South Plainfield, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 8.361 square miles (21.653 km²), including 8.327 square miles (21.566 km²) of land and 0.034 square miles (0.087 km²) of water (0.40%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Avon Park, Hadley Airport, Holly Park and Samptown.

The borough is bordered by Piscataway Township on the south and west, Edison Township on the east, both in Middlesex County, and Plainfield on the north and Scotch Plains both in Union County.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 23,385 people, 7,876 households, and 6,175 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,808.5 per square mile (1,084.4/km²). The borough contained 8,093 housing units at an average density of 971.9 per square mile (375.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 66.74% (15,607) White, 10.10% (2,361) Black or African American, 0.37% (87) Native American, 14.68% (3,433) Asian, 0.03% (8) Pacific Islander, 4.79% (1,120) from other races, and 3.29% (769) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 13.24% (3,097) of the population.

Out of a total of 7,876 households, 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the borough, 23.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females the census counted 94.4 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 92.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $92,263 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,066) and the median family income was $98,913 (+/- $4,289). Males had a median income of $61,480 (+/- $7,597) versus $48,639 (+/- $4,924) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,495 (+/- $1,546). About 2.7% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 21,810 people, 7,151 households, and 5,856 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,609.8 people per square mile (1,007.3/km²). There were 7,307 housing units at an average density of 874.3 per square mile (337.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.74% White, 8.56% African American, 0.22% Native American, 7.57% Asian, 3.48% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.66% of the population.

There were 7,151 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the borough the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $67,466, and the median income for a family was $72,745. Males had a median income of $47,465 versus $34,329 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,270. About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Tumi Inc., is a manufacturer of suitcases and bags for travel that was founded in 1975 by Charlie Clifford after serving in Peru with the Peace Corps.

PTC Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development of small molecule, orally administered treatments for orphan diseases.

Jem Records (also known as JEM Records) was a record label that existed from 1970 to 1988, at the time principally known as the parent company of Passport Records; The label was resurrected in 2013 as Jem Recordings.

Sports

The Plainfield Curling Club is a curling club that owns and operates the only curling facility in New Jersey. Established in 1963, the club's two-sheet structure was completed in 1967.

Local government

South Plainfield 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 South Plainfield, 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 South Plainfield is Republican Matthew P. Anesh, whose term of office ends December 31, 2018. Members of the South Plainfield Borough Council are Council President Robert A. Bengivenga Jr. (R, 2018), Alex Barletta (R, 2017), Robert "Bobby" Richkus (R, 2016), Raymond Rusnak (R, 2016), Derryck C. White (R, 2017) and Joseph Wolak (R, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

South Plainfield is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 18th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, South Plainfield had been part of the 7th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District is represented by Frank Pallone (D, Long Branch). 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 18th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Patrick J. Diegnan (D, South Plainfield) and in the General Assembly by Robert Karabinchak (D, Edison) and Nancy Pinkin (D, East Brunswick). In May 2016, Diegnan was chosen to fill the vacant seat of Peter J. Barnes III, who left the Senate to become a judge on New Jersey Superior Court, while Karabinchak was chosen to fill Diegnan's vacant Assembly seat. The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Middlesex County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose seven members are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects from among its members a Freeholder Director and Deputy Director. As of 2015, Middlesex County's Freeholders (with party affiliation, term-end year, residence and committee chairmanship listed in parentheses) are Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios (D, term ends December 31, 2015, Carteret; Ex-officio on all committees), Freeholder Deputy Director Carol Barrett Bellante (D, 2017; Monmouth Junction, South Brunswick Township; County Administration), Kenneth Armwood (D, 2016, Piscataway; Business Development and Education), Charles Kenny ( D, 2016, Woodbridge Township; Finance), H. James Polos (D, 2015, Highland Park; Public Safety and Health), Charles E. Tomaro (D, 2017, Edison; Infrastructure Management) and Blanquita B. Valenti (D, 2016, New Brunswick; Community Services). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Elaine M. Flynn (D, Old Bridge Township), Sheriff Mildred S. Scott (D, 2016, Piscataway) and Surrogate Kevin J. Hoagland (D, 2017; New Brunswick).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 14,119 registered voters in South Plainfield, of which 4,368 (30.9%) were registered as Democrats, 2,235 (15.8%) were registered as Republicans and 7,511 (53.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.9% of the vote (5,720 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 40.9% (4,043 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (114 votes), among the 9,974 ballots cast by the borough's 14,424 registered voters (97 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.4% of the vote (5,723 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.7% (4,797 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (110 votes), among the 10,720 ballots cast by the borough's 14,454 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 49.9% of the vote (4,893 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 49.0% (4,808 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (67 votes), among the 9,803 ballots cast by the borough's 13,191 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.3.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.7% of the vote (3,950 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.2% (2,186 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (68 votes), among the 6,289 ballots cast by the borough's 14,512 registered voters (85 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 51.6% of the vote (3,616 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 39.0% (2,736 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.6% (534 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (55 votes), among the 7,010 ballots cast by the borough's 14,053 registered voters, yielding a 49.9% turnout.

Education

The South Plainfield Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's eight schools had an enrollment of 3,638 students and 289.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.59:1. The schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics). are Future Stars Preschool Program (PreK; 46 students), four elementary schools — Franklin Elementary School (grades K-4; 312 students), John F. Kennedy Elementary School (K-4; 281), John E. Riley Elementary School (K-4; 331) and Roosevelt Elementary School (PreK-4; 392) — Grant School (5-6; 544), South Plainfield Middle School (7-8; 554) and South Plainfield High School (9-12; 1,178).

Holy Savior Academy is a Catholic school serving students in preschool through eighth grade that operates under the supervision of Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.

Al-Minhaal Academy is a private Islamic school serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Lincoln Technical Institute's campus in South Plainfield (formerly known as Engine City Technical Institute) is an accredited, diesel technology school that was established in 1969 as a training center to accommodate the need for diesel mechanics.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 108.02 miles (173.84 km) of roadways, of which 96.48 miles (155.27 km) were maintained by the municipality, 9.66 miles (15.55 km) by Middlesex County and 1.88 miles (3.03 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Interstate 287 passes through in the southern area of the borough for almost 2 miles (3.2 km), including exits 4 and 5. The New Jersey Turnpike is accessible in neighboring Edison Township (via I-287).

The major county roads that pass through include CR 501 (New Durham Road) along the southern border with Piscataway Township, CR 529 (Stelton Road) along the southwestern border with Piscataway and CR 531 (Park Avenue) along the east side of the borough, from Edison Township to the south to Plainfield to the north.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provided bus service between the borough and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 114 route, to Newark on the 65 route and local service on the 819 line.

Notable people

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