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, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 277 (+12.7%) from the 2010 census count of 2,178, which in turn reflected an increase of 353 (+19.3%) from the 1,825 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. 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.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. The borough was named for Helme's daughter, Olivia Antoinette "Etta" Helme.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 1, 2015.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."

History

G.W. Helme Snuff Mill District

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.Map of the Railroads in New Jersey, Rutgers University. Accessed December 4, 2019. Map shows Helmetta on a Camden and Amboy Railroad route. 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.History of Helmetta Timeline accessed December 24, 2006. In 2012, the mill was purchased by Kaplan Companies "After decades of disrepair, Helmetta's old snuff mill will be transformed into housing, civic center" Accessed August 4, 2024. and was subsequently transformed into an apartment complex. The transformation was completed in 2017."Old Snuff Mill in Helmetta Converted to Luxury Rentals"

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. With

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%).

The borough borders the Middlesex County municipalities of East Brunswick, Monroe Township and Spotswood.Areas touching Helmetta, MapIt. Accessed July 13, 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, Helmetta had a population of 2,455. The median age was 39.1 years. 17.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.4 males age 18 and over.

98.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,052 households in Helmetta, of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.6% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,091 housing units, of which 3.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 1,949 79.4% Black or African American 106 4.3% American Indian and Alaska Native 7 0.3% Asian 119 4.8% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.2% Some other race 77 3.1% Two or more races 193 7.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 282 11.5%

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.

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.

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.

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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Helmetta borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 23, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,825 people, 746 households, and 495 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 769 housing units at an average density of . 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Helmetta borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 23, 2012.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 , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 23, 2012.

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.

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.

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. 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.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 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 84. 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.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.