East Brunswick: Which District Am I In?

East Brunswick is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It is a suburban community that is part of the New York City metropolitan area and is located on the southern shore of the Raritan River, adjacent to the city of New Brunswick. The township has a population of around 49,715 people as of the 2020 census, and it offers a mix of suburban and rural residences, with a variety of zoning districts.

East Brunswick's location and transport links

East Brunswick is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, strategically located in Central New Jersey. It is part of the New York City metropolitan area and is situated on the southern shore of the Raritan River, adjacent to the city of New Brunswick. The township is around 29 miles from New York City and 49 miles from Philadelphia, with Midtown Manhattan and Center City Philadelphia both around a 45-60 minute commute.

East Brunswick is served by several major roads and highways, including the New Jersey Turnpike, Route 18, Route 1, the Garden State Parkway, and Interstate 287. The township operates two park-and-ride facilities for commuters, with bus services also available. The nearest major airport is Newark Liberty International Airport, around 24 miles away.

East Brunswick's zoning and planning

• R-1 Single-Family Rural Residence District
• RP Single-Family Rural Preservation District
• RP-3 Rural Preservation Low-Density Residential District
• R-2 Single-Family Suburban Residence District
• R-3 Single-Family Residence District
• R-4 General Residence District
• R-5 Residence District
• O-1 Office, Professional and Apartment District
• C-1 Professional and Office District
• C-2 Neighbourhood Business District
• C-3 General Commercial District
• HC-2 Highway Commercial District
• C-5 Business Zone (Shopping Centre)
• M-1 Research and Limited Manufacturing District
• M-2 General Industrial District
• I/M Industrial Manufacturing District
• P-I Planned Industrial Park District
• OP-1 Office Professional District
• OP-2 Office Professional District
• MXD Mixed-Use Development Option Zone
• Historic Districts
• O/I (Office/Industrial Planned Development) Option Zone
• VG-II Village Green Two
• MMH Modular Manufactured Housing and Mobile Manufactured Housing
• MXD/R (Mixed-Use Development/Residential) Zone
• Senior Citizen Housing Option Zone
• VG-I Village Green One Zone
• SCMXD Senior Citizen Mixed-Use Planned Development District
• HC-1 Neighbourhood Highway Commercial District
• MDA Multiple Dwelling/Apartment District
• TG Town Green District
• MXD-2 Mixed-Use Two District
• MXD-3 Mixed-Use Three District

East Brunswick's history

East Brunswick, New Jersey, has a rich history that dates back to the 17th century. The area was originally occupied by the Lenape Native Americans before the arrival of European colonists.

In the 17th century, settlers of Scotch, English, Dutch, and German origin began to arrive in the northern part of East Brunswick. These settlers made their land deals directly with the Native Americans, and one of the earliest landowners in the area was Thomas Lawrence, a New York baker who bought thousands of acres. Over time, smaller but equally enterprising landholders acquired this land.

The Historic District of Old Bridge, located in the southern part of the township, became a centre of industry and commerce. This area, bordered by the South River and Farrington Lake, attracted settlers due to its favourable geographical position on the navigable part of the South River. The first bridge spanning the South River was built in Old Bridge, giving the area its name.

Old Bridge was a junction point for several paths and roads, with Lawrie's Road being the first overland transportation route offered to the public in 1684. The earliest known commercial transportation utilisation of the South River was by Arthur Brown in 1734, who transported goods between New York and South River. A steamboat route was established in 1823, and the first railroad, the Camden-Amboy Railroad, was completed in 1833, leading to a boom in rail transportation.

The growth of industry in 19th-century East Brunswick was facilitated by an abundance of raw materials, proximity to large markets, and inexpensive transportation to New York and Philadelphia. The area had clay-rich soil, which was ideal for manufacturing pottery, bricks, tiles, and terracotta. The Bissett, Morgan, and Van Wickel Stoneware Factories produced local pottery, and the Old Bridge Enameled Brick and Tile Company made decorative tiles used in the Holland Tunnel and New York City subway system.

In addition to its industrial development, East Brunswick also encouraged artistic and literary pursuits. James Crawford Thom, a 19th-century landscape artist, settled in the Historic District and incorporated scenes from Old Bridge in his paintings. Henrietta Christian Wright, a native of Old Bridge, published several children's books on literature, history, and science.

The township of East Brunswick was incorporated in 1860 from parts of North Brunswick and Monroe townships. Since then, it has undergone significant growth and transformation, especially with improved road access and the extension of the New Jersey Turnpike in 1952, which led to a sharp increase in population. Today, East Brunswick stands as a diverse and thriving community, offering a range of recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities to its residents.

East Brunswick's schools

East Brunswick Public Schools is a highly-rated comprehensive community public school district in East Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The district serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade and is made up of 11 schools with around 8,000 students and 700 staff. The student-teacher ratio is approximately 12:1.

The district has a reputation for excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts. It is the only district in New Jersey to have eleven schools designated Blue Ribbon School / National School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education. These include Irwin School, East Brunswick High School, Lawrence Brook School, Churchill Junior High School, Hammarskjold Middle School, Bowne-Munro School, Murray A. Chittick Elementary School, Warnsdorfer Elementary School, Frost Elementary School, Central Elementary School, and Memorial Elementary School.

East Brunswick Public Schools also provides special education services, complying with the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and related State of New Jersey Statutes. The district ensures that eligible students receive an education in a least restrictive environment according to their individualized education plan (IEP).

The district's board of education sets policies and oversees the fiscal and educational operations, appointing a superintendent and a business administrator. The board consists of nine members directly elected by voters to serve three-year terms.

East Brunswick's political representation

East Brunswick, New Jersey is a township in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of 2024, the mayor of East Brunswick is Democrat Brad J. Cohen, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2024. Members of the Township Council are Council President Kevin McEvoy (D, 2026), Council Vice President Dana Zimbicki (D, 2024), Dinesh Behal (D, 2024), James Wendell (D, 2026) and Dana Winston (D, 2026).

East Brunswick Township is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 18th state legislative district. For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 12th congressional district is represented by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, Ewing Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Bob Menendez (Englewood Cliffs, term ends 2025).

For the 2024-2025 session, the 18th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Patrick J. Diegnan (D, South Plainfield) and in the General Assembly by Robert Karabinchak (D, Edison) and Sterley Stanley (D, East Brunswick).

Middlesex County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, whose seven members are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. As of 2024, Middlesex County's Commissioners (with party affiliation, term-end year, and residence listed in parentheses) are:

• Director Ronald G. Rios (D, Carteret, 2024)
• Deputy Director Shanti Narra (D, North Brunswick, 2024)
• Claribel A. "Clary" Azcona-Barber (D, New Brunswick, 2025)
• Charles Kenny (D, Woodbridge Township, 2025)
• Leslie Koppel (D, Monroe Township, 2026)
• Chanelle Scott McCullum (D, Piscataway, 2024)
• Charles E. Tomaro (D, Edison, 2026)

Frequently asked questions