South River is a borough in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 16,118, an increase of 110 (+0.7%) from the 2010 census count of 16,008, which in turn reflected an increase of 686 (+4.5%) from the 15,322 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.

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.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 June 9, 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Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 263.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 7, 2015. It was named after the Raritan River's South River tributary, which marks the borough's eastern and northeastern boundary.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 7, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 28. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed October 7, 2015.

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.

From 1683 to 1720, the area was commonly referred to as South River Landing. In 1720, the name Willettstown was adopted after settler Samuel Willett. In 1784, the name was changed to Washington and the area was variously referred to as Washington Village, Washington Woods, and Little Washington. The name was considered at the suggestion of Abraham Barkelew, one of the original settlers in the town. In 1870, the name was changed to South River and on February 28, 1898, South River officially became a borough.Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living in: South River", The New York Times, December 24, 1989. Accessed August 10, 2013.

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.Areas touching South River, 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.

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.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, South River had a population of 16,118, with 5,694 households and 4,220 families. The population density was 5,787.4 per square mile (2,234.5/km2), and there were 5,977 housing units at an average density of 2,146.1 per square mile (828.6/km2). The median age was 39.1 years; 21.2% of residents were under age 18 and 13.7% were age 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males age 18 and over. The borough had 8,127 males and 7,991 females, including 6,355 males age 18 and over and 6,345 females age 18 and over.

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

Of the 5,694 households, 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.3% were married-couple households, 16.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present; 25.9% were non-families. About 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, including 9.9% with a male householder living alone and 11.5% with a female householder living alone. About 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, including 3.2% with a male householder and 6.2% with a female householder.

Of housing units, 4.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.2%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 9,387 58.2% Black or African American 1,072 6.7% American Indian and Alaska Native 89 0.6% Asian 832 5.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 5 0.0% Some other race 2,680 16.6% Two or more races 2,053 12.7% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 4,198 26.0%

Income and poverty The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey showed that (in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars), median household income was $96,147 (with a margin of error of +/- $14,340) and a median family income of $109,773 (+/- $27,503). Male full-time, year-round workers had a median income of $72,333 (+/- $11,382) versus $58,235 (+/- $7,720) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $42,301 (+/- $4,224). About 10.7% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under 18 and 10.3% of those 65 or older.

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 16,008 people, 5,652 households, and 4,019 families in the borough. The population density was 5,781.4 per square mile (2,232.2/km2). There were 5,957 housing units at an average density of 2,151.4 per square mile (830.7/km2). The racial makeup was 76.18% (12,195) White, 7.13% (1,142) Black or African American, 0.31% (50) Native American, 4.84% (775) Asian, 0.06% (9) Pacific Islander, 8.18% (1,309) from other races, and 3.30% (528) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 18.20% (2,913) of the population.

Of the 5,652 households, 32.5% had children under the age of 18; 53.5% were married couples living together; 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.9% were non-families. Of all households, 22.9% were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.32.

22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 103.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 101.5 males.

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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for South River borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 28, 2012.

2000 census 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 . There were 5,769 housing units at an average density of . 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for South River borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 28, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for South River borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 28, 2012.

The most common ancestries of the population are Polish (18.9%), Italian (14.6%), Irish (13.0%), German (12.5%), Portuguese (9.3%), and Russian (4.5%).South River, New Jersey, City-Data. Accessed March 18, 2007.

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 also houses Radasłaŭ Astroŭski.South River, A Belarus Miscellany. Accessed July 13, 2016. Government

Local government