044 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 48.0% (987 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (23 votes), among the 2,055 ballots cast by the township's 2,510 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 81.9.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.1% of the vote (941 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.3% (439 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (22 votes), among the 1,421 ballots cast by the township's 2,850 registered voters (19 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 54.6% of the vote (901 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 35.5% (585 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.7% (144 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (11 votes), among the 1,649 ballots cast by the township's 2,711 registered voters, yielding a 60.8% turnout.

Education

The Cranbury School District serves children in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Cranbury School. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 463 students and 55.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.3:1. For the 2016–17 school year, Cranbury School was formally designated as a National Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor that an American public school can achieve. This was also earned during the 1996–97 and 2009-10 school years.

For ninth through twelfth grades, students move on to Princeton High School in Princeton, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Princeton Public Schools. Cranbury Township is granted a seat on the Princeton Regional Schools Board of Education, with the designated representative only voting on issues pertaining to Princeton High School and district-wide issues. As of the 2020–2021 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,555 students and 125.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.4:1. Cranbury students had attended Hightstown High School and then Lawrence High School before the relationship was established with Princeton.

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.

Public libraries
The Cranbury Public Library serves Cranbury residents and opened in a brand-new building in November 2022 at 30 Park Place West. Prior to the free-standing building, the library shared a facility with the Cranbury School from 1968 until summer 2020 when the school evicted the library to provide additional learning space during the COVID-19 pandemic. From early 2021 to November 2022, the library operated out of a pocket library on North Main Street. The free-standing library was built with funds donated through a capital campaign by the Cranbury Public Library Foundation from 2010 through 2022, as well as funds from surplus operating revenue saved from prior to 2008 when the Cranbury School started charging rent. In 2020, the library applied for and was awarded a $2.39 million grant from the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act.

Historic district
The Cranbury Historic District is a 175 acre historic district encompassing the village of Cranbury along Main and Prospect streets; Maplewood and Scott avenues; Bunker Hill Road; Symmes Court; Westminster, Park and Wesley places. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 18, 1980, for its significance in architecture and commerce. The district includes 177 contributing buildings, including the Old Cranbury School, which was added individually to the NRHP in 1971. Many buildings on Cranbury's Main Street and in the surrounding area date to the 18th or 19th century.

Cranberry Mills
The nomination form describes how "Cranbury is the best preserved 19th century village in Middlesex County" and states that "While there are many small mill towns in New Jersey, few are in such an undisturbed environment as that of Cranbury." The John S. Silvers Mansion, built 1886, features Queen Anne style architecture. The Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center of the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society is located in a former gristmiller's house and has a display on Cranberry Mills. Cranberry Mills is an exemplary historic showcase of Cranbury's importance as a bustling mill town during the 18th/19th centuries. It was located along Cranbury Brook, a tributary of the Millstone River (which in turn is a major tributary of the Raritan River).

Places of worship
The First Presbyterian Church was founded c. 1740 and the current church was built in 1839. The United Methodist Church was built in 1848. Both are contributing properties of the historic district.

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 51.25 mi of roadways, of which 31.08 mi were maintained by the municipality, 12.85 mi by Middlesex County and 3.16 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 4.16 mi by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

Several major roads and highways pass through the township Cranbury hosts a 4 mi section of Interstate 95 (the New Jersey Turnpike). While there are no exits in Cranbury, the township is accessible by the Turnpike in neighboring East Windsor Township (Exit 8) and Monroe Township (Exit 8A). The Molly Pitcher Service Area is located at mile marker 71.7 on the southbound side.

Other significant roads passing through Cranbury include U.S. Route 130, County Route 535, County Route 539, County Route 615 and County Route 614.

Public transportation
Middlesex County offers the M6 MCAT shuttle route providing service to Jamesburg and Plainsboro Township.

Healthcare
Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center is a 355-bed regional non-profit, tertiary and academic medical center located in neighboring Plainsboro Township. The hospital services the greater Princeton region in central New Jersey. It is owned by the Penn Medicine Health System and is the only such hospital in the state of New Jersey.

Other nearby regional hospitals and healthcare networks that are accessible to the township include CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township, the Old Bridge Township division of Raritan Bay Medical Center, and Saint Peter's University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in nearby New Brunswick.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Cranbury include:

 * Melanie Balcomb (born 1962), head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball team
 * Todd Beamer (1968–2001), passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93, who said "Let's roll" to fellow passengers with whom he was planning an attack on terrorists who had taken over the cockpit
 * Scott Brunner (born 1957), quarterback who played in the NFL from 1981 to 1986, most notably for the New York Giants
 * Ronald C. Davidson (1941–2016), physicist, professor and scientific administrator who served as the first director of the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center and as director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
 * Wendy Gooditis (born Gwendolyn Wallace in 1960), politician who represents Virginia's 10th House of Delegates district in the Virginia House of Delegates
 * Noah Harlan, independent filmmaker
 * Ralph Izzo, businessman and former nuclear physicist; chairman, president and CEO of Public Service Enterprise Group
 * Hughie Lee-Smith (1915–1999), artist
 * Cicero Hunt Lewis (1826–1897), merchant
 * Robert Lougy, judge on the New Jersey Superior Court who served as acting New Jersey Attorney General in 1996
 * Charles McKnight (1750–1791), physician during and after the American Revolutionary War
 * Jan Morris (1926–2020), Welsh travel writer and historian, lived in Cranbury for several months in the 1950s whose impressions of the town are recorded in the book Coast to Coast: A Journey Across 1950s America
 * Henry Perrine (1797–1840), physician, horticulturist and enthusiast for introducing tropical plants into cultivation in the US
 * Jessica Lee Ware (born 1977), Canadian-American evolutionary biologist and entomologist

