Carteret, New Jersey

Carteret is a borough in northeastern Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population reached 25,326,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,482 (+10.9%) from the 2010 census count of 22,844,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 2,135 (+10.3%) from the 20,709 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010 Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

History

Carteret was originally created as the borough of Roosevelt on April 11, 1906, from portions of Woodbridge Township, based on the results of a referendum approved on May 22, 1906.<ref>Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896–1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 245. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref> The name was changed to Carteret as of November 7, 1922. The borough was also called Carteret during the period from December 19, 1921, to January 16, 1922.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968 Template:Webarchive, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 169. Accessed June 17, 2012.</ref> The borough was named after Sir George Carteret, one of the first proprietors of New Jersey, and his son Philip Carteret, the first royal governor of New Jersey.<ref>History Template:Webarchive, Borough of Carteret. Accessed June 17, 2012.</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.96 square miles (12.86 km²), including 4.39 square miles (11.37 km²) of land and 0.57 square miles (1.48 km²) of water (11.53%).<ref name=CensusArea /><ref name=GR1 />

The Rahway River forms the northern boundary of Carteret, with Linden on the other side of the river in Union County. Joseph Medwick Park is a greenway of parkland along the banks of the river. The Arthur Kill is the eastern boundary with Staten Island, New York City, New York on the opposite side. Woodbridge Township borders Carteret on all land-based boundaries.<ref>Areas touching Carteret Template:Webarchive, MapIt. Accessed December 2, 2019.</ref><ref>Municipalities Template:Webarchive, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Canda, Chrome (in the borough's southeast),<ref>MapQuest Maps – Driving Directions – Map</ref> East Rahway, Lamar, Silvan Beach, South Carteret, West Carteret (the portion west of the New Jersey Turnpike)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and West Chrome.<ref>Locality Search Template:Webarchive, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

Demographics

Template:US Census population Carteret's Sikh community, variously estimated at 1,000 to 2,500, is the largest concentration of Sikhs in the state.<ref>Giachino, Alyssa. "Carteret police say two attacks being investigated as bias crimes" Template:Webarchive, Asbury Park Press, October 31, 2008. Accessed August 16, 2011. "estimates the Sikh population in Carteret is at least 2,500 out of the borough's 22,000 residents."</ref><ref name=WSN>Staff. "Sikh Parade in Carteret sends message about faith's strength" Template:Webarchive, World Sikh News, April 30, 2008. Accessed August 16, 2011. "As New Jersey is host to some 25,000 Sikhs, Carteret has emerged as a magnet for the community, with an estimated 1,000 Sikhs among the borough's 22,000 residents."</ref><ref>Coyne, Kevin. "Turbans Make Targets, Some Sikhs Find" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, June 15, 2008. Accessed August 23, 2011. "Carteret, home to the largest concentration of Sikhs in the state."</ref> The Gurudwara Singh Sabha Sahib, the borough's first gurudwara, had rented a location in Carteret in 1998 before moving to a permanent location in the nearby Port Reading section of Woodbridge Township in 2005.<ref>Home page Template:Webarchive, Gurudwara Singh Sabha Sahib. Accessed August 24, 2011. "Gurudwara Singh Sabha is the first gurudwara sahib that was established in the borough of Carteret in 1998."</ref><ref>Staff. "Siks Celebrate New Home; Temple marks recent move to Port Reading" Template:Webarchive, Home News Tribune, November 12, 2005. Accessed August 24, 2011. "The Gurudwara Singh Sabha Sahib is hosting a grand opening celebration today at its new location 941 Port Reading Ave Port Reading. The temple opened in June after members had worshipped for years at a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall on Carteret Avenue in Carteret using the space only on Sundays. The new location allows services every day"</ref>

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 22,844 people, 7,591 households, and 5,686 families in the borough. The population density was 5,171.1 per square mile (1,996.6/km²). There were 8,148 housing units at an average density of 1,844.4 per square mile (712.1/km²). The racial makeup was 50.68% (11,577) White, 14.85% (3,393) Black or African American, 0.35% (80) Native American, 19.04% (4,349) Asian, 0.05% (12) Pacific Islander, 11.18% (2,553) from other races, and 3.85% (880) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.93% (7,066) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 7,591 households, 37.1% had children under the age of 18; 50.1% were married couples living together; 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.1% 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 3.01 and the average family size was 3.51.<ref name=Census2010/>

25.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.0 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $58,614 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,733) and the median family income was $69,192 (+/− $10,119). Males had a median income of $47,405 (+/− $4,676) versus $42,971 (+/− $4,266) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,346 (+/− $2,095). About 11.8% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Carteret borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 17, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 20,709 people, 7,039 households, and 5,208 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,320 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 50.7% White, 14.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 19.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 11.2% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.4% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Carteret borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 8, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Carteret borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 8, 2013.</ref>

There were 7,039 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.38.<ref name=Census2000 /><ref name=Census2000SF1 />

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.<ref name=Census2000 /><ref name=Census2000SF1 />

The median income for a household in the borough was $47,148, and the median income for a family was $54,609. Males had a median income of $40,172 versus $28,132 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,967. About 8.6% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000 /><ref name=Census2000SF1 />

Economy

Carteret Stages, a film production complex covering Template:Convert and estimated to cost $1 billion, is undergoing development at the waterfront.<ref>Fazelpoor, Matthew. "Carteret collects nearly $10M in grant funding for film studio, ferry terminal", NJBIZ, April 17, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. "Carteret’s ambitious, $1 billion waterfront redevelopment took another step forward as two key components recently received grant funding. The 10-acre project includes a 1.2 million-square-foot movie production studio complex as well as an intermodal ferry terminal."</ref>

Portions of the borough are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ),<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Template:Webarchive, Borough of Carteret. Accessed November 19, 2019.</ref> one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. The borough was selected in 1994 as one of a group of 10 zones added to participate in the program and one of four of those chosen based on a competition.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and Answers Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "In 1994 the legislation was amended and ten more zones were added to this successful economic development program. Of the ten new zones, six were predetermined: Paterson, Passaic, Perth Amboy, Phillipsburg, Lakewood, Asbury Park/Long Branch (joint zone). The four remaining zones were selected on a competitive basis. They are Carteret, Pleasantville, Union City and Mount Holly."</ref> In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the UEZ, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the Template:Frac% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Program Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Businesses participating in the UEZ Program can charge half the standard sales tax rate on certain purchases, currently 3.3125% effective 1/1/2018"</ref> Established in March 1995, the borough's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in March 2026.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zones Effective and Expiration Dates Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed January 8, 2018.</ref>

Carteret is the location of the primary data center for the NASDAQ OMX Group's stock exchange.<ref>Direct Connect Template:Webarchive, NASDAQ OMX Group. Accessed June 18, 2014. "NASDAQ OMX Direct Connect is a dedicated connection for clients that are located outside of the NASDAQ OMX Data Center. Direct Connect clients may access all NASDAQ OMX markets and market data feeds in both the Carteret, NJ primary data center and the Ashburn, VA backup facility."</ref>

Carteret was the headquarters of the defunct electronics chain Nobody Beats the Wiz.<ref>Christman, Ed. "Deal Brings Wiz A Crucial $25 Million" Template:Webarchive, Billboard, October 25, 1997. Accessed December 2, 2016. "Nobody Beats the Wiz, based in Carteret, N.J., has had a rocky year, suffering intermittent cash-flow problems, most recently in September, when it failed to pay most major music suppliers"</ref>

The Carteret Performing Arts Center opened in 2021.

