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Milltown, New Jersey

Milltown is a borough in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough is nestled within the heart of the Raritan Valley region, with Lawrence Brook (a Raritan river tributary) flowing through the center of the community. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,037, an increase of 144 (+2.1%) from the 2010 census count of 6,893,  which in turn reflected a decrease of 107 (−1.5%) from the 7,000 counted in the 2000 census.

Milltown was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 29, 1889, from portions of North Brunswick, based on the results of a referendum held three days earlier. The borough was reincorporated by resolution of the borough council on May 2, 1896. A portion of East Brunswick Township was annexed in 1902. Originally known as Bergen's Mill, named for Jacob I. Bergen who owned the grist mill, the name is believed to have become "Milltown" from residents "going to the mill in town".

As of the 2000 Census, the center of population for New Jersey was located in Milltown, at Milltown Road, just east of the New Jersey Turnpike (see map of location). Based on the results of the 2010 census, the center of population had shifted to East Brunswick.

History
Long before the arrival of the first Europeans, the Lenape Native Americans had established settlements along the Lawrence Brook. The discovery of many artifacts in the area above today's municipal building (now a small county park) suggests the presence of a Native American settlement. In 1678, Thomas Lawrence, a New York baker, acquired a large area around the Lawrence Brook, which likely included today's Milltown. The Lawrence Brook was then called Piscopeek (and on later maps, Lawrence's Brook). The names and marks of several Native Americans (Quemareck, Quesiacs, Isarick, Metapis, Peckawan and Turantaca) appear on the bill of sale. In 1769, Fulcard Van Nordstrand advertised the sale of a large gristmill on the bank of Lawrence Brook. It would soon be called Lawrence Brook Mill. The 1903 classic western film The Great Train Robbery was shot in Milltown.

After the end of World War I, the Michelin Illustrated Guides to the Battlefields (1914-1918) of the Western Front were published in Milltown.

In March 2010, the Milltown City Council voted against changing the name of Petain Avenue, citing the difficulties that the street's residents would endure if the name changed. Petain Avenue is named for Philippe Pétain, a French World War I general who became the leader of the Vichy France government during World War II. The Vichy Regime willfully collaborated with Nazi Germany, taking state action against "undesirables", including Jews, Protestants, gays, gypsies, and left-wing activists. In total, the Vichy government participated in the deportation of 76,000 Jews to German extermination camps, although this number varies depending on the account; only 2,500 survived the war. After the war, Petain was charged with perjury and sentenced to death, though this was commuted to life imprisonment due to his advanced age. By contrast, in France itself, the French government has since changed the name of every street formerly named after Petain.

The groundbreaking anxiolytic and sedative drug Miltown (meprobamate) developed by Carter Products, which became available to the public in the mid-1950s, was named for the borough.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.60 square miles (4.13 km2), including 1.55 square miles (4.02 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km2) of water (2.56%).

The borough borders North Brunswick to the west and East Brunswick to the east.

The Lawrence Brook, a tributary of the Raritan River, flows through the borough after exiting the Farrington Lake; a dam, under Main Street, creates a reservoir, the Mill Pond. The brook's watershed covers 48 sqmi that includes Milltown and East Brunswick, New Brunswick, North Brunswick and South Brunswick.

Climate
The climate in the area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cold winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Milltown has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 6,893 people, 2,599 households, and 1,915 families in the borough. The population density was 4,443.0 per square mile (1,715.5/km2). There were 2,698 housing units at an average density of 1,739.0 per square mile (671.4/km2). The racial makeup was 92.44% (6,372) White, 1.23% (85) Black or African American, 0.13% (9) Native American, 3.37% (232) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.58% (109) from other races, and 1.25% (86) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.46% (445) of the population.

Of the 2,599 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18; 60.9% were married couples living together; 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.3% were non-families. Of all households, 20.7% were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.10.

21.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $89,457 (with a margin of error of +/− $14,398) and the median family income was $103,750 (+/− $7,631). Males had a median income of $63,377 (+/− $5,321) versus $41,029 (+/− $3,358) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,472 (+/− $2,034). About 2.9% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,000 people, 2,627 households, and 1,943 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,452.0 PD/sqmi. There were 2,670 housing units at an average density of 1,698.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 93.86% White, 0.76% African American, 0.16% Native American, 3.07% Asian, 1.16% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.73% of the population.

There were 2,627 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 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 income for a household in the borough was $68,429, and the median income for a family was $77,869. Males had a median income of $50,338 versus $38,220 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,996. About 1.3% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Milltown 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 Milltown 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 Milltown is Republican George Murray, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Milltown Borough Council are Council President Richard Revolinsky (R, 2024), John Collins (R, 2025), Frank Manco (R, 2026), Gary Posnansky (R, 2026), David Potter (D, 2024), and Felipe "Phil" Zambrana (D, 2025).

