Editing Old Bridge Township, New Jersey (section)

{{Short description|Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, US}}
{{About|the township|the community|Old Bridge (unincorporated community), New Jersey}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Old Bridge Township, New Jersey
| official_name            = 
| settlement_type          = [[Township (New Jersey)|Township]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Cheesequake sp marsh.JPG
| imagesize                = 250x200px
| image_caption            = [[Cheesequake State Park]]
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = Old Bridge Seal.png

<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Middlesex County New Jersey Old Bridge Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location of Old Bridge Township in [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]] highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Middlesex County in [[New Jersey]] highlighted in orange (right).
| image_map1               = Census_Bureau_map_of_Old_Bridge_Township,_New_Jersey.png
| mapsize1                 = 250x200px
| map_caption1             = Census Bureau map of Old Bridge Township, New Jersey

<mapframe text="Interactive map of Old Bridge Township, New Jersey" zoom="8" width="250" height="250">
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  "ids": "Q1089070"
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| pushpin_map              = USA New Jersey Middlesex County#USA New Jersey#USA
| pushpin_label            = Old Bridge Township
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]]##Location in [[New Jersey]]##Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief           = yes

<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|New Jersey}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New Jersey|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex]]
| government_footnotes     = <ref name=DataBook/>
| government_type          = [[Faulkner Act]] [[Faulkner Act (mayor–council)|Mayor-Council]]
| governing_body           = Township Council
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = Eleanor "Debbie" Walker ([[New Jersey Republican Party|R]], term ends December 31, 2027)<ref name=Mayor/>
| leader_title1            = [[City manager|Administrator]]
| leader_name1             = Himanshu Shah<ref>[https://www.oldbridge.com/page/staff-directory Staff Directory - Business Administrator], Old Bridge Township. Accessed April 21, 2024.</ref>
| leader_title2            = [[Municipal clerk]]
| leader_name2             = Kathryn Hutchinson<ref>[https://www.oldbridge.com/page/staff-directoryq Staff Directory], Old Bridge Township. Accessed April 21, 2024.</ref>
| established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date         = March 2, 1869 (as ''Madison Township'')
| established_title1       = Renamed
| established_date1        = November 5, 1975 (as ''Old Bridge Township'')

<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name=CensusArea>[https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_cousubs_34.txt 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321021831/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_cousubs_34.txt |date=March 21, 2021 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 1, 2020.</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 106.00
| area_land_km2            =  98.89
| area_water_km2           =   7.11
| area_total_sq_mi         =  40.93
| area_land_sq_mi          =  38.18
| area_water_sq_mi         =   2.75
| area_water_percent       =   6.71
| area_rank                = 52nd of 565 in state<br />3rd of 25 in county<ref name=CensusArea/>

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/>
|population_total         = 66876
|population_rank          = 21st of 565 in state<br />3rd of 25 in county<ref name=LWD2020Density>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/dmograph/est/mcd/density.xlsx Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307144148/https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/dmograph/est/mcd/density.xlsx |date=March 7, 2023 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref>
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 1751.6
|population_density_rank  = 314th of 565 in state<br />22nd of 25 in county<ref name=LWD2020Density/>
|population_est           = 68165
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name=Census2020/><ref name=PopEst/>

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = −05:00
| timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|Eastern (EDT)]]
| utc_offset_DST           = −04:00
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Gnis|882158|Township of Old Bridge}}, [[Geographic Names Information System]]. Accessed March 8, 2013.</ref>
| elevation_m              = 
| elevation_ft             = 46
| coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR1">[https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824085937/https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |date=August 24, 2019 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>
| coordinates              = {{coord|40.404632|-74.308537|region:US-NJ_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code              = 08857 – Old Bridge<ref>[http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=old%20bridge&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Old Bridge, NJ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107112701/https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=old%20bridge&state=NJ |date=November 7, 2017 }}, [[United States Postal Service]]. Accessed March 11, 2012.</ref><br />08859 – [[Parlin, New Jersey|Parlin]]<ref>[http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=parlin&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Parlin, NJ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107113034/https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=parlin&state=NJ |date=November 7, 2017 }}, [[United States Postal Service]]. Accessed March 11, 2012.</ref><br />08879 – [[Laurence Harbor, New Jersey|Laurence Harbor]]<ref>[http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=laurence%20harbor&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Laurence Harbor, NJ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107060905/https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=laurence%20harbor&state=NJ |date=November 7, 2017 }}, [[United States Postal Service]]. Accessed March 11, 2012.</ref><br />07735 – [[Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey|Cliffwood Beach]]<ref>[http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=cliffwood&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Cliffwood, NJ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107112857/https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=cliffwood&state=NJ |date=November 7, 2017 }}, [[United States Postal Service]]. Accessed March 11, 2012.</ref><br />07747 – [[Matawan, New Jersey|Matawan*]]<br />08879 – [[South Amboy, New Jersey|South Amboy*]]
| area_code                = [[Area codes 732 and 848|732/848]]<ref>[http://www.area-codes.com/search.asp?frmNPA=&frmNXX=&frmState=NJ&frmCity=Old%20Bridge&frmCounty=Middlesex Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Old Bridge, NJ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112203909/http://www.area-codes.com/search.asp?frmNPA=&frmNXX=&frmState=NJ&frmCity=Old%20Bridge&frmCounty=Middlesex |date=January 12, 2016 }}, Area-Codes.com. Accessed September 23, 2014.</ref>
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 3402354705<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR2">[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/https://www.census.gov/ |date=December 27, 1996 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119221733/https://census.missouri.edu/geocodes/?state=34 |date=November 19, 2018 }}, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0882158<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR3">[http://geonames.usgs.gov US Board on Geographic Names] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204035720/http://geonames.usgs.gov/ |date=February 4, 2012 }}, [[United States Geological Survey]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|https://www.oldbridge.com}}
| footnotes                = 
| image_blank_emblem       = 
| blank_emblem_type        = Seal
}}
'''Old Bridge Township''' is a [[Township (New Jersey)|township]] in [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]], located in the [[Raritan River|Raritan Valley Region]] and within the [[New York metropolitan area|New York Metro Area]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the township was [[List of municipalities in New Jersey|the state's 21st-most-populous municipality]],<ref name=Largest2020>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_PL94_Summary/Table_1_2020.xlsx Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213121552/https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_PL94_Summary/Table_1_2020.xlsx |date=February 13, 2023 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> with a population of 66,876,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 1,501 (+2.3%) from the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] count of 65,375,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 4,919 (+8.1%) from the 60,456 counted in the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2010/2010data/table7cm.xls Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602092646/https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2010/2010data/table7cm.xls |date=June 2, 2022 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]], February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> As of the 2010 Census, the township was ranked 18th in the state by population, after being the state's 21st most-populous municipality in 2000.<ref name=Census2010XLS>[http://2010.census.gov/news/xls/st34-final_newjersey.xls The Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships in 2010 in New Jersey: 2000 and 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221020910/http://2010.census.gov/news/xls/st34-final_newjersey.xls |date=2011-02-21 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed March 11, 2012.</ref> The township is a [[Commuter town|bedroom suburb]] of [[New York City]] located across the [[Raritan Bay]] from [[Staten Island]].<ref name=NYT1991/><ref name=NYT2000/> It is about {{convert|25|mi|km}} from [[New York City]]<ref>Mulvihill, Geoff; and Cortez, Julio. [http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21442576/official-3-dead-nj-supermarket-shooting "Official: 3 dead in NJ supermarket shooting"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715063140/http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21442576/official-3-dead-nj-supermarket-shooting |date=July 15, 2014 }}." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', from the [[Denver Post]], August 31, 2012. Accessed August 31, 2012. "Old Bridge is a bedroom suburb of about 23,000 about 25 miles from Manhattan but just across the Raritan Bay from Staten Island."</ref> and about {{convert|30|mi|km}} south of [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]].<ref>Ariosto, David. "[http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/31/justice/new-jersey-supermarket-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t3 Gunman kills two, then himself, at New Jersey supermarket, authorities say] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831223436/http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/31/justice/new-jersey-supermarket-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t3 |date=August 31, 2012 }}." ''[[CNN]]''. August 31, 2012. Accessed August 31, 2012.</ref>

What is now Old Bridge Township was originally incorporated as '''Madison Township''' by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]] on March 2, 1869, from portions of [[South Amboy, New Jersey|South Amboy Township]] (now City of South Amboy).<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. [https://nj.gov/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf ''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''], Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 170. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> In a referendum held on November 5, 1975, voters approved changing the township's name to Old Bridge Township by a margin of 7,150 votes to 4,888.<ref name=NYT1975>{{cite news |author=Staff |title=New Names Voted for 2 Communities |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/06/archives/new-jersey-pages-new-names-voted-for-2-communities.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 6, 1975 |page=88 |access-date=June 18, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624215601/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/06/archives/new-jersey-pages-new-names-voted-for-2-communities.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=History>[https://www.oldbridge.com/page/history History], Old Bridge Township. Accessed May 28, 2024.</