Monroe Township

Part of the outer-most suburban ring of the New York Metropolitan area is Monroe Township. Located in Southern Middlesex County, Monroe Township is home to nearly 22,000 residents, a 25% increase from the 2000 census. Between 2010 and 2014, Monroe had the third-largest increase in the population of any municipality in the state, behind only Jersey City and Elizabeth, New Jersey. The township is centrally located within the Raritan Valley region near the Raritan River. The township was incorporated in April of 1838 from portions of South Amboy Township. In the past, Monroe Township has donated sections of its boundaries to help form East Brunswick, Cranbury, and Jamesburg.

Monroe Township was named in honor of former President James Monroe and for many years was predominantly a farming community. However, during the late 1800s, the area became more densely populated in neighborhoods such as Helmetta, Jamesburg, and Spotswood, causing the farming communities to largely receded. Similar to other townships in the area, Monroe possesses a rich and fascinating history that dates back thousands of years to when the Lenape Native Americans settled the area. One of the many historically significant buildings within Monroe Township is the New Jersey Training School for Boys, previously known as the New Jersey Home for Boys. Opened in 1867, the home was originally created to help troubled youth; however, in the 1950s, the building became a juvenile detention center. For a brief time, New Jersey Training School for Boys was home to Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, an American-Canadian middleweight boxer wrongfully Covid Ted of murder in the 1960s. Before starting his musical career, Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band served as a New Jersey Training School counselor.

Today, Monroe Township is home to many thriving and dynamic businesses, including Monroe Vision Associates, J Barra Trucking Inc., Sheepy Hollow Farm, and Clear Water Pools. For many years, propane company GasTec has provided reliable and efficient propane services for the residents of Monroe and hopes to continue to support commercial businesses and homeowners within the township. Whether it be providing propane for Monroe restaurants, heating for businesses, emergency energy, or residential propane for pool heating, GasTec will be able to help Monroe locals develop a tailored plan that supports their unique propane needs.