Scotch Plains, New Jersey
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| Scotch Plains, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Union |
| Incorporated | March 6, 1878 as Fanwood Township |
| Renamed | March 29, 1917 as Scotch Plains |
| Government | |
| - Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Martin L. Marks |
| - Deputy Mayor | Paulette Coronato |
| Area | |
| - Total | 9.1 sq mi (23.6 km²) |
| - Land | 9.1 sq mi (23.5 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 217 ft (66 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 23,246 |
| - Density | 2,503.3/sq mi (966.5/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07076 |
| Area code(s) | 908 |
| FIPS code | 34-66060[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882217[4] |
| Website: http://www.scotchplainsnj.com/ | |
Scotch Plains is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the township population was 22,732.
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[edit] History
The area known a Scotch Plains was first settled by Europeans in 1684 and served as a stop on the stage coach line between New York and Philadelphia. The Ash Swamp in Scotch Plains was the scene of a key action in the Battle of Short Hills, on June 26, 1777, which included skirmishes as Washington's forces moved along Rahway Road in Scotch Plains toward the Watchung Mountains. Scotch Plains is home to the house of Aunt Betty Frazee, whose retort to Lord Cornwallis led the British to find their bread from friendlier bakers in the same Battle.
What is now Scotch Plains was originally incorporated as Fanwood Township on March 6, 1878, by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature from portions of Plainfield Township and Westfield Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Fanwood Borough on October 2, 1895. Fanwood Township was renamed to Scotch Plains as of March 29, 1917, based on the results of a referendum held that same day.[5]
Scotch Plains was home to the Shady Rest Country Club, the nations first African-American country club, and its pro, John Shippen, the first African-American golf professional, who led the 1892 US Open in the final round before finishing 5th. The Shady Rest clubhouse hosted Cab Calloway and other greats as a local center for African-American culture in the 1920's and 1930s. It is preserved today as the Scotch Hills Municipal course.
[edit] Geography
Scotch Plains is located at (40.638252, -74.373914)[6].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 9.1 square miles (23.5 km²), of which, 9.1 square miles (23.5 km²) of it is land and 0.11% is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 4,186 |
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| 1940 | 4,993 | 19.3% | |
| 1950 | 9,069 | 81.6% | |
| 1960 | 18,491 | 103.9% | |
| 1970 | 22,279 | 20.5% | |
| 1980 | 20,774 | −6.8% | |
| 1990 | 21,160 | 1.9% | |
| 2000 | 22,732 | 7.4% | |
| Est. 2006 | 23,246 | [2] | 2.3% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[7] | |||
According to the census[3] of 2000, there were 22,732 people, 8,349 households, and 6,295 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,503.3 people per square mile (966.6/km²). There were 8,479 housing units at an average density of 933.7/sq mi (360.5/km²). The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.16.
The racial composition of the township:
- 78.88% White
- 11.30% African American
- 7.25% Asian
- 3.94% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
- 0.95% from other races
- 0.09% Native American
- 0.01% Pacific Islander
- 1.52% from two or more races
The median income for a household in the township was $81,599, and the median income for a family was $96,238. The per capita income for the township was $39,913. Males had a median income of $63,648 versus $43,714 for females. About 2.0% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The Mayor of Scotch Plains is Martin L. Marks. The Deputy Mayor is Paulette Coronato. Council Members are Kevin Glover, Nancy Malool and Jeffrey Strauss.[8]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Scotch Plains is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 22nd Legislative District.[9]
New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District, covering portions of Hunterdon County, Middlesex County, Somerset County and Union County, is represented by Mike Ferguson (R). 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).[10] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[11]
Union County is governed by a nine-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis. As of the January 2008 reorganization, Union County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chairman Angel G. Estrada (Elizabeth), Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella (Roselle Park), Chester Holmes (Rahway), Bette Jane Kowalski (Cranford), Rick Proctor (Rahway), Deborah P. Scanlon (Union), Daniel P. Sullivan (Elizabeth), Rayland Van Blake (Plainfield) and Nancy Ward (Linden).[12]
Union County Freeholders meet publicly on a monthly basis. Citizens have the ability to provide feedback and comment on issues that concern them.
