Old Bridge Township, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Old Bridge Township is a Township
in Middlesex County
, New Jersey
, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township had a total population of 60,456. It was named as a contender for the title of one of the best places to live in the United States by Money
magazine in both 2005 and 2007.
What is now Old Bridge Township was originally incorporated as Madison Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on March 2, 1869, from portions of South Amboy Township
(now City of South Amboy). In a referendum held on November 5, 1975, voters approved changing the township's name to Old Bridge Township by a margin of 7,150 votes to 4,888. The township's name was changed to avoid confusion with the borough of Madison
in Morris County
. Use of the name Old Bridge for a location "on the Camden and Amboy Railroad, about eight miles (13 km) beyond South Amboy" or "about seven miles (11 km) from South Amboy" goes back, however, to at least 1853.
Laurence Harbor
and Cliffwood Beach
are also sections of Old Bridge Township.
. Those who settled in Old Bridge were known as the Unami, or "people down the river." They, like many people today, migrated to the shore along the Raritan each summer from their hunting grounds in the north. When the English gained control from the Dutch
in 1664, the state was divided into two provinces, East Jersey
and West Jersey
. In 1682, the general assembly of East Jersey defined the boundaries of Middlesex County
as containing all plantations on both sides of the Raritan River
, as far as Cheesequake Harbor
to the east, then southwest to the Provincial line. This Southwest line is the border of Monmouth
and Middlesex Counties and the Township's southern border.
Thomas Warne one of the original twenty-four proprietors of East Jersey was listed as a landowner of this area. His son is said to have been the earliest white resident residing in the Cheesequake area in 1883. John and Susannah Brown were granted a 1000 acres (4 km²) land grant from the King of England in 1737. They called the area Brownville, and today this part of town is now known as Browntown. Other important proprietors of Old Bridge were the Bowne, Morgan, Letts, Brown, Tone, Herbert and Cottrell families. Their names date back as some of the first landowner's of Old Bridge.
In 1684, South Amboy Township was formed. At that time, it covered an area that now consists of the Townships of Monroe
and Old Bridge and the Boroughs of Sayreville
and South Amboy
. The Township comprises 42 square miles (109 km²) that separated from South Amboy on March 2, 1869, and was called Madison Township. In 1975, the name was changed by referendum to the Township of Old Bridge. The purpose of doing this was to formulate just one postal designations and zip code for the township and to differentiate the township from the Borough of Madison
, in Morris County
. "Old Bridge derives its name from the fact that the first bridge spanning the South River
was built there, and as other bridges were built across the river the first one became known as "the Old Bridge." Prior to that, it was known as South River Bridge."
mills in the area. Fulling was used as a finishing process used on woolen cloth that would remove the dirt and grease and to compact the wool fibers. The mill is said to have been run behind Old Bridge High School and flows east into the Matawan Creek
. The area of Old Bridge was also known for their numerous snuff
mills. The Washington Snuff mill (later renamed the Dill Snuff Mill) was established in 1801 and was located on Mount Pleasant and Old Bridge Turnpike (now Route 516). Snuff is a scented tobacco product that was used by men and women during that time period.
, Norwalk, Connecticut
, other New England
states, and parts of Canada
. The earliest use of clay from this area was used by Captain James Morgan before the Revolution. The Perrine clay pit was located near Route 9 and Ernston Road.
of 2000, there were 60,456 people, 21,438 households, and 15,949 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,587.4 people per square mile (612.8/km²). There were 21,896 housing units at an average density of 574.9 per square mile (222.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 79.48% White,10.82% Asian, 5.30% African American, 2.32% from two or more races, 1.87% from other races
, 0.16% Native American, , 0.04% Pacific Islander.
There were 21,438 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% 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 3.30.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $80,641, and the median income for a family was $100,711 as of the 2007 estimate.) Males had a median income of $51,978 versus $35,462 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $26,814. About 3.0% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Initially, the Township was made up of farms and the population grew slowly. In 1880, the population was 1,662 and in 1950 it had reached only 7,365. Then the building boom started and farms gave way to developments. In 1960, the population was 22,772. The 1980 census
cited 51,406 people.
system of municipal government.
, the Mayor
of Old Bridge Township is Patrick Gillespie, a councilmember who took office on May 16, 2011, after having been chosen to fill the vacancy left when his predecessor stepped down from office, with Kelly Ellis-Foster chosen to take Gillespie's seat on the Township Council. With some eight months remaining on his second four-year term in office, James T. Phillips announced that he would be leaving office on April 25, 2011, due to issues with his health. The Township Council consists of nine members, with six elected to represent wards and three elected at-large from the Township as a whole. The members of the Township Council are Robert Volkert (Ward 1), Mary Sohor (Ward 2), Reginald Butler (Ward 3), G. Kevin Calogera (Council President; Ward 4), Richard Greene (Ward 5), Lucille Panos (Ward 6), Brian J. Cahill (At-Large), Kelly Ellis-Foster (At-Large) and Edward Testino (Council Vice President; At-Large).
serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are twelve K-5 elementary schools —
M. Scott Carpenter (302 students),
Cheesequake (324),
Leroy Gordon Cooper (186),
Virgil I. Grissom (229),
James A. McDivitt (555),
Madison Park (338),
Memorial (436),
William A. Miller (353),
Walter M. Schirra (420),
Alan B. Shepard (343),
Southwood (380) and
Raymond E. Voorhees (464) —
both
Jonas Salk Middle School (1,273) and
Carl Sandburg Middle School (1,635) for grades 6-8 and
Old Bridge High School
for grades 9-12 (3,041).
According to reports from the 2000 Census, Old Bridge's population of 25 years and over was 40,677 people. Of those people 3.5% had less than a 9th grade education. 88.4% were high school grad's or higher. 29.5% had a bachelor's degree or higher and 8.9% had a graduate degree.
Old Bridge has one of the oldest and largest programs in the state for students who are handicapped, starting at the age of 2.
passes through Old Bridge for about 1¾ miles and houses Interchange 120. Other routes, such as U.S. 9, Route 18, Route 34 and Route 35 also pass through the township. Old Bridge Airport
is located 5 miles (8 km) south of the central business district
. Some major county routes that pass through are County Route 516
, County Route 520
and County Route 527
.
The New Jersey Turnpike
(Route 95
) is minutes north along Route 18 outside the township in bordering East Brunswick Township
(Exit 9) and not too far also in bordering Monroe Township
(Exit 8A).
Old Bridge also borders Matawan Borough on Route 34, and the Aberdeen-Matawan (NJT station)
. There is a large New Jersey Transit Bus Terminal along Route 9 North, close to Ernston Road. New Jersey Transit Bus Operations
provide service 68 to Journal Square
/Lincoln Harbor 138 to Port Authority Bus Terminal
, and 818 to New Brunswick
.
Each of the above have several different fire houses with adequate equipment and trucks to handle any and all situations that arise within the township or surrounding towns.
Old Bridge is equipped for:
The all paid squad is known as Old Bridge Township Emergency Medical Service or "OBTEMS" for short. "OBTEMS" is not affiliated with any of the five volunteer organizations or the Township itself.
Advanced Life support or "ALS" for short, also known as MEDICs are paid personnel dispatched to all township calls based on the requirements of assistance. Medics respond to all life/death situations due to a tramatic injury, industrial accident, heart problems, strokes, serious vehicle crashes etc. The MEDICs are housed by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
, St. Peters University Hospital and Raritan Bay Medical Center. Each are assigned their own ambulance.
The Old Bridge Division is located at the intersection of New Jersey Route 18 and Ferry Road. This hospital handles all but trauma cases. Most trauma cases are handled by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
in close-by New Brunswick
.
Old Bridge also has many long term care facilities and nursing homes.
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 Middlesex County
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
, 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. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township had a total population of 60,456. It was named as a contender for the title of one of the best places to live in the United States by Money
Money (magazine)
Money is published by Time Inc. Its first issue was published in October 1972. Its articles cover the gamut of personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues like paying for college, credit, career and home improvement...
magazine in both 2005 and 2007.
What is now Old Bridge Township was originally incorporated as Madison 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 2, 1869, from portions of South Amboy Township
South Amboy, New Jersey
South Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, on the Raritan Bay. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 7,913.South Amboy, and Perth Amboy across the Raritan River, are collectively referred to as The Amboys...
(now City of South Amboy). In a referendum held on November 5, 1975, voters approved changing the township's name to Old Bridge Township by a margin of 7,150 votes to 4,888. The township's name was changed to avoid confusion with the borough of Madison
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
in Morris County
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
. Use of the name Old Bridge for a location "on the Camden and Amboy Railroad, about eight miles (13 km) beyond South Amboy" or "about seven miles (11 km) from South Amboy" goes back, however, to at least 1853.
Laurence Harbor
Laurence Harbor, New Jersey
Laurence Harbor is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located on the Raritan Bay within Old Bridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 United States Census, the CDP population was 6,227.-Geography:...
and Cliffwood Beach
Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey
Cliffwood Beach is a census-designated place in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The population was 3,194 as of the 2010 census.-Geography:...
are also sections of Old Bridge Township.
History
The first inhabitants of the area known as Old Bridge, were the Lenni Lenape Native AmericansNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. Those who settled in Old Bridge were known as the Unami, or "people down the river." They, like many people today, migrated to the shore along the Raritan each summer from their hunting grounds in the north. When the English gained control from the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1664, the state was divided into two provinces, East Jersey
East Jersey
The Province of East Jersey and the Province of West Jersey were two distinct, separately governed parts of the Province of New Jersey that existed as separate provinces for 28 years, between 1674 and 1702. East Jersey's capital was located at Perth Amboy...
and West Jersey
West Jersey
West Jersey and East Jersey were two distinct parts of the Province of New Jersey. The political division existed for 28 years, between 1674 and 1702...
. In 1682, the general assembly of East Jersey defined the boundaries of Middlesex County
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
as containing all plantations on both sides of the Raritan River
Raritan River
The Raritan River is a major river of central New Jersey in the United States. Its watershed drains much of the mountainous area of the central part of the state, emptying into the Raritan Bay on the Atlantic Ocean.-Description:...
, as far as Cheesequake Harbor
Cheesequake State Park
Cheesequake State Park is a state park located in Old Bridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey in the United States.The New Jersey Legislature allocated $100,000 in 1937 to purchase property for this state park. The state first acquired a 250 acre tract of farmland and a Civil War era mansion...
to the east, then southwest to the Provincial line. This Southwest line is the border of Monmouth
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
and Middlesex Counties and the Township's southern border.
Thomas Warne one of the original twenty-four proprietors of East Jersey was listed as a landowner of this area. His son is said to have been the earliest white resident residing in the Cheesequake area in 1883. John and Susannah Brown were granted a 1000 acres (4 km²) land grant from the King of England in 1737. They called the area Brownville, and today this part of town is now known as Browntown. Other important proprietors of Old Bridge were the Bowne, Morgan, Letts, Brown, Tone, Herbert and Cottrell families. Their names date back as some of the first landowner's of Old Bridge.
In 1684, South Amboy Township was formed. At that time, it covered an area that now consists of the Townships of Monroe
Monroe Township, New Jersey
Monroe Township is the name of some places in the U.S. state of New Jersey:*Monroe Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey*Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey...
and Old Bridge and the Boroughs of Sayreville
Sayreville, New Jersey
Sayreville is a borough located on the Raritan River, near Raritan Bay in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 42,704....
and South Amboy
South Amboy, New Jersey
South Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, on the Raritan Bay. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 7,913.South Amboy, and Perth Amboy across the Raritan River, are collectively referred to as The Amboys...
. The Township comprises 42 square miles (109 km²) that separated from South Amboy on March 2, 1869, and was called Madison Township. In 1975, the name was changed by referendum to the Township of Old Bridge. The purpose of doing this was to formulate just one postal designations and zip code for the township and to differentiate the township from the Borough of Madison
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
, in Morris County
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
. "Old Bridge derives its name from the fact that the first bridge spanning the South River
South River (Raritan River)
The South River is a tributary of the Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States.The South River, formed by the confluence of Matchaponix Brook and Manalapan Brook, becomes tidal downstream of the Duhernal Lake dam and joins the Raritan River approximately midway between New Brunswick...
was built there, and as other bridges were built across the river the first one became known as "the Old Bridge." Prior to that, it was known as South River Bridge."
The old mill streams
Madison Township had many mill streams that were used to generate water power. The Warne family owned fullingFulling
Fulling or tucking or walking is a step in woolen clothmaking which involves the cleansing of cloth to eliminate oils, dirt, and other impurities, and making it thicker. The worker who does the job is a fuller, tucker, or walker...
mills in the area. Fulling was used as a finishing process used on woolen cloth that would remove the dirt and grease and to compact the wool fibers. The mill is said to have been run behind Old Bridge High School and flows east into the Matawan Creek
Matawan Creek
Matawan Creek is a creek and partially a tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. It lies in the east central sector of New Jersey across from Staten Island, New York....
. The area of Old Bridge was also known for their numerous snuff
Snuff
Snuff is a product made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is an example of smokeless tobacco. It originated in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the 17th century...
mills. The Washington Snuff mill (later renamed the Dill Snuff Mill) was established in 1801 and was located on Mount Pleasant and Old Bridge Turnpike (now Route 516). Snuff is a scented tobacco product that was used by men and women during that time period.
Clay industry
The clay soil in the area surrounding Old Bridge was used for pottery and bricks way before the first European settlers. "Fine clay had surrounded Cheesequake Creek when the Lenni Lennape Indians lived there. The early discoveries of clay along the banks opened the clay industry to Middlesex County as well as the state of New Jersey. By the 1800s clay was a major industry. The clay deposits found along Cheesequake Creek are reported to be some of the finest stoneware clays in the United States." The clay supplied local potters as well as those in Hudson ValleyHudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
, Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
, other New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
states, and parts of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The earliest use of clay from this area was used by Captain James Morgan before the Revolution. The Perrine clay pit was located near Route 9 and Ernston Road.
Apple farms
The Cottrell homestead is a landmark in Old Bridge. It was built in 1831 and still stands today on the northeast corner of Route 516 and Cottrell Road. The Cottrells owned a 150 acre (0.607029 km²) apple orchard that was located across the street from their home. Apples that could not be used because of their size or quality did not go to waste. Across from the cold-storage building on the southwest corner of Cottrell Road and Route 516 (where Rite Aid is now located), the family built the New Jersey Apple Growers Inc. distillery. It was at this distillery that they pressed the apples into cider and distilled the brandy in large vats. The brandy would age in barrels in a government warehouse that was located on the Cottrells' property. The Cottrells produced apple brandy for twenty years on the farm and sold it wholesale to distributors under the name Browntown.Geography
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 60,456 people, 21,438 households, and 15,949 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 1,587.4 people per square mile (612.8/km²). There were 21,896 housing units at an average density of 574.9 per square mile (222.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 79.48% White,10.82% Asian, 5.30% African American, 2.32% from two or more races, 1.87% 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...
, 0.16% Native American, , 0.04% Pacific Islander.
There were 21,438 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% 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, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% 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 3.30.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $80,641, and the median income for a family was $100,711 as of the 2007 estimate.) Males had a median income of $51,978 versus $35,462 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 $26,814. About 3.0% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Initially, the Township was made up of farms and the population grew slowly. In 1880, the population was 1,662 and in 1950 it had reached only 7,365. Then the building boom started and farms gave way to developments. In 1960, the population was 22,772. The 1980 census
United States Census, 1980
The Twentieth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,545,805, an increase of 11.4 percent over the 203,184,772 persons enumerated during the 1970 Census.-Census questions:...
cited 51,406 people.
Local government
Old Bridge Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
The Faulkner Act, or Optional Municipal Charter Law, provides for New Jersey municipalities to adopt a Mayor-Council government.This form of government provides for election of a mayor and five, seven, or nine council members...
system of municipal government.
, the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Old Bridge Township is Patrick Gillespie, a councilmember who took office on May 16, 2011, after having been chosen to fill the vacancy left when his predecessor stepped down from office, with Kelly Ellis-Foster chosen to take Gillespie's seat on the Township Council. With some eight months remaining on his second four-year term in office, James T. Phillips announced that he would be leaving office on April 25, 2011, due to issues with his health. The Township Council consists of nine members, with six elected to represent wards and three elected at-large from the Township as a whole. The members of the Township Council are Robert Volkert (Ward 1), Mary Sohor (Ward 2), Reginald Butler (Ward 3), G. Kevin Calogera (Council President; Ward 4), Richard Greene (Ward 5), Lucille Panos (Ward 6), Brian J. Cahill (At-Large), Kelly Ellis-Foster (At-Large) and Edward Testino (Council Vice President; At-Large).
Federal, state and county representation
Old Bridge Township is split between the 6th and 12th Congressional districts and is part of New Jersey's 13th state legislative district.Education
The Old Bridge Township Public SchoolsOld Bridge Township Public Schools
The Old Bridge Township Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from Old Bridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States....
serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The 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...
) are twelve K-5 elementary schools —
M. Scott Carpenter (302 students),
Cheesequake (324),
Leroy Gordon Cooper (186),
Virgil I. Grissom (229),
James A. McDivitt (555),
Madison Park (338),
Memorial (436),
William A. Miller (353),
Walter M. Schirra (420),
Alan B. Shepard (343),
Southwood (380) and
Raymond E. Voorhees (464) —
both
Jonas Salk Middle School (1,273) and
Carl Sandburg Middle School (1,635) for grades 6-8 and
Old Bridge High School
Old Bridge High School
Old Bridge High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Old Bridge Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Old Bridge Township Public Schools...
for grades 9-12 (3,041).
According to reports from the 2000 Census, Old Bridge's population of 25 years and over was 40,677 people. Of those people 3.5% had less than a 9th grade education. 88.4% were high school grad's or higher. 29.5% had a bachelor's degree or higher and 8.9% had a graduate degree.
Old Bridge has one of the oldest and largest programs in the state for students who are handicapped, starting at the age of 2.
Transportation
The Garden State ParkwayGarden 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 Old Bridge for about 1¾ miles and houses Interchange 120. Other routes, such as U.S. 9, Route 18, Route 34 and Route 35 also pass through the township. Old Bridge Airport
Old Bridge Airport
Old Bridge Airport is a public-use airport located five nautical miles south of the central business district of the township of Old Bridge in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The airport is privately owned. The airport is located next to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. There is...
is located 5 miles (8 km) south of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. Some major county routes that pass through are County Route 516
County Route 516 (New Jersey)
-Route description:The highway extends 19.27 miles from Route 18/CR 527 in Old Bridge Township to Route 36 in Middletown Township. It is known as Old Bridge-Matawan Road for its entire length in Old Bridge Township where it intersects US 9 then continues several more miles to the Old...
, County Route 520
County Route 520 (New Jersey)
County Route 520 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. County Route 520 is a major road across Monmouth County connecting the county's central towns to the Jersey Shore at Sea Bright.-Route description:...
and County Route 527
County Route 527 (New Jersey)
County Route 527 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street in Toms River Township to Pompton Avenue in Cedar Grove. It is the second longest county highway in New Jersey after Route 519. It was first given the number 527 in 1954...
.
The New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
(Route 95
Interstate 95 in New Jersey
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway that traverses the full extent of the East Coast of the United States, from Florida to Maine...
) is minutes north along Route 18 outside the township in bordering East Brunswick Township
East Brunswick Township, New Jersey
The town is located southwest of New York City and 48 miles northeast of Philadelphia.Lawrence Brook, a tributary of the Raritan River, runs along the western border of the township...
(Exit 9) and not too far also in bordering Monroe Township
Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey
Monroe Township is a Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 27,999. Monroe was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1838, from portions of South Amboy Township, based on the...
(Exit 8A).
Old Bridge also borders Matawan Borough on Route 34, and the Aberdeen-Matawan (NJT station)
Aberdeen-Matawan (NJT station)
Aberdeen-Matawan is a station on New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, located in Aberdeen Township and Matawan, New Jersey, United States. The station is 5 miles east of South Amboy and 2 miles west of Hazlet...
. There is a large New Jersey Transit Bus Terminal along Route 9 North, close to Ernston Road. New Jersey Transit Bus Operations
New Jersey Transit Bus Operations
New Jersey Transit Bus Operations is the bus division of New Jersey Transit, providing bus service throughout New Jersey along with service along one light rail line, with many routes going to New York City and Philadelphia.-History:...
provide service 68 to Journal Square
Journal Square
Journal Square is a business district, residential area, and transportation hub in Jersey City, New Jersey, which takes its name from the newspaper Jersey Journal whose headquarters are located there. The "square" itself is at the intersection of Kennedy Boulevard and Bergen Avenues...
/Lincoln Harbor 138 to 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...
, and 818 to New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
.
Police Department
Old Bridge maintains a full time police department consisting of over 100 sworn personnel divided into many bureaus. The police department handles approximately 50,000 to 55,000 calls for service each year.- Administration Bureau: Chief of Police. Police radio, computer, 9-1-1, and dispatch operations. Training, scheduling etc.
- Patrol Bureau: First responders for calls of service, motor vehicle crash investigators, motor vehicle and criminal law enforcement, road construction, special operations.
- Traffic Safety Bureau: All traffic enforcement, road construction planning, commuter lot parking enforcement, state funded grants (i.e.:seatbelt enforcement, mobile phone enforcement, child seat, pedestrian etc.) serious and fatal motor vehicle crash investigations, large scale lane closings for events or crashes, road striping, traffic sign replacement and repair, ATV details, special events. Security of impounded vehicles.
- Detective Bureau: Investigates all serious offenses and crimes, serious and fatal motor vehicle crash investigations, plain clothes operations. Works closely with FBI, United States Secret ServiceUnited States Secret ServiceThe United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
, Alcohol Beverage Control and other federal agencies. - Identification Bureau: Works in conjunction with the detective bureau, documents all serious crime scenes, photography for crime scenes and fatal/serious motor vehicle crashes, fingerprinting, evidence collection,processing and storing, civilian background checks, Megans Law enforcement, firearms application investigating and processing.
- Narcotics Bureau: All drug and alcohol related investigations, undercover operations, surveillance, liaisons with Prosecutors office, special operations, raids. Keeps a close relationship with the DEADEADEA is the commonly used acronym for the Drug Enforcement Administration, a United States law enforcement agency.DEA or Dea may also refer to:- Organizations :* DEA , UK development education charity...
. - Fire Arms Unit: Officers trained in qualifying and training all police personnel in weapons systems. This unit repairs and maintains firearms, gear and schedules all state mandated firearms training for the officers. Orders ammunition and supplies related to officer gear.
- Special Operations: Department of Homeland Security liaisons, Laurence Harbor and Cliffwood Beach boardwalk and beachfront details, anti-terrorism and counter-terrorismCounter-terrorismCounter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
training, covert operations. - Police Garage: Mechanics trained in police vehicle repair, wiring, maintenance, storage of impounded vehicles.
- Auxiliary Police: Patrol in marked cars and uniform. They augment the regular officers while on patrol. Auxiliary officers provide additional security for events and details, parade traffic assistance, township fairs, carnivals, benefit functions etc. These officers fall under the Office of Emergency ManagementOffice of Emergency ManagementIn the United States, an Office of Emergency Management is an agency at the local, state or national level that holds responsibility of comprehensively planning for and responding to all manner of disasters, whether man-made or natural...
section of the township and are all volunteers, receiving no paychecks for their services. - Special police officers: Most of these "specials" employees are classified as Class I officers. They provide security at parks and recreation areas, conduct crowd control and are frequently used on court days to handle prisoners. They also serve as another set of "eyes and ears" for the patrol bureau. Class II officers are also employed in the township. They do the same as the Class I officers, however, not many remain.
Fire departments
Old Bridge is divided into several districts each with volunteer and paid members.- Cheesequake Volunteer Fire Company
- South Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Company
- Madison Park Volunteer Fire Company
- Laurence Harbor/Cliffwood Beach Fire Company
Each of the above have several different fire houses with adequate equipment and trucks to handle any and all situations that arise within the township or surrounding towns.
Old Bridge is equipped for:
- HAZMATHazmatHazmat, HazMat and similar terms can refer to:* Hazardous materials and items—see Dangerous goods** Hazchem—a system of hazardous chemical classification and firefighting modes** A hazmat suit is a type of protective clothing...
- Tower rescue
- Water rescue/ice rescue
- Heavy Duty rescue
- General search and rescue
- Wildland firefighting
- Trench rescue
Medical/first aid services
Old Bridge is divided into five districts each with a volunteer first aid squad. Numerous ambulances are in service for the community. A paid squad is employed between the hours of 6am to 6pm.- Cheesequake Volunteer First Aid Squad
- Madison Park Volunteer First Aid Squad
- Laurence Harbor Volunteer First Aid Squad
- Old Bridge First Aid and Rescue (nicknamed "Red & White" due to the color of their ambulances)
- Old Bridge Volunteer Emergency Medical Services (nicknamed "Green & White" due to the color of their ambulances)
The all paid squad is known as Old Bridge Township Emergency Medical Service or "OBTEMS" for short. "OBTEMS" is not affiliated with any of the five volunteer organizations or the Township itself.
Advanced Life support or "ALS" for short, also known as MEDICs are paid personnel dispatched to all township calls based on the requirements of assistance. Medics respond to all life/death situations due to a tramatic injury, industrial accident, heart problems, strokes, serious vehicle crashes etc. The MEDICs are housed by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is the clinical campus of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It provides a full range of health care services as Central New Jersey's only Level 1 Trauma and academic medical center. The hospital is a member of the Robert...
, St. Peters University Hospital and Raritan Bay Medical Center. Each are assigned their own ambulance.
- Raritan Bay Medical Center has two hospitals in the area. Old Bridge division and Perth AmboyPerth Amboy, New JerseyPerth Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The City of Perth Amboy is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 50,814. Perth Amboy is known as the "City by the Bay", referring to Raritan Bay.-Name:The Lenape...
division.
The Old Bridge Division is located at the intersection of New Jersey Route 18 and Ferry Road. This hospital handles all but trauma cases. Most trauma cases are handled by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is the clinical campus of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It provides a full range of health care services as Central New Jersey's only Level 1 Trauma and academic medical center. The hospital is a member of the Robert...
in close-by New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
.
Old Bridge also has many long term care facilities and nursing homes.
Major streams/rivers
- Raritan Bay
- South River
- Matchaponix Brook
- Deep Run
- Tennets Brook
- Barclay Brook
- Cheesequake Creek
Township attractions
- Old Bridge Township Raceway ParkOld Bridge Township Raceway ParkOld Bridge Township Raceway Park, originally known as Madison Township Raceway Park, is an American auto racing facility. It is located on 230 Pension Road in Old Bridge Township, near Englishtown, New Jersey, just off of County Route 527...
- Cheesequake State ParkCheesequake State ParkCheesequake State Park is a state park located in Old Bridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey in the United States.The New Jersey Legislature allocated $100,000 in 1937 to purchase property for this state park. The state first acquired a 250 acre tract of farmland and a Civil War era mansion...
