[22] The borough was named for James Buckelew, who established a mill that became the nucleus of what is now Jamesburg.

[23][24] After Monroe Township officials refused to admit an African-American student into one of its schools, Buckelew funded the construction of a school located at the corner of Church Street and Gatzmer Avenue that would be open to all children.

Roughly 75 to 100 families were evacuated from their homes and housed at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School.

[1][2] The borough is the older and more urban core area located in the center of and completely surrounded by Monroe Township,[28][29][30] making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.

[31] The 2010 United States census counted 5,915 people, 2,172 households, and 1,492 families in the borough.

[39] As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 6,025 people, 2,176 households, and 1,551 families residing in the borough.

[6] The borough form of government used by Jamesburg 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.

[42][43] As of 2024[update], the mayor of the Borough of Jamesburg is Republican Thomas Gibbons, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

[53][54][55] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 12th congressional district is represented by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, Ewing Township).

[60] 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),[61] Deputy Director Shanti Narra (D, North Brunswick, 2027),[62] Claribel A.

[87] In 1993-1994 there was a major state investigation into allegations of corruption by borough officials conducted by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation: "The Commission launched an investigation into the governmental operations of the Borough of Jamesburg, Middlesex County, in February 1993 after receiving numerous citizen complaints of corruption at the hands of key municipal officials.

In a November 1994 report, the Commission revealed a systemic pattern of official misconduct, nepotism and abuse of the public trust so pervasive as to cause local budgetary hardships and jeopardize the local police department.

The probe prompted the departure of longtime Borough Tax Assessor Carmen Pirre, spurred a Treasury Department audit and paved the way for wholesale municipal reforms.

Richard Gardiner, director of the state Division of Taxation, stated in a February 27, 1995 letter: "This case is a prime example of governmental agencies working in a cooperative and efficient manner to accomplish common goals and to achieve worthwhile objectives.

"[90] The Jamesburg Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

[102] With annual tuition costs per student at Monroe Township High School rising past $16,000 as the Monroe district has added debt service costs into their tuition charges, the Jamesburg Public Schools looked for an alternate high school in the area to send students at lower cost, which would have started with the freshman class in 2012–2013, though students already enrolled at Monroe Township High School would continue their attendance there until they graduate.

[103] By October 2011, the district decided to maintain sending students to Monroe Township, as had been done since 1979.

[112] The closest limited access road is the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) at Exit 8A in surrounding Monroe Township.

[114] The establishment of the Freehold & Jamesburg Agricultural Railroad caused this region to become a transportation hub.

A 2.8-mile long (4.5 km) portion of the former railroad's right-of-way was later approved to be sold by the New Jersey Board of Public Utility Commissioners (PUC) to Jersey Central Power & Light Company in 1966, with occasional freight service still being utilized through the Freehold Industrial Track.