Woodbridge Township, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Woodbridge Township, New Jersey
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_



mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County. Inset: Location of Middlesex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_name2 = Middlesex
government_type = Faulkner Act Mayor-Council
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = John E. McCormac
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1664
established_title2 = Chartered
established_date2 = June 1, 1669
established_title3 = Incorporated
established_date3 = February 21, 1798
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 24.2
area_total_km2 = 62.7
area_land_sq_mi = 23.0
area_land_km2 = 59.6
area_water_sq_mi = 1.2
area_water_km2 = 3.1
area_water_percent = 5.00
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
settlement_type = Township
population_total = 99,208
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 1631.0
population_density_sq_mi = 4224.5
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern (EDT)
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 40 |latm = 33 |lats = 25 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 16 |longs = 59 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 18
elevation_ft = 59
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882165|Township of Woodbridge, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 16, 2007.]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07095
area_code = 732
website = http://www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us/
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-82000GR|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 = 0882165GR|3
footnotes =

Woodbridge Township is a Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 97,203. Its estimated population as of 2005 by the Census Bureau was 100,577, which places it as the fifth most populous municipality in the state, although the 2006 estimate has it back down to 99,208.

The township of Woodbridge is named after Reverend John W. Woodbridge (1613-1691) of Newbury, Massachusetts. The Township of Woodbridge is the oldest original township in the state of New Jersey. It was settled in the early autumn of 1664 and was granted a charter on June 1, 1669 by King Charles II of England, and reincorporated on October 31, 1693. Woodbridge Township was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Rahway (April 19, 1858), Raritan Township (March 17, 1870, now Edison Township) and Roosevelt (April 11, 1906, now Carteret)."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 174.]

Geography

Woodbridge Township is located at coor dms|40|33|25|N|74|16|59|W|city (40.557104, -74.283162)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 24.2 square miles (62.7 km²), of which, 23.0 square miles (59.6 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (5.00%) is water.

Communities

Many distinct communities exist within Woodbridge Township. Several of these communities have their own ZIP codes, and many are listed by the United States Census Bureau as census-designated places, but they are all unincorporated areas and neighborhoods within the Township that, together, form Woodbridge Township in population and area.

These communities are as follows (with 2000 populations listed for the seven census-designated places):
*Avenel (2000 population of 17,552)
*Colonia (17,811)
*Fords (15,032)
*Hopelawn non-CDP
*Iselin (16,698)
*Keasbey non-CDP
*Menlo Park Terrace non-CDP
*Port Reading (3,829)
*Sewaren (2,780)
*Woodbridge Proper (18,309)

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930=25266
1940=27191
1950=35758
1960=78846
1970=98944
1980=90074
1990=93086
2000=97203
estimate= 99208
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US3402382000&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3469810&_street=&_county=woodbridge&_cityTown=woodbridge&_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 Woodbridge township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] . Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 97,203 people, 34,562 households, and 25,437 families residing in the township. The population density was 4,224.5 people per square mile (1,631.0/km²). There were 35,298 housing units at an average density of 1,534.1/sq mi (592.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 70.83% White, 8.75% African American, 0.17% Native American, 14.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.30% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.21% of the population.

As of the 2000 census, 9.19% of Woodbridge Township's residents identified themselves as being of Indian American ancestry, which was the tenth highest of any municipality in the United States and the fifth highest in New Jersey — behind Edison (17.75%), Plainsboro Township (16.97%), Piscataway Township (12.49%) and South Brunswick Township (10.48%) — of all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry. [ [http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Asian-Indian.html Asian-Indian Communities] , Epodunk. Accessed February 18, 2007.]

There were 34,562 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the township the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $60,683, and the median income for a family was $68,492 (which had risen to $77,019 and $82,831 respectively as of the 2006 estimate. [ [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=06000US3402354705&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34023%7C06000US3402354705&_street=&_county=woodbridge&_cityTown=woodbridge&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=060&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2006_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= 2006 American Community Survey, Data Profile Highlights: Woodbridge Township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 2, 2007.] ) Males had a median income of $49,248 versus $35,096 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,087. About 3.2% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Woodbridge is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government. ["2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 87.]

The Mayor of Woodbridge Township is John E. McCormac, [ [http://www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us/elected_officials_mayor.html John E. McCormac, Mayor of Woodbridge Township] , Township of Woodbridge. Accessed June 29, 2006.] who was elected on November 7, 2006 and sworn in on November 14, 2006. [ [http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061114/NEWS/611140346/1001 McCormac now heads Woodbridge] , "Home News Tribune", November 14, 2006.] McCormac replaced Frank G. Pelzman, who was the mayor until his death on June 29, 2006. [ [http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060630/NEWS/606300473/1001 Township Dems to tap successor] , "Home News Tribune", June 30, 2006.] Mayor is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, [cite web| url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml| title=Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members] a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The Township Council is the legislative body which represents the public; receives input, develops and adopts policy, and resolves public issues; formulates Township policy through motions, resolutions and ordinances which reflect the needs of the public; and maintains a working knowledge of intergovernmental issues and how they will affect Woodbridge Township. Members of the Township Council are: [ [http://www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us/elected_officials_councilmem.html Woodbridge Township Council members] , accessed April 12, 2006.]
*Brenda Yori Velasco, Council President, Councilwoman-at-Large
*James V. Carroll, Councilman-at-Large
*Gregg M. Ficara, Councilman-at-Large
*Patricia Osborne, Councilwoman-at-Large
*Charles Kenny, Councilman-First Ward
*Richard A. Dalina, Council Vice President, Councilman-Second Ward
*Greg Bedard, Councilman-Third Ward
*James Major, Councilman-Fourth Ward
*Robert G. Luban, Councilman-Fifth Ward

Federal, state and county representation

Woodbridge Township is split between the Seventh and Thirteenth Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 19th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 66. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

The Woodbridge Township School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district's 16 elementary schools ( [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_1.html Mawbey St. School #1] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_4_5.html Avenel St. School #4&5] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_9.html Port Reading School #9] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_11.html Ross St. School #11] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_14.html Ford Ave. School #14] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_18.html Indiana Ave. School #18] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_19.html Menlo Park Terrace #19] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_20.html Claremont Ave School #20] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_21.html Oak Ridge Heights School #21] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_22.html Lynn Crest School #22] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_24.html Kennedy Park School #24] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_25.html Lafayette Estates School #25] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_26.html Robert Mascenik School #26] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_27.html Pennsylvania Ave School #27] and [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/elementary_28.html Matthew Jago School #28] ) serve 5,953 students in Grades K through 5, with 478 certified staff members and 6 guidance counselors. Enrollment in the district's five middle schools ( [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/middle_ams.html Avenel Middle School] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/middle_cms.html Colonia Middle School] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/SchoolsMS/Fords-MS/index.htm Fords Middle School] , [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/SchoolsMS/Iselin-MS/middle_ims.htm Iselin Middle School] and [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/SchoolsMS/Woodbridge-MS/Welcome.htm Woodbridge Middle School] ) is 3,336 students, with 281 certified staff members including 10 guidance counselors for Grades 6 through 8.

Total enrollment at the three high schools is 4,161 students, served by 328 certified staff members including 14 guidance counselors covering Grades 9 through 12. The high schools offer more than 150 courses, including Advanced Placement, college preparatory, business, vocational and cooperative work/study programs. All schools in the district are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. High schools in the district are Colonia High School, John F. Kennedy Memorial High School and Woodbridge High School.

For the 2004-05 school year, Matthew Jago Elementary School was named a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/ss/ss3.pl?string=id=116&maxhits=10000 New Jersey Department of Education Star School Award recipients] , accessed May 23, 2006.]

Transportation

There are three train stations in the township: Metropark, Avenel and Woodbridge. Service is provided by New Jersey Transit Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line as well as Amtrak Acela Express and Regional services to Newark Penn Station, Penn Station New York, PHL, WAS, & BOS (MetroPark only).

Garden State Parkway exits 127 to 131 are in the Township. The New Jersey Turnpike passes through Woodbridge Township, and is accessible at Exit 11 (which features a 24-lane toll gate). The Turnpike's Grover Cleveland service area is located between Interchanges 11 and 12 northbound at milepost 92.9. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-vcenter-cleveland.htm New Jersey Turnpike: Grover Cleveland Service Area] , accessed May 31, 2006.] The Thomas Edison service area is located between Interchanges 11 and 12 southbound at milepost 92.9. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-vcenter-edison.htm New Jersey Turnpike: Thomas Edison Service Area] , accessed May 31, 2006.]

U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 9 serve the township and merge heading north of the township as the U.S. Route 1/9 concurrency. Other roadways passing through the township are Route 27, Route 35, Route 184 and Route 440.

The Edison Bridge on U.S. Route 9 spans the Raritan River, connecting Woodbridge Township on the north with Sayreville on the south.

The first cloverleaf interchange in the United States opened in 1929 at the intersection of highways 25 and 4 (now U.S. Route 1/9 and Route 35, respectively). [Kane, Joseph Nathan. "Famous First Facts", H.W. Wilson Company, 2006 (ISBN 0-8242-1065-4), p. 222.]

Points of interest

*The Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center is a correctional facility operated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections. The facility is located in the Avenel section of the Township. ADTC provides treatment to convicted sex offenders.
*Rahway State Prison is the former and still most commonly used name for the East Jersey State Prison, a male prison facility in Woodbridge Township, on the border of Rahway. However, the mailing address is in Rahway, leading many to believe the facility resides there. The name was changed in 1988 at the request of the Rahway residents.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Woodbridge Township include:
*Clarence Madison Dally (1865-1904), glassblower and assistant to Thomas Edison
*Tom Higgins (1954-), NFL and Canadian football player and coach. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HIGGITOM02 Tom Higgins] , database Football. Accessed November 14, 2007.]
*Jack H. Jacobs (1945-), graduated 1962; Medal of Honor recipient, awarded 1969. [ [http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/Interviews/jacobs_jack.html INTERVIEW WITH JACK H. JACOBS] , Rutgers University, November 20, 2000. Accessed July 11, 2008. "JJ: ... Anyway, we moved to New Jersey in the mid-'50s, and my parents still live in the same house in Woodbridge. I went to Woodbridge High School, and then, from there, I went to Rutgers."]
*Kyle Johnson (1978-), fullback with the Denver Broncos from class of 1996. [ [http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=33122 Kyle Johnson player profile] , National Football League Players Association. Accessed July 29, 2007. "Hometown: Woodbridge, N.J....Johnson earned second-team all-state recognition and was named all-county and all-area as a senior at Woodbridge High School in Woodbridge, N.J., after rushing for 1,235 yards.]
*John McCormac, former New Jersey Treasurer and Mayor of Woodbridge Township. [ [http://www.njhightech.org/nj_hightechmccormac.htm New Jersey High-Tech Hall of Fame: 2004 State Government Official Category] . Accessed July 24, 2007. "McCormac, who lives in the Colonia section of Woodbridge Township, is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Municipal Finance Officer, a Certified Management Accountant, a Registered Municipal Accountant, a Certified Financial Planner, a Licensed Public School Accountant and a Certified Government Financial Manager."]
*Jim McGreevey (1957-), former Woodbridge mayor and Governor of New Jersey. [Herszenhorn, David M. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9506EEDF153EF93BA25753C1A9679C8B63&scp=8&sq=%22Jim+McGreevey%22+woodbridge&st=nyt "In Woodbridge, Borrowing Doubled Under McGreevey"] , "The New York Times", October 18, 2001. Accessed May 23, 2008. "To persuade voters, Mr. McGreevey and his aides rely on a neatly tailored summary of his record as mayor here in Woodbridge for the last nine years."]
*Frank Pelzman, former Woodbridge mayor
*Dawn Marie Psaltis a.k.a. Dawn Marie, professional wrestling personality
*Richie Sambora (1959-), member of rock group Bon Jovi. [Falkenstein, Michelle. [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/31njarts.html "Around the Scene, a Whirl of Change"] , "The New York Times", December 31, 2006. Accessed September 30, 2007. "Bruce Springsteen, who grew up in Freehold, served up the critically acclaimed “We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions” in April, and the singer Jon Bon Jovi, who was raised in Sayreville, and his band’s guitarist Richie Sambora, from Woodbridge, will be immortalized as action figures next July by McFarlane Toys, it was announced in October."]
*Bret Schundler (1959-), mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey. [Sullivan, Joseph F. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE6D9133FF933A25752C1A964958260&scp=1&sq=%22Bret+Schundler%22+colonia&st=nyt "Jersey City Mayor Warns of Possible Bankruptcy"] , "The New York Times", November 10, 1992. Accessed May 23, 2008. "Mr. Schundler, who was born in Colonia, graduated from Harvard Unversitysic with honors in 1981 and then worked as a Congressional aide and a campaign coordinator for Gary Hart's 1984 presidential run."]
*Joseph Vitale (1954-), State Senator and former mayor. [ [http://www.senatorjoevitale.org Senator Vitale's Legislative Website] , New Jersey Legislature. Accessed July 24, 2007.]
*Dagmara Wozniak (1988-), sabre fencer named to the U.S. Olympic team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in women's sabre competition. [Chang, Kathy. [http://ws.gmnews.com/news/2006/0816/Front_page/023.html "Young fencer enjoys living on the edge: Woodbridge resident hoping for a spot on 2008 Olympic team"] , "Woodbridge Sentinel", August 16, 2006. Accessed July 8, 2008. "Wozniak graduated from Colonia High School in June. She heads to St. John's University in Queens, N.Y., this fall on a full athletic scholarship."]

References

External links

* [http://www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us/ Woodbridge Township website]
* [http://www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/ Woodbridge Township Public Schools]
*NJReportCard|23|5850|0|Woodbridge Township Public Schools
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3418120 Data for the Woodbridge Township Public Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics