South Bound Brook, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| South Bound Brook, New Jersey | |
 |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Somerset |
| Government | |
| - Type | Borough (New Jersey) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²) |
| - Land | 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 4,492 |
| - Density | 5,765.3/sq mi (2,226.0/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08880 |
| Area code(s) | 732 |
| FIPS code | 34-68730[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0880707[2] |
| Website: http://www.southboundbrook.com | |
South Bound Brook is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 4,492.
What is now South Bound Brook was originally formed as a town within Franklin Township. On March 16, 1869, the name of the community was changed to Bloomington, which lasted until May 29, 1891, when the name reverted back to South Bound Brook town. South Bound Brook was incorporated as an independent borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 11, 1907, based on the results of a referendum held on May 1, 1907.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
South Bound Brook is located at (40.553803, -74.529761)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,763 |
|
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| 1940 | 1,928 | 9.4% | |
| 1950 | 2,905 | 50.7% | |
| 1960 | 3,626 | 24.8% | |
| 1970 | 4,525 | 24.8% | |
| 1980 | 4,331 | -4.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,185 | -3.4% | |
| 2000 | 4,492 | 7.3% | |
| Est. 2006 | 4,524 | [5] | 0.7% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[6] | |||
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 4,492 people, 1,632 households, and 1,103 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,765.3 people per square mile (2,223.6/km²). There were 1,676 housing units at an average density of 2,151.1/sq mi (829.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 78.01% White, 7.77% African American, 0.27% Native American, 4.10% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.57% from other races, and 3.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.89% of the population.
There were 1,632 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 105.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $48,984, and the median income for a family was $58,214. Males had a median income of $36,955 versus $30,082 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,131. About 3.6% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
South Bound Brook is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[7]
The Mayor of South Bound Brook is Terry Warrelmann (R). Members of the Borough Council are Council President Tamas 'Tom' Ormosi (R), Kathleen Conner (D), Dennis Quinlan (R), Caryl Shoffner (D), Tony Godleski (R), and Robert Alenovitch (D)[8]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
South Bound Brook is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 16th Legislative District.[9]
New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District, covering portions of Hunterdon County, Middlesex County, Somerset County and Union County, is represented by Mike Ferguson (R). 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 16th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R, Neshanic Station) and in the Assembly by Peter J. Biondi (R, Hillsborough Township) and Denise Coyle (R, Basking Ridge).[10] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[11]
Somerset County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose members are elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with one or two elected each year. As of 2008, Somerset County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Peter S. Palmer (Bernardsville, term ends December 31, 2008), Freeholder Deputy Director Rick Fontana (Bridgewater Township, 2009), Jack Ciattarelli (Hillsborough Township, 2009), Patricia Walsh (Green Brook Township, 2010) and Robert Zaborowski (Franklin Township, 2008).[12]
[edit] Education
The South Bound Brook School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Robert Morris School.
For grades 9-12, public school students attend Bound Brook High School in Bound Brook, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Bound Brook School District.
[edit] Emergency services
The South Bound Brook Police Dept is a 13 person department consisting of one Chief, two Lieutenants, One Sergeant, One K9 officer, and eight officers on patrol. The Officer-In-Charge is Lt. William King. The Police Department does not have their own dispatchers; South Bound Brook currently uses Somerset County Communications for all 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls.
The South Bound Brook Fire Dept has been existence for over 100 years. They currently have four pieces of apparatus out of their Edgewood Terr Headquarters: One E-One Engine, one E-One 75' ladder, a new Seagrave Rescue/Pumper and one Chevy Blazer for a Chiefs' vehicle. Their Chief is currently Matthew Tomaro.
The South Bound Brook First Aid Squad has seen many changes over the past several years. The squad was initially incorporated by their current name, then in 1990, became South Bound Brook/Franklin Twp Rescue Squad. In 2002 the service area was cut back to just South Bound Brook, and the squad's name reverted to South Bound Brook First Aid Squad. They currently run two ambulances out of their Garfield Ave headquarters, two E-One Type III Ambulances. They no longer are capable of rescue and all water rescue and extrication equipment was sold after the 2002 change. Their Chief is currently Richard Ungerleder.
The South Bound Brook Office of Emergency Management is a growing department of five personnel. Originally the Civil Defense Board, the Office of Emergency Management is charged with Emergency Preparedness and Planning. They are also responsible for the emergency operations plan, which is updated yearly by all departments of the borough. During major emergencies, they play a significant role in the recovery efforts. They are also charged with borough compliance in the National Incident Management System. Their coordinator is Paul Kaminsky.
[edit] History
Originally part of Franklin Township and named Bloomington, South Bound Brook was incorporated as a borough by the New Jersey Legislature in 1907.
The area was originally a Dutch community with apple orchards and just west peach orchards. The Von Steuben house (1600?), located on the south side of Main Street, served as the headquarters of Baron Von Steuben during the American Revolutionary War. The house today is privately owned.
The Reformed Church, also on Main Street (near borough hall) was built in 1848 and has been declared a local historical site by the borough council. Originally called the Dutch Reformed Church of Bound Brook it has gone through very few changes over the years. The one sad removal was a pipe organ received from Andrew Carnegie; and the stained glass windows, which had been added well after the original construction.
In the mid-1970s a teen from the town created a plan for an environmental commission and presented it to the council. James Manning got his commission and the first order of business was to find out what the white piles of waste on the tow path between the Delaware and Raritan Canal and Raritan River consisted of. It turned out to be 17% crystal asbestos by volume. Since there was no New Jersey State regulation for the disposal, this became a landmark case. The waste was hauled in dump trucks through Bound Brook to the floodplain south of West Main Street and dumped. A trail of asbestos dust led from the old dump site to the new dump location.
[edit] Redevelopment
The main downtown street in South Bound Brook, known as Main Street, has been refurbished with new sidewalks, lighting, signage and a number of newly renovated stores.
A roofing material manufacturing facility known as GAF Manufacturing was located in South Bound Brook for over a century along Main Street. The site was dormant for about two decades and sat as an eyesore and reminder of the town's industrial past. New townhomes have been built on the GAF Manufacturing site, along the Delaware and Raritan Canal, which provide the downtown area a new modern look and many new residents.
Part of the redevelopment is being held up by a lawsuit by John Fanaro of Fanaro Carpeting over the right of eminent domain, as the town tries to seize property along Main Street that is in front of the new townhomes. The redevelopment plan called for the older stores to be razed and replaced with new stores that had parking in back and a dozen rental apartments on the second floor.
A new 55 and older condominium development is also being built along Elizabeth Avenue in the central part of town.
[edit] Points of Interest
The main attraction in South Bound Brook is the Delaware and Raritan Canal, which forms the northern and eastern boundaries of the town. The canal and its D&R Canal Trail are used for numerous recreational purposes from light boating to hiking and biking. Also of note is the Raritan River which lies on the far side of the canal and provides further recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing. The Queens Bridge crosses the canal and river, connecting to Bound Brook.
The Raritan River Greenway is a proposed path that would link Branchburg Township to the East Coast Greenway with the Delaware and Raritan Canal trail in South Bound Brook.
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA is headquartered in South Bound Brook. St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary, St. Andrew's Memorial Church, and a large Ukrainian Orthodox cemetery, where graves of many politicians from the Ukrainian People's Republic era can be visited, are located on the south side of the town.[13]
[edit] Flooding issues
While South Bound Brook does not have the legacy of flooding that its sister town Bound Brook on the north bank of the Raritan River has, flooding can be a problem in South Bound Brook during major river flooding events, such as a 100-year flood event. In September 1999, the remnants of Hurricane Floyd caused a record flood crest on the Raritan River. While escaping the worst flooding, due to its elevated perch above the Raritan River, South Bound Brook did experience flood waters in the two to three foot range near the canal, including in portions of the downtown area along Main Street.
[edit] Transportation
Interstate 287, which provides access and connections to large parts of New Jersey and New York is located very near the western boundary of South Bound Brook and provides two local interchanges.
New Jersey Transit provides frequent train service on the Raritan Valley Line to/from Newark and New York via the nearby Bound Brook Train Station, which is about a five to ten minute walk from downtown South Bound Brook.
NJ Transit bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan is provided on the 114 and 117 routes, with service to Newark available on the 65 and 66 bus lines.[14]
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 225.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Census data for South Bound Brook borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 77.
- ^ Somerset County page for South Bound Brook, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 64. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ The Role of County Government: "What Is A Freeholder?", Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed March 30, 2008.
- ^ AN OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE METROPOLIA CENTER OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Accessed July 10, 2007.
- ^ Somerset County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 5, 2007.
[edit] External links
- South Bound Brook official web site
- South Bound Brook Fire Department Official Web Site
- South Bound Brook First Aid Squad Official Web Site
- South Bound Brook Police Department Official Web Site
- Somerset County page for South Bound Brook
- Robert Morris School
- Robert Morris School's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Robert Morris School
- South Bound Brook, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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