Helmetta, New Jersey

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Helmetta, New Jersey
Helmetta highlighted in Middlesex County
Helmetta highlighted in Middlesex County
Coordinates: 40°22′46″N 74°25′16″W / 40.37944, -74.42111
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Middlesex
Area
 - Total 0.9 sq mi (2.3 km²)
 - Land 0.8 sq mi (2.2 km²)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Elevation 49 ft (15 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 1,825
 - Density 2,153.6/sq mi (831.5/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 08828
Area code(s) 732
FIPS code 34-30840[1]
GNIS feature ID 0877037[2]

Helmetta is a Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 1,825. The town was founded by George Washington Helme in the 1880s.

Helmetta was formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 20, 1888, when it was created from portions of East Brunswick Township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 10, 1888. Helmetta's boundary with East Brunswick Township was changed as of March 24, 1897.[3]

Contents

[edit] Geography

Helmetta is located at 40°22′46″N, 74°25′16″W (40.379507, -74.420998)[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which, 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (5.56%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1930 801
1940 667 -16.7%
1950 580 -13.0%
1960 779 34.3%
1970 955 22.6%
1980 955 0.0%
1990 1,211 26.8%
2000 1,825 50.7%
Est. 2006 2,023 [5] 10.8%
Population 1930 - 1990.[6]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,825 people, 746 households, and 495 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,153.6 people per square mile (829.0/km²). There were 769 housing units at an average density of 907.5/sq mi (349.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.15% White, 2.41% African American, 0.22% Native American, 2.41% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.32% of the population.

There were 746 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the borough the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 44.1% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $60,125, and the median income for a family was $64,659. Males had a median income of $47,604 versus $33,929 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,668. About 3.2% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

The Mayor of Helmetta Borough is Nancy Martin. Helmetta's Borough Council consists of six Councilmen: Council President Vincent Asciolla, Peter Karczewski, Robert Janeczek, Sewell Peckham, John Caputo, and Andrew Tancredi.[7]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Helmetta is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 18th Legislative District.[8]

New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District, covering all of Hunterdon County and portions of Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, and Somerset County, is represented by Rush D. Holt Jr. (D). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 18th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Barbara Buono (D, Edison) and in the Assembly by Peter J. Barnes III (D, Edison) and Patrick J. Diegnan (D, South Plainfield).[9] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[10] On March 14, 2007, Peter J. Barnes, Jr. resigned his Assembly seat and was confirmed by the New Jersey Senate to assume the role of Parole Board Chairman. Barnes' son, Edison Councilman Peter J. Barnes III, was chosen to fill his father's vacant seat.

Middlesex County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis. As of 2008, Middlesex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel (Milltown), Freeholder Deputy Director Stephen J. "Pete" Dalina (Fords), Camille Fernicola (Piscataway), H. James Polos (Highland Park), Ronald Rios (Carteret), Christopher D. Rafano (South River) and Blanquita B. Valenti (New Brunswick).[11]

[edit] Education

Helmetta is a non-operating school district. Helmetta sends 207 students to attend public school in Spotswood as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Spotswood Public Schools.

[edit] Major landmarks

Helmetta's main landmark is the large, abandoned Helme Products Inc. plant that sits adjacent to the Camden and Amboy Railroad line running through town (map showing Helmetta on a Camden and Amboy Railroad route). The mill began producing snuff in the 1880s. On February 23, 1900, the mill was bought by the American-Sniff Company in a merger with Helme Products Inc., but the merger was dissolved in 1911. In 1925, the mill became the largest of its kind in the world, and by 1934 it employed 400 people. In 1986, the mill was bought out by American Maize-Products. Finally, in 1993, it was purchased by Swisher International, and operations were moved to Wheeling, West Virginia.[12] It has remained inactive since.

The George W. Helme Snuff Mill District is a classic example of a late 1800s mill town. The district consists of the George W. Helme snuff mill, housing for employees, accessory buildings, St. George Episcopal Church, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, and Helmetta Pond, which at one time served as a source of power for the mill. About 115 buildings were originally in the district, which was named to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1980, and to the National Register of Historic Places on August 15, 1980.[13]

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Helmetta include: Joseph Sinagra held a seat on the Helmetta Planning Board, was Emergency Management Coordinator, served on several committees as a Helmetta Councilman from 1989 to 1999, also serving as Council President for seven years. Sinagra has also served as Chairman of the Helmetta Republican Party, is the current Vice-Chair, was the 2005 Republican nominee for Middlesex County Clerk, was a Republican candidate in 2006 for U.S. Congress in New Jersey's 12th congressional district, and 2007 18th legislative district candidate for the NJ General Assembly .

[edit] References

[edit] External links