Middlesex

History

The Harris Lane School was a one-room schoolhouse that was the oldest school in Middlesex County, dating back to its construction in the 1790s. The original Pierce School was known as the East Bound Brook School House and The Parker House was also used for education until it was converted into a two-family house. As the Borough grew new schools were constructed to accommodate many more students. Our Lady of Mt. Virgin School was the first parochial school built in 1954. In 1905, the Lincoln section of Middlesex organized a volunteer fire company and that set the organization of four other fire companies in the borough. Middlesex was a portion of Piscataway Township, until May 6, 1913, when it was incorporated as a separate entity through the action of the state legislature and local referendum. George Harris was elected as the first mayor and the first borough council was elected at the same time. Two constables were the law enforcement officers and were soon assisted by five appointed marshals.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 3.51 square miles (9.09 km2), including 3.49 square miles (9.03 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2) of water (0.63%). The borough borders the Middlesex County municipalities of Dunellen and Piscataway Township in Middlesex County; and Bound Brook, Bridgewater Township, Green Brook Township and South Bound Brook in Somerset County. Middlesex is in the central division of the Raritan Valley (a line of cities in central New Jersey), along with Dunellen, Bound Brook, and South Bound Brook.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  42,440
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  40,392
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  39,382
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  38,626
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  33,332
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  30,146
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  28,831
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  27,373

Most recent

• M 2.8 — 2025-08-05
  1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey
• M 3 — 2025-08-03
  0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey
• M 2.9 — 2024-05-24
  6 km E of Califon, New Jersey
• M 2.6 — 2024-05-01
  1 km NW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 2.9 — 2024-04-27
  7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 2.6 — 2024-04-10
  5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey