Bound Brook, New Jersey
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Bound Brook is a borough in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located along the Raritan River. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 11,988,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 1,586 (+15.2%) from the 2010 census count of 10,402,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 247 (+2.4%) from the 10,155 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>
Bound Brook was originally incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 24, 1869, within portions of Bridgewater Township. On February 11, 1891, it was reincorporated as a borough, based on the results of a referendum held on the previous day.<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. 222. Accessed October 25, 2012.</ref><ref>The Borough of Bound Brook Municipal Resource, Borough of Bound Brook. Accessed April 29, 2008.</ref>
History
[edit]The area was first settled in 1681 and a community was established near the Bound Brook stream of the same name, which flows into the Raritan River via the Green Brook on the eastern side of the borough.<ref>A Note About Places Template:Webarchive, From "Voices of Raritan Landing", accessed April 19, 2007.</ref> The brook, which was mentioned as a boundary in a Native American deed, provides the source of the borough's name.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref><ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 53. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref>
A wooden bridge over the Raritan River was erected as early as 1761 and named Queen's Bridge in 1767. Later, it became a covered bridge. During the American Revolutionary War, the bridge was used repeatedly by both sides including during the Battle of Bound Brook in 1777. In 1875, the wooden bridge was replaced by a steel pipe truss bridge.<ref>Snell, James P. History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey, p. 666. Everts & Peck, 1881. Accessed August 27, 2013. "A bridge across the river at this place was ordered built by an act of Legislature passed in 1728. It was not erected however until 1731 for a supplementary act was passed that year in reference to it. It was afterwards called the Queen's Bridge. The present bridge was built in 1875 at a cost of about $75,000."</ref> More than 100 years later, that bridge was itself replaced by a steel girder bridge in 1984, still using the old pillars.<ref>Somerset County – Historic Places, NJ Town Guide. Accessed August 27, 2013.</ref> The bridge was renovated and repaved in 2007.
The Battle of Bound Brook, one of the battles in the New York and New Jersey campaign during the American Revolutionary War, occurred on April 13, 1777, and resulted in a defeat for the Continental Army, who were routed by about 4,000 troops under British command.<ref>Monsport, Welson. "The Battle of Bound Brook", New Jersey Skylands. Accessed August 27, 2013.</ref>
On April 22, 1921, over 100 people were injured in Bound Brook, and one died, when a cloud of phosgene gas began spreading over the city in the early morning hours, the result of a faulty valve of a storage tank at a paint factory in town. The intervention of four people stopped further escape of the phosgene, which had been used in concentrated form as a chemical weapon during World War I.<ref>"5,000 Saved, One Dead, from Phosgene Gas; 100 Hurt as Fumes Sweep Bound Brook", The New York Times, April 23, 1921, p1</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.70 square miles (4.39 km2), including 1.66 square miles (4.30 km2) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.09 km2) of water (2.00%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
The borough borders the municipalities of Bridgewater Township and South Bound Brook in Somerset County; and Middlesex Borough in Middlesex County.<ref>Areas touching Bound Brook, MapIt. Accessed March 20, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed March 20, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
Since the southern portion of the borough (including the downtown area) is a low-lying natural flood plain of the Raritan River, Bound Brook has suffered occasional severe flooding after heavy rain. Extensive flood control measures were put into place during 1999–2015 to provide protection from 150-year floods.<ref name=CoE>Template:Cite web</ref>
Demographics
[edit]2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 10,402 people, 3,586 households, and 2,435 families in the borough. The population density was 6,269.6 per square mile (2,420.7/km2). There were 3,816 housing units at an average density of 2,300.0 per square mile (888.0/km2). The racial makeup was 69.73% (7,253) White, 5.74% (597) Black or African American, 0.54% (56) Native American, 2.57% (267) Asian, 0.05% (5) Pacific Islander, 17.48% (1,818) from other races, and 3.90% (406) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 48.66% (5,062) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 3,586 households, 32.7% had children under the age of 18; 45.1% were married couples living together; 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.1% were non-families. Of all households, 22.8% were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.28.<ref name=Census2010/>
22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 109.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 108.4 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $67,056 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,450) and the median family income was $68,315 (+/− $7,489). Males had a median income of $33,462 (+/− $4,681) versus $35,261 (+/− $7,245) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,015 (+/− $2,011). About 3.4% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Bound Brook borough, Somerset County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 10, 2013.</ref>
The borough had one of the highest Costa Rican percentages of any municipality in the United States and third-highest in New Jersey (population 500+), with 3.4% of residents in the 2010 Census reporting that they were of Costa Rican birth.<ref>Top 101 cities with the most residents born in Costa Rica (population 500+), City-Data. Accessed October 27, 2016.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]At the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 10,155 people, 3,615 households and 2,461 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,802 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 82.57% White, 2.52% African American, 0.31% Native American, 2.88% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 8.67% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.87% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Bound Brook borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 10, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Bound Brook borough, Somerset County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 10, 2013.</ref>
There were 3,615 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.21.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
21.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median household income was $46,858 and the median family income was $51,346. Males had a median income of $32,226 versus $28,192 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,395. About 6.9% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The borough had the highest Costa Rican percentage of any municipality in the United States (population 500+), with 14.7% of residents in the 2000 Census reporting that they were of Costa Rican birth.<ref>Top 101 cities with the most residents born in Costa Rica (population 500+), City-Data. Archived March 9, 2011.</ref>
Parks and recreation
[edit]The borough has developed a series of trails for bicyclists and pedestrians that runs along the Raritan River, with a mix of paved and dirt trails providing access to residents.<ref>Riverfront Access for Pedestrians and Bicycles Template:Webarchive, Borough of Bound Brook, 2014. Accessed November 12, 2023. "The Riverfront Access for Pedestrians and Bicyclists presents a strategy for celebrating this incredible asset while respecting the present context, goals and means of the Borough of Bound Brook.... The Bound Brook Riverfront Trail System will be comprised of a series of on and off-road trails. While the system strives to accommodate both bicycles and pedestrians, the condition, width and materials may vary throughout based on the varying physical constraints and environmentally sensitive conditions."</ref>
Government
[edit]
Local government
[edit]Bound Brook 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, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, pg. 77.</ref>
The borough form of government used by Bound Brook 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" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>
Template:As of, the mayor of Bound Brook is Democrat Dominic Longo, whose term expires December 31, 2027. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Kendall Lopez (D, 2025), Linda Brnicevic (R, 2025), Shawn Guerra (D, 2026), David Morris (R, 2024; appointed to fill an unexpired term), Vinnie Petti (D, 2024) and Glen Rossi (R, 2026).<ref name=MayorCouncil>Governing Body, Borough of Bound Brook. Accessed May 22, 2024.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Bound Brook. Accessed May 22, 2024.</ref><ref name=SomersetDirectory>2023 Directory of County & Municipal Offices, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed April 10, 2024.</ref><ref name=Somerset2023>2023 General Election November 7, 2023 Certified Official Results RESULTS, Somerset County, New Jersey, November 29, 2023. Accessed January 1, 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>
David Morris was appointed in January 2024 to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that became vacant when Dominic Longo took office as mayor.<ref>Reorganization Meeting Minutes for January 4, 2024, Borough of Bound Brook. Accessed May 22, 2024. "Upon a roll call vote, David Morris was nominated to fill the vacancy and administered the oath of office."</ref>
In September 2022, the borough council selected David Morris from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the mayoral seat expiring in December 2023 that became vacant after the resignation of Robert P. Fazen, who was moving out of the borough.<ref>Deak, Mike. "Bound Brook selects new mayor", Courier News, September 29, 2022. Accessed October 11, 2022. "David Morris has been selected as the borough's new mayor. Morris replaces Bob Fazen, a Republican who resigned on Sept. 2 because he was moving out of town. Morris was unanimously selected by the Borough Council to fill the remaining of Fazen's term, which expires at the end of 2023."</ref>
Federal, state and county representation
[edit]Bound Brook is located in the 12th 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 23rd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011–2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>
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Template:NJ Somerset County Commissioners
Politics
[edit]As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,162 registered voters in Bound Brook, of which 1,149 (27.6% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 955 (22.9% vs. 25.7%) were registered as Republicans and 2,050 (49.3% vs. 48.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 8 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 10, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 40.0% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) of the total population were registered to vote, including 51.7% 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, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 10, 2013.</ref>
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.9% of the vote (1,598 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 40.6% (1,120 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (44 votes), among the 2,785 ballots cast by the borough's 4,399 registered voters (23 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 63.3%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,593 votes (53.5% vs. 52.1% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,312 votes (44.0% vs. 46.1%) and other candidates with 45 votes (1.5% vs. 1.1%), among the 2,979 ballots cast by the borough's 3,990 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.7% (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 10, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,474 votes (49.6% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,440 votes (48.5% vs. 51.5%) and other candidates with 25 votes (0.8% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,970 ballots cast by the borough's 3,882 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.5% (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 10, 2013.</ref>
