Spotswood is a borough in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The community is nestled within the heart of the Raritan Valley region, with the Manalapan Brook and Matchaponix Brook forming the confluence of the South River (a Raritan River tributary) inside the borough. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 8,163, a decrease of 94 (−1.1%) from the 2010 census count of 8,257, which in turn reflected an increase of 377 (+4.8%) from the 7,880 counted in the 2000 census.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.

History

Its first settler James Johnston originally called the place "Spottiswoode", named for his old place of residence in Scotland, and dates back to its original settlement in 1685.Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living in: Spotswood", The New York Times, May 30, 1993. Accessed November 6, 2013. "Named for the town of Spotteswoode in Scotland, the borough traces its history to 1685, when a Scot named James Johnstone took advantage of an offer from the British proprietors of New Jersey of 50 acres to anyone willing to move to outlying areas. Thus, Spotswood became the first European settlement in southern Middlesex County."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 8, 2015.History , Borough of Spotswood. Accessed July 13, 2016. It was also historically spelled Spottswood.

The Bordentown and South Amboy Turnpike, a stagecoach route built in 1816, passed through Spotswood. The Camden and Amboy Railroad, chartered in 1830, followed this stagecoach route and reached Spotswood in 1832. It used stone sleepers to support the track. The locomotive, John Bull, operated on the railroad. A trackside memorial is located near East Spotswood Park. In addition to the Spotswood station, Outcalt and East Spotswood had passenger and freight stations on the Pennsylvania Railroad, the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company subsidiary.

Spotswood was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 15, 1908, from portions of East Brunswick Township, based on the passage of a referendum held on May 12, 1908.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 174. Accessed May 30, 2024.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896–1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 263. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 8, 2015.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of , including of land and of water (4.46%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Outcalt, which is located along the border of Spotswood and Monroe Township.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The borough borders the Middlesex County municipalities of East Brunswick, Helmetta, Monroe Township and Old Bridge Township.Areas touching Spotswood, MapIt. Accessed March 8, 2020.Municipalities, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed December 1, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Spotswood had a population of 8,163. The median age was 45.0 years. 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.5 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,196 households in Spotswood, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.4% were married-couple households, 15.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,297 housing units, of which 3.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.8%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 6,341 77.7% Black or African American 295 3.6% American Indian and Alaska Native 11 0.1% Asian 528 6.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 279 3.4% Two or more races 709 8.7% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 917 11.2%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 8,257 people, 3,128 households, and 2,143 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,242 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 88.63% (7,318) White, 2.98% (246) Black or African American, 0.11% (9) Native American, 5.14% (424) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.27% (105) from other races, and 1.87% (154) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.32% (687) of the population.

Of the 3,128 households, 29.3% had children under the age of 18; 55.0% were married couples living together; 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.5% were non-families. Of all households, 27.1% were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.16.

21.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $70,360 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,861) and the median family income was $90,652 (+/− $8,741). Males had a median income of $59,226 (+/− $4,823) versus $43,365 (+/− $4,935) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,249 (+/− $1,696). About 2.5% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Spotswood borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 27, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,880 people, 3,099 households, and 2,163 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,158 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 99.24% White, 0.05% African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, and 0.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.38% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Spotswood borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 27, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Spotswood borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 27, 2012.

There were 3,099 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $55,833, and the median income for a family was $73,062. Males had a median income of $45,979 versus $35,859 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,247. About 2.6% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over. Parks and recreation

Tennis courts are located on Summerhill Road. Spotswood parks are located on Rieder Road, Mundy Avenue, Michael Road, and East Spotswood. A World War Two Memorial is located in the East Spotswood Park.Parks, Borough of Spotswood. Accessed June 27, 2022.

Government

Local government The Borough of Spotswood operates within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law of 1950) under the Mayor-Council (Plan B), implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of July 1, 1976."The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed November 5, 2013. The borough is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the five-member borough council, who are chosen at-large to four-year terms of office on a non-partisan basis in elections held on a staggered basis in even-numbered years as part of the November general election. Three council seats are up for election together and then two council seats and the mayoral seat are up for vote two years later.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 84."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. The mayor is the chief executive and has responsibility for the administration of the government. The legislative power resides solely within the borough council. There is separation of legislative and executive power in this form of government.Form of Government, Borough of Spotswood. Accessed February 1, 2024. "The Borough of Spotswood operates under the Mayor-Council Plan B within the provisions of the Optional Municipal Charter Law of 1950 (Faulkner Act - NJSA:40:69A-31 et. seq.). A mayor is elected by the people for a term of four years on a non-partisan basis. A five-member council-at-large is elected on a non-partisan basis, with each council person serving four years."

, the Mayor of Spotswood is Jackie Palmer, whose term of office ends December 31, 2024.Mayor's Office, Borough of Spotswood. Accessed May 28, 2024. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Nicholas Legakis (2026), William Lawrence "Larry" Kraemer (2026), Edward Lesko (2024), Dawn Schwartz (2026) and Andrew Zaborney (2024; elected to serve an unexpired term).Borough Council, Spotswood Borough. Accessed February 1, 2024.2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Spotswood Borough. Accessed February 1, 2024.November 8, 2022 General Election Official Results, Middlesex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.Election Results 2020, Middlesex County, New Jersey, certified November 20, 2020. Accessed January 30, 2021.