Helmetta is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough’s population was 2,178, reflecting an increase of 353 (+19.3%) from the 1,825 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 614 (+50.7%) from the 1,211 counted in the 1990 Census. 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 Township, 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. The borough was named for Helme’s daughter, Olivia Antoinette “Etta” Helme.

Helmetta’s main landmark is the large, abandoned Helme Products Inc. plant that sits adjacent to the Camden and Amboy Railroad line running through town (map showing 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. It has remained inactive since.

The G. W. Helme Snuff Mill 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 Episcopal Church, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, and Helmetta Pond, which at one time served as a source of power for the mill. About 115 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 listings in Middlesex County, New Jersey on August 15, 1980.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.907 square miles (2.349 km2), including 0.850 square miles (2.201 km2) of land and 0.057 square miles (0.148 km2) of water (6.32%).

The borough borders the Middlesex County municipalities of East Brunswick Township, Monroe Township and Spotswood.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 2,178 people, 891 households, and 596.079 families residing 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 of the borough 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.

 

Source: Wikipedia

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