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.5% of the vote (1,092 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.7% (570 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (30 votes), among the 1,723 ballots cast by the borough's 4,485 registered voters (31 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 38.4%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,074 votes (52.2% vs. 55.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 749 votes (36.4% vs. 34.1%), Independent Chris Daggett with 172 votes (8.4% vs. 8.7%) and other candidates with 32 votes (1.6% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,056 ballots cast by the borough's 4,138 registered voters, yielding a 49.7% 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 10, 2013.</ref>
Education
[edit]The Bound Brook School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Bound Brook Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Bound Brook School District. Accessed July 27, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-K through twelve in the Bound Brook School District. Composition: The Bound Brook School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Bound Brook."</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 1,975 students and 172.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.5:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Bound Brook School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Bound Brook School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>) are LaMonte-Annex Elementary School<ref name=ElementarySchools>Bound Brook Elementary Schools, Bound Brook School District. Accessed July 27, 2022.</ref> with 195 students in grades PreK-Kindergarten Lafayette Elementary School<ref name=ElementarySchools/> with 266 students in grades 1-2, Smalley Elementary School<ref name=ElementarySchools/> with 545 students in grades 3-6, Community Middle School<ref>Community Middle School, Bound Brook School District. Accessed July 27, 2022.</ref> with 283 students in grades 7-8 and Bound Brook High School<ref>Bound Brook High School, Bound Brook School District. Accessed July 27, 2022.</ref> with 652 students in grades 9-12.<ref>2021–2022 Somerset County Public School Directory, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed July 27, 2022.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Bound Brook School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Bound Brook School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>
Students from South Bound Brook, New Jersey, attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the South Bound Brook School District.<ref>Minutes of August 20, 2009 Regular Meeting Template:Webarchive, South Bound Brook Board of Education. Accessed October 28, 2009. "Motion to accept the following costs for sending students to Bound Brook High School for the 2009–2010 school year (September 1, 2009– June 30, 2010)".</ref><ref>Somerset County School Districts – Sending / Receiving / Regional, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed July 23, 2017. "Bound Brook PreK-12 Receives 9–12 From South Bound Brook"</ref> At the start of the 2011–12 school year, the school joined the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, which allows students from other area communities to attend the Bound Brook schools.<ref>Calefati, Jessica. "N.J. adds 56 districts to interdistrict school choice roster for upcoming year", The Star-Ledger, April 14, 2011. Accessed December 5, 2011.</ref> In the 2011–2012 school year, the high school started a biomedical program from Project Lead the Way in addition to the existing engineering academy program.<ref>The Academies at Bound Brook High School Template:Webarchive, Bound Brook High School. Accessed March 16, 2018. "Bound Brook High School has created a new academy for the 2011–2012 schoolyear! The new academy will be Bio-Medical Project Lead the Way that will be implemented following the tremendous success of our Engineering Project Lead the Way academy."</ref>
There was an Interparochial Catholic School in the borough, Holy Family Academy (for Pre-K to grade 8) serving the local and surrounding communities with an estimated enrollment of 150 prior to closure. The school was one of three in the area closed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen at the end of the 2010–2011 school year, with plans to feed remaining students to a school facility in South Plainfield.<ref>Grant, Jeff. "Pastors discuss plans to shut three Catholic schools in Central N.J.", Courier News, October 19, 2010. Accessed August 27, 2013. "Our Lady of Mount Virgin in Middlesex Borough, Our Lady of Fatima in Piscataway and Holy Family Academy in Bound Brook would close in late June 2011. Students would be sent to Sacred Heart Elementary School in South Plainfield, according to the plan."</ref>
In 2018, Stephen Kovacs founded and thereafter owned Kaprica United Fencing Academy in Bound Brook, where he was head coach.<ref name="auto5">Template:Cite web</ref>
Kovacs was accused in 2021 by detectives of allegedly sexually assaulting two teenage fencing students multiple times in 2020 and 2021; he died in Somerset County Jail in January 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="auto9">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Transportation
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Roads and highways
[edit]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 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.</ref>
Route 28 travels east–west through the center of Bound Brook, while U.S. Route 22 clips the northern portion of the borough. County Routes 525, 527, 533 also pass through.
Interstate 287 is accessible to the west via Route 28 in bordering Bridgewater Township.<ref>Somerset County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 17, 2023.</ref>
Public transportation
[edit]The borough is served by the Bound Brook train station, which offers NJ Transit service on the Raritan Valley Line to Newark Penn Station.<ref>Raritan Valley Line Template:Webarchive. NJ Transit. Accessed August 5, 2014.</ref> The historic station building on the north side of the tracks is located at 350 E. Main Street and was constructed in 1913.<ref>McGann, Mary Ann. "Train Spotting; At Bound Brook's historic station, railroad fans show up like clockwork.", New Jersey Monthly, March 13, 2012. Accessed August 5, 2014. "The easily accessible station, at 350 East Main Street, was built in 1913 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places."</ref> It is now a restaurant; the other station building on the south side is now privately owned.<ref>Bound Brook station. NJ Transit. Accessed August 5, 2014.</ref> A pedestrian tunnel connects the south and north sides of the tracks. There are also Conrail tracks going past the station, used for freight trains to and from Newark.
NJ Transit offers bus service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 114 and 117 routes, along with local service to Newark on the 65 and 66 routes.<ref>Somerset County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 28, 2010. Accessed February 8, 2013.</ref>
Somerset County offers DASH, CAT, and SCOOT routes, providing service to destinations including Franklin Township, New Brunswick, Raritan, Manville and Hillsborough Township, as well as Bridgewater Commons and Raritan Valley Community College.<ref>DASH, Ridewise. Accessed August 19, 2015.</ref><ref>County Shuttle Schedules, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed December 31, 2017.</ref>
Bound Brook Cycling Classic
[edit]Every year, the Borough of Bound Brook hosts a nationally competitive bicycle race, the Bound Brook Cycling Classic, that on the same weekend, precedes the neighboring final purse contest, as part of the three-day Tour of Somerville, held annually on Memorial Day Weekend. The contest in Somerville, founded in 1940 by Fred “Pop” Kugler, is the oldest professionally competitive race in the United States.Template:Citation needed
Natural disasters
[edit]Template:More citations needed
The lower downtown area of Bound Brook has been associated with flooding of the Raritan River. In September 1999, many structures near the commercial zone were damaged or destroyed by record Raritan floods resulting from Hurricane Floyd. This disaster reinvigorated a long-planned effort called the Green Brook Flood Control Project that would protect Bound Brook from up to a 150-year flooding event from the Raritan River and its tributaries, the Middle Brook and Green Brook that form the western and eastern boundaries of the town. During 1999–2015, the United States Army Corps of Engineers implemented extensive flood control measures to provide protection from future floods, which eliminated flood insurance requirements for a majority of Bound Brook and spurred revitalization of the downtown area.<ref name=CoE/><ref>Haydon, Tom. "Bound Brook officials hope new levees hold back flooding from rainstorm",The Star-Ledger, March 10, 2011. Accessed January 14, 2015. "After more than 30 years of planning in Bound Brook and $120 million worth of construction, now comes the test.... Improvements, including levees along the Raritan River and a 500-foot stretch of concrete wall, held back most of the water after Sunday's storm."</ref>
The highest flooding level since 1800 in Bound Brook was reached during Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 – Template:Convert, according to the United States Geological Survey<ref>Bound Brook Flood Analysis, Accessed April 25, 2007. Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>Giambusso, David. "Ten years after Hurricane Floyd, NJ towns prepare for future hurricanes", The Star-Ledger, September 12, 2009. Accessed November 6, 2016. "Once the Raritan River crests at 28 feet at Bound Brook, it is susceptible to flooding. On Sept. 17, 1999, it crested at a record 42.13 feet."</ref>—nearly matched by Tropical Storm Doria in August 1971, the April 2007 nor'easter and Hurricane Irene in August 2011. Main Street was also flooded in July 1938, September 1938, August 1955, August 1973, October 1996, and March 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Bound Brook's downtown flooding led to several out-of-control fires over its history, including the fires of 1881 and 1887, which led to the formation of the Bound Brook Fire Department. In 1896, flooding likely caused the lime in the L.D. Cook lumberyard to ignite and the resulting fire spread to and destroyed the Presbyterian church.<ref>About Bound Brook, Borough of Bound Brook, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 14, 2008. Accessed February 10, 2013.</ref> During Hurricane Floyd in 1999, a fire began in Otto Williams Harley Davidson on Main Street. With the building cut off by flood water, the fire spread quickly to two other structures before the Bound Brook Fire Department could contain it, then under the command of Chief Richard S. Colombaroni. Using fire boats from the New York City Fire Department as well as extensive help from mutual aid companies, the fire was stopped before two other buildings on Main Street and others nearby on Mountain Avenue, could be affected.
During the April 2007 Nor'easter, the Bound Brook Fire Department stopped another fire from spreading through an area of close residential construction. Under the command of Chief James Knight, and again with the assistance of mutual aid companies including the Finderne Fire Department, fire loss was restricted to three residential buildings.
On January 12, 2020, a seven-alarm fire set by an arsonist ripped through commercial buildings in the downtown area, causing $52 million in damages to buildings and displacing 15 residents.<ref>Kausch, Katie. "Bound Brook fire suspect caused $52M in damage, authorities say. Judge orders him to remain jailed.", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 17, 2020. Accessed April 2, 2025. "A man charged with setting a massive Bound Brook fire that authorities say caused nearly $52 million in damages as the seven-alarm blaze ripped through the downtown district will remain in jail pending trial, a judge ruled Friday.... The incident caused nearly $52 million in damages to buildings alone, not including the items inside the buildings or cars on the street, Yakova said.... Between 100-200 people were evacuated from their homes, and 15 are permanently displaced after a boarding house next to the apartments burned to the ground, officials said."</ref>
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Bound Brook include:
- Isaac Blackford (1786–1859), Indiana Supreme Court Justice<ref>Isaac Blackford Template:Webarchive, "Sketches of Prominent Citizens". Accessed June 21, 2007. "Judge Blackford was a native of New Jersey, born the village of Bound Brook, Somerset county, on the 6th day of November, 1786.</ref>
- Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971), photographer<ref>"Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971) Introduction & Biographical Essay, Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Reading Room. Accessed November 6, 2016. "The family moved to rural Bound Brook, N. J, when Margaret was very young so her father could be closer to his job designing printing equipment."</ref>
- Jeffrey Chiesa (born 1965), 59th Attorney General of New Jersey and interim United States Senator from New Jersey<ref>Johnson, Brent. "Longtime Christie friend Chiesa to head N.J. takeover of Atlantic City", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 14, 2016, updated January 16, 2019. Accessed April 19, 2020. "The choice was Chiesa, a 51-year-old Bound Brook native who has worked alongside Christie in various positions throughout the last 25 years."</ref>
- John G. Demaray (1930–2015), medievalist<ref>Brown, Doris E. "Journey to Near East; Author discovers Mount Purgatory", The Home News, December 1, 1974. Accessed March 6, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The specialist in Renaissance literature was born in Bound Brook in 1930 and is a graduate of Somerville High School."</ref>
- Dmytro Dontsov (1883-1973), Ukrainian nationalist who influenced the OUN, buried in Bound Brook<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Margit Feldman (1929–2020), public speaker, educator, activist, and Holocaust survivor<ref>Schiavi, MaryLynn. "Film chronicles the life of a woman who dared to speak the truth about Holocaust", Courier News, May 22, 2016. Accessed April 18, 2020. "Feldman, now 86, and the only surviving child of Joseph and Theresa Buchhalter, never intended to share her story about what she had witnessed. Decades after she arrived in the U.S., the son of a family who also lived in Bound Brook asked Feldman to tell her story for his class project."</ref>
- Patrick X. Gallagher (1935–2019), mathematician and Columbia University professor<ref name="Courier1956">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="HomeNews1956">Template:Cite news</ref>
- William P. Gottlieb (1917–2006), jazz musician and photographer<ref>Martin, Douglas. "William Gottlieb, 89, Jazz Photographer", The New York Times, April 25, 2006. Accessed August 27, 2013. "William Paul Gottlieb was born on Jan. 28, 1917, in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn. His family soon moved to Bound Brook, N.J., where his father ran a lumber and coal business."</ref>
- Sylvester Graham (1794–1851), Presbyterian minister and inventor of the Graham cracker<ref>Fire, Flood and Graham Crackers, Borough of Bound Brook. Accessed March 20, 2020. "Between 1828 and 1829, the Bound Brook Presbyterian Church was led by Reverend Sylvester Graham. Graham was very interested in temperance and various health regimens. In 1829, Graham developed the graham cracker to cure the dreaded fever of lust. The original cracker was conceived as a health food and contained graham flour and considerably less sweeteners than the cookie-cracker known today."</ref><ref>Fordham, Dai'ja. "Five Things ... About Grahams", Detroit Free Press, January 8, 2008. Accessed June 7, 2011. "The graham cracker was developed in the 1820s by a Presbyterian minister the Rev Sylvester Graham in Bound Brook N.J."</ref>
- William Griffith (1766–1826), judge who served on the United States circuit court<ref>William Griffith, Biographical Directory of Federal Judges. Accessed March 8, 2011.</ref>
- William H. Johnson (stage name Zip the Pinhead; 1857–1926), freak show and circus performer<ref>What Is It?, Center for History and New Media, George Mason University. Accessed April 29, 2008.</ref>
- Victor L. King (1886–1958), chemist<ref>"Dr. King, 73, Dies Suddenly", Courier News, October 13, 1958. Accessed April 2, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Bound Brook - Dr. Victor L. King, 73, died suddenly of a heart attack in his residence in Middlebrook Rd. yesterday morning."</ref>
- George M. La Monte (1863–1927), businessman, politician, and philanthropist<ref>Staff. "George La Monte Dies Suddenly", The New York Times, p. N5, December 25, 1927. Accessed March 28, 2015. "George Mason La Monte of Piedmont Farm, Bound Brook, N. J., President of George La Monte & Sons, 61 Broadway, manufacturers of safety paper, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Prudential Life Insurance Company, died suddenly yesterday of heart disease in the Hotel Weylin."</ref>
- Dick Lynch (1936–2008), NFL defensive back who played for the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants<ref>Canavan, Tom via Associated Press. "Dick Lynch, 72, Giants Cornerback Turned Announcer", The New York Sun, September 25, 2008. Accessed September 21, 2015. "A Bound Brook, N.J., native, Lynch attended Phillipsburg Catholic High School in Clinton."</ref>
- James Augustine McFaul (1850–1917), Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton from 1894 to 1917<ref>Staff. "Is Now Bishop Of Trenton; James A. Mcfaul Consecrated By Archbishop Corrigan. High Dignitaries of the Church from All Parts of the Country Witness the Imposing Ceremonies at St. Mary's Church – A Choir of Fifty Voices Furnish Music – Sketch of the Life Work of the Successor of Bishop O'Farrell.", The New York Times, October 19, 1894. Accessed March 8, 2011.</ref>
