Plainfield, New Jersey

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Image:Plainfield nj 039.png Plainfield is a City located in Union County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 47,829.

Originally a part of Elizabeth and Westfield townships, Plainfield became it own township on March 4, 1847. It was incorporated as a village in 1867. On April 2, 1869, Plainfield became a city.

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History

It was settled in 1684 by Quakers, and incorporated as a city in 1869. Formerly a bedroom suburb in the New York metropolitan area, it has become the urban center of 10 closely allied municipalities, with diversified industries, including printing and the manufacture of chemicals, clothing, electronic equipment, and vehicular parts. Among the several 18th-century buildings remaining are a Friends' meetinghouse (1788), the Martine house (1717), and the Nathaniel Drake House (1746), known as George Washington's headquarters. Nearby Washington Rock is a prominent point of the Watchung Mountains and is reputed to be the vantage point from which Washington watched British troop movements.

In music history, Plainfield is known as the birthplace of P-Funk. George Clinton founded The Parliaments while working in a barber shop in Plainfield. Parliament - Funkadelic was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Jazz piano legend Bill Evans, as well as the virtuoso 7 string guitarist George Van Epps came from Plainfield, New Jersey.

Plainfield played an important role in the "Black Power" movement in the 1960s by serving as a gun-running center for the east coast.

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Civil disturbance

Plainfield was affected by the Plainfield riots in 1967. This civil disturbance was directly related to the much larger Newark riots that occurred at the same time.

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Geography

Plainfield is located at 40°36'55" North, 74°24'58" West (40.615352, -74.416070)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.6 km² (6.0 mi²). 15.6 km² (6.0 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

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Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 47,829 people, 15,137 households, and 10,898 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,057.4/km² (7,921.7/mi²). There were 16,180 housing units at an average density of 1,034.3/km² (2,679.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 21.45% White, 61.78% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 10.78% from other races, and 4.55% from two or more races. 25.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,137 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.49.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,683, and the median income for a family was $50,774. Males had a median income of $33,460 versus $30,408 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,052. 15.9% of the population and 12.2% of families were below the poverty line. 21.3% of those under the age of 18 and 12.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

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Government

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Local government

The Mayor, elected for a four year term of office, is the chief elected official. The Mayor exercises executive powers for the City of Plainfield and is responsible for direct appointments as well as advise and consent appointments of the Executive Cabinet, Corporation Counsel, and members of boards, commissions and committees. The Mayor of Plainfield is Sharon Robinson-Briggs, whose 4-year term ends on January 1, 2010.

The Plainfield City Council is the governing/legislative body of the City. Composed of seven elected officials, the primary purpose is to enact municipal laws via ordinances and resolutions. Formal meetings are held on the first and third Monday of every month except in the case of a holiday, then the meeting is held the next evening. Members of the City Council are:

  • Ward 1 - Rayland Van Blake (2007)
  • Ward 2 - Cory Storch (2008)
  • Ward 3 - Don Davis (2009)
  • Ward 4 - Joanne Hollis (2006)
  • Council-at-Large - Ray Blanco (2009)
  • Council-at-Large, Wards 1 and 4 - Linda Carter (2008)
  • Council-at-Large, Wards 2 and 3 - Rashid Burney (Appointed 1/19/2005 until the next General Election to fill the unexpired term of Adrian O. Mapp, elected 11/05/2002)
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Federal, state and county representation

Plainfield is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 22nd Legislative District.

Template:NJ Congress 07 Template:NJ Senate

Template:NJ Legislative 22 Template:NJ Governor

Template:NJ Union County Freeholders

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Education

The Plainfield Public School District includes the following schools (with 2003-04 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics:

Elementary Schools (grades K-5)

Middle Schools (grades 6-8)

High School (grades 9-12)

"College"

  • Plainfield Teacher's College, a mythical institution created as a hoax by a duo of college football fans in 1941. The phony college's equally nonexistent football team had its scores carried by major newspapers including the New York Times before the hoax was discovered.
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Famous residents and natives

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External links

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Image:Flag of New Jersey.svg State of New Jersey</span>
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