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

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,075 registered voters in Milltown, of which 1,609 (31.7%) were registered as Democrats, 823 (16.2%) were registered as Republicans and 2,643 (52.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.

In the 2020 presidential election, Republican Donald J. Trump received 50% of the vote (2,135 cast), ahead of Democrat Joseph Biden with 47.8% (2,043 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (53 votes), among the 4,344 ballots cast by the borough's 5,569 registered voters, for a turnout of 78%. In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 49.9% of the vote (1,828 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 48.7% (1,784 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (53 votes), among the 3,706 ballots cast by the borough's 5,159 registered voters (41 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 71.8%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 52.0% of the vote (2,112 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.5% (1,848 votes) and other candidates with 1.6% (65 votes), among the 4,058 ballots cast by the borough's 5,250 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.3%.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.6% of the vote (1,650 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.5% (855 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (51 votes), among the 2,586 ballots cast by the borough's 5,180 registered voters (30 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 55.9% of the vote (1,684 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 32.6% (982 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.7% (261 votes) and other candidates with 1.6% (47 votes), among the 3,011 ballots cast by the borough's 5,096 registered voters, yielding a 59.1% turnout.

Education
The Milltown Public Schools serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 777 students and 70.2 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 Parkview School with 323 students in grades Pre-K–3 and Joyce Kilmer School with 449 students in grades 4–8.

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Spotswood High School in Spotswood as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Spotswood Public Schools, which also serves students from Helmetta. In 2013, Milltown and Spotswood had discussions of expanding the partnership between the two districts beyond the sending relationship. of the 2020–21 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 692 students and 57.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

The community is also served by the Greater Brunswick Charter School, a K–8 charter school serving students from Milltown, Edison, Highland Park and New Brunswick. As of the 2021–22 school year, the school had an enrollment of 399 students and 32.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.3:1.

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 and at its East Brunswick, Perth Amboy and Piscataway technical high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Our Lady of Lourdes School (PreK–8), which operated under the supervision of Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen, closed in June 2013 due to dropping enrollment.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 27.37 mi of roadways, of which 23.74 mi were maintained by the municipality, 2.59 mi by Middlesex County and 1.04 mi by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

Ryders Lane (County Route 617) is a major artery serving the borough along the eastern border. The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) passes through for about a mile, but the closest interchange is in neighboring East Brunswick. Also, US 1 is outside in neighboring North Brunswick.

Public transportation
On weekdays, NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 811 route.

Coach USA Suburban Transit provides NYC rush-hour commuter service on the 400 route.

The Raritan River Railroad ran through Milltown, but is now defunct along this part of the line. The track and freight station still remain. Proposals have been made to use the line as a light rail route.

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

 * J. Edward Crabiel (1916–1992), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate and as New Jersey Secretary of State, until forced to resign
 * Josephine Figlo (1923–2011), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League outfielder who played for the Milwaukee Chicks and Racine Belles in 1944
 * Al Hermann (1899–1980), Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Boston Braves
 * David Kikoski (born 1961), jazz pianist
 * Leroy Lins (1913–1986), professional basketball player who played for the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots in the National Basketball League
 * Danny Pintauro (born 1976), actor who got started as a child actor on the television soap opera As the World Turns, and in the movie Cujo, and came to prominence on the television series Who's the Boss?
 * David Schwendeman (1924–2012), last full-time chief taxidermist of the American Museum of Natural History from 1959 to 1988, who was a lifelong resident of Milltown
 * Geno Zimmerlink (born 1963), former American football tight end who played for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League

title: Milltown, New Jersey


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Alun Lewis (poet)

Alun Lewis (1 July 1915 – 5 March 1944) was a Welsh poet. He is one of the best-known English-language war poets of the Second World War. His poetry centres around a "recurring obsession with the themes of isolation and death."

Life and work
Alun Lewis, was born on 1 July 1915 at Cwmaman, near Aberdare in the Cynon Valley of the South Wales Coalfields. His parents, Thomas John and Gwladys Lewis, were school teachers at Llanwern; and he had a younger sister, Mair and two brothers. By the time he won a scholarship to attend Cowbridge Grammar School, he was already interested in writing. He went on to study at Aberystwyth University and the University of Manchester. Although he was born in South Wales, he wrote in English only.

Lewis was unsuccessful as a journalist and instead earned his living as a supply teacher. He met the poet Lynette Roberts (whose poem "Llanybri" is an invitation to him to visit her home), even though she was married to another poet, Keidrych Rhys. In 1939, Lewis met Gweno Meverid Ellis, a teacher, whom he married on 5 July 1941.

After the outbreak of the Second World War Lewis first joined the British Army's Royal Engineers as a Private because he was a pacifist, but still wanted to fight fascism. However, he then inexplicably sought and gained a commission in an infantry battalion. In 1941 he collaborated with artists John Petts and Brenda Chamberlain on the "Caseg broadsheets". His first published book was the poetry collection Raider's Dawn and other poems (1942), which was followed by a volume of short stories, The Last Inspection (1942). In 1942 he was sent to India with the 6th battalion South Wales Borderers.

Lewis's poems about his war experiences have been described as showing "his brooding over his army experiences and trying to catch and hold some vision that would illuminate its desolation with meaning" (see Ian Hamilton "Alun Lewis Selected Poetry and Prose) Scholars have noted the thematic and formal influence of Edward Thomas on his work—Lewis's poem "To Edward Thomas" is dedicated to the poet.

Lewis died on 5 March 1944 during the Burma campaign against the Imperial Japanese Army. He was found shot in the head, after shaving and washing, near the officers' latrines, with his revolver in his hand, and died from his wound six hours later. Despite it being a case of suicide, a court of inquiry charitably concluded that he had tripped and that the shooting was an accident. He is buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery.

His second book of poems, ''Ha! Ha! Among the Trumpets. Poems in Transit, was published in 1945, and his Letters from India'' in 1946. Several collections of his poems, letters and stories have been published subsequently.

Works

 * Raiders' Dawn and other poems (1942)
 * The Last Inspection and other stories (1942)
 * Posthumous releases and compilations
 * Ha! Ha! Among the Trumpets. Poems in Transit (1945)
 * Letters from India, edited by Gweno Lewis & Gwyn Jones (1946)
 * In the Green Tree (letters & stories) (1948)
 * Selected Poetry and Prose, edited by Ian Hamilton (1966)
 * Selected Poems of Alun Lewis, edited by Jeremy Hooker and Gweno Lewis (1981)
 * Alun Lewis. A Miscellany of His Writings, edited by John Pikoulis (1982)
 * Letters to My Wife, edited by Gweno Lewis (Seren Books: 1989)
 * Collected Stories, edited by Cary Archard (Seren Books, 1990)
 * Collected Poems, edited by Cary Archard (Seren Books, 1994)
 * A Cypress Walk. Letters to 'Frieda', with a memoir by Freda Aykroyd (Enitharmon Press, 2006)

Biography

 * Alun Lewis. A Life by John Pikoulis (Seren Books, 1991)
 * Poet in Khaki: Alun Lewis and his Combat Writings by Pinaki Roy, War, Literature and the Arts, Vol. 24, No. 1, 2012–13: Wayback Machine

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

title: Alun Lewis (poet)


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Cowbridge

Cowbridge (Y Bont-faen) is a market town in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, approximately 12 mi west of the centre of Cardiff.

The Cowbridge with Llanblethian community and civil parish elect a town council. A Cowbridge electoral ward exists for elections to the Vale of Glamorgan Council. This ward includes Cowbridge, Llanblethian and Llanfair.

The total population of the ward taken at the 2011 census was 6,180.

Etymology
The town is first recorded as Pontyfon, (with mon or fon meaning cow in Old Welsh), and as Pontyfuwch (bridge of the cow in modern Welsh) by 1645. The modern Welsh name, Y Bont-faen, translates as 'the stone bridge'. The English name is a direct translation of the older Welsh name of the town.

Roman times
The town lies on the site of a Roman settlement identified by some scholars as the fort of Bovium (cow-place). Recent excavations have revealed extensive Roman settlement; the town lies alongside a Roman road.

Middle Ages
The town centre is arranged on its medieval plan, with one long street divided into "burgage plots". It is one of very few medieval walled towns in Wales, and substantial portions of the walls, together with the south gate, are still standing. On 13 March 1254, Cowbridge received its first borough charter from Richard de Clare, the Lord of Glamorgan. Richard de Clare was one of the most powerful Barons of the day, having huge estates stretching across much of south Wales and also lands in southeast England.

The town walls were built sometime in the latter half of the 13th century. From 1243, de Clare was actively extending his authority in Glamorgan. In 1245, he seized the manors of Llanblethian, Ruthin and Talyfan from Richard Siward, and the lordships of Miskin and Glynrhondda from Hywel ap Maredudd. In Llanblethian he founded the town of Cowbridge and in Miskin he founded the castle and town of Llantrisant. The largely medieval church of the Holy Cross was initially a chapel of ease to the parish church at Llanblethian. In 1307 Earl Gilbert de Clare, grandson of Richard de Clare, began work on the stone fortifications of St Quintins Castle in Llanblethian.

The Battle of Stalling Down was fought near Cowbridge between an English army, serving Henry IV of England and a combined force of French and Welsh soldiers under Owain Glyndŵr in 1403. Details of the battle, its exact site and its outcome are scant, but the site has been recognised by Cadw for possible inclusion in a Register of Historic Battlefields in Wales.

Georgian times
The 18th century antiquary, Iolo Morganwg, inventor of the present-day rituals of the National Eisteddfod of Wales, kept a bookshop in the High Street, the location of which is now marked with a plaque inscribed with the words Y Gwir yn erbyn y Byd ("Truth against the world") in Roman and Coelbren y Beirdd script. It was just outside the town that he held the first meeting of the Gorsedd, an assembly of bards, in 1795. Cowbridge Grammar School was founded in 1608 and had close links with Jesus College, Oxford through its later benefactor, Dr Leoline Jenkins. Its famous pupils included the poet Alun Lewis and the actor Sir Anthony Hopkins. The old grammar school eventually merged with Cowbridge High School for Girls to become a comprehensive school, and the original buildings, having for some time lain derelict, have been converted into private accommodation.

Notable buildings
The present Cowbridge Town Hall, a building whose foundations date back perhaps as far as the Elizabethan era, served as a prison until 1830, when it was converted into a town hall to replace the former guildhall, demolished at that date. The conversion was completed in 1830 by Isaiah Verity of Ash Hall who in gratitude was made a Freeman of Cowbridge.

Eight of the original prison cells are still intact, six of which house the exhibits of Cowbridge Museum. The remainder of the building is used by the town council and for public events. The museum holds archaeological finds from Cowbridge and district, as well as displays on the later history of the town, including industrial and domestic artefacts, a photographic collection, and a small historical costume collection.

The main street contains a number of Georgian houses, including the former town houses of important local families such as the Edmondes and Carnes. The Carnes' town house is known as Great House, a Grade 2* listed property of Medieval origin.

Modern times
Cowbridge contains the following inns: the Bear Hotel, the Horse and Groom, the Edmondes Arms, the Duke of Wellington and the Vale of Glamorgan. The latter is located at the premises of the former Vale of Glamorgan Brewery.

Closely attached to the town of Cowbridge is the village of Aberthin. Aberthin contains two inns; The Hare and Hounds and The Farmers Arms.

Cowbridge once had a railway station, which opened in 1865 and closed in 1951.

On the 21 March 1950 a Bristol Freighter (Registration: G-AHJJ) on a test flight took off from Bristol Filton Airport. The aircraft crashed near Cowbridge after a structural failure of the fuselage. It caused the aircraft to enter spin and crash. The accident killed all four passengers and crew on board.

Cowbridge was named one of the best places to live in Wales in 2017.

Schools
Cowbridge Grammar School (founded 1608, closed 1974) was merged with other local schools to form Cowbridge Comprehensive School in 1973–4. The disused main building on Town Mill Road was converted to residences in 2006-8 and its associated prefabricated classrooms replaced by housing in 2013.

Cowbridge Girls School, (previously known as Cowbridge Intermediate School for Girls) was built in 1896 and was the first school for girls built in Wales after the Welsh Intermediate Education Act (1889) provided for state-funding of education for all children. It included a hostel for boarders (funded by philanthropist John Bevan, a Cowbridge solicitor) so that girls could attend from a wider area. The school building was designed by Robert Williams. It was built from dressed limestone in a baronial style. It was extended in 1909, designed by Rhys S. Griffiths to match with the original building and this included a science laboratory, gym and more hostel accommodation as well as additional classrooms. At the formation of Cowbridge Comprehensive School in 1973-4 its building was used for the sixth form. When new buildings meant the whole school could be brought together on one site, it was unused after 2010. Proposals to demolish the building, or alternatively convert it and surrounding space to new housing, were made between 2018 and 2020. A request for it to be listed by Cadw was rejected because of lack of distinctiveness in the building and some modern alterations.

Secondary Schools
Cowbridge Comprehensive School is an English-medium secondary school. As of 2021, the school had approximately 1528 pupils. It is one of the best performing secondary schools in Wales. It achieved 94% A*-C at GCSE in 2010. The school was located on three sites, with the Lower School in the south-west of the town and Middle School and Sixth Form in the north-east. Cowbridge Comprehensive School completed a major redevelopment in September 2010 to bring the entire school to one site (the former Middle School/Sixth Form site) using Welsh Assembly Government funding.

