South River, New Jersey

South River, New Jersey
—  Borough  —

Seal
Motto: Our flowing tides can carry cargoes to the markets of the world!
South River highlighted in Middlesex County. Inset: Location of Middlesex County in New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of South River, New Jersey
Coordinates:
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Middlesex
Incorporated February 28, 1898
Government
 • Mayor Raymond T. Eppinger (2011)
 • Administrator Andrew J. Salerno[1]
Area
 • Total 2.9 sq mi (7.6 km2)
 • Land 2.8 sq mi (7.3 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation 82 ft (25 m)
Population (2009)[2]
 • Total 15,680
 • Density 5,444.7/sq mi (2,102.2/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 08877, 08882
Area code(s) 732
FIPS code 34-69420[3][4]
GNIS feature ID 0880748[5]
Website http://www.southrivernj.org

South River is a Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 15,322.

What is now South River was originally formed as the town of Washington within East Brunswick Township on February 23, 1870. South River was incorporated as an independent borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1898, replacing Washington town.[6]

Contents

Geography

South River is located at (40.444356, -74.381756).[7] Elevation is 80 feet.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (4.42%) is water.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1930 10,759
—
1940 10,714 −0.4%
1950 11,308 5.5%
1960 13,397 18.5%
1970 15,428 15.2%
1980 14,361 −6.9%
1990 13,692 −4.7%
2000 15,322 11.9%
Est. 2009 15,680 [2] 2.3%
Population 1930 - 1990.[8]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 15,322 people, 5,606 households, and 3,985 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,444.7 people per square mile (2,105.3/km2). There were 5,769 housing units at an average density of 2,050.0 per square mile (792.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 83.55% White, 9.66% Hispanic or Latino, 6.06% African American, 0.12% Native American, 3.54% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.83% from other races, and 2.85% from two or more races.

Ancestries of the population: Polish (18.9%), Italian (14.6%), Irish (13.0%), German (12.5%), Portuguese (9.3%), Russian (4.5%).[9]

There were 5,606 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the borough the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $52,324, and the median income for a family was $62,869. Males had a median income of $42,186 versus $31,098 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,684. About 3.7% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over. A large Polish, Russian, and Portuguese immigrant population moved into the borough in the 50's-80's. Today South River's largest incoming immigrant population are Mexican and Brazilian populations.

Government

Local government

As of 2011, the mayor of South River is Raymond T. Eppinger, whose term of office ends December 31, 2011. Members of the Borough Council are Rui Almeida (2011), Peter Guindi (2011), Jim Hutchison (2013), John Krenzel (2012), John Trzeciak (2012) and Matthew Vaughn (2013).[10]

Federal, state and county representation

South River is in the 12th Congressional district. New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District is represented by Rush D. Holt, Jr. (D, Hopewell Township).[11] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

South River is in the 18th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Barbara Buono (D, Metuchen) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Peter J. Barnes III (D, Edison) and Patrick J. Diegnan (D, South Plainfield).[12]

Middlesex County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose seven members are elected at-large to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. As of 2010 , Middlesex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Christopher D. Rafano (South River), Freeholder Deputy Director Ronald G. Rios (Carteret), Carol Barrett Ballante (Monmouth Junction), Stephen J. "Pete" Dalina (Fords), H. James Polos (Highland Park), Mildred Scott (Piscataway) and Blanquita B. Valenti (New Brunswick). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Elaine M. Flynn (Old Bridge Township), Sheriff Mildred S. Scott (Piscataway) and Surrogate Kevin J. Hoagland (New Brunswick).[13]

Education

The South River Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics[14] are South River Primary School for grades K-2 (490 students), South River Elementary School for grades 3-5 (570), South River Middle School for grades 6-8 (568) and South River High School for grades 9-12 (632). The South River Board of Education provides help and items to the schools.

History of South River

South River was originally part of East Brunswick Township. Originally referred to as Washington, the community eventually split away as did Spotswood and Milltown.

