Old Bridge 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 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). On November 5, 1975, voters approved a referendum, by a 7,150-4,888 margin changing the township's name to Old Bridge Township. The township's name was changed to avoid confusion with the borough of Madison in Morris County. Old Bridge Township has consistently been a contender for the best places to live in the United States by Money Magazine.

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. 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. 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.

Demographics

As of the census 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, 5.30% African American, 0.16% Native American, 10.82% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.87% from other races, and 2.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.57% of the population.

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 $77,331 and $87,049 respectively as of the 2006 estimate.) 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.

Government

Local government

Old Bridge Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.

The Mayor of Old Bridge Township is Mayor James T. Phillips. 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:

• Robert Volkert - Representing Ward 1
• William Baker, 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

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.

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) 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).

Transportation

Old Bridge houses an interchange for the Garden State Parkway, Interchange 120. The parkway gives access to Route 440 (which becomes Interstate 287)giving access Staten Island and Long Island , New York points, and Interstate 95/New Jersey Turnpike. 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.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Old Bridge Township include:

• Josh Ansley, bassist for the alternative metal band, Hurt.
• T. Frank Appleby (1864-1924), represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1921 to 1923.
• Jake Cherry (born 1996), actor who appeared in Night at the Museum.
• Colleen Fitzpatrick (born 1969 or 1970), a pop music artist, dancer and actress, better known by her stage name, Vitamin C.
• Ken Leung (born 1970), actor.
• Bryant McCombs (born 1987), holds the Junior National Record for the Indoor 400m (47.37)
• Brian O'Halloran (born 1969), actor. Appeared in Clerks and Clerks 2.
• Tab Ramos (born 1966), retired soccer midfielder.
• William H. Sutphin (1887-1972) represented from 1931-1943.
• Johny Zazula, founder of Megaforce Records which was the label that launched Metallica.

References

External links

• Old Bridge Township Official Website
• Old Bridge Township Public Schools
• Data for the Old Bridge Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics