Roselle, New Jersey
| Roselle, New Jersey | |
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| — Borough — | |
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| Coordinates: 40°39′08″N 74°15′38″W / 40.65222°N 74.26056°WCoordinates: 40°39′08″N 74°15′38″W / 40.65222°N 74.26056°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Union |
| Incorporated | December 20, 1894 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Jamel C. Holley[1] |
| • Administrator | David Brown[2] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.7 sq mi (6.9 km2) |
| • Land | 2.6 sq mi (6.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation[3] | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[4] | |
| • Total | 21,085 |
| • Density | 8,048.8/sq mi (3,107.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07203 |
| Area code(s) | 908 |
| FIPS code | 34-64620[5][6] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885379[7] |
| Website | http://www.boroughofroselle.com |
Roselle is a Borough located in Union County in the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 21,085.
On January 19, 1883, the first electric lighting system employing overhead wires to ever exist began service in Roselle, and was built by Thomas Edison to demonstrate that an entire community could be lit by electricity. The First Presbyterian Church, located on the corner of West 5th Avenue and Chestnut Street, was the first church in the world to be lit by electricity.[8]
Roselle was incorporated on December 20, 1894, at the height of the Boroughitis phenomenon sweeping through New Jersey at the time, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier, from portions of Linden.[9]
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[edit] Geography
Roselle is located at 40°39′13″N 74°15′38″W / 40.653502°N 74.260584°W (40.653502, -74.260584).[10]
The borough is bordered by Roselle Park to the north, Elizabeth to the east, Linden to the south and Cranford to the west.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), of which, 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) of it is land and 0.38% is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 13,021 |
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| 1940 | 13,597 | 4.4% | |
| 1950 | 17,681 | 30.0% | |
| 1960 | 21,032 | 19.0% | |
| 1970 | 22,585 | 7.4% | |
| 1980 | 20,641 | −8.6% | |
| 1990 | 20,314 | −1.6% | |
| 2000 | 21,274 | 4.7% | |
| 2010 | 21,085 | −0.9% | |
| Population sources: 1930 - 1990[11] 2000[12] |
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As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 21,274 people, 7,520 households, and 5,226 families residing in the borough. The population density was 8,048.8 people per square mile (3,111.3/km2). There were 7,870 housing units at an average density of 2,977.5 per square mile (1,151.0/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 51.32% African American,35.58% White, 0.31% Native American, 2.71% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 6.07% from other races, and 3.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.11% of the population.[12]
There were 7,520 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.41.[12]
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.[12]
The median income for a household in the borough was $51,254, and the median income for a family was $58,841. Males had a median income of $37,604 versus $32,535 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,269. About 5.8% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.[12]
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Roselle is incorporated under the Borough system of municipal government. The governing body is the Borough Council which is made up of six members and a mayor. The mayor and council representative-at-large are elected by the entire borough. The remaining five council members are elected from five wards, one from each ward in which the member resides. The Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
Roselle has the "weak" mayor-council form of government. The mayor has less control and the council more over fiscal operations and the appointment and removal of executive officers. The mayor has no vote except in case of a tie. The mayor can veto legislation, but the veto can be overridden by two-thirds vote of the council. The Chief of Police is Gerard Orlando. A borough administrator, appointed by the Borough Council, tends to the day-to-day operations of the municipal government.
As of 2011[update], the Mayor of the Borough of Roselle is Jamel C. Holley, whose term of office expires on December 31, 2015. Member of the Roselle Borough Council are Council President Yves Aubourg (Ward 1, 2014), Roy Locke (Ward 5, 2012), Randy Sandifer (Ward 3, 2014), Christine Dansereau (Council at Large, 2012), Kim Shaw (Ward 4, 2013) and Sylvia Turnage (Ward 2, 2012).[13][14][15]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Roselle Borough is in the 10th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 20th state legislative district.[16]
New Jersey's Tenth Congressional District is represented by Donald M. Payne (D, Newark). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 20th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Raymond Lesniak (D, Elizabeth) and in the General Assembly by Joseph Cryan (D, Union) and Annette Quijano (D, Elizabeth).[17] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[18] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[19]
Union County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose nine members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis with three seats coming up for election each year, with an appointed County Manager overseeing the operations of the county.[20] As of 2012, Union County's Freeholders are Chairman Alexander Mirabella (Fanwood, term ends December 31, 2012),[21] Vice Chairman Linda Carter (Plainfield, 2013),[22] Angel G. Estrada (Elizabeth, 2014),[23] Christopher Hudak (Linden, 2014),[24] Mohamed S. Jalloh (Roselle, 2012),[25] Bette Jane Kowalski (Cranford, 2013),[26] Deborah P. Scanlon (Union Township, 2012),[27] Daniel P. Sullivan (Elizabeth, 2013)[28] and Vernell Wright (Union Township, 2014).[29][30]
[edit] Education
The borough is served by the Roselle Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[31]) are three 1-4 elementary schools — Harrison Elementary School (308 students), Dr. Charles C. Polk Elementary School (264) and Washington Elementary School (313) — Leonard V. Moore Middle School for grades 5&6 (394), Grace Wilday Junior High School for grades 7&8 (427) and Abraham Clark High School for grades 9-12 (1,014).
Roselle Catholic High School, a parochial high school run by the Marist Brothers, serves grades 9-12 (778) under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.[32]
[edit] Commerce
Portions of Roselle are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide).[33]
[edit] Transportation
New Jersey Transit provides bus service to New York City and New Jersey points.
Conrail's freight-only Lehigh Line passes through the community along the tracks of the former Lehigh Valley Railroad. The town once shared a passenger station with Roselle Park on the mainline of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. That line is abandoned.
The Staten Island Railway passed through the community before being dormant for years. It was recently reactivated by the Morristown & Erie Railway, but due to local politics, sees movements only a few times per year.
Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately six miles from Roselle.
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Roselle include:
- Rabih Abdullah (born 1975), running back who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots.[34]
- Charles Augustus Briggs (1841–1913), Presbyterian theologian.[citation needed]
- Abraham Clark (1725–1794), a founding father of the United States of America and a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.[35]
- Neil M. Cohen (born 1951), represented the 20th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly until being forced to suddenly resign after child pornography was discovered on his computer.[36]
- Jameel Dumas (born 1981), linebacker who played in NFL Europe.[37]
- Rosey Grier (born 1932), former player for the Los Angeles Rams, a member of the original Fearsome Foursome.[38]
- Al Harrington (born 1980), professional basketball player currently playing for the NBA's New York Knicks.[39]
- Jesse Holley (born 1984), signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2007. winner of the Spike TV reality show Fourth and Long.[40]
- Phil Ivey (born 1976), professional poker player.[41]
- Barron Miles (born 1972), defensive back for the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League.[42]
- Charles August Sulzer (1879–1919), delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Alaska Territory.[43]
- William H. Tunner (1906–83), general officer in the United States Air Force.[44]
- Lucius Walker (1930–2010), Baptist minister best known for his opposition to the United States embargo against Cuba.[45]
[edit] References
- ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed July 27, 2011.
- ^ Administration, Borough of Roselle. Accessed April 23, 2011.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Borough of Roselle, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ 2010 Census Populations: Union County, Asbury Park Press, July 27, 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ A Brief History of Roselle, accessed November 18, 2006.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 240.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed July 6, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Roselle borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 27, 2011.
- ^ Borough of Roselle Municipal Government, Borough of Roselle. Accessed April 23, 2011. Note that source shows 2009 and 2010 term-end dates as of date accessed.
- ^ Staff. "Union County election results", The Star-Ledger, November 4, 2009. Accessed April 23, 2011.
- ^ Staff. "Union County general election results 2010", The Star-Ledger, November 2, 2010. Accessed April 23, 2011.
