Cranford, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Cranford is a township
in Union County
, New Jersey
, United States
. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,625.
Cranford was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on March 14, 1871, from portions of the Townships of Clark
, Linden
, Springfield
, Union
and Westfield
. Portions of the township were taken to form Garwood
(March 19, 1903) and Kenilworth
(March 13, 1907).
New Jersey Monthly
magazine ranked Cranford as its 34th best place to live in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Places To Live"
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the township has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.
There are nine municipalities bordering the township: Garwood
and Westfield
to the west, Springfield Township
to the north, Kenilworth
to the northeast, Roselle
and Roselle Park
to the east, Linden
to the southeast, Clark
and Winfield
to the south.
of 2000, there were 22,578 people, 8,397 households, and 6,222 families residing in the township. The population density
was 4,684.2 people per square mile (1,808.6/km²). There were 8,560 housing units at an average density of 1,775.9 per square mile (685.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.70% White, 2.58% Black or African American
, 0.04% Native American, 2.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races
, and 0.84% from two or more races. 3.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,397 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples
living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the township was $99,281, and the median income for a family was $114,738. Males had a median income of $60,757 versus $41,020 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $33,283. About 1.0% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
According to the 2007 estimate, the racial makeup of the township in 2007 was 91.50% White, 3.40% Black or African American
, 3.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.40% from other races
, and 0.60% from two or more races. 3.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Downtown Cranford is a center of business and commerce, serving as a retail shopping district. On the south side of town, the Centennial Avenue Business District is a small shopping district with a mix of neighborhood stores. There is a push to redevelop this business district.
Downtown Cranford is the main retail business district for the township. Consisting of a variety of small family owned businesses on both sides of the railroad tracks, there has been a debate in town over the direction of the downtown. With neighboring communities seeing downtown development and a focus on either recruiting chain store or upscale small stores, Cranford has been debating the issue.
The recent focus of downtown Cranford has been to recruit more restaurants in to the downtown and allow for a nightlife to flourish. Amongst the existing nightlife, Cranford holds a number of local restaurant/bars: The Office, The Riverside Inn, Cranford Hotel, The Kilkenny House, Ye Olde Rathskellar, among others. On the south side of the community, the Cranford Crossings redevelopment project features retail space, apartments, and a new parking deck. The Riverfront redevelopment project is proposed on South Avenue to bring more business and housing into downtown Cranford. Other downtown points of interest include Emma's Brick Oven Pizza and Cafe, Il Giardino's Pizzeria and Restaurant, Pizza House / Pizza Chef, Rockin' Joes Cafe, Joanie's Cafe, Cranford Movie Theater, Vanilla Bean Creamery, Mr. J's, Cranford's Best Bagels, and Buttery Bake Shop.
In the 1980s the downtown was renovated to take on a Victorian feel. This included the installation of new light fixtures and cobblestone sidewalks, along with decorative planters and benches. A Victorian street clock was installed in the center of town, allowing for the creation of a small pocket park
in the center of the downtown. The clock park has become a hangout for teenagers who are walking to and from school.
In the 1980s, Cranford founded the first special improvement district
in New Jersey
. The SID allows for the downtown district to have a special tax on building and business owners for downtown development and marketing. The SID is managed by the Cranford Downtown Management Corporation. The DMC has used its budget for development projects, to recruit new businesses and to market shopping in Cranford. Various downtown sales and street fairs are administered by the DMC. The DMC is governed by a Board of Directors
consisting of business owners and residents, which is appointed by the Township Committee. The DMC Board appoints a DMC Director, who runs the day-to-day operations of the corporation.
form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.
The Committee members elect a chairman of the committee who assumes the title of Mayor
. Similarly, a Deputy Mayor
is elected. Both positions carry one-year terms. Four of the commissioners take on departmental oversight assignments as Commissioner of Finance, Commissioner of Public Safety, Commissioner of Public Works and Engineering, and Commissioner of Public Affairs. The Mayor of Cranford does not take on a departmental assignment. The commissioners are part time officials and the township government is run day to day by the Township Administrator and various department heads. The Chief of Police is Eric Mason.
Members of the 2010 Cranford Township Committee are:
Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski is a Cranford resident and the first woman from Cranford to be elected to the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders
. Freeholder Kowalski was an unsuccessful candidate for Cranford Township Committee in 1999 and served as Union County Freeholder Chairwoman in 2007.
Women Township Commissioners in Cranford
Cranford is in the
Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski is a Cranford resident.
are a comprehensive and successful public school system, which is governed by a nine-person elected Board of Education
. The system's high school, Cranford High School
was ranked as one of the top 15 high schools in New Jersey in 2010 and has won a series of national and statewide awards for its innovative curriculum. Cranford High School has a curriculum which has a strong push for technology in the schools, along with stressing service learning. The high school is recognized for its work in service learning and for being a national school of character. Cranford High School students are regularly admitted to some of the nation's top private and public universities, with over 90% of each graduating class going onto college.
Cranford has two public middle schools, Orange Avenue School (grades 3-8) and Hillside Avenue School (K-8), which are located on each end of the community and serve their local neighborhood. On the north side of town, along with Orange Avenue, are two other elementary schools, Bloomingdale Avenue School (K-2) and Brookside Place School (K-5). On the south side of town, along with Hillside Avenue, are two other elementary schools, Walnut Avenue School (K-2) and Livingston Avenue School (3-5).
Lincoln School, which is the home of the district's administrative offices, also houses the districts two alternative education programs, CAP and CAMP.
In addition to the public education system, Cranford houses several religious and private schools. Saint Michael's School, located in downtown Cranford, is a major Roman Catholic parochial school which offers Nursery through Grade 8 and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools.
The main campus of Union County College
, New Jersey's oldest community college dating back to 1933, is located in Cranford. The Cranford campus, one of four county locations, was established in 1956.
was established in 1993 to record and help preserve historic buildings in the town.
, whose publishing company published the paper for several years before the paper changed hands to other community newspaper publication companies. The Chronicles office left Cranford for Somerville
and later Clark
. The Chronicle now also features coverage of Garwood
and Kenilworth
.
The Cranford Eagle started publishing in 1999 as another community newspaper. Owned by Worrall Community Newspapers, the Eagle focused solely on Cranford and other neighboring towns. Edited and reported by several people in its history, the Eagle quickly became a fixture in the community. The Eagles sports page is shared with the Clark newspaper, published by the same company.
The Cranford Patch is a daily online news source dedicated strictly to local Cranford news.
WMBQ-CA
, an affiliate of MTV2
, is licensed to Cranford.
Cranford also has its own channel, TV-35, which is available to cable and Verizon FIOS television subscribers. The channel was founded in 1986.
The township operates a low-power AM
radio station at 680 kHz. The station provides information during emergencies in the township.
Cranford.com is The Official Website of the Township of Cranford, NJ and has been in operation since the summer of 1996. Cranford.com is currently owned and operated by Cranford Residents William and Gina Tipton.
station offers service on the New Jersey Transit
Raritan Valley Line
, formerly the mainline of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
. NJ Transit also provides bus service on the 112 and 113 routes to the Port Authority Bus Terminal
in New York City
and on the 59 and 66 to Newark
. The 56, 57 and 58 routes provide local service.
Newark Liberty International Airport
is approximately 13 minutes away in Newark
/Elizabeth
. Linden Airport
, a general aviation
facility, is in nearby Linden, New Jersey
.
The southern section of the township is bisected by Conrail's freight-only Lehigh Line (jointly owned by CSX and Norfolk Southern) along the tracks of the former Lehigh Valley Railroad
. The former Staten Island Railway
connects with the Raritan Valley Line in Cranford. That line has been rehabilitated but is rarely used.
The Garden State Parkway
passes through Cranford, with access at Exit 136 for County Route 607 and Exit 137 for Route 28. Exit 136 is known as the "four corners", where Clark, Winfield, Cranford and Linden meet.
Township (New Jersey)
A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...
in Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,625.
Cranford was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on March 14, 1871, from portions of the Townships of Clark
Clark, New Jersey
Clark is a township in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 14,756.-History:...
, Linden
Linden, New Jersey
- Local government :, the Mayor of Linden is . The former longtime Mayor of Linden is 82-year-old John T. Gregorio, who served as mayor of Linden for 30, nonconsecutive years and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which...
, Springfield
Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey
Township of Springfield is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population increased to a record high of 15,817....
, Union
Union Township, Union County, New Jersey
Union is a Township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. In the 18th century, the area that is now Union was then called Connecticut Farms...
and Westfield
Westfield, New Jersey
Westfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 30,316. The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract....
. Portions of the township were taken to form Garwood
Garwood, New Jersey
Garwood is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,226.Garwood was incorporated as a borough on March 19, 1903, from portions of Cranford Township and Westfield Town....
(March 19, 1903) and Kenilworth
Kenilworth, New Jersey
Kenilworth is a Borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,914.Kenilworth was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 13, 1907, from portions of Cranford and Union Township, based on the...
(March 13, 1907).
New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly is a monthly glossy publication featuring issues of possible interest to residents of the United States state of New Jersey...
magazine ranked Cranford as its 34th best place to live in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Places To Live"
Geography
Cranford is located at 40.656302°N 74.303716°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.
There are nine municipalities bordering the township: Garwood
Garwood, New Jersey
Garwood is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,226.Garwood was incorporated as a borough on March 19, 1903, from portions of Cranford Township and Westfield Town....
and Westfield
Westfield, New Jersey
Westfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 30,316. The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract....
to the west, Springfield Township
Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey
Township of Springfield is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population increased to a record high of 15,817....
to the north, Kenilworth
Kenilworth, New Jersey
Kenilworth is a Borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,914.Kenilworth was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 13, 1907, from portions of Cranford and Union Township, based on the...
to the northeast, Roselle
Roselle, New Jersey
Roselle is a Borough located in Union County in the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 21,085....
and Roselle Park
Roselle Park, New Jersey
Roselle Park is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 13,297....
to the east, Linden
Linden, New Jersey
- Local government :, the Mayor of Linden is . The former longtime Mayor of Linden is 82-year-old John T. Gregorio, who served as mayor of Linden for 30, nonconsecutive years and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which...
to the southeast, Clark
Clark, New Jersey
Clark is a township in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 14,756.-History:...
and Winfield
Winfield Township, New Jersey
Winfield Township is a township in Union County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population decreased to a record low of 1,471...
to the south.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 22,578 people, 8,397 households, and 6,222 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,684.2 people per square mile (1,808.6/km²). There were 8,560 housing units at an average density of 1,775.9 per square mile (685.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.70% White, 2.58% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.04% Native American, 2.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.84% from two or more races. 3.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,397 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the township was $99,281, and the median income for a family was $114,738. Males had a median income of $60,757 versus $41,020 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $33,283. About 1.0% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
According to the 2007 estimate, the racial makeup of the township in 2007 was 91.50% White, 3.40% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.40% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.60% from two or more races. 3.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Commerce
Cranford has long been considered a center of commerce. The Cranford Business Park on the south side of town consists of a complex of office buildings housing a variety of major corporations and small businesses. Along North Avenue are a variety of buildings housing doctors and other businesses. Law offices predominate in small buildings around town. Banks are also extremely common throughout the town, which hosts at least half a dozen.Downtown Cranford is a center of business and commerce, serving as a retail shopping district. On the south side of town, the Centennial Avenue Business District is a small shopping district with a mix of neighborhood stores. There is a push to redevelop this business district.
Downtown Cranford is the main retail business district for the township. Consisting of a variety of small family owned businesses on both sides of the railroad tracks, there has been a debate in town over the direction of the downtown. With neighboring communities seeing downtown development and a focus on either recruiting chain store or upscale small stores, Cranford has been debating the issue.
The recent focus of downtown Cranford has been to recruit more restaurants in to the downtown and allow for a nightlife to flourish. Amongst the existing nightlife, Cranford holds a number of local restaurant/bars: The Office, The Riverside Inn, Cranford Hotel, The Kilkenny House, Ye Olde Rathskellar, among others. On the south side of the community, the Cranford Crossings redevelopment project features retail space, apartments, and a new parking deck. The Riverfront redevelopment project is proposed on South Avenue to bring more business and housing into downtown Cranford. Other downtown points of interest include Emma's Brick Oven Pizza and Cafe, Il Giardino's Pizzeria and Restaurant, Pizza House / Pizza Chef, Rockin' Joes Cafe, Joanie's Cafe, Cranford Movie Theater, Vanilla Bean Creamery, Mr. J's, Cranford's Best Bagels, and Buttery Bake Shop.
In the 1980s the downtown was renovated to take on a Victorian feel. This included the installation of new light fixtures and cobblestone sidewalks, along with decorative planters and benches. A Victorian street clock was installed in the center of town, allowing for the creation of a small pocket park
Pocket park
A pocket park, parkette or mini-park is a small park accessible to the general public. In some areas they are called miniparks or vest-pocket parks....
in the center of the downtown. The clock park has become a hangout for teenagers who are walking to and from school.
In the 1980s, Cranford founded the first special improvement district
Business improvement district
A business improvement district is a defined area within which businesses pay an additional tax or fee in order to fund improvements within the district's boundaries. Grant funds acquired by the city for special programs and/or incentives such as tax abatements can be made available to assist...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The SID allows for the downtown district to have a special tax on building and business owners for downtown development and marketing. The SID is managed by the Cranford Downtown Management Corporation. The DMC has used its budget for development projects, to recruit new businesses and to market shopping in Cranford. Various downtown sales and street fairs are administered by the DMC. The DMC is governed by a Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
consisting of business owners and residents, which is appointed by the Township Committee. The DMC Board appoints a DMC Director, who runs the day-to-day operations of the corporation.
Local government
Cranford is governed under the TownshipTownship (New Jersey)
A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...
form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.
The Committee members elect a chairman of the committee who assumes the title of Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. Similarly, a Deputy Mayor
Deputy Mayor
Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments. Many elected deputy mayors are members of the city council who are given the title and serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence...
is elected. Both positions carry one-year terms. Four of the commissioners take on departmental oversight assignments as Commissioner of Finance, Commissioner of Public Safety, Commissioner of Public Works and Engineering, and Commissioner of Public Affairs. The Mayor of Cranford does not take on a departmental assignment. The commissioners are part time officials and the township government is run day to day by the Township Administrator and various department heads. The Chief of Police is Eric Mason.
Members of the 2010 Cranford Township Committee are:
- Mayor Daniel Aschenbach (Democrat, Term ends 2011)
- Deputy Mayor Kevin Campbell (Democrat, Term ends 2013)
- Commissioner Edward O'Malley (Democrat, Term ends 2013) (Commissioner of Finance)
- Commissioner Mark Dugan (Republican, Term ends 2011) (Commissioner of Public Affairs)
- Commissioner David W. Robinson (Republican, Term ends 2012) (Commissioner of Engineering/DPW)
Women in Elected Office
As of 2009, seven women have been elected to the Cranford Township Committee and three women have served as Mayor of Cranford. Barbara Brande was the first woman elected to the Township Committee and the first woman mayor of the township. Mayor Brande was elected to the Township Committee in 1974 and reelected in 1977, serving a total of six years. She was Mayor of Cranford in 1977. Carolyn Vollero, who served the longest length of time for a woman on the Township Committee - nine years - was Cranford's second female Mayor in 1994. Barbara Bilger, the township's third female mayor in 2002 and 2004, was also the first woman to serve two terms as the township's mayor. Mayor Bilger is the first Republican woman to serve as a Township Commissioner and as mayor.Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski is a Cranford resident and the first woman from Cranford to be elected to the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
. Freeholder Kowalski was an unsuccessful candidate for Cranford Township Committee in 1999 and served as Union County Freeholder Chairwoman in 2007.
Women Township Commissioners in Cranford
- Barbara Brande (DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
) - 1975 to 1980 (Mayor in 1977) - Sandy Weeks (DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
) - 1982 to 1984 - Mary Lou Farmer (DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
) - 1984 to 1986 - Carolyn Vollero (DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
) - 1988 to 1996 (Mayor in 1994, Deputy Mayor in 1993) - Barbara Bilger (RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
) - 1990 to 1992 and 2002 to 2004 (Mayor in 2002 & 2004, Deputy Mayor in 1992 & 2003) - Ann Darby (RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
) - 2003 to 2005 (Deputy Mayor in 2004) - Martha Garcia (RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
) - 2008 to Present (Deputy Mayor in 2010)
Federal, state and county representation
Cranford Township is in the 7th Congressional district.Cranford is in the
Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski is a Cranford resident.
Education
The Cranford Township Public SchoolsCranford Township Public Schools
The Cranford Township Public Schools is a comprehensive public school system serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade in Cranford Township in Union County, New Jersey, United States...
are a comprehensive and successful public school system, which is governed by a nine-person elected Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
. The system's high school, Cranford High School
Cranford High School
Cranford High School is a four-year public high school located in Cranford, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Cranford Township Public Schools...
was ranked as one of the top 15 high schools in New Jersey in 2010 and has won a series of national and statewide awards for its innovative curriculum. Cranford High School has a curriculum which has a strong push for technology in the schools, along with stressing service learning. The high school is recognized for its work in service learning and for being a national school of character. Cranford High School students are regularly admitted to some of the nation's top private and public universities, with over 90% of each graduating class going onto college.
Cranford has two public middle schools, Orange Avenue School (grades 3-8) and Hillside Avenue School (K-8), which are located on each end of the community and serve their local neighborhood. On the north side of town, along with Orange Avenue, are two other elementary schools, Bloomingdale Avenue School (K-2) and Brookside Place School (K-5). On the south side of town, along with Hillside Avenue, are two other elementary schools, Walnut Avenue School (K-2) and Livingston Avenue School (3-5).
Lincoln School, which is the home of the district's administrative offices, also houses the districts two alternative education programs, CAP and CAMP.
In addition to the public education system, Cranford houses several religious and private schools. Saint Michael's School, located in downtown Cranford, is a major Roman Catholic parochial school which offers Nursery through Grade 8 and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools.
The main campus of Union County College
Union County College
Union County College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in Union County, New Jersey. As the first and oldest of New Jersey's 19 community colleges, Union County College has been serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The...
, New Jersey's oldest community college dating back to 1933, is located in Cranford. The Cranford campus, one of four county locations, was established in 1956.
Historic sites
The Cranford Historical Preservation Advisory BoardCranford Historical Preservation Advisory Board
Cranford Historical Preservation Advisory Board was established on December 28, 1993 by the Township of Cranford, New Jersey, USA to identify and preserve buildings of historic significance.-Purpose:...
was established in 1993 to record and help preserve historic buildings in the town.
Local media
Cranford has long been a newspaper community. The Cranford Chronicle (formerly the Cranford Citizen & Chronicle) is a longtime newspaper serving the Township. Owned by the Ray Family and published in town, the Chronicle served as the center of community journalism. Stu Awbrey purchased the Chronicle and continued as the town's newspaperman. Awbrey sold the paper to Malcolm ForbesMalcolm Forbes
Malcolm Stevenson Forbes was publisher of Forbes magazine, founded by his father B. C. Forbes and today run by his son Steve Forbes.-Life and career:...
, whose publishing company published the paper for several years before the paper changed hands to other community newspaper publication companies. The Chronicles office left Cranford for Somerville
Somerville, New Jersey
Somerville is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,098. It is the county seat of Somerset County....
and later Clark
Clark, New Jersey
Clark is a township in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 14,756.-History:...
. The Chronicle now also features coverage of Garwood
Garwood, New Jersey
Garwood is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,226.Garwood was incorporated as a borough on March 19, 1903, from portions of Cranford Township and Westfield Town....
and Kenilworth
Kenilworth, New Jersey
Kenilworth is a Borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,914.Kenilworth was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 13, 1907, from portions of Cranford and Union Township, based on the...
.
The Cranford Eagle started publishing in 1999 as another community newspaper. Owned by Worrall Community Newspapers, the Eagle focused solely on Cranford and other neighboring towns. Edited and reported by several people in its history, the Eagle quickly became a fixture in the community. The Eagles sports page is shared with the Clark newspaper, published by the same company.
The Cranford Patch is a daily online news source dedicated strictly to local Cranford news.
WMBQ-CA
WMBQ-CA
WMBQ-CA is a Class A low-power television station located in New York City. It is owned by Renard Communications Corp., and broadcasts on UHF channel 46...
, an affiliate of MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
, is licensed to Cranford.
The township operates a low-power AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
radio station at 680 kHz. The station provides information during emergencies in the township.
Cranford.com is The Official Website of the Township of Cranford, NJ and has been in operation since the summer of 1996. Cranford.com is currently owned and operated by Cranford Residents William and Gina Tipton.
Transportation
The CranfordCranford (NJT station)
Cranford is a New Jersey Transit railroad station on the Raritan Valley Line, in Cranford, New Jersey. The current Cranford station was built in the mid 1930s by the Central Railroad of New Jersey on an embankment as part of a grade crossing elimination project. Three stations preceded the current...
station offers service on the New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
Raritan Valley Line
Raritan Valley Line
The Raritan Valley Line is a diesel-engine-powered commuter rail service operated by New Jersey Transit , originating out of Pennsylvania Station, located in Newark, New Jersey, with most trains terminating at the Raritan station, located in Raritan, New Jersey.Some weekday trains continue further...
, formerly the mainline of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
. NJ Transit also provides bus service on the 112 and 113 routes to the Port Authority Bus Terminal
Port Authority Bus Terminal
The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and on the 59 and 66 to Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. The 56, 57 and 58 routes provide local service.
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
is approximately 13 minutes away in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
/Elizabeth
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
. Linden Airport
Linden Airport
Linden Airport , also known as Linden Municipal Airport, is a small general aviation airport located along U.S. Route 1&9 in Linden, a city in Union County, New Jersey, southwest of New York City...
, a general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
facility, is in nearby Linden, New Jersey
Linden, New Jersey
- Local government :, the Mayor of Linden is . The former longtime Mayor of Linden is 82-year-old John T. Gregorio, who served as mayor of Linden for 30, nonconsecutive years and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which...
.
The southern section of the township is bisected by Conrail's freight-only Lehigh Line (jointly owned by CSX and Norfolk Southern) along the tracks of the former Lehigh Valley Railroad
Lehigh Valley Railroad
The Lehigh Valley Railroad was one of a number of railroads built in the northeastern United States primarily to haul anthracite coal.It was authorized April 21, 1846 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and incorporated September 20, 1847 as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad...
. The former Staten Island Railway
Staten Island Railway
The Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, publicly known as MTA Staten Island Railway or SIR, is the operator of the lone rapid transit line in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, USA...
connects with the Raritan Valley Line in Cranford. That line has been rehabilitated but is rarely used.
The Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
passes through Cranford, with access at Exit 136 for County Route 607 and Exit 137 for Route 28. Exit 136 is known as the "four corners", where Clark, Winfield, Cranford and Linden meet.
