79-825: The Benjamin Shotwell House , also known as the Shotwell–Runyon House , is a historic house located at 26 Runyon's Lane in the township of Edison in Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States. It was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) in 1938, noted as being near Metuchen . The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 4, 1987, for its significance in architecture and exploration/settlement. The farm on which
158-406: A Humid Subtropical climate (Cfa) with abundant rainfall throughout the year although the late summer months tend to have more rain. Summers tend to be hot and humid with a lot of rain and Winters tend to be cool to cold with snow being an annual occurrence with snow falling multiple times every winter. Edison hosts one of the region's main centers of Asian American cultural diversity. The township
237-583: A Republican against incumbent Mayor Thomas Lankey. Lankey was re-elected with 12,032 votes to Hahn's 8,574 votes. In June 2016, the Township Council selected Joseph Coyle from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that had been held by Robert Karabinchak , until he stepped down from office to take a vacant seat in
316-502: A challenger won the Democratic primary. An article in The American Prospect details aspects that Choi brought together in his 2005 mayoral campaign, including 1. attracting new voters into the process, 2. a good government message, 3. anti- Wal-Mart or economic justice theme and 4. an effective Internet-based progressive mobilization. In the general election, Jun Choi declared victory, leading in unofficial results with
395-574: A countywide basis are: Clerk Mary H. Melfi (R; Flemington , 2026), Sheriff Fredrick W. Brown (R; Alexandria Township , 2025) and Surrogate Heidi Rohrbach (R; Lebanon Township , 2028). As of March 2011, there were a total of 15,130 registered voters in Raritan Township, of which 3,008 (19.9%) were registered as Democrats , 4,944 (32.7%) were registered as Republicans and 7,166 (47.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated . There were 12 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens . In
474-495: A farmer and carpenter. It was owned until 1946 by his descendants: Ephraim Runyon, Isaac S. Runyon, Herbert Runyon, and Gilbert Runyon. Edison, New Jersey Edison is a township located in Middlesex County , in the U.S. state of New Jersey . Situated in Central New Jersey within the core of the state's Raritan Valley region , Edison is a commercial hub (home to Menlo Park Mall and Little India ) and
553-443: A female householder with no husband present and 24.8% were non-families. Of all households, 20.7% were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.19. 26.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
632-473: A female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.24. In the township the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
711-529: A manufacturer and community leader. Soon after the outbreak of World War I , Nixon established a massive volatile chemicals processing facility there, known as the Nixon Nitration Works . It was the site of the 1924 Nixon Nitration Works disaster , a massive explosion and resulting fire that killed 20 people and destroyed several square miles of the township. In 1954, the township's name was changed to honor inventor Thomas A. Edison . Also on
790-630: A middle school for grades 7 and 8. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Barley Sheaf School (350 students; in grades K–4, located in Flemington), Copper Hill School (413; Pre-K–4, Ringoes ), Francis A. Desmares School (447; K–4, Flemington), Robert Hunter School (388; K–4, Flemington), Reading-Fleming Intermediate School (682; 5–6, Flemington) and J. P. Case Middle School (781; 7–8, Flemington). Raritan Township
869-537: A park ended a real estate development controversy. Roosevelt Park , located between Parsonage Road and Route 1, west of the Mall, covers 196 acres (79 ha), including the 8-acre (3.2 ha) Roosevelt Park Lake. The park was established in 1917, making it the oldest county park in Middlesex County. Edison State Park and Dismal Swamp are also located in the township. Edison Township operates within
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#1732797290400948-641: A party of British dragoons returning from a raid on Flemington . The British leader, Cornet Francis Geary , was killed during this skirmish, known as the Ambush of Geary , that took place between Copper Hill and Larison's Corners . On December 14, 1976, as part of the United States Bicentennial , Raritan Township dedicated a monument to the Amwell Militia at the site along US 202 and Route 31 northbound. A memorial monument to Geary
1027-533: A staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor. The mayor presides at Township Committee meetings and votes as a member of the committee, but has no other special powers under
1106-469: A total area of 30.69 square miles (79.49 km ), including 30.06 square miles (77.86 km ) of land and 0.63 square miles (1.63 km ) of water (2.05%). Edison is on the east side of Raritan Valley (a line of communities in central New Jersey), along with Plainfield , and completely surrounds the borough of Metuchen , making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. The township borders
1185-466: A turnout of 47.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election , Republican Chris Christie received 64.8% of the vote (5,440 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 25.9% (2,173 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.4% (618 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (47 votes), among the 8,396 ballots cast by the township's 14,991 registered voters, yielding a 56.0% turnout. Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend
1264-487: A vote of 12,126 to 11,935; a recount effort was unsuccessful. On January 1, 2006, at age 34, Choi was sworn in by Governor Jon Corzine as the youngest mayor in Edison history. Recent politics in Edison have concerned plans for zoning the township to facilitate the creation of "walkable" communities that will attract businesses, while still maintaining open spaces and parks and easy access to commuter transit. This strategy
1343-631: Is $ 69,746, and the median income for a family was $ 77,976. Males had a median income of $ 53,303 versus $ 36,829 for females. The per capita income for the township was $ 30,148. About 3.3% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line , including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over. A number of production facilities in and around the area, included Edison Assembly , Ford Motor Company 's production plant for Rangers, Mustangs, Pintos, Mercurys, and Lincolns. Other notable companies included Frigidaire 's air-conditioner plant in Edison, Siemens in Edison. Starting in
1422-457: Is a bedroom community of New York City within the New York metropolitan area . As of the 2020 United States census , the township was the state's sixth-most-populous municipality , with a population of 107,588, an increase of 7,621 (+7.6%) from the 2010 census count of 99,967, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,280 (+2.3%) from the 97,687 counted in the 2000 census . What
1501-644: Is a historic short-line railroad that passes through the township. It operates today as a heritage railway . The Norfolk Southern Railway 's Lehigh Line (formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad ), runs through most of the northeast part of Raritan Township close to its northeast boundary. On December 14, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War , local militia led by Captain John Schenck ambushed
1580-648: Is about halfway between Midtown Manhattan , and New Jersey's capitol, Trenton, being about 27 miles from both. While the Township's topography is mostly flat, there are some hillier areas, especially along the Perth Amboy Moraine, which forms an arc across the township, left by the southern limit of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. The highest point is on Grandview Avenue, which reaches a maximum elevation of about 220 feet. The lowest elevation in
1659-537: Is allocated seven of the nine seats on the regional district's board of education. Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Hunterdon Central Regional High School , part of the Hunterdon Central Regional High School District, which serves students in central Hunterdon County from Raritan Township and from Delaware Township , East Amwell Township , Flemington and Readington Township . As of
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#17327972904001738-452: Is located 47.7 miles (76.8 km) east of Allentown , 51.7 miles (83.2 km) north of Philadelphia , and 64.9 miles (104.4 km) southwest of New York City . The 2010 United States census counted 22,185 people, 8,056 households, and 6,058 families in the township. The population density was 591.2 per square mile (228.3/km ). There were 8,288 housing units at an average density of 220.9 per square mile (85.3/km ). The racial makeup
1817-502: Is located in Edison, as is the headquarters of the e-commerce companies Boxed and Bare Necessities . Plainfield Country Club is a private country club that has hosted the 1987 U.S. Women's Open and The Barclays golf tournament, the first PGA Tour FedEx Cup playoff event, in both 2011 and 2015. Oak Tree Pond is the site of the Battle of Short Hills , a minor battle of the American Revolutionary War and whose conversion into
1896-489: Is located in part of Route 287 . The Shotwells were early settlers of "The Plains", an early reference to Plainfield, New Jersey. Benjamin Shotwell bought 27.5 acres (11.1 ha) from Jonathan Dunham and Joseph FitzRandolph in 1775. At the time, this area was part of the township of Piscataway . The property was inherited by his daughter, Nancy Shotwell, who had married Lewis Thornall. They sold it in 1801 to John Runyon,
1975-401: Is meant to encourage "Smart Growth". Politics in Edison since the 2005 mayoral election have been polarized by an attempt by retail giant Walmart to open a store in central Edison near the junction of Interstate 287 and New Jersey Route 27 . Even though Jun Choi stated in his mayoral campaign that he would stop Walmart from being built, Walmart filed suit and won, and Choi was there to cut
2054-653: Is now Edison Township was originally incorporated as Raritan Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1870, from portions of both Piscataway and Woodbridge Township . The township got its original name from the Raritan indigenous people . Portions of the township were taken to form Metuchen on March 20, 1900, and Highland Park on March 15, 1905. The name was officially changed to Edison Township on November 10, 1954, in honor of inventor Thomas Edison , who had his main laboratory in