In popular culture
Cranbury is referenced in the 2014 movie Edge of Tomorrow, as the hometown of Major William Cage (played by Tom Cruise). When asked if people of Cranbury plant cranberries, Cage answered: "Tomatoes, best I've ever had."

title: Cranbury, New Jersey


text:
Dayton, New Jersey

Dayton is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within South Brunswick, in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. At the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 7,063.

Dayton has a post office with its own ZIP Code (08810) that encompasses the entire CDP, as well as some surrounding areas. The community was named for William L. Dayton, a local attorney who later served in the United States Senate or for Jonathan Dayton, the youngest person to sign the United States Constitution, who later served as a United States Senator from New Jersey. The area had been known as Cross Roads and was renamed in 1866 to avoid confusion with mail that was sent to another post office that shared the name.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 2.102 mi2, including 2.099 mi2 of land and 0.003 mi2 of water (0.13%).

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 7,063 people, 2,288 households, and 1,901 families in the CDP. The population density was 3365.0 /mi2. There were 2,347 housing units at an average density of 1118.2 /mi2. The racial makeup was 40.15% (2,836) White, 9.19% (649) Black or African American, 0.18% (13) Native American, 46.00% (3,249) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.63% (115) from other races, and 2.83% (200) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.78% (408) of the population.

Of the 2,288 households, 52.8% had children under the age of 18; 70.0% were married couples living together; 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 16.9% were non-families. Of all households, 13.5% were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.44.

30.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.3 males.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 6,235 people, 2,061 households and 1,690 families living in the CDP. The population density was 1,130.2 /km2. There were 2,252 housing units at an average density of 408.2 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 61.54% White, 9.90% African American, 0.22% Native American, 25.04% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.15% of the population.

There were 2,061 households, of which 52.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.0% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.36.

31.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 37.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median household income was $79,050 and the median family income was $83,024. Males had a median income of $56,892 versus $43,500 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $28,924. About 1.9% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

As part of the 2000 Census, 15.72% of Dayton's residents identified themselves as being Indian American. This was the fourth-highest percentage of Indian people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying themselves as being of Indian ancestry.

Economy
Companies headquartered or with office in Dayton include:
 * 2(X)IST, clothing brand specialized in men's underwear.
 * Accutest Laboratories, a provider of environmental analytical services to the consulting community, the petroleum, oil, gas and chemical industry and government clients.
 * Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. - Pharmaceutical Distribution Center.
 * Aurolife Pharma LLC - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Center.
 * GMB North America, Inc.
 * Haddad Brands, a privately held family business involved in apparel and accessories.

Transportation
County Route 522 crosses through the community and U.S. Route 130 travels along the neighborhood's eastern edge. The New Jersey Turnpike, U.S. Route 1, and New Jersey Route 32 are accessible just outside of Dayton.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Dayton include:
 * Ed Moran (born 1981), retired track and road runner who specialized in various long-distance disciplines who was a gold medalist in the 5000-meter race at the 2007 Pan American Games.
 * Sydney Schneider (born 1999), goalkeeper for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks and the Jamaica women's national football team.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Dayton, New Jersey


text:
Roger Mortimer

Roger Mortimer (or Roger de Mortimer) is the name of:

 * Roger of Mortemer (fl. 1054 – after 1078)
 * Roger Mortimer of Wigmore (before 1153 – before 8 July 1214), medieval marcher lord
 * Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer of Wigmore (1231–1282), a marcher lord
 * Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer of Chirk (c. 1256 – 1326)), a marcher lord
 * Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March (1287–1330), English nobleman
 * Roger Mortimer, 2nd Earl of March (1328–1360), military commander during the Hundred Years' War
 * Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March (1374–1398), heir presumptive to Richard II of England from 1385
 * Roger Mortimer (racing) (1909–1991), English horse-racing correspondent

title: Roger Mortimer


text:
Dunellen, New Jersey

Dunellen is a borough in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located within the Raritan Valley region. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,637, an increase of 410 (+5.7%) from the 2010 census count of 7,227,  which in turn reflected an increase of 404 (+5.9%) from the 6,823 counted in the 2000 census.

Dunellen was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 28, 1887, when it broke away from Piscataway Township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 23, 1886. Dunellen's incorporation was confirmed on April 15, 1914. The borough was named for the Dunellen station of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.

History
The earliest inhabitants of the area that would become Dunellen were the Lenape Native Americans; several Lenape sites in Dunellen were identified as part of a comprehensive survey in 1915. European settlers were drawn to the area as early as 1682, attracted by the productive agricultural land.

Railroad access from New York City to present-day Dunellen began in 1840. Dunellen grew from its start in 1867 with the construction of a railroad station, which was originally called New Market station, serving the nearby community of the same name in Piscataway. When it was originally constructed, the tracks were at grade level with North Avenue and the railroad was the Elizabethtown and Somerville Railroad, which later became part of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The Central Railroad of New Jersey, created the residential development in the area which it owned surrounding its train station. The railroad brought industry to the area.

The Art Color factory built in 1925 was Dunellen's principal industry and produced as many as 10 million magazines a month. The W. F. Hall Printing Company of Chicago bought Art Color in 1931, and ran it until 1968, when it closed the plant there.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.06 square miles (2.75 km2), all of which was land. Dunellen is in the Raritan Valley, a line of communities in central New Jersey. Dunellen is in the central division along with Bound Brook, South Bound Brook and Middlesex.

The borough borders Middlesex and Piscataway Township in Middlesex County; Green Brook Township in Somerset County; and Plainfield in Union County.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 7,227 people, 2,566 households, and 1,763 families in the borough. The population density was 6,894.8 per square mile (2,662.1/km2). There were 2,683 housing units at an average density of 2,559.7 per square mile (988.3/km2). The racial makeup was 73.46% (5,309) White, 8.62% (623) Black or African American, 0.26% (19) Native American, 4.51% (326) Asian, 0.06% (4) Pacific Islander, 9.67% (699) from other races, and 3.42% (247) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.75% (1,933) of the population.

Of the 2,566 households, 33.0% had children under the age of 18; 49.4% were married couples living together; 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.3% were non-families. Of all households, 24.9% were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.36.

23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $74,375 (with a margin of error of +/− $13,504) and the median family income was $88,527 (+/− $13,868). Males had a median income of $48,542 (+/− $13,495) versus $43,920 (+/− $12,613) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,960 (+/− $3,015). About 5.6% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 6,823 people, 2,451 households, and 1,710 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,573.9 PD/sqmi. There were 2,520 housing units at an average density of 2,428.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 84.07% White, 3.66% African American, 0.25% Native American, 3.56% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 6.38% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.80% of the population.

There were 2,451 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $59,205, and the median income for a family was $67,188. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $34,130 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,529. About 1.4% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Dunellen is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The borough form of government used by Dunellen is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

, the mayor of Dunellen is Republican Jason F. Cilento, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the borough council (with party and term-end year in parentheses) are Council President Teresa Albertson (R, 2024), Crisol-Iris Lantz (R, 2026), Joseph Paltjon (R, 2024), Trina G. Rios (R, 2025), Daniel Cole Sigmon (R, 2025) and Harold VanDermark (R, 2026).

In October 2021, the borough council selected Harold VanDermark from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Tremayne Reid until he resigned earlier that month. VanDermark will serve on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.

Federal, state and county representation
Dunellen is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 21st state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,775 registered voters in Dunellen, of which 1,063 (28.2%) were registered as Democrats, 726 (19.2%) were registered as Republicans and 1,983 (52.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 56.1% of the vote (1,387 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 42.3% (1,047 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (39 votes), among the 2,488 ballots cast by the borough's 3,842 registered voters (15 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 64.8%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 52.9% of the vote (1,478 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.5% (1,244 votes) and other candidates with 1.8% (50 votes), among the 2,794 ballots cast by the borough's 3,883 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.0%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.0% of the vote (1,260 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 48.0% (1,211 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (44 votes), among the 2,521 ballots cast by the borough's 3,666 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 68.8.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.7% of the vote (982 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.2% (503 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (32 votes), among the 1,540 ballots cast by the borough's 3,894 registered voters (23 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 39.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 54.6% of the vote (944 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 34.1% (589 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.9% (153 votes) and other candidates with 1.9% (33 votes), among the 1,728 ballots cast by the borough's 3,744 registered voters, yielding a 46.2% turnout.

Education
The Dunellen Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,238 students and 112.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are John P. Faber School with 591 students in grades PreK-5, Lincoln Middle School with 246 students in grades 6-8 and Dunellen High School with 372 students in grades 9-12.

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.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 17.82 mi of roadways, of which 14.29 mi were maintained by the municipality, 2.48 mi by Middlesex County and 1.05 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

No Interstate or U.S. highways serve Dunellen directly. The most prominent roads passing through the borough include New Jersey Route 28 and County Route 529.

Public transportation
The Dunellen station offers NJ Transit service on the Raritan Valley Line. There is a ticket office open only during morning rush hour and a small waiting area at this stop. There are now automated ticket machines located next to the office. A simple station, there are two tracks with two small side platforms. The station is located on a high embankment.

NJ Transit bus service is provided on the 113 and 114 routes to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, with local service on the 59, 65 and 66 routes.

Suburban Transit offers service between Dunellen and Atlantic City on its 700 route.

Organizations

 * Juggling Life is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to inspire and emotionally heal ill and/or disadvantaged children through juggling and the arts.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Dunellen include:
 * Tom Brislin (born 1973), keyboardist/songwriter/vocalist for the band Kansas since 2018
 * Bob Fitzsimmons (1863–1917), boxer who was the sport's first three-division world champion
 * Bob Maier (1915–1993), third baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers team that won the 1945 World Series in his only season in the Major Leagues
 * Sydney McLaughlin (born 1999), hurdler and sprinter who won the Gold Medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2020 Summer Olympics
 * Judith Persichilli (born 1949), nurse and health care executive who has served as the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health
 * William Marsh Rice (1816–1900), businessman who bequeathed his fortune to found Rice University
 * Tom Scharpling (born 1969), author, screenwriter, broadcaster, and media executive; creator and host of The Best Show
 * Walter Stone (1920–1999), writer for The Honeymooners and The Jackie Gleason Show
 * Frank Umont (1917–1991), Major League Baseball umpire

Twin towns — Sister cities
Dunellen is twinned with:
 * 🇮🇹 Borgonovo Val Tidone, Italy
 * 🇮🇹 Castel San Giovanni, Italy

title: Dunellen, New Jersey


text:
East Brunswick, New Jersey

East Brunswick is a township in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The suburban bedroom community is part of the New York City metropolitan area and is located on the southern shore of the Raritan River, directly adjacent to the city of New Brunswick and located roughly 29 mi away from New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 49,715, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,203 (+4.6%) from the 2010 census count of 47,512,  which in turn reflected an increase of 756 (+1.6%) from the 46,756 counted in the 2000 census.

East Brunswick was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1860, from portions of both Monroe Township and North Brunswick Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Washington town within the township (February 23, 1870; became independent as South River on February 28, 1898), Helmetta (March 20, 1888), Milltown (January 29, 1889) and Spotswood (April 15, 1908).

Since the 2000 census, the United States Census Bureau calculated that New Jersey's center of population was located in the township.

History
The general area of central New Jersey was originally occupied by the Lenape Native Americans. According to a 1677 bill of sale now in the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton, New Jersey, Thomas Lawrence, a New York baker, purchased thousands of acres of land from local Native Americans named Querameck, Kesyacs, Isarick, Metapis, Peckawan, and Turantecas.

In this document, the area is called Piscopeek, which later become known as Lawrence Brook, after its purchaser. Around the late 17th century, settlers began arriving in the northern part of East Brunswick, and by the mid-19th century, a small settlement had formed in the southeastern part, known as the Old Bridge section of the town, an area that was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, the Old Bridge Historic District.

The area today known as East Brunswick was incorporated in 1860 from parts of North Brunswick and Monroe townships, including the community of Old Bridge. Originally a farming community, suburban settlement started in the 1930s with improved road access. Large scale housing and road construction, especially after World War II, transformed East Brunswick into a more suburban community. The extension of the New Jersey Turnpike to East Brunswick in 1952 led to a sharp spike in population growth, with the 1950 Census population of 5,699 more than tripling to 19,965 as of the 1960 enumeration.

In the early 1970s, a citizens group called Concerned Citizens of East Brunswick sued the New Jersey Turnpike Authority over a proposed major widening project. The citizens group effectively won the case, gaining concessions in turnpike design, scale and mitigation measures for noise and air quality. The citizens group presented technical data from their own experts and prevailed in what was one of the earliest technical confrontations regarding urban highway design related to environmental factors in U.S. history.

East Brunswick was also the site of the gunfight at Turnpike exit 9 shortly after midnight on May 2, 1973, in which a car being driven by Zayd Malik Shakur (born James F. Costan), with Assata Shakur (formerly JoAnne Chesimard) and Sundiata Acoli (born Clark Squire) as passengers, was stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike State Trooper James Harper, backed up by Trooper Werner Foerster in a second patrol vehicle. After Zayd Shakur was asked to step out of the car to address a discrepancy in his identification, a shootout ensued in which Trooper Foerster was shot twice in the head with his own gun and killed, Zayd Shakur was killed, and both Assata Shakur and Trooper Harper were wounded.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 22.36 square miles (57.91 km2), including 21.78 square miles (56.42 km2) of land and 0.57 square miles (1.48 km2) of water (2.56%).

The township lies on exit 9 of the New Jersey Turnpike. Its Municipal Building, named for 1970s Mayor Jean Walling, is located 31 miles southwest of New York City's Times Square and 49 miles northeast of Center City, Philadelphia. It takes approximately 45–60 minutes to reach Midtown Manhattan in New York City or Center City, Philadelphia, depending on traffic and destination. Route 18 runs through the eastern part of the township, as it serves as a vital route in Central Jersey for access to the Jersey Shore and interior parts of the state. East Brunswick's pristine suburbs and its convenience to major highways for leisure and for work, have contributed to it being a popular place for New York City commuters.

East Brunswick is located in the heart of the Raritan Valley region, as the township is located right on the southern shore of the Raritan River. The Lawrence Brook, a major tributary of the Raritan River, runs along the western border of the township. Farrington Lake and Westons Mill Pond are sections of the Lawrence Brook that have been widened by the presence of man-made dames. The South River, another major tributary of the Raritan River, runs along the eastern border of the township near the historic village of Old Bridge. The Manalapan Brook's watershed (a tributary of the South River) encompasses much of the southern half of the township near Spotswood and Monroe, whereas the aforementioned Lawrence Brook's watershed encompasses much of the northern half of the township near Milltown and the other Brunswicks.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Brookview, Dunhams Corner, Fairview Knolls, Farrington Lake Heights, Gillilandtown, Halls Corner, Herberts, Herberts Corner, Herbertsville, Jamesburg Park,, Lawrence Brook, Lawrence Brook Manor, Newton Heights, Old Bridge, Orchard Heights, Patricks Corner, Paulas Corner, Tanners Corner, Washington Heights and Westons Mills., Country Lane

The township borders the Middlesex County municipalities of Edison, Helmetta, Milltown, Monroe Township, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, Old Bridge Township, Sayreville, South River, South Brunswick and Spotswood.

Climate
East Brunswick sits at the border between a humid continental climate according to the 0-degree-Celsius isotherm and a humid subtropical climate.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 47,512 people, 16,810 households, and 13,179 families in the township. The population density was 2189.6 /sqmi. There were 17,367 housing units at an average density of 800.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 69.36% (32,954) White, 3.98% (1,890) Black or African American, 0.10% (48) Native American, 22.80% (10,835) Asian, 0.01% (6) Pacific Islander, 1.68% (798) from other races, and 2.06% (981) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.70% (3,184) of the population.

Of the 16,810 households, 37.2% had children under the age of 18; 65.8% were married couples living together; 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.6% were non-families. Of all households, 19.0% were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.23.

24.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $100,655 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,929) and the median family income was $110,948 (+/− $3,838). Males had a median income of $80,527 (+/− $3,109) versus $54,162 (+/− $2,066) for females. The per capita income for the township was $41,518 (+/− $1,366). About 3.0% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 46,756 people, 16,372 households, and 13,081 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,129.7/mi2 (822.4/km2). There were 16,640 housing units at an average density of 758.0/mi2 (292.7/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 77.56% White, 2.83% African American, 0.09% Native American, 16.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. 4.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 16,372 households, 40.5% included children under the age of 18, 68.6% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% 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 3.23.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $75,956, and the median income for a family was $86,863. Males had a median income of $60,790 versus $38,534 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,286. 2.8% of the population and 2.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.1% of those under the age of 18 and 5.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Ancestries included Italian (15.0%), Irish (13.8%), Polish (11.5%), German (10.6%), Russian (7.8%), United States (4.2%).

Economy
With easy access to major highways like Route 18 and the New Jersey Turnpike, East Brunswick's proximity to cities, such as New Brunswick, New York City, Newark and Philadelphia has contributed in the township being a longtime premier economic center in the Central New Jersey region.

Corporate, commerce, and hospitality
Opened in 1970, Brunswick Square Mall is a single-story regional shopping mall, located on the corner of Route 18 and Rues Lane. The mall is currently anchored by Macy's and JCPenney and it has a gross leasable area (GLA) of 769041 sqft. Outside of Brunswick Square, the township itself has many other shopping malls and plazas, mostly dotted on Route 18. There are some other notable shopping destinations near East Brunswick, including the Menlo Park Mall in Edison, Woodbridge Center in Woodbridge, the Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold, and The Shoppes in Old Bridge.

The Tower Center complex includes two 23-story office towers, a 12-story Hilton Hotel, located near the intersection of the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 18. The two towers are among the tallest structures in Central Jersey, and can be seen for several miles. In March 2023, Bengaluru-based technology services and consulting company Wipro opened its American international headquarters in the Tower Center.

Giamarese Farm & Orchards is a family-owned business covering 35 acres and dating to 1941. It is a popular seasonal attraction for East Brunswick residents, located on Fresh Ponds Road in the southern section of the township.

Arts and culture
East Brunswick is home of Playhouse 22, a volunteer-run community theater, housed at the Elliott Taubenslag Theater at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center.

Founded in 2019, the East Brunswick Arts Coalition supports arts and cultural organizations such as the East Brunswick Museum, East Brunswick Arts Commission, Playhouse 22, the East Brunswick Historical Society and the East Brunswick Human Relations Council. Harvest Fest is an annual outdoor festival hosted by the East Brunswick Arts Coalition and located in the township's beautiful historic district. The festival typically showcases food vendors, art and craft vendors, a beer garden, live music, and more.

Musical groups from East Brunswick include ska punk group Catch 22, heavy metal quintet God Forbid and ska punk band Streetlight Manifesto.

In July 2021, the film Shiv Shastri Balboa starring Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta was filmed in East Brunswick.

Parks and Recreation
While there are no major county or state parks within East Brunswick's borders, there is still a nice assortment of recreational activities in the township.

On the border of East Brunswick and South Brunswick is the Ireland Brook Conservation area, a 22651200 sqft nature preserve of forests, fields, nature trails, and wetlands, near the Ireland Brook (a tributary of the Lawrence Brook within the much larger Raritan Valley region).

