Woodbridge Township, New Jersey Totally Explained

Everything about Woodbridge New Jersey totally explained

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,

Geography

Woodbridge Township is located at (40.557104, -74.283162).
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's 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're 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

As of the census 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.
   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.) 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.
The Mayor of Woodbridge Township is John E. McCormac, who was elected on November 7, 2006 and sworn in on November 14, 2006. McCormac replaced Frank G. Pelzman, who was the mayor until his death on June 29, 2006. Mayoris a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, 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 that'll affect Woodbridge Township. Members of the Township Council are:

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.

Education

The Woodbridge Township School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district's 16 elementary schools ( Mawbey St. School #1

, Avenel St. School #4&5

, Port Reading School #9

, Ross St. School #11

, Ford Ave. School #14

, Indiana Ave. School #18

, Menlo Park Terrace #19

, Claremont Ave School #20

, Oak Ridge Heights School #21

, Lynn Crest School #22

, Kennedy Park School #24

, Lafayette Estates School #25

, Robert Mascenik School #26

, Pennsylvania Ave School #27

and 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 ( Avenel Middle School

, Colonia Middle School

, Fords Middle School

, Iselin Middle School

and 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.

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. The Thomas Edison service area is located between Interchanges 11 and 12 southbound at milepost 92.9. 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.

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.

Kyle Johnson (1978-), fullback with the Denver Broncos from class of 1996.

John McCormac, former New Jersey Treasurer and Mayor of Woodbridge Township.

Jim McGreevey (1957-), former Woodbridge mayor and Governor of New Jersey.

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.

Bret Schundler (1959-), mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey.

Joseph Vitale (1954-), State Senator and former mayor.Further Information

Get more info on 'Woodbridge New Jersey'.

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