In September 2010, the new school was officially opened to students. All students can now be found on the one site, instead of the three separate buildings that were all situated in different locations in Cowbridge. The former sixth form site on Aberthin Road is now derelict and awaiting redevelopment.

Primary Schools
Y Bontfaen Primary School is an English-medium school situated in Borough Close. As of 2021, it has a roll of 279 pupils.

Ysgol Iolo Morganwg is a Welsh-medium school situated in Broadway. As of June 2022, there were 203 pupils on roll, with 73.4% coming from Welsh-speaking homes.

Sport
Cowbridge is home to Welsh Rugby Union team Cowbridge RFC which fields two senior teams, a youth team and a ladies team. Cowbridge Cricket Club, part of the Cowbridge and District Athletic Club, first played in 1840. The club now has six teams and is affiliated to the South Wales Cricket Association, Cricket Wales and the South Wales Premier Cricket League. Notable cricketers who have played for the club include former test players Hugh Morris, John Clay, Tony Lewis, C F Walters and on one famous occasion Douglas Jardine. Among the many county cricketers produced by the club are the Glamorgan players Ben Wright and Alex Jones. Glamorgan CCC played county fixtures at Cowbridge in the 1930s. The club's 1st XI won the Dan Radcliffe Cup in 2019 as Champions of the South Wales Cricket Association with Christopher Willey as the captain. Ben Wright scored a club record 1,395 runs in the season.

Cowbridge has a leisure centre with tennis, football and badminton clubs. Behind Cowbridge Leisure Centre is Cowbridge Bowling Club and tennis courts.

September 2009 also saw the reintroduction of senior football to Cowbridge Town FC after a ten-year absence. Starting in the third tier of the Vale of Glamorgan Amateur Football League the team achieved great success in their first season back, achieving an unlikely cup-promotion double. The 2011–12 season saw the club gain their second promotion in three years to reach the premier division.

Cultural activities
Cowbridge is home to the Cowbridge Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS), based at the Market Theatre. CADS was formed in 1947 and aims to stage three main productions each year. The Society also publishes a newsletter, "The Thespian", three or four times each year.

Until 1997, when it 'outgrew' the Town Hall stage, Cowbridge was home to the Cowbridge Amateur Operatic Society (CAOS). Founded by a small group of enthusiasts, its first production was "The Pirates of Penzance" in 1969. CAOS continued its Gilbert and Sullivan theme until 1974, when the show of the year was "Die Fledermaus". Still going strong, CAOS is now based at Llantwit Major.

Since 2004, the town has hosted the annual Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival. Currently, the festival takes place in late spring having originally taken place every October. The festival incorporates various food and drink exhibitors, food court and fringe festival. Many of the town's inns hold beer, ale and cider events.

In 2010 the Cowbridge Music Festival was founded which takes place every autumn in various venues throughout the town. The festival is made up of classical music, jazz and folk music and boasts an excellent outreach programme. In 2014 the acclaimed violinist Nicola Benedetti became the festival's patron.

Cowbridge History Society was created in 2013 out of a merger between the former Cowbridge & District Local History Society (founded in the 1970s) and Cowbridge Record Society, publishers of several books on the topics relating to the history of the town. It holds monthly meetings at the Town Hall throughout the winter and funds a Local History Studies Room (the "Jeff Alden Room") containing archival material.

Notable residents

 * Ieuan Evans, former Wales rugby union player and rugby commentator
 * Leoline Jenkins, seventeenth-century politician and judge
 * Caryl Parry Jones, singer and actress
 * Ernest William Jones, cricketer for Glamorgan and Wales
 * Stephen McPhail, Irish international and former Cardiff City football player
 * Nicky Piper, former boxer
 * Anneka Rice, television presenter
 * Nia Roberts, television and radio presenter
 * James William Webb-Jones, choral conductor

Notable people who attended school in Cowbridge include:
 * James Frost, singer and guitarist of The Automatic.
 * Iwan Griffiths, drummer of The Automatic.
 * Patrick Hannan, political journalist
 * Robin Hawkins, lead singer and bassist of Welsh rock band 'The Automatic'.
 * Frances Hoggan, First woman doctor to be registered in Wales.
 * Anthony Hopkins, Oscar-winning actor
 * Alun Lewis, poet
 * Garfield Owen Welsh footballer of the 1950s and 1960s
 * Rhian Wilkinson, Olympic football player

Twinning
Cowbridge is twinned with Clisson in the Loire-Atlantique department in northwestern France.

title: Cowbridge


text:
Monmouth Junction, New Jersey

Monmouth Junction is an unincorporated community and census designated place (CDP) located within South Brunswick, in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 2,887.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 1.483 mi2, of which, 1.468 mi2 of it was land and 0.015 mi2 of it (1.01%) was water.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 2,887 people, 903 households, and 801 families in the CDP. The population density was 1966.3 /mi2. There were 919 housing units at an average density of 625.9 /mi2. The racial makeup was 57.40% (1,657) White, 6.03% (174) Black or African American, 0.24% (7) Native American, 32.91% (950) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.97% (28) from other races, and 2.46% (71) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.95% (143) of the population.

