Scotch Plains, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
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Township
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Malcom E. Nettingham Middle School, built in the 1920s, was renamed to honor Nettingham, a Tuskegee Airman and former student.
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Map of Scotch Plains Township in Union County. Inset: Location of Union County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
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Census Bureau map of Scotch Plains, New Jersey
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 Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Location in Union County, New Jersey
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Scotch Plains, 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 | Union | ||
| Incorporated | March 6, 1878 (as Fanwood Township) | ||
| Renamed | March 29, 1917 (as Scotch Plains) | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (council–manager) | ||
| • Body | Township Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 9.06 sq mi (23.46 km2) | ||
| • Land | 9.02 sq mi (23.36 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2) 0.40% | ||
| Area rank | 220th of 565 in state 4th of 21 in county |
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| Elevation | 141 ft (43 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 24,968 | ||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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24,430 | ||
| • Rank | 105th of 565 in state 7th of 21 in county |
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| • Density | 2,767.8/sq mi (1,068.7/km2) | ||
| • Density rank | 232nd of 565 in state 19th of 21 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | ||
| ZIP Code |
07076
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| Area code(s) | 908 | ||
| FIPS code | 3403966060 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0882217 | ||
| Website | |||
Scotch Plains is a township in Union County, New Jersey. It is located in the northern-central part of the state, near the New York metropolitan area. In 2020, about 24,968 people lived in Scotch Plains. This was an increase of over 1,400 people since 2010.
Contents
History of Scotch Plains
Early Native American Life
The Lenape people were the first to live in this area. They lived across a large region from Pennsylvania to the Atlantic Ocean. For about 10,000 years, the Lenape and their ancestors used the land where Scotch Plains is now. They likely used it as a temporary camp between the Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean.
Ancient Ways of Life
Evidence shows that people hunted in the rivers and woods around Scotch Plains long ago. This was from 10,000 to 4,000 years ago. They used tools like spears and axe heads. Later, from 4,000 to 450 years ago, communities made dugout canoes and nets for fishing. They also built wigwams for shelter. During this time, they farmed a lot, moving to new areas as the seasons changed.
Colonial Times and the American Revolution
Europeans, including many Scottish Quakers, first settled in Scotch Plains around 1684. The town's name might come from George Scott, a Scottish settler leader. Scotch Plains was a stop for stagecoaches traveling between New York City and Philadelphia.
The arrival of colonists in the 1600s greatly affected the Lenape people. Colonists took much of their land. Today, the Lenape, now called the Delaware Nation, live in small groups across the U.S. and Canada. Some still live in their original homeland.
Scotch Plains played a part in the American Revolutionary War. The Ash Swamp was a key site in the Battle of Short Hills in 1777. An old house in Scotch Plains belonged to Aunt Betty Frazee. She famously refused to sell bread to British soldiers. Her farm is now being restored by local groups.
Becoming a Township
Scotch Plains was first called Fanwood Township. It was formed on March 6, 1878. This happened when parts of Plainfield and Westfield were combined. Later, on October 2, 1895, Fanwood Borough became its own town. Fanwood Township was officially renamed Scotch Plains on March 29, 1917.
A Place of Firsts
Scotch Plains was home to the Shady Rest Golf and Country Club. This was the first African-American country club in the nation. Its golf pro, John Shippen, was the first African-American golf professional. He even led the 1892 U.S. Open for a while. The Shady Rest clubhouse was a center for African-American culture in the 1920s and 1930s. Famous musicians like Cab Calloway performed there. Today, it is the Scotch Hills Municipal course.
Many residents of Scotch Plains have ancestors from Montazzoli, Italy. They came to the area in the early 1900s. In 2015, the town created "Montazzoli Plaza" to honor this connection.
Geography and Location
Scotch Plains covers about 9.06 square miles (23.46 km²). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
The township shares borders with several other towns. These include Berkeley Heights, Clark, Fanwood, Mountainside, Plainfield, and Westfield in Union County. It also borders Edison and South Plainfield in Middlesex County. Watchung in Somerset County is also a neighbor.
Small communities within Scotch Plains include Alton, Goodmans, Graceland, Two Bridges, and Willow Grove. The Robinson's Branch of the Rahway River flows through Scotch Plains.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,167 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,305 | 11.8% | |
| 1900 | 1,200 | * | −8.0% |
| 1910 | 1,616 | 34.7% | |
| 1920 | 2,343 | 45.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,186 | 78.7% | |
| 1940 | 4,993 | 19.3% | |
| 1950 | 9,069 | 81.6% | |
| 1960 | 18,491 | 103.9% | |
| 1970 | 22,279 | 20.5% | |
| 1980 | 20,774 | −6.8% | |
| 1990 | 21,160 | 1.9% | |
| 2000 | 22,732 | 7.4% | |
| 2010 | 23,510 | 3.4% | |
| 2020 | 24,968 | 6.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 24,430 | 3.9% | |
| Population sources: 1880–1920 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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In 2009, Bloomberg Businessweek said Scotch Plains was the most affordable suburb in New Jersey.
Who Lives in Scotch Plains?
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 17,335 | 17,121 | 16,297 | 76.26% | 72.82% | 65.27% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,532 | 2,519 | 2,365 | 11.14% | 10.71% | 9.47% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 16 | 23 | 14 | 0.07% | 0.10% | 0.06% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,638 | 1,795 | 2,610 | 7.21% | 7.64% | 10.45% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 30 | 60 | 145 | 0.13% | 0.26% | 0.58% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 284 | 408 | 958 | 1.25% | 1.74% | 3.84% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 895 | 1,852 | 2,579 | 3.94% | 6.73% | 10.33% |
| Total | 22,732 | 23,510 | 24,968 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2010, there were 23,510 people living in Scotch Plains. About 77% were White, 11% were Black or African American, and 7.6% were Asian. About 6.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household had 2.72 people. About 37% of households had children under 18. The median age was 40.9 years. This means half the people were older than 40.9 and half were younger.
Parks and Fun Places
Scotch Plains has many parks and places for recreation:
- Watchung Reservation is a large nature reserve. It has playgrounds, nature trails, and a nature center. You can also find gardens and stables there.
- Ponderosa Farm Park offers playgrounds, a sprinkler area, and open green spaces.
- Scotch Hills Municipal Golf Course was once the Shady Rest Golf and Country Club. It was the first African-American country club in the U.S.
- Ashbrook Golf Course is a public 18-hole golf course. It also has a 9-hole pitch and putt course.
- Shackamaxon Country Club is a private club with golf, swimming, and tennis. It was founded in 1916.
- Willow Grove Swim Club opened in 1958.
- Highland Swimming Club opened in 1952.
- Bowcraft Amusement Park was an amusement park on Route 22 West. It closed in 2018.
Schools and Learning
Students in Scotch Plains go to schools in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. This district serves students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. It includes students from both Scotch Plains and Fanwood.
The district has five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. All these schools are located in Scotch Plains.
- Students from School One, Evergreen, and Brunner go to Nettingham Middle School.
- Students from Coles and McGinn go to Terrill Middle School.
- School One is the only elementary school that teaches English as a second language.
As of 2018–19, the district had 5,649 students and 438 teachers. This means there were about 13 students for every teacher.
Malcolm E. Nettingham Middle School was renamed in 2021. It honors Malcolm V. Nettingham, who was a Tuskegee Airman.
The Union County Vocational Technical Schools are also nearby. These schools offer special programs. They include the Union County Magnet High School and academies for Information Technology, Health Sciences, and Performing Arts.
Union Catholic Regional High School is a private Catholic school. It serves students from Union, Essex, and Middlesex counties. The K–8 St. Bartholomew Academy is also a Catholic school.
Union County College has a campus in Scotch Plains.
Getting Around Town
Roads and Highways
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As of 2010, Scotch Plains had about 89 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the town itself.
The two main roads are Route 28 and U.S. Route 22. Major highways like Interstate 78 and the Garden State Parkway are close by in neighboring towns.
Buses and Trains
Scotch Plains has a train line called the NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line. There is a train station in nearby Fanwood. Another train line, the Lehigh Line, carries freight trains.
New Jersey Transit also offers bus service. You can take buses to Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan or to Newark.
Newark Liberty International Airport is about 14 miles east of Scotch Plains. You can reach it by car or by train. You can also take the train to Newark Penn Station for Amtrak service. This connects Scotch Plains to train travel along the East Coast.
Local News
The main local newspaper for Scotch Plains is the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Times.
Interesting Places to Visit
- The Aunt Betty Frazee House is a historic farmhouse. It belonged to Betty and Gershom Frazee during the American Revolution. The house is on state and national historic lists.
- Osborn-Cannonball House Museum is a historic home. The Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood New Jersey runs it.
- Hillside Cemetery is where famous people like Dudley Moore and Senator James Edgar Martine are buried.
- The Stage House Inn was built in 1737. It was a meeting place during the Revolutionary War. General Lafayette is known to have stopped there.
- John's Meat Market was featured on a Mr. T reality TV show.
- John H. Stamler Police Academy trains police officers and volunteers for Union County.
- The Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey has its community center and offices here.
Famous People from Scotch Plains
- Audrey Assad (born 1983), a Christian music artist.
- Alan Augustine (1928–2001), a politician who was Mayor of Scotch Plains.
- Hank Beenders (1916–2003), an early professional basketball player.
- Carol Bellamy (born 1942), former head of UNICEF and the Peace Corps.
- David Blitzer (born 1970), a business executive and part-owner of sports teams.
- Judy Blume (born 1938), a famous author of children's books like the Fudge series.
- Derrick Caracter (born 1988), a basketball player drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Abraham Coles (1813–1891), a physician, writer, and poet.
- Donald DiFrancesco (born 1944), a former Governor of New Jersey.
- Pat DiNizio (1955–2017), singer/songwriter for The Smithereens.
- John Gano (1727–1804), a chaplain who baptized George Washington.
- Rashan Gary (born 1997), a football player for the Michigan Wolverines.
- Scott Goldblatt (born 1979), a swimmer who won gold and silver medals at the Olympics.
- Jeffrey Hammonds (born 1971), a former MLB baseball outfielder.
- Isaac Heller (1926–2015), a toy manufacturer who started Remco.
- Jerome Hines (1921–2003), an opera singer.
- Tom Jackson (born 1948), a former football player and coach.
- Nate Jones (born 1982), a cornerback for the Denver Broncos.
- Christian J. Lambertsen (1917–2011), a scientist who developed rebreathers for the U.S. Navy and created the word "SCUBA".
- Mary LeSawyer (1917–2004), an opera singer.
- Bryan Meredith (born 1989), a soccer goalkeeper for the MLS.
- Renaldo Nehemiah (born 1959), a track star and NFL wide receiver.
- Amy Ellis Nutt (born 1955), a journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner.
- John Pak (born 1998), a golfer.
- Joe J. Plumeri (born 1944), a business leader and owner of the Trenton Thunder baseball team.
- Cynthia Sayer (born 1956), a jazz banjo player.
- Joe Scarpati (born 1943), a football player known for holding the ball for a record-setting field goal.
- Alan Sepinwall (born 1973), a television reviewer and writer.
- Marc Shaiman (born 1959), a composer for musicals like Hairspray.
- John Shippen (1879–1968), the first African American golf professional.
- John H. Stamler (1938–1990), a prosecutor for Union County.
- Enzo Stuarti (1919–2005), a tenor and musical theater performer.
- Lance Thomas (born 1988), a basketball player for the New York Knicks.
- Frank Thorne (born 1930), a comic book artist.
- David S. Ware (born 1949), a jazz musician.
See also
In Spanish: Scotch Plains para niños
