Westfield, New Jersey
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Westfield is a town located in Union County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 29,644.
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Geography
Westfield is located at 40°38'60" North, 74°20'35" West (40.649869, -74.343183)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 17.5 km² (6.8 mi²). 17.4 km² (6.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.30% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 29,644 people, 10,622 households, and 8,178 families residing in the town. The population density is 1,700.7/km² (4,403.1/mi²). There are 10,819 housing units at an average density of 620.7/km² (1,607.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 89.98% White, 3.88% African American, 0.09% Native American, 4.08% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. 2.82% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 10,622 households out of which 40.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% are married couples living together, 7.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% are non-families. 19.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.77 and the average family size is 3.20.
In the town the population is spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $98,390, and the median income for a family is $112,145. Males have a median income of $82,420 versus $45,305 for females. The per capita income for the town is $47,187. 2.7% of the population and 1.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 3.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
see also Greater Westfield Area
Press
Westfield is served by two weekly newspapers The Westfield Leader and The Record-Press. Additionally, Westfield High School publishes a weekly student newspaper during the school year called Hi's Eye.
- The Westfield Leader Online (http://www.goleader.com)]
Government
National and State
As of 2005, Westfield is represented by New Jersey Democratic senators Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg. Westfield is in New Jersey's 7th conressional district and is represented by Republican Mike Ferguson in the House of Representatives. Westfield is in the 21st NJ Legislative District and is represented in the NJ Senate by Republican Thomas Kean, Jr. and in the State assembly by Republicans Jon Bramnick and Eric Munoz.
Town Hall
Westfield is divided into four electoral districs called wards. Each ward elects two councilmen who sit on the Town Council and vote on measures to be passed into law. The entire municipality elects a mayor who serves as president of the Town Council. All elected officials on the Town Council serve four year terms. The Town Council holds weekly meetings open to the public where it discusses legislation under consideration. Like most of the United States, Westfield politics are dominated by a two-party system in which the Republican party and the Democratic party compete for elected offices. Like the federal government, Westfield politics are dominated by the GOP and in 2003 Rupblicans took complete control of the Town Council and the current officeholders are listed below.
Mayor
- Gregory S. McDermott (R) term expires 2005
1st Ward
- Peter Echausse (R) term expires 2007
- Sal Caruana (R) term expires 2005
2nd Ward
- Jo Ann Neylan (R) term expires 2007
- Rafael Betancourt (R) term expires 2005
3rd Ward
- Andrew Skibitsky (R) term expires 2005
- Mark Ciarrocca (R) term expires 2007
4th Ward
- Lawrence A. Goldman (R) term expires 2005
- James Foerst (R) term expires 2007
School system
Westfield boasts an exceptional school system. It is divided by a "North Side/South Side" boundary. The schools on the north side consist of Franklin Elementary School, Wilson Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, and Theodore Roosevelt Intermediate School; and on the south side are Jefferson Elementary School, Tamaques Elementary School, McKinley Elementary School, and Thomas Alva Edison Intermediate School.
Parking Deck
Downtown Westfield is a booming economic center for the surrounding towns and the parking question is a perenial issue in Westfield Politics. In 2004 a town-wide referendum a parking deck proposal was defeated 10594 to 3091. This ensured that no solution to this issue will be seen for some years.
Famous Westfieldmen
- Charles Addams
- Dave Brown
- John List
External links
- Official Town Website (http://www.westfieldnj.net/)
- Westfield Information (http://www.westfieldnj.com/)de:Westfield (New Jersey)