Location of North Plainfield in Somerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
North Plainfield Township was created from portions of Warren Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature passed on April 2, 1872. The borough of North Plainfield became an independent municipality on June 9, 1885.[23][24] The name derives from Plainfield, which derived its name from a local estate[25] or from its scenic location.[26]
In 1902, the New Jersey Legislature approved measures that would have allowed the borough to become part of Union County (a measure repealed in 1903) and to allow for a merger of North Plainfield with the City of Plainfield subject to the approval of a referendum by voters in both municipalities.[27][28]
According to the United States Census Bureau, North Plainfield borough had a total area of 2.82 square miles (7.31 km2), including 2.81 square miles (7.27 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) of water (0.46%).[1][2]
The 2010 United States census counted 21,936 people, 7,448 households, and 5,266 families in the borough. The population density was 7,850.0 per square mile (3,030.9/km2). There were 7,848 housing units at an average density of 2,808.5 per square mile (1,084.4/km2). The racial makeup was 55.01% (12,066) White, 18.85% (4,134) Black or African American, 0.29% (63) Native American, 5.81% (1,275) Asian, 0.05% (12) Pacific Islander, 16.00% (3,510) from other races, and 3.99% (876) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 44.21% (9,699) of the population.[20]
Of the 7,448 households, 35.8% had children under the age of 18; 48.3% were married couples living together; 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.3% were non-families. Of all households, 22.8% were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.40.[20]
24.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.5 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $67,815 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,878) and the median family income was $70,359 (+/− $5,666). Males had a median income of $42,766 (+/− $2,549) versus $43,057 (+/− $3,208) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,529 (+/− $1,466). About 5.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.[39]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 21,103 people, 7,202 households, and 5,084 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,565.0 inhabitants per square mile (2,920.9/km2). There were 7,393 housing units at an average density of 2,650.2 per square mile (1,023.2/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 63.06% White, 13.38% African American, 0.28% Native American, 5.04% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 13.68% from other races, and 4.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.77% of the population.[37][38]
There were 7,202 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.40.[37][38]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.[37][38]
The median income for a household in the borough was $55,322, and the median income for a family was $62,875. Males had a median income of $39,662 versus $30,816 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,791. About 4.4% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.[37][38]
As of the 2000 Census, 5.39% of North Plainfield's residents identified themselves as being of Ecuadorian ancestry, which was the fourth highest of any municipality in New Jersey and the eighth highest percentage of Ecuadorian people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[40]
Government
Local government
The Borough of North Plainfield is governed within the Faulkner Act under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government (Plan E), implemented as of January 1, 1977, based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission.[41] The borough is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form.[42] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council. This form provides for a strong-mayor type of government, in which the mayor has executive functions and the legislative branch is the borough council. The councilmembers and mayor are elected in even-numbered years at the November general election to staggered four-year terms of office in partisan elections on an at-large basis, with four council seats up for election together and then the mayor and the other three council seats up for election at the same time, two years later.[7][43] The Municipal Judge is appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council, and serves for three years. The mayor runs the borough on a day-to-day basis and ensures the enforcement of the legislation passed by the council.
As of 2022[update], the Mayor of North Plainfield is Democrat Lawrence J. La Ronde, whose term of office ends December 31, 2024.[3] Members of the North Plainfield Borough Council are Council President Frank A. "Skip" Stabile III (D, 2024), Council Vice President Everett Merrill (D, 2022), Aimee Corzo (D, 2024), Suezette Given (D, 2022; elected to serve an unexpired term), Steve McIntyre (D, 2022; elected to serve an unexpired term), Keiona R. Miller (D, 2024) and Wendy Schaefer (D, 2022).[44][45][46][47][48][49]
In January 2021, the borough council selected Steve McIntyre from a list of three candidate submitted by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the vacant council seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Lawrence La Ronde who stepped down from the council to take office as mayor.[50] Later that month, the borough council selected Suezette Given from a list of three submitted individuals to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Douglass M. Singleterry until he resigned from office on the last day of December to take office on the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners.[51] McIntyre and Given served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when they were both elected to serve the balance of the terms of office.[47]
In August 2018, the borough council selected Aimee Corzo from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Frank Righetti until he resigned from office.[52] Corzo served on an interim basis until the November 2018 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[49]
Federal, state, and county representation
North Plainfield is located in the 12th Congressional District[53] and is part of New Jersey's 22nd state legislative district.[54][55][56]
Somerset County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners, whose members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held on the first Friday of January, the board selects a Director and deputy director from among its members.[62] As of 2025[update], Somerset County's County Commissioners are:
Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Steve Peter (D, Somerville, 2027),[72][73]
Sheriff Darrin Russo (D, Franklin Township, 2025)[74][75] and
Surrogate Bernice "Tina" Jalloh (D, Franklin Township, 2025)[76][77][70]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 9,738 registered voters in North Plainfield, of which 3,403 (34.9% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,582 (16.2% vs. 25.7%) were registered as Republicans and 4,746 (48.7% vs. 48.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 7 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[78] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 44.4% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 58.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).[78][79]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 72.9% of the vote (4,655 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 26.2% (1,671 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (61 votes), among the 6,432 ballots cast by the borough's 10,444 registered voters (45 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 61.6%.[80][81] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,938 votes (67.5% vs. 52.1% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 2,219 votes (30.3% vs. 46.1%) and other candidates with 84 votes (1.1% vs. 1.1%), among the 7,317 ballots cast by the borough's 9,825 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.5% (vs. 78.7% in Somerset County).[82] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 3,861 votes (58.5% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 2,650 votes (40.2% vs. 51.5%) and other candidates with 60 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 6,597 ballots cast by the borough's 8,891 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2% (vs. 81.7% in the whole county).[83]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 49.5% of the vote (1,681 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 48.8% (1,658 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (59 votes), among the 3,453 ballots cast by the borough's 10,602 registered voters (55 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 32.6%.[84][85] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 2,119 ballots cast (50.3% vs. 34.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,744 votes (41.4% vs. 55.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 255 votes (6.1% vs. 8.7%) and other candidates with 46 votes (1.1% vs. 0.7%), among the 4,214 ballots cast by the borough's 9,840 registered voters, yielding a 42.8% turnout (vs. 52.5% in the county).[86]
North Plainfield vote by party in presidential elections
As of May 2010[update], the borough has a total of 49.77 miles (80.10 km) of roads, of which 39.28 miles (63.22 km) were maintained by the municipality, 7.22 miles (11.62 km) by the county and 3.27 miles (5.26 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[99]
Starting in May 2017, Community Access Transit began operating the 2R bus from North Plainfield to Raritan Valley Community College, with stops in the communities of Somerville and Raritan.[104][105]
^Police Department: North Plainfield's BeginningArchived 2011-04-24 at the Wayback Machine, Borough of North Plainfield. Accessed February 26, 2011. "On April 2, 1872, an Act of the New Jersey Legislature was passed, which divided North Plainfield Township from the Township of Warren. This new township included the towns of North Plainfield, Watchung and Green Brook. The boundaries of this new township were set up in the Act, known as Assembly No. 113. North Plainfield was set off from the Township in the year 1885, Watchung in the year 1926, and Green Brook in 1932."
^Council, Borough of North Plainfield. Accessed April 12, 2022. "The people of the Borough of North Plainfield voted in a referendum for the Borough to operate under the Faulkner Act, which gives us a strong-mayor type of government."
^Borough Council Meeting January 4, 2021 Draft Meeting Minutes, Borough of North Plainfield. Accessed April 12, 2022. "Councilman Lawrence La Ronde resigned from the North Plainfield Borough Council effective the close of business, Thursday, December 31, 2020 in order to become the Mayor of the Borough of North Plainfield on January 1, 2021, thereby causing a Council vacancy... the Borough Council selects Steve McIntyre to serve as a Council Member on the North Plainfield Borough Council until the next General Election (November 2, 2021) at which time a candidate will be elected by the voting public of the Borough, and until the incoming candidate’s election is certified and qualified in accordance with law, who will then serve the remainder of the unexpired term till December 31, 2022."
^Borough Council Meeting January 11, 2021 Draft Minutes, Borough of North Plainfield. Accessed April 12, 2022. "Councilman Douglas Singleterry resigned from the North Plainfield Borough Council effective the close of business, Thursday, December 31, 2020 in order to become a Somerset County Freeholder (Commissioner) on January 1, 2021, thereby causing a Council vacancy... the Borough Council of the Borough of North Plainfield, County of Somerset, State of New Jersey, that the Borough Council selects Suezette Given to serve as a Council Member on the North Plainfield Borough Council until the next General Election (November 2, 2021) at which time a candidate will be elected by the voting public of the Borough, and until the incoming candidate’s election is certified and qualified in accordance with law, who will then serve the remainder of the unexpired term till December 31, 2022.
^Special Meeting Minutes for August 28, 2018, Borough of North Plainfield. Accessed March 1, 2020. "Ms. Schaefer made a motion to appoint Aimee Corzo to fill the unexpired Council Seat term of Frank Righetti, Council, starting this evening and to serve until the certification and qualification of an elected party at the November 6, 2018 General Election to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Righetti which expires on January 1, 2021.... Mayor Giordano administered the Oath of Office to Ms. Corzo."
^Biography, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Watson Coleman and her husband William reside in Ewing Township and are blessed to have three sons; William, Troy, and Jared and three grandchildren; William, Kamryn and Ashanee."
^Human Resources, North Plainfield School District. Accessed May 17, 2020. "Our district is comprised of three elementary schools (K-4), one intermediate school (5-6), one middle school (7-8), and one High School (9-12)."
^District Profile, North Plainfield School District. Accessed May 17, 2020.
^"RVCC Applauds New Bus Route to Run from N. Plainfield to College", Raritan Valley Community College, May 23, 2017. Accessed December 31, 2017. "Raritan Valley Community College applauds the expansion of a bus route that will enhance transportation options for students commuting from North Plainfield to the College's Branchburg campus. The expanded route for Somerset County's CAT-2R (Community Access Transit) shuttle system will offer peak-hour service from North Plainfield to the College from Monday to Friday."
