South Plainfield, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
South Plainfield, New Jersey
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Borough
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Cedar Brook Park, spanning South Plainfield in Middlesex County and its Union County neighbor Plainfield
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| Motto(s):
Vision – Family – Industry
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Location of South Plainfield in Middlesex County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Middlesex County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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Census Bureau map of South Plainfield, New Jersey
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 South Plainfield, New Jersey
Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
South Plainfield, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
South Plainfield, 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 | Middlesex | |
| Incorporated | April 6, 1926 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough | |
| • Body | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 8.33 sq mi (21.58 km2) | |
| • Land | 8.30 sq mi (21.49 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2) 0.42% | |
| Area rank | 228th of 565 in state 12th of 25 in county |
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| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 24,338 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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24,131 | |
| • Rank | 108th of 565 in state 13th of 25 in county |
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| • Density | 2,933.7/sq mi (1,132.7/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 221st of 565 in state 18th of 25 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07080
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| Area code(s) | 908 | |
| FIPS code | 3402369390 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885402 | |
| Website | ||
South Plainfield is a small town, called a borough, located in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It sits near the border of Union County in the Raritan Valley region. This area is part of the larger New York metropolitan area.
In 2020, the population of South Plainfield was 24,338 people. This was the highest number of residents ever recorded for the borough. South Plainfield officially became a borough on March 12, 1926. It was formed from parts of Piscataway. The name "South Plainfield" comes from the nearby town of Plainfield.
Contents
Exploring South Plainfield's Geography
South Plainfield covers a total area of about 8.33 square miles (21.58 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water.
Neighboring Towns and Areas
South Plainfield shares its borders with several other towns. To the south and west, it borders Piscataway. To the east, it borders Edison. Both Piscataway and Edison are also in Middlesex County. To the north, South Plainfield borders Plainfield and Scotch Plains. These two towns are in Union County.
Understanding South Plainfield's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 5,047 | — | |
| 1940 | 5,379 | 6.6% | |
| 1950 | 8,008 | 48.9% | |
| 1960 | 17,879 | 123.3% | |
| 1970 | 21,142 | 18.3% | |
| 1980 | 20,512 | −3.0% | |
| 1990 | 20,489 | −0.1% | |
| 2000 | 21,810 | 6.4% | |
| 2010 | 23,385 | 7.2% | |
| 2020 | 24,338 | 4.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 24,131 | 3.2% | |
| Population sources:1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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The population of South Plainfield has grown steadily over the years. In 2010, there were 23,385 people living in the borough. This number increased to 24,338 by 2020.
Who Lives in South Plainfield?
In 2010, there were 7,876 households in South Plainfield. A household is a group of people living together. Most households (62.1%) were married couples. About 35.2% of households had children under 18.
The people living in South Plainfield come from many different backgrounds. In 2010, about 66.7% were White, 10.1% were Black or African American, and 14.7% were Asian. About 13.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in South Plainfield in 2010 was 40.2 years old. About 23% of the population was under 18.
Businesses and Economy in South Plainfield
South Plainfield is home to several interesting companies.
- Tumi Inc. is a company that makes high-quality suitcases and bags for travel. It was started in 1975.
- PTC Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company. They work on developing medicines for rare diseases.
- Jem Records was a record label that started in 1970. It was brought back in 2013 as Jem Recordings.
Sports and Recreation
The Plainfield Curling Club is located in South Plainfield. It is the only place in New Jersey specifically designed for the sport of curling. The club was founded in 1963. Its special two-sheet building was finished in 1967.
Learning in South Plainfield: Schools and Education
The South Plainfield Public Schools system serves students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. In the 2020–21 school year, the district had seven schools and about 3,400 students.
Schools in the District
- Franklin Elementary School (Grades K-4)
- John F. Kennedy Elementary School (Grades PreK-4)
- John E. Riley Elementary School (Grades PreK-4)
- Roosevelt Elementary School (Grades PreK-4)
- Grant School (Grades 5-6)
- South Plainfield Middle School (Grades 7-8)
- South Plainfield High School (Grades 9-12)
Other Schools in Town
- Holy Savior Academy is a Catholic school for students from preschool to eighth grade.
- Al-Minhaal Academy is a private Islamic school for students from kindergarten to twelfth grade.
- Lincoln Tech has a campus in South Plainfield. It's a technical school that trains people to become diesel mechanics. It started in 1969.
Getting Around: Transportation in South Plainfield
_from_the_overpass_for_Middlesex_County_Route_529_(Stenton_Road)_in_South_Plainfield,_Middlesex_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
South Plainfield has many roads that help people travel. In 2010, there were over 108 miles of roads in the borough. Most of these roads are maintained by the town itself.
Major Roads and Highways
- Interstate 287 runs through the southern part of South Plainfield for almost two miles. It has exits 4 and 5 within the borough.
- The New Jersey Turnpike is a major highway nearby. You can get to it from I-287 in Edison.
- Several important county roads also pass through South Plainfield. These include CR 501, CR 529, and CR 531.
Public Transportation Options
NJ Transit provides bus services for residents. You can take a bus from South Plainfield to:
- Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan (Route 114)
- Newark (Route 65)
- There is also local bus service on the 819 line.
Famous People from South Plainfield
Many interesting people have connections to South Plainfield, including:
- Anthony Ashnault (born 1995), a freestyle wrestler.
- John Bundy, a magician and magic consultant.
- Patrick J. Diegnan (born 1949), a politician who represents the 18th Legislative District in New Jersey.
- Greg Garbowsky (born 1986), the bassist for the band Jonas Brothers.
- Joshua Gomez (born 1975), an actor known for the TV series Chuck.
- Rick Gomez (born 1972), an actor who appeared in Band of Brothers.
- Ricky Gonzalez (born 1966), a stock car racing driver.
- Dontae Johnson (born 1991), a football player for the San Francisco 49ers.
- Daniel La Spata (born 1981), a politician in Chicago.
- Dennis Madalone (born 1954), a stunt coordinator and musician.
- Josh Pauls (born 1992), an ice sledge hockey player who won gold medals at the Paralympics in 2010 and 2014.
- Michael Price (writer)|Michael Price (born 1958), a writer and producer for shows like The Simpsons.
- Michelle Visage (born 1968), a radio DJ, singer, and TV host, known for RuPaul's Drag Race.
See also
In Spanish: South Plainfield para niños
