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Bound Brook, New Jersey

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Map showing location of Bound Brook in Somerset County
Queen's Bridge over Raritan River, Bound Brook, New Jersey

Bound Brook is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 10,155.

Bound Brook was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 24, 1869, within portions of Bridgewater Township. On February 11, 1891, it was incorporated as a borough, based on the results of a referendum held on the previous day.[1]

Flooding

The town has been infamous for flooding of the Raritan River. A major flood in 1896 caused major fires.[1] In September 1999, many structures in Bound Brook south of Route 28 were damaged or destroyed by floods from the Raritan River resulting from Hurricane Floyd. The flooding from this hurricane reinvigorated a long-planned effort called the Green Brook Flood Control Project that would protect Bound Brook from flooding from the Raritan River and its tributaries that comprise the western and eastern boundaries of the town. The highest flooding levels since 1800 in Bound Brook were reached during Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 (42.13 feet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey[2]). The second highest recorded level was after the April 2007 nor'easter, when the Raritan River crested at two inches above the level set during Tropical Storm Doria in 1971. Main Street was also flooded in September 1996. In 1999 and 2007 Bound Brook's downtown flooding led to out-of-control fires, which could not be put out because of lack of access for fire vehicles.

History

The town was first settled in 1681, and was established near the Bound Brook stream of the same name, which flows into the Raritan River via the Green Brook on the east side of the borough.[2]

A wooden bridge over the Raritan River was erected as early as 1761 and named Queen's Bridge in 1767. Later it became a covered bridge. During the American Revolutionary War the bridge was used repeatedly by both sides including during the Battle of Bound Brook in 1777. In 1875 the wooden bridge was replaced by a steel pipe truss bridge, which was replaced by a steel girder bridge in 1984, still using the old pillars.

The Battle of Bound Brook, one of the battles in the New York and New Jersey campaign during the American Revolutionary War, occurred on April 13, 1777, and resulted in a defeat for the Continental Army, who were routed by about 4,000 troops under British command.

Geography

Bound Brook is located at 40°33′55″N 74°32′22″W / 40.56528°N 74.53944°W / 40.56528; -74.53944Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (40.565203, -74.539513)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 4.4 km² (1.7 mi²), all land.

As the southern portion of the borough (including the downtown area) is a low-lying natural flood plain of the Raritan River, Bound Brook suffers occasional flooding after heavy rain. Flood control protection is now in place on the western and eastern sides of Bound Brook; however, the main flood levee that will protect the borough from damaging floodwaters from the Raritan River is not expected to be completed until at least 2012. The flood levee is expected to provide protection from 150-year floods.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19307,372—
19407,6163.3%
19508,37410.0%
196010,26322.6%
197010,4501.8%
19809,710−7.1%
19909,487−2.3%
200010,1557.0%
2005 (est.)10,168[3]
Population 1930 - 1990.[4]

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 10,155 people, 3,615 households, and 2,461 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,292.9/km² (5,953.7/mi²). There were 3,802 housing units at an average density of 858.5/km² (2,229.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 82.57% White, 2.52% African American, 0.31% Native American, 2.88% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 8.67% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.87% of the population.

There were 3,615 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 107.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $46,858, and the median income for a family was $51,346. Males had a median income of $32,226 versus $28,192 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,395. About 6.9% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Bound Brook has become a Hispanic enclave in Somerset County,with many businesses in the downtown area catering to Hispanics cultures.

Government

Local government

The Mayor of Bound Brook is Frank J. Ryan. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Debbie Cozza, Ed Gabrielski, Carey Pilato, Jeff Thompson and Javier Vasquez.[5]

Federal, state and county representation

Bound Brook is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 16th Legislative District.[6]

For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).[7] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)[8] and George Helmy (Mountain Lakes, term ends 2024), who was appointed to the seat following the resignation of Bob Menendez (Englewood Cliffs).[9][10]

For the 2024-2025 session, the 16th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Andrew Zwicker (D, South Brunswick) and in the General Assembly by Mitchelle Drulis (D, East Amwell Township) and Roy Freiman (D, Hillsborough Township).[11] Template:NJ Governor

Template:NJ Somerset County Freeholders

Education

The Bound Brook School District serves students in Prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are Lafayette School, Lamonte School, Smalley School and Bound Brook High School [3]. The high school is a six-year high school for Bound Brook, but a four-year high school for students from South Bound Brook, as part of a sending/receiving relationship.

Transportation

The Bound Brook offers New Jersey Transit service on the Raritan Valley Line. The station building on the north side of the tracks is now a restaurant; the other station building on the south side is now privately owned. A tunnel connects the south and north sides of the tracks. There are also Conrail tracks going through this station, used for freight trains going to Newark. The station is located at 350 E. Main Street, and was built in 1913.

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 222.
  2. ^ A Note About Places, From "Voices of Raritan Landing", accessed April 19, 2007.
  3. ^ Census data for Bound Brook borough, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007
  4. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, accessed March 1, 2007
  5. ^ Somerset County directory for Bound Brook, accessed September 26, 2006
  6. ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 55, accessed August 30, 2006
  7. ^ "Congressman Malinowski Fights For The Corporate Transparency Act", Tom Malinowski, press release dated October 23, 2019. Accessed January 19, 2022. "My name, Tom Malinowski. My address, 86 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553."
  8. ^ U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
  9. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/23/nyregion/george-helmy-bob-menendez-murphy.html
  10. ^ Tully, Tracey (August 23, 2024). "Menendez's Senate Replacement Has Been a Democrat for Just 5 Months". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  11. ^ Legislative Roster for District 16, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 18, 2024.

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