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New Brunswick, New Jersey
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New Brunswick, also known as "the Healthcare City" or "Hub City", is a city and the county seat of Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is 31 miles (50 km) southwest of New York City on the southern bank of the Raritan River about 15 miles (24 km) from its mouth. The 2006 United States Census Bureau population estimate of New Brunswick was 50,172.
New Brunswick was formed by Royal Charter on December 30, 1730, within other townships in Middlesex County and Somerset County and was reformed by Royal Charter with the same boundaries on February 12, 1763, at which time it was divided into north and south wards.
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Encyclopedia
New Brunswick, also known as "the Healthcare City" or "Hub City", is a city and the county seat of Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is 31 miles (50 km) southwest of New York City on the southern bank of the Raritan River about 15 miles (24 km) from its mouth. The 2006 United States Census Bureau population estimate of New Brunswick was 50,172.
New Brunswick was formed by Royal Charter on December 30, 1730, within other townships in Middlesex County and Somerset County and was reformed by Royal Charter with the same boundaries on February 12, 1763, at which time it was divided into north and south wards. New Brunswick was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 1, 1784.
New Brunswick is the county seat of Middlesex County, hosting many of the county's government offices and facilities. It is also home to the largest campuses of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (known also as Rutgers University) and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). It is nicknamed Hub City and The Healthcare City, the former reflecting its status as a major urban center of Central Jersey, serviced by many railroads during the nineteenth century, and the latter due to the concentration of medical facilities (both UMDNJ's Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Saint Peter's University Hospital) as well as the corporate offices or production facilities of several large pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb).
New Brunswick is noted for its rich ethnic heritage. At one time, one quarter of the Hungarian population in New Jersey resided in the city. Today, much of that Hungarian community continues to thrive as well as a growing hispanic community that has developed around French street past Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
History
Origins of the name
Originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans, the first white settlement at the site of New Brunswick was made in 1681. The settlement here was first called Prigmore's Swamp (1681-97), then Inian's Ferry (1691-1714). In 1714, the young village was given the name New Brunswick after the city of Braunschweig, in state of Lower Saxony, in Germany. Braunschweig was an influential and powerful city in the Hanseatic League, later in the Holy Roman Empire, and was an administrative seat for the Duchy (and later Principality) of Hanover. Shortly after the first settlement of New Brunswick in colonial New Jersey, George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and Elector of Hanover, of the House of Hanover (also known as the House of Brunswick), became King George I of Great Britain (1660-1727).
During the Colonial and Early American periods
Centrally located between New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania along an early thoroughfare known as the King's Highway and situated along the Raritan River, New Brunswick became an important hub for Colonial travelers and traders. New Brunswick was incorporated as a town in 1736 and chartered as a city in 1784. It was occupied by the British in the winter of 1776-1777 during the Revolutionary War. In 1900, 20,006 people lived in New Brunswick; 23,388 in 1910, 32,779 in 1920 and 33,180 in 1940.
The Declaration of Independence (1776) received its third public reading in New Brunswick, after it was publicly read in Philadelphia following its promulgation by the Continental Congress.
The Trustees of Queen's College (now Rutgers University), founded in 1766, voted to locate the young college in New Brunswick, selecting this city over Hackensack, in Bergen County, New Jersey. Classes began in 1771 with one instructor, one sophomore, Matthew Leydt, and several freshmen at a tavern called "The Sign of the Red Lion" on the corner of Albany and Neilson Streets (now the grounds of the Johnson & Johnson corporate headquarters). Classes were held through the American Revolution in various taverns and boarding houses, and at a building known as College Hall on George Street, until Old Queens was erected in 1808. It remains the oldest building on the Rutgers University campus. The Queen's College Grammar School (now Rutgers Preparatory School) was established also in 1766, and shared facilities with the College until 1830, when it located in a building (now known as Alexander Johnston Hall) across College Avenue from Old Queens. After Rutgers University became the state university of New Jersey in 1956, the Trustees of Rutgers divested it of the Rutgers Preparatory School, which relocated in 1957 to an estate purchased from the Colgate-Palmolive Company in Franklin Township in neighboring Somerset County.
The New Brunswick Theological Seminary, founded in 1784, moved to New Brunswick in 1810 sharing its quarters with the fledgling Queen's College (Queens would close from 1810 to 1825 due to financial problems, and reopen in 1825 under the name Rutgers College). The Seminary, due to overcrowding and differences over the mission of Rutgers College as a secular institution, moved to a seven acre (28,000 m˛) tract of land less than one-half mile (800 m) west, which it still occupies although the land is now in the middle of Rutgers University's College Avenue campus.