[edit] Education
All of the schools of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District are located in Scotch Plains. Schools in the district (with 2003-04 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are:
Elementary Schools
- Howard B. Brunner Elementary School (403 students)
- J. Ackerman Coles School (511 students)
- Evergreen School (292 students)
- William J. McGinn School (457 students)
- School One (335 students)
Middle Schools
- Park Middle School (780 students)
- Terrill Middle School (775 students)
High School
- Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (1,352 students)
Students from School One, Evergreen and Brunner pool into Park Middle School, whereas students from Coles and McGinn pool into Terrill. School One is the only elementary school that teaches English as a second language.
The Union County Vocational Technical Schools includes the Union County Magnet High School, the Academy for Information Technology, the Union County Academy for Allied Health Sciences, and the Vocational-Technical School. The grouping of different schools is for vocational as well as gifted students, publicly funded by the combined taxes of Union County municipalities.
Union Catholic Regional High School (often abbreviated UC), a private Roman Catholic school, brings in students from the far reaches of Union County and even some parts of Essex and Middlesex counties. A large number of students come from the Woodbridge/Colonia area, where the school had erected a billboard advertisement, now removed.
Union County College has a facility in Scotch Plains.
There is also a Catholic school, St. Bartholomew Academy, which offers education from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade.
[edit] Transportation
Scotch Plains is bisected by NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, formerly the mainline of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. A passenger station is located in Fanwood. NJ Transit also provides bus service to New York City and New Jersey points. Another rail line, the Lehigh Valley Line, carries freight trains through the southernmost tip of the township.
Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 14 miles east of Scotch Plains.
[edit] Neighborhoods
The following neighborhoods exist in Scotch Plains
Sterling Chase
- New development located off Martine Avenue by Union Catholic.
- Erected in the early 1990's, it used to be a cow farm.[citation needed]
- It has its own tennis courts for residents.
Berwyck Chase
- Located behind Coles School, it was built by the same development company that built Stirling Chase to be a more affordable place to live than Stirling.
- It has its own swimming pool and two tennis courts for residents.
Canturbury
- A small and quiet neighborhood located north of Route 22 completely isolated from the rest of Scotch Plains.
Goodman's Crossing
- Complex of townhouses between Scotch Plains and Clark.
- Robinson's Creek runs through it and has been tested by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and confirmed to be toxic. [1]
Crestwood
- Built in the 1940's, a development of several small homes on the border of Westfield, many of which have been knocked down with newer and larger homes rebuilt.
The Reserve
- K. Hovnanian recently built townhomes ranging from 2,000-2,500 square feet in size, located behind US 22, originally selling for up to $500,000.
[edit] Points of interest
- Hillside Cemetery is the burial site of Dudley Moore and Senator James Edgar Martine
- Bowcraft Amusement Park is an amusement park located in Scotch Plains on Route 22 East.
- John's Meat Market is the site of Mr. T's reality TV show for TV Land.[13]
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former resident of Scotch Plains include:
- Hank Beenders (1916-2003), early professional basketball player.[14]
- Judy Blume, (1938-), lived in Scotch Plains while writing the classic "Fudge" series of children's books.[15]
- Derrick Caracter (1988-) power forward/center for the Louisville Cardinals basketball team.[16]
- Donald DiFrancesco (1944-), former Governor of New Jersey and Senate President.[17]
- Pat DiNizio (1955-), singer/songwriter for The Smithereens.[18]
- John Gano (1727-1804), chaplain who baptized George Washington
- Scott Goldblatt (1979-), swimmer who won a Gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and a Silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, with both medals earned in the 4 x 200 m Freestyle Relay.[19]
- Jeffrey Hammonds (1971-), Stanford University baseball star and Olympian, one all star appearance in 13 MLB seasons.[20]
- Jerome Hines (1921-2003), opera singer.[21]
- Nathan Jones (1982-), Rutgers Academic All-American and NFL Cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys.[22]
- Renaldo Nehemiah (1959-), track star and NFL wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers.[23]
- Thomas W. Osborn (1833-1898), Union Army officer who represented Florida in the United States Senate.[24]
- Cynthia Sayer, jazz banjoist.[25]
- Joe Scarpati (1943-), holder for Tom Dempsey's record 63 yard field goal in 1970.[26]
- Marc Shaiman (1959-), Music & Lyrics Composer, Hairspray and Music Composer for South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.[27]
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Scotch Plains, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Scotch Plains township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 18, 2007.
