Roseland, New Jersey

History

Roseland was part of the Horseneck Tract, which was an area that consisted of what are now the municipalities of Caldwell, West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Fairfield, Verona, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Roseland, and portions of Livingston and West Orange. In 1702, settlers purchased the 14,000 acres (57 km²) Horseneck Tract — so-called because of its irregular shape that suggested a horse's neck and head — from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans for goods equal to $325. This purchase encompassed much of western Essex County, from the First Mountain to the Passaic River.

Originally named Centerville, the name of the community was changed in 1874 to Roseland to avoid confusion with the several other Centervilles spread across the state, most specifically Centerville, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, which already had a post office under that name. Roseland was chosen over the alternative proposed name of "Roselyn".

One of the most notable places of interest in the borough was the Becker Farm Railroad, otherwise known as the Centerville & Southwestern Railroad. A miniature railroad operated from 1938 until 1972 on the Becker Farm, which once comprised nearly half of the total area within Roseland and which is now mostly a large business complex. Some vestiges of the railroad still exist.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 3.560 square miles (9.219 km²), including 3.539 square miles (9.165 km²) of land and 0.021 square miles (0.054 km²) of water (0.58%). Roseland is located about 20 miles (30 km) west of New York City. Roseland is part of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 5,819 people, 2,345 households, and 1,667 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,644.4 per square mile (634.9/km²). The borough contained 2,432 housing units at an average density of 687.3 per square mile (265.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 90.74% (5,280) White, 1.82% (106) Black or African American, 0.07% (4) Native American, 5.79% (337) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.50% (29) from other races, and 1.08% (63) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.50% (262) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,345 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the borough, 21.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.7 years. For every 100 females the census counted 90.3 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 86.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $100,289 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,283) and the median family income was $116,118 (+/- $20,786). Males had a median income of $83,864 (+/- $16,862) versus $58,611 (+/- $12,592) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $53,042 (+/- $7,511). About 1.9% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,298 people, 2,142 households, and 1,525 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,463.6 people per square mile (565.1/km²). There were 2,187 housing units at an average density of 604.2 per square mile (233.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.43% White, 0.72% African American, 0.04% Native American, 4.72% Asian, 0.43% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.28% of the population.

As of the 2000 Census, 32.0% of Roseland residents were of Italian ancestry, the 27th-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States, and 10th-highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.

There were 2,142 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the borough the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $82,499, and the median income for a family was $93,957. Males had a median income of $61,049 versus $41,688 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,415. None of the families and 1.7% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 2.7% of those over 64.

Economy

Companies based in Roseland include Automatic Data Processing, law firms Lowenstein Sandler and Connell Foley, Curtiss-Wright, and pharmaceutical company Organon International, which opened its worldwide headquarters here in 2003.

Local government

Roseland is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Roseland, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Roseland is Republican John Duthie, whose term of office ends December 31, 2018. Members of the Roseland Borough Council are Council President David B. Jacobs (R, 2016), Richard Leonard (R, 2016), Peter M. Smith (R, 2018), Michele Tolli (R, 2017), Thomas V. Tsilionis (R, 2018) and Mark Vidovich (R, 2017).

Public access television

The Borough of Roseland has three different cable television channels. On Comcast cable TV residents have Public-access television TV35. On Verizon FiOS residents have Public-access television TV46 and residents can access TV55on the borough's website.

Communications and technology

The Communications and Technology Ad Hoc Committee is charged with providing the information technology and communications infrastructure for the Borough of Roseland. The primary focus is delivering communication, technology and network solutions that improve the Borough's business practices.

Federal, state and county representation

Roseland is located in the 11th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 27th state legislative district.

New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen (R, Harding Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 27th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Richard Codey (D, Roseland) and in the General Assembly by Mila Jasey (D, South Orange) and John F. McKeon (D, West Orange). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Essex County is governed by a directly-elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by the Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of 2016, the County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. The county's Board of Chosen Freeholders consists of nine members, four elected on an at-large basis and one from each of five wards, who serve three-year terms of office on a concurrent basis, all of which end December 31, 2018. Essex County's Freeholders are Freeholder President Britnee N. Timberlake (District 3 - East Orange, Newark's West and Central Wards, Orange and South Orange; East Orange) Freeholder Vice President Brendan W. Gill (at large; Montclair), Rufus I. Johnson (at large; Newark), Lebby C. Jones (at large; Irvington), Patricia Sebold (at large; Livingston), Rolando Bobadilla (District 1 - Newark's North and East Wards, parts of Central and West Wards; Newark), Wayne L. Richardson (District 2 - Irvington, Maplewood and Newark's South Ward and parts of West Ward; Newark), Leonard M. Luciano (District 4 - Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Millburn, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange; West Caldwell), and Cynthia D. Toro (District 5 - Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Nutley; Bloomfield). Constitutional elected countywide are County Clerk Christopher J. Durkin (West Caldwell, 2020), Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura (Fairfield, 2018) and Surrogate Theodore N. Stephens II (2016).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 4,686 registered voters in Roseland, of which 1,428 (30.5%) were registered as Democrats, 1,499 (32.0%) were registered as Republicans and 1,756 (37.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 58.4% of the vote (1,983 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.9% (1,391 votes), and other candidates with 0.7% (23 votes), among the 3,425 ballots cast by the borough's 4,832 registered voters (28 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 70.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 57.5% of the vote (2,065 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.8% (1,466 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (29 votes), among the 3,593 ballots cast by the borough's 4,728 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.0%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 59.4% of the vote (2,062 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 39.6% (1,376 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (24 votes), among the 3,471 ballots cast by the borough's 4,425 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.4.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.9% of the vote (1,559 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.2% (652 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (19 votes), among the 2,275 ballots cast by the borough's 4,858 registered voters (45 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 58.7% of the vote (1,579 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 33.1% (891 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.2% (193 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (11 votes), among the 2,691 ballots cast by the borough's 4,658 registered voters, yielding a 57.8% turnout.

The dominant political party in Roseland is the Roseland Republican County Committee. The committee has two elected members (one female and one male) from every district.

Education

The Roseland School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Lester C. Noecker Elementary School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 855 students and 40.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 21.2:1.

Students in public school for seventh through twelfth grades attend the West Essex Regional School District, a regional school district serving students from four municipalities in western Essex County. Communities served by the district's schools are Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are West Essex Middle School (grades 7-8; 581 students) and West Essex High School (grades 9-12; 1,070 students).

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 24.95 miles (40.15 km) of roadways, of which 14.08 miles (22.66 km) were maintained by the municipality, 8.31 miles (13.37 km) by Essex County and 2.56 miles (4.12 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Interstate 280 passes through the borough, connecting East Hanover Township and Livingston.

Public transportation

NJ Transit offers bus service to Newark on the 71 route.

The Whippany Line of the Morristown & Erie Railway, a small freight line, traverses the township. Established in 1895, the line runs from Morristown and runs through East Hanover Township and Hanover Township to Roseland.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Roseland include: