Spotswood was named in 1685 by James Johnstone after his old home in Scotland.
Spotswood may not resemble Scotland in any way, but it doesn't have to; it has its own merits
Spotswood was named in 1685 by James Johnstone after his old home in Scotland.
Spotswood may not resemble Scotland in any way, but it doesn't have to; it has its own merits. It's situated in the heart of Middlesex County and is only a 12-mile drive from the ocean at Raritan Bay. It is also only about an hour from Manhattan. Okay, so most residents of Spotswood don't commute to the city, but you can if you want to, and it won't take long. If nature is more your thing, head north to East Brunswick, south to the attractive Duhernal Lake or east to Jamesburg Park -- a natural area that has been protected since the 1970s. No matter which compass direction you head, there is something to see.
Spotswood is an increasingly popular place to move to. All-bills-paid apartments tend to get snapped up very quickly, so you need to be prepared to move fast if one of these comes on to the market. Pet-friendly apartments are infrequently available because dog and cat owners tend to hang on to their accommodations. So people with furry friends need to start their search early. The beginning of the year is the best time to search for house rentals in Spotswood. Once spring hits, you will find yourself battling a bunch of other home seekers.
Once you find a place, make sure that anything you and the landlord agree to is documented in writing, particularly if dollars are changing hands. If there is anything that is wrong with the apartment -- even something minor -- make a note of it before your sign any agreements and move in. New Jersey State law states that every lease must be written in plain English, so ask for an explanation to be written down if any document you need to sign is too legally worded. Most documents are easy enough to follow, but don't get caught out! Once signed and dated it is hard for your landlord to alter your lease agreement, so remember it is there to protect you.
Spotswood does not have any distinct neighborhoods and the apts for rent are spread out fairly evenly over the whole of it. There are, however, some slight differences between the west and east sides.
West Spotswood: The section of the borough that lies to the west of Summerhill Road is the smaller of the two and forms a sort of triangle between Old Stage Road and Main Street. From here it is easiest to access the nearby shopping mall at Brunswick Square. Try the pizza taverna. There is also a convenient store just around the corner from it, located on Summerhill Road.
East Spotswood: This is the best place to center your search if you want to access Jamesburg Park regularly. Parking, portable restrooms and picnic tables are all located in the nature reserve. There's also a green open space just to the north of eastern Spotswood, named Frost Woods Park. Much of the accommodations around here is in the form of houses that are set back from the road with neatly trimmed front lawns.
Spotswood's travel connections are pretty good. The New Jersey Turnpike on Interstate 95 is only about four miles away and there are roughly 30 miles of roadways that criss-cross the borough, mostly maintained by the municipal authorities. It is only about a twenty minute drive southwards to Old Bridge Airport and a major hub like Newark takes little over forty minutes to reach. This makes Spotswood ideal if you need to travel around a lot for work, but what about if you don't? Well, it is fair to say that community spirit in the borough is thriving. There are numerous sports clubs that include ice skating, soccer and softball. Most of the local eateries are clustered around Summerhill Road, so that is a good place to check out if you are new to the area and just beginning your search for an apartment.