Name changes

Transportation

New Brunswick Edison
East Brunswick Sayreville
   South River    
Old Bridge

Noted residents

References

  1. ^ Phone Directory, Borough of South River. Accessed February 6, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Census data for South River borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 6, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  5. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  6. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 174.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  8. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  9. ^ South River, New Jersey, City-Data.com. Accessed March 18, 2007.
  10. ^ Borough of South River - Mayor and Council, Borough of South River. Accessed February 6, 2011.
  11. ^ Municipalities, Congressman Rush D. Holt, Jr. Accessed June 29, 2008.
  12. ^ "Legislative Roster: 2010-2011 Session". New Jersey Legislature. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. Retrieved 2010-07-04. 
  13. ^ Elected County Officials, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 5, 2011.
  14. ^ South River Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March
  15. ^ Granieri, Laurie. "PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST", Asbury Park Press, January 6, 2002. Accessed February 5, 2011. "Joe Csatari is in a reflective mood today. He relaxes in his home art studio in South River, a sunlit perch set among bare tree branches..."
  16. ^ Nussbaum, Debra. "IN PERSON; Imagine Trenton. One Author Did.", The New York Times, November 3, 2002. Accessed March 20, 2011. "If there is a typical career path for novelists, Mrs. Evanovich is certain that she has not followed it. After growing up in South River, she followed her husband, who was in the Navy, as he moved around the country, stayed at home and raised their two children and then, when she was in her 30's, decided that she wanted to write."
  17. ^ Staff. "THESE NITTANY LIONS GET HIS VOTE KENNY JACKSON SAYS THE COACH AND OFFENSE LOOK BETTER THAN THEY DID IN THE NATIONAL TITLE YEAR OF 1982.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 11, 1994. Accessed March 20, 2011. "Jackson, from South River, NJ, was State's first all-America receiver and remains the university's career leader in receiving yards (2006) and TDs (25)."
  18. ^ Staff. "GENOVA GALLERIA D'ARTE IL BASILISCO: JONATHAN JANSON, DAILY LIFE ACQUERELLI E OLII", Genova Press, October 16, 2006. Accessed February 6, 2011. "JONATHAN JANSON nasce nel 1950 a South River, New Jersey, USA."
  19. ^ Beale, Lewis. "BIG BOUNCE FROM 'MURDER' SHRINK ROLE", Daily News (New York), January 22, 1996. Accessed March 20, 2011. "Kamel is one of those looks-familiar-but-what's-his-name actors who work all the time but seem to miss stardom. The South River, N.J., native has had recurring roles in many TV series, but his best work has been in Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law and Murder One, all created by Stephen Bochco."
  20. ^ Hart, Jolene. "Doh! TV writer one of two grads honored: Co-producer of ABC shows, TV writer returns to South River", Old Bridge Suburban, November 13, 2003. Accessed February 6, 2011. "The entrance to South River may not yet post signs heralding, Birthplace of Frank Mula, but there are more than a few ways Mula has earned recognition as a local celebrity."
  21. ^ Piehler, G. Kurt. An Interview with Alfred Nisonoff, for the Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II., Rutgers University, August 1, 1994. Accessed February 6, 2011. "AN: His first stores were butcher shops. He had the kosher butcher shop in South River, and that goes all the way back to when I was five or so. Yeah, I was born in Corona, Long Island, but, then, when I was a couple of years old, they moved to South River and he opened that kosher butcher shop there."
  22. ^ Zipay, Steve. "Pearson to Lend Area X-Men / Ex-Cowboys great named NY / NJ general manager", Newsday, August 4, 2000. Accessed March 20, 2011. "[Drew Pearson], who was named vice president and general manager of the yet-unnamed New York/New Jersey XFL franchise that will play five home games in East Rutherford next winter, grew up in South River, a half-hour ride down the Jersey Turnpike."
  23. ^ Kieran, John. "Sports of the Times. A Winter Haven of Refuge", The New York Times, March 22, 1937. Accessed February 6, 2011. "They also had Pete Sivess, the big gent from South River, N.J., who hinted out loud last year that he was going to outpitch the whole Dean family."
  24. ^ Amdur, Neil. "Theismann Pleases Irish Coach In Every Statistic Except One; Quarterback From Jersey Is Intercepted 16 Times -- Awaits Biggest Chance", The New York Times, December 27, 1969. Accessed March 20, 2011. "The snow was stacked as high and tight as a goal-line defense near Joe Theismann's house at 3 Arlington Avenue in South River, N. J., yesterday."
  25. ^ Staff. "OSU'S SPELLMAN INKS 4-YEAR DEAL WITH BEARS", Dayton Daily News, July 14, 1992. Accessed March 20, 2011. "Alex Wojciechowicz, the All-America center on Fordham's famed "Seven Blocks of Granite" line in the 1930s, died at his home in South River, NJ. He was 76."

External links

Municipalities and communities of Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA
Cities
Boroughs
Townships
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Communities