Government

Local government

File:Carteret, NJ municipal building front and public library, Jan. 2025.jpg

Carteret Memorial Municipal Building (right) and Public Library (left)

Carteret 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.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey Template:Webarchive, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> 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, who are elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 87.</ref> The borough form of government used by Carteret 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.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" Template:Webarchive, p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Carteret is Democrat Daniel J. Reiman, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. The members of the Borough Council are Council President Dennis DiMascio (D, 2024), Vincent Bellino (D, 2025), Jorge Diaz (D, 2025), Ajmar "AJ" Johal (D, 2024), Randy Krum (D, 2026) and Susan R. Naples (D, 2026).<ref name=GoverningBody>Borough Council, Borough of Carteret. Accessed April 14, 2024. "Borough Form Of Government: Mayor – 4 Year Term; Six (6) Councilmembers – 3 Year Term".</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Carteret. Accessed May 27, 2024.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2023>November 7, 2023 General Election Official Results, Middlesex County, New Jersey, December 7, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2022>November 8, 2022 General Election Official Results, Middlesex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2021>General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Middlesex County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2021. Accessed April 13, 2022.</ref>

First elected in 2002, Reiman was paid an annual salary of $102,610 in 2016, placing him 13th among the highest-paid mayors in the state.<ref>Crvenka, Susanne. "These NJ mayors make 6-figure salaries from taxpayers. Is yours one of them?" Template:Webarchive, Asbury Park Press, July 31, 2017. Accessed October 11, 2017. "13. Carteret Mayor Daniel J. Reiman, $102,610"</ref> He has been elected for 6 consecutive elections, some of them unopposed.

In May 2016, the borough council selected Ajmar Singh Johal from three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that became vacant following the death of Joseph W. "Skippy" Sitarz the previous month.<ref>Russell, Suzanne. "Carteret selects new councilman" Template:Webarchive, Courier News, May 6, 2016. Accessed June 6, 2016. "Ajmar Johal is Carteret's newest Borough Council member.Johal was selected by the governing body to fill the vacancy created by the April 11 death of Democratic Councilman Joseph W. 'Skippy' Sitarz, who had served on the council for 22 nonconsecutive years."</ref>

Members of Carteret's 13.9% South Asian community<ref name=LWD2010 /> have been active in local government, serving on several governing boards and contesting elections. Members of notable activity in the government include Sultan M. Babar, an alternate member of the board of health and the head of its medical department.<ref>Carteret Board of Health Template:Webarchive, Carteret Board of Health, Accessed August 26, 2011.</ref><ref>Sultan Babar Template:Webarchive, Accessed August 27, 2011</ref> Babar also ran for borough council and was a candidate in the Democratic primaries.<ref>Shahid, Aliyah. "Middlesex County incumbent freeholders easily beat challenge in primary" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, June 3, 2009. Accessed August 29, 2011. "In the Democratic race in Carteret, incumbent Joseph W. Sitarz and Dennis DiMascio beat Sultan M. Babar for two three-year terms for borough council."</ref> He has been chosen to represent the 10th delegate district part of Middlesex County, which consists of 18th and 19th state legislative districts, as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.<ref>Sultan M. Babar Template:Webarchive, Accessed March 25, 2012. "NJ Democratic State Committee and President Obama's campaign has chosen [Sultan M. Babar] to represent 18 and 19th legislative districts in the DNC"</ref><ref>Jackson, Herb. Legislators top list of Obama delegates, The Source, Accessed April 4, 2012</ref><ref>NJ Board of Elections Democratic District Delegates Template:Webarchive State of NJ. April 5, 2012</ref> Other members of notability are Amijit Cheema, member of the Planning Board;<ref>Carteret Planning Board Template:Webarchive, Accessed August 25, 2011</ref> and Hardyal Singh Johal, former member of the Planning Board.<ref>Rommel, Leo D. "Sikhs to celebrate with parade Saturday in Carteret"Template:Dead link, Google cache copy of article from Asbury Park Press, April 15, 2010. Accessed August 29, 2011. "Hardyal Singh Johal, chairman of the borough's Planning Board, said he was the first Sikh ever to move into Carteret, back in the early 1970s."</ref>

Emergency services

The borough maintains a 50-person police department. An October 2017 report by NJ.com found that Officer Joseph Reiman, brother of Mayor Daniel Reiman, accounted for 20% of the police department's 115 arrests that involved the use of force in the two years following his July 2015 hiring.<ref>McCarthy, Craig. "In Carteret, indicted cop accounted for fifth of arrests involving force" Template:Webarchive, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 10, 2017. Accessed October 11, 2017. "The borough police officer charged with assaulting a teenager is responsible for more than one-fifth of all arrests involving force recorded by the department over a 23-month period, an NJ Advance Media analysis has found.From the time Joseph Reiman was hired in July 2015, the 50-person department logged 115 incidents in which an officer used force, such as a punch, baton or weapon against a suspect, according to documents obtained under the state Open Public Records Act."</ref>

The Carteret Volunteer First Aid Squad, established in 1934, ended operations in April 2013 after becoming financially insolvent. Starting in April 2013, emergency medical services in the borough are provided around the clock by the EMS division of the Carteret Fire Department.<ref>"Carteret Fire Department begins 24/7 EMS coverage as Carteret Volunteer First Aid Inc. ceases operations" Template:Webarchive, Borough of Carteret, April 10, 2013. Accessed April 30, 2020. "Mayor Dan Reiman has announced that in the wake of the Carteret Volunteer First Aid Squad shutting its doors and ceasing operations, the Carteret Fire Department EMS division will expand operations from 12 hours a day to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The private, non-profit Carteret Volunteer First Aid Squad was first established in 1934. In 1999 due to the inability of the Volunteer squad to staff day time hours the Borough selected Rural Metro Inc. to provide EMS coverage for the Borough on weekdays, while the under-staffed volunteer organization continued to provide coverage on weekends."</ref><ref name="carteret2013-04-10">Carteret Fire Department begins 24/7 EMS coverage as Carteret Volunteer First Aid Inc. ceases operations Template:Webarchive, Borough of Carteret, April 10, 2013. Accessed June 6, 2023. "Mayor Dan Reiman has announced that in the wake of the Carteret Volunteer First Aid Squad shutting its doors and ceasing operations, the Carteret Fire Department EMS division will expand operations from 12 hours a day to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The private, non-profit Carteret Volunteer First Aid Squad was first established in 1934. In 1999 due to the inability of the Volunteer squad to staff day time hours the Borough selected Rural Metro Inc. to provide EMS coverage for the Borough on weekdays, while the under-staffed volunteer organization continued to provide coverage on weekends."</ref>

The Borough of Carteret hired its first firefighter in the late 19th century.<ref name=carteretFDHistory>Fire Department History Template:Webarchive, Borough of Carteret. Accessed June 6, 2023. "The Carteret Fire Department began in the late 1800's with the hiring of a single fire fighter to operate the fire apparatus. At that time, the fire apparatus was horse drawn, and the duties of a firefighter were quite different than they are today. In case of a fire, the team of horses would be unhooked from another borough wagon, and raced to the firehouse."</ref> The department relied on a single paid firefighter up until 1920, when paid staff was expanded to five firefighters to operate the borough's first motorized fire truck. In the 1950s with the construction of the New Jersey Turnpike, which included an exit in Carteret, the department started to purchase trucks designed for safe operation fighting vehicle fires on busy high-speed highways.

In August 1990, a pipeline carrying jet fuel burst in Carteret. The Carteret Fire Department joined with personnel from GATX Terminals Corporation and the Middlesex County Hazardous Materials Unit to construct a temporary dike to prevent the fuel from flowing into the Arthur Kill.<ref name=nytimes1990-08-04>"Metro Dateline; Pipeline Ruptures; Dike Contains Spill" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, August 4, 1990. Accessed June 6, 2023. "Crews from GATX, the Carteret Fire Department and the Middlesex County Hazardous Materials unit helped after the spill, she said."</ref>

Up until 2011, Carteret would request help from fireboats of the Fire Department of New York when there was a waterfront fire.<ref name=nytimes1974-12-08>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2011, through the assistance of a FEMA Port Security Grant, the department acquired its first fireboat.<ref name=nj2011-12-21>Template:Cite news</ref> The Template:Convert vessel cost $297,000.<ref name=carteret2011-12-21>Template:Cite news</ref>

