Belleville, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Belleville, New Jersey
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Essex County showing the location of Belleville Township. Inset: Location of Essex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Belleville, New Jersey

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Essex
government_footnotes =
government_type = Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Ray Kimble
leader_title1 = Manager
leader_name1 = Victor Canning
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = April 8, 1839

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 8.8
area_land_km2 = 8.7
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_total_sq_mi = 3.4
area_land_sq_mi = 3.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 34044
population_density_km2 = 4148.4
population_density_sq_mi = 10744.3

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|1729713|Township of Belleville, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.]
elevation_m = 9
elevation_ft = 30
latd = 40 |latm = 47 |lats = 37 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 9 |longs = 41 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07109
area_code = 973
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-04695GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1729713GR|3
website = http://www.bellevillenj.org
footnotes = USCensusPop
1880= 3004
1890= 3487
1900= 5987
1910= 9891
1920= 15660
1930= 26974
1940= 28167
1950= 32019
1960= 35005
1970= 37629
1980= 35367
1990= 34213
2000= 35928
estimate=34044
estyear=2007
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US3401304695&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34025%7C06000US3402545990&_street=&_county=belleville&_cityTown=belleville&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Belleville township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 1, 2008.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.]

Belleville is a Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 35,928.

Belleville was originally incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1839, from portions of Bloomfield. Portions of the township were taken to create Woodside Township (March 24, 1869, now defunct) and Franklin Township (February 18, 1874, now known as Nutley). The independent municipality of Belleville city was created within the township on March 27, 1874, and was dissolved on February 22, 1876. On November 16, 1910, Belleville was reincorporated as a town, based on the results of a referendum held eight days earlier."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 125.] Belleville adopted its current township form of government in 1981.cite book|last=Karcher|first=Alan J.|authorlink=Alan Karcher|title=New Jersey's Multiple Municipal Madness|publisher=Rutgers University Press|location=New Brunswick, New Jersey|date=1998|page=120|isbn=978-0813525662]

Geography

Belleville is located at coor dms|40|47|37|N|74|9|41|W|city (40.793500, -74.161448)GR|1, north of

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 3.3 square miles (8.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.05%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 35,928 people, 13,731 households, and 9,089 families residing in the township. The population density was 10,744.3 people per square mile (4,153.3/km²). There were 14,144 housing units at an average density of 4,229.8/sq mi (1,635.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 69.44% White, 5.36% African American, 0.17% Native American, 11.31% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 9.83% from other races, and 3.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.68% of the population.

As of the 2000 Census, the most common ancestries listed were Italian (30.9%), Irish (9.4%), German (6.9%), Polish (4.5%), United States (2.6%) and English (2.2%). [ [http://www.city-data.com/city/Belleville-New-Jersey.html Belleville, New Jersey] , city-data.com. Accessed September 2, 2007.]

There were 13,731 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the township the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $48,576, and the median income for a family was $55,212. Males had a median income of $38,074 versus $31,729 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,093. About 6.3% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Belleville is governed under the Faulkner Act (Council-Manager) form of New Jersey municipal government by a seven-member Township Council. Two members of the council are elected at-large, one is elected as a mayor, and one each from four wards. Members are elected to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis."2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 128.]

The members of the Belleville Township Council are
Mayor [http://www.bellevillenj.org/Officials/Official.aspx?id=1 Ray Kimble] ,
Deputy Mayor [http://www.bellevillenj.org/Officials/Official.aspx?id=4 Kevin G. Kennedy] , [http://www.bellevillenj.org/Officials/Official.aspx?id=2 John Notari] , [http://www.bellevillenj.org/Officials/Official.aspx?id=3 Marie Strumolo Burke] , [http://www.bellevillenj.org/Officials/Official.aspx?id=5 Michael Nicosia] , Paul McDonald and [http://www.bellevillenj.org/Officials/Official.aspx?id=7 Steven Rovell] . [ [http://www.bellevillenj.org/Officials Belleville Elected Officials] , Township of Belleville. Accessed April 13, 2008.] The township manager is Victor Canning. [http://www.bellevillenj.org/Officials/Official.aspx?id=1 Elected Officials] , Township of Belleville. Accessed August 4, 2008.]

Federal, state and county representation

Belleville is in the Eighth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 28th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Politics

On the national level, Belleville leans toward the Democratic Party. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry received 52% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 47%.

Education

The Belleville School District serves public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3401350 Data for the Belleville School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 17, 2008.] ) are seven K-6 elementary schools — [http://www.belleville.k12.nj.us/School%203/School_3.htm School 3] (313 students), [http://www.belleville.k12.nj.us/School%204/School_4.htm School 4] (323 students), [http://www.belleville.k12.nj.us/School%205/School_5.htm School 5] (353 students) [http://www.belleville.k12.nj.us/School%207/School_7.htm School 7] (443 students), [http://www.belleville.k12.nj.us/School%208/School_8.htm School 8] (474 students), [http://www.belleville.k12.nj.us/School%209/School_9.htm School 9] (139 students) and [http://www.belleville.k12.nj.us/School%2010/School_10.htm School 10] (147 students) — [http://www.belleville.k12.nj.us/BMS/index.htm Belleville Middle School] for grades 7&8 (686 students), and
Belleville High School for grades 9-12 (1,581 students).

Transportation

Route 7 and New Jersey Route 21 as well as County Route 506 all pass through Belleville.

The Silver Lake station on the Newark City Subway provides service to Newark Penn Station.

New Jersey Transit bus service is available to Newark on the 13, 27, 72, 74, 90, 92, 93 and 94 bus lines. [ [http://www.njtransit.com/sf_tp_rc_essex.shtml Essex County Bus/Rail Connections] , New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 6, 2007.]

Places of Interest

*Clara Maass Medical Center
*Branch Brook Park

Belleville locations in "The Sopranos"

* Episode 3 ("Denial, Anger, Acceptance"): Christopher Moltisanti's "mock execution" is on the pier in the Passaic River used by [http://www.belleville.k12.nj.us/Bhs/index.htm Belleville High School] 's crew team (technically, perhaps, in Kearny).
* Episode 28 ("Proshai, Livushka"): Livia Soprano's funeral is held at the Irvine-Cozzarelli Memorial Home, across the street from [http://www.belleville.k12.nj.us/BMS/index.htm Belleville Middle School] on Washington Avenue. Also take a Cab from the Belleville Taxi ServiceSeason 4- Even though Furio Guinta's house stated it was in Nutley, the actual location of the house is in Belleville on Essex Street.

1996 Torch Relay

On June 18, 1996, the Olympic Torch Relay came through the township of Belleville. The relay entered Belleville from Rutgers, made a left onto Washington Avenue, passing the Belleville Town Hall, a right onto Belleville Avenue and stayed on Belleville into the township of Bloomfield. The torch relay ended at Atlanta, Georgia for the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Trivia

*Originally known as "Second River," the inhabitants renamed the settlement "Belleville" in 1797. Today, the Second River forms much of the border between Belleville and Newark as it runs through Branch Brook Park, home to an annual [http://www.branchbrookpark.org/ Cherry Blossom Festival] .
*The township of Belleville has given itself the nickname "the Cherry Blossom Capital of America".
*Belleville is mentioned several times in the Tony Award-winning musical "Jersey Boys".

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Belleville include:'
*Russell Baker (born 1925), Pulitzer Prize-winning writer "Growing Up". [Rowe, Jonathan. [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/365315072.html?dids=365315072:365315072&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jan+24%2C+1991&author=JONATHAN+ROWE&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=The+Gap+Between+Us&pqatl=google "The Gap Between Us"] , "the Christian Science Monitor", January 24, 1991. Accessed August 14, 2007. "IN his book "Growing Up," Russell Baker; the New York Times columnist, described the kitchen table of his child hood. It was in Belleville, N.J., during the depths of the Depression."]
*Moe Berg (1902-1972), Major League Baseball catcher who also served briefly as a spy for the United States.
*Dennis Diken (former Smithereens drummer)
*Tommy DeVito (born 1936), musician and singer.
*Connie Francis (born 1938), singer.
*Bob Gaudio (born 1942), singer, songwriter and producer.
*Scott Graham (born 1965), former Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster
*David Grant (former NFL player)
*Frank Iero (born 1981), rhythm guitarist for the band My Chemical Romance, co-founder of Skeleton Crew and lead vocalist for the band Leathermouth. [Bruder, Jessica. [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/29/nyregion/29njCOVER.html?pagewanted=all "Loud, Proud and Important"] , "The New York Times" , May 29, 2005. Accessed March 28, 2008. "Among some of the station's most ardent fans are the bands that WSOU has boosted. "That's all I listen to when I go home," said Frank Iero, a guitarist in My Chemical Romance and a Belleville native."]
*Nick Massi (1935-2000), early member of the the Four Seasons.
*Tony Meola (born 1969), soccer goalie. [ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=KC&p_theme=kc&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF46C31660E209&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Jersey-kid Meola ready for KC] , "The Kansas City Star", February 6, 1999, "Born and raised in Belleville, N.J...."]
*Joe Pesci (born 1943), actor.
*Diane Ruggiero, "That's Life" series creator and "Veronica Mars" writer. [Sato, Steven. [http://www.newsnet5.com/sh/entertainment/ontheset/entertainment-ontheset-20000918-123236.html "CBS' 'That's Life' Is All That: Paul Sorvino, Creator Diane Ruggiero Talk About New Show"] , "WEWS-TV". Accessed July 14, 2008. "Cinderella had nothing on a young woman named Diane Ruggiero. Ruggiero, a native of Belleville, N.J., was working as a waitress and a part-time writer."]
*Ray Toro (born 1977), lead guitarist for the band My Chemical Romance. [LaGorce, Tammy. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9404E3DE143CF934A35752C1A9629C8B63 " Bellowing Like Iron Maiden, but Very, Very Sensitive"] , "The New York Times", November 7, 2004. Accessed July 14, 2008. "Which is more what Mr. Way -- along with his bassist and brother, Mikey; Ray Toro, a guitarist from Belleville..."]
*Frankie Valli (born 1934), lead singer of The Four Seasons.Glassberg, Lauren. [http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=3697242 "A Sneak Peek At Broadway's 'Jersey Boys'"] , WABC-TV, December 5, 2005. Accessed September 25, 2007. "The music is contagious and the story about four guys from Belleville, New Jersey is more intriguing than you may have expected. It's Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.... Here's a bit of trivia: Joe Pesci the actor introduced Tommy Devito, Nick Massi, Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio in 1959."]
*Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990), jazz singer.
*Gerard Way (born 1977), lead vocalist for the band My Chemical Romance and writer of the comic The Umbrella Academy. [La Gorce, Tammy. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9404E3DE143CF934A35752C1A9629C8B63&scp=2&sq=%22gerard+way%22+belleville&st=nyt "Bellowing Like Iron Maiden, but Very, Very Sensitive"] , "The New York Times", November 7, 2004. Accessed March 17, 2008.]
*Mikey Way (born 1980), bassist for the band My Chemical Romance and younger brother of lead vocalist Gerard Way. [Michel, Sia. [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/22/arts/music/22mich.html "Fresh From the Garden State, in Black Leather and Eyeliner"] , "The New York Times", October 22, 2006. Accessed April 13, 2008. "It was there that Gerard and Mikey Way, the band’s singer and bassist, grew up, in the belly of a two-family home in Belleville, N.J., a blue-collar town about 10 miles from Manhattan."]
*The Delicates, Denise Ferri, Arleen Lanzotti and Peggy Santiglia -- late 50's/early 60's girl group. "Murray the K's Dancing Girls!"

Belleville characters in "The Sopranos"

*Furio Giunta
*Junior Soprano
*Vito Spatafore

References

External links

* [http://www.bellevillenj.org/ Township of Belleville]
* [http://www.belleville.k12.nj.us/ Belleville School District]
*NJReportCard|13|0250|0|Belleville School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3401350 Data for the Belleville School District] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.bellepl.org/ Belleville Public Library]
* [http://www.oldbelleville.org/ Belleville Historical Website] History of Belleville, including famous residents
* [http://www.ilovebelleville.com/ Belleville Community Website]
* [http://www.bellepl.org/hptowhis.htm Belleville, NJ History]
* [http://www.firstbaptistbloomfield.org/belleville.htm Belleville, NJ Historical Photos]