East Orange, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of East Orange, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Essex |
| Incorporated | March 4, 1863 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Robert L. Bowser |
| Area | |
| - Total | 3.9 sq mi (10.2 km²) |
| - Land | 3.9 sq mi (10.2 km²) |
| - Water | 0 sq mi (0 km²) 0% |
| Elevation [1] | 164 ft (50 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 67,247 |
| - Density | 17,776.6/sq mi (6,859.8/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 0707, 07018 and 07019 |
| Area code(s) | 973 |
| FIPS code | 34-19390[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0876059[4] |
| Website: http://www.eastorange-nj.org/ | |
East Orange is a city in Essex County, New Jersey, USA. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 69,824. The United States Census Bureau's 2005 population estimate for East Orange was 68,190.[2]
East Orange was originally incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 4, 1863, from portions of Orange town, and was reincorporated as a city on December 9, 1899, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.[5]
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[edit] Geography
East Orange is located at (40.766050, -74.211699)[6].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.2 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 68,020 |
|
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| 1940 | 68,945 | 1.4% | |
| 1950 | 79,340 | 15.1% | |
| 1960 | 77,259 | -2.6% | |
| 1970 | 75,471 | -2.3% | |
| 1980 | 77,878 | 3.2% | |
| 1990 | 73,552 | -5.6% | |
| 2000 | 69,824 | -5.1% | |
| Est. 2006 | 67,247 | [2] | -3.7% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[7] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 69,824 people, 26,024 households, and 16,082 families residing in the city. The population density was 17,776.6 people per square mile (6,859.8/km²). There were 28,485 housing units at an average density of 7,252.0/sq mi (2,798.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.46% African American, 3.84% White, 0.25% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.14% from other races, and 3.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.70% of the population.
There were 26,024 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.0% were married couples living together, 28.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.37.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,346, and the median income for a family was $38,562. Males had a median income of $31,905 versus $30,268 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,488. About 15.9% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those ages 65 or over.
As part of the 2000 Census, 89.46% of East Orange's residents identified themselves as being African American. This was one of the highest percentages of African American people in the United States, and the second-highest in New Jersey (behind Lawnside, at 93.6%) of all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[8]
Although still a small percentage of total residents, Orange and East Orange have the largest concentrations of Guyanese Americans in the country. In the 2000 Census, 2.5% of East Orange residents identified as being of Guyanese ancestry. While Queens and Brooklyn had larger populations in terms of raw numbers, Orange (with 2.9%) and East Orange had the highest percentages of people of Guyanese ancestry as a portion of the total population of all places in the United States with at least 1,000 people identifying their ancestry.[9]
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The East Orange City Council carries out the legislative duties of municipal government. This body enacts by ordinance, resolution or motion, the laws under which our city is governed. The City Council reviews and adopts the municipal budget that is prepared and presented to the legislative body by the Mayor. The City Council is comprised of ten members, two each representing the city's five geographical districts or wards. City Council members serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with one seat in each ward coming up for election every two years.
The Mayor of East Orange is Robert L. Bowser. Mayor Bowser is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition,[10] a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Members of the City Council are:[11]
- 1st Ward: Thomas L. Brown (2007) and Joyce C. Goore (2009)
- 2nd Ward: Jacquelyn E. Johnson (2007) and Virginia M. Cross (2009)
- 3rd Ward: Chairwoman Quilla E. Talmadge (2007) and Ted R. Green (2009)
- 4th Ward: Sharon Fields (2007) and William C. Holt (2009)
- 5th Ward: Mary E. Patterson (2007) and Alicia Holman (2009)
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
East Orange is in the Tenth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 34th Legislative District.[12]
New Jersey's Tenth Congressional District, covering portions of Essex County, Hudson County, and Union County, is represented by Donald M. Payne (D, Newark). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
For the 2008-2009 legislative Session, the 34th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nia Gill (D, Montclair) and in the Assembly by Thomas P. Giblin (D, Montclair) and Sheila Y. Oliver (D, East Orange).[13] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[14]
Essex County's County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. Essex County's Freeholders are Freeholder President Blonnie R. Watson, Freeholder Vice President Ralph R. Caputo, Freeholders-At-Large Johnny Jones, Donald M. Payne, Jr., and Patricia Sebold, Freeholder District 1 Samuel Gonzalez, Freeholder District 2 D. Bilal Beasley, Freeholder District 3 Carol Y. Clark, Freeholder District 4 Linda Lordi Cavanaugh and Freeholder District 5 Ralph R. Caputo.
[edit] Politics
On the national level, East Orange leans strongly toward the Democratic Party. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry received 93% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 6%.
[edit] Education
East Orange School District operates the public schools of East Orange. The district is one of 31 Abbott Districts statewide.[15] In 2003, Patrick Healy Middle School was identified as one of seven "persistently dangerous" middle schools in New Jersey. This designation has since been removed. East Orange Community Charter School is a public charter school in East Orange.
All of East Orange is served by East Orange Campus High School, which is on the site of the former Upsala College.
[edit] Transportation
East Orange lies at the intersection of the Garden State Parkway and Interstate 280. It is 7.8 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport in the nearby cities of Newark and Elizabeth.
Local transportation around the city and into neighboring communities is provided by multiple New Jersey Transit public bus lines, which includes routes 5, 21, 34, 41, 71, 73, 79, 90, 92, 94, and 97.[16] New Jersey Transit also runs two commuter rail train stations in East Orange, both located along the Morris & Essex Lines. The East Orange Station is found beside the westbound lanes of Interstate 280, directly across its parking lot from East Orange City Hall. Just one mile west up Main Street is Brick Church Station, the city's second rail stop and the more heavily used of the two. Both have seven-day service to Hoboken Terminal as well as Midtown Direct service to New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.
[edit] Sister city
East Orange is a sister city of Nakuru, Rift Valley Province, Kenya.[17]
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of East Orange include:
- Jamal Anderson, former NFL running back.[18]
- Dena Atlantic, Actress.[citation needed]
- Troy CLE, pseudonym of Troy Tompkins, author of The Marvelous Effect (set in East Orange).[19]
- Richard Codey, former Governor of New Jersey
- William Joseph Fallon (1944-), United States Navy Admiral who is the current Commander of United States Central Command.[20]
- Franklin W. Fort (1880-1937), represented New Jersey's 9th congressional district from 1925-1931.[21]
- Major Harold Geiger (1884-1927), pioneer in Army aviation and ballooning, born in East Orange
- Althea Gibson (1927-2003), tennis player, died in East Orange and was interred in Rosedale Cemetery, Orange, New Jersey.
- David Garrard (1978-), currently the starting quarterback for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.[22]
- Slide Hampton (1932-), jazz trombonist.[23]
- Carolyn Gold Heilbrun (1926-2003), author who wrote mystery novels under the pen name of Amanda Cross.[24]
- Brian Hill (1947-), former coach of the Orlando Magic.[25]
- Whitney Houston (1963-), singer
- Janis Ian (1951-), singer-songwriter.[26]
- Monte Irvin (1919-), Major League Baseball player, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ranked #12 on the Sports Illustrated list of The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures.[27]
- Jarrod Johnson, former professional football player. Selected to the 1986 Star Ledger All State football Team and was an inductee into the Seton Hall Prep Hall of Fame class of 2000.
- Ernest Lester Jones (1876-1929), head of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1914 until his death.[28]
- Queen Latifah (1970-), rapper and actress.[29]
- Clara Maass (1876-1901), nurse who died as a result of volunteering for medical experiments to study yellow fever.[30]
- Naomi Long Madgett (1923-), the African American poet, was raised in East Orange.[31]
- Daniel F. Minahan (1877-1947), represented New Jersey's 6th congressional district from 1919 to 1921 and again from 1923 to 1925.[32]
- Naughty by Nature, hip hop group.
- Eddie Rabbitt, country music singer.[33]
- Shareefa, an R&B singer
- Marcus Toney-El, basketball player
- Albert L. Vreeland (1901-1975), was a United States Representative from New Jersey.[34]
- Dionne Warwick, singer
- William H. Wiley (1842-1925), served on the East Orange township committee from 1886 to 1888, and was president for one year. He represented New Jersey's 8th congressional district from 1903 to 1907 and from 1909 to 1911, and was a co-founder and former president of the publishing company John Wiley & Sons.[35]
- Bruce Williams, radio host.[36]
- Treach and Vin Rock, members of the rap group Naughty by Nature.
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: City of East Orange, Geographic Names Information System, accessed July 11, 2007.
- ^ a b c Census data for East Orange city, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 22, 2007.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 127.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ African American Communities, Epodunk. Accessed June 28, 2006.
- ^ Guyanese Communities, Epodunk. Accessed August 21, 2006.
- ^ Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members.
- ^ Office of the City Council, City of East Orange. Accessed June 25, 2006.
- ^ New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 56. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ Abbott Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2008.
- ^ New Jersey Transit bus schedules accessed November 7, 2007
- ^ Online Directory: New Jersey, USA, Sister Cities International. Accessed November 8, 2007.
- ^ Celebrity Rap Superstar | Jamal Anderson (Contestant), MTV. Accessed September 18, 2007.
- ^ Troy CLE, Tavis Smiley, September 7, 2007. Accessed November 29, 2007. "A native of East Orange, NJ, CLE has worked as a student teacher in the NYC public school system and as a hip-hop producer."
- ^ Shanker, Thom. "Adm. William J. Fallon: An Experienced Naval Officer, and a Diplomat", The New York Times, January 8, 2007. Accessed December 10, 2007. "William Joseph Fallon was born Dec. 30, 1944, in East Orange, N.J., and raised in Merchantville."
- ^ Franklin William Fort, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 22, 2007.
- ^ AFC honors go to three first-time winners, NFL.com, December 6, 2006. "The East Orange, N.J., native directed the club on two drives of more than 90 yards, both resulting in touchdowns."
- ^ The State of Jazz: Meet 40 More Jersey Greats, The Star-Ledger, September 28, 2004.
- ^ MccFadden, Robert D. "Carolyn Heilbrun, Pioneering Feminist Scholar, Dies at 77", The New York Times, October 11, 2003. Accessed December 18, 2007.
- ^ "Back to the Magic: Hill Returns to Orlando", Orlando Magic. Accessed March 6, 2008.
- ^ Houlihan, Mary. "Ian has learned the truth from controversies", Chicago Sun-Times, April 23, 2004. Accessed December 18, 2007. "Ian grew up in East Orange, N.J., in a musical family."
- ^ The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures, Sports Illustrated, December 27, 1999.
- ^ Colonel E. Lester Jones, NOAA. Accessed December 20, 2007. " Ernest Lester Jones, the son of Charles Hopkins and Ida (Lester) Jones was born in East Orange, New Jersey on April 14, 1876."
- ^ "The Robertson Treatment Vol. 6.7; Queen Latifah holding court in Hollywood!", Baltimore Afro-American, March 28, 2003. Accessed December 11, 2007. "'I've always loved musicals,' admits the actress who was born Dana Owens and was raised in the East Orange, NJ area and who presently lives in Rumson, NJ."
- ^ Clara Louise Maass, Find A Grave. Accessed August 23, 2007.
- ^ Pilgrim Journey, Wayne State University Press. Accessed September 24, 2007. "The daughter of a Baptist pastor, Madgett was born in Virginia and moved with her family to East Orange, New Jersey as a toddler."
- ^ Daniel F. Minahan, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed July 16, 2007.
- ^ " Eddie Rabbitt, 56, Whose Songs Zigzagged From Pop to Country", The New York Times, May 9, 1998. Accessed November 3, 2007. "The son of Irish immigrants, he was born in Brooklyn and raised in East Orange, N.J."
- ^ Albert Lincoln Vreeland biography, United States Congress. Accessed July 16, 2007.
- ^ William Halsted Wiley biography, United States Congress. Accessed July 11, 2007.
- ^ Eftimiades, Maria. "Radio Personality Without Limits", The New York Times, July 2, 1989. Accessed February 20, 2008.
[edit] External links
- East Orange website
- East Orange School District
- East Orange Cummunity Charter School website
- East Orange School District's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the East Orange School District
- East Orange, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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