Edison, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edison, New Jersey
Township
Edison Tower Edison station JFK Medical Center Little India Menlo Park Mall Roosevelt Hospital Homestead Farm at Oak Ridge Benjamin Shotwell House St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "Birthplace of the Modern World"
Motto(s):  "Let There Be Light" "Birthplace of Recorded Sound"
Location of Edison in Middlesex County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Middlesex County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Census Bureau map of Edison, New Jersey <mapframe text="Interactive map of Edison, New Jersey" zoom="11" width="250" height="250"> { "type": "ExternalData", "service": "geoshape", "ids": "Q746801" } </mapframe>
Edison, New Jersey Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey Show map of Middlesex County, New Jersey Edison, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Edison, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Middlesex
Settled	1651
Incorporated	March 17, 1870 (as Raritan Township)
Renamed	November 10, 1954 (as Edison Township)
Named for	Thomas Edison
Government
• Type	Faulkner Act Mayor-Council
• Body	Township Council
Area
• Total	30.69 sq mi (79.49 km2)
• Land	30.06 sq mi (77.86 km2)
• Water	0.63 sq mi (1.63 km2)  2.05%
Area rank	88th of 565 in state 4th of 25 in county
Elevation	39 ft (12 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	107,588
• Estimate  (2023)	106,836
• Rank	6th of 565 in state 1st of 25 in county
• Density	3,578.2/sq mi (1,381.6/km2)
• Density rank	187th of 565 in state 14th of 25 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes	08817, 08818, 08820, 08837, 08899
Area code(s)	732 and 908
FIPS code	3402320230
GNIS feature ID	0882166

Edison is a busy township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It's located in Central New Jersey, in the Raritan Valley region. Edison is a major business area, home to places like Menlo Park Mall and Little India. Many people who live here also work in New York City, making it a "bedroom community."

In 2020, Edison was the sixth-largest town in New Jersey. Its population was 107,588 people. This was a good increase from the 2010 census.

What is now Edison Township was first called Raritan Township. It was created on March 17, 1870, from parts of Piscataway and Woodbridge Township. The original name came from the Raritan Native Americans. Later, parts of the township became the towns of Metuchen (in 1900) and Highland Park (in 1905). The name was officially changed to Edison Township on November 10, 1954. This was to honor the famous inventor Thomas Edison, who had his main laboratory in the Menlo Park area of the township.

History of Edison

How Edison Began

Stelton Baptist Church and Cemetery, one of the oldest churches in New Jersey.

The first people to live in this area were the Raritan people. They were a group of Lenape Native Americans. They lived here and traveled to the shore.

European settlers arrived in the 1600s. The earliest village was called Piscatawaytown. You can still see old buildings from this time. These include the Laing House of Plainfield Plantation, the Benjamin Shotwell House, and the Homestead Farm at Oak Ridge. These buildings are now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The area was known as "Raritan Township" for a long time. This is different from another Raritan Township in Hunterdon County today.

Thomas Edison's Time in Menlo Park

A copy of Edison's lab where he invented the light bulb.

In 1876, Thomas Edison built his home and research lab in a place called "Menlo Park". This area is now part of Edison State Park. People called him "the Wizard of Menlo Park."

Before he passed away in 1931 at age 83, Edison received 1,093 patents! Some of his most famous inventions include the phonograph (which played recorded sound) and the incandescent light bulb. He also invented a motion-picture camera and the first commercial electric light.

Edison's Menlo Park lab was special. It was one of the first labs to focus on making inventions that people could actually use and buy. It was here that he created the phonograph and a light bulb that could be sold to everyone. Christie Street in Edison was the first street in the world to use electric lights! Later, in 1886, Edison moved his home and lab to West Orange.

Edison in the 1900s

Near Piscatawaytown, there was an area known as "Nixon." This was named after Lewis Nixon, a local leader. During World War I, a large chemical factory called the Nixon Nitration Works was built there. In 1924, there was a huge explosion and fire at this factory. It caused a lot of damage and hurt many people.

In 1954, the township's name was changed to honor Thomas A. Edison. There was also a plan to change the name to Nixon, but it didn't pass.

In 1959, the Menlo Park Mall opened. It's a big shopping center on U.S. Route 1.

Edison Today

Menlo Park Mall is a popular shopping spot.

Edison has grown very quickly in New Jersey. In 2000, it was the fifth most populated town in the state.

Edison is a very diverse community with over 75 different ethnic groups. It has a large Jewish community and many synagogues. There's also a growing Indian community with several temples. Because of its many residents from India and China, Edison has "sister city" agreements with Shijiazhuang, China, and Baroda, India.

Edison has been recognized as a great place to live. CNN Money magazine ranked it as one of the most livable small cities in the U.S. It was also named one of "America's 10 Best Places to Grow Up" by U.S. News & World Report. This was because of its low crime, good schools, green spaces, and fun activities. In 2014, parenting.com called Edison the safest city in America.

Geography of Edison

Roosevelt Park is a large green space in Edison.

Edison covers about 30.69 square miles (79.49 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Edison is located in the Raritan Valley area. It completely surrounds the borough of Metuchen. This makes it one of New Jersey's "doughnut towns." Edison shares borders with several other towns. These include East Brunswick, Highland Park, New Brunswick, Piscataway, Sayreville, South Plainfield, and Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County. It also borders Clark, Plainfield, and Scotch Plains in Union County.

Edison has many different neighborhoods and areas. Some well-known ones are Bonhamtown, Clara Barton, Menlo Park, Nixon, and Stelton.

Edison is about 27 miles from both Midtown Manhattan in New York City and Trenton, New Jersey's capital.

The land in Edison is mostly flat. However, there are some hills, especially along the Perth Amboy Moraine. This area was formed by a large ice sheet long ago. The highest point in Edison is about 220 feet high on Grandview Avenue. The lowest point is at sea level along the Raritan River.

The Robinsons Branch of the Rahway River also flows through Edison.

Edison's Climate

Edison has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain throughout the year, especially in late summer. Summers are usually hot and humid. Winters are cool to cold, and it snows multiple times each winter.

The hottest temperatures ever recorded in Edison were 106°F (41°C) in July 1936 and August 1949. The coldest temperature was -17°F (-27°C) in February 1934.

People of Edison

Asian Communities in Edison

Edison is a very diverse place, especially with its large Asian American population. In 2020, about half of the people living in Edison were of Asian descent.

Indian Community

Oak Tree Road is a famous street in Edison and nearby Iselin. It's known for its many South Asian stores and restaurants. This area is the largest and most diverse South Asian cultural center in the United States. In Middlesex County, election ballots are even printed in English, Spanish, Gujarati, Hindi, and Punjabi! In 2020, about 35% of Edison residents were Indian American. This is one of the highest percentages in the country.

Chinese Community

Edison also has a large Chinese population. There are several Chinese-language schools and cultural groups here. You can find many Chinese food places near the borders with Highland Park and Rutgers University's Livingston Campus. These include big supermarkets like Kam Man Food and 99 Ranch Market. There are also places for dim sum, dumplings, and tea. Edison even has Chinese magazines and newspapers.

The township celebrates the Lunar New Year with a parade. It usually goes from Division Street to Papaianni Park.

Jewish Community in Edison

Edison is home to a big Jewish community, including many Orthodox families. In 2024, the world's largest gathering of rabbis outside of Israel happened at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison.

Edison's Population Over Time

Edison's Population in 2020

In 2020, Edison had 107,588 people. Here's a look at the different groups living there:

Map of racial distribution in Edison, 2020 U.S. census. Each dot is one person: ⬤ White ⬤ Black ⬤ Asian ⬤ Hispanic ⬤ Multiracial ⬤ Native American/Other

Edison's Population in 2010

Amboy Avenue in the Clara Barton neighborhood.

In 2010, Edison had 99,967 people. About 44% were White, 7% Black or African American, and 43% Asian. About 8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average household had 2.80 people, and the average family had 3.26 people. About 22.7% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 38.1 years.

The median household income in 2010 was about $86,725. The median family income was about $100,008.

Economy of Edison

Raritan Center is a huge business park.

Edison has a strong economy with many businesses.

Manufacturing in Edison

In the past, Edison had many factories. These included Edison Assembly, a Ford Motor Company plant that made cars like Rangers and Mustangs. Frigidaire also had an air-conditioner factory here.

However, starting in the 2000s, many factories moved overseas. The Ford plant was torn down by 2008. Now, places like Sam's Club, Topgolf, and Starbucks are there instead.

Companies in Edison

Many companies have their offices or warehouses in Edison. Majesco Entertainment, a video game company, has its main office here. Other companies like Colavita (Italian food), Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and Newegg have large warehouse operations.

Edison is also home to the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center. This is the state's largest private convention center. It's located in the Raritan Center Business Park. Raritan Center is the biggest industrial park east of the Mississippi River!

Sports in Edison

Plainfield Country Club is a private golf club in Edison. It has hosted big golf tournaments like the 1987 U.S. Women's Open and The Barclays golf tournament.

Parks and Fun in Edison

Oak Tree Pond is a historical site where the Battle of Short Hills took place during the American Revolutionary War. It's now a park.

Roosevelt Park is a large park covering 196 acres. It includes an 8-acre lake. This park was created in 1917, making it the oldest county park in Middlesex County.

Edison State Park and Dismal Swamp are also located in the township.

Education in Edison

Edison Academy Magnet School

St. Thomas Aquinas High School

Middlesex College

Public Schools in Edison

The Edison Township Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. The district has two high schools: Edison High School and J.P. Stevens High School. These schools serve different parts of the town.

In the Edison High School area, there are six elementary schools (grades K-5) and two middle schools (grades 6-8). In the J.P. Stevens High School area, there are five elementary schools and two middle schools.

As of 2021–22, the district had 19 schools and over 16,000 students. The student-to-teacher ratio was about 13 students per teacher.

Some of the schools in the district include:

• Edison Early Learning Center (PreK-K)
• Benjamin Franklin Elementary School (K-5)
• Lincoln Elementary School (K-5)
• James Madison Intermediate School (3-5)
• John Adams Middle School (6-8)
• Herbert Hoover Middle School (6-8)
• Edison High School (9-12)
• J.P. Stevens High School (9-12)

J.P. Stevens High School and Edison High School are both highly ranked in New Jersey. They are known for their strong academic programs.

Students from all over Middlesex County can also apply to special high school programs. These are offered by the Middlesex County Magnet Schools. These schools focus on career and technical education. For example, the Edison Academy Magnet School in Edison focuses on science, math, and engineering. There is no tuition for these schools for county residents.

Private Schools in Edison

Edison also has several private schools:

• St. Thomas Aquinas High School (grades 9-12)
• St. Helena School (Pre-K–8)
• St. Matthew School (Pre-K–8)
• Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva (Pre-K–8, a Jewish school)
• Yeshiva Shaarei Tzion (Pre-K–8, another Jewish school)
• Lakeview School (for children with disabilities)
• Our Lady of Peace School
• Wardlaw-Hartridge School (Pre-K–12, a very old school founded in 1882)

Many Chinese families send their children to Chinese language schools on weekends. These schools teach different styles of Chinese. J.P. Stevens High School even offers Mandarin Chinese and Standard Hindi as elective languages.

Colleges in Edison

• Lincoln Tech is a school that teaches job skills. It offers programs in nursing, medical, and computer fields.
• Middlesex College is a public two-year college located in Edison.
• Rutgers University's Livingston campus is partly located in Edison. It's on the site of a former army post called Camp Kilmer.

Libraries in Edison

Edison has three public library branches: The Main Branch, North Edison Branch, and the Clara Barton Branch.

Transportation in Edison

Roads and Highways

A view of the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) in Edison.

Edison is a major transportation hub. Many highways pass through it, connecting to big cities like New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. Newark Liberty International Airport is also about 25 miles away.

Major roads include Route 27, Route 440, and U.S. Route 1. Interstate 287 also goes through Edison. The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) runs for about 5 miles through the township. Exit 10 of the Turnpike is in Edison and is very busy. It connects the New Jersey Turnpike to the New York Thruway.

Public Transportation

Edison station provides train service.

The Edison station is in South Edison. You can catch NJ Transit trains here. These trains go north to Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station. They also go south to the Trenton Transit Center. Some people in North Edison might use the Metropark station or Metuchen station instead.

NJ Transit also offers bus service on several routes, like the 48 route to Elizabeth. Local bus services are also available.

A Taiwanese airline, China Airlines, provides a private bus service from the Kam Man Food location in Edison to John F. Kennedy International Airport. This helps passengers get to their flights to Taipei, Taiwan.

Healthcare in Edison

JFK Medical Center is a large hospital.

JFK Medical Center is a large hospital in Edison with 498 beds. It was founded in 1967.

Roosevelt Care Center is a facility for long-term care. It was built in 1936.

Edison has a volunteer emergency medical service (EMS) called Raritan Valley Regional EMS. It's made up of three smaller groups that joined together in 2009. They have about 50 volunteer EMTs who help residents.

Sister Cities

Edison has special "sister city" relationships with two cities in other countries:

• Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
• Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Famous People from Edison

Many interesting people have lived in or are from Edison. Here are a few:

• Tyus Battle (born 1997), a college basketball player.
• David Bryan (born 1962), keyboardist for the band Bon Jovi.
• Leonte Carroo (born 1994), a wide receiver who played in the NFL.
• Thomas Edison (1847–1931), the famous inventor who the township is named after.
• Halsey (born 1994), a popular singer-songwriter.
• Patrick McDonnell (born 1956), the cartoonist who created the Mutts comic strip.
• Brittany Murphy (1977–2009), an actress.
• Jim Norton (born 1968), a stand-up comedian.
• Susan Sarandon (born 1946), a well-known actress.
• Chris Snee (born 1982), a football player who played for the New York Giants.
• Karl-Anthony Towns (born 1995), a professional basketball player.
• Mike Vallely (born 1970), a professional skateboarder and singer.
• Gary Vaynerchuk (born 1975), a famous entrepreneur and internet personality.

Interesting Places in Edison

• Advian: In 2012, this site had one of the largest rooftop solar power systems in the country.
• Bonhamtown: This was the site of a battle during the American Revolutionary War.
• Camp Kilmer: A former army base from World War II, partly located in Edison.
• Dismal Swamp: A preserved wetland area.
• Edison station: A train station in South Edison for NJ Transit trains.
• Laing House of Plainfield Plantation: A historic home built in the early 1700s.
• Roosevelt Park: A large 196-acre park next to Menlo Park Mall.
• Menlo Park Mall: A big shopping mall located at Route 1 and Parsonage Road.
• Oak Tree Road: Famous for its many Indian stores and restaurants in Edison and Iselin.
• The Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum: Located in Edison State Park, this museum is at the site where Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb and the phonograph.
• Tastee Sub Shop: A popular sandwich shop that President Barack Obama visited in 2010.