Irvington, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irvington, New Jersey
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Township
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Morrell High School
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 Irvington, New Jersey
Location in Essex County, New Jersey
Irvington, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Irvington, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | Essex | |
| Incorporated | March 27, 1874 | |
| Named for | Washington Irving | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.92 sq mi (7.55 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.91 sq mi (7.55 km2) | |
| • Water | <0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) 0.07% | |
| Area rank | 338th of 565 in state 16th of 22 in county |
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| Elevation | 128 ft (39 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 61,176 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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59,925 | |
| • Rank | 24th of 565 in state 3rd of 22 in county |
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| • Density | 20,993.8/sq mi (8,105.8/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 9th of 565 in state 1st of 22 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07111
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| Area code(s) | 973 | |
| FIPS code | 3401334450 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0877363 | |
Irvington is a township located in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It's a busy community with a growing population.
In 2020, about 61,176 people lived in Irvington. This was a good increase from the 2010 census.
Contents
History of Irvington
Irvington has an interesting past! It was once part of a larger area called Clinton Township. This area also included parts of what are now Maplewood and Newark.
How Irvington Got Its Name
Before the mid-1800s, the area was known as Camptown. However, after Stephen Foster wrote his famous song, Camptown Races, people in the town worried about being linked to the song's themes. So, in 1850, they decided to rename the town Irvingtown. This new name honored the famous American writer, Washington Irving.
Becoming a Township
Irvington became an independent village on March 27, 1874. It was formed from parts of Clinton Township. Later, in 1898, it officially became a Town. In 1982, Irvington changed its status again, becoming a township. This change helped the town get more government funding.
Olympic Park: A Fun Place in the Past
From 1887 to 1965, Irvington was home to Olympic Park. This was a large amusement park that covered 40 acres. It was located right on the border of Irvington and Maplewood. After the park closed, its merry-go-round was even moved to Disney World in Florida!
Changes in Population
After the 1967 Newark riots, many families moved from Newark to nearby Irvington. Before 1965, most people in Irvington were white. By 1980, nearly 40% of the town's population was black. By 1990, this number grew to 70%.
First Black Leaders
In 1980, Fred Bost became the first black person to serve on the Town Council. Later that year, Michael G. Steele became the first black person elected to public office in Irvington. He won a seat on the school board at just 24 years old. Ten years later, in 1990, he became the township's first black mayor. He served for four years, followed by Sarah Brockington Bost in 1994. The current mayor of Irvington is Tony Vauss.
Geography of Irvington
Irvington covers a total area of about 2.92 square miles (7.55 square kilometers). Most of this area is land.
The Elizabeth River flows through the town. You can see it near Civic Square and Clinton Cemetery.
Neighboring Towns
Irvington shares its borders with several other towns. To the west, it borders Maplewood. To the east, it borders Newark. Both of these towns are also in Essex County. To the south, Irvington borders Hillside, and to the southwest, it borders Union. These last two towns are in Union County, New Jersey.
Population and Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,677 | — | |
| 1900 | 5,255 | — | |
| 1910 | 11,877 | 126.0% | |
| 1920 | 25,480 | 114.5% | |
| 1930 | 56,733 | 122.7% | |
| 1940 | 55,328 | −2.5% | |
| 1950 | 59,201 | 7.0% | |
| 1960 | 59,379 | 0.3% | |
| 1970 | 59,743 | 0.6% | |
| 1980 | 61,493 | 2.9% | |
| 1990 | 61,018 | −0.8% | |
| 2000 | 60,695 | −0.5% | |
| 2010 | 53,926 | −11.2% | |
| 2020 | 61,176 | 13.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 59,925 | 11.1% | |
| Population sources:1900–1920 1900–1910 1880–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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Population in 2020
In 2020, Irvington had a population of 61,176 people. Most residents identified as Black or African American. About 14.69% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Population in 2010
The 2010 census counted 53,926 people in Irvington. About 85.41% of the population was Black or African American. Around 10.60% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2010, about 25.4% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in Irvington was 34 years.
Economy
Irvington has an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). This is a special area designed to help businesses grow and create jobs. In these zones, shoppers can pay a lower sales tax rate. Irvington's UEZ was created in 1996 and will continue until May 2027.
In 2015, the area around the Irvington Bus Terminal was named a "transit village." This means it gets special support to help it grow and improve.
Theatres
In the 1920s, Irvington had six movie theaters. These theaters showed silent films and hosted live stage shows. Some even had special organs called Wurlitzers to play music during shows.
Over time, movies became more popular, but by the 1970s, many theaters closed down. Today, there are no movie theaters operating in Irvington.
Education
The Irvington Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. The school district has 12 schools.
Schools in Irvington
Some of the schools in the district include:
- Augusta Preschool Academy (Pre-K)
- Berkeley Terrace School (Pre-K–5)
- Chancellor Avenue School (K–5)
- Florence Avenue School (K–5)
- Grove Street School (Pre-K–5)
- Madison Avenue School (Pre-K–5)
- Thurgood G. Marshall School (Pre-K–5)
- Mount Vernon Avenue School (K–5)
- University Elementary School (K–5)
- Union Avenue Middle School (6–8)
- University Middle School (6–8)
- Irvington High School (9–12)
Transportation
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Roads and Highways
Irvington has many miles of roads. The Garden State Parkway is a major highway that runs through the middle of the township. You can get on or off the Parkway at exits 143 and 144. Interstate 78 also passes briefly along the southeastern edge of Irvington.
Public Transportation
The Irvington Bus Terminal is a very busy place. It's a major hub for NJ Transit buses. Many bus routes connect Irvington to other places. For example, you can take a bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan or to Newark.
If you need to fly, Newark Liberty International Airport is very close by. It's located in neighboring Newark and Elizabeth.
Notable People from Irvington
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Irvington! Here are a few:
- Harold A. Ackerman (1928–2009), a federal judge.
- Richie Adubato (born 1937), a former NBA basketball coach.
- Glen Burtnik (born 1955), a singer and former member of the band Styx.
- Asnage Castelly (born 1979), a wrestler who competed for Haiti in the Olympics.
- Rakeem Christmas (born 1991), a basketball player.
- Vera Farmiga (born 1973), an Academy Award-nominated actress.
- Erna Schneider Hoover (born 1926), a mathematician who invented a way to computerize telephone switching.
- Cullen Jones (born 1984), an Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer.
- Queen Latifah (born 1970), a famous rapper, singer, actress, and producer.
- Jerry Lewis (1926–2017), a well-known comedian, actor, and director.
- Joe Morello (1928–2011), a drummer famous for his work with The Dave Brubeck Quartet.
- Raheem Morris (born 1976), head coach of the Atlanta Falcons football team.
- Al-Quadin Muhammad (born 1995), a football player for the New Orleans Saints.
- Napoleon (born 1977), a rapper who was part of Tupac Shakur's group, the Outlawz.
- Fabiana Pierre-Louis (born 1980), a lawyer nominated to the New Jersey Supreme Court.
- Pras (born 1972), a rapper and founding member of the Fugees.
- Robert Randolph (born 1977), a singer and guitarist.
- Mark Rudd (born 1947), an educator and anti-war activist.
- Artie Schroeck (born 1938), a composer and arranger.
- Adon Shuler, an American football safety for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
- Craig A. Stanley (born 1955), a politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly.
- Gary Saul Stein (born 1933), a former Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.
- Lewis Yablonsky (1924–2014), a sociologist and author known for his work with gang members.
See also
In Spanish: Irvington (Nueva Jersey) para niños
