Clark, New Jersey


Clark is a township in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 14,756 reflecting an increase of 159 from the 14,597 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 32 from the 14,629 counted in the 1990 Census. It is widely believed that Clark was a sundown town, and it is unclear when that officially changed. It is still an almost exclusively white town.

History

The territory that would become Clark was originally a part of several early villages. The Robinson Plantation House and The Squire Hartshorne House, buildings from the late 17th century, are remnants of the era. The Homestead Farm at Oak Ridge was the site of a skirmish preceding the Battle of Short Hills. In 1858, after the City of Rahway was incorporated, the area of present-day Clark was designated as the 5th Ward of Rahway. Clark was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 23, 1864, from portions of Rahway. The township was named for Abraham Clark, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Portions of the township were taken to form Cranford Township and Winfield Township.
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Clark as its 33rd best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey. In 2013, New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Clark 174th in its rankings of "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 4.494 square miles, including 4.301 square miles of land and 0.193 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ashbrook, Florence Mills, Lenox, Madison Hill and Picton.
The Rahway River Parkway along the Rahway River runs through the township.
The town borders Scotch Plains and Westfield on the west, Cranford and Winfield Park on the north, Linden and Rahway on the east, and Edison and Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County on the south.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $80,959 and the median family income was $99,839. Males had a median income of $65,399 versus $49,649 for females. The per capita income for the township was $37,288. About 2.3% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
According to the 2009-2013 American Community Survey, the largest ancestry groups were:
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 14,597 people, 5,637 households, and 4,126 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,359.6 people per square mile. There were 5,709 housing units at an average density of 1,314.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 95.61% White, 0.30% African American, 0.01% Native American, 2.75% Asian, 0.63% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Also Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.67% of the population.
There were 5,637 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the township the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $65,019, and the median income for a family was $77,291. Males had a median income of $54,543 versus $36,361 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,883. About 1.0% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Clark Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government. The township is one of 71 municipalities statewide that use this form of government. The Clark Township Committee is comprised of seven members, with three elected at-large from the township as a whole and four elected from wards. Four seats come up for election on a partisan basis in November of even-numbered years, with the three Council-at-large seats and Mayor coming up to vote together, and then the four ward seats, all elected to four-year terms of office.
, the Mayor of Clark is Republican Salvatore F. "Sal" Bonaccorso, whose term of office ends December 31, 2020. Members of the Township Council are Council President Patrick O'Connor, Council Vice President Steven M. Hund,Angel Albanese, Alvin Barr, Frank G. Mazzarella, Bill Smith and Brian P. Toal.

Federal, state and county representation

Clark is located in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, and is part of New Jersey's 22nd state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 10,190 registered voters in Clark Township, of which 2,841 were registered as Democrats, 2,311 were registered as Republicans and 5,036 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 69.1% were registered to vote, including 87.6% of those ages 18 and over.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 4,538 votes, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,041 votes and other candidates with 97 votes, among the 7,741 ballots cast by the township's 10,614 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 5,093 votes, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,038 votes and other candidates with 85 votes, among the 8,276 ballots cast by the township's 10,550 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 4,819 votes, ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 3,237 votes and other candidates with 80 votes, among the 8,209 ballots cast by the township's 10,493 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2%.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.3%, and other candidates with 1.3%, among the 4,549 ballots cast by the township's 10,438 registered voters, for a turnout of 43.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 3,375 votes, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,500 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 365 votes and other candidates with 40 votes, among the 5,327 ballots cast by the township's 10,302 registered voters, yielding a 51.7% turnout.

Education

The Clark Public School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising five schools, had an enrollment of 2,328 students and 179.5 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1. Schools in the district are
Clark Preschool with 78 students in PreK,
Frank K. Hehnly Elementary School with 549 students in grades K-5,
Valley Road Elementary School with 465 students in grades K-5,
Carl H. Kumpf Middle School with 481 students in grades 6-8 and
Arthur L. Johnson High School with 720 students in grades 9-12. Students from Garwood attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Garwood Public Schools.
Students who excel in middle school have the opportunity to attend the Union County Magnet High School and the other programs of the Union County Vocational Technical Schools, which accept students from across the county on the basis of admissions examinations and applications.
Mother Seton Regional High School is an all-girls, private, Roman Catholic high school, operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.
The Clark Scholarship Fund is a not-for-profit organization that has provided need-based scholarships to college-bound Clark residents since 1955, funded entirely by contributions from individuals and businesses.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Union County, and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
The Clark Circle connects Central Avenue, Brant Avenue, Valley Road, and the Garden State Parkway via Exit 135. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority redesigned the circle as part of a project that ran from 2007 to 2009 under which the movements at the circle are now controlled by traffic lights. Interchange 135 on the Parkway is signed for Clark / Westfield.

Public transportation

The Lehigh Valley Railroad served the town with a passenger station in the Picton section. The rail line remains active under Conrail's auspices. The closest NJ Transit rail station is in Rahway, located approximately from the center of Clark.
NJ Transit also provides bus service to New York City and points in-between. The 112 route provides service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, as well as stops throughout downtown Elizabeth.
Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately from Clark.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Clark include: