Edison Township is a township located in Middlesex County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 97,687. Edison Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.

The town was previously known as Raritan Township. It should not be confused with the current Raritan Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. In 1954 the town's name was changed to honor inventor Thomas A. Edison.

In 1876 Thomas A. Edison 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 electric light. Christie Street was the first street to use electric lights for illumination. Thomas A. Edison subsequently moved his lab to West Orange, New Jersey in 1883.

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, and New Brunswick), on the southwest by Highland Park, on the west by Piscataway and South Plainfield, and on the north by Scotch Plains and Clark.

Edison is one of the fastest growing towns in New Jersey. It is the sixth largest town the state. The Census Bureau estimated that the towns population is now over 100,000, making it one of six towns in New Jersey with a population over 100,000. Not far away from it is Woodbridge, with a slightly larger population, the 5th largest town in New Jersey.

Features

The town of Edison is home to the Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum.

Oak Tree Road in Edison and Iselin, New Jersey is known for its large concentration of South Asian stores and restaurants. Route 27 has a growing Chinese-American business district.

Ford Motor Company had a plant here, the Ford Assembly Plant on US 1, assembling the Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series trucks. The plant closed in 2003, with about 1420 workers losing their jobs. A developer has been exploring the possibility of construction on the site. Proponents of site construction claim that the planned shopping mall and condo/townhouse residential housing would create more jobs and business opportunities. Opponents have criticized the plan as generating additional traffic in an already dense area.

Edison Train Station has New Jersey Transit and Amtrak train to New York City, about only 45 minutes, and some condo and apartment complex such as Edison Hollow South , Blueberry Village are a few blocks from Edison Train Station that have attracted many New Yorker moving to the area. As more population moved in to the area, the 350 parking lots are no longer enough, and the waiting list for this $90 quarterly parking permit takes 7 to 10 year waiting list. In 2005, the township announced to build a parking deck with 800 more parking lots by September 2005 that would make the parking much easier.

Geography

Edison is located at 40°32'18" North, 74°22'43" West (40.538204, -74.378585).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 79.5 km² (30.7 mi²). 78.0 km² (30.1 mi²) of it is land and 1.5 km² (0.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.86% water.

Demographics

Like all large municipalities in New Jersey, Edison is a diverse town, but probably the most predomenantly white of all of New Jersey's large cities. Although the town, at roughly 60% White, is a mostly Caucasian town, it is home to a large Asian-American minority, who make up roughly 30% of the population. It is also home to considerably sized minorities of African-Americans and Hispanics, both of which make up roughly 7 (black) and 6 (hispanic) percent of the population.

As of the census² of 2000, there are 97,687 people, 35,136 households, and 25,895 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 1,252.2/km² (3,243.0/mi²). There are 36,018 housing units at an average density of 461.7/km² (1,195.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 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. 6.37% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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

In the CDP the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP is $69,746, and the median income for a family is $77,976. Males have a median income of $53,303 versus $36,829 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $30,148. 4.8% of the population and 3.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.3% of those under the age of 18 and 6.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Education

Despite what one may assume due to Edison's high population, it has one of the best public school systems in New Jersey. Many of its schools have been ranked among to top 100 Elementary, Middle, and High Schools in New Jersey.

External links

• Town of Edison webpage
• Thomas Edison/Menlo Park page

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