Roselle, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roselle, New Jersey
Borough
The boathouse at Warinanco Park in Roselle
Seal
Map of Roselle in Union County. Inset: Location of Union County in New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Roselle, New Jersey
Roselle, New Jersey Location in Union County, New Jersey Show map of Union County, New Jersey Roselle, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Roselle, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Union
Incorporated	December 20, 1894
Government
• Type	Borough
• Body	Borough Council
Area
• Total	2.65 sq mi (6.86 km2)
• Land	2.63 sq mi (6.82 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)  0.49%
Area rank	366th of 565 in state 16th of 21 in county
Elevation	56 ft (17 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	22,695
• Estimate  (2023)	22,342
• Rank	120th of 565 in state 10th of 21 in county
• Density	8,612.9/sq mi (3,325.5/km2)
• Density rank	45th of 565 in state 4th of 21 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	07203
Area code(s)	908
FIPS code	3403964620
GNIS feature ID	0885379
Website

Roselle is a borough located in Union County, New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, about 22,695 people lived there. This was an increase of over 1,600 people since the 2010 census.

Roselle's History: A Bright Beginning

Roselle has an exciting history, especially when it comes to electricity!

The First Electric Lights

On January 19, 1883, Roselle became famous. It was the first place in the world to have an electric lighting system that used overhead wires. Thomas Edison built this system. He wanted to show that electricity could light up an entire town. This success helped electric lights spread to many other towns and cities.

The First Presbyterian Church in Roselle was also special. It was the first church in the United States to be lit by electricity. It was the second in the world, after the City Temple church in London.

How Roselle Became a Borough

Roselle officially became a borough on December 20, 1894. This happened during a time called Boroughitis in New Jersey. Many towns were becoming boroughs then. Roselle was formed from parts of Linden.

The name "Roselle" comes from the Roselle Land Improvement Company. This company was started in 1866. Its goal was to plan a community around the Mulford Station. The name "Roselle" might have come from the company's founder, John Conklin Rose. Or it could be from John Pierre Roselle, a friend of the railroad's president.

Exploring Roselle's Geography

Roselle is a small but important part of Union County.

Size and Location

The borough covers about 2.65 square miles (6.86 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.

Roselle is surrounded by other towns in Union County. To the north is Roselle Park. To the south is Linden. To the west is Cranford. To the east, it borders Elizabeth, especially near Warinanco Park. A stream called Morses Creek also runs through the borough.

People of Roselle: Population Changes

Roselle's population has changed over the years.

Who Lives in Roselle?

In 2020, Roselle had 22,695 people. The community is very diverse.

• About 47.6% of residents were Black or African American.
• About 10.9% were White.
• About 2.6% were Asian.
• About 34.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino (who can be of any race).

In 2010, there were 7,407 households in Roselle. The average household had about 2.84 people. The average family had about 3.44 people.

The median age in Roselle in 2010 was 37.0 years old. This means half the people were younger than 37, and half were older.

Roselle's Economy: Helping Businesses Grow

Roselle has a special program to help its economy.

Urban Enterprise Zone

Parts of Roselle are in an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). This is a program in New Jersey to help create jobs and encourage businesses. Roselle joined this program in 2002.

In a UEZ, shoppers can pay a lower sales tax rate. Instead of the usual state rate, it's about half, at 3.3125%. This helps local businesses attract more customers. Roselle's UEZ status is set to expire in December 2023.

Arts and Fun in Roselle

Roselle offers fun activities for its residents.

Roselle House Music Festival

Every July, the Roselle House Music Festival takes place in Warinanco Park. This event is supported by the borough council and other groups. It's a great way for the community to enjoy music and have fun together.

Parks and Green Spaces

Roselle has a beautiful park for everyone to enjoy.

Warinanco Park

Warinanco Park is a large park that opened in 1920. It covers about 205 acres (83 hectares). The park is located in both Roselle and Elizabeth. It's a popular spot for outdoor activities and relaxation.

Learning in Roselle: Schools and Education

Students in Roselle attend schools run by the Roselle Public Schools district.

Public Schools

The public school district serves students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. In the 2020–21 school year, there were eight schools in the district. About 2,897 students were enrolled.

The schools include:

• Kindergarten Success Academy (Kindergarten)
• Harrison Elementary School (Grades 1–4)
• Dr. Charles C. Polk Elementary School (Grades 1–4)
• Washington Elementary School (Grades 1–4)
• Leonard V. Moore Middle School (Grades 5–6)
• Grace Wilday Junior High School (Grades 7–8)
• Abraham Clark High School (Grades 9–12)

Private Schools

Roselle also has private school options:

• Roselle Catholic High School is a private high school for grades 9–12. It is run by the Marist Brothers and is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.
• St. Joseph the Carpenter School was founded in 1913. It teaches students from preschool through eighth grade. It is also supervised by the Newark Archdiocese.

Getting Around Roselle: Transportation

Roselle has several ways to get around, including roads and public transport.

Roads and Highways

Route 27 northbound on the southeast edge of Roselle

As of 2010, Roselle had nearly 50 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the borough itself. New Jersey Route 27 is an important highway that runs along Roselle's southeastern border with Linden.

Public Transportation Options

NJ Transit offers bus services from Roselle to several major locations:

• Buses go to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City.
• Buses also go to Newark.
• Local bus services are also available within the area.

There are also freight train tracks that pass through Roselle. Newark Liberty International Airport is only about 6 miles (9.7 km) away from Roselle, making air travel convenient.

Famous People from Roselle

Many interesting people have connections to Roselle.

See also

In Spanish: Roselle (Nueva Jersey) para niños