- ^ 2010 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 63. Accessed April 21, 2011.
- ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ County Government, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
- ^ Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
- ^ Freeholder Vice Chairman Linda Carter, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
- ^ Freeholder Angel G. Estrada, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
- ^ Freeholder Christopher Hudak, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
- ^ Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
- ^ Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
- ^ Freeholder Deborah P. Scanlon, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
- ^ Freeholder Daniel P. Sullivan, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
- ^ Freeholder Vernell Wright, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
- ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
- ^ Data for the Roselle Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed July 27, 2011.
- ^ Union County High Schools, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed July 27, 2011.
- ^ Geographic & Urban Redevelopment Tax Credit Programs: Urban Enterprise Zone Employee Tax Credit, State of New Jersey, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 25, 2009. Accessed July 27, 2011.
- ^ Blockus, Gary R. "Limited options ** Ex-Lehigh back Abdullah, getting limited play with the Bucs, will be a free agent at the end of the season. But he wants to stay in Tampa. ** Wild Card Playoffs: Tampa Bay at Philadelphia 4:30 P.M. Saturday, + Veterans Stadium", The Morning Call, January 10, 2002. Accessed March 13, 2011. "Abdullah, a 6-1, 227-pounder from Roselle, NJ, knew the game carried special importance for him."
- ^ Biographical Sketches: Abraham Clark, National Park Service. Accessed August 12, 2007. "Clark was stricken with a sunstroke in 1794 at his birthplace in Roselle, where he had lived all his life except when political duty called him away."
- ^ Assembly Member Neil M. Cohen, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 12, 2007.
- ^ Eisner, Dan. "Hemmings, Dumas officially sign", Home News Tribune, February 4, 1999. Accessed March 13, 2011. "Roselle's Jameel Dumas was in a similar situation. Although the linebacker commited to Syracuse in late September he still received calls from other coaches in an attempt to change his mind."
- ^ Krier, Beth Ann. "Rosey Grier Takes a Giant Step", Los Angeles Times, February 15, 1977. Accessed March 13, 2011. "After the Griers moved North to a better life in Roselle, NJ, Grier developed as a champion high school athlete and won scholarship offers from 25 colleges..."
- ^ D'Allesandro, Dave. "Roselle native Harrington easing up on trade talk with Warriors", The Star-Ledger, November 1, 2008. Accessed March 13, 2011.
- ^ Jesse Holley, University of North Carolina. Accessed October 6, 2007.
- ^ "Phil Ivey: From fake ID-wielding hustler to poker superstar, Phil Ivey has come a long way. Tom Bailey tracks his astounding progress.", The Official World Poker Tour Magazine. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Phil was born in Riverside, California, but the Ivey family upped sticks and relocated in Roselle, New Jersey when he was three months old."
- ^ Hambleton, Ken. "Catching up with Barron Miles", Lincoln Journal Star, December 1, 2006. Accessed March 13, 2011. "The Roselle, N.J., native set NU school records for pass breakups in a season and career, kick blocks in a season and career, and was named All-Big Eight twice."
- ^ Charles August Sulzer, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed March 13, 2011.
- ^ Staff. "Tunner New India-China ATC Leader", The Command Post, September 8, 1944. Accessed March 13, 2011. "A native of Roselle, N.J., Gen. Tunner was graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1928 and commissioned a second lieutenant, field artillery. Since that time the bulk of his Army career has been devoted to the aviation branch of service."
- ^ Martin, Douglas. "Lucius Walker, Baptist Pastor for Peace, Dies at 80", The New York Times, September 11, 2010. Accessed September 12, 2010.
[edit] External links
- Roselle Borough website
- Information about Roselle: Meetings & Events Calendar, Photos, Videos, Public Notices & Opinion Polls
- Roselle Office of Emergency Management
- Roselle Public Schools
- Roselle Public Schools's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Roselle Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- Roselle Public Library
- Roselle Shade Tree Commission
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