South Plainfield, New Jersey

South Plainfield is a borough in northern Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough is situated on the border with Union County in the Raritan Valley region, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 24,338, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 953 (+4.1%) from the 23,385 recorded at the 2010 census,  which in turn reflected an increase of 1,575 (+7.2%) from the 21,810 counted in the 2000 census.

South Plainfield was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1926, from portions of Piscataway, based on the results of a referendum passed on April 6, 1926. The borough's name derives from Plainfield, which derived its name from a local estate or from its scenic location.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 8.33 square miles (21.58 km2), including 8.30 square miles (21.49 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.09 km2) of water (0.42%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Avon Park, Hadley Airport, Holly Park and Samptown.

The borough is bordered by Piscataway on the south and west, Edison on the east, both in Middlesex County, and by Plainfield on the north and Scotch Plains both in Union County.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 23,385 people, 7,876 households, and 6,175 families in the borough. The population density was 2,808.5 per square mile (1,084.4/km2). There were 8,093 housing units at an average density of 971.9 per square mile (375.3/km2). The racial makeup was 66.74% (15,607) White, 10.10% (2,361) Black or African American, 0.37% (87) Native American, 14.68% (3,433) Asian, 0.03% (8) Pacific Islander, 4.79% (1,120) from other races, and 3.29% (769) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.24% (3,097) of the population.

Of the 7,876 households, 35.2% had children under the age of 18; 62.1% were married couples living together; 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.6% were non-families. Of all households, 18.2% were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.34.

23.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $92,263 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,066) and the median family income was $98,913 (+/− $4,289). Males had a median income of $61,480 (+/− $7,597) versus $48,639 (+/− $4,924) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,495 (+/− $1,546). About 2.7% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 21,810 people, 7,151 households, and 5,856 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,609.8 PD/sqmi. There were 7,307 housing units at an average density of 874.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 77.74% White, 8.56% African American, 0.22% Native American, 7.57% Asian, 3.48% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.66% of the population.

There were 7,151 households, out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $67,466, and the median income for a family was $72,745. Males had a median income of $47,465 versus $34,329 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,270. About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Tumi Inc. is a manufacturer of suitcases and bags for travel that was founded in 1975 by Charlie Clifford after serving in Peru with the Peace Corps.

PTC Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development of small molecule, orally administered treatments for orphan diseases.

Jem Records (also known as JEM Records) was a record label that existed from 1970 to 1988, at the time principally known as the parent company of Passport Records; The label was resurrected in 2013 as Jem Recordings.

Sports
The Plainfield Curling Club is a curling club that owns and operates the only dedicated curling facility in New Jersey. Established in 1963, the club's two-sheet structure was completed in 1967.

Local government
South Plainfield is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The borough form of government used by South Plainfield is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

, the mayor of South Plainfield is Republican Matthew P. Anesh, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the South Plainfield Borough Council are Council President Robert A. Bengivenga Jr. (R, 2024), Christine Noonan Faustini (R, 2026), Melanie McCann-Mott (R, 2025), Peter D. Smith (R, 2025), Derryck C. White (R, 2026) and Joseph Wolak (R, 2024).

Federal, state and county representation
South Plainfield is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 18th state legislative district

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 14,119 registered voters in South Plainfield, of which 4,368 (30.9%) were registered as Democrats, 2,235 (15.8%) were registered as Republicans and 7,511 (53.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.

As of April 2024, there were a total of 17,380 registered voters in South Plainfield, of which 6,217 (35.77%) were registered as Democrats, 3,667 (21.10%) were registered as Republicans and 7,315 (42.10%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.9% of the vote (5,720 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 40.9% (4,043 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (114 votes), among the 9,974 ballots cast by the borough's 14,424 registered voters (97 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.4% of the vote (5,723 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.7% (4,797 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (110 votes), among the 10,720 ballots cast by the borough's 14,454 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 49.9% of the vote (4,893 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 49.0% (4,808 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (67 votes), among the 9,803 ballots cast by the borough's 13,191 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.3.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.7% of the vote (3,950 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.2% (2,186 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (68 votes), among the 6,289 ballots cast by the borough's 14,512 registered voters (85 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 51.6% of the vote (3,616 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 39.0% (2,736 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.6% (534 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (55 votes), among the 7,010 ballots cast by the borough's 14,053 registered voters, yielding a 49.9% turnout.

Education
The South Plainfield Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of seven schools, had an enrollment of 3,400 students and 304.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.2:1. The schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics). are Franklin Elementary School with 264 students in grades K-4, John F. Kennedy Elementary School with 268 students in grades PreK-4, John E. Riley Elementary School with 333 students in grades PreK-4, Roosevelt Elementary School with 448 students in grades PreK-4, Grant School with 444 students in grades 5-6, South Plainfield Middle School with 529 students in grades 7-8 and South Plainfield High School with 1,076 students in grades 9-12.

Holy Savior Academy is a Catholic school serving students in preschool through eighth grade that operates under the supervision of Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.

Al-Minhaal Academy is a private Islamic school serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Lincoln Tech's campus in South Plainfield (formerly known as Engine City Technical Institute) is an accredited, diesel technology school that was established in 1969 as a training center to accommodate the need for diesel mechanics.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 108.02 mi of roadways, of which 96.48 mi were maintained by the municipality, 9.66 mi by Middlesex County and 1.88 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Interstate 287 passes through the southern area of the borough for almost 2 mi, including exits 4 and 5. The New Jersey Turnpike is accessible in neighboring Edison (via I-287).

The major county roads that pass through include CR 501 (New Durham Road) along the southern border with Piscataway, CR 529 (Stelton Road) along the southwestern border with Piscataway and CR 531 (Park Avenue) along the east side of the borough, from Edison to the south to Plainfield to the north.

Public transportation
NJ Transit provided bus service between the borough and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 114 route, to Newark on the 65 route and local service on the 819 line.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with South Plainfield include:
 * Anthony Ashnault (born 1995), freestyle wrestler
 * John Bundy, magician and magic consultant
 * Patrick J. Diegnan (born 1949), represents the 18th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly
 * Greg Garbowsky (born 1986), bassist for Jonas Brothers
 * Joshua Gomez (born 1975), appeared in the NBC series Chuck
 * Rick Gomez (born 1972), actor best known for portraying Sgt. George Luz, in the HBO television miniseries Band of Brothers
 * Ricky Gonzalez (born 1966), stock car racing driver
 * Dontae Johnson (born 1991), cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL
 * Daniel La Spata (born 1981) politician who has served as the alderman of Chicago's 1st ward since May 2019
 * Dennis Madalone (born 1954), stunt coordinator and musician, best known for his patriotic song "America We Stand As One"
 * Josh Pauls (born 1992), ice sledge hockey player who was the youngest member of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team that won the gold medal at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver and won gold again at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi
 * Michael Price (born 1958), WGA Award and Emmy Award winning writer and producer best known for his work on The Simpsons and as co-creator of the Netflix series F is for Family
 * Michelle Visage (born 1968), radio DJ, singer, actress, producer, media personality, and television host who has appeared as a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race