Garwood, New Jersey
Garwood evolved as a neighborhood of the larger communities of Cranford and Westfield who tended to treat it like a stepchild. By the turn of the century Garwood was gaining its own identity, primarily through its attractiveness to manufacturing industries, and decided it could get more value for the taxes it was paying by managing itself.
Secession took courage. The 400 citizens were creating one of the state’s smallest municipalities, only seventh tenths of a square mile, and Cranford especially resisted the move, right up to the legislature.
Garwood grew up with the Jersey Central and was named after Samuel Garwood, the president of a land company organized by the railroad. The first modern settlers lived in 75 homes and most worked for the Hall Signal Co., the first factory, and the Hercules Tube works, famous for bicycle tubing, which was built by John R. Maxwell, onetime Jersey Central President.
Cranford and Westfield were supposed to be supplying services. But they argued over who was responsible. At one point they negotiated at length before agreeing on paving three blocks of Center Street. Both sent marshals out but only occasionally. Fire protection was so uncertain that the Aeolian Company organized its own department.
The infant school symbolized the problem. Cranford ran it, buy youngsters on the other side of Center Street had to go all the way to Westfield. Parents agitated and Cranford reluctantly agreed to let “Westfield children” in if Westfield paid pro-rata tuition. It was not surprising that the first public building in Garwood was Jefferson School, built two years after autonomy.
Garwood opted to go its own route. Maxwell’s land company, with Morse as resident agent, and citizens pushed for autonomy. Assembly Bill No. 232 proposed the borough. Westfield seemed indifferent but Cranford reacted angrily. The Chronicle editorialized that the “secession movement, if successful, would rob Cranford of its richest and most promising section.”
Attempts to stop the legislation and annex Garwood proved fruitless. Many residents of Cranford, which itself has split off from several other towns including Westfield in 1871, sympathized with Garwood. Autonomous government was acquired on March 19, 1903. Independence was greeted by the Aeolian band playing on the steps of the schoolhouse, lit buildings, bonfires and fireworks.
Battles over tax apportionment continued and animosity over such matters as fire service lingered. That was resolved by the time the first municipal facility was completed in 1915.
Garwood was incorporated as a borough on March 19, 1903, from portions of Cranford Township and Westfield Town.
Garwood is located at 40°39′04″N74°19′23″W / 40.651249°N 74.323137°W (40.651249,-74.323137). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.664 square miles (1.720 km2), all of which was land.
In the north side of Garwood, most of the streets are numbered, while in the south side of Garwood most of the streets are named after trees.
At the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,226 people, 1,778 households, and 1,118 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,362.7 per square mile (2,456.7 /km2). There were 1,870 housing units at an average density of 2,815.5 per square mile (1,087.1 /km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.23% (3,940) White, 1.06% (45) Black or African American, 0.02% (1) Native American, 2.04% (86) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.80% (76) from other races, and 1.85% (78) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.83% (373) of the population.
There were 1,778 households of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the borough, 19.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The Census Bureau’s 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $72,254 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,274) and the median family income was $86,959 (+/- $8,603). Males had a median income of $58,258 (+/- $3,197) versus $43,455 (+/- $3,625) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,753 (+/- $2,821). About 0.9% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 4,153 people, 1,731 households, and 1,125 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,292.9 people per square mile (2,429.5/km2). There were 1,782 housing units at an average density of 2,700.2 per square mile (1,042.5/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.91% White, 0.36% African American, 1.32% Asian, 1.54% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.98% of the population.
There were 1,731 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $52,571, and the median income for a family was $64,053. Males had a median income of $50,951 versus $36,538 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,944. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
The Borough of Garwood is governed under the Borough system of municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council with six members, with all positions elected at large in partisan elections. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
As of 2014, the Mayor of Garwood is Patricia Quattrocchi (R, term of office ends December 31, 2014). Members of the Garwood Borough Council (with party affiliation and term end year listed in parentheses) are Council President Ann Palmer (D, 2015), Michael Martin (R, 2016), James Mathieu (R, 2016), William J. Nierstedt (D, 2015), Lou Petruzzelli (D, 2014) and Sara Todisco (D, 2014).
The Borough Administrator/Clerk is Christina M. Ariemma.
Federal, state and county representation
Garwood is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey’s 21st state legislative district.
New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District is represented by Leonard Lance (R, Clinton Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark; took office on October 31, 2013, after winning a special election to fill the seat of Frank Lautenberg) and Bob Menendez (D, North Bergen).
