Sayreville, New Jersey

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Sayreville is a borough located on the Raritan River, near Raritan Bay in Middlesex County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 40,377^[1].

Contents 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 Education 4 History 5 Redevelopment 6 Transportation 7 Community 8 Noted residents 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Geography

Sayreville is located at 40°27′57″N, 74°19′27″W (40.465769, -74.324043)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 48.6 km² (18.8 mi²). 41.2 km² (15.9 mi²) of it is land and 7.4 km² (2.8 mi²) of it (15.20%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 40,377 people, 14,955 households, and 10,917 families residing in the borough. The population density was 980.5/km² (2,539.4/mi²). There were 15,235 housing units at an average density of 370.0/km² (958.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 76.47% White, 8.62% African American, 0.13% Native American, 10.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.12% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.29% of the population.

There were 14,955 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the borough the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $58,919, and the median income for a family was $66,266. Males had a median income of $47,427 versus $35,151 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,736. About 3.4% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

The Sayreville Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are four K-3 elementary schools (Emma Arleth Elementary School, Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School, Harry S. Truman Elementary School and Woodrow Wilson Elementary School), Samsel Upper Elementary School for grades 4&5, Sayreville Middle School for grades 6-8, and Sayreville War Memorial High School for grades 9-12. Jesse Selover Elementary School offers a half-day program for children ages 3 to 5 years with mild to moderate disabilities, and a full-day program for children of the same age with moderate disabilities who require a greater degree of time and attention.

[edit] History

Sayreville was first settled about 1775 and was incorporated in 1920. Manufactures include paints, chemicals, and processed food. Until the 1870s, Sayreville was an important river port.

Originally known as Roundabout (for the river bends in the area) and then as Wood's Landing, it was renamed in the 1870s for James R. Sayre, Jr. of Newark, co-owner of Sayre & Fisher Brick Company (along with Peter Fisher of New York) that once flourished here. Extensive clay deposits supported the brick industry from the early 1800s until 1970. From its inception, Sayre & Fisher Brick Company quickly grew into one of the top brick making companies in Middlesex County. Brick production grew from 54,000,000 bricks annually in 1878, to 178,000,000 bricks in 1913. Company representatives in 1950 had estimated that a total of 6,250,000,000 bricks had been produced since the founding of the company^[2].

[edit] Redevelopment

Although the borough remains an industrial town, the addition of many technology companies and a growing residential population has changed the landscape of this central New Jersey town.

Randy Corman, Executive Director of the Sayreville Economic and Redevelopement Agency (SERA), has been heading up the development of the parcel of land commonly referred to as the National Lead Site / Amboy Cinemas lot since about 2000. This new "City" will clear woods, trees, and wetlands and install an entire city complete with commercial, industrial, residential, and recreational, all near the Middlesex County Utilities Authority (Sewerage Authority) and the Middlesex County Fire Academy^[3]. There has also been much litigation as to the makeup of the members and public opinion about this project has never been put to a ballot. ^[4]In addition, closed door meetings have been accused of going against the Sunshine Open Meeting Act and will political money and political influence be allowed to taint the process by determining which contractors get a piece of the action ^[5] Current debate on the Sayreville.com forum pages show much controversey and disapproval with this project. ^[6]

Further, the redevelopment plan has run behind schedule and the County threatened not to give SERA any more extensions on choosing a developer. ^[7] SERA also voted to replace the Hanlon law firm with the New Brunswick-based Hoagland firm, which is a major contributor to the Democratic Party. ^[8]

[edit] Transportation

Sayreville enjoys proximity to several major roadways - the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95), Interstate 287 which becomes Route 440 — providing access to Staten Island and Long Island, New York points — U.S. 1, U.S. 9, Route 18, Route 34 and Route 35.

Three highway bridges span the Raritan River from the Sayreville side. The Edison Bridge on U.S. 9 and the Driscoll Bridge on the Garden State Parkway connect Woodbridge on the north with Sayreville on the south. The Victory Bridge carries Route 35, connecting Sayreville with Perth Amboy.

[edit] Community

Sayreville is a gateway to the Jersey Shore because the Raritan River is the line that is often considered to be the start of the shore region.

Sayreville's EMS-Rescue System is operated by an all-volunteer membership. The Sayreville Emergency Squad was founded in 1936 and provides EMS-Rescue Service with its sister Squad, Morgan First Aid. Both squads provide Emergency medical services, Motor Vehicle Extrication, Boat and Water Rescue, Search and Rescue and any other Rescue function needed. Being all-volunteer, they provide these services free to the citizens of Sayreville. The Sayreville Emergency Squad has been offering rescue services to the Borough as early as 1936 and had a dedicated (extrication) crash truck as early as the 1940's. Sayreville also has an all-volunteer fire department. It has four fire companies, Sayreville Engine Company #1, Melrose Hose Company #1, Morgan Hose & Chemical Company, and the President Park Volunteer Fire Company.

[edit] Noted residents

• Jon Bon Jovi - Rocker, boyhood home.
• Greg Evigan - Actor on television hits B.J. and the Bear and My Two Dads.
• Marilyn Ghigliotti actress, starred in Clerks.
• Dulé Hill - Actor (The West Wing, Psych) who graduated Sayreville War Memorial High School in 1993.
• Tom Kelly - Former Minnesota Twins manager at one time lived in the Parlin section of Sayreville.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Sayreville website
• Sayreville Public Schools website
• Sayreville Public Schools's 2004-2005 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• National Center for Education Statistics data for the Sayreville Public Schools
• Sayreville Libraries website
• Sayreville Volunteer Emergency Squad
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 40.465769° -74.324043°
  • 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

	Municipalities of Middlesex County, New Jersey (County Seat: New Brunswick) This box: view • talk • edit
Cities	New Brunswick | Perth Amboy | South Amboy
Townships	Cranbury | East Brunswick | Edison | Monroe Township | North Brunswick | Old Bridge | Piscataway | Plainsboro Township | South Brunswick | Woodbridge
Boroughs	Carteret | Dunellen | Helmetta | Highland Park | Jamesburg | Metuchen | Middlesex | Milltown | Sayreville | South Plainfield | South River | Spotswood
CDPs and Communities	Clearbrook Park | Avenel | Brownville | Colonia | Concordia | Dayton | Deans | Fords | Heathcote | Hopelawn | Iselin | Keasbey | Kendall Park | Kingston | Laurence Harbor | Madison Park | Menlo Park Terrace | Monmouth Junction | Plainsboro Center | Port Reading | Princeton Meadows | Raritan Landing | Rossmoor | Sewaren | Society Hill | Whittingham
Historic Houses	Buccleuch Mansion | Cornelius Low House | Henry Guest House | James Buckelew Mansion | Joyce Kilmer House | Metlar/Bodine House | Rockingham