2133-482: Is primarily a middle-class community with more than 75 ethnic communities represented. Edison has a large Jewish community next to Highland Park , with multiple synagogues located in Edison. Edison also has a growing Indian community and a number of temples serving the religious needs of the community. Reflecting the number of Edison's residents from India and China , the township has sister city arrangements with Shijiazhuang , China, and Baroda , India. Edison
2212-605: Is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. ( R , Westfield ). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker ( Newark , term ends 2027) and George Helmy ( Mountain Lakes , term ends 2024). For the 2024-2025 session , the 16th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Andrew Zwicker ( D , South Brunswick ) and in
2291-545: Is the largest and most diverse South Asian cultural hub in the United States. In Middlesex County, election ballots are printed in English, Spanish , Gujarati , Hindi , and Punjabi . As part of the 2020 Census, 34.9% of Edison residents identified themselves as being Indian American , an increase from 28.3% in 2010. In the 2000 Census, 17.75% of Edison residents identified themselves as being Indian American,
2370-498: The 2000 United States census there were 97,687 people, 35,136 households, and 25,881 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,243.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,252.1/km ). There were 36,018 housing units at an average density of 1,195.7 per square mile (461.7/km ). The racial makeup of the township was 59.49% White, 29.27% Asian, 6.89% African American, 0.14% Native American, .04% Pacific Islander, 2.02% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. 6.37% of
2449-410: The 2012 presidential election , Republican Mitt Romney received 57.8% of the vote (6,798 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.2% (4,843 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (118 votes), among the 11,834 ballots cast by the township's 16,049 registered voters (75 ballots were spoiled ), for a turnout of 73.7%. In the 2008 presidential election , Republican John McCain received 54.7% of
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2528-625: The Faulkner Act , formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council form of government, which was implemented as of January 1, 1958, based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission . The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form. Edison's governing body is comprised of the mayor and the seven-member Township Council. Members of
2607-529: The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District , which also serves children from the neighboring community of Flemington . As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 3,079 students and 327.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.4:1. The district consists of four K–4 elementary schools, one intermediate school for grades 5 and 6 and
2686-539: The General Assembly by Mitchelle Drulis (D, East Amwell Township ) and Roy Freiman (D, Hillsborough Township ). Hunterdon County is governed by a Board of Chosen Commissioners composed of five members who are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January,
2765-551: The Menlo Park section of the township. The earliest residents of the area were the Raritan people of the Lenape Native Americans , who lived in the area and travelled through it to the shore. In 1646, Chief Matouchin led a group of 1,200 warriors. Edison Township, which was formed from sections of Piscataway and Woodbridge townships, was settled (by Europeans) in the 17th century. The earliest village
2844-613: The New Jersey General Assembly . Coyle served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters elected him to fill the balance of the term of office. Running on a good government platform and a call to reform the Democratic Party , Jun Choi won the June 2005 primary by a 56–44% margin, defeating longtime incumbent Mayor George A. Spadoro , the first time in Edison history that
2923-525: The U.S. state of New Jersey . As of the 2020 United States census , the township's population was 23,447, an increase of 1,262 (+5.7%) from the 2010 census count of 22,185, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,376 (+12.0%) from the 19,809 counted in the 2000 census . The township is located within the heart of the Amwell Valley and Raritan Valley regions, as the South Branch of
3002-461: The poverty line , including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over. Raritan Township is governed under the Township form of government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use the Township form. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on
3081-419: The 11,265 ballots cast by the township's 13,693 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 82.3. In the 2013 gubernatorial election , Republican Chris Christie received 74.1% of the vote (5,504 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.5% (1,818 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (109 votes), among the 7,595 ballots cast by the township's 16,003 registered voters (164 ballots were spoiled), for
3160-535: The 13th annual Morgan Quitno survey. In 2009, Edison was ranked as one of "America's 10 Best Places to Grow Up" by U.S. News & World Report . The rankings focused on low crime, strong schools, green spaces, and abundance of recreational activities. In 2014, parenting.com ranked Edison as the top safest city in America. According to the United States Census Bureau , the township had
3239-527: The 2000s, manufacturing began to leave Central Jersey, and many facilities closed and moved overseas. The Ford plant was demolished by 2008 and was replaced by Sam's Club , Topgolf and Starbucks . Majesco Entertainment , a video game company, has its corporate headquarters in Edison. Other companies have warehouse operations within Edison. These companies include the Italian food producer and importer Colavita , an Amazon fulfillment center , as well as
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3318-488: The 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 2,844 students and 238.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.9:1. Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based in the population of the five constituent municipalities who participate in the school district, with three seats allocated to Raritan Township. Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend
3397-577: The 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Raritan Township had been part of the 11th Congressional District , 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. For the 118th United States Congress , New Jersey's 7th congressional district
3476-646: The Raritan River (along with the Neshanic River ) flows through the center of the township. The northwestern portion of the township is located on the Hunterdon Plateau . Raritan was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1838, from portions of the now-defunct Amwell Township . Flemington was formed within the township on March 14, 1870, and became an independent borough on April 7, 1910. Portions of
3555-457: The Township Council are Council President Nishith Patel (D, 2025), Council Vice President Margot Harris (D, 2025), Richard Brescher (D, 2027), Joseph Coyle (D, 2027), Ajay Patil (D, 2027) and John Poyner (D, 2025) and Asaf Shmuel (D, 2027). The first (and to-date, only) female mayor of Edison was Antonia "Toni" Ricigliano, whose term of office ended on December 31, 2013. Former Edison Democratic Chair and Detective Keith Hahn ran for mayor as
3634-568: The ballot in 1954 was a failed proposal to change the community's name to Nixon. In 1959, the Menlo Park Mall , a two-level super regional shopping mall , opened on U.S. Route 1 . Edison has been one of the fastest-growing municipalities in New Jersey. As of the 2000 United States Census , it was the fifth most-populated municipality in the state , after the cities of Newark , Jersey City , Paterson , and Elizabeth . Edison
3713-505: The borough was $ 48,782 (+/− $ 2,900). About 2.0% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2000 United States census there were 19,809 people, 6,939 households, and 5,391 families residing in the township. The population density was 523.5 inhabitants per square mile (202.1/km ). There were 7,094 housing units at an average density of 187.5 per square mile (72.4/km ). The racial makeup of
3792-501: The commissioners select one member to serve as the board's Director and another to serve as Deputy Director, each for a one-year term. As of 2024 , Hunterdon County's Commissioners are: Zachary T. Rich ( R ; West Amwell Township , 2025), Director Jeff Kuhl (R; Raritan Township , 2024) John E. Lanza (R; Raritan Township, 2025), Deputy Director Susan Soloway (R; Franklin Township , 2024) and Shaun C. Van Doren (R; Tewksbury Township , 2026). Constitutional officers elected on
3871-487: The council are elected at-large in partisan elections held as part of the November general election to four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three or four seats coming up for election in odd-numbered years, with the mayoral seat up for vote at the same time that three seats are expiring. As of 2024 , the Mayor of Edison is Democrat Samip "Sam" Joshi, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025. Members of
3950-559: The high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District , a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance. As of May 2010 , the township had a total of 181.46 miles (292.03 km) of roadways, of which 146.40 miles (235.61 km) were maintained by
4029-671: The highest percentage of Indian-American people of any municipality in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry. Edison also has a significant Chinese population. The town contains several Chinese-language schools and cultural associations. The area near the borders with Highland Park and the Livingston Campus at Rutgers University in Piscataway , has a number of Chinese food establishments, including Kam Man Food , 99 Ranch Market , and various dim sum, dumpling, dessert, and tea shops as well as
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#17327972904004108-869: The municipalities of East Brunswick , Highland Park , New Brunswick , Piscataway , Sayreville , South Plainfield and Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County; Clark , Plainfield and Scotch Plains in Union County . Edison has numerous sections and neighborhoods . Unincorporated communities , localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bonhamtown , Briarwood East , Camp Kilmer, Centerville, Clara Barton , Eggert Mills , Greensand, Haven Homes, Lahiere, Lincoln Park, Lindenau, Martins Landing, Menlo Park , Millville, New Dover , New Durham , Nixon , North Edison, Oak Tree, Phoenix, Potters , Pumptown , Raritan Arsenal, Raritan Manor, Sand Hills, Silver Lake, Stelton , Stephenville , Valentine, and Washington Park. Edison
4187-517: The municipality, 22.36 miles (35.98 km) by Hunterdon County and 12.70 miles (20.44 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation . Several major roads in Raritan Township. These include Route 12 , Route 31 and U.S. Route 202 (the latter two run concurrent for about four miles (6.4 km) in the southern part of the township). Major county roads that go through the township include CR 514 (which runs along
4266-483: The pan-Asian Korean-founded supermarket, H Mart . Other Chinese operations in Edison include Sino Monthly magazine and Chinese News Weekly. The township's Lunar New Year parade typically travels northbound from Division Street to festivities in Papaianni Park by the lake and township municipal building. The 2010 United States census counted 99,967 people, 34,972 households, and 26,509 families in
4345-431: The population was under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.8 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income
4424-431: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 35,136 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
4503-418: The population. Of the 34,972 households, 36.4% had children under the age of 18; 62.3% were married couples living together; 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.2% were non-families. Of all households, 20.4% were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.26. 22.7% of
4582-442: The prolific inventor amassed a record 1,093 patents for creations including the phonograph , a stock ticker, the motion-picture camera, the incandescent light bulb , a mechanical vote counter, the alkaline storage battery including one for an electric car, and the first commercial electric light. The Menlo Park lab was significant in that was one of the first laboratories to pursue practical, commercial applications of research. It
4661-623: The regional hubs for FedEx , UPS , and Newegg . In addition Edison is home to the state's largest private convention center, the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, located within the Raritan Center Business Park. Raritan Center itself is the largest industrial park on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United States headquarters of the international company Zylog Systems
4740-483: The seat he had held expiring in December 2024 in order to fill a vacant seat on the Hunterdon County Board of County Commissioners . The Township Committee appointed Bob King to fill Kuhl's vacant committee seat; King will serve on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office. Raritan Township is located in
4819-625: The southeastern border), CR 523 and CR 579 (which runs along the southwestern border). The closest Interstate highway is Interstate 78 in neighboring Clinton and Franklin Townships. The Hunterdon County LINK provide local bus service on Route 14 between Lambertville and Flemington ; Route 15 between Flemington and Hampton ; Routes 16 / 19 / 21 which operate to / from Flemington; Route 17 / 18 between Milford and Clinton ; and Route 23 between Flemington and Bridgewater Commons Mall / Somerville . The Black River and Western Railroad
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#17327972904004898-787: The state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. It borders the municipalities of Clinton Township , Delaware Township , East Amwell Township , Franklin Township and Readington Township in Hunterdon County; and Hillsborough Township in Somerset County . Unincorporated communities , localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include: Cloverhill , Copper Hill , Croton , Flemington Junction , Klinesville, Larisons Corners , Muirhead, Reaville , as well as Bartles Corners, Gary Corner, Mount Carmel, Rockefellows Mills , Thachers Hill and Voorhees Corner . Raritan Township
4977-597: The township form of government law. All legislative and executive powers, including the power of appointments, are exercised by the committee as a whole. As of 2024 , the members of the Raritan Township Committee are Mayor Scott Sipos ( R , term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2024), Deputy Mayor Bob King (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Robyn Fatooh (R, 2026), Scott R. MacDade (R, 2025) and Bradford Perry (R, 2026). In June 2022, Jeff Kuhl resigned from
5056-774: The township is on sea level on the Raritan River . The Robinsons Branch of the Rahway River flows through Edison en route to the Robinson's Branch Reservoir . Extreme temperatures in Edison have ranged from −17 °F (−27 °C), recorded in February 1934, to 106 °F (41 °C), recorded in July 1936 and August 1949. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Edison has
5135-407: The township was 93.22% White , 1.23% African American , 0.09% Native American , 3.50% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 0.68% from other races , and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population. There were 6,939 households, out of which 43.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 7.0% had
5214-653: The township were ceded to East Amwell Township in 1854 and 1897. The township's name is derived from the Raritan tribe , a Native American band of Lenape people that inhabited Central New Jersey . The name of the tribe is said to mean "forked river", "stream overflows" or "point on a tidal river". According to the United States Census Bureau , the township had a total area of 37.65 square miles (97.52 km ), including 37.48 square miles (97.08 km ) of land and 0.17 square miles (0.44 km ) of water (0.46%). Raritan Township completely surrounds Flemington , making it part one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in
5293-493: The township. The population density was 3,339.0 per square mile (1,289.2/km ). There were 36,302 housing units at an average density of 1,212.5 per square mile (468.1/km ). The racial makeup was 44.10% (44,084) White , 7.05% (7,046) Black or African American , 0.23% (229) Native American , 43.19% (43,177) Asian , 0.04% (36) Pacific Islander , 2.72% (2,718) from other races , and 2.68% (2,677) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 8.11% (8,112) of
5372-444: The vote (6,705 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.5% (5,339 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (121 votes), among the 12,261 ballots cast by the township's 15,254 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.4%. In the 2004 presidential election , Republican George W. Bush received 59.7% of the vote (6,727 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 39.7% (4,470 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (97 votes), among
5451-549: The yellow ribbon when the store was opened. The town is served by the full-time Edison Division of Police, led by Chief Thomas Bryan and employing 168 officers as of 2012, assisted by the Edison Auxiliary Police. The department is striving to overcome a history of widespread officer misconduct. Raritan Township, New Jersey Raritan Township is a township in Hunterdon County , in
5530-827: Was Piscatawaytown , which is centered around St. James Church and the Piscatawaytown Common, near the intersection of Plainfield and Woodbridge Avenues in South Edison. The Laing House of Plainfield Plantation (listed on the National Register in 1988), the Benjamin Shotwell House (listed 1987) and the Homestead Farm at Oak Ridge (liste 1995), are buildings from the colonial era included in National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County . The community
5609-425: Was $ 86,725 (with a margin of error of +/− $ 3,000) and the median family income was $ 100,008 (+/− $ 2,624). Males had a median income of $ 66,898 (+/− $ 4,094) versus $ 50,953 (+/− $ 1,462) for females. The per capita income for the township was $ 36,464 (+/− $ 1,184). About 3.5% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over. As of
5688-408: Was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.19. In the township 22.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.8% was from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males. The median household income in the township
5767-416: Was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males. The median income for a household in the township was $ 85,996, and the median income for a family was $ 96,336. Males had a median income of $ 69,485 versus $ 41,911 for females. The per capita income for the township was $ 38,919. About 1.2% of families and 2.0% of the population were below
5846-498: Was 42.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.8 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $ 109,941 (with a margin of error of +/− $ 7,543) and the median family income was $ 130,514 (+/− $ 10,612). Males had a median income of $ 95,123 (+/− $ 8,996) versus $ 62,229 (+/− $ 3,584) for females. The per capita income for
5925-511: Was 50.0% ethnically Asian by population as of the 2020 Census. Oak Tree Road is a South Asian-focused commercial strip in Middlesex County, the U.S. county with the highest concentration of Asian Indians . The Oak Tree Road strip runs for about one-and-a-half miles through Edison and neighboring Iselin in Woodbridge Township , near the area's sprawling Chinatown and Koreatown , running along New Jersey Route 27 . It
6004-416: Was 89.57% (19,870) White , 2.07% (459) Black or African American , 0.10% (23) Native American , 5.95% (1,319) Asian , 0.04% (9) Pacific Islander , 0.83% (185) from other races , and 1.44% (320) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.13% (1,138) of the population. Of the 8,056 households, 37.6% had children under the age of 18; 64.9% were married couples living together; 7.7% had
6083-445: Was in his Menlo Park laboratory that Thomas Edison came up with the phonograph and a commercially viable incandescent light bulb filament. Christie Street was the first street in the world to use electric lights for illumination. Edison subsequently left Menlo Park and moved his home and laboratory to West Orange in 1886. Near Piscatawaytown village, a portion of the township was informally known as " Nixon ", after Lewis Nixon ,
6162-568: Was previously known as "Raritan Township", not to be confused with the current-day Raritan Township in Hunterdon County . In 1876, Thomas Edison set up his home and research laboratory in New Jersey on the site of an unsuccessful real estate development in Raritan Township called " Menlo Park ", (currently located in Edison State Park ). While there he earned the nickname "the Wizard of Menlo Park". Before his death at age 83 in 1931,
6241-456: Was ranked the 28th most-livable small city in the United States by CNN Money magazine, and second in New Jersey in 2006 in Money magazine's "Best Places To Live". In 2008, two years later, Money ranked the township 35th out of the top 100 places to live in the United States. In the 2006 survey of America's Safest Cities, the township was ranked 23rd, out of 371 cities included nationwide, in
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