For the 2014-2015 Session, the 21st Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Thomas Kean, Jr. (R, Westfield) and in the General Assembly by Jon Bramnick (R, Westfield) and Nancy Munoz (R, Summit). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).
Union County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose nine members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis with three seats coming up for election each year, with an appointed County Manager overseeing the day-to-day operations of the county. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Chairman and Vice Chairman from among its members. As of 2014, Union County’s Freeholders are Chairman Christopher Hudak (D, Linden, term ends December 31, 2014), Vice Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh (D, Roselle, 2015), Bruce Bergen (D, Springfield Township, 2015), Linda Carter (D, Plainfield, 2016), Angel G. Estrada (D, Elizabeth, 2014), Sergio Granados (D, Elizabeth, 2016) Bette Jane Kowalski (D, Cranford, 2016), Alexander Mirabella (D, Fanwood, 2015) and Vernell Wright (D, Union, 2014). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (D, Union, 2015), Sheriff Ralph Froehlich (D, Union, 2016) and Surrogate James S. LaCorte (D, Springfield Township, 2014). The County Manager is Alfred Faella.
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 2,685 registered voters in Garwood, of which 796 (29.6% vs. 41.8% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 496 (18.5% vs. 15.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,393 (51.9% vs. 42.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the borough’s 2010 Census population, 63.5% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 78.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 968 votes here (48.8% vs. 66.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 957 votes (48.2% vs. 32.3%) and other candidates with 38 votes (1.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 1,985 ballots cast by the borough’s 2,812 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.6% (vs. 68.8% in Union County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,090 votes here (51.6% vs. 35.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 971 votes (46.0% vs. 63.1%) and other candidates with 31 votes (1.5% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,111 ballots cast by the borough’s 2,782 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.9% (vs. 74.7% in Union County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 995 votes here (50.5% vs. 40.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 928 votes (47.1% vs. 58.3%) and other candidates with 30 votes (1.5% vs. 0.7%), among the 1,970 ballots cast by the borough’s 2,539 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.6% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county).
In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 823 votes here (56.4% vs. 41.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 477 votes (32.7% vs. 50.6%), Independent Chris Daggett with 127 votes (8.7% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 18 votes (1.2% vs. 0.8%), among the 1,460 ballots cast by the borough’s 2,681 registered voters, yielding a 54.5% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).
Garwood’s primary law enforcement is the borough’s police department, serving the borough since its establishment in 1906. The Garwood Police Department is a small force consisting of Chief of Police Bruce D. Underhill., one captain, two lieutenants, two sergeants, nine patrolmen, and four civilian dispatchers. Patrol operations normally consist of one north side car, one south side car, and one supervisor. Officers work 12 hour shifts, four days on, four days off, alternating between days and nights.
Garwood First Aid Squad serves as the emergency medical service in town. Founded in 1939, it is non-profit service, consists of a dedicated all volunteer staff serving the borough 24 hours per day, seven days a week, at no cost to the residents. Drivers and EMTs on the squad also answer calls for mutual aid when an ambulance is needed in other towns where one is not available. GFAS answers anywhere from 350-400 calls annually, a considerable number for such a small borough.
Garwood Fire Department is entirely volunteer, and serves the borough in the capacity of fire protection, fire prevention, and fire code enforcement. The Fire Chief is Michael Tharaldsen. The assistant Fire Chief is Len Spina.
As of the 2010-11 school year, the Garwood Public Schools served 394 students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade in one school building, Lincoln School. Public school students in grades 9 – 12 attend Arthur L. Johnson High School in neighboring Clark as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Clark Public School District. Students may also attend one of the Union County Vocational Technical Schools.
The Garwood station offers limited New Jersey Transit rail service on the Raritan Valley Line. The station has limited service, does not have platforms and is not ADA compliant.
New Jersey Transit also provides bus service along two different lines, the 113 route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, and the 59 bus to Newark.
Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 15 minutes away. Linden Airport, a general aviation facility is in nearby Linden, New Jersey.
Lincoln Avenue / New Jersey Route 59, which borders Cranford to the east, has been described as the shortest four-lane paved highway in the United States. It was built in the late 1920s, numbered Route 22 at the time and was originally planned to run from Fairfield Township to Rahway, but was never completed. Its total length is 792 feet (241 m).
Notable current and former resident of Garwood include:
- David Durante (born 1980), national men’s gymnastics champion.
- Loree Jon Jones, professional pool player.
- Barry Lubin, “Grandma” of the Big Apple Circus
- Tom Perrotta (born 1961), author.