Middlesex, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Middlesex, New Jersey | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Middlesex |
| Area | |
| - Total | 3.5 sq mi (9.1 km²) |
| - Land | 3.5 sq mi (9.1 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km²) |
| Elevation | 49 ft (15 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 13,717 |
| - Density | 3,921.1/sq mi (1,514.0/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08846 |
| Area code(s) | 732 |
| FIPS code | 34-45900[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0878315[2] |
Middlesex is a Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 13,717.
Middlesex was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1913, from portions of Piscataway Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 6, 1913.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Middlesex is located at (40.574552, -74.501876)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.57%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 3,504 |
|
|
| 1940 | 3,763 | 7.4% | |
| 1950 | 5,943 | 57.9% | |
| 1960 | 10,520 | 77.0% | |
| 1970 | 15,038 | 42.9% | |
| 1980 | 13,480 | -10.4% | |
| 1990 | 13,055 | -3.2% | |
| 2000 | 13,717 | 5.1% | |
| Est. 2006 | 13,746 | [5] | 0.2% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[6] | |||
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 13,717 people, 5,048 households, and 3,740 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,921.1 people per square mile (1,513.2/km²). There were 5,130 housing units at an average density of 1,466.5/sq mi (565.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 87.26% White, 3.36% African American, 0.13% Native American, 4.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.21% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.00% of the population.
There were 5,048 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% 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 3.17.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $60,723, and the median income for a family was $70,343. Males had a median income of $47,446 versus $34,232 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,834. About 2.4% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Middlesex Borough is governed by a Mayor and six Borough Council members. The Mayor is elected to a four-year term; the Council members are elected to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats up for election each year. The Mayor votes only in the event of a tie.
The seven-member governing body is empowered to enact local ordinances, to levy municipal taxes and conduct the affairs of the community. In almost all cases, it can review and approve the actions of other Middlesex Borough, committees and agencies. The Mayor and Borough Council conducts all of its business during monthly meetings open to the public. All Legislative powers of the Borough are exercised by the Mayor and Council. These powers can take the form of a resolution, ordinance or proclamation.
Until his promotion in early 2006, Ron Dobies was the longest-tenured mayor in New Jersey with 26 years of service to 08846.
The current Mayor of Middlesex is Jerry D'Angelo.
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Middlesex is in the Sixth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 22nd Legislative District.[7]
New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District, covering portions of Middlesex County and Monmouth County, is represented by Frank Pallone (D). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 22nd District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nicholas Scutari (D, Linden) and in the Assembly by Jerry Green (D, Plainfield) and Linda Stender (D, Fanwood).[8] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[9]
Middlesex County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis. As of 2008, Middlesex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel (Milltown), Freeholder Deputy Director Stephen J. "Pete" Dalina (Fords), Camille Fernicola (Piscataway), H. James Polos (Highland Park), Ronald Rios (Carteret), Christopher D. Rafano (South River) and Blanquita B. Valenti (New Brunswick).[10]
[edit] Education
The Middlesex Board of Education serves public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are three K-3 elementary schools ( Hazelwood Elementary School, Parker Elementary School and Watchung Elementary School), Von E. Mauger Middle School (grades 4-8) and Middlesex High School for grades 9-12. The district's Superintendent is Dr. Jim Baker.
[edit] History
Middlesex Borough was a portion of Piscataway Township, until 1913 when it was incorporated as a separate entity. In May 1913, Middlesex Borough became a borough through the action of the state legislature and local referendum. George Harris was elected as the first mayor and the first borough council was elected at the same time. Two constables were the law enforcement officers and were soon assisted by five appointed marshals.
In 1905, the Lincoln section of Middlesex Borough organized a volunteer fire company and that set the organization of four other fire companies in the Borough.
There were already a few schools set up before Middlesex became a borough in 1913. The Harris Lane School was a one-room schoolhouse and it was the oldest school in Middlesex County, at one time. The original Pierce School was known as the East Bound Brook School House and The Parker House was also used for education until it was converted into a two-family house. As the Borough grew new schools were constructed to accommodate many more students. Our Lady of Mt. Virgin School was the first parochial school built in 1954.
[edit] Uranium processing and aftermath
The Middlesex Sampling Plant on Mountain Avenue is a 9.6 acre (38,800 m²) site which was initially used to stockpile weapons-grade uranium ore. From 1943 to 1955, under the direction of the Manhattan Project and its successor agency, the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), it was used to crush, dry, screen, weigh, assay, store, package, and ship uranium ore, along with thorium and beryllium ores, for the development of the atomic bomb.
It was later discovered that radioactive waste had been disposed of a half mile away at the Middlesex Municipal Landfill. The site was used from 1955 to 1967 for the sampling and storage of thorium residues, and was decontaminated, certified, and released for unrestricted use in 1967. During the decontamination process, radioactive materials were carried away by wind and rain to the yards of nearby residents.
The facility was used by the United States Marine Corps as a reserve training center from 1969 until 1979 when the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) took over and cleaned up the residential properties. Excavated soil was stored at the site in a specially constructed pile, known as the Vicinity Properties (VP) pile. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) disposed of 33,000 cubic yards (25,000 m³) of contaminated soil from the Middlesex Municipal Landfill pile in 1998 and 35,000 cubic yards (27,000 m³) from the VP pile in 1999.
As of 2007, the USACE is doing ground water testing and has proposed a remedial action plan with the EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Closure of the site is pending, and long-term surveillance and maintenance requirements will be determined once final site conditions are known.[11]
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents include:
- Margaret Bourke-White, one of the most famous photo-journalists of the 20th century. Her childhood home, at 243 Hazelwood Avenue in the Beechwood Heights section of the town, is listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.
- Rocco Rock, professional wrestler, half of The Public Enemy with Johnny Grunge
- Charlie Weis, head coach of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and MHS graduate.[12]
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 170.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Census data for Middlesex borough, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 60. Accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ Elected County Officials, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed February 21, 2007.
- ^ Middlesex Sampling Plant, New Jersey Site, United States Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management. Accessed September 16, 2007.
- ^ Charlie Hustle, New York Post, January 23, 2005. "Weis' approach to coaching began on Princeton Drive in Middlesex."
[edit] External links
- Middlesex Borough website
- Middlesex Borough Public Schools
- Middlesex Board of Education's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Middlesex Board of Education
- Middlesex Borough Fire Department
- Middlesex, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
