Helmetta, New Jersey

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Helmetta, New Jersey
—  Borough  —
Helmetta highlighted in Middlesex County. Inset: Location of Middlesex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Helmetta, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°22′46″N 74°25′16″W / 40.37944°N 74.42111°W / 40.37944; -74.42111Coordinates: 40°22′46″N 74°25′16″W / 40.37944°N 74.42111°W / 40.37944; -74.42111
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Middlesex
Incorporated March 20, 1888
Government[1]
 • Type Borough (New Jersey)
 • Mayor Nancy Martin (2011)
Area
 • Total 0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)
 • Land 0.8 sq mi (2.2 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation 49 ft (15 m)
Population (2007)[2]
 • Total 2,012
 • Density 2,153.6/sq mi (831.5/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 08828
Area code(s) 732
FIPS code 34-30840[3][4]
GNIS feature ID 0877037[5]
Website http://www.helmettaboro.com

Helmetta is a Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 1,825. The town was founded by George Washington Helme in the 1880s.

Helmetta was formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 20, 1888, when it was created from portions of East Brunswick Township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 10, 1888. Helmetta's boundary with East Brunswick Township was changed as of March 24, 1897.[6]

Contents

[edit] Geography

Helmetta is located at 40°22′46″N 74°25′16″W / 40.379507°N 74.420998°W / 40.379507; -74.420998 (40.379507, -74.420998).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2), of which, 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (5.56%) is water.

East Brunswick Township
Spotswood
   Helmetta    
Monroe Township

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1930 801
—
1940 667 −16.7%
1950 580 −13.0%
1960 779 34.3%
1970 955 22.6%
1980 955 0%
1990 1,211 26.8%
2000 1,825 50.7%
Est. 2007 2,012 [2] 10.2%
Population 1930 - 1990.[8]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,825 people, 746 households, and 495 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,153.6 people per square mile (829.0/km2). There were 769 housing units at an average density of 907.5 per square mile (349.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.15% White, 2.41% African American, 0.22% Native American, 2.41% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.32% of the population.

There were 746 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the borough the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 44.1% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $60,125, and the median income for a family was $64,659. Males had a median income of $47,604 versus $33,929 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,668. About 3.2% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

The major thoroughfare in the borough is Main Street which connects with Monroe to the southwest and Spotswood to the northeast. Main Street is largely known as Bordentown-Amboy Turnpike between Jamesburg and South Amboy.

The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) is accessible in neighboring Monroe Township at Exit 8A.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Helmetta is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office and only votes in case of a tie on the council. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[1]

As of 2011, the Mayor of Helmetta Borough is Nancy Martin, whose term of office ends December 31, 2011. Members of the Helmetta Borough Council are Council President Sewell Peckham (2011), Vincent Asciolla (2012), Robert Janeczek (2012), Peter Karczewski (2013), Joseph Perez (2013) and Patrick Smith (2011).[9][10]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Helmetta is in the 12th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 18th state legislative district.[11]

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

The 18th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Barbara Buono (D, Metuchen) and in the General Assembly by Peter J. Barnes III (D, Edison) and Patrick J. Diegnan (D, South Plainfield).[13] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[14] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[15]

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 2012, Middlesex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Christopher D. Rafano (South River, term ends December 31, 2013), Freeholder Deputy Director Ronald G. Rios (Carteret, 2012), Carol Barrett Bellante (Monmouth Junction, 2014), Stephen J. "Pete" Dalina (Fords, 2013), H. James Polos (Highland Park, 2012), Charles E. Tomaro (Edison, 2014) and Blanquita B. Valenti (New Brunswick, 2013). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Elaine M. Flynn (Old Bridge Township), Sheriff Mildred S. Scott (Piscataway) and Surrogate Kevin J. Hoagland (New Brunswick).[16][17][18][19]

[edit] Education

All public school students from Helmetta, a non-operating district, attend the Spotswood Public Schools, along with students from Milltown who attend Spotswood High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[20][21]

The Spotswood Public Schools serve students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[22]) are G. Austin Schoenly School (Pre-K to 1st grade; 227 students), E. R. Appleby School (grades 2-5; 465), Memorial Middle School (grades 6-8; 337) and Spotswood High School (grades 9-12; 733).

[edit] G. W. Helme Snuff Mill District

G. W. Helme Snuff Mill District
Location: Main Street
Helmetta, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°22′39″N 74°25′31″W / 40.3775°N 74.42528°W / 40.3775; -74.42528
NRHP Reference#: 79001511[23]
NJRHP #: 1842[24]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP: August 15, 1980
Designated NJRHP: February 1, 1980

Helmetta's main landmark is the large, abandoned Helme Products Inc. plant that sits adjacent to the Camden and Amboy Railroad line running through town (map showing Helmetta on a Camden and Amboy Railroad route). The mill began producing snuff in the 1880s. On February 23, 1900, the mill was bought by the American-Sniff Company in a merger with Helme Products Inc., but the merger was dissolved in 1911. In 1925, the mill became the largest of its kind in the world, and by 1934 it employed 400 people. In 1986, the mill was bought out by American Maize-Products. Finally, in 1993, it was purchased by Swisher International, and operations were moved to Wheeling, West Virginia.[25] It has remained inactive since.

The G. W. Helme Snuff Mill District is a classic example of a late 1800s mill town. The district consists of the George Washington Helme snuff mill, housing for employees, accessory buildings, St. George Episcopal Church, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, and Helmetta Pond, which at one time served as a source of power for the mill. About 115 buildings were originally in the district, which was named to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1980, and to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, New Jersey on August 15, 1980.[26]

[edit] Notable residents

  • Joseph Sinagra (born 1946) held a seat on the Helmetta Planning Board, was Emergency Management Coordinator, served on several committees as a Helmetta Councilman from 1989-99, also serving as Council President for seven years. He also served as Chairman of the Helmetta Republican Party, is the current Vice-Chair, was the 2005 Republican nominee for Middlesex County Clerk, was a Republican candidate in 2006 for U.S. Congress in New Jersey's 12th congressional district and the 18th district's candidate in 2007 and 2009 for New Jersey's General Assembly.[citation needed]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 84.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Helmetta borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 5, 2008.
  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. 170.
  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. ^ Borough Mayor & Council, Borough of Helmetta. Accessed April 17, 2011. Note that website shows 2010 term-end dates for Karczewski and Perez as of date accessed.
  10. ^ Staff. "Helmetta election results", Asbury Park Press, November 2, 2010. Accessed April 17, 2011. "Incumbent Joseph J. Perez received 240 votes and incumbent Peter Karczewski received 236 votes, with 39 percent of eligible voters turning out at the polls. Both Independents were unopposed for two three-year Borough Council seats."
  11. ^ 2010 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 58. Accessed April 17, 2011.
  12. ^ Municipalities, Congressman Rush D. Holt, Jr. Accessed June 29, 2008.
  13. ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
  14. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  15. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  16. ^ Elected County Officials, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 24, 2012.
  17. ^ 2009 General Election Winners of County Offices Middlesex County, New Jersey Department of State, February 22, 2011. Accessed January 24, 2012.
  18. ^ 2010 General Election Winners of County Offices Middlesex County, New Jersey Department of State, December 29, 2009. Accessed January 24, 2012.
  19. ^ Racz, Gene. "Rafano, Rios re-elected to Middlesex County Freeholder leadership posts", Courier News, January 6, 2012. Accessed January 24, 2012. "The Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders re-elected Chris Rafano as director and Ron Rios as deputy director for 2012 at its annual reorganization meeting on Friday afternoon. The meeting, conducted at the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Middlesex County College, also saw newly elected Freeholders Carol Barrett Bellante and Charles E. Tomaro sworn in for full three-year terms following their victories in the November general election."
  20. ^ Milltown Fact Sheet, Joyce Kilmer School. Accessed March 25, 2011. "Through a formal send–receive contract, approved by the Commissioner of Education, our high school students are sent on a tuition basis to Spotswood High School. Our 2010–2011 budget of $14.7 million supports Parkview School and Joyce Kilmer School, as well as the tuition for students attending Spotswood High School."
  21. ^ Parents, Spotswood High School. Accessed March 25, 2011. "Welcome to Spotswood High School, a comprehensive institution that focuses on excellence in academics, the arts, athletics, and community service. Spotswood High School has served the residents in Spotswood, Helmetta, and Milltown since 1976."
  22. ^ Data for the Spotswood Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 17, 2011.
  23. ^ "New Jersey - Middlesex County". National Register of Historic Places. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/nj/Middlesex/state.html. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
  24. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Middlesex County". NJ DEP – Historic Preservation Office. June 2, 2011. p. 7. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/middlesex.pdf. Retrieved 2011-06-06. 
  25. ^ History of Helmetta Timeline accessed December 24, 2006.
  26. ^ New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, Middlesex County accessed December 24, 2006.

[edit] External links

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