Heavenly Farms is the largest park operated by the township's division of recreation. It features baseball and softball fields, bike trails, a disc golf course, a dog park, football fields, lacrosse fields, and lighted soccer fields.

Crystal Springs Family Waterpark is an aquatic center that hosts 5 various size pools, a splash park, water slides, a lazy river, and more recreational activities. The park opened in 1994 and was the first municipal waterpark in New Jersey. The park was built on the site of parts of Dallenbach Lake.

Smaller parks in the township include the township's Community Park, along with Bicentennial Park, Country Lane Park, Crandall Play Area, Dideriksen Park, Frost Woods, Great Oak Park, Keystone Park, Lenape Park, Pine Ridge Park, Riva Avenue Park, Sadowski Play Area, Tices Lane Park, Volunteer and Veterans Park, Washington Heights Park, and Welsh Park.

Local government
The Township of East Brunswick was established in 1860. Since January 1, 1965, the Township has operated within the Faulkner Act under the Mayor-Council Plan E form of municipal government, which is used in 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member Township Council, with all members elected at-large as part of the November general election in even-numbered years. The mayor and two council seats are up for vote together during Presidential election years, with the other seats up for vote two years later. Serving on a part-time basis as the chief executive of the community, the Mayor votes only in the case of a tie on a vote by the Township Council and can veto ordinances, but vetoes can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the council. The Township Council adopts ordinances; adopts a budget after review and revisions; makes appropriations; sets taxes and bond issues; creates and abolishes jobs via ordinance; sets salaries and establishes municipal policy. The council has the authority to initiate hearings for the purposes of gathering information for ordinance making, airing public problems and supervising the spending of its appropriations.

, the mayor of East Brunswick is Democrat Brad J. Cohen, whose term of office ends December 31, 2024. Members of the Township Council are Council President Kevin McEvoy (D, 2026), Council Vice President Dana Zimbicki (D, 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term), Dinesh Behal (D, 2024), James Wendell (D, 2026) and Dana Winston (D, 2026).

Dana Zimbicki was appointed in February 2022 to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that was vacated the previous month by Michael Spadafino. Zimbicki served on an interim basis until the November 2022 election, when voters chose her to serve the remainder of the term of office.

In February 2021, the Township Council appointed Dinesh Behal from a list of three candidates submitted by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Sterley Stanley until he resigned from office the previous month to take office in the New Jersey General Assembly; Behal served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

Elected as a Republican, James Wendell announced in July 2017 that he was switching parties, giving Democrats control of the Township Council.

In February 2014, the Township Council appointed Michael Spadafino to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Nancy Pinkin, until she stepped down the previous month to take office in the New Jersey General Assembly. In the November 2014 general election, Spadafino was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

David Stahl served as mayor from his election in 2012 until his resignation on January 14, 2016, when he left office to take on a judge position in nearby Woodbridge Township. The Township Council appointed Kevin McEvoy, a former history teacher at East Brunswick High School and trustee of the East Brunswick Public Schools, to serve the balance of Stahl's term as mayor that expired in December 2016; McEvoy stated that he would not run to serve a full term as mayor.

Republicans took control of the Township Council for the first time in 14 years in 2010, as Camille Ferraro, Mike Hughes and James Wendell swept the three seats that were up for election, with voter sentiment focused on controversy over a redevelopment plan for a parcel of land known as the "Golden Triangle". Hughes, the youngest council member ever elected, said the stalled project was keeping property taxes disproportionately high on residents and called for revitalization of business.

Federal, state and county representation
East Brunswick Township is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 18th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 31,297 registered voters in East Brunswick Township, of which 9,957 (31.8%) were registered as Democrats, 5,298 (16.9%) were registered as Republicans and 16,024 (51.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 18 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 55.9% of the vote (11,848 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 42.8% (9,064 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (275 votes), among the 21,332 ballots cast by the township's 31,870 registered voters (145 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 55.3% of the vote (12,817 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 43.0% (9,967 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (238 votes), among the 23,187 ballots cast by the township's 32,144 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 53.8% of the vote (12,016 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 45.1% (10,069 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (163 votes), among the 22,348 ballots cast by the township's 30,364 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 73.6.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.3% of the vote (7,849 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.4% (4,589 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (164 votes), among the 12,731 ballots cast by the township's 31,870 registered voters (129 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 39.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 52.7% of the vote (7,805 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 39.1% (5,799 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.8% (1,007 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (128 votes), among the 14,824 ballots cast by the township's 31,116 registered voters, yielding a 47.6% turnout.

Education
The East Brunswick Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of 11 schools, had an enrollment of 8,260 students and 687.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Bowne-Munro Elementary School (with 220 students; in grades K–4), Central Elementary School (415; Pre-K–4), Murray A. Chittick Elementary School (498; K–4), Robert Frost Elementary School (472; Pre-K–4), Irwin Elementary School (473; K–4), Lawrence Brook Elementary School (454; Pre-K–4), Memorial Elementary School (568; Pre-K–4), Warnsdorfer Elementary School (450; K–5), Hammarskjold Upper Elementary School (1,279; 5-6), Churchill Junior High School (1,282; 7–9) and East Brunswick High School (2,095; 10–12). In the 2012 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the district's high school was ranked 45th in New Jersey, after being ranked 48th statewide in 2011.

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.

Hatikvah International Academy Charter School, a Hebrew language charter school that offers an International Baccalaureate program opened in September 2010 for grades K–7, with plans to add a new grade each year until an eighth grade is offered. A lottery is held each year, with separate draws for residents of East Brunswick Township and non-residents, to allocate the limited number of positions available for each class. The school plans to build a permanent structure as part of the Campus for Jewish Life (formerly known as the YM-YWHA of Raritan Valley) to replace its current facility the school has rented located near Trinity Presbyterian Church. Concerns have been raised regarding the funding for the school, which will come from the East Brunswick Board of Education budget, including $1.34 million for the 2010–2011 school year, and that the district will not be able to reduce expenses by the amount that will be paid to the charter school. Hatikvah school officials emphasize that charter schools can often educate students at a lower cost than traditional public schools and that "taxpayers do not pay an extra penny for having a charter school in town, period". The school received $75,000 in grants from foundations to cover the costs of applying for a charter and for getting the school operational. Hatikvah budgeted $11,033 per student for the 2010–2011 school year, while the East Brunswick Public Schools budgeted $12,782 per pupil for that same year. As of the 2021–22 school year, the school had an enrollment of 573 students and 44.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

Solomon Schechter Day School of Raritan Valley, a Conservative Jewish day school, closed its doors before the start of the 2013–2014 school year in the wake of sharply lower enrollment and financial difficulties. During the 2009–2010 school year, the school was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.

Saint Bartholomew's School is a Catholic elementary school serving 372 students in Pre-K through eighth grade as of the 2019–2020 school year. The school operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.

Historic district
The Old Bridge Village Historic District is a 108 acre historic district located along the South River in the southern portion of the township. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1977 for its significance in art, education, and industry. The district includes 78 contributing buildings.

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 205.94 mi of roadways, of which 176.11 mi were maintained by the municipality, 19.65 mi by Middlesex County, 5.48 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 4.70 mi by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. The township is served by several major roads and highways.

The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) passes through East Brunswick. The Turnpike's Joyce Kilmer service area is located between interchanges 8A and 9 northbound at milepost 78.7. New Jersey Route 18 connects with the turnpike in East Brunswick and provides connections to New Brunswick, U.S. Route 1 and the Jersey Shore. Major county roads that pass through include CR 527 and CR 535. Other limited access roads are accessible outside the township, such as the Garden State Parkway in neighboring Sayreville and Old Bridge, and Interstate 287 in neighboring Edison.

The Turnpike's "dual-dual" configuration (car-only and truck lanes) was extended from exit 10 in Edison Township to just south of exit 9 in 1973, then to exit 8A in 1990, and finally to exit 6 in 2014.

Public transportation
NJ Transit bus service is provided on the 138 route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, on the 68 to Jersey City, and on the 811, 815 and 818 local routes.

The MCAT shuttle system provides local service on the M2 route serving Brunswick Square, Monroe Township and Jamesburg the M3 route, which operates between Brunswick Square and Old Bridge Township and the M7 route between Brunswick Square Mall and South Amboy.

Suburban Transit operates bus routes to New York City every 10–15 minutes from both the Transportation Center and Tower Center; it takes about 30–50 minutes depending on traffic. Service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal is available on Line 100 from Princeton and on Line 400 from the Transportation Center, to 59th Street and Madison Avenue on Line 300, to the United Nations on Line 500, and to Wall Street on Line 600.

Dating back to 1888, the Raritan River Railroad is a shortline railroad that stretched 12.6 mi through Middlesex County. Passenger service ended in 1938 and the line, now much-reduced in length and part of Conrail, provides freight service through the township, where two businesses still receive weekly freight shipments of plastic. There have been proposals to turn the line into a light rail corridor.

Old Bridge Airport in Old Bridge Township supply short-distance flights to surrounding areas and are the closest air transportation services. The closest major airport is Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark / Elizabeth, via the New Jersey Turnpike, which is 24 mi (about 37 minutes drive) from the center of East Brunswick. John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens is roughly 36 mi away, traveling via the Belt Parkway after crossing through Staten Island. LaGuardia Airport is roughly 37 mi away.