In December 2014, the Courier News reported on an investigation of serious sexual harassment targeting the department's sole female firefighter.<ref name=mycentraljersey2014-10-19>Template:Cite news</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Carteret is located in the 6th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 19th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011–2020 Legislative District Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government Template:Webarchive, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011–2020 Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 12,538 registered voters in Carteret, of which 5,187 (41.4%) were registered as Democrats, 1,373 (11.0%) were registered as Republicans and 5,974 (47.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary – Middlesex Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 74.5% of the vote (5,997 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 24.9% (2,002 votes), and other candidates with 0.6% (46 votes), among the 8,124 ballots cast by the borough's 13,032 registered voters (79 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 62.3%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 65.8% of the vote (5,387 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 32.3% (2,643 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (63 votes), among the 8,182 ballots cast by the borough's 12,390 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.0%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Middlesex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 57.1% of the vote (4,283 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 41.3% (3,097 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (56 votes), among the 7,495 ballots cast by the borough's 11,749 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 63.8.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Middlesex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref>

Presidential Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2024<ref name="2024Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|45.2% 4,010	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|52.2% 4,630	2.6% 210
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|32.7% 3,065	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|66.4% 6,212	0.9% 65
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|29.4% 2,506	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|68.3% 5,832	1.8% 156
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2012<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|24.9% 2,002	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|74.5% 5,997	0.6% 46
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2008<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Middlesex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|32.3% 2,643	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|65.8% 5,387	0.8% 63
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2004<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Middlesex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|41.3% 3,097	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|57.1% 4,283	0.5% 56

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 50.8% of the vote (2,224 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 48.2% (2,112 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (42 votes), among the 4,564 ballots cast by the borough's 13,247 registered voters (186 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 34.5%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 51.6% of the vote here (2,460 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 40.7% (1,938 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 4.5% (213 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (36 votes), among the 4,765 ballots cast by the borough's 12,073 registered voters, yielding a 39.5% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Middlesex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref>

Education

The Carteret School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Carteret Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Cateret School District, adopted September 29, 2004. Accessed March 9, 2025. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Carteret School District. Composition The Carteret School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Carteret."</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 4,009 students and 315.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.7:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Carteret Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Carteret School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>) are Columbus School<ref>Columbus School, Carteret School District. Accessed March 9, 2025.</ref> with 625 students in grades PreK–4, Nathan Hale School<ref>Nathan Hale School, Carteret School District. Accessed March 9, 2025.</ref> with 439 students in grades PreK–4, Private Nicholas Minue School<ref>Private Nicholas Minue School, Carteret School District. Accessed March 9, 2025.</ref> with 527 students in grades PreK–4, Carteret Middle School<ref>Carteret Middle School, Carteret School District. Accessed March 9, 2025.</ref> with 567 students in grades 5–6, Carteret Junior High School<ref>Carteret Junior High School, Carteret School District. Accessed March 9, 2025.</ref> with 586 students in grades 7–8 and Carteret High School<ref>Carteret High School, Carteret School District. Accessed March 9, 2025.</ref> with 1,182 students in grades 9–12.<ref>Our Schools, Carteret Public Schools. Accessed March 9, 2025.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Carteret Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Carteret School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

In 2016, borough voters turned down a ballot proposal to switch from an elected school board to an appointed board.<ref>Rosario, Joshua. "Elected school boards rarely change to appointed boards, but Jersey City could be next" Template:Webarchive, The Jersey Journal, January 8, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2020. "The last time voters gave up the right to elect a school board was in 2004 in Rockleigh Township, said Frank Belluscio, communications director for the New Jersey School Board Association. When given a similar opportunity in 2016, voters in Carteret rejected a proposal to change its school board from elected to appointed."</ref>

Eighth grade students from all of Middlesex County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Middlesex County Magnet Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its schools in East Brunswick, Edison, Perth Amboy, Piscataway and Woodbridge Township, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.<ref>Heyboer, Kelly. "How to get your kid a seat in one of N.J.'s hardest-to-get-into high schools", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 23, 2019. Accessed February 8, 2025. "Middlesex County has two stand-alone career academies for high-achieving students: the Academy for Science, Math and Engineering Technology, located on the campus of Middlesex County College in Edison, and the Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences in Woodbridge. How to apply: Students must attend a mandatory information session and submit an application by November of their 8th grade year."</ref><ref>About Our Schools, Middlesex County Magnet Schools. Accessed February 8, 2025. "These high schools are free public schools that offer hands-on, integrated learning opportunities for students in grades 9-12 interested in all types of careers as well as higher education. Any student who resides anywhere in Middlesex County's 25 municipalities student may apply to the school district. If accepted, the home school district will permit the student to attend and will organize daily transportation at no cost to the student's family."</ref>

Saint Joseph School serves students in Pre-K–8 as part of Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church and is overseen by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.<ref>Us/ About Us Template:Webarchive, Saint Joseph School. Accessed July 25, 2013.</ref><ref>St. Joseph School Template:Webarchive, Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Accessed July 5, 2011.</ref>

A private rabbinical college, Yeshiva Gedola of Carteret, opened in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Green, Miriam. "Catapaulted to Carteret: Detour to destiny", Binah Pesach supplement, April 11, 2011, pp. 24–29. Accessed September 5, 2011.</ref>

Transportation

Roads and highways

File:2021-05-25 18 39 20 View south along Interstate 95 (New Jersey Turnpike) from the overpass for Middlesex County Route 602 (Roosevelt Avenue) in Carteret, Middlesex County, New Jersey.jpg

View south along the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) in Carteret

Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Middlesex County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.<ref>Middlesex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

The only major road that passes through Carteret is the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).<ref>Interstate 95 Straight Line Diagram Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated August 2014. Accessed December 3, 2019.</ref> Interchange 12 of the turnpike, located in the borough, was updated as part of an $80 million project that added five additional toll lanes and new ramps to CR 602.<ref>NJTA Interchange 12 Reconstruction Project Template:Webarchive, Urban Engineers. Accessed December 3, 2019. "Located at Milepost 95.9 in Middlesex County, Interchange 12 was one of the most congested toll plazas on the New Jersey Turnpike system.... The project, one of the largest initiatives in the Authority's construction program, provided more than $80 million worth of construction improvements affecting over 100,000 daily patrons.... The second contract was a 16-month effort to reconstruct and expand the toll plaza to provide five additional lanes. It included widening the toll plaza; increasing the number of lanes to 14; constructing a 5,000-SF facility building, including underground access to the plaza; and constructing approach roadways, ramps, and structures."</ref>

Public transportation

NJ Transit local bus service is provided on the 116 route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, New York City and Perth Amboy, and on the 48 route to Elizabeth and Perth Amboy.<ref>Middlesex County Bus/Rail Connections, NJ Transit, Backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed July 5, 2011.</ref><ref>Middlesex County Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Middlesex County. Accessed April 1, 2023.</ref>

There are plans to introduce ferry service between Waterfront Park and Lower Manhattan via Arthur Kill and Kill van Kull.<ref>Higgs, Larry. "This Middlesex County town may soon offer fast ferry service to N.Y." Template:Webarchive, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 11, 2018, updated January 30, 2019. Accessed December 3, 2019. "The Federal Transit Administration awarded the grant this week to NJ Transit to purchase a 299-seat ferry for a proposed Carteret to Manhattan route. NJ Transit applied on behalf of Carteret, which will receive the money. The ferry route from Carteret's Waterfront Park, along the Arthur Kill to midtown, could transport passengers to the city in 54-minutes."</ref> As of 2021, funding for the construction of a landing dock and purchase of a boat was in place.<ref>Higgs, Larry. "Future ferry service connecting N.J. and New York gets a $5M boost from the state" Template:Webarchive, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 21, 2021. Accessed June 6, 2023. "Ferry service to and from Manhattan took a significant step toward setting sail after Carteret received a $5 million state grant to build a ferry terminal on the Arthur Kill waterfront located between the borough and Staten island."</ref><ref>Loyer, Susan. "Carteret ferry service to Manhattan moves closer to reality" Template:Webarchive, Courier News, May 11, 2018. Accessed June 6, 2023. "The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded $6 million to NJ Transit to purchase a 299-seat passenger ferry that will be leased to the borough for $1 per year and run from Waterfront Park to Midtown, Manhattan."</ref> As of 2023, dredging had been completed<ref>Arthur Kill dredging for Carteret Ferry Terminal completed in Middlesex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, February 17, 2023. Accessed June 6, 2023.</ref> and construction of bulkhead was underway.<ref>Makin, Bob. Carteret ferry project moves forward with construction of steel bulkhead Template:Webarchive, Borough of Carteret, New Jersey, December 21, 2022. Accessed June 6, 2023.</ref> According to Mayor Daniel J. Reiman, the ferry terminal will be finished by Spring 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Carteret include:

• Jim Babjak (born 1957), Dennis Diken (born 1957) and Mike Mesaros of the pop/rock group The Smithereens are former Carteret residents who met in school there<ref>Cahillane, Kevin. "Not Fade Away: The Smithereens' Monument to Persistence" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, October 10, 2004. Accessed November 3, 2007. "The band formed in 1980 when three Carteret High School graduates (class of 1975) and childhood friends (Mr. Babjak, Dennis Diken on drums and Mike Mesaros on bass) met Pat DiNizio, a Scotch Plains singer-songwriter-garbage man."</ref>
• Joseph A. Cafasso (born 1956), former Fox News consultant on military and counterterrorism issues who left the network after allegations surfaced that he misrepresented his military record<ref>Rutenberg, Jim. "At Fox News, the Colonel Who Wasn't" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, April 29, 2002. Accessed June 17, 2012. "Born in 1956, he graduated from Carteret High School in Carteret, N.J., military records show."</ref>
• Jim Conti, of the ska band Streetlight Manifesto<ref>Jordan, Chris. "Streetlight Manifesto set to shred" Template:Webarchive, Asbury Park Press, June 18, 2005. Accessed February 6, 2011. "Carteret's Jim Conti, tenor sax, had to return to the States because of an illness in his family, and new trumpet player, Delano Bonner, a native of Jamaica, had problems entering Europe because of visa problems."</ref>
• Thomas Deverin (1921–2010), former mayor of Carteret who served 22 years in the New Jersey General Assembly<ref>Malwitz, Rick. "Longtime Carteret political figure Deverin dies at age 89"Template:Dead link, The Daily Journal (New Jersey), December 27, 2010. Accessed February 28, 2011. "State Assemblyman Thomas Deverin of Carteret (right) takes the oath of office in 1979, administered by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Hughes. Deverin, who was also a former mayor of the borough, died Dec. 23 at the age of 89."</ref>
• Keith Hughes (1968–2014), basketball player at Syracuse University and Rutgers who was selected by the Houston Rockets in the 1991 NBA draft, but never played in the NBA<ref>Haley, John. "NJ Hoops: Middlesex County: A look back at the season A to Z; Scoring leaders and more" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, April 3, 2010. Accessed February 23, 2011. "Keith Hughes is the son of former Carteret and Rutgers great Keith Hughes."</ref>
• Sam Kamara (born 1997), professional football defensive end for the Cleveland Browns<ref>Borden, Marcus. "Football: Carteret's Kamara signs with Bears as undrafted free agent", Courier News, May 22, 2021. Accessed March 27, 2025</ref>
• Chad Kinch (1958–1994), shooting guard who played in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks<ref>Staff. Chad Kinch, 35, Ex-Basketball Star Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, April 8, 1994. Accessed June 17, 2012. "Carteret, N.J., April 7— Chad Kinch, a former basketball star at Perth Amboy High School in New Jersey and the Cleveland Cavaliers' No. 1 draft choice in 1980, died at home on Sunday. He was 35."</ref>
• Isa Leshko (born 1971), artist and author of Allowed to Grow Old: Portraits of Elderly Animals from Farm Sanctuaries<ref>Isa Leshko Template:Webarchive, Richard Levy Gallery. Accessed October 13, 2022. "Isa Leshko Born: 1971, Carteret, NJ"</ref>
• Jim McGreevey (born 1957), former Governor of New Jersey, grew up in Carteret<ref>Slackman, Michael; and Jacons, Andrew. "The Governor Resigns: The Conflict; Sex, Ambition and the Politics of the Closet: A Double Life" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, August 15, 2004. Accessed July 25, 2013. "Mr. McGreevey was molded both by the stern expectations of his father, who believed that discipline was best dispensed with a firm hand, and the Catholic, working-class ethos of his hometown, Carteret."</ref>