- ^ 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. 238 re Fanwood Township. p. 241 re Scotch Plains.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Township Officials, Scotch Plains Township. Accessed May 4, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 63. 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.
- ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed February 20, 2008.
- ^ SP’s John’s Meat Market is Prime Location for New Reality TV Show, Westfield Leader, September 14, 2006.
- ^ "Former Philadelphia Warriors player Hank Beenders dies at 87", Burlington County Times, October 27, 2003. "born in Haarlem, Holland, he lived in Brooklyn, and in Scotch Plains before moving to Bridgewater 36 years ago."
- ^ Goldblatt, Jennifer. "Blume's Day", The New York Times, November 14, 2004. Accessed February 5, 2008. "It wasn't until after Ms. Blume had gotten her bachelor's degree in education from New York University in 1961, was married and raising her son, Larry, and her daughter, Randy, and living in Plainfield and later Scotch Plains, that she started to commit her stories and characters to paper, cramming writing sessions in while the children were at preschool and at play."
- ^ Goodman, Jeff. "Heralded recruit struggles with expectations", USA Today, November 16, 2005. Accessed November 30, 2007.
- ^ New Jersey Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco, National Governors Association, accessed May 4, 2007. "Donald T. DiFrancesco was born in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. He graduated from Penn State University in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in business."
- ^ Cahillane, Kevin. "Not Fade Away: The Smithereens' Monument to Persistence", The New York Times, October 10, 2004. Accessed November 3, 2007. "The band formed in 1980 when three Carteret High School graduates (class of 1975) and childhood friends (Mr. Babjak, Dennis Diken on drums and Mike Mesaros on bass) met Pat DiNizio, a Scotch Plains singer-songwriter-garbage man."
- ^ "Swimmer ready for the race of his life", The Star-Ledger, September 17, 2000. "Name: Scott Goldblatt Age: 21 Hometown: Summit Residence: Scotch Plains, until going away to college in Austin, Texas. Education: He attended Mcginn Elementary School, Coles Elementary School and Terrill Middle School in Scotch Plains and then the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, graduating in 1997."
- ^ "BASEBALL; Rookie Tips His Nervousness"m The New York Times, June 26, 1993. Accessed May 4, 2007. "'I've never been that nervous before in my life,' said the 22-year-old center fielder, who played at Stanford and is from Scotch Plains, N.J. 'I would have swung at anything on that pitch. I'm just happy it dropped in. After that hit, it just carried on from there.'"
- ^ Portantiere, Michael. "Opera and Musical Theater Star Jerome Hines Dies at 81", Theatermania.com, February 5, 2003. Accessed July 15, 2007. "A resident of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Hines appeared frequently at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn in recent years."
- ^ Nathan Jones prospect profile, NFL.com. Accessed July 15, 2007. Academic All-American at Rutgers "Education major … Born June 15, 1982 … Resides in Scotch Plains, N.J."
- ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Nehemiah Wins One", The New York Times, November 10, 1982. Accessed January 3, 2008.
- ^ Thomas W. Osborn, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed January 3, 2008.
- ^ Kanzler, George. "Cynthia Sayer brings friends and banjo to Zinno.", The Star-Ledger, April 24, 1998, p. 32. "When she was growing up in Scotch Plains in the '60s and '70s, Cynthia Sayer wanted to be a big- band drummer."
- ^ "Honoring Former High School Greats", The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood, November 13, 1997. "Mayor Connelly presented a plaque to Mr. Scarpati, who lettered in football, basketball and track for the Raiders and served as the captain of the football team in 1959. Mr. Scarpati went on to play as a defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints professional football teams, and was the holder of the record-setting 63-yard field goal kicked by Tom Dempsey in 1970 during the game between the Saints and the Detroit Lions."
- ^ Callahan , Michael with Chmiel, David; Miller, Jen A.; and Weiss, Jennifer. "Best of Jersey", New Jersey Monthly, January 2007. Accessed May 18, 2007. "COMPOSER Scotch Plains native Marc Shaiman, who has won an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony (the latter for the score to the Broadway smash Hairspray), crafts melodies you hum long after you leave the theater."
[edit] External links
- Scotch Plains website
- Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District
- Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District
- Union Catholic Website
- Scotch Plains Yahoo Group
- Scotch Plains, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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