- Laurence Harbor Beachfront
- Old Bridge Ice Arena
- Old Bridge AirportOld Bridge AirportOld Bridge Airport is a public-use airport located five nautical miles south of the central business district of the township of Old Bridge in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The airport is privately owned. The airport is located next to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. There is...
- Numerous parks that include: Veteran's Park, Manino Park, Phillips Park and Geick Park.
Old Bridge facts
- Old Bridge Township shares a border with New York City, sharing a boundary with the borough of Staten Island separated only by the Raritan Bay.
- Old Bridge has the #14th worst superfundSuperfundSuperfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
site in America. That area is fenced off along Waterworks Road, near Cheesequake Road. - Many small ponds in the area are remnants of clay pits dug in the 19th century, as clay was a major industry. The Perrine clay pit was located near Route 9 and Ernston Road.
- The Runyon coal yards were located off Bordentown Avenue where Stavola Asphalt Construction Company (formerly Manzos Contracting) currently operates. Rail cars at this yard were used to transport their loads to the South Amboy docks, where the coal was shipped to New York City.
- Pilings of former docks can be found by foot traversing Steamboat Landing Road, also known as Dock Road, which is the extension of Cottrell road at its intersection with Route 34.
- The Ochwald Brickworks, now the site of Bridgepointe Development in Laurence HarborLaurence Harbor, New JerseyLaurence Harbor is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located on the Raritan Bay within Old Bridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 United States Census, the CDP population was 6,227.-Geography:...
, began operation in 1910 and continued operation into the early 1960s. Behind the Bridgepointe Development and far into the woodline and field, old bricks can still be found. - The Kepec Chemical Company in the Genoa section (off County Road) is where the Rosenburgs allegedly contacted Russian spies in 1950. The FBI conducted surveillance of the building at the corner of Biondi Avenue and Gordon Street. Only a few bricks remain to mark this location at the foot of Columbus Avenue. In the past 10 years, this old Genoa section has experienced new houses and the demolition of old.
- A mass grave in a cemetery off Ernston Road holds the remains of over a dozen unidentified victims of the T. A. Gillespie Company Shell Loading Plant explosionT. A. Gillespie Company Shell Loading Plant explosionThe T. A. Gillespie Company Shell Loading Plant explosion, sometimes called the Morgan Depot Explosion, occurred at 7:30 p.m. on October 4, 1918 at an ammunition plant operated by the T.A. Gillespie Company and located in the Morgan area of Sayreville in Middlesex County, New Jersey...
of 1918. This plant exploded in the Morgan section of neighboring Sayreville killing over an estimated 100 persons. Shock waves were felt as far north as Newark. - A horse-racing track used to be located where present day Lakeridge development now stands (near the border with Matawan Borough.)
- Cheesequake State Park, one of the oldest in the country, opening on June 22, 1940 is located in Old Bridge. With this park near the Garden State ParkwayGarden State ParkwayThe 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...
interchange 120, New Jersey Route 34 and New Jersey Route 35 the park is often closed due to overcrowding. - A cold war era Nike missile base is located off U.S. Route 9 on Jake Brown Road. Listed in Weird NJWeird NJWeird NJ is the title of a semi-annual magazine and two paranormal travel guides that chronicle local legends, hauntings, ghost stories, folklore and anything considered "weird" in the U.S. state of New Jersey....
as a haunted site, readers frequent this area and explore the fields were former base worker residences once stood. The actual base was purchased by Old Bridge Township Board of Education and is currently used to store their own supplies and vehicles. The former underground silos and tunnels were flooded and caved in when the US Military closed the base. - Old Bridge Township Raceway ParkOld Bridge Township Raceway ParkOld Bridge Township Raceway Park, originally known as Madison Township Raceway Park, is an American auto racing facility. It is located on 230 Pension Road in Old Bridge Township, near Englishtown, New Jersey, just off of County Route 527...
, the world renown racetrack that hosts funny car and drag races, is located off Rt 527 (Englishtown Road) near the township's border with Manalapan and Monroe.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Old Bridge Township include:- Donna SimpsonDonna Simpson (internet personality)Donna Simpson is an American woman who in 2008 expressed a desire to become one of the world's heaviest women. She wished to attain a target weight of . As of June 2010, Simpson weighed , down from her weight of in 2008. Simpson maintained a website where fans paid to watch her eat...
, Guiness World Record holder for largest mother. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2010/12/27/16680661.html - Josh AnsleyJosh AnsleyJoshua David Ansley was the bass player for the band HURT and the ska bands Catch 22 and Streetlight Manifesto. Raised in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, United States, Ansley was a Ford model and an actor as a child/pre-teen. He then was in Social Butterfly, an alternative band which also...
, bass player for Streetlight ManifestoStreetlight ManifestoStreetlight Manifesto is an American punk band with many influences from different genres including ska, from New Brunswick, New Jersey fronted by Tomas Kalnoky....
and Catch 22Catch 22 (band)Catch 22 is an American ska punk band from East Brunswick Township, New Jersey.The band was formed by guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Tomas Kalnoky and drummer Chris Greer who recruited trumpeter Kevin Gunther, who was working in a local record store...
. - T. Frank ApplebyT. Frank ApplebyTheodore Frank Appleby was an American Republican Party politician who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1921 to 1923...
(1864–1924), represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional districtNew Jersey's 3rd congressional districtNew Jersey's Third Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Jon Runyan. It is a swing district, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+1. Former NFL player Republican Jon Runyan defeated John Adler in the 2010 House elections...
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 1921 to 1923. - Louis ConsalvoLouis ConsalvoLouis "Louie Eggs" Consalvo is a New Jersey mobster and reputed "soldier" in the DeCavalcante crime family.A lifelong resident in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, Consalvo reportedly joined the North Jersey based DeCavalcante crime family during the disappearance in October 1991 of underboss Louis...
(born 1958), reputed soldier in the DeCavalcante crime familyDeCavalcante crime familyThe DeCavalcante crime family is an organized crime family that controls organized crime activities in Elizabeth, New Jersey and surrounding areas in the state, despite operating on the other side of the Hudson River in New York, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the American Mafia...
. - Junot DiazJunot DíazJunot Díaz is a Dominican-American writer and creative writing professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology . Central to Díaz's work is the immigrant experience...
(born 1968), Pulitzer prize-winning novelist. - Colleen FitzpatrickVitamin C (artist)Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick is an American pop music singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress better known by her stage name, Vitamin C. Her singles include "Graduation ", "As Long As You're Loving Me", "The Itch", and her most successful hit the Top 20 Gold certified "Smile"...
(born 1969 or 1970), a pop musicPop musicPop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
artist, dancer and actress, better known by her stage name, Vitamin C. - Caren LissnerCaren LissnerCaren Lissner was born in New Jersey in 1972. Her published novels include Carrie Pilby and Starting from Square Two . She has also published humorous essays in The New York Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She is editor-in-chief of the Hudson Reporter group of newspapers in New Jersey...
(born 1971), novelist. - Brian O'HalloranBrian O'HalloranBrian Christopher O'Halloran is an American actor best known for his roles in Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse films, notably as Dante Hicks in Smith's debut film Clerks and its 2006 sequel, Clerks II...
(born 1969), actor. Appeared in ClerksClerksClerks is a 1994 independent comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also appears in the film as Silent Bob. Starring Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks and Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves, it presents a day in the lives of two store clerks and their acquaintances...
and Clerks 2. - Jodi Lyn O'KeefeJodi Lyn O'KeefeJodi Lyn O'Keefe is an American actress and model, who at age 17 portrayed Cassidy Bridges on Nash Bridges. She is also known for her role on Prison Break as Gretchen Morgan, a.k.a. "Susan B. Anthony".-Early life:...
(born 1978), actress. - Tab RamosTab RamosTabaré Ramos Ricciardi, known as Tab Ramos is a retired U.S. Olympic Team and National Team soccer midfielder. He played professionally for 13 seasons in Spain, Mexico and the United States. Ramos was the first player to sign with Major League Soccer, where he played seven years with the MetroStars...
(born 1966), retired soccer midfielder. - Diane RuggieroDiane RuggieroDiane Ruggiero is an American television writer and producer. Her credits include That's Life, Veronica Mars, the US remake of "Free Agents", Dirty Sexy Money, Big Shots, and the Mythological X remake The Ex List....
, screen writer for Veronica MarsVeronica MarsVeronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros...
. - Ed SanickiEd SanickiEdward Robert Sanicki was a Major League Baseball outfielder from – for the Philadelphia Phillies....
(1923–98), outfielder who played for the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. - Shannon SohnShannon SohnShannon Sohn is a television news reporter at WABC-TV Eyewitness News in New York City, where she became the first helicopter reporter to win a national Emmy Award....
(born 1974), first helicopter reporter to earn a national Emmy Award. - William H. SutphinWilliam H. SutphinWilliam Halstead Sutphin was an American military, business and Democratic Party politician who represented from 1931-1943.-Biography:...
(1887–1972) represented from 1931-1943. - Michael "Spikey Mikey" Fusco" Part of "ICONic Boyz," dance crew, featured on MTV's America's Best Dance Crew, Season Of The Superstars.
External links
- Old Bridge Township Official Website
- Old Bridge Township Public Schools
- Data for the Old Bridge 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...