Old Bridge Township, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Old Bridge Township, New Jersey | |
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| — Township — | |
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| Coordinates: 40°24′48″N 74°18′25″W / 40.41333°N 74.30694°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Middlesex |
| Incorporated | March 2, 1869 as Madison Township |
| Renamed | November 5, 1975 as Old Bridge Township |
| Government [1] | |
| - Type | Faulkner Act Mayor-Council |
| - Mayor | James T. Phillips |
| Area | |
| - Total | 40.7 sq mi (105.3 km2) |
| - Land | 38.1 sq mi (98.6 km2) |
| - Water | 2.6 sq mi (6.7 km2) |
| Elevation [2] | 79 ft (24 m) |
| Population (2007)[3] | |
| - Total | 66,044 |
| - Density | 1,587.4/sq mi (612.9/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08857, 08859, 08879, 07721, 07726, 07747 |
| Area code(s) | 732 |
| FIPS code | 34-54705[4][5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882158[6] |
| Website | http://www.oldbridge.com |
Old Bridge Township is a Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. It is a suburb of nearby East Brunswick, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 60,456.
What is now Old Bridge Township was originally incorporated as Madison Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 2, 1869, from portions of South Amboy Township (now City of South Amboy).[7] On November 5, 1975, voters approved a referendum, by a 7,150 - 4,888 margin changing the township's name to Old Bridge Township.[8][9] The township's name was changed to avoid confusion with the borough of Madison in Morris County.[8][10] (However, the name "Old Bridge" for a location "on the Camden and Amboy Railroad, about eight miles beyond South Amboy" (or "about seven miles from South Amboy"), goes back to at least 1853.[11]) Old Bridge Township has consistently been a contender for the best places to live in the United States by Money Magazine.[12][13]
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[edit] History
The first inhabitants of the area known as Old Bridge, were the Lenni Lenape Native Americans. They, like many people today, migrated to the shore along the Raritan each summer from their hunting grounds in the north. When the English gained control from the Dutch in 1664, the state was divided into two provinces, East Jersey and West Jersey. In 1682, the general assembly of East Jersey defined the boundaries of Middlesex County as containing all plantations on both sides of the Raritan River, as far as Cheesequake Harbor to the east, then southwest to the Provincial line. This Southwest line is the border of Monmouth and Middlesex Counties and the Township's southern border.
In 1684, South Amboy Township was formed. At that time, it covered an area that now consists of the Townships of Monroe and Old Bridge and the Boroughs of Sayreville and South Amboy. The Township comprises 42 square miles (109 km²) that separated from South Amboy on March 2, 1869, and was called Madison Township.[14] In 1975, the name was changed by referendum to the Township of Old Bridge, to differentiate the township from the Borough of Madison, in Morris County.[15] The first settlers were John Warne, son of one of the original proprietors of East Jersey, and John and Susannah Brown, who obtained a 1,000 acre (4 km²) land grant from King George II of Great Britain in 1737. A section of the Township still carries the name Browntown.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 2,566 |
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| 1940 | 3,803 | 48.2% | |
| 1950 | 7,366 | 93.7% | |
| 1960 | 22,772 | 209.2% | |
| 1970 | 48,715 | 113.9% | |
| 1980 | 51,515 | 5.7% | |
| 1990 | 56,475 | 9.6% | |
| 2000 | 60,456 | 7.0% | |
| Est. 2006 | 66,044 | [3] | 9.2% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[16] | |||
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 60,456 people, 21,438 households, and 15,949 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,587.4 people per square mile (612.8/km²). There were 21,896 housing units at an average density of 574.9/sq mi (222.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 79.48% White,10.82% Asian, 5.30% African American, 2.32% from two or more races, 1.87% from other races, 0.16% Native American, , 0.04% Pacific Islander.
There were 21,438 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $64,707, and the median income for a family was $74,045 (which had risen to $80,641 and $100,711 respectively as of the 2007 estimate.[17]) Males had a median income of $51,978 versus $35,462 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,814. About 3.0% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Initially, the Township was made up of farms and the population grew slowly. In 1880, the population was 1,662 and in 1950 it had reached only 7,365. Then the building boom started and farms gave way to developments. In 1960, the population was 22,772 and that was only the beginning. The 1980 census cited 51,406 people.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Old Bridge Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.[1][18]
The Mayor of Old Bridge Township is Mayor James T. Phillips.[19] The Township Council consists of nine members, with six elected to represent wards and three elected at-large from the Township as a whole. The members of the Township Council are:[20]
- Blair Davis - Representing Ward 1
- Hondo Diaz, Council Vice President - Representing Ward 2
- Reginald Butler - Representing Ward 3
- G. Kevin Calogera - Representing Ward 4
- Richard Greene - Representing Ward 5
- Lucille Panos - Representing Ward 6
- Patrick Gillespie, Representing Old Bridge At-Large
- Brian J. Cahill - Representing Old Bridge At-Large
- Edward Testino - Council President - Representing Old Bridge At-Large
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Old Bridge Township is split between the Sixth and Twelfth Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 13th Legislative District.[21]
New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District, covering portions of Middlesex County and Monmouth County, is represented by Frank Pallone (D). New Jersey's 12th congressional district, covering portions of Hunterdon County (8 municipalities), Mercer County (9), Middlesex County (12), Monmouth County (14) and Somerset County (1), is represented by Rush D. Holt Jr. (D).[22] New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 13th district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph M. Kyrillos (R, Middletown Township) and in the Assembly by Amy Handlin (R, Middletown Township) and Samuel D. Thompson (R, Old Bridge Township).[23] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[24]
Middlesex County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis. As of 2008[update], Middlesex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel (Milltown), Freeholder Deputy Director Stephen J. "Pete" Dalina (Fords), Camille Fernicola (Piscataway), H. James Polos (Highland Park), Ronald Rios (Carteret), Christopher D. Rafano (South River) and Blanquita B. Valenti (New Brunswick).[25]
[edit] Education
The Old Bridge Township Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[26]) are twelve K-5 elementary schools — M. Scott Carpenter (302 students), Cheesequake (324), Leroy Gordon Cooper (186), Virgil I. Grissom (229), James A. McDivitt (555), Madison Park (338), Memorial (436), William A. Miller (353), Walter M. Schirra (420), Alan B. Shepard (343), Southwood (380) and Voorhees (464) — both Jonas Salk Middle School (1,273) and Carl Sandburg Middle School (1,202) for grades 6-8 and Old Bridge High School for grades 9-12 (3,041).
[edit] Transportation
The Garden State Parkway passes through Old Bridge for about 1¾ miles and houses Interchange 120. Other routes, such as U.S. 9, Route 18, Route 34 and Route 35 also pass through the township. Old Bridge Airport is located 5 miles south of the central business district. Some major county routes that pass through are County Route 527 and County Route 520.
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Old Bridge Township include:
- T. Frank Appleby (1864-1924), represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1921 to 1923.[27]
- Junot Diaz (born 1968), Pulitzer prize-winning novelist.[28]
- Colleen Fitzpatrick (born 1969 or 1970), a pop music artist, dancer and actress, better known by her stage name, Vitamin C.[29]
- Caren Lissner (born 1971), novelist.[30]
- Bryant McCombs (born 1987), holds the Junior National Record for the Indoor 400m (47.37)[31]
- Brian O'Halloran (born 1969), actor. Appeared in Clerks and Clerks 2.[32]
- Tab Ramos (born 1966), retired soccer midfielder.[33]
- Diane Ruggiero, screen writer for Veronica Mars, etc.[34]
- William H. Sutphin (1887-1972) represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 1931-1943.[35]
[edit] References
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 67.
- ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Old Bridge, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Old Bridge township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 5, 2008.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 170.
