Clark, New Jersey

Map of Clark Township in Union County

Clark is a township in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 14,597.

The territory that would become Clark was originally a part of several of the early villages of the State and of Union County, but it was in 1858 after the village of Rahway incorporated itself into a city, that the land of present-day Clark, officially became a community. The City of Rahway designated this land as the 5th Ward of Rahway and Clark remained a part of Rahway until 1864 when the 357 residents of the ward declared their independence and established their own town. The Township was named for Abraham Clark, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Geography

Clark is located at 40°37′13″N 74°18′34″W (40.620336, -74.309340)Template:GR.

The township is bordered by eight municipalities: Scotch Plains to the west, Westfield to the northwest, Cranford to the north, Winfield and Linden to the northeast, Rahway to the east, Woodbridge to the south and Edison to the southwest.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 11.6 km² (4.5 mi²). 11.2 km² (4.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (3.12%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 14,597 people, 5,637 households, and 4,126 families residing in the township . The population density was 1,298.6/km² (3,359.6/mi²). There were 5,709 housing units at an average density of 507.9/km² (1,314.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.61% White, 0.30% African American, 0.01% Native American, 2.75% Asian, 0.63% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. There is also one adolescent male of Iranian descent. Also Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.67% of the population.

There were 5,637 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the township the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $65,019, and the median income for a family was $77,291. Males had a median income of $54,543 versus $36,361 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,883. About 1.0% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Clark Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.

The Clark Township Committee consists of seven members, with three elected at-large from the township as a whole and four elected from wards. Four seats come up for election every two years on an alternating basis, with the three Council-at-large seats and Mayor coming up to vote, and then the four ward seats. The Mayor of Clark is Sal Bonaccorso, whose term of office ends December 31, 2008.

Members of the Township Council are:

• Council at Large - Alvin Barr (term ends in 2008)
• Council at Large - Angel Albanese (2008)
• Council at Large - Sheila Whiting (2008)
• First Ward - Frank Mazzarella, President (2006)
• Second Ward - Patrick O'Connor (2006)
• Third Ward - Robert Bothe, Council Vice President (2006)
• Fourth Ward - Brian P. Toal (2006)

Federal, state and county representation

Clark Township is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 22nd Legislative District.

For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).

For the 2024-2025 session, the 22nd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nicholas Scutari (D, Linden) and in the General Assembly by Linda S. Carter (D, Plainfield) and James J. Kennedy (D, Rahway). Template:NJ Governor

Education

The Clark Public School District serves students in grades K - 12, who attend the following schools:

• Frank K. Hehnly Elementary School - Grades K - 5
• Valley Road Elementary School - Grades K - 5
• Carl H. Kumpf Middle School - Grades 6 - 8
• Arthur L. Johnson High School - Grades 9 - 12

Students from Garwood, attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Garwood Public Schools.

Notable present and former residents

David Toma, Newark police officer upon whom the TV series Baretta was based

Transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service to New York City and points in-between.

Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 11 miles from Clark.

External links

• Clark Township website
• Clark Public School District
• School Performance Reports for the Clark Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education
• National Center for Education Statistics data for the Clark Public School District
• Clark Public Library