[21] The community was established around a snuff mill opened in the 1820s that was acquired by George Washington Helme in the 1880s.

[23][24] 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.

Finally, in 1993, it was purchased by Swisher International, and operations were moved to Wheeling, West Virginia.

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.

[1][2] The borough borders the Middlesex County municipalities of East Brunswick, Monroe Township and Spotswood.

[7] 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.

[43][44] As of 2024[update], the mayor of Helmetta Borough is Independent Christopher Slavicek, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

[3][45][46][47][48] Samuel Mena was appointed in September 2021 to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Noreen Carolan-Genthe and Nicholas Stasi was appointed in October 2021 to fill the seat formerly held by Joseph Perez and also expiring in December 2021.

[49] In January 2016, Ronald Dzingleski and Joseph Reid were appointed to fill two of the three vacant council seats.

[50] In April 2016, the borough council selected Noreen Carolan to fill the term expiring in December 2016 that had been held temporarily by Brian Hackett who had in turn been appointed to fill the seat held by Yvette Bruno.

In response, the city government proposed an ordinance banning video and photography inside public buildings without a permit.

[52] In April 2018, Helmetta disbanded its three-officer police force and entered into a six-year shared services agreement with Spotswood to provide police, dispatch and EMS services to Helmetta residents.

This decision came about after the Borough of Spotswood decided that providing dispatch services to Helmetta was not economically viable.

[59] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 12th congressional district is represented by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, Ewing Township).

[62] For the 2024-2025 session, the 12th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Owen Henry (R, Old Bridge Township) and in the General Assembly by Robert D. Clifton (R, Matawan) and Alex Sauickie (R, Jackson Township).

[64] As of 2025[update], Middlesex County's Commissioners (with party affiliation, term-end year, and residence listed in parentheses) are: Director Ronald G. Rios (D, Carteret, 2027),[65] Deputy Director Shanti Narra (D, North Brunswick, 2027),[66] Claribel A.

[97] All public school students from Helmetta attend the Spotswood Public Schools, with the districts having been consolidated after a July 2009 decision by the New Jersey Department of Education that merged Helmetta into the Spotswood district.

[114] The major thoroughfare in the borough is Main Street (County Route 615) which connects with Monroe to the southwest and Spotswood to the northeast.

[116] An analysis of speeding tickets issued over an 18-month period between 2011 and 2013 showed that 222 tickets were issued in that timeframe with only two given to borough residents, which was cited as supporting claims that the borough's police department is unfairly targeting non-residents.