^"Vo-tech students awarded medals", Courier News, April 26, 1995. Accessed March 10, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Three Somerset County Vocational Technical High School students received medals in a state skills competition this month.... Wall will compete, and Alex Abrahantes, a North Plainfield performing arts student, will run for a national club office."
^Lewis, Brian. "Bicknell interested in Rutgers coaching job", Courier News, December 7, 1995. Accessed July 5, 2018. "Now, North Plainfield native Jack Bicknell would love nothing more than to come home as the next Rutgers football coach.... A 1955 North Plainfield grad, and a former Watchung Hills assistant, Bicknell's roots are strictly Central Jersey."
^Yannis, Alex. "Canter's Dream Comes True", The New York Times, June 3, 1984. Accessed October 29, 2013. "The 22-year-old Canter, who was born in North Plainfield, N.J., and grew up in Chatham Township, about 30 minutes by car from Giants Stadium, is in his third year in the league and first with the Cosmos."
^"Anne Lovi Casale, 72, noted gourmet cook and author; former Watchung resident", New Jersey Hills Media Group, December 19, 2002. Accessed January 18, 2020. "Anne Lovi Casale, 72, of Glendale, Ariz., and formerly of Watchung, died Monday, Dec. 2, 2002 at her home. Born in Perth Amboy, Mrs. Casale resided there before moving to North Plainfield in 1945."
^Clark, Edward. "Annamae Palmer Crite and Allan Rohan Crite: Mother and Artist Son: An Interview", MELUS, Vol. 6, No. 4, Winter, 1979. Accessed October 29, 2013. "Allan Rohan Crite, Afro-American, is an artist of extraordinary achievement. He was born in North Plainfield, New Jersey, on March 20, 1910, and has lived in the South End neighborhood of Boston since he was six months old."
^Jazz Appreciation Month - April 2007: William John EvansArchived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine, Embassy of the United States: Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Accessed February 26, 2011. "He graduated from North Plainfield High School in 1946 and attended Southeastern Louisiana College, where he graduated in 1950 with a major in piano and a minor in flute."
^Staff. "Claims a Share of Company's Profits", The New York Times, January 14, 1899. Accessed May 2, 2011. "David T. Kenney of North Plainfield has secured an order from Vice Chancellor Reed for the Sanitary earthenware company of Trenton to show cause next Tuesday why it should not be enjoined from selling out to the American Potteries Company."
^Staff. "Music Best Bets", Courier News, May 8, 2003. Accessed August 29, 2011. "Slim's new album I Have Arrived and his band feature former members of Spin Doctors, including North Plainfield-raised Raritan-based guitarist Anthony Krizan."
^Gallagher, Lawrence. "Richard Larson ’65, SM ’67, PhD ’69", Infinite MIT, September 23, 2010. Accessed February 11, 2021. "Well, that's a complicated one. I was born in Bayside, Queens, New York, at the age of five, moved to Sunbury, Pennsylvania, spent six years there, then moved to North Plainfield, New Jersey, and I graduated from a high school not far from MIT, Needham High School, which is a western suburb of Boston."
^"Harry Leahey, Jazz Guitarist, 54", The New York Times, August 16, 1990. Accessed August 5, 2020. "Harry Leahey, a jazz guitarist and teacher, died on Sunday at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J. He was 54 years old and lived in North Plainfield, N.J., until last year, when he moved to Iselin, N.J."
^Lamb, Bill. Warren McLaughlin, Society for American Baseball Research. Accessed May 13, 2024. "Although baseball and historical references are not consistent, the best available evidence suggests that Warren A. McLaughlin was born on January 22, 1876, in North Plainfield, New Jersey, then a semi-rural township located about 18 miles southwest of Newark."
^Jack Melick BiographyArchived 2013-11-01 at the Wayback Machine, Jack Melick and his Orchestra. Accessed October 29, 2013. "In 2008, popular band leader Jack Melick celebrated his 55th year as a full-time professional musician! His career started in his hometown, North Plainfield, NJ, when his mother started him on piano lessons at the age of five."
^Sutton, Horace "This Wayward Bus Crosses the Channel", Los Angeles Times, October 29, 1961. Accessed October 29, 2013. "The combo includes 14-year-old Barry Miles, a drumming prodigy from North Plainfield. NJ, Julian Euell of New York on the bass, and John Handy, who started playing professionally in San Francisco."
^Rohan, Virginia. "Dorian Missick finds 'Degrees' of success", The Record, November 19, 2006. Accessed January 23, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "On his first real acting job -playing a young Southern fisherman in a 1990 episode of In the Heat of the Night - Dorian Missick was a fish out of water.... 'That show was shot in Georgia, and I was this kid from New Jersey. I didn't have the accent down,' says Missick, who was born in East Orange and grew up in North Plainfield."
^Goodman, Al. "Artist creates massive Obama portrait near Barcelona beach", CNN, November 3, 2008. Accessed October 29, 2013. "Rodriguez-Gerada, 42, is a Cuban-born American who grew up in North Plainfield, New Jersey, near New York, and now lives in Barcelona."