South Plainfield, New Jersey


South Plainfield is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 23,385, reflecting an increase of 1,575 from the 21,810 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,321 from the 20,489 counted in the 1990 Census.
South Plainfield was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1926, from portions of Piscataway Township, based on the results of a referendum passed on April 6, 1926. The borough's name derives from Plainfield, which derived its name from a local estate or from its scenic location.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 8.361 square miles, including 8.327 square miles of land and 0.034 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Avon Park, Hadley Airport, Holly Park and Samptown.
The borough is bordered by Piscataway Township on the south and west, Edison Township on the east, both in Middlesex County, and Plainfield on the north and Scotch Plains both in Union County.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $92,263 and the median family income was $98,913. Males had a median income of $61,480 versus $48,639 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,495. About 2.7% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 21,810 people, 7,151 households, and 5,856 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,609.8 people per square mile. There were 7,307 housing units at an average density of 874.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 77.74% White, 8.56% African American, 0.22% Native American, 7.57% Asian, 3.48% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.66% of the population.
There were 7,151 households, out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $67,466, and the median income for a family was $72,745. Males had a median income of $47,465 versus $34,329 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,270. About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

, is a manufacturer of suitcases and bags for travel that was founded in 1975 by Charlie Clifford after serving in Peru with the Peace Corps.
PTC Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development of small molecule, orally administered treatments for orphan diseases.
Jem Records was a record label that existed from 1970 to 1988, at the time principally known as the parent company of Passport Records; The label was resurrected in 2013 as Jem Recordings.

Sports

The Plainfield Curling Club is a curling club that owns and operates the only dedicated curling facility in New Jersey. Established in 1963, the club's two-sheet structure was completed in 1967.

Government

Local government

South Plainfield is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 of 565 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a Mayor and a Borough Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council is comprised of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by South Plainfield is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.
, the Mayor of South Plainfield is Republican Matthew P. Anesh, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022. Members of the South Plainfield Borough Council are Council President Christine Noonan Faustini, Robert A. Bengivenga Jr., Melanie McCann-Mott, Peter D. Smith, Derryck C. White and Joseph Wolak.

Federal, state and county representation

South Plainfield is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 18th state legislative district Prior to the 2010 Census, South Plainfield had been part of the, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 14,119 registered voters in South Plainfield, of which 4,368 were registered as Democrats, 2,235 were registered as Republicans and 7,511 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.9% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 40.9%, and other candidates with 1.2%, among the 9,974 ballots cast by the borough's 14,424 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.4% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.7% and other candidates with 1.0%, among the 10,720 ballots cast by the borough's 14,454 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 49.9% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 49.0% and other candidates with 0.5%, among the 9,803 ballots cast by the borough's 13,191 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.3.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.7% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.2%, and other candidates with 1.1%, among the 6,289 ballots cast by the borough's 14,512 registered voters, for a turnout of 43.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 51.6% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 39.0%, Independent Chris Daggett with 7.6% and other candidates with 0.8%, among the 7,010 ballots cast by the borough's 14,053 registered voters, yielding a 49.9% turnout.

Education

The South Plainfield Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising seven schools, had an enrollment of 3,402 students and 270.2 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.6:1. The schools in the district. are
Franklin Elementary School,
John F. Kennedy Elementary School,
John E. Riley Elementary School,
Roosevelt Elementary School,
Grant School,
South Plainfield Middle School and
South Plainfield High School.
Holy Savior Academy is a Catholic school serving students in preschool through eighth grade that operates under the supervision of Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.
Al-Minhaal Academy is a private Islamic school serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Lincoln Technical Institute's campus in South Plainfield is an accredited, diesel technology school that was established in 1969 as a training center to accommodate the need for diesel mechanics.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Middlesex County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Interstate 287 passes through in the southern area of the borough for almost, including exits 4 and 5. The New Jersey Turnpike is accessible in neighboring Edison Township.
The major county roads that pass through include CR 501 along the southern border with Piscataway Township, CR 529 along the southwestern border with Piscataway and CR 531 along the east side of the borough, from Edison Township to the south to Plainfield to the north.

Public transportation

provided bus service between the borough and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 114 route, to Newark on the 65 route and local service on the 819 line.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with South Plainfield include: