|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Brunswick, also known as "the Healthcare City"[1] or "Hub City"[2], is a city located in the County of Middlesex, New Jersey (USA). It is 31 miles (50 km) southwest of New York City on the southern bank of the Raritan River about fifteen miles (24 km) from its mouth. As of the 2000 Federal Census, the population of New Brunswick is 48,573. 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 is 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.[3]
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.
GeographyNew Brunswick is located at (40.488304, -74.447751)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.9 km² (5.8 mi²), including 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) 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. Demographics
Image:NB-NJ-CentralStreets.JPG Paterson Street
Image:NewBrunswickNJ-street.JPG Corner of Somerset Street and Easton Avenue, looking southeast 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. About 16.9% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over. HistoryOrigins of the nameImage:OldQueensRutgers.jpg Early nineteenth century drawing of Old Queen's 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 periodsCentrally 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 differences over the mission of Rutgers College as a secular institution, and overcrowding, moved to a seven acre (28,000 m²) tract of land less than one-half mile (800 m) west, which it still occupies. Early commerce and industry
Hungarian communityNew 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 Hungarian institutions set up by the community remain and active in the neighborhood, including:
White flight and urban blightRevitalization and redevelopmentImage:NewBrunswickMODERN.JPG Much of Downtown New Brunswick's built environment is a result of urban renewal projects. New Brunswick contains a number of important examples of urban renewal in the United States. In the mid to late 20th century, 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 New Jersey Economic Development Authority to form the New Brunswick Development Company (DevCo), spending 1.6 billion dollars with the goal of revitalizing the city center and redeveloping neighborhoods considered to be blighted and dangerous[8] 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, conference center, and upscale housing. [9] This process has been controversial, and continues to draw ire from both historic preservationists, those opposing gentrification[10], and those concerned with eminent domain abuses.[11] New Brunswick's process of urban renewal continues, as new luxury housing is built throughout downtown in an attempt to attract commuters to major employment centers such as Newark and New York City to take up residence. GovernmentLocal governmentThe 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 Robert Recine, Vice President Elizabeth Sheehan Garlatti, Jimmie L. Cook, Jr., Joseph V. Egan and Blanquita Valenti.[12] All elected officials in New Brunswick are members of the Democratic Party, which has been the case since the 1970s. Federal, state and county representationImage:113 1317.jpg Corner of George and Bayard, looking east New Brunswick is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 17th Legislative District.[13] New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District, covering portions of Middlesex County and Monmouth County, is represented by Frank Pallone (D). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken). The 17th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Bob Smith (D, Piscataway) and in the Assembly by Upendra J. Chivukula (D, Somerset) and Joseph V. Egan (D, New Brunswick). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken). Middlesex County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Middlesex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel (Milltown), Freeholder Deputy Director Stephen J. "Pete" Dalina (Fords), Camille Fernicola (Piscataway), H. James Polos (Highland Park), John Pulomena (South Plainfield), Christopher D. Rafano (South River) and Blanquita B. Valenti (New Brunswick). EducationPublic SchoolsThe New Brunswick Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district include elementary schools (Lincoln, Lincoln Annex, Livingston, McKinleyl, A. Chester Redshaw, Paul Robeson, Paul Robeson Annex, Roosevelt, Lord Stirling and Woodrow Wilson), New Brunswick Middle School, as well as New Brunswick High School, New Brunswick Alternative School[1] and New Brunswick Health Sciences Technology High School for grades 9-12. The community is also served by the Greater Brunswick Charter School. Higher educationImage:Rutgers1458.JPG Looking east from the corner of Hamilton Street and College Ave
Health CareCity Hall has promoted the nickname "The Health Care City" to reflect the importance of the healthcare industry to its economy.[14] 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.[15] TransportationImage:NewBrunswickStationNJ.JPG New Brunswick's NJ Transit train station New Brunswick is served by Amtrak's Regional and Keystone Service trains along the Northeast Corridor. New Jersey Transit trains on the Northeast Corridor Line provide frequent service north to Pennsylvania Station, in Midtown Manhattan, and south to Trenton. Both Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains stop at the New Brunswick railway station. The Jersey Avenue station is also served by Northeast Corridor trains. New Brunswick also lies at the crossroads of the New Jersey Turnpike, U.S. Route 1, Route 18 and Route 27. Local bus service is provided by New Jersey Transit, with Rutgers University campus busing provided by Academy Bus. Also noteworthy is New Brunswick's bicycle community, which includes a bicycle co-op and tool collective. CultureTheatreThree 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 Shakespear and musical productions. MuseumsNew Brunswick is home to the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, Albus Cavus, the Rutgers University Geology Museum and the New Jersey Agricultural Museum at Cook College. RestaurantsNew Brunswick has a diverse restaurant market including Nouvelle American, Italian, Indian, Ethiopian, Thai and Chinese cuisine. Popular upscale establishments include Stage Left, Old Man Rafferty's, The Frog and The Peach, Clydz, Makeda's, and Soho on George. While many of the downtown fast-food establishments close after about 6 to 8 pm, those on Easton Avenue are open well into the night. The main pubs are Dolls Place, Tumulty's Pub, Olde Queens Tavern, Stuff Yer Face, Marita's Cantina and Harvest Moon Brew Pub. A vigorous local music scene is also present with live bands appearing at the Court Tavern, Old Bay, Nova Terra, Tumulty's and other locations. MusicImage:New brunswick new jersey aerial george.jpg Looking up the redeveloped and redeveloping George Street In addition to live bands at bars, New Brunswick has been a center of 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. Early influential bands of the New Brunswick basement punk scene include The Bouncing Souls, Midtown, Lifetime, Thursday, and Sticks & Stones. 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. Although the New Brunswick Police Department deters residents from holding basement shows by issuing heavy noise violation tickets, basement shows still thrive in the city. These shows host not only local bands but bands from across the country and the world. Current bands/artists that are part of the New Brunswick music scene (although not all from the city itself) include The Ergs!, Hunchback, The Groucho Marxists, For Science, Kohuff, Full Of Fancy, The Measure (SA), Seasick, Through Eden, Militant Citezenry, Outsmarting Simon, Screaming Females, Button, Brian Bond, We Were Born With Rocks In Our Hands, Know/Think, Rapid Cities, Huma, Mother Night, the now defunct Make Me!, and multi platinum recording artist Baby Face. Trivia
Points of interest
Notable residents
References
|
Sites |
Searched sites for "New Brunswick, New Jersey" |
|
No sites found. |
Sorry, no matching site records were found. |
Want your site listed here?
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