- ^ a b "New Names Voted for 2 Communities", The New York Times, November 6, 1975. p. 88
- ^ HISTORY OF OLD BRIDGE & THE WATERFRONT, accessed February 22, 2007
- ^ Cheslow, Jerry. If You're Thinking of Living in: Old Bridge, The New York Times, April 21, 1991. Accessed August 10, 2007.
- ^ ANOTHER RAILROAD TRAGEDY. New York Daily Times (1851-1857); Aug 10, 1853; ProQuest Historical Newspapers. The New York Times (1851 - 2006). Page 1. A railroad accident occurred at Old Bridge, killing at least five people, thus prompting the mention of the name.
- ^ MONEY Magazine Best places to live 2007, Money (magazine).
- ^ Best Places to Live 2005, Money (magazine).
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 165.
- ^ Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Old Bridge Township, N.J.; Fast Growing, but With a Rural Ambience", The New York Times, February 20, 2000. Accessed August 10, 2007.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ 2007 American Community Survey, Data Profile Highlights: Old Bridge Township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2007.
- ^ The Faulkner Act, Old Bridge Township. Accessed October 18, 2006.
- ^ OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, Old Bridge Township. Accessed March 18, 2007.
- ^ Township Council, Old Bridge Township. Accessed April 12, 2008.
- ^ 2008 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 62. Accessed September 30, 2009.
- ^ Municipalities, Congressman Rush D. Holt Jr. Accessed June 29, 2008.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
- ^ Elected County Officials, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed February 21, 2007.
- ^ Data for the Old Bridge Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 12, 2008.
- ^ Theodore Frank Appleby, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 30, 2007.
- ^ Tejada, Miguel Cruz. "Junot Díaz dice “en RD hay muchos quirinos”; escribirá obra inspirada en caso", El Nuevo Diario (Dominican Republic), August 11, 2008. Accessed August 25, 2008. "Hizo el bachillerato en el Cedar Ridge High School de Old Bridge, Nueva Jersey, en 1987, y se licenció en inglés en la Universidad Rutgers (1992), e hizo un Master of Fine Arts en la Universidad de Cornell."
- ^ OFF THE RECORD: A Fine New Jersey "Colleen" , Irish Voice, May 1, 2001. Accessed August 10, 2007. "COLLEEN Fitzpatrick, a comely lass from Old Bridge, New Jersey, is the media dynamo behind the concept known as Vitamin C."
- ^ Celano, Claire Marie. "Young author offers tips to audience at workshop: Caren Lissner says love of writing should be first ingredient toward success", News Transcript, July 30, 2003. Accessed August 25, 2008. "Lissner, 31, grew up in Freehold Township and attended the Laura Donovan School and the Barkalow Middle School.... She later graduated from high school in Old Bridge."
- ^ "Blue Devil main event: Distance medley race". Star-Ledger. April 15, 2005. http://moreresults.factiva.com/results/index/index.aspx?ref=NSL0000020050415e14f0006m.
- ^ Cahillane, Kevin. "For the Stars of ‘Clerks,’ It’s Take Two", The New York Times, July 14, 2006. Accessed June 8, 2008. "Mr. O’Halloran, a resident of Old Bridge since age 13, has not had to go the McJob route."
- ^ Mifflin, Lawrie. "Doing a Star Turn for the Home Team, at Last", The New York Times, August 18, 1996. Accessed January 7, 2008. "Giants Stadium is a short trip up the turnpike from Old Bridge, where Mr. Ramos lives with his wife, Amy -- a former North Carolina State University soccer player like her husband -- and their 16-month-old son, Alex. And it's just a few miles from where he grew up, in Harrison and Kearny, towns that have been soccer hotbeds for generations."
- ^ Weinraub, Bernard (June 20, 2000). "Jersey Girl Makes It Big, at Least on TV". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B00E4D71531F933A15755C0A9669C8B63. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
- ^ William Halstead Sutphin, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 30, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Old Bridge Township Official Website
- Old Bridge Township Public Schools
- Old Bridge Township Public Schools's 2007–08 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Old Bridge Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
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