Carteret is a borough in northeastern Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population reached 25,326, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,482 (+10.9%) from the 2010 census count of 22,844, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,135 (+10.3%) from the 20,709 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 Carteret was originally created as the borough of Roosevelt on April 11, 1906, from portions of Woodbridge Township, based on the results of a referendum approved on May 22, 1906.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Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 245. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 24, 2015. The name was changed to Carteret as of November 7, 1922. The borough was also called Carteret during the period from December 19, 1921, to January 16, 1922.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026. The borough was named after Sir George Carteret, one of the first proprietors of the province of New Jersey, and his son Philip Carteret, the first royal governor of New Jersey.History , Borough of Carteret. Accessed June 17, 2012.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names , New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015. Their name refers to the first village the De Carteret family had control over, namely in the French region of Normandy. They are also known to have controlled the island of Jersey, in the English Channel, hence the name of the State of New Jersey.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.96 square miles (12.86 km2), including 4.39 square miles (11.37 km2) of land and 0.57 square miles (1.48 km2) of water (11.53%).
The Rahway River forms the northern boundary of Carteret, with Linden on the other side of the river in Union County. Joseph Medwick Park is a greenway of parkland along the banks of the river. The Arthur Kill is the eastern boundary with Staten Island, New York City, New York on the opposite side. Woodbridge Township borders Carteret on all land-based boundaries.Areas touching Carteret , MapIt. Accessed December 2, 2019.Municipalities , Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed December 1, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries , New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Canda, Chrome (in the borough's southeast),MapQuest Maps – Driving Directions – Map East Rahway, Lamar, Silvan Beach, South Carteret, West Carteret (the portion west of the New Jersey Turnpike) and West Chrome.Locality Search , State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
Demographics
Carteret's Sikh community, variously estimated at 1,000 to 2,500, is the largest concentration of Sikhs in the state.Giachino, Alyssa. "Carteret police say two attacks being investigated as bias crimes" , Asbury Park Press, October 31, 2008. Accessed August 16, 2011. "estimates the Sikh population in Carteret is at least 2,500 out of the borough's 22,000 residents."Staff. "Sikh Parade in Carteret sends message about faith's strength" , World Sikh News, April 30, 2008. Accessed August 16, 2011. "As New Jersey is host to some 25,000 Sikhs, Carteret has emerged as a magnet for the community, with an estimated 1,000 Sikhs among the borough's 22,000 residents."Coyne, Kevin. "Turbans Make Targets, Some Sikhs Find" , The New York Times, June 15, 2008. Accessed August 23, 2011. "Carteret, home to the largest concentration of Sikhs in the state." The borough hosts an annual Sikh Day parade and flag-raising ceremony. The Gurudwara Singh Sabha Sahib, the borough's first gurudwara, had rented a location in Carteret in 1998 before moving to a permanent location in the nearby Port Reading section of Woodbridge Township in 2005.Home page , Gurudwara Singh Sabha Sahib. Accessed August 24, 2011. "Gurudwara Singh Sabha is the first gurudwara sahib that was established in the borough of Carteret in 1998."Staff. "Siks Celebrate New Home; Temple marks recent move to Port Reading" , Home News Tribune, November 12, 2005. Accessed August 24, 2011. "The Gurudwara Singh Sabha Sahib is hosting a grand opening celebration today at its new location 941 Port Reading Ave Port Reading. The temple opened in June after members had worshipped for years at a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall on Carteret Avenue in Carteret using the space only on Sundays. The new location allows services every day"
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Carteret had a population of 25,326. The median age was 36.8 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.5 males age 18 and over.
All residents lived in urban areas.
There were 8,387 households in Carteret, of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.3% were married-couple households, 16.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 8,809 housing units, of which 4.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.2%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 6,982 27.6% Black or African American 4,111 16.2% American Indian and Alaska Native 165 0.7% Asian 5,797 22.9% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 10 0.0% Some other race 5,040 19.9% Two or more races 3,221 12.7% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 9,340 36.9%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 22,844 people, 7,591 households, and 5,686 families in the borough. The population density was 5,171.1 per square mile (1,996.6/km2). There were 8,148 housing units at an average density of 1,844.4 per square mile (712.1/km2). The racial makeup was 50.68% (11,577) White, 14.85% (3,393) Black or African American, 0.35% (80) Native American, 19.04% (4,349) Asian, 0.05% (12) Pacific Islander, 11.18% (2,553) from other races, and 3.85% (880) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.93% (7,066) of the population.
Of the 7,591 households, 37.1% had children under the age of 18; 50.1% were married couples living together; 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.1% were non-families. Of all households, 20.7% were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.51.
25.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $58,614 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,733) and the median family income was $69,192 (+/− $10,119). Males had a median income of $47,405 (+/− $4,676) versus $42,971 (+/− $4,266) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,346 (+/− $2,095). About 11.8% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 17, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 20,709 people, 7,039 households, and 5,208 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 7,320 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 50.7% White, 14.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 19.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 11.2% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.4% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Carteret borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 8, 2013., United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 8, 2013.
There were 7,039 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $47,148, and the median income for a family was $54,609. Males had a median income of $40,172 versus $28,132 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,967. About 8.6% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over. Economy Carteret Stages, a film production complex covering and estimated to cost $1 billion, is undergoing development at the waterfront.Fazelpoor, Matthew. "Carteret collects nearly $10M in grant funding for film studio, ferry terminal", NJBIZ, April 17, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. "Carteret’s ambitious, $1 billion waterfront redevelopment took another step forward as two key components recently received grant funding. The 10-acre project includes a 1.2 million-square-foot movie production studio complex as well as an intermodal ferry terminal."