Cranford in film and television
- Several episodes in the third season of the popular 1990's television show, The Adventures of Pete & PeteThe Adventures of Pete & PeteThe Adventures of Pete & Pete is an American children's television series produced by Wellsville Pictures and broadcast by Nickelodeon. The show featured humorous and surreal elements in its narrative, and many recurring themes centered on two brothers both named Pete Wrigley, and their various...
were filmed in Cranford. One episode was shot at Cranford's Orange Avenue Pool and another at Cranford High School and Brookside Place School. Another episode was filmed at Modern Barber Shop. - Cranford is the setting of the 2005 film, Guess WhoGuess Who (film)Guess Who is a 2005 American comedy film about race relations directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan. It is a loose remake of the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, in the form of a romantic comedy...
starring Bernie MacBernie MacBernard Jeffrey McCullough , better known by his stage name, Bernie Mac, was an American actor and comedian. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L...
and Ashton KutcherAshton KutcherChristopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
. - Portions of the films Garden StateGarden State (film)Garden State is a 2004 comedy-drama film written by, directed by, and starring Zach Braff, with Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, and Sir Ian Holm. The film centers on Andrew Largeman , a 26-year-old actor/waiter who returns to his hometown in New Jersey after his mother dies...
, Far from HeavenFar from HeavenFar from Heaven is a 2002 drama film written and directed by Todd Haynes and starring Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert, and Patricia Clarkson....
and September 12September 12th (film)September 12th is an independent film, written and directed by John Touhey. Set on the third anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks, the film centers on the long-term effects the event had on many Americans....
were shot in Cranford. - Cranford was referred to in the Popular show "The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
" during the episode "My Mother the CarjackerMy Mother the Carjacker"My Mother the Carjacker" is the second episode of The Simpsons fifteenth season and first aired on November 9, 2003. Homer receives a cryptic message in the newspaper informing him to come to a certain place at midnight, and soon discovers that the person who wrote the message is his mother, Mona...
" when at one point, Homer holds up a newspaper reading "Cranford Man Missing". One of the writers, Michael Price, had parents living in Cranford. - The Cranford downtown was used to depict "Main Street" in a notable Domino's Pizza advertisement where the CEO of the company (David Brandon) poked fun at the Wall Street bailout.
- Cranford, New Jersey's local business Merkel Construction Corp. was seen on HGTV 'Save My Bath'.
- Downtown Cranford was used during a commercial for CSX TransportationCSX TransportationCSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
. - Downtown Cranford is featured in a flashback scene at the beginning of an episode of the popular show Psych.
- The College Estates neighbourhood is featured in a 2011 commercial for AllstateAllstateThe Allstate Corporation is the second-largest personal lines insurer in the United States and the largest that is publicly held. The company also has personal lines insurance operations in Canada. Allstate was founded in 1931 as part of Sears, Roebuck and Co., and was spun off in 1993...
.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Cranford include:- Carol BlazejowskiCarol BlazejowskiCarol Ann Blazejowski , nicknamed "The Blaze", is a retired women's professional basketball player and the former President and General Manager of the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association .-Family:Blazejowski is the daughter of Leon and Grace Blazejowski...
(born 1956), member of Basketball Hall of FameBasketball Hall of FameThe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
and 1974 Cranford High School graduate. - Curtis G. CulinCurtis G. CulinSgt Curtis Grubb Culin III was a World War II soldier credited with the invention of a hedge-breaching device fitted to Allied armored vehicles during the Battle of Normandy. As they moved inland after the D-Day landings, the Allies found their tanks were unable to operate easily or safely in the...
(1915–1963), Sgt in the 2d Armored Division during WWII who developed the hedgerow destroying device for the Sherman tanks during the battle of Normandy - Hugh S. Delano (born 1933), Sports journalist for the New York PostNew York PostThe New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
and author honored by induction into the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
with the Elmer Ferguson Memorial AwardElmer Ferguson Memorial AwardThe Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award is an award given "in recognition of distinguished members of the newspaper profession whose words have brought honour to journalism and to hockey". Recipients are selected by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association and gain automatic entrance into the Hockey...
. - William DudleyWilliam Dudley (economist)William C. Dudley is the president of Federal Reserve Bank of New York and vice-chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee. He was appointed to the position on January 27, 2009, following the confirmation of his predecessor, Timothy F. Geithner, as United States Secretary of the...
, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve Open Markets Committee, he is also the husband of former Cranford Deputy Mayor Ann Darby - Charles N. FowlerCharles N. FowlerCharles Newell Fowler was an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey's 8th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1895 to 1903, and the 5th district from 1903 to 1911.Fowler was born in Lena, Illinois on November 2, 1852...
(1852–1932), represented 5th congressional districtNew Jersey's 5th congressional districtNew Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Scott Garrett. Garrett defeated Democrat Paul Aronsohn and independent candidate R. Matthew Fretz 55%-44% in the United States general elections, 2006....
in the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1895 to 1911. - May LiMay LiMay Li was a semi-finalist in 2006 in China Central Television's Win In China, which is similar to the television show The Apprentice in the United States....
(born 1967) - finalist in 2006 in China Central Television's Win In China (Chinese ying1 zai4 zhong1guo2), which is similar to the television show The Apprentice (TV series) in the United States. Founded the non-profit North American Chinese Entrepreneur Association (NACEA). - Thomas SperryThomas SperryThomas A. Sperry was the co-founder and the "S" of S&H Green Stamps, together with Shelly Hutchinson.-Biography:...
- Co-founder (the "S") of S&H Green StampsS&H Green StampsS&H Green Stamps were trading stamps popular in the United States from the 1930s until the late 1980s. They were distributed as part of a rewards program operated by the Sperry and Hutchinson company , founded in 1896 by Thomas Sperry and Shelly Hutchinson...
. - Greg MankiwN. Gregory MankiwNicholas Gregory "Greg" Mankiw is an American macroeconomist and Professor of Economics at Harvard University. Mankiw is known in academia for his work on New Keynesian economics....
- Harvard professor who chaired the Council of Economic AdvisersCouncil of Economic AdvisersThe Council of Economic Advisers is an agency within the Executive Office of the President that advises the President of the United States on economic policy...
under President George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, grew up in Cranford and attended the Pingry SchoolPingry SchoolThe Pingry School is a coeducational, independent, college preparatory country day school in New Jersey, with a Lower School campus in the Short Hills neighborhood of Millburn, and a Middle and Upper School campus in Martinsville. The school was founded in 1861 by Dr. John F. Pingry.Pingry's...
. - Ralph J. Marra, Jr.Ralph J. Marra, Jr.Ralph J. Marra, Jr. is an American lawyer who served as the Acting United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. He held this position from the resignation of Chris Christie in December 2008 until the appointment of Paul J. Fishman in October 2009...
an American lawyer currently serving as the Acting United States Attorney for the District of New JerseyUnited States Attorney for the District of New JerseyThe U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey is the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey. Paul J. Fishman was sworn into office as U.S. Attorney on October 14, 2009 after having been nominated by President Barack Obama. He succeeded Ralph J. Marra, who served as Acting U.S....
. - Jordan WhiteJordan White (musician)Jordan White is an American rock musician and singer-songwriter from Pennsylvania.-Early life and education:Born in Cranford, New Jersey, White was raised in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, part of the Lehigh Valley region of the state, where he learned to play guitar and classical piano...
(born 1981) rock musician - Gary KottGary KottGary Kott is an American television and advertising writer, and folk artist. A writer and supervising producer of The Cosby Show, Kott worked on the program during its five consecutive years of number one Nielsen ratings.- Early life :...
- Award-winning television and advertising writer, and an American Folk Artist. A writer and supervising producer of The Cosby Show, Kott worked on the program during its five consecutive years of number one Nielsen ratings.
External links
- Cranford Township home page
- Cranford Township Public Schools
- Data for the Cranford Township Public Schools, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Cranford.com
- Narrated history of Cranford by Cranford resident Bernie WagenblastBernie WagenblastBernhard Robert Wagenblast is the founder and editor of the Transportation Communications Newsletter , an e-mail publication with over 7,000 subscribers as of January 2008 which is distributed via Yahoo Groups and Google Groups Monday through Friday...
- Hometown Memories - Cranford Page
- Cranford Elks Motorcycle Club
- Cranford Track
- CNN Money Best Places Contender 2005
- Ranked Twelfth in NJ Monthly Top Towns 2006