- Ronald Naldi (born 1941/42), singer at the Metropolitan Opera<ref>Randolf, Eleanor. "Keep the Met Open", The New York Times, July 31, 2014. Accessed August 1, 2014. "Naldi, known to his peers as Donal, was born and raised in Bound Brook. He currently resides in Ocean Grove, New Jersey."</ref>
- William E. Ozzard (1915–2002), President of the New Jersey Senate and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities<ref>Staff. "Manville Bound Brook news", Courier News, November 12, 2003. Accessed March 8, 2011.</ref>
- George Pfister (1918–1997), Major League Baseball executive<ref>Staff. "Player, administrator George Pfister dies", Press-Telegram, August 15, 1997. Accessed March 8, 2011. "George Pfister, a former player, manager and coach who had worked for 23 years in the baseball commissioner's office, died of a heart attack Thursday morning at Somerset, N.J., Hospital. He was 78. Born in 1918 in Bound Brook, N.J., Pfister began his professional baseball career as a catcher with Williamsport, then the Eastern League affiliate of the Philadelphia Athletics, in 1939."</ref>
- Jason Ryan (born 1976), MLB pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins<ref>Thomson, Peter. "Ryan, A 9th-round Pick, Moving Up Cubs' Ladder", Orlando Sentinel, September 4, 1994. Accessed July 31, 2015. "As incongruous as it sounds, Ryan's buddies back home in Bound Brook, N.J., better accept the fact that Ryan, drafted in the ninth round of this year's major-league draft, did face Jordan and the Birmingham Barons."</ref>
- Upton Sinclair (1878–1968), muckraker-writer<ref>McDowell, Edwin. "Sinclair's Jungle with All Muck Restored", The New York Times, August 22, 1988. Accessed October 27, 2016. "Sinclair died in a Bound Brook, N.J., nursing home in 1968 at the age of 90."</ref>
- Samuel Swan (1771–1844), physician and U.S. Congressman<ref>Samuel Swan, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed April 29, 2008.</ref>
- William C. Thompson (1889–1963), cinematographer<ref>Todorov, Jordan; and Blevins, Joe. Dad Made Dirty Movies: The Erotic World of Stephen C. Apostolof, p. 47. McFarland & Company, 2020.Template:ISBN. Accessed December 31, 2023. "William C. Thompson (1889–1963). A showbiz veteran with a résumé stretching back to the days of silent movies, Thompson spent most of his career working on low-budget exploitation and sexploitation flicks. Born in 1889 in Bound Brook, New Jersey, he began racking up film credits during the earliest days of Hollywood, working on such exotic-sounding fare as Absinthe (1914, dir. Herbert Brenon) and The Demon (1918, dir. George D. Baker)."</ref>
- Henry Trefflich (1908–1978), wild animal importer and dealer<ref>McFadden, Robert D. "Henry H.F. Trefflich, Importer of Animals, Dies at 70; 'Monkey King of America' Co-author of Two Books", The New York Times, July 10, 1978. Accessed September 26, 2016. "Henry H.F. Trefflich, who retired five years ago as the country's largest importer of wild animals and as proprietor of a famed animal dealership in lower Manhattan, died on Friday at his home at 431 East Union Avenue in Bound Brook, N.J. He was 70 years old."</ref>
- Perry Wilson (1916–2009), actress who appeared in the film Fear Strikes Out<ref>Staff. "Obituary of Perry Wilson Anthony", The Cape Codder, January 13, 2010. Accessed September 26, 2016. "Born Mary Elizabeth Wilson in Bound Brook, N.J., in 1916, she changed her name to Perry at age 13."</ref>
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Official Bound Brook Website
- Somerset County directory for Bound Brook
- Bound Brook School District
- Template:NJReportCard
- School Data for the Bound Brook School District, National Center for Education Statistics
- Unofficial Bound Brook Message Board
- Bound Brook portal
- Raritan River Gauge, Bound Brook, New Jersey – Observation gauge approximately 1.2 miles southwest (upstream) of Bound Brook, NJ, just below Calco Dam. Main Street in Bound Brook floods when the river reaches a 30-foot stage.
- Unofficial Bound Brook News site
- Bound Brook Office of Emergency Management website
- Bound Brook High School Alumni Association and Hall of Fame Template:Webarchive
Template:Somerset County, New Jersey Template:Raritan River Template:Authority control