South River is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 16,008, reflecting an increase of 686 (+4.5%) from the 15,322 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,630 (+11.9%) from the 13,692 counted in the 1990 Census.
What is now South River was originally formed as the town of Washington within East Brunswick Township on February 23, 1870. South River was incorporated as an independent borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1898, replacing Washington town. It was named after the South River, which marks the borough's eastern and northeastern boundary.
History
South River was originally part of East Brunswick Township. Originally referred to as Washington, the community eventually split away as did Spotswood and Milltown.
;Name changes:
1683–1720: Commonly referred to as South River Landing.
1720: Name changed to Willettstown after settler Samuel Willett.
1784: Name changed to Washington and referred to as Washington Village, Washington Woods, and Little Washington. The current name was considered at the suggestion of Abraham Barkelew, one of the original settlers in the town.
1870: Village name officially changed to South River.
1897: South River becomes borough.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.94 square miles (7.61 km2), including 2.79 square miles (7.21 km2) of land and 0.16 square miles (0.40 km2) of water (5.27%).
The borough borders the Middlesex County communities of East Brunswick and Sayreville.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Newton Heights, which is situated along the border of South River and East Brunswick.
Demographics
Census 2010
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,284 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,691) and the median family income was $78,109 (+/- $8,122). Males had a median income of $51,599 (+/- $6,269) versus $46,014 (+/- $3,025) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,178 (+/- $1,766). About 4.4% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 15,322 people, 5,606 households, and 3,985 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,444.7 people per square mile (2,105.3/km2). There were 5,769 housing units at an average density of 2,050.0 per square mile (792.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 83.55% White, 9.66% Hispanic or Latino, 6.06% African American, 0.12% Native American, 3.54% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.83% from other races, and 2.85% from two or more races.
Most common ancestries of the population are Polish (18.9%), Italian (14.6%), Irish (13.0%), German (12.5%), Portuguese (9.3%), Russian (4.5%).
There were 5,606 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $52,324, and the median income for a family was $62,869. Males had a median income of $42,186 versus $31,098 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,684. About 3.7% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
A large Polish, Russian, and Portuguese immigrant population moved into the borough in the 1950s-1980s. Today South River's largest incoming immigrant population are Asian, Mexican and Brazilian populations.
Belarusians in South River
South River has become a center for Belarusian Americans in the postwar-period.
The first immigrants from present-day Belarus (from the areas of modern-day western Minsk Voblast and Hrodna Voblast, around the towns of Vilejka, Maladziečna and others) arrived to South River in the late 19th century. Most of the immigrants of that time identified themselves as Polish or Russian depending on their faith. Immigrants from Belarus established a Roman Catholic church of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn (a prominent Catholic icon in Vilnius venerated primarily by Catholics in Western Belarus and Lithuania) and a 250 members strong Russian Orthodox parish of St. Peter and St. Paul.
The postwar immigrants founded the Belarusian Congress Committee of America here in 1951. In the 1950s they reestablished the Belarusian Orthodox parish of St. Eufrasinnia, that previously existed in Germany. A Belarusian cemetery was opened in 1953, that houses also Radasłaŭ Astroŭski.
Government
Local government
South River is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 565) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the Borough Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council is comprised of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by South River is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.
, the mayor of South River is Republican John M. Krenzel, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Raymond T. Eppinger (R, 2021), Sandra M. Adelino (D, 2020), Donna Balazs (R, 2022), Anthony Ciulla (R, 2022), Peter S. Giundi (R, 2021) and James E. Gurchensky (R, 2020).
In January 2014, the borough council selected former councilmember Michael Trenga from among three names nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the nearly three years remaining on the vacant seat of John Trzeciak, who cited personal reasons in resigning from office just weeks after taking his seat on the council. In the November 2014 general election, Trenga was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
Federal, state and county representation
South River is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 18th state legislative district
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 7,901 registered voters in South River, of which 2,520 (31.9%) were registered as Democrats, 1,186 (15.0%) were registered as Republicans and 4,193 (53.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 58.5% of the vote (3,033 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 40.5% (2,101 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (52 votes), among the 5,233 ballots cast by the borough's 8,095 registered voters (47 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 64.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 54.9% of the vote (3,148 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 42.5% (2,434 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (95 votes), among the 5,729 ballots cast by the borough's 8,078 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.9%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 51.8% of the vote (2,763 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 46.1% (2,460 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (63 votes), among the 5,331 ballots cast by the borough's 7,591 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.2.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.8% of the vote (1,997 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.0% (1,094 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (39 votes), among the 3,163 ballots cast by the borough's 8,146 registered voters (33 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 38.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 53.2% of the vote (1,916 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 38.2% (1,378 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.5% (235 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (32 votes), among the 3,604 ballots cast by the borough's 7,787 registered voters, yielding a 46.3% turnout.
Education
The South River Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 2,224 students and 175.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.7:1. Schools in the district (with 2017-18 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are
South River Primary School for grades K-2 (473 students),
South River Elementary School for grades 3-5 (538),
South River Middle School for grades 6-8 (539) and
South River High School for grades 9-12 (640).
Transportation
Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Middlesex County.
The mains roads that travel through are CR 535 and CR 527. Route 18 passes just west of the borough, which provides access to the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).
Public transportation
NJ Transit bus service is provided on the 811 and 815 routes.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with South River include:
Radasłaŭ Astroŭski (1887–1976), Belarusian political leader and Nazi Collaborator
George Brasno (1911–1982), vaudevillian performer known for his appearances alongside his sister Olive in the Our Gang comedies and Charlie Chan movie series
Olive Brasno (1917–1998), vaudevillian performer known for her appearances in the Our Gang comedies and Charlie Chan movie series
Joseph Csatari (born 1929), painter
Janet Evanovich (born 1943), author
John H. Froude (born 1930), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1972 to 1980.
Angelica Generosa, ballet dancer who is a principal dancer with the Pacific Northwest Ballet
Lyle Goodhue (1903–1981), scientist
Kenny Jackson (born 1962), former professional football player
Jonathan Janson (born 1950), painter
Stanley Kamel (1943–2008), actor who performed in the USA Network series Monk as Dr. Charles Kroger
Barys Kit (1910–2018), Belarusian-American rocket scientist
Evan Louro (born 1996), soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer
Melbourne MacDowell (1856–1941), stage and silent screen actor, when the borough was still known as Little Washington
Frank Mula (1950-2021), writer for The Simpsons
Alfred Nisonoff (1923–2001), immunology researcher
Drew Pearson (born 1951), former professional football player
Brian Sicknick (1978–2021), officer of the United States Capitol Police who died following the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.
Pete Sivess (1913–2003), pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies
Elmer Stout (1929–2013), football player
Joe Susan (born 1955), former head coach of the Bucknell Bison football team and current Special Assistant to The Head Football Coach at Rutgers University
Joe Theismann (born 1949), former professional football player
Alex Wojciechowicz (1915–1992), professional football player
Russell Zavistovich (1928–2000), leader of the Belarusian American community
In popular culture
Rescue 911 (Season 3, Episode 25) features a segment about a Good Samaritan who assisted in the rescue of an occupant from an apartment fire on January 8, 1991, at the Emess Apartments (now known as Deer Creek Village).
