Helmetta, New Jersey

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}}Template:Main other Helmetta is a borough in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough is located in the heart of the Raritan Valley region, with Manalapan Brook (a Raritan River tributary) flowing through the center of the community. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 2,455,<ref name=LWD2020/> its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 277 (+12.7%) from the 2010 census count of 2,178,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 353 (+19.3%) from the 1,825 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>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.</ref> The community was established around a snuff mill opened in the 1820s that was acquired by George Washington Helme in the 1880s.

Helmetta was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 20, 1888, when it was created from portions of East Brunswick, based on the results of a referendum held on March 10, 1888. Helmetta's boundary with East Brunswick Township was changed as of March 24, 1897.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 170. Accessed May 28, 2024.</ref> The borough was named for Helme's daughter, Olivia Antoinette "Etta" Helme.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 1, 2015.</ref><ref>Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Helmetta, N.J.; Middlesex County's Version of Mayberry", The New York Times, March 26, 2000. Accessed September 1, 2015. "Started in 1825, the snuff mill was sold to George W. Helme in 1879. In 1888, the borough split from East Brunswick in a dispute over services. It was named in honor of Mr. Helme's daughter Olivia Antoinette Helme, who was known as Etta."</ref>

History

File:St. George’s Anglican Church Helmetta New Jersey 08.jpg

St. George's Anglican Church

G.W. Helme Snuff Mill District

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Infobox NRHP Helmetta's main landmark is the large, abandoned Helme Products Inc. plant that sits adjacent to the Camden and Amboy Railroad line running through the borough.<ref>Map of the Railroads in New Jersey, Rutgers University. Accessed December 4, 2019. Map shows Helmetta on a Camden and Amboy Railroad route.</ref> The mill began producing snuff in the 1880s. On February 23, 1900, the mill was bought by the American-Sniff Company in a merger with Helme Products Inc., but the merger was dissolved in 1911. In 1925, the mill became the largest of its kind in the world, and by 1934 it employed 400 people. In 1986, the mill was bought out by American Maize-Products. Finally, in 1993, it was purchased by Swisher International, and operations were moved to Wheeling, West Virginia.<ref>History of Helmetta Timeline accessed December 24, 2006.</ref> In 2012, the mill was purchased by Kaplan Companies <ref> "After decades of disrepair, Helmetta's old snuff mill will be transformed into housing, civic center" Accessed August 4, 2024. </ref> and was subsequently transformed into an apartment complex. The transformation was completed in 2017. <ref> "Old Snuff Mill in Helmetta Converted to Luxury Rentals" </ref>

The G.W. Helme Snuff Mill Historic District is a classic example of a late 1800s mill town. The district consists of the George Washington Helme snuff mill, housing for employees, accessory buildings, St. George's Episcopal Church, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, and Helmetta Pond, which at one time served as a source of power for the mill. About 109 buildings were originally in the district, which was named to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1980, and to the National Register of Historic Places, on August 15, 1980.<ref name=NJRHP/><ref name="nrhpdoc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} With Template:NRHP url</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.88 square miles (2.27 km²), including 0.83 square miles (2.15 km²) of land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km²) of water (5.57%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The borough borders the Middlesex County municipalities of East Brunswick, Monroe Township and Spotswood.<ref>Areas touching Helmetta, MapIt. Accessed July 13, 2016.</ref><ref>Municipalities Template:Webarchive, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 2,178 people, 891 households, and 596 families in the borough. The population density was 2,562.9 per square mile (989.5/km²). There were 920 housing units at an average density of 1,082.6 per square mile (418.0/km²). The racial makeup was 88.61% (1,930) White, 3.95% (86) Black or African American, 0.09% (2) Native American, 4.87% (106) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.15% (25) from other races, and 1.33% (29) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.53% (164) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 891 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18; 52.5% were married couples living together; 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.1% were non-families. Of all households, 26.0% were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.<ref name=Census2010/>

20.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.2 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $80,690 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,944) and the median family income was $96,875 (+/− $8,073). Males had a median income of $63,625 (+/− $7,838) versus $48,333 (+/− $6,040) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,941 (+/− $2,537). About 3.4% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Helmetta borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 23, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 1,825 people, 746 households, and 495 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 769 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 93.15% White, 2.41% African American, 0.22% Native American, 2.41% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.32% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Helmetta borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 23, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Helmetta borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 23, 2012.</ref>

There were 746 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.01.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 44.1% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $60,125, and the median income for a family was $64,659. Males had a median income of $47,604 versus $33,929 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,668. About 3.2% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Helmetta 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.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 84.</ref> The borough form of government used by Helmetta 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.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Helmetta Borough is Independent Christopher Slavicek, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Helmetta Borough Council are Council President Peter J. Karczewski (R, 2024), Sandra Bohinski (I, 2026), Michael R. Duffy (R, 2024), Ronald Dzingleski (I, 2025), Joseph Reid (I, 2025) and Nicholas Stasi (I, 2026).<ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor & Council, Borough of Helmetta. Accessed April 15, 2024.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Helmetta. Accessed May 27, 2024.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2023>November 7, 2023 General Election Official Results, Middlesex County, New Jersey, December 7, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2022>November 8, 2022 General Election Official Results, Middlesex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2021>General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Middlesex County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2021. Accessed April 13, 2022.</ref>

Samuel Mena was appointed in September 2021 to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Noreen Carolan-Genthe and Nicholas Stasi was appointed in October 2021 to fill the seat formerly held by Joseph Perez and also expiring in December 2021. Both Mena and Stasi will serve on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election when voters will select candidates to serve the balance of the terms of office.<ref>Chang, Kathy. "Flooding is main focus of incumbents running unopposed for Helmetta Borough Council", CentralJersey.com, October 5, 2021. Accessed June 10, 2022. "The ballot will also feature Councilmen Samuel Mena and Nicholas Stasi, who were appointed to the council to fill the vacancy seats of Councilwoman Noreen Carolan-Genthe and Councilman Joseph Perez, respectively."</ref>

In January 2016, Ronald Dzingleski and Joseph Reid were appointed to fill two of the three vacant council seats.<ref>Minutes of the January 26, 2016 Meeting of Mayor and Council, Borough of Helmetta. Accessed July 12, 2016.</ref>

In April 2016, the borough council selected Noreen Carolan to fill the term expiring in December 2016 that had been held temporarily by Brian Hackett who had in turn been appointed to fill the seat held by Yvette Bruno.<ref>Chang, Kathy. "Helmetta appoints new councilwoman" Template:Webarchive, EB Sentinel News, May 3, 2016. Accessed July 12, 2016. "Noreen Carolan was appointed at a meeting on April 28 to serve out the rest of Brian Hackett's term ending on Dec. 31. He sent in his resignation notice on April 11. Hackett, who was appointed to fill Councilwoman Yvette Bruno's seat in December 2015, said he began a new job as the New Jersey state director for the Humane Society of the United States and due to his federal status, he is technically prohibited from continuing to serve as a council member."</ref>

In 2014, a recording of a police officer telling a cameraperson stating that he has the constitutional right to take video that he doesn't "give a damn" about constitutional rights was made public. In response, the city government proposed an ordinance banning video and photography inside public buildings without a permit.<ref>Loyer, Susan. "After cop's viral Obama rant, town seeks ban on videos", MyCentralJersey.com, August 29, 2014. Accessed September 7, 2014.</ref>

In April 2018, Helmetta disbanded its three-officer police force and entered into a six-year shared services agreement with Spotswood to provide police, dispatch and EMS services to Helmetta residents.<ref>Loyer, Susan. "Helmetta disbands police force, enters into shared services agreement with Spotswood", Courier News, April 19, 2018. Accessed August 7, 2018. "Helmetta's police force will be disbanded at the end month and replaced by a shared services agreement that will have Spotswood providing police services to the borough, while saving the borough hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Borough Council members approved on second reading Wednesday evening an ordinance to eliminate its police department in its entirety. The termination date for borough police officers is April 30."</ref> The Spotswood Police Department is a 24/7 law enforcement agency that serves both Spotswood and Helmetta. The department has 22 officers, 3 full-time dispatchers, and 4 part-time dispatchers, led by Chief Michael Zarro.<ref>Home Page, Spotswood Police Department. Accessed August 7, 2018.</ref> In July 2022, Helmetta and Jamesburg entered into a six-year shared service contract in which Jamesburg would provide police and dispatch services to Helmetta. This decision came about after the Borough of Spotswood decided that providing dispatch services to Helmetta was not economically viable. <ref> "Jamesburg Police Department taking over Helmetta police and dispatch services" Accessed August 4, 2024. </ref>

In 2018, the borough had an average property tax bill of $6,270, the lowest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,092 in Middlesex County and $8,767 statewide.<ref>2018 Property Tax Information, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated January 16, 2019. Accessed November 7, 2019.</ref><ref>Marcus, Samantha. "These are the towns with the lowest property taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 30, 2019. Accessed November 7, 2019. "New Jersey’s average property tax bill may have hit $8,767 last year — a new record — but taxpayers in some parts of the state pay just a fraction of that.... The average property tax bill in Helmetta Borough was $6,270 in 2018, the lowest in Middlesex County."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Helmetta is located in the 12th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 12th state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,399 registered voters in Helmetta, of which 403 (28.8%) were registered as Democrats, 264 (18.9%) were registered as Republicans and 731 (52.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Middlesex, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 23, 2012.</ref>

Presidential Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|2024<ref name="2024Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|60.8% 798	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|34.3% 476	4.9% 35
style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|2020<ref name="2020Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|54.7% 709	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|43.2% 560	2.1% 27
style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|2016<ref name="2016Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|57.7% 619	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|39.2% 420	3.1% 33
style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|2012<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|48.1% 442	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|50.4% 463	1.4% 13
style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|2008<ref name="state.nj.us">2008 Presidential General Election Results: Middlesex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref>	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|52.6% 557	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|45.4% 480	2.0% 21
style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|2004<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">2004 Presidential Election: Middlesex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 22, 2012.</ref>	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|56.6% 587	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|42.6% 442	0.8% 8

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.4% of the vote (463 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 48.1% (442 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (13 votes), among the 925 ballots cast by the borough's 1,372 registered voters (7 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 67.4%.<ref name=2012Elections>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 52.1% of the vote (557 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 44.9% (480 votes) and other candidates with 2.0% (21 votes), among the 1,069 ballots cast by the borough's 1,438 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.3%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Middlesex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 23, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 56.2% of the vote (587 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 42.3% (442 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (8 votes), among the 1,044 ballots cast by the borough's 1,382 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.5.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Middlesex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 23, 2012.</ref>

Gubernatorial Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|2021<ref name="2021Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|61.8% 484	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|36.3% 284	1.9% 15
style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|2017<ref name="2017Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|57.9% 334	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|37.4% 216	4.7% 27
style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|2013<ref name="2013Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|71.7% 503	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|26.1% 183	2.3% 16
style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|2009<ref name="2009Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|68.0% 476	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|25.5% 179	6.5% 45
style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|2005<ref name="2005Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Republican|49.8% 375	style="text-align:center; Template:Party shading/Democratic|40.1% 302	10.1% 76

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.7% of the vote (503 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.1% (183 votes), and other candidates with 2.3% (16 votes), among the 718 ballots cast by the borough's 1,374 registered voters (16 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 52.3%.<ref name="2013Elections" /><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.5% of the vote (476 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 25.4% (179 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 4.4% (31 votes) and other candidates with 2.0% (14 votes), among the 705 ballots cast by the borough's 1,402 registered voters, yielding a 50.3% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Middlesex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 23, 2012.</ref>

Education

All public school students from Helmetta attend the Spotswood Public Schools, with the districts having been consolidated after a July 2009 decision by the New Jersey Department of Education that merged Helmetta into the Spotswood district.<ref>Donahue, Brian. "State forces school districts to merge; Helmetta district folded into Spotswood school system", Sentinel, July 9, 2009. Accessed February 2, 2017. "State officials last week ordered the consolidation of the Helmetta and Spotswood school districts, a move that some local officials described as abrupt and worrisome.... There will be no change in school attendance as a result of the merger, since Helmetta's 291 K-12 students will continue to be educated in Spotswood's schools."</ref> Students from Milltown attend the high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Milltown Public Schools.<ref>Fact Sheet 2021-2022, Milltown Public Schools. Accessed June 27, 2022. "Through a formal send–receive contract, approved by the Department of Education, our high school students are sent on a tuition basis to Spotswood High School. Our operating budget supports Parkview School and Joyce Kilmer School, as well as the tuition for students attending Spotswood High School."</ref><ref>Spotswood High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 11, 2016. "I want to welcome you to Spotswood High School, a comprehensive institution that focuses on excellence in academics, the arts, athletics, and community service. Spotswood High School has served the residents in Spotswood, Helmetta, and Milltown since 1976."</ref><ref>About Us, Spotswood Public Schools. Accessed June 27, 2022. "Located in Spotswood, New Jersey, we are a small pre-kindergarten through 12th grade district that educates approximately 1,600 children from the three communities of Spotswood, Helmetta, and Milltown."</ref>

The Spotswood Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Spotswood Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Spotswood Public Schools. Accessed June 27, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Spotswood School District. Composition: The Spotswood School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Spotswood."</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,610 students and 136.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Spotswood Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Spotswood Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>) are G. Austin Schoenly Elementary School<ref>G. Austin Schoenly Elementary School, Spotswood Public Schools. Accessed June 27, 2022.</ref> with 207 students in grades PreK–1, E. Raymond Appleby Elementary School<ref>E. Raymond Appleby Elementary School, Spotswood Public Schools. Accessed June 27, 2022.</ref> with 334 students in grades 2–5, Spotswood Memorial Middle School<ref>Spotswood Memorial Middle School, Spotswood Public Schools. Accessed June 27, 2022.</ref> with 349 students in grades 6–8 and Spotswood High School<ref>Spotswood High School, Spotswood Public Schools. Accessed June 27, 2022.</ref> with 692 students in grades 9–12.<ref>Schools, Spotswood Public Schools. Accessed June 27, 2022.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Spotswood Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Spotswood Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Eighth grade students from all of Middlesex County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Middlesex County Magnet Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its schools in East Brunswick, Edison, Perth Amboy, Piscataway and Woodbridge Township, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.<ref>Heyboer, Kelly. "How to get your kid a seat in one of N.J.'s hardest-to-get-into high schools", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 23, 2019. Accessed February 8, 2025. "Middlesex County has two stand-alone career academies for high-achieving students: the Academy for Science, Math and Engineering Technology, located on the campus of Middlesex County College in Edison, and the Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences in Woodbridge. How to apply: Students must attend a mandatory information session and submit an application by November of their 8th grade year."</ref><ref>About Our Schools, Middlesex County Magnet Schools. Accessed February 8, 2025. "These high schools are free public schools that offer hands-on, integrated learning opportunities for students in grades 9-12 interested in all types of careers as well as higher education. Any student who resides anywhere in Middlesex County's 25 municipalities student may apply to the school district. If accepted, the home school district will permit the student to attend and will organize daily transportation at no cost to the student's family."</ref>

Transportation

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality and Template:Convert by Middlesex County.<ref>Middlesex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 24, 2014.</ref>

The major thoroughfare in the borough is Main Street (County Route 615) which connects with Monroe to the southwest and Spotswood to the northeast.<ref>Middlesex County Route 615 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated May 2011. Accessed December 4, 2019.</ref> Main Street is largely known as Bordentown-Amboy Turnpike between Jamesburg and South Amboy.

The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) is accessible at Exit 8A in neighboring Monroe Township.<ref>Middlesex County Road Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref>

An analysis of speeding tickets issued over an 18-month period between 2011 and 2013 showed that 222 tickets were issued in that timeframe, of which two had been given to borough residents, which was cited as supporting claims that the borough's police department was unfairly targeting non-residents.<ref>Amaral, Brian. "Speed trap: Records show out-of-town drivers targeted by small N.J. town's cops", NJ.com, October 23, 2013. Accessed September 17, 2014. "Between September of 2011 and March of 2013, Helmetta police gave 222 speeding tickets in this square-mile borough in southern Middlesex County, according to police department records. Of those, only two lived in Helmetta."</ref>

Public transportation

Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT) shuttles provide service to and from Helmetta on routes operating across the county.<ref>Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT), Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed December 5, 2019.</ref> The M2 Route connects Jamesburg, Helmetta and Spotswood with East Brunswick including the Brunswick Square Mall.<ref>M2 Brunswick Square Mall - Monroe - Jamesburg Shuttle Schedule Template:Webarchive, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed December 5, 2019.</ref>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Helmetta include:

• George Washington Helme (1822–1893), founder of Helmetta<ref>Hagan, Joanna. "Helmetta’s Heart", Preservation New Jersey, October 26, 2024. Accessed April 28, 2025. "But time is short for the former home of Olivia Antoinette 'Etta' Helme Herbert, daughter of Helmetta borough founder George W. Helme."</ref>
• John Warne Herbert, Jr. (1853-1934), lawyer who served as mayor of Helmetta and was a member of the Rutgers team in the first-ever college football game<ref>Hagan, Joanna. "Historic Helme’s Mansion Faces Demolition", Quo Vadis, September 3, 2024. Accessed April 28, 2025. "The Helme-Herbert House started life in the 1880s as home to Olivia Antoinette Helme, born in 1862, and her husband, John Warne Herbert Jr., born in 1853.... Herbert, a successful New York lawyer, gave up his practice when he married to become a director at the snuff mill and served as mayor of Helmetta from 1890 to 1902."</ref>

External links

• Official Website
• Spotswood Public Schools
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Spotswood Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• Helmetta Historical Society