Woodbridge Township is a township in northern Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is a regional hub of transportation and commerce for central New Jersey and a major bedroom suburb of New York City, within the New York metropolitan area. Located within the core of the Raritan Valley region, Woodbridge Township hosts the junction of the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, the two busiest highways in the state, and also serves as the headquarters for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which operates both highways.Contact Us , New Jersey Turnpike Authority Accessed October 25, 2018.
As of the 2020 United States census, the township was the state's seventh-most-populous municipality,Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses , New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022. with a population of 103,639, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 4,054 (+4.1%) from the 99,585 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,382 (+2.5%) from the 97,203 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010 , New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. Woodbridge was the state's sixth-largest by population in 2000 and 2010.The Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships in 2010 in New Jersey: 2000 and 2010 , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 20, 2012.
History
According to historian Joshua Coffin, the community's early settlers included: Captain John Pike, the ancestor of General Zebulon Montgomery Pike, who was killed at the battle of Queenstown in 1813; Thomas Bloomfield, the ancestor of Joseph Bloomfield, some years governor of New Jersey, for whom the township of Bloomfield is named; John Bishop, senior and junior; Jonathan Haynes; Henry Jaques; George March; Stephen Kent; Abraham Toppan, junior; Elisha Ilsley; Hugh March; John Bloomfield; Samuel Moore; Nathaniel Webster; John Ilsley; and others."Coffin, Joshua. A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport and West Newbury, S.G.Drake, Boston, 1845. p.70 Woodbridge was the site of the first gristmill in New Jersey. The mill was built by Jonathan Singletary Dunham, who was married to Mary Bloomfield, relative of Joseph Bloomfield.
Woodbridge Township is the oldest original township in New Jersey and was granted a royal charter on June 1, 1669, by King Charles II of England. It was reincorporated on October 31, 1693. Woodbridge Township was incorporated by the Township Act of 1798 of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of the initial 104 townships incorporated in the state under the Township Act. Portions of the township were taken to form Rahway (April 19, 1858), Raritan Township (March 17, 1870, now Edison Township) and Roosevelt (April 11, 1906, now Carteret).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 174. Accessed May 30, 2024.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 315. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed November 2, 2015. The township is named after Reverend John W. Woodbridge (1613–1696) of Newbury, Massachusetts, who settled in the future township in 1664.A Brief History , Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. Accessed May 19, 2020. "The Township of Woodbridge is the oldest original township in the state of New Jersey. It was settled in the early autumn of 1664 and was granted a charter on June 1, 1669 by King Charles of England. Joseph Dally, in his history of Woodbridge (Woodbridge and Vicinity, published 1873), records that it was so called in honor of Reverend John Woodbridge of Newbury, Massachusetts."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names , New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 26, 2015.
Woodbridge was the site of one of America's deadliest rail accidents on February 6, 1951, when a crowded commuter train derailed with 85 deaths. The victims are memorialized by a pair of historical markers, installed by New Jersey Transit in 2002 and by Woodbridge Township in 2013.Bond, Gordon. Man Failure: The Story of New Jersey's Deadliest Train Wreck. Garden State Legacy, 2017. ."Great Woodbridge Train Wreck of 1951" , Historical Marker Database. Accessed November 28, 2020."Fulton Street Train Wreck" , Historical Marker Database. Accessed November 28, 2020.
In October 1982, Woodbridge made national news when, for the first time in the United States, local authorities enacted a now-repealed measure under which people were banned from using the then-popular Sony Walkman cassette players in public, while riding a bike, crossing the street, or driving a car. Violators were to be fined $50 and could have spent up to 15 days in jail.Baldwin, Carly. "Walkman Banned in Woodbridge? Yes, Law Is Still on the Books Some say the 1982 ordinance was passed at a time when the Township was fighting growing development, congestion and suburban sprawl." , Woodbridge, NJ Patch, September 29, 2016. Accessed January 23, 2012. "Did you know? In 1982, Woodbridge Township, New Jersey banned the Walkman from being worn in public. And that law is still on the books today." In April 2022, this law was repealed in its entirety by township ordinance.Township Code: § 3-10 Headphones and Earphones , Woodbridge Township. Accessed August 22, 2022.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 24.61 square miles (63.74 km2), including 23.26 square miles (60.24 km2) of land and 1.35 square miles (3.50 km2) of water (5.50%).US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
The township borders Carteret, Edison, Perth Amboy and Sayreville in Middlesex County; Clark, Linden and Rahway in Union County. Its border with the borough of Staten Island in New York City is in the Arthur Kill.Areas touching Woodbridge Township , MapIt. Accessed March 8, 2020.Municipalities , Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed December 1, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries , New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Area codes 732 and 848 are used in Woodbridge.
Pumpkin Patch Brook, which flows through Woodbridge, is a tributary of the Robinson's Branch of the Rahway River, which feeds the Robinson's Branch Reservoir.
Climate The township has a borderline humid subtropical climate (Cfa) similar to most of metropolitan New Jersey. The local hardiness zone is 7a.
Communities
There are distinct communities within Woodbridge Township. Several of these communities have their own ZIP Codes, and many are listed by the United States Census Bureau as census-designated places (CDPs), but they are all unincorporated communities and neighborhoods within the Township that, together, make up Woodbridge Township.
Avenel (with 2020 Census population of 16,290), Colonia (18,609), Fords (12,941), Hopelawn (2,603), Iselin (20,088), Keasbey (3,027), Menlo Park Terrace (2,806), Port Reading (3,921), Sewaren (2,885), Woodbridge or Woodbridge Proper (19,839) are census-designated places and unincorporated communities located within Woodbridge Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include:Locality Search , State of New Jersey. Accessed May 17, 2015. Boynton Beach, Demarest Hill Top, Edgars, Fairfield, Hazelton, Lynn Woodoaks, Ostrander, Saint Stephens, Sand Hills, Shore View, Union, and Woodbridge Oaks.Middlesex County Roads Map , New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed May 19, 2020.
Demographics
2020 census
+Woodbridge Township, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010% 1990% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)77,07963,99950,53140,27282.80%65.84%50.74%38.86%Black or African American alone (NH)5,6458,1549,03810,1436.06%8.39%9.08%9.79%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)103972001650.11%0.10%0.20%0.16%Asian alone (NH)4,99514,00722,19327,4255.37%14.41%22.29%26.46%Pacific Islander alone (NH)N/A181624N/A0.02%0.02%0.02%Other race alone (NH)842532907570.09%0.26%0.29%0.73%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)N/A1,7191,7552,574N/A1.77%1.76%2.48%Hispanic or Latino (any race)5,1808,95615,56222,2795.56%9.21%15.63%21.50%Total93,08697,20399,585103,639100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 99,585 people, 34,615 households, and 25,754 families in the township. The population density was . There were 36,124 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 59.18% (58,935) White, 9.85% (9,810) Black or African American, 0.32% (321) Native American, 22.42% (22,324) Asian, 0.04% (39) Pacific Islander, 5.28% (5,254) from other races, and 2.91% (2,902) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.63% (15,562) of the population.
Of the 34,615 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18; 57.2% were married couples living together; 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.6% were non-families. Of all households, 21.4% were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.27.
21.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $79,277 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,537) and the median family income was $88,656 (+/− $2,537). Males had a median income of $60,139 (+/− $1,971) versus $46,078 (+/− $1,635) for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,144 (+/− $717). About 3.8% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Woodbridge township, Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census,U.S. Census website , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014. there were 97,203 people, 34,562 households, and 25,437 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 35,298 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 70.83% White, 8.75% African American, 0.17% Native American, 14.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.30% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.21% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Woodbridge township, Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 27, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Woodbridge township, Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 27, 2012.