Green Brook Township, New Jersey: Difference between revisions
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Green Brook Township is a township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is centrally located within the Raritan Valley region. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 7,281,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 78 (+1.1%) from the 2010 census count of 7,203,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 1,549 (+27.4%) from the 5,654 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>
What is now Green Brook was originally created as North Plainfield Township on April 2, 1872, from portions of Warren Township. Portions of the township were taken to form North Plainfield (June 9, 1885) and Watchung (March 23, 1926). Green Brook was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 8, 1932, replacing North Plainfield Township, based on the results of a referendum held that same day.<ref name=About>About our town, Green Brook Township. Accessed February 17, 2013. Lists 1932 as the date when the township's name was changed to Green Brook.</ref><ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 223. Accessed August 3, 2012.</ref>
Green Brook describes itself as "Small Enough to Know You, Large Enough to Get Things Done".<ref name=About/> Most of Green Brook shares ZIP Code 08812 with Dunellen.<ref name=NJZipCodes/>
History
[edit]In 1872, a tract of land was subdivided off from Warren Township. Thirteen years later, in 1885, the Borough of North Plainfield was created from a section of the subdivided land. The land at that time was designated as North Plainfield. In 1926, the Borough of Watchung was carved out of North Plainfield Township.<ref name=Story/> The municipality's name was changed to Green Brook Township in 1932.<ref name=About/>
Green Brook Township takes its name from the waterway that passes through the township called the Green Brook that rises in the Watchung Mountains several miles away, feeding from many smaller brooks and ponds along the way, as it flows in a southwesterly direction for a distance of Template:Convert. It then continues southwestward and flows into the Raritan River at Bound Brook, which provides access to the New York City area and the Atlantic Ocean.<ref>History, Green Brook Township. Accessed October 29, 2024.</ref> The brook was named for the color of its water.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 19, 2015.</ref>
Also contained within the township is Washington Rock State Park, which commemorates the spot where George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette watched the movement of the British soldiers during the American Revolutionary War, mainly the months of May and June 1777. The park was established on March 17, 1913, and is about Template:Convert in size.<ref>Washington Rock State Park, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry. Accessed September 9, 2013. "One of the oldest state parks in New Jersey, Washington Rock was originally purchased in 1913 to commemorate the historical events of 1777. Situated on top of Watchung Mountain in Green Brook Township, the park is best known for its scenic vista and historical significance. The park is a popular site for picnicking and relaxing."</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 4.42 square miles (11.43 km2), including 4.41 square miles (11.42 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.18%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
The township is in the Raritan Valley, a line of places in central New Jersey. Green Brook lies in the northern division of Raritan Valley along with the borough of North Plainfield.<ref>Raritan River Template:Webarchive, Sierra Club, New Jersey Chapter - Raritan Valley Group. Accessed September 9, 2013.</ref>
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Seeley Mills and Washington Rock.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>
The township borders the municipalities of Bridgewater Township, North Plainfield, Warren Township and Watchung in Somerset County; Middlesex and Dunellen in Middlesex County; and Plainfield in Union County.<ref>Areas touching Green Brook Township, MapIt. Accessed March 3, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed March 3, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
Demographics
[edit]2020 census
[edit]| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> | Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> | % 2000 | % 2010 | Template:Partial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 4,134 | 4,917 | 4,134 | 56.78% | 68.26% | 56.78% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 313 | 238 | 313 | 4.30% | 3.30% | 4.30% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0.07% | 0.01% | 0.07% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,743 | 1,453 | 1,743 | 23.94% | 20.17% | 23.94% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 34 | 7 | 34 | 0.47% | 0.10% | 0.47% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 209 | 92 | 209 | 2.87% | 1.28% | 2.87% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 843 | 494 | 843 | 11.58% | 6.86% | 11.58% |
| Total | 7,281 | 7,203 | 7,281 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 7,203 people, 2,375 households, and 1,945 families in the township. The population density was 1,610.5 per square mile (621.8/km2). There were 2,448 housing units at an average density of 547.3 per square mile (211.3/km2). The racial makeup was 73.54% (5,297) White, 3.37% (243) Black or African American, 0.04% (3) Native American, 20.21% (1,456) Asian, 0.04% (3) Pacific Islander, 1.12% (81) from other races, and 1.67% (120) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.86% (494) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 2,375 households, 42.1% had children under the age of 18; 69.6% were married couples living together; 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 18.1% were non-families. Of all households, 14.6% were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.30.<ref name=Census2010/>
26.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.3 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $115,268 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,162) and the median family income was $123,796 (+/− $10,668). Males had a median income of $74,231 (+/− $16,708) versus $75,703 (+/− $8,965) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $49,068 (+/− $5,197). About 0.9% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Green Brook township, Somerset County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 3, 2012.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 5,654 people, 1,893 households, and 1,508 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,916 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 88.43% White, 1.68% African American, 0.07% Native American, 7.99% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.09% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Green Brook township, Somerset County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 3, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Green Brook township, Somerset County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 3, 2012.</ref>
There were 1,893 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.0% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.20.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the township the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the township was $80,644, and the median income for a family was $87,744. Males had a median income of $52,147 versus $46,434 for females. The per capita income for the township was $37,290. About 1.7% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Government
[edit]Local government
[edit]Green Brook Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 98.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At a reorganization meeting, held each year within the first week of January, the Committee elects a Mayor and a Deputy Mayor for that year from among its members.