Points of interest

 * Playhouse 22, East Brunswick's Community Theatre and Performing Arts Center, resides in the multi-purpose Community Arts Center at Heavenly Farms Park. Recognized in 2000 as Community Theatre of the Year in New Jersey, Playhouse 22 has staged many hit musicals, dramas, comedies and original works.
 * Farrington Lake and Westons Mill Pond, two segments of Lawrence Brook, are available to canoeists, kayakers and nature lovers.
 * The township has Tamarack Golf Course, a public golf course operated by the Middlesex County Improvement Authority.
 * The Middlesex County Fair Grounds is the site of the week-long Middlesex County Fair held every August, providing festivities and food for families throughout Central Jersey and surrounding regions. First held in 1938, the Fair moved to its current site located on Cranbury Road (County Route 535) in 1965.
 * The East Brunswick Museum, formerly the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, in the community of Old Bridge features the works of local artist James Crawford Thom.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with East Brunswick include:

 * T. Frank Appleby (1864–1924), represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1921 to 1923
 * Robert Asaro-Angelo, labor leader and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
 * Michael Barkann (born 1960), sports host, anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Philadelphia
 * Amir Bell (born 1996), basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva B.C. of the Israel Basketball Premier League
 * James Bornheimer (1933–1993), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1972 to 1982 and in the New Jersey Senate from 1982 to 1984
 * George Brasno (1911–1982) and Olive Brasno (1917–1998), vaudevillian performers known for their roles in the Our Gang comedies and Charlie Chan movie series, who turned down an offer to appear as Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz
 * Jeanie Bryson (born 1958), singer
 * Chris Cimino (born 1969), WNBC weatherman
 * Wally Dallenbach Sr. (born 1936), professional car racer
 * Steve Dildarian (born 1969), creator, writer, producer, and the voice of HBO's The Life & Times of Tim
 * Marc Ecko (born 1972), clothing designer
 * Hallie Eisenberg (born 1992), actress, sister of Jesse Eisenberg
 * Jesse Eisenberg (born 1983), actor who has starred in The Squid and the Whale, Zombieland, Adventureland, The Social Network and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
 * Bryan Fortay (born 1971), former football quarterback who played for the Frankfurt Galaxy and the Miami Hooters
 * Skott Freedman (born 1979), award-winning independent singer/songwriter
 * Irving Freese (born 1903), mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut, and the third Socialist mayor elected in the United States
 * Margaret Kemble Gage (1734–1824), who allegedly spied on her husband General Thomas Gage in order to supply military intelligence to the American Revolutionary Army
 * Scott Gottlieb (born 1972), physician and investor who served as the 23rd commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2017 until April 2019
 * Peter I. Haskell, broadcaster on WCBS 880 radio
 * Dulé Hill (born 1975), actor who has appeared on The West Wing and the USA Network series Psych
 * Sabah Homasi (born 1988), mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division
 * Ghilene Joseph (born 1997), footballer who plays as a midfielder / forward for the Guyana women's national team
 * Tomas Kalnoky (born 1980), singer and guitarist of Streetlight Manifesto and formerly Catch 22
 * Mindy Kleinberg, one of the "Jersey Widows" who were vocal in demanding an official investigation into the intelligence failures which led to the September 11 terrorist attacks
 * Mr. Lawrence (born 1969), voice actor and comedian, best known for voicing the SpongeBob SquarePants character Plankton
 * Sam Mattis (born 1994), track and field athlete who competes in the discus throw
 * Coleman Mellett (1974–2009), jazz guitarist
 * Anne Milgram, New Jersey Attorney General from June 2007 to January 2010
 * Josh Miller (born 1970), NFL Super Bowl-winning punter
 * Jackie Miskanic (Jax) (born 1996), singer who finished third on the 14th season of American Idol
 * Adam Mitzner (born 1964), attorney and writer of legal thrillers
 * Ari Ne'eman (born 1987), autism rights activist
 * Heather O'Reilly (born 1985), three-time Olympic games gold medalist as a member of the United States women's national soccer team
 * Jack Petruzzelli, guitarist and singer with The Fab Faux, a Beatles tribute band
 * Nancy Pinkin, politician who has served as County Clerk of Middlesex County since 2021, before which she served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2014 to 2020, where she represented the 18th Legislative District
 * Matt Pinfield (born 1962), MTV VJ and writer for Rolling Stone
 * Badal Roy (1939–2022), tabla player
 * April Saul (born 1955), winner of the Pulitzer Prize for a series of articles written for The Philadelphia Inquirer
 * Michael Seibel (born 1982), managing director at Y Combinator
 * Brian Selznick (born 1966), author and illustrator of children's literature
 * Jack Sinagra (born 1950), former mayor of East Brunswick and New Jersey State Senator
 * Sterley Stanley (born 1966), politician and businessman serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 18th district
 * Philip Streczyk (1918–1958), World War II hero
 * Greg T The Frat Boy, radio personality on WKTU and formerly on Z100
 * J. C. Thom (1835–1898), artist
 * Cenk Uygur (born 1970), progressive activist and host of The Young Turks
 * Jim Vallely (born 1954), Emmy Award-winning writer from Arrested Development
 * Lorie Van Auken, one of the "Jersey Widows" who were vocal in demanding an official investigation into the intelligence failures which led to the September 11 terrorist attacks
 * Lenny Veltman (born 1967), contestant on The Apprentice
 * Stefan Weisman (born 1970), composer
 * Dave Wohl (born 1949), Assistant General Manager of the Boston Celtics
 * Henrietta Christian Wright (1854–1899), children's author
 * Aaron Yoo (born 1979), actor who starred in the film 21

title: East Brunswick, New Jersey