Hungarian community
New Brunswick began attracting a Hungarian immigrant population around the turn of the century. Hungarians were primarily attracted to the city by employment at Johnson & Johnson factories located in the city. Hungarians settled mainly in what today is the second ward.
The immigrant population grew until the end of the early century immigration boom. During the Cold War, the community was revitalized by the decision to house refugees from the failed 1956 Hungarian Revolution at Camp Kilmer, in nearby Edison. Even though the Hungarian population has been largely supplanted by newer immigrants, there continues to be a Hungarian Festival in the city held on Somerset Street on the first Saturday of June each year. Many set up by the community remain and active in the neighborhood, including: , St. Ladislaus Roman Catholic Church, St. Joseph Byzantine Catholic Church, Teleki Pál Scout Home, Hungarian Civic Association,
Several landmarks in the city also testify to its Hungarian heritage. There is a street and a recreation park named after Louis Kossuth, the famous leader of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. The corner of Somerset Street and Plum Street is named Mindszenty Square where the first ever statue of Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty was erected. A stone memorial to the victims of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution also stands near by.
Latino Community
Since the 1960s, many of the new residents of New Brunswick have come from Latin America. Many citizens moved from Puerto Rico in the 1970s. In the 1980s many immigrated from the Dominican Republic, and still later from Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, and Mexico. There are many Latino businesses on and around French Street (N.J. Rt. 27).
Revitalization and redevelopment
New Brunswick contains a number of examples of urban renewal in the United States. In the 1960s-1970s, the downtown area became blighted as middle class residents moved to newer suburbs surrounding the city, an example of the phenomenon known as "white flight". Beginning in 1975, Rutgers University, Johnson & Johnson, and the local government collaborated through the to form the New Brunswick Development Company (DevCo), with the goal of revitalizing the city center and redeveloping neighborhoods considered to be blighted and dangerous Johnson & Johnson decided to remain in New Brunswick and built a new World Headquarters building in the area between Albany Street, Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, Route 18, and George Street, requiring many old buildings and historic roads to be removed. The Hiram Market area, a historic district which by the 1970s had become a mostly Puerto Rican and Dominican-American neighborhood, was demolished to build a Hyatt hotel and conference center, and upscale housing. Johnson & Johnson guaranteed Hyatt Hotels' investment as they were wary of building an upscale hotel in a run-down area.
New Brunswick's process of urban renewal continues, as new offices are built throughout downtown, as well as luxury housing in an attempt to attract commuters to major employment centers such as Newark and New York City. New construction proposals include the
The redevelopment process has been controversial. Devco, the hospitals, and the city government continue to draw ire from both historic preservationists, those opposing gentrification, and those concerned with eminent domain abuses, and tax abatements for developers.
Geography
New Brunswick is located at (40.488304, -74.447751). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.8 square miles (14.9 km˛), including 0.5 square miles (1.3 km˛) covered by water.
New Brunswick is bordered by Piscataway, Highland Park, and Edison across the Raritan River to the north, and also by North Brunswick to the southwest, East Brunswick to the southeast, and Franklin Township in Somerset County.
Climate
New Brunswick has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) typical to New Jersey, characterised by hot, humid summers and warm winters with moderate to considerable rainfall throughout the year.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,573 people, 13,057 households, and 7,207 families residing in the city. The population density was 9,293.5 people per square mile (3,585.9/km˛). There were 13,893 housing units at an average density of 2,658.1/sq mi (1,025.6/km˛). The racial makeup of the city was 48.79% White, 23.03% African American, 0.46% Native American, 5.32% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 18.08% from other races, and 4.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.01% of the population.
There were 13,057 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.6% were married couples living together, 18.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.23 and the average family size was 3.69.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 34.0% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 11.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males. The presence of the university inflates the proportion of the 18-24 population.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,080, and the median income for a family was $38,222. Males had a median income of $25,657 versus $23,604 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,308.
Many residents of New Brunswick come from Latin America. Nearly 40 percent of New Brunswick's population identifies as Latino. Many Latino-oriented stores and markets have been opened by this new population, who mainly come from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador.
Government
Local government
The City of New Brunswick is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.
As the legislative body of New Brunswick's municipal government, the City Council is responsible for approving the annual budget, ordinances and resolutions, contracts, and appointments to boards and commissions. The City Council has five members elected at large to staggered four-year terms. The Council President, elected to a 2-year term by the Council, presides over all meetings.
Jim Cahill is the 62nd Mayor of New Brunswick. He was sworn in as Mayor on January 1, 1991.
The City Council is composed of President Elizabeth Sheehan Garlatti, Vice President Blanquita Valenti, Robert Recine, Jimmie L. Cook, Jr., and Joseph V. Egan.
Federal, state and county representation
New Brunswick is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 17th Legislative District.
Education
Public Schools
The New Brunswick Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district is one of 31 Abbott Districts statewide. New Brunswick's Board of Education members are appointed by the city's mayor.
Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) include elementary schools —
and
(681 students),
(458),
(704), (719),
and (533),
(990),
(720) and
(482) —
, as well as
New Brunswick High School (1,432), (25) and
for grades 9-12.
The community is also served by the Greater Brunswick Charter School, a K-8 charter school with an enrollment of about 250 children from New Brunswick, Highland Park, Edison and other area communities.
Higher education
*Rutgers University has three campuses in the city: College Avenue Campus (seat of the University), Douglass Campus, and Cook Campus, which limits extend into outer townships. Rutgers has also added several buildings downtown in the last two decades, both academic and residential.
Commerce
Urban Enterprise Zone
About one-third of New Brunswick is within a designated Urban Enterprise Zone. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3˝% sales tax rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide).
Health Care
City Hall has promoted the nickname "The Health Care City" to reflect the importance of the healthcare industry to its economy. The city is home to the world headquarters of Johnson & Johnson, along with several medical teaching and research institutions including Saint Peter's University Hospital, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University's School of Pharmacy, and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital.
Transportation
New Brunswick is served by New Jersey Transit and Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor Line. New Jersey Transit provides frequent service north to Pennsylvania Station, in Midtown Manhattan, and south to Trenton, while Amtrak's Keystone Service and Northeast Regional (Amtrak) trains service the station. The Jersey Avenue station is also served by Northeast Corridor trains. For other Amtrak connections, riders can take New Jersey Transit to Pennsylvania Station, Trenton, Metropark, or Newark Penn Station.
New Brunswick also lies near exit # 9 of the New Jersey Turnpike, encompasses the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and N.J. Route 18, and is bisected by N.J. Route 27.
Local bus service is provided by New Jersey Transit, with Rutgers University campus busing provided by Academy Bus.
New Brunswick was at the eastern terminus of the Delaware and Raritan Canal, of which there are remnants surviving or rebuilt along the river.
The Parking Authority (NBPA) manages facilities.
Culture
Theatre
Three neighboring professional venues, Crossroads Theatre designed by Parsons+Fernandez-Casteleiro Architects from New York, the George Street Playhouse, and the State Theater, comprise the heart of the local theatre scene. The State Theatre is also home to the American Repertory Ballet and the Princeton Ballet School. Rutgers University has a number of student companies that perform everything from cabaret acts to Shakespeare and musical productions.
Museums
New Brunswick is home to the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, Albus Cavus, and the Rutgers University Geology Museum.
Art
New Brunswick was an important centre for avant-garde art in the 1950s-70s with several artists such as Allan Kaprow, George Segal, George Brecht, Robert Whitman, Robert Watts, Lucas Samaras, Geoffrey Hendricks and Roy Lichtenstein; some of which had taught at Rutgers University. This group of artists were sometimes referred to as the 'New Jersey School' or the 'New Brunswick School of Painting'. For more information, see Fluxus at Rutgers University.
Restaurants
New Brunswick has a diverse restaurant market including Nouvelle American, Italian, Middle Eastern, Indian, Ethiopian, Thai and Chinese cuisine. Various upscale restaurants serve the downtown area, while various fast-food establishments on Easton Avenue are open well into the night. Well known pubs include McCormick's, Doll's Place, Tumulty's, Olde Queens Tavern, and The Scarlet Pub. Live bands appear at The Old Bay, Nova Terra, Tumulty's, Harvest Moon Brewery and other locations.
Grease Trucks
The Grease Trucks are a group of food truck vendors located on the College Avenue campus of Rutgers University. They are known for serving "Fat Sandwiches", a sub roll containing an ensemble of ingredients such as steak, cheese, chicken fingers, French fries, mozzarella sticks, gyro meat, bacon, jalapeńo peppers, and more.
Music
In addition to live bands that play New Brunswick's bustling bar scene, New Brunswick has also been a center for local punk rock and underground music; a scene that thrives on quasi-legal live shows in residential basements such as Hamilton Street and the former Handy Street. Many bands who developed their fan base through such shows have gone on to national and even international acclaim. The popular 1990s indie rock band Pavement made their live debut at the Court Tavern in August 1990. Early influential bands of the New Brunswick basement punk scene include The Bouncing Souls, Lifetime, The Jesus Mendoza Way, and Sticks & Stones while bands such as Thursday, Midtown, and The Gaslight Anthem have also come out of the New Brunswick scene. Many of these bands were either stridently socio-political in their messages or at least independently minded, bound together by the "Do It Yourself Punk ethic" nature of the scene. The Bouncing Souls' song "Party at 174" refers to the band's old house at 174 Commercial Avenue, and Lifetime's "Theme Song for a New Brunswick Basement Show" memorializes their humble beginnings. Basement shows still thrive in the city, even though the New Brunswick Police Department deters residents from holding such shows by issuing heavy noise violation tickets. These shows host not only local bands, but bands from across the country and the world. New Brunswick is also the home of the independent label Ferret Records.
Popular culture
Points of interest
Churches
- Christ Church, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Episcopal
- First Presbyterian Church, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Presbyterian
- First Reformed Church, New Brunswick, New Jersey,
- Magyar Reformed Church, Calvinist
- Mount Zion AME Church, New Brunswick, New Jersey, African Methodist Episcopal
- Saint Ladislaus Church, Roman Catholic
- Saint Joseph Church, Byzantine Catholic
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Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of the City of New Brunswick include:
- David Abeel (1804-1846), Dutch Reformed Church missionary.
- Garnett Adrain (1815-1878), member of the United States House of Representatives.
- Charlie Atherton (1874-1934), major league baseball player
- Jim Axelrod, chief White House correspondent for CBS News, and reports for the CBS Evening News.
- James Berardinelli (1967- ), film critic, born in NB.
- James Bishop (1816-1895), represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1855-1857.
- Gary Brokaw (1954-), former NBA basketball player.
- Ronald "Bumblefoot" Thal (1969-), guitarist, musician, composer.
- Wheeler Winston Dixon (1950- ), film critic, filmmaker, and educator, born in NB.
- Michael Douglas (1944- ), actor, born in NB.
- Adam Edelhauser (1981- ), engineer, born in LB.
- Anthony Walton White Evans (1817–1886), engineer.
- All involved in the Hall-Mills Murder case of the 1920s
- Augustus A. Hardenbergh (1830-1889), represented New Jersey's 7th congressional district from 1875 to 1879, and again from 1881 to 1883.
- Mark Helias (1950-), jazz bassist/composer.
- Adam Hyler (1735-1782), privateer during the American Revolutionary War.
- Jaheim (1979-), R&B singer.
- Dwayne Jarrett (1986- ), wide receiver for the University of Southern California football team 2004 to 2006, current WR drafted by the Carolina Panthers.
- James P. Johnson (1891-1955), pianist, composer. One of the original stride piano masters.
- Robert Wood Johnson I (1845-1910), businessman
- Robert Wood Johnson II (1893-1968), businessman
- Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918), poet.
- Littleton Kirkpatrick (1797-1859), represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1853 to 1855, and was mayor of New Brunswick in 1841 and 1842.
- Robert Pastorelli (1954-2004), actor known primarily for playing the role of the house painter on Murphy Brown.
- Franke Previte, composer.
- Miles Ross (1827-1903), Mayor of New Brunswick, U.S. Representative and businessman
- George Sebastian Silzer (1870-1940) served as the 38th Governor of New Jersey. Served on the New Brunswick board of aldermen from 1892 to 1896.
- James H. Simpson (1813-1883), U.S. Army surveyor of western frontier areas
- Larry Stark (1932- ), theater reviewer and creator of
- Joe Theismann (1949- ), former NFL quarterback and former commentator on ESPN's Monday Night Football
- William Henry Vanderbilt (1821-1885), businessman
- Gabe Saporta (1979-), Musician and frontman of bands Midtown and Cobra Starship
- John Van Dyke (1807-1878), represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1847 to 1851, and served as Mayor of New Brunswick from 1846 to 1847.
- Eric Young (1967-), former Major League Baseball player.
Sister cities
New Brunswick has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:
External links
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