Template:As of, members of the Green Brook Township Committee are Mayor James Van Arsdale (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor James Benscoter (R, term on committee ends and as deputy mayor ends 2023), Brian Conway (R, 2023), Gerard "Jerry" Searfoss (R, 2025) and Nancy Stoll (R, 2024).<ref name=TownshipCommittee>Township Committee, Green Brook Township. Accessed January 30, 2023.</ref><ref>2021 Municipal Data Sheet, Green Brook Township. Accessed June 22, 2022.</ref><ref name=SomersetDirectory>2023 Directory of County & Municipal Offices, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed April 10, 2024.</ref><ref name=Somerset2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Final Certified Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, updated November 23, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Somerset2021>2021 General Election Winning Candidates, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Somerset2020>Somerset County General Election November 3, 2020 Final Certified Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, dated December 3, 2020. Accessed January 19, 2021.</ref>
Federal, state and county representation
[edit]Green Brook Township is located in the 7th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 21st state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2023>Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed September 1, 2023.</ref>
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Template:NJ Somerset County Commissioners
Politics
[edit]As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,545 registered voters in Green Brook Township, of which 920 (20.2% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,219 (26.8% vs. 25.7%) were registered as Republicans and 2,401 (52.8% vs. 48.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Somerset, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 63.1% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 85.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 53.5% of the vote (1,653 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.1% (1,394 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (43 votes), among the 3,110 ballots cast by the township's 4,774 registered voters (20 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 65.1%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,814 votes (53.1% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,532 votes (44.9% vs. 52.1%) and other candidates with 34 votes (1.0% vs. 1.1%), among the 3,415 ballots cast by the township's 4,470 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.4% (vs. 78.7% in Somerset County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Somerset County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,896 votes (58.8% vs. 51.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,290 votes (40.0% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 30 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,225 ballots cast by the township's 3,910 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.5% (vs. 81.7% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Somerset County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.3% of the vote (1,341 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.8% (504 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (37 votes), among the 1,899 ballots cast by the township's 4,810 registered voters (17 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 39.5%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,548 votes (63.9% vs. 55.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 648 votes (26.7% vs. 34.1%), Independent Chris Daggett with 182 votes (7.5% vs. 8.7%) and other candidates with 21 votes (0.9% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,424 ballots cast by the township's 4,527 registered voters, yielding a 53.5% turnout (vs. 52.5% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Somerset County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>
Education
[edit]The Green Brook School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.<ref>Green Brook Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Green Brook School District. Accessed February 21, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through eight in the Green Brook School District, and in grades nine through twelve in the Watchung Hills Regional School District for Green Brook students. Composition: The Green Brook School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Green Brook."</ref> As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 770 students and 81.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.4:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Green Brook Township Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2021.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Green Brook School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2021.</ref>) are Irene E. Feldkirchner Elementary School<ref>Irene E. Feldkirchner Elementary School, Green Brook Township Public Schools. Accessed June 1, 2021.</ref> with 374 students in grades Pre-K–4 and Green Brook Middle School<ref>Green Brook Middle School, Green Brook Township Public Schools. Accessed June 1, 2021.</ref> with 393 students in grades 5–8.<ref>Somerset County Public School Directory 2020-2021, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2021.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Green Brook School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>
Green Brook's public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren Township. Students from Green Brook and from the neighboring communities of Watchung, Warren Township (in Somerset County), and Long Hill Township (in Morris County) attend the school.<ref>Watchung Hills Regional High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 4, 2016. "Close to 2150 students from Green Brook, Long Hill, Warren, and Watchung meet high academic standards and broaden their worldviews as they explore and take risks, discover their passions, and find individual pathways to success."</ref><ref>Somerset County School Districts-Sending/Receiving/Regional, Somerset County Superintendent of Schools. Accessed June 4, 2016. "Watchung Hills ** 9-12 Receives 9-12 From Green Brook, Warren, Watchung, Longhill"</ref> As of the 2019–20 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,948 students and 160.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1.<ref>School data for Watchung Hills Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2021.</ref>
Transportation
[edit]
Roads and highways
[edit]Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Somerset County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Somerset County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 24, 2014.Template:Dead link</ref>
U.S. Route 22 is the most prominent highway directly serving Green Brook. County Route 527 and County Route 529 also pass through.
Public transportation
[edit]NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 822 route.<ref>Somerset County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 28, 2010. Accessed February 13, 2013.</ref>
Community organizations
[edit]There are several committees and organizations within the township of Green Brook. Green Brook has a Baptist church on Greenbrook Road. There is the Green Brook Seniors, which is held at the Senior Center. This is a place for all township seniors to meet and participate in different events. Green Brook also has a Lions Club, which volunteers for different causes. The Green Brook Recreation Committee is a volunteer organization that provides programs and event for all residents.
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Green Brook Township include:
- Daphne Corboz (born 1993), professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Manchester City Women<ref>Bio/ Daphne Corboz BioTemplate:Dead link, US Youth Soccer Association. Accessed January 4, 2017. "Hometown: Green Brook, NJ "</ref>
- Mael Corboz (born 1994), professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for SC Verl<ref>Mael Corboz, Maryland Terrapins men's soccer. Accessed April 1, 2021. "Hometown: Green Brook, N.J.; High School: The Pingry School"</ref>
- Rachel Corboz (born 1996), professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Stade de Reims<ref>Rachel Corboz, Georgetown Hoyas. Accessed April 1, 2021. "High School: Pingry; Hometown: Green Brook, N.J."</ref>
- Paul Crook (born 1966), lead guitarist for Meat Loaf, Anthrax and Sebastian Bach<ref>Lamberg, Erica. "He will rock you; Musicia travels from his Green Brook garage to touring Australia and soon, Vegas", Courier News, May 19, 2004. Accessed December 20, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Crook, 38, was raised in Green Brook and said much of his spare time growing up was spent playing guitar."</ref>
- DJ Clark Kent (1966–2024, stage name of Antonio Franklin), hip hop record producer and DJ<ref>Traub, Alex. "DJ Clark Kent, Who Introduced Jay-Z to Notorious B.I.G., Dies at 58", The New York Times, October 27, 2024. "Antonio Franklin, known as DJ Clark Kent, a widely respected hip-hop insider for four decades who had influential relationships with many leading rappers, died on Thursday at his home in Green Brook, a township in northern New Jersey."</ref>
- Mickey Gall (born 1992), professional mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship<ref>Mickey Gall, Ultimate Fighting Championship. Accessed January 4, 2017. "From: Green Brook, New Jersey USA"</ref>
- Gloria Gaynor (born 1949), Grammy award-winning singer best known for her song "I Will Survive"<ref>Lustig, Jay. "Gloria Gaynor serenades soldiers oversees with new holiday song", The Star-Ledger, December 11, 2008. Accessed March 6, 2013. "Gaynor, 59, grew up in Newark and now lives in Green Brook."</ref>
- Sarai Gonzalez (born 2005), child actress<ref>Correal, Annie. "Declaring 'That's Me,' and Empowering Latinas", The New York Times, October 21, 2016. Accessed January 4, 2017. "A few months ago, Sarai Gonzalez's proudest distinction was being a funny older sister. She hammed it up during dance parties in her family room in Green Brook, N.J."</ref>
- Josh Pauls (born 1992), gold medal winner in sled hockey at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver<ref>Johnson, Brent. "Somerset teen brings home gold from Winter Paralympics", The Star-Ledger, March 24, 2010. Accessed July 25, 2014. "Today was Pauls' first day back at school after helping the United States win gold in sled hockey at the international tournament — the equivalent of the Olympics for handicapped athletes. The Green Brook teen was the youngest member of the squad."</ref>
- Ed Stasium, record producer and audio engineer<ref>"Top Billing; Please do feed these Animals", Courier News, October 31, 1993. Accessed May 28, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "They come from the land Down Under, these Baby Animals. And they'll perform at The Clubhouse in Plainfield at 10 p.m. Wednesday. Their latest album, Shaved and Dangerous, was produced by Green Brook native and Dunellen High School grad Ed Stasium."</ref>
References
[edit]External links
[edit]Template:Somerset County, New Jersey Template:Raritan Valley navigation Template:Raritan River