Summit, New Jersey
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Summit is a city located in Union County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 21,131.
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Geography
Summit is located at 40°42'58" North, 74°21'45" West (40.716201, -74.362459)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.7 km² (6.1 mi²). 15.7 km² (6.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.33% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 21,131 people, 7,897 households, and 5,606 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,348.5/km² (3,490.7/mi²). There are 8,146 housing units at an average density of 519.9/km² (1,345.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 87.77% White, 4.33% African American, 0.09% Native American, 4.45% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.70% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. 10.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 7,897 households out of which 35.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% are married couples living together, 7.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% are non-families. 23.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.18.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $92,964, and the median income for a family is $117,053. Males have a median income of $85,625 versus $46,811 for females. The per capita income for the city is $62,598. 4.2% of the population and 2.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.1% of those under the age of 18 and 4.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Schools
Elementary Schools: Brayton Franklin Lincoln Washington Jefferson
Lawton Johnson Summit Middle School
Summit High School
Private Schools: Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child Kent Place School Oratory Prep
Government
Summit is governed under a weak mayor/strong council form of government, under New Jersey state law. The mayor is elected by the city for a four year term and is the city's official spokesman and chief elected official. The mayor can appoint various officials, including the Police Chief and the Board of Education. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of School Estimate and on various committees, and has the right to speak at Common Council meetings. The mayor can only vote to break ties in the Council and has the right to speak out on issues. This bully pulpit role is considered the mayor's strongest power.
The Common Council has the chief policy making and administrative oversight role in city government. The Council approves all laws and adopts the city budget. The Council also oversees the work of city department heads. The Council consists of three members from Ward I and three members from Ward II and one member elected at-large. The six ward members serve three year terms and the at-large member serves a two year term. The Council elects from its membership a President for a one year term and a President Pro Temp for a one year term. The President presides at all Council meetings and the President Pro Temp presides in the President's absence. The President Pro Temp also serves as Acting Mayor in the absence of the Mayor.
Summit has been considered a stronghold for the Republican Party for years. From 1921 to 2001 no Democrats served in elective office and very few ran for office. The real elections occured in the Republican Primary. In 2001, Michel Bitritto won a Council seat in Ward I and Jordan Glatt won the at-large council seat. Summit had never elected a Democratic Mayor until 2003, when Jordan Glatt was elected. Michel Bitritto was defeated for reelection in 2004.
- Jordan Glatt is the current Mayor of Summit.
- Frank Macioce is the at-large Councilman and President of the Common Council.
- Diane Klaif represents Ward I and is President Pro Temp of the Common Council.
- Cynthia Martin is a Ward I Councilwoman and former Council President.
- Thomas Getzendanner is a Ward I Councilman.
- P. Kelly Hatfield is a Ward II Councilwoman and former Council President.
- J. Andrew Lark is a Ward II Councilman.
- Michael Helmer is a Ward II Councilman.
Getzendanner is Chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Hatfield is Chairwoman of the Finance Committee, Klaif is Chairwoman of the Law Committee, Martin is Chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee, Lark is Chairman of the Public Works Committee, and Helmer is Chairman of the Welfare Committee.
Christopher Cotter is the City Administrator of Summit. In this role he directs day to day operations of city government and the city departments. He is a former Fire Chief and Director of Community Services.
Summit is represented in the New Jersey State Senate by Thomas Kean, Jr. and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Eric Munoz and Jon Bramnick. All three are Republicans and Munoz is a Summit resident and former Councilman-at-Large. Summit's member of Congress is Mike Ferguson, who is a Republican.
Notable Natives
Summit is the birthplace of actress, Meryl Streep.
Noted censor Anthony Comstock lived in Summit during part of his career.
Actor Danny Devito went to school at Oratory Prep, a boys' school in Summit.
Rapper Ice-T resided in Summit as a child. He attended the Brayton Elementary School, and moved to Los Angeles to live with family members after the death of his parents.
External links
- The Official City of Summit Website (http://www.ci.summit.nj.us/)
- The Official Summit Police Website (http://www.summitpolice.com//)
- The Official Summit Chamber of Commerce Website (http://www.suburbanchambers.org/)