Braunschweig was an influential and powerful city in the Hanseatic League, later in the Holy Roman Empire, and was an administrative seat for the Duchy (and later Principality) of Hanover.

Alternatively, the city derived its name from King George II of Great Britain, the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

[26] During the 20th century, South Brunswick saw extensive transformation with the impact of changes in transportation technology.

This trolley provided daily passenger and freight service, stopping at a local crossroads.

The New Jersey Turnpike opened in 1951, again roughly parallel to Route 1, on the eastern edge of the Township.

One effect of the Turnpike opening up Interchange 8A (just outside the township) was transforming the agricultural area on the southeast corner of South Brunswick into a burgeoning industrial development.

[33] Much of the township's 42 square miles (110 km2) remain undeveloped and there are still significant amounts of wetlands, woodlands, and open space within the community.

[3][4] Dayton (2020 Census population of 8,138[34]), Heathcote (7,154[35]), Kendall Park (9,989[36]), Kingston (1,581[37]) and Monmouth Junction (8,895[38]) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within South Brunswick.

[39][40] Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include:[41] Cottageville,[citation needed] Deans, Franklin Park, Fresh Ponds, Little Rocky Hill, Sand Hills, South Brunswick Terrace[citation needed] and Ten Mile Run.

Because the township is served by several different zip codes, Dayton, Monmouth Junction, Kendall Park, Kingston, Jamesburg, Cranbury, Princeton and even North Brunswick are often used in place of the township's name, even when referring to areas located beyond their defined boundaries.

He was later a United States Senator, was the first Republican nominee for Vice President (in 1856), and Minister to France.

[42] Deans originated from its location on both Crosswicknung Trail (Georges Road) and Lawrence Brook.

[42] With increased mobility and a growing population, the suburban-style residential development was born after World War II.

Kendall Park, located off Route 27, the old Native American trail and major thoroughfare of earlier centuries, was begun in 1957.

[43] Kingston's location on the Lenape Assunpink Trail where it crossed the Millstone River was the prime factor in its early prominence.

During winter and early spring, South Brunswick can in some years experience "nor'easters", which are capable of causing blizzards or flooding throughout the northeastern United States.

[60][61] As of the 2000 census, 10.48% of South Brunswick's residents identified themselves as being of Indian American ancestry, which was the seventh-highest of any municipality in the United States and the fourth highest in New Jersey – behind Edison (17.75%), Plainsboro Township (16.97%) and Piscataway Township (12.49%) – of all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

At a reorganization meeting held in January after each election, the council selects a deputy mayor from among its members.

[72][73][74] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 12th congressional district is represented by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, Ewing Township).

[77] For the 2024-2025 session, the 16th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Andrew Zwicker (D, South Brunswick) and in the General Assembly by Mitchelle Drulis (D, East Amwell Township) and Roy Freiman (D, Hillsborough Township).

[79] 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),[80] Deputy Director Shanti Narra (D, North Brunswick, 2027),[81] Claribel A.

[118] The South Brunswick Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.

In 1755, Jacob Skilman built a gristmill and sawmill here on the Millstone River, located along the historic King's Highway.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1986 for its significance in engineering, exploration/settlement, industry, and transportation.

[144] The most prominent highway passing through South Brunswick is a 3+1⁄2-mile (5.6 km) section of the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).

A number of proposed Turnpike Authority maintained roads were to traverse South Brunswick.

Suburban Transit offers service on Line 300 to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Grand Central Terminal and Manhattan's East Side, while Line 600 serves Downtown Manhattan / Wall Street.

[148] The Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Line is a proposal by New Jersey Transit to restore passenger railway service to the region.

[150][151][152][153] The nearest train stations to the township are located at Princeton Junction and New Brunswick along the Northeast Corridor Line.

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center (commonly abbreviated as "PMC") is a regional hospital and healthcare network located in neighboring Plainsboro Township.