Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, it has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,530 people, 5,520 households, and 3,786 families. The population density was 3,935.6 people per square mile (1,519.6/km²). There were 5,641 housing units at an average density of 1,343.1/sq mi (518.6/km²). The racial makeup of the population was 89.69% White, 3.00% African American, 0.13% Native American, 3.77% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.97% of the population. There were 5,520 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.05.

The population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 17.6% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household was $82,847, and the median income for a family was $101,798. Males had a median income of $62,303 versus $42,097 for females. The per capita income was $38,416. About 2.0% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

History

During a reorganization of Morris County in 1806, Chatham Township was formed to include the villages of the current Madison, Chatham, and Florham Park as well as the lands still governed by the current Chatham Township, and thus the governmental division of the village was ended. In 1834, the name of the village was changed to Madison. On December 27, 1889, based on the results of a referendum passed on December 24, 1889, the village seceded from Chatham Township and adopted the borough form of government in order to develop a local water supply system for its population of 3,250. Madison annexed additional portions of Chatham Township in 1891, and each year from 1894-1898, followed by an exchange of land in 1899 with Chatham Township.

Madison's growth accelerated after the Civil War. The railroad provided good transportation for its farm produce. Later, the railroad made possible the establishment of a flourishing rose growing industry, still commemorated in Madison's nickname, The Rose City. The Morris and Essex Lines became one of America's first commuter railroads, attracting well-to-do families and contributing to the development of "Millionaire's Row," which stretched from downtown Madison to downtown Morristown. One of the first houses to be beat on "Millionaire's Row was the Ross Estate.

The rose industry and the large estates in the area attracted working class people of all kinds. As a result, Madison very early developed a diverse population, both in terms of socio-economic status and ethnic background. The original settlers were of British stock; French settlers came after the American Revolution; African Americans have been members of the community from early in the 19th century; Irish came in the mid-19th century; and then Germans and Italians around the turn of the 20th century. To this day there is a substantial population of Italian descent in Madison. Today Madison remains a diverse community, with many of the more recent newcomers arriving from Central and South America, and from Asia.

Government

Local government

Madison is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. 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.

The Mayor of Madison is Mary-Anna Holden (term ends December 31, 2011; in office since January 1, 2008). Members of the borough council are Council President Robert H. Conley (ends 2008; in office since July 6, 2005), Astri J. Baillie (ends 2010; since 2002), John M. Elias (ends 2009; since 2004), Jeannie Tsukamoto (ends 2010; since 2008), Carmela Vitale (ends 2008; since 2003), and Vincent Esposito (ends 2008, appointed to fill vacancy, February, 2008).

Federal, state and county representation

Education

Public schools

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell, actress Janeane Garofalo and Armor for Sleep bassist Anthony Dilonno are notable Madison High alumni.

Private schools

The Language Workshop For Children - French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese classes for children and toddlers, 6 months to 9 years old The LWFC Website

Higher education

A portion of Fairleigh Dickinson University's College at Florham is located in Madison on the former estate of Florence Vanderbilt and Hamilton Twombly.

In 1967 the trustees of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, UMDNJ, had wanted to build a consolidated school on a 150-acre (607,000 m²) estate in Madison. Hitherto, UMDNJ's medical facilities were in Newark, and its dental facilities were in Jersey City. Newark, already reeling from industrial job losses, made a desperate offer to compete with the bucolic Morris County suburb. Mayor Addonizio, offered to condemn and raze 150 acres (607,000 m²) of the densely populated Central Ward of Newark. After the 1967 Newark riots, the decision was made for the university to remain in Newark and to abandon plans to move to Madison.

Saint Elizabeth's College, a female only school, is also located in Madison.

Transportation

Business

Giralda Farms, a planned office development, occupies 175 acres (0.7 km²) of the former Geraldine R. Dodge estate in Madison. Five of a possible seven projects have been completed. These include the corporate headquarters of Atlantic Mutual Insurance, Maersk Lines, Quest Diagnostics, and Wyeth (formerly called American Home Products), and the offices of Schering-Plough. Development regulations for the former estate require that 85% of the land be maintained as open space with almost all vehicle parking underground.

Sister City

Points of interest

• Drew University
• Florence and Robert Zuck Arboretum
• Museum of Early Trades and Crafts
• Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Town Hall

Film and television

• Episodes of the television series, The Sopranos, were filmed in Madison. A scene was filmed on the Drew University campus. Another scene was filmed at Rod's Steak House, just outside the borough limits.
• Portions of A Beautiful Mind were filmed at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
• Madison is the setting of the 2005 film, Guess Who starring Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher. The train station and the municipal building are backdrops to this movie. An entire panorama of the town is shown during the final credits.
• Hartley Dodge Memorial (Borough Hall) appears in a scene of The World According to Garp starring Glenn Close and Robin Williams.
• Scenes from Rich and Famous (1981), George Cukor's final film, were shot on Lincoln Place, and show the Madison Theatre and the train station as backdrops.
• Scenes from The Family Stone (2005) were shot downtown at the intersection of Main Street and Waverly Place and Drew University. Despite the fact that the fictional town is supposed to be in New England, one can clearly see a NJ Transit train crossing through Waverly Place in one of the scenes.
• Robert Ludlum's novel The Bourne Identity mentions "a private airfield in Madison, New Jersey". The 2002 film version does not include this reference.

Notable residents

• Andy Breckman (1955-), creator and producer of television series Monk, former Saturday Night Live writer, radio personality.
• Tucker Carlson (1969-), pundit who currently hosts Tucker, a national television news show on MSNBC.
• Janeane Garofalo (1964-), actor, comedian, author and activist moved to Madison at age nine, where she remained until she graduated high school.
• Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria (1933-), daughter of Tsar Boris III and Tsaritsa Ioanna of Bulgaria and the sister of HM Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria, the deposed monarch.
• Don Newcombe (1926-), former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers (1949-51 and 1954-58), Cincinnati Reds (1958-60) and Cleveland Indians (1960).
• LauRenn Dumont- Globe trotting Femme fatale who bears a strike resemblance to Jenna Elfman
• Charles H. Totty (1873-1939), horticulturalist.

References

External links

• Madison Community Website
• Madison Borough website
• Madison Public Schools
• Data for the Madison Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• The Madison Eagle (local newspaper)
• The Daily Record (regional newspaper)
• Morris County map of its municipalities