Edison, New Jersey

Edison Township (usually known as Edison) is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 97,687, making it at the time the fifth largest municipality in New Jersey. As of the U.S. Census 2005 estimate, the population of Edison was 100,499, sixth in the state, and a mere 78 people behind Woodbridge Township, although the 2006 estimate had the township's population down to 99,523, moving back ahead of Woodbridge, which had 99,208 according the 2006 estimate, as the fifth largest municipality in the state.

What is now Edison Township was originally incorporated as Raritan Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1870, from portions of both Piscataway Township and Woodbridge Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Metuchen (March 20, 1900) and Highland Park (March 15 1905). The name was officially changed to Edison Township as of November 10, 1954, based on the results of a referendum passed eight days earlier.

Edison was ranked the 28th most livable small city in America by Money Magazine and the 2nd in New Jersey in 2006 in MONEY Magazine's " Best Places To Live". In 2008, Money magazine ranked Edison 35 out of the top 100 places to live in America. Edison Township was not on the 2007 list because that year's list included only municipalities with a population of 50,000 or less.

In the 2006 survey of America's Safest Cities, the township was ranked 23rd, out of 371 cities included nationwide in the 13th annual Morgan Quitno survey.

History

Early history

Edison was originally part of the pussy crew and still is in New Jersey|Woodbridge Township]] and Piscataway Township when settlement commenced in the late 17th Century.

The town was previously known as "Raritan Township", not be confused with the current-day Raritan Township in Hunterdon County. In 1954, the township's name was changed to honor inventor Thomas A. Edison.

The Edison era

In 1876, Thomas A. Edison (who was sometimes referred to as "the Wizard of Menlo Park") set up his home and research laboratory on the site of an unsuccessful real estate development in Raritan Township called Menlo Park. It was in the Menlo Park Laboratory that Thomas Edison came up with his most famous inventions, including the phonograph and a commercially viable incandescent light bulb filament. Christie Street was the first street in the world to use electric lights for illumination. Edison subsequently moved his home and laboratory to West Orange in 1886.

Modern Edison

Edison is currently one of the fastest growing towns in New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, it was the fifth most-populated municipality in the state, after the cities of Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Elizabeth.

Edison is primarily a middle-class and upper middle-class community with more than 75 ethnic communities represented. Edison has a large Jewish community next to Highland Park, with multiple synagogues located in Edison. Edison also has a growing Indian community and a number of temples serving the religious needs of the community. Reflecting the number of Edison's residents from India and China, the township has sister city arrangements with Shijiazhuang, China, and Baroda, India. There is also a large Muslim population in Edison, with several mosques serving the community.

Geography

Edison is located at (40.538204, -74.378585).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 30.7 square miles (79.5 km²), of which, 30.1 square miles (78.0 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²) of it (1.86%) is water.

Edison entirely surrounds Metuchen borough, which broke away from Raritan Township in 1900. Edison is bounded on the east by Woodbridge, on the south by the Raritan River (across which are Sayreville, East Brunswick Township, and New Brunswick), on the southwest by Highland Park (which also broke away from Edison, in 1905), on the west by Piscataway and South Plainfield, and on the north by Scotch Plains and Clark.

Transportation

Edison is a transportation hub, with an extensive network of highways passing through the township and connecting to major Northeast cities, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Trenton, and others.

Edison Township hosts various roadways. State roads include Route 27, and 440. US Route 1 also passes through the township. Interstate 287 passes through Edison, where it houses its southern end at I-95. The municipality also houses about a 5-mile section of the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95). Exit 10 is located in Edison, featuring a 13-lane toll gate and a “unique” interchange design. When the “dual-dual” setup was created, it first started in Edison Township, and continued north to Exit 14 in Newark. It wasn’t until 1973 that the “dual-dual” was extended south of 10 to Exit 9 in East Brunswick Township (and then extended further south in 1990 to Exit 8A in Monroe Township).

Since the 287 freeway connects to Interstate 87/New York State Thruway, Exit 10 is one of the busiest interchanges to be used by tractor-trailers. I-287 is the only freeway that links the New Jersey Turnpike to the New York State Thruway (since the Garden State Parkway prohibits trucks). Because of I-95’s discontinuity in New Jersey, US 1 serves as a regional artery linking the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 287 to I-95(M) and Interstate 295.

Edison station, located in South Edison, has New Jersey Transit trains to New York City and Trenton via the Northeast Corridor line. However, some commuters in North Edison may actually live closer to, and prefer to use, the Metropark (in neighboring Iselin) or Metuchen stations.

NJ Transit bus service is provided on the 62 route to Newark; on the 801, 804, 805, 810, 813, 814, 819 local routes, and on the 978 and 979 Wheels routes.

Edison also offers a Light Transit bus service to the Edison train station. This bus route services the apartment communities along Plainfield Avenue and other commuters on Ethel Road. The schedule and route map are available here : Edison Light Transit

In addition, China Airlines provides private bus service to John F. Kennedy International Airport from the Kam Man Food Inc. at 511 Old Post Road in Edison to feed its flight to Taipei, Taiwan.

Demographics

Edison is one of the more diverse townships in New Jersey. It and the surrounding communities of Middlesex County are commonly known throughout the state and the New York metro area as being one of the region's main centers of Asian American cultural diversity.

As of the census of 2000, there were 97,687 people, 35,136 households, and 25,895 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,243.0 people per square mile (1,252.2/km²). There were 36,018 housing units at an average density of 1,195.7/sq mi (461.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 59.49% White, 6.89% African American, 0.14% Native American, 29.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.02% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 6.37% of the population.

There were 35,136 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the township the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the township was $76,604, and the median income for a family was $91,848. Males had a median income of $53,303 versus $36,829 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,148. About 3.3% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

As part of the 2000 Census, 17.75% of Edison residents identified themselves as being Indian American. This was the highest percentage of Indian American people of any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

Government

Edison's politics tend to lean towards the Democratic Party. John Kerry carried the township over George W. Bush in the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election.

Local government

Edison Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system with a strong Mayor-Council form of government, and is governed by a mayor and a seven-member Township Council. Members of the council are elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three or four seats coming up for election every other year.

The current Mayor of Edison is Jun Choi. Members of the Municipal Council are Council President Robert Diehl (2009), Council Vice President Wayne Mascola (2011), AnnMarie Griffin-Ussak (2011), Anthony Massaro (2009), Melissa Perilstein (2011), Sudhanshu Prasad (2011) and Antonia "Toni" Ricigliano (2009).

Election 2005

Running on a good government platform and a call to reform the Democratic Party, Jun Choi won the June 2005 primary by a 56-44% margin, defeating longtime incumbent Mayor George A. Spadoro. This was the first time in Edison history that a challenger won the Democratic primary. Mayor Choi won endorsements from mainstream Democratic leaders including Bill Bradley, for whom he worked on the 2000 presidential campaign, and was unexpectedly endorsed by a number of traditionally candidate- neutral unions in Edison.

In the ensuing general election, Choi did not face a Republican candidate, but instead faced a former Democrat turned Independent, William (Bill) Stephens.

An American Prospect article details aspects that Choi brought together in his 2005 mayoral campaign. They include 1) attracting new voters into the process, 2) a good government message, 3) anti-Wal-Mart or economic justice theme and 4) an effective Internet-based progressive mobilization.

On Election Day, November 8 2005, Jun Choi declared victory, leading in unofficial results with a vote of 12,126 to 11,935. However, due to the small margin of victory, candidate William Stephens pursued a recount and subsequently, an election contest, both without success.

On January 1 2006, at age 34, Mayor Choi was sworn-in by Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine as the youngest Mayor in Edison history.

Federal, state, and county representation

Edison is split between the Sixth and Seventh Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 18th Legislative District.

Politics

Recent politics in Edison have concerned plans for zoning the township to facilitate the creation of "walkable" communities that will attract businesses, while still maintaining open spaces and parks and easy access to commuter transit. This strategy is meant to encourage "Smart Growth.

Wal-Mart Controversy

Politics in Edison since the 2005 mayoral election have been polarized by an attempt by retail giant Wal-Mart to open a store in central Edison near the junction of Interstate 287 and New Jersey Route 27. One main aspect of Jun Choi's 2005 mayoral campaign was his opposition to the construction of a Wal-Mart in Edison; Choi vowed to fight Walmart from constructing their planned store, and over 100 volunteers joined his cause. However, Wal-Mart took legal action against Choi, and a Superior Court of New Jersey ruled against Choi, ordering the city to grant Wal-Mart a building permit. Construction on the Wal-Mart continues as of September 2007. However, Choi will continue to oppose the project. The store is scheduled to open at the end of October in 2008.

Education

Public schools

Based on data from 2004-2005, New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked J.P. Stevens High School 82 out of 316 public high schools surveyed in New Jersey, with Edison High School ranked 155. Edison has 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, and two high schools that are part of the Edison Township Public Schools.

The two public high schools separate the South and North ends of Edison. In the Edison High School zone to the south, there are six K - 5 elementary schools: Benjamin Franklin Elementary, James Monroe Elementary, John Marshall Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Lindeneau Elementary and Washington Elementary John Marshall, Lindeneau, and Washington graduates attend Thomas Jefferson Middle School for grades 6 - 8. James Monroe, Benjamin Franklin, and Lincoln graduates go to Herbert Hoover Middle School for grades 6 - 8. Thomas Jefferson and Herbert Hoover graduates go to Edison High School, for grades 9-12.

In the J.P. Stevens High School zone there are five K-5 elementary schools. They are James Madison Primary School (K-2), who then move on to James Madison Intermediate School for grades 3-5; Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Menlo Park Elementary and Woodbrook Elementary. Menlo Park and Woodbrook graduates go to Woodrow Wilson Middle School for grades 6-8. James Madison Intermediate and MLK Jr. graduates go to John Adams Middle School for grades 6-8. Woodrow Wilson Middle School and John Adams Middle School graduates move on to J.P. Stevens High School for grades 9-12.

Middlesex County College

Middlesex County College (or MCC) is a public, two-year community college located in Edison at the intersection of Woodbridge Avenue and Mill Road.

Other Schools/ Private Schools

Middlesex County College is also home to the Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Technologies, an engineering-based high school, which is part of the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High Schools. The high school is free for all Middlesex County residents, but admission is based on a test, past grades, and other academic and extracurricular activities. About 140 students from around the county attend the Academy.

There are many private schools in Edison, including the Wardlaw-Hartridge School, Bishop George Ahr High School, Rabbi Jacob Joseph Yeshiva School, Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva, St. Helena School, St. Matthew School, Lakeview School and Our Lady Of Peace School. Additionally, the private for-profit technical school Lincoln Tech (formerly the Cittone Institute) has a campus on Oak Tree Road in Edison.

In Edison the sizable Asian/Chinese population had pushed for years to establish a Chinese School where students could learn the Chinese language. In 1998, Huaxia Edison Chinese School (which teaches Simplified Chinese) was established in Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Huaxia currently resides in Edison High School. However, many families from Taiwan send their children to Edison Chinese School, located at John Adams Middle School, which teaches Traditional Chinese.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Edison Township include:

• Peter J. Barnes III (born 1956), represents the 18th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly, and served on the Edison Township Council from 1996 to 2007.
• David Bryan (born 1962), keyboardist, founding member of Bon Jovi.
• Al Chez, trumpet player for the Late Show with David Letterman.
• Jun Choi, current Mayor of Edison
• Junot Díaz, writer
• Thomas Edison (1847-1931), inventor, the township's namesake
• Patrick McDonnell, cartoonist, creator Mutts comics.
• Aalok Mehta, actor, composer
• Vincent Minervino, musician (Roses Are Red (band))
• Brittany Murphy (born 1977), actress.
• Chuck Garey, basketball player, Colgate University and briefly for the San Antonio Spurs
• Lewis Nixon (1918-1995), U.S. Army intelligence officer, made famous by the miniseries Band of Brothers.
• Jim Norton, comedian, actor, radio personality on the Opie and Anthony Show on XM Satellite Radio
• Mark L. Polansky, NASA astronaut.
• David Rosenthal, keyboardist for Billy Joel
• Susan Sarandon (born 1946), actress.
• Chris Snee (born 1982), guard for the New York Giants.
• George A. Spadoro, former Mayor, served in the New Jersey General Assembly.
• Joel Stein (born 1971), Los Angeles Times columnist.
• Tammy Trenta, contestant on The Apprentice 5
• Mike Vallely (born 1970), professional skateboarder.
• Darrin Winston (1966-2008), Major League Baseball player who played two seasons in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Jeremy Zuttah (born 1986), offensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Notable places

• Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) has a Hindu temple on Woodbridge Avenue
• Camp Kilmer, a World War II era army post, was partially located in what is now Edison.
• The Clara Barton downtown area.
• Dismal Swamp, preserved wetlands area and home to the Triple C Ranch educational center
• Durham Woods, a complex of several apartment buildings and scene of the Durham Woods Fire in 1994
• Edison Landfill, closed landfill site undergoing environmental cleanup
• Edison has three public libraries: the Main Library is on Plainfield Avenue in South Edison, near Edison station; North Edison Branch is on Grove Avenue, and the Clara Barton Branch is in the Clara Barton downtown area, on Hoover Avenue. Library service also includes a popular Bookmobile.
• The Edison Municipal Complex, located off Route 27 next to the Edison Square/Clarion Hotel office park.
• Edison Station in south Edison
• Ford Motor Company had a plant here, the Ford Assembly Plant on U.S. Route 1, assembling the Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series trucks. The plant closed in 2004, with about 1,420 workers losing their jobs. Hartz Mountain purchased the property and is proposing a mixed-use retail center to begin construction in 2007. Township officials have negotiated no housing on the site, to be called "Edison Towne Square." Instead, it is hoped that a community center can be built at no cost to taxpayers alongside the retail and commercial space.
• John F. Kennedy Hospital, located on James Street off Parsonage Road.
• ILR Landfill, closed landfill site owned by Industrial Land Reclaiming (ILR), undergoing environmental cleanup
• Inman Sports Club, Located off Inman Avenue. Some of the best in the world make appearances here, for the wrestling promotion, Ring of Honor
• Jewish Community Center/YMCA or Community Campus located off Oak Tree Road.
• Nixon Park, a large neighborhood surrounding Lincoln School. A "cookie-cutter" development of 3-bedroom homes built in the very early 1950s, homes there were largely purchased by WWII veterans using the GI Bill. Constructed at the same time, and adjoining Nixon Park, were the Lincoln Village, Vineyard Village and Washington Park developments. Children from Lincoln and Vineyard Villages attended Lincoln School. Washington Park surrounded both the Washington School and the Saint Matthew's Catholic School (grades 1-8).
• Kin-Buc Landfill, Former Landfill and Superfund site where 70 million gallons of hazardous waste was dumped.
• Menlo Park Mall, one of the more popular malls in New Jersey, located at the intersection of Route 1 and Parsonage Road.
• Oak Tree Pond, site of a minor battle of the American Revolutionary War and whose conversion into a park ended a real estate development controversy
• Oak Tree Road in Edison and Iselin is known for its large concentration of Indian stores and restaurants.
• Raritan Center, a major industrial park anchored by the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center
• Roosevelt Hospital, a hospice located just East of Roosevelt Park.
• Roosevelt Park, located between Parsonage Road and Route 1, west of the Mall.
• St. Helena Roman Catholic Church, off New Dover Road.
• The Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum, in Menlo Park.
• Woodbrook Corners, a residential area near Woodrow Wilson Middle School and Woodbrook Elementary School
• Edison Chamber of Commerce

Trivia

Edison is the first level in the video game Tony Hawk's Underground.

References

External links

Government

• Edison's official webpage

News/Business

• Edison Chamber of Commerce
• Edison-Metuchen Sentinel community newspaper
• Oak Tree Road (Edison, NJ) Asian Indian Community Guide

Educational

• Bishop George Ahr High School website
• Edison Public Library
• Edison Township Public Schools
• J.P. Stevens High School website
• Metuchen-Edison Historical Society website
• National Center for Education Statistics data for the Edison Township Public Schools
• Thomas Edison/Menlo Park page
• The Wardlaw-Hartridge School website
• The Music and Dance School of Edison website