About Green Brook Township, NJ
Green Brook is a medium-sized city situated right on NJ Route 22, which feels like a 3-mile strip mall to us when we drive through.
Also in Green Brook is the large Washington Rock State Park.
See the “encyclopedia” entry below:
Green Brook Township, New Jersey
Green Brook Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 7,203, reflecting an increase of 1,549 (+27.4%) from the 5,654 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,194 (+26.8%) from the 4,460 counted in the 1990 Census.
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 borough (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.
Most of Green Brook shares ZIP code 08812 with Dunellen.
The township describes itself as “Small Enough to Know You, Large Enough to Get Things Done.”
History
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. The municipality’s name was changed to Green Brook Township in 1932.
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 15 miles (24 km). 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. The broo was named for the color of its water.
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 34 acres (140,000 m) in size.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 4.481 square miles (11.605 km), including 4.473 square miles (11.584 km) of land and 0.008 square miles (0.021 km) of water (0.18%).
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.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Seeley Mills and Washington Rock.
The township borders the municipalities of Bridgewater Township, North Plainfield, Warren Township and Watchung in Somerset County; Middlesex borough in Middlesex County; and both Dunellen and Plainfield in Union County.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 3,217 | — | |
| 1890 | 4,250 | 32.1% | |
| 1900 | 654 | * | −84.6% |
| 1910 | 886 | 35.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,116 | 26.0% | |
| 1930 | 544 | * | −51.3% |
| 1940 | 763 | 40.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,155 | 51.4% | |
| 1960 | 3,622 | 213.6% | |
| 1970 | 4,302 | 18.8% | |
| 1980 | 4,640 | 7.9% | |
| 1990 | 4,460 | −3.9% | |
| 2000 | 5,654 | 26.8% | |
| 2010 | 7,203 | 27.4% | |
| Est. 2014 | 7,252 | 0.7% | |
| * = Lost territory in previous decade. | |||
Census 2010
At the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,203 people, 2,375 households, and 1,945 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,610.5 per square mile (621.8/km). There were 2,448 housing units at an average density of 547.3 per square mile (211.3/km). The racial makeup of the township 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. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.86% (494) of the population.
There were 2,375 households, of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 14.6% of all households 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.
In the township, 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, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
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.
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 36.19 miles (58.24 km) of roadways, of which 25.49 miles (41.02 km) were maintained by the municipality, 7.47 miles (12.02 km) by Somerset County and 3.23 miles (5.20 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Public transportation
New Jersey Transit provides local bus service on the 822 route.
Community organizations
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
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Green Brook Township include:
- Paul Crook (born 1966), lead guitarist for Meat Loaf, Anthrax, and Sebastian Bach.
- Gloria Gaynor (born 1949), Grammy award-winning singer best known for her song “I Will Survive“.
- Josh Pauls (born 1992), a gold medal winner in sled hockey at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver.
(SOURCE: Infogalactic)