• Art McMahon (born 1946), defensive back for the Boston / New England Patriots football team from 1968 to 1970 and 1972<ref>Art McMahon Template:Webarchive, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed January 9, 2018.</ref>
• Joe "Ducky" Medwick (1911–1975), left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during the "Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968, by the Veterans Committee<ref>via United Press International. "Ducky Medwick, Slugger For Gas House Gang, Dies; A Controversial Player" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, March 22, 1975. Accessed September 5, 2011. "Medwick was born in Carteret, N. J., on Nov. 24, 1911, and went on to star at Carteret High School in track, football, basketball and baseball."</ref><ref>Joe Medwick at Baseball Almanac Template:Webarchive, accessed December 7, 2006.</ref> Ranked #7 on the Sports Illustrated list of The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures.<ref>The 50 Kdet New Jersey Sports Figures Template:Webarchive, Sports Illustrated, December 27, 1999.</ref>
• Nicholas Minue (1905–1943), United States Army Private who received the Medal of Honor for military service in World War II. An elementary school on Post Boulevard is named in his honor<ref>Staff. "Slain Soldier Hero Won Highest Honor; Jersey Private in Regular Army Charged Foe Alone in Africa" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, April 2, 1944. Accessed February 6, 2011.</ref>
• Paul J. Pluta, Rear Admiral, United States Coast Guard (Ret.)<ref>Staff. "Rear Admiral Paul Pluta Redefines Maritime Security" Template:Webarchive, MarineLink.com, June 7, 2002. Accessed September 5, 2011. "As a young man growing up in the New York City suburb of Carteret, N.J., Pluta knew that he wanted to be involved with some branch of the military, but the decision that loomed over him throughout high school was a tough one. Upon graduation from high school, he weighed his options, singling out the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn."</ref>
• Joseph Sirola (1929–2019), was an actor known as "The King of the Voice-Overs"<ref>Barnes, Mike. "Joseph Sirola, Actor and Tony-Winning Producer, Dies at 89 Joseph Sirola, the genial actor and Tony Award-winning producer who was known as 'The King of the Voice-Overs,' has died. He was 89." Template:Webarchive, The Hollywood Reporter, February 10, 2019. Accessed July 21, 2021. "A son of Croatian immigrants, Sirola was born on Oct. 7, 1929, in Carteret, New Jersey."</ref>
• Joel Weisman (1943–2009), physician who was one of the first to identify a pattern of illnesses that was ultimately diagnosed as AIDS<ref>Colvin, Richard. "Merciful M. D. Pioneering Physician Also Political Advocate for AIDS Victims", Los Angeles Times, May 1, 1988. Accessed July 1, 2013. "Weisman teamed up with Rogolsky in 1975 after three years in private practice in Carteret, NJ, his hometown."</ref>
• Laurence S. Weiss (Template:Circa–2003), business executive and politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from 1978 to 1992<ref>Pallone, Frank. "Tribute To Laurence Weiss" Template:Webarchive, Congressional Record, Volume 140, Number 139 (September 29, 1994). Accessed September 24, 2015. "Mr. Speaker, the story of Larry Weiss is one of the great American success stories. Born in Hungary, he immigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of 3. The Weiss family settled first in Jersey City, then Carteret, where Larry went through the public schools and graduated from the high school."</ref>
• Jason Worilds (born 1988), football player selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 NFL draft<ref>Vrentas, Jenny. "Steelers draft Carteret product Jason Worilds in second round of NFL Draft" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, April 23, 2010. Accessed July 15, 2010.</ref>

External links

• Borough of Carteret
• Carteret Police Department
• Carteret Fire Department
• Carteret School District
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Carteret School District, National Center for Education Statistics