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Information About

West Orange, New Jersey




West Orange is a Township located in Essex County , New Jersey . As of the United States 2000 Census , the township had a total population of 44,943. West Orange shares a border with the South Mountain Reservation .


GEOGRAPHY

West Orange is located at 40°47'19" North, 74°15'19" West (40.788650, -74.255416).

According to the United States Census Bureau , the township has a total area of 31.7 Km&2 (12.2 Mi&2 ). 31.4 km&2 (12.1 mi&2) of it is land and 0.3 km&2 (0.1 mi&2) of it is water. The total area is 0.90% water.


DEMOGRAPHICS

As of the Census of 2000, there were 44,943 people, 16,480 households, and 11,684 families residing in the township. The Population Density was 1,431.7/km&2 (3,708.7/mi&2). There were 16,901 housing units at an average density of 538.4/km&2 (1,394.7/mi&2). The racial makeup of the township was 67.55% White , 17.46% African American , 0.14% Native American , 8.09% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 3.52% from Other Races , and 3.20% from two or more races. 10.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,480 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were Married Couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.19. In the township the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $69,254, and the median income for a family was $83,375. Males had a median income of $52,029 versus $39,484 for females. The Per Capita Income for the township was $34,412. 5.6% of the population and 4.6% of families were below the Poverty Line . 6.0% of those under the age of 18 and 7.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.


GOVERNMENT

The Township of West Orange is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government. Under the current form of government, each member of the Township Council serves in an At-Large and Non-Partisan capacity representing the entire township instead of a specified Ward and District as is practiced in many other New Jersey communities.


Elected officials

  • John F. McKeon, Mayor

  • Susan McCartney, Township Councilwoman (2006)

  • Richard A. Giuditta, Jr., Township Councilman (2008)

  • Robert Parisi, Township Council President (2008)

  • Renard Barnes, Township Councilman (2006)

  • John Skarbnik, Township Councilman (2008)



Municipal Court

  • William F. Cuozzi, Jr., Presiding Judge, West Orange Municipal Court

  • Harry L. Starrett, Municipal Judge, West Orange Municipal Court



Key personnel

  • Nancy O'Hara, Township Clerk

  • John Sayers, Business Administrator / Director, West Orange Police Department

  • James P. Abbott, Chief, West Orange Police Department

  • Peter Smeralbo, Chief, West Orange Fire Department

  • Edward Coleman, Comptroller

  • Richard Trenk, Township Attorney

  • Amy Simon, Communications Director



Township facilities

  • The Municipal Building and Township Council offices are located at 66 Main Street

  • The Police Department and Municipal Court are located at 60 Main Street

  • The West Orange Fire Department is located at 415 Valley Road .



County Freeholders and State Legislators



U.S. Senate and U.S. House Of Representatives



EDUCATION

See Also: West Orange Public Schools


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HISTORY

West Orange was initially a part of the city of Newark , and remained such until November 27 , 1806 , when the territory now encompassing all of The Oranges was detached. On April 13 , 1807 , the first government was elected, but not until March 13 , 1860 , was Orange officially incorporated as a city. Almost immediately, the new city began fragmenting into smaller communities, primarily because of local disputes about the costs of establishing paid police, fire, and street departments. South Orange was organized on January 26 , 1861 , Fairmount (later to become part of West Orange) on March 11 , 1862 and East Orange on March 4 , 1863 . West Orange (including what had been the independent municipality of Fairmount) was formed on March 14 , 1863 .

Thomas Edison bought a property known as ''Glenmont'' in 1886 as a wedding gift for his bride. It occupies 13.5 acres (55,000 m&2) in the Llewellyn Park district. The remains of both Thomas and Mina Edison are now buried there. ''Glenmont'' is maintained by the National Park Service as the Edison National Historic Site .

The very first motion picture studio was on the grounds of Edison's factory in West Orange.


FAMOUS RESIDENTS



SEE ALSO



EXTERNAL LINKS