Metuchen, New Jersey

Metuchen (/mᵻˈtʌtʃᵻn/ mə-TUCH-ən) is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, which is 8 miles (13 km) northeast of New Brunswick, 18 miles (29 km) miles southwest of Newark, 24 miles (39 km) southwest of Jersey City, and 29 miles (47 km) southwest of Manhattan, all part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 13,574, reflecting an increase of 734 (+5.7%) from the 12,840 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 36 (+0.3%) from the 12,804 counted in the 1990 Census.

Metuchen was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 20, 1900, from portions of Raritan Township (now known as Edison).

History

Until 1870, what is now Metuchen was part of Woodbridge Township. Because the settlers in the western part of the township were so far removed from the village of Woodbridge, they early developed a separate identity. The name "Metuchen" first appeared in 1688/1689, and its name was derived from the name of a Native American chief, known as Matouchin or Matochshegan. In 1701, an overseer of roads was appointed for "Metuchen district". In 1705, Main Street was laid out at the same time as the road from Metuchen to Woodbridge, which one source calls a "reworking of the original road".

Metuchen (NJT station)

Metuchen is a New Jersey Transit station on the Northeast Corridor Line, in Metuchen, New Jersey. It is on Main Street between Pennsylvania and Woodbridge Avenues; the platforms are on an overpass over Main Street. The New York City-bound platform and station office are accessible from Woodbridge Avenue, while the Trenton-bound platform is accessible from Pennsylvania Avenue. There is a station office but no station agents and passengers must use a ticket machine. There is a newsstand in the waiting room of the northbound platform that operates on weekday mornings during rush hour. A private concierge service operated between 2001–2003, but is now closed. There is, however, a taxi stand on Pennsylvania Avenue across from the station.

History

The station was built in 1888 by the Pennsylvania Railroad and it was significantly renovated in 1979.

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