Monroe Township

#10 safest city in America and #4 safest city in the New Jersey

Monroe is a township in southern Middlesex County part of the outer-ring suburbs of the New York Metropolitan area and centrally located within the Raritan Valley region. Monroe Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1838, from portions of South Amboy Township, based on the results of a referendum held that same day. Portions of the township were taken to form East Brunswick, Cranbury, and Jamesburg. 

The township is not officially broken down into traditional neighborhoods, but over the years, residents have given names to various parts of the township. Three common names heard in the township are Mill Lake Manor (an area centered on Monmouth Road and 10th Avenue) and Outcalt (in the northern part of the township, near Spotswood and Helmetta). For those who have lived in Mill Lake Manor, the area is broken down further into the “Old” and “New” Manor (split by Monmouth Road on the east and west sides, the Old being east and the New being the west side). The Manor also encompasses the developments of Inwood. The neighborhood east of Spotswood-Englishtown Road, centered on Monmouth Road, extending down to 1st Avenue, is called North Manor or Manor Heights.

Age-restricted community (55 years and over) near the center of Monroe
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include: Applegarth, Clearbrook, Gravel Hill (also spelled as Gravelhill), Half Acre (home to the retirement communities of Concordia and Whittingham), Hoffman, Jamesburg Gardens, Lower Jamesburg, Matchaponix, Middlesex Downs, Mounts Mills, Old Church, Outcalt, Pineview Estates, Prospect Plains (home to the retirement communities of Rossmoor and Clearbrook), Spotswood Manor, Texas, and Wyckoffs Mills.

As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 39,132, reflecting an increase of 11,133 (+39.8%) from the 27,999 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 5,744 (+25.8%) from the 22,255 counted in the 1990 Census.