Of the 903 households, 50.8% had children under the age of 18; 77.6% were married couples living together; 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 11.3% were non-families. Of all households, 9.9% were made up of individuals and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.20 and the average family size was 3.43.

29.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 32.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.8 males.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,721 people, 870 households, and 736 families living in the CDP. The population density was 700.4 /km2. There were 881 housing units at an average density of 226.8 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 74.97% White, 7.09% African American, 0.37% Native American, 14.48% Asian, 1.18% from other races, 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.15% of the population.

There were 870 households, out of which 53.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 11.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.12 and the average family size was 3.42.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 31.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $89,598, and the median income for a family was $94,247. Males had a median income of $64,688 versus $39,464 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $35,134. About 4.2% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Education
South Brunswick Public Schools is the local school district.

Religion
The Princeton Japanese Church (プリンストン日本語教会), serves the local Japanese community in Monmouth Junction. It was established in October 1991, and in 1993 had 20-25 attendees per Sunday church worship.

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

 * Walter Perez, weekend morning co-anchor, journalist and weekday reporter for WPVI-TV, the ABC network affiliate in Philadelphia.
 * Justin Shorter, American football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills
 * DeForest Soaries (born 1951), pastor, politician and former Secretary of State of New Jersey and former chairman of the federal Election Assistance Commission.

title: Monmouth Junction, New Jersey


text:
Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey

Monroe Township is a township located in southern Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is centrally located within the Raritan Valley region and is an outer-ring suburb of New York City within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 48,594, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 9,462 (+24.2%) from the 39,132 recorded at the  2010 census,  which in turn reflected an increase of 11,133 (+39.8%) from the 27,999 counted in the 2000 census. Monroe Township also comprises the largest land area of any municipality in Middlesex County, at approximately 42 sqmi.

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 (February 28, 1860), Cranbury (March 7, 1872), and Jamesburg (March 19, 1887).

There are several age-restricted communities in Monroe Township. Despite significant senior citizen population growth, the median age in Monroe has changed from 52.5 in 1990, increasing to 58.9 in 2000, before decreasing to 53.2 in 2010, as more growth recently has resulted from single-family detached homes than from senior citizen developments. Based upon one analysis of data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Report for 2022, Monroe Township was ranked as the safest small city in the United States.

History
The earliest settlers in what would become Monroe Township were the Lenape Native Americans. Monroe Township was founded in April 1838 and named in honor of the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe.

For many decades, the township area was largely a farming community. After parts of the township grew into the more densely populated 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 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 saxophone 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, Stonebridge, 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, synagogues, 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 86 acres 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 Jewish organization B'nai B'rith.

Since the early 2000s, Monroe has experienced a surge in residential development. New communities are being erected, usually around Route 33 and the New Jersey 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.

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 3 to 4 acre 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 on the new high school, which then opened in September 2011. The old high school building is now being reused as the middle 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 2008 when additional remains were found. The consultant identified these stone foundation remains as a 19th-century farmstead, with no earlier association.

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 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.

In May 2021, Monroe Township coordinated a financial relief effort toward the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township comprised a total area of 42.19 square miles (109.26 km2), including 41.94 square miles (108.63 km2) of land and 0.24 square miles (0.63 km2) of water (0.58%). It is the largest municipality in Middlesex County in terms of total area.

Clearbrook (with a 2010 population of 2,667), Concordia (3,092 in 2010), Encore at Monroe, Forsgate, Monroe Manor, Regency at Monroe, Renaissance at Monroe, Rossmoor (2,666 as of 2010), Stonebridge, The Ponds, and Whittingham (2,476 in 2010) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Monroe Township.

Monroe completely surrounds Jamesburg, making them one 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
Monroe Township is not officially broken down into traditional neighborhoods (the Census-designated places oriented around active adult communities notwithstanding), but over the years, residents have given names to various unincorporated neighborhoods within the township. Three common names heard in the township are Mill Lake Manor (an area centered on Monmouth Road and 10th Avenue) and Outcalt (in the northern part of the township, near Spotswood and Helmetta). For those who have lived in Mill Lake Manor, the area is broken down further into the "Old" and "New" Manor (split by Monmouth Road on the east and west sides, the Old being east and the New being the west side). 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, Gravel Hill (also spelled as Gravelhill), Half Acre (home to the retirement communities of Concordia and Whittingham), Hoffman, Jamesburg Gardens, Lower Jamesburg, Matchaponix, Middlesex Downs, Mounts Mills, Old Church, Outcalt, Pineview Estates, Prospect Plains (home to the retirement communities of Rossmoor and Clearbrook), Spotswood Manor, Texas, and Wyckoffs Mills.

Historical railroads (no longer active):
 * Camden and Amboy Railroad
 * Freehold and Jamesburg Railroad
 * Pennsylvania Railroad Amboy Division (formerly the Camden and Amboy Railroad)
 * Jamesurg Railroad Amboy Division (formerly the Freehold and Jamesburg Railroad)

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 48,594 people and 20,289 occupied housing units in the township. Monroe Township, like Middlesex County overall, has experienced a rapid growth rate in its Indian American population, with an estimated 5,943 (13.6%) as of 2017, which was 23 times the 256 (0.9%) 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 since 2010 the largest public menorah in New Jersey to celebrate Chanukah.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 39,132 people, 16,497 households, and 10,872 families in the township. The population density was 932.3 /sqmi. There were 18,002 housing units at an average density of 428.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 81.55% (31,913) White, 3.92% (1,533) Black or African American, 0.08% (33) Native American, 12.60% (4,930) Asian, 0.01% (4) Pacific Islander, 0.62% (244) from other races, and 1.21% (475) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.28% (1,673) of the population.

Of the 16,497 households, 22.4% had children under the age of 18; 60.2% were married couples living together; 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.1% were non-families. Of all households, 31.1% were made up of individuals and 25.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

18.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 17.0% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 34.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 85.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 80.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $74,202 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,156) and the median family income was $99,727 (+/− $5,718). Males had a median income of $84,790 (+/− $4,546) versus $57,058 (+/− $4,789) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,959 (+/− $1,676). 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.

2000 census
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 PD/sqmi. There were 13,259 housing units at an average density of 316.1 /sqmi. 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.

Education
The Monroe Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of eight schools, had an enrollment of 6,829 students and 533.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Applegarth Elementary School with 439 students in grades 4–5, Barclay Brook Elementary School with 314 students in grades Pre-K–2, Brookside Elementary School with 400 students in grades 3–5, Mill Lake Elementary School with 544 students in grades Pre-K–2, Oak Tree Elementary School with 700 students in grades Pre-K–3, Woodland Elementary School with 350 students in grades 3–5, Monroe Township Middle School with 1,702 students in grades 6–8 and Monroe Township High School with 2,330 students in grades 9–12.

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 (the former middle school) was added to the district's elementary schools.

Thompson Park 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 1998–1999 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.

Sports
The township has three cricket fields, which host amateur leagues and tournaments. The township is the home of the United Cricket Club, which participates in the US Cricket League. In 2023, Monroe Township High School launched New Jersey's first ever high school cricket team.

Parks and recreation
Thompson Park is a 675 acres park, connected to sports fields operated by Monroe Township High School, and straddles both Monroe Township and Jamesburg. It is the largest park in the Middlesex County Park System, and features Lake Manalapan where people could fish (motorboats are not allowed on the lake, but rowing is permitted). The park also has its own dog park, various hiking trails, and a small fenced in zoo that has various native and exotic animals on display.

Other parks in the township include Veteran's Park Playground and Spray Park, James Monroe Memorial Park, Thomas L. Allen Softball Complex, Daniel P. Ryan Field, and Monroe Township Soccer Complex.

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 (of the 564) 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 in odd-numbered years 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 Stephen Dalina, who is serving a term of office ending December 31, 2027. Dalina had been appointed to office in 2021 and was elected for a full term in November 2023. Members of the Township Council are Council President Miriam Cohen (D, 2027; at-large), Vice President Terence G. Van Dzura (D, 2027; at-large), Charles G. Dipierro (R, 2025; Ward 3), Michael A. Markel (D, 2025; Ward 1) and Rupa P. Siegel (D, 2025; Ward 2).

In January 2021, the Township Council selected councilmember Stephen Dalina from a list of three candidates nominated to fill the seat as mayor expiring in December 2023 that became vacant following the death of Gerald Tamburro the previous month. In February 2021, Terence Van Dzura was selected from the three candidates nominated to fill the at-large seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Dalina until he took office as mayor. Dalina and Van Dzura served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when they were elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

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. In 2018, the state approved funding to close the two Civil War-era youth prisons in New Jersey. It has not been decided yet what will be done with the property after its closure.

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 2011, there were a total of 29,992 registered voters in Monroe Township, of which 11,616 (38.7%) were registered as Democrats, 5,448 (18.2%) were registered as Republicans and 12,912 (43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 16 voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.5% of the vote (12,113 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 45.8% (10,361 votes), and other candidates with 0.7% (166 votes), among the 22,840 ballots cast by the township's 31,297 registered voters (200 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.0%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.9% of the vote (12,319 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.4% (10,150 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (169 votes), 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 (11,363 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 43.2% (8,806 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (103 votes), 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 (10,209 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.2% (5,605 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (131 votes), among the 16,180 ballots cast by the township's 31,967 registered voters (235 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 50.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 48.0% of the vote (8,292 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 45.1% (7,785 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.5% (948 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (102 votes), among the 17,277 ballots cast by the township's 29,164 registered voters, yielding a 59.2% turnout.

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 175.97 mi of roadways, of which 138.33 mi were maintained by the municipality, 33.78 mi by Middlesex County and 2.52 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 1.34 mi by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

Major highways serving Monroe Township include the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95), Route 32 and 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 (with a few ramps continuing into South Brunswick Township). 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.

Other limited-access roads that are accessible outside the municipality include Interstate 195 in neighboring Millstone Township and the Garden State Parkway in bordering Old Bridge Township.

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 mi 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 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.

Rail
In the 19th & 20th centuries, Jamesburg Borough and Monroe Township had a major railway in the area, which was the Freehold and Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad. This railway was owned and operated by the Camden & Amboy Railroad Company (C&A), in which surveying for the line began on September 8, 1851, grading began on October 19, 1852, and the first track was laid on April 4, 1853. The first section of line was opened on July 18, 1853. The establishment of the Freehold & Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad caused this region to become a transportation hub. The Freehold and Jamesburg Railroad was abandoned by the early 1930s. A 2.8 mi portion of the former railroad's right-of-way was later approved to be sold by the New Jersey Board of Public Utility Commissioners (PUC) to Jersey Central Power & Light Company in 1966, with occasional freight service still being utilized through the Freehold Industrial Track.

The Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line is a proposal by New Jersey Transit to restore passenger railway service to the region, by utilizing the same tracks as the Freehold Industrial Track. Jamesburg would be a potential railway stop on the proposed 'MOM' Line.

The nearest train stations to the Monroe area are located at Metuchen, New Brunswick, and Princeton Junction, all along on the Northeast Corridor Line.

Bus
NJ Transit currently provides bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 138 and 139 routes. Coach USA Suburban Transit and Academy Bus Lines provide weekday commuter service to PABT and to Wall Street.

Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT) shuttles provide weekday 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 (suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic) connects Jamesburg, Helmetta and Spotswood with East Brunswick, including the Brunswick Square Mall.

Healthcare
Monrow Township is served by CentraState Healthcare System. Located in neighboring Freehold Township, the 287-bed hospital is a partner of Atlantic Health System and is affiliated with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. CentraState Healthcare system also provides healthcare through its various family practices in communities across western Monmouth and southern Middlesex counties in central New Jersey. One of those six family practices has an office located in Monroe Township.

The next closest hospitals to the township are Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in nearby Plainsboro Township, the Old Bridge Division of Raritan Bay Medical Center in nearby Old Bridge Township, 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 Monroe Township include:

 * Randy Beverly (born 1944), cornerback for the New York Jets best known for making two key interceptions that helped the Jets to their historic victory in Super Bowl III in 1969
 * Irene Craigmile Bolam (1904–1982), subject of a 1970 book which claimed that she was Amelia Earhart
 * Craig Carpenito (born 1973), former United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
 * Nick Dini (born 1993), catcher for the Kansas City Royals
 * Peter P. Garibaldi (1931–2023), politician who served as mayor of Monroe Township, in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1968 to 1974 and in the New Jersey Senate from 1984 to 1988
 * Ben-Ami Kadish (1923–2012), former U.S. Army mechanical engineer who pleaded guilty in December 2008 to being an "unregistered agent for Israel" during the 1980s
 * Rabbi Leon Klenicki (1930–2009), advocate for interfaith relations, particularly between Jews and Catholics
 * Leonard Leo (born 1965), lawyer and conservative legal activist who was the longtime vice president of the Federalist Society
 * Sophie Lutterlough (1910–2009), entomologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
 * Dave Meads (born 1964), former MLB relief pitcher who played for the Houston Astros
 * Antonio Pierce (born 1978), former Pro Bowl Linebacker for the National Football League's New York Giants
 * Frank J. Pino (1909–2007), lawyer and politician
 * Edwin Stern (born 1941), lawyer and judge who served as an acting justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court