South River, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
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.
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 mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (4.42%) is water.
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%).
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.
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).
South River is in the
serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics
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.
. Originally referred to as Washington, the community eventually split away as did Spotswood
and Milltown
.
Borough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
in Middlesex County
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 15,322.
What is now South River was originally formed as the town
Town (New Jersey)
A Town in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government...
of Washington within East Brunswick Township
East Brunswick Township, New Jersey
The town is located southwest of New York City and 48 miles northeast of Philadelphia.Lawrence Brook, a tributary of the Raritan River, runs along the western border of the township...
on February 23, 1870. South River was incorporated as an independent borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on February 28, 1898, replacing Washington town.
Geography
South River is located at 40.444356°N 74.381756°W (40.444356, -74.381756).Elevation is 80 feet.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, 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 mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (4.42%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 15,322 people, 5,606 households, and 3,985 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.85% from two or more races.
Ancestries of the population: Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
(18.9%), Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
(14.6%), Irish
Irish diaspora
thumb|Night Train with Reaper by London Irish artist [[Brian Whelan]] from the book Myth of Return, 2007The Irish diaspora consists of Irish emigrants and their descendants in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Mexico, South Africa,...
(13.0%), German (12.5%), Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
(9.3%), Russian (4.5%).
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
, and Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
immigrant population moved into the borough in the 50's-80's. Today South River's largest incoming immigrant population are Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
and Brazilian populations.
Local government
, the mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
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).
Federal, state and county representation
South River is in the 12th Congressional district.South River is in the
Education
The South River Public SchoolsSouth River Public Schools
The South River Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from South River, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, New Jersey, United States....
serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
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
South River High School (New Jersey)
South River High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from South River in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the South River Public Schools...
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 TownshipEast Brunswick Township, New Jersey
The town is located southwest of New York City and 48 miles northeast of Philadelphia.Lawrence Brook, a tributary of the Raritan River, runs along the western border of the township...
. Originally referred to as Washington, the community eventually split away as did Spotswood
Spotswood, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2008, there were 7,880 people, 3,099 households, and 2,163 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,389.8 people per square mile . There were 3,158 housing units at an average density of 1,358.5 per square mile...
and Milltown
Milltown, New Jersey
Milltown is a Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 6,893.Milltown was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 29, 1889, from portions of North Brunswick Township, based on the...
.
Name changes
- 1683-1720: Commonly referred to as South River Landing.
- 1720-1784: Name changed to Willettstown after settler Samuel Willett.
- 1784-1870: Name changed to Washington and referred to as Washington Village, Washington Woods, and Little Washington. The current name was considered at the suggestion of Abraham Barkelew, one of the original settlers in the town.
- 1870–present: Village name officially changed to South River.
- 1897: South River becomes borough.
Transportation
- NJ Transit bus service is provided on the 811 and 815 routes.
Noted residents
- Radasłaŭ Astroŭski (1887–1976), BelarusBelarusBelarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
ian political leader, who died in the borough. - Joseph CsatariJoseph CsatariJoseph Csatari is an internationally acclaimed realist portrait artist, watercolorist and illustrator who has painted both the famous and the familiar in American life for more than fifty years. He honed his unique talent for realism by working with his mentor Norman Rockwell for eight years...
(born 1929), painter. - Janet EvanovichJanet EvanovichJanet Evanovich is an American writer. She began her career writing short contemporary romance novels under the pen name Steffie Hall, but gained fame authoring a series of contemporary mysteries featuring Stephanie Plum, a lingerie buyer from Trenton, New Jersey, who becomes a bounty hunter to...
(born 1943), author. - Kenny JacksonKenny JacksonKenny Jackson is a former professional American football player. He played wide receiver for eight seasons in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Oilers and was twice named a collegiate All-American at Penn State University .-Early years:Jackson grew up in South...
(born 1962), former professional football player. - Jonathan Janson (born 1950), painter.
- Stanley KamelStanley KamelStanley Kamel was an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Charles Kroger on the American television series Monk.-Biography:...
(1943–2008), actor who performed in the USA NetworkUSA NetworkUSA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
series MonkMonk (TV series)Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...
as Dr. Charles Kroger. - Frank MulaFrank MulaFrank Mula is an American television writer. He has written for Cosby, Madame's Place, Grand, The Simpsons and created the series, Local Heroes, which lasted 7 episodes.Mula was raised in South River, New Jersey....
, writer for The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. - Alfred NisonoffAlfred NisonoffAlfred Nisonoff was a 20th century chemist who helped to experimentally determine the molecular structure of the antibody, and, as a result, made major contributions to the field of immunology...
(1923–2001), immunology researcher. - Drew PearsonDrew Pearson (American football)Drew Pearson is a sportscaster and former American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.-Early years:...
(born 1951), former professional football player. - Pete SivessPete SivessPeter Sivess was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of three seasons in the majors, from until , for the Philadelphia Phillies.Sivess was raised in South River, New Jersey.-External links:...
(1913–2003), pitcher for the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. - Joe TheismannJoe TheismannJoseph Robert "Joe" Theismann is a former quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League . He achieved his most enduring fame in his 12 seasons playing for the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and quarterback of the winning team in Super Bowl XVII...
(born 1949), former professional football player. - Alex WojciechowiczAlex WojciechowiczAlexander Francis Wojciechowicz was a professional American football player in the National Football League. He was an NFL Hall of Famer as an offensive lineman and linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles....
(1915–92), professional football player.