Milltown, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Milltown is a Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2001 Census, the borough population was 7,000.
As of the 2000 Census, the center of population for New Jersey was located in Milltown, at Milltown Road, just east of the New Jersey Turnpike (see map of location).[1]
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[edit] Geography
Milltown is located at (40.452538, -74.438020)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 4.1 km² (1.6 mi²). 4.1 km² (1.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (1.88%) is water.
[edit] History
History of Milltown
Published in the Home News Tribune, August 17, 2000
1816: Jacob Bergen constructs a grist mill on the banks of Lawrence Brook to serve farmers in the area. This is the origin of a settlement known at the time as Bergen's Mill that would later become Milltown. At this point, the community claims a population of 25, the grist mill, a tavern and several houses.
1843: Christopher Meyer introduces the industrial era to Bergen's Mill with his Meyer Rubber Co. Fire destroys the factory and Meyer's home in 1845, leaving him penniless. John R. Ford advances Meyer the money to rebuild. It is in this period of time that the name Bergen's Mill begins to be replaced with Milltown, most likely stemming from people saying they are "going to the mill in town." The rubber company is the forerunner of the Michelin Company.
1848: Phillip Kuhlthau, the first in a great wave of German immigrants, arrives in Milltown from New York City. German peasants suffering from poverty and general hardship seek a new life in new surroundings, many resorting to emigration. Kuhlthau is among those to flee after his village of Oberzell experiences great hardship. After three years of working at the rubber mill, he returns to Germany to tell of the opportunity that abounds in America, leading friends and family to Milltown.
1851: Milltown Library Association organizes in order to make books available to the public. A large number of books written in German are purchased for the large German-speaking population. In June 1920, the Parent-Teacher Public Library of Milltown is organized. The library is incorporated, and on Oct. 28, 1920, the library opens its doors in the Joyce Kilmer School, which is across the street from the current library building.
1861: Kuhlthau, in the role he assumes as leader of the German wave of immigrants, makes a provision for their final resting place with the formation of Van Liew Cemetery Association.
1867: The first "official" Milltown school, called District No. 28, is constructed.
DEC. 12, 1871: The federal government establishes Milltown's first official post office.
1878: The phone comes to Milltown. New Jersey Rubber Shoe Works and Meyer Rubber Works are the first customers.
OCT. 9, 1888: Citizens approve secession from North Brunswick. On Oct. 22, a special election is held to form a Borough Commission and to set town boundaries.
MARCH 4, 1889: A Board of Commissioners to lead the town is chosen, and they are sworn in on March 16.
JUNE 9, 1890: The first formal complaint is brought before the commissioners. Boys playing ball in the neighborhood of Clay and Church streets are making too much noise.
JULY 4, 1891: The first passenger train of the Raritan River Railroad Company, operating between New Brunswick and South Amboy via Milltown, is given its first run.
NOV. 2, 1895: Brunswick Traction Co. runs a car line through Milltown for trolley service. In 1928, trolley service is replaced with buses.
April 20, 1896: The State Legislature repeals an act relating to the form of government utilized by Milltown. An act approved by the Legislature on April 21 sets up the borough as it is now. The borough adopts May 7 as its birthday, for this is the day the Commission meets and takes care of business under the new form of government.
MAY 7, 1896: The first regular police officers are appointed. On Dec. 9, 1946, an ordinance introduced by Borough Council establishes the Milltown Police Department.
1896: Meyer Rubber Co. ceases operations.
1904: Although the incandescent light bulb was invented in 1879, electric service did not reach Milltown until this year.
1906: Russell Playing Card Co. opens, but in 1936 moves to Ohio after acquisition by the United States Playing Card Co.
1907: Michelin Tire Co. arrives, to which much of the growth of the borough is attributed as well as the second wave of immigration. A large number of workers and their families come from France.
FEB. 22, 1911: Milltown Fire Department is organized with a charter membership of 83 men.
SPRING 1930: Michelin Tire Company closes its doors, affecting the community psychologically and financially. Milltown depended on the company for "wages, entertainment, and support." It did not help matters that this was the time of the Great Depression. Most of the French workers return to their homeland.
OCT. 22, 1937: Milltown Rescue Squad is organized. Nineteen men gather in the firehouse.
1963: A new library organization, calling itself the Milltown Public Library Association Inc., forms to work on moving the library into a bigger building. And, on Sept. 22, 1970, their dream is brought to fruition.
MAY 9, 1968: The Milltown Historical Society is founded.
1983: Milltown's library becomes municipalized, allowing for more funding. And, in 1989, the library addition, including a multipurpose meeting room, is completed.
Sources: "The Story of Milltown" by H. Rodney Luery; Tina Reed, Milltown Public Library director; Milltown Public Library archives; Milltown Historical Society archives; and "A History of Milltown (1934 edition)" by the Works Progress Administration.
from the Home News Tribune Published: August 17, 2000
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 7,000 people, 2,627 households, and 1,943 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,721.5/km² (4,452.0/mi²). There were 2,670 housing units at an average density of 656.6/km² (1,698.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.86% White, 0.76% African American, 0.16% Native American, 3.07% Asian, 1.16% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.73% of the population.
There were 2,627 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $68,429, and the median income for a family was $77,869. Males had a median income of $50,338 versus $38,220 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,996. About 1.3% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Milltown is governed under the Borough form of government by a Mayor and a six-member Borough Council. The Mayor is directly elected by the voters to serve a four-year term of office. Members of the Borough Council serve three-year terms in office on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
The Mayor of Milltown Borough is Gloria M. Bradford. Members of the Milltown Borough Council, with their committee assignments, are:[2]
- Kevin Bosworth: Council President; Finance, Planning & Administration
- Michael Skarzynski - Public Works & Recycling
- Eric Steeber - Parks & Recreation
- Joseph Cruz - Public Safety
- William Deinzer - Utilities
- John Collins - Environmental Health & Social Services
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Milltown is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 17th Legislative District.[3]
New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District, covering all of Hunterdon County and portions of Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, and Somerset County, is represented by Rush D. Holt Jr. (D). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Robert 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, Freeholder Deputy Director Stephen J. "Pete" Dalina, Camille Fernicola, H. James Polos, John Pulomena, Christopher D. Rafano and Blanquita B. Valenti.
[edit] Education
Students in grades K-8 attend the Milltown Public Schools. Schools in the district are Parkview School (PreK-3) and Joyce Kilmer School (4-8).
For grades 9 - 12, students attend Spotswood High School in Spotswood as part of a sending/receiving relationship.
[edit] Notable residents
- Danny Pintauro - actor who got started as a child actor on the television soap opera As the World Turns, and in the movie Cujo, and came to prominence on the television series Who's the Boss?.
[edit] References
- ^ Population and Population Centers by State: 2000, accessed November 16, 2006
- ^ Borough of Milltown Council Corner, accessed June 26, 2006
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 55, accessed August 30, 2006
[edit] External links
- Borough of Milltown website
- Milltown Public Schools
- Milltown Public Schools's 2004-2005 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Milltown Public Schools
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
