Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey

For the township of the same name in Gloucester County, New Jersey, see Monroe Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.

Monroe Township, New Jersey
Township
White Oak tree known as "The Monroe Oak"
Thompson Park greenbelt
Monroe Township High School
Official seal of Monroe Township, New Jersey
Seal
Nickname(s): 
"Tree City", "The Education City"
Monroe Township highlighted in Middlesex County
Monroe Township highlighted in Middlesex County
Census Bureau map of Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Interactive map of Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey.
Map
Interactive map of Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey
Monroe Township is located in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Monroe Township
Monroe Township
Location in Middlesex County
Monroe Township is located in New Jersey
Monroe Township
Monroe Township
Location in New Jersey
Monroe Township is located in the United States
Monroe Township
Monroe Township
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°19′10″N 74°25′44″W / 40.319474°N 74.428802°W / 40.319474; -74.428802[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountyMiddlesex
IncorporatedApril 9, 1838
Named forJames Monroe
Government
[7]
 • TypeFaulkner Act (mayor–council)
 • BodyTownship Council
 • MayorStephen Dalina (D, term ends December 31, 2027)[3][4]
 • AdministratorAlan Weinberg[5]
 • Municipal clerkChristine Robbins[6]
Area
[1]
 • Total
42.19 sq mi (109.26 km2)
 • Land41.94 sq mi (108.63 km2)
 • Water0.24 sq mi (0.63 km2)  0.58%
 • Rank47th of 565 in state
1st of 25 in county[1]
Elevation
[8]
92 ft (28 m)
Population
 (2020)[9][10]
 • Total
48,594
 • Estimate 
(2023)[9][11]
48,568
 • Rank41st of 565 in state
8th of 25 in county[12]
 • Density1,158.6/sq mi (447.3/km2)
  • Rank365th of 565 in state
23rd of 25 in county[12]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08831[13]
Area code(s)609, 640, 732, and 848[14]
FIPS code3402347280[1][15][16]
GNIS feature ID0882159[1][17]
Websitewww.monroetwp.com

Monroe Township is a township located in southern Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is centrally located within the Raritan Valley region and is an outer-ring suburb of New York City within the New York metropolitan area.[18][19][20] As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 48,594,[9][10] its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 9,462 (+24.2%) from the 39,132 recorded at the 2010 census,[21][22] which in turn reflected an increase of 11,133 (+39.8%) from the 27,999 counted in the 2000 census.[23][24] Monroe Township also comprises the largest land area of any municipality in Middlesex County, at approximately 42 square miles (110 km2).[1]

Monroe Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1838, from portions of South Amboy Township, based on the results of a referendum held that same day. Portions of the township were taken to form East Brunswick (February 28, 1860), Cranbury (March 7, 1872), and Jamesburg (March 19, 1887).[25]

There are several age-restricted communities in Monroe Township.[26][27][28][29] Despite significant senior citizen population growth, the median age in Monroe has changed from 52.5 in 1990, increasing to 58.9 in 2000, before decreasing to 53.2 in 2010, as more growth recently has resulted from single-family detached homes than from senior citizen developments. Based upon one analysis of data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Report for 2022, Monroe Township was ranked as the safest small city in the United States.[30]

  1. ^ a b c d e f 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference MayorCouncil was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Township Contact Information Directory, Monroe Township. Accessed May 28, 2024.
  6. ^ Clerk's Office of Monroe, Monroe Township. Accessed May 28, 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference DataBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Monroe, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 8, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Monroe Township, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed December 3, 2011.
  14. ^ Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Monroe, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed September 7, 2014.
  15. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  16. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  17. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  18. ^ Smothers, Ronald."Monroe Township Journal; By the Road an Old Oak Stands. That's the Rub.", The New York Times, March 16, 2003. Accessed July 9, 2023.
  19. ^ Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living in/Monroe Township; Split by Phone and Mail, but Not in Spirit", The New York Times, October 31, 1993. Accessed July 2, 2023.
  20. ^ New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 29, 2018.
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference LWD2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2000 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  25. ^ Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 171. Accessed May 30, 2024.
  26. ^ Home Page, Clearbrook website.
  27. ^ Home Page, Concordia website.
  28. ^ Home Page Archived January 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Rossmoor website.
  29. ^ Home Page, Greenbriar at Whittingham.
  30. ^ Alix Martichoux (December 19, 2023). "These are the safest small towns and cities in every state: report". The Hill. Retrieved January 4, 2023.