Dunellen () is a borough in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located within the Raritan Valley region of central New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,637, an increase of 410 (+5.7%) from the 2010 census count of 7,227, which in turn had reflected an increase of 404 (+5.9%) from the 6,823 counted at 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.
Dunellen was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 28, 1887, when it broke away from Piscataway Township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 23, 1886. Dunellen's incorporation was confirmed on April 15, 1914.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 for the Dunellen station of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed May 1, 2026.
History The earliest inhabitants of the area that would become Dunellen were the Lenape Native Americans; several Lenape sites in Dunellen were identified as part of a comprehensive survey in 1915.Heleniak, Heidi. "Local Lenni-Lenape Sites Mentioned in 1915 Survey Article", Dunellen411, July 25, 2015. Accessed December 3, 2019.Spier, Leslie. "Indian Remains near Plainfield, Union County, and along the Lower Delaware Valley", Geological Survey of New Jersey. Accessed December 3, 2019. European settlers were drawn to the area as early as 1682, attracted by the productive agricultural land.Triolo, John; and Marren-Licht, Liz. Dunellen, p. 7. Arcadia Publishing, 2012. . Accessed December 3, 2019. "The Dunellen area was verdant farmland settled by early colonialists, such as David Coriell in 1682, Reune Runyon in 1736, Cornelius Boice in 1768, and Peter Marcellas and Zacharaiah Pound in 1780."
Railroad access from New York City to present-day Dunellen began in 1840. Dunellen grew from its start in 1867 with the construction of a railroad station, which was originally called New Market station, serving the nearby community of the same name in Piscataway.Loyer, Susan. "Dunellen: Tremendous effort by parents, tremendous fun for kids", Home News Tribune, June 5, 2005. Accessed February 16, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Originally part of Piscataway, Dunellen was established in 1867 and grew up around the New Jersey Central Railroad station, which was known as New Market station." When it was originally constructed, the tracks were at grade level with North Avenue and the railroad was the Elizabethtown and Somerville Railroad, which later became part of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The Central Railroad of New Jersey created the residential development in the area which it owned surrounding its train station.Dunellen Transit Hub Strategic Plan, Borough of Dunellen, June 2019. Accessed December 3, 2019. "The railroad from New York was extended to the area now known as Dunellen in 1840. The Borough of Dunellen, incorporated in 1887 when it separated from Piscataway, was built by the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The railroad company owned the land, built the railroad and subdivided the surrounding farmland into a residential community." The railroad brought industry to the area.
The Art Color factory built in 1925 was Dunellen's principal industry and produced as many as 10 million magazines a month. The W. F. Hall Printing Company of Chicago bought Art Color in 1931, and ran it until 1968, when it closed the plant there."Arnold A. Schwartz" "", Dunellen Public Library. Accessed April 1, 2008.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.06 square miles (2.75 km2), all of which was land. Dunellen is in the Raritan Valley, a line of communities in central New Jersey. Dunellen is in the central division along with Bound Brook, South Bound Brook and Middlesex.
The borough borders Middlesex and Piscataway Township in Middlesex County; Green Brook Township in Somerset County; and Plainfield in Union County.Areas touching Dunellen, MapIt. Accessed July 12, 2016.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, Dunellen had a population of 7,637. The median age was 37.3 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.5 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 2,620 households in Dunellen, of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.7% were married-couple households, 20.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.4% 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 2,727 housing units, of which 3.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 3,761 49.2% Black or African American 713 9.3% American Indian and Alaska Native 39 0.5% Asian 435 5.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.1% Some other race 1,674 21.9% Two or more races 1,011 13.2% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,820 36.9%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 7,227 people, 2,566 households, and 1,763 families in the borough. The population density was 6,894.8 per square mile (2,662.1/km2). There were 2,683 housing units at an average density of 2,559.7 per square mile (988.3/km2). The racial makeup was 73.46% (5,309) White, 8.62% (623) Black or African American, 0.26% (19) Native American, 4.51% (326) Asian, 0.06% (4) Pacific Islander, 9.67% (699) from other races, and 3.42% (247) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.75% (1,933) of the population.
Of the 2,566 households, 33.0% had children under the age of 18; 49.4% were married couples living together; 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.3% were non-families. Of all households, 24.9% were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.36.
23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.4 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $74,375 (with a margin of error of +/− $13,504) and the median family income was $88,527 (+/− $13,868). Males had a median income of $48,542 (+/− $13,495) versus $43,920 (+/− $12,613) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,960 (+/− $3,015). About 5.6% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Dunellen borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 30, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 6,823 people, 2,451 households, and 1,710 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,520 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 84.07% White, 3.66% African American, 0.25% Native American, 3.56% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 6.38% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.80% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Dunellen borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 30, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Dunellen borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 22, 2012.
There were 2,451 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $59,205, and the median income for a family was $67,188. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $34,130 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,529. About 1.4% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over. Government
Local government Dunellen is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.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 composed 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 includes 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 98. The borough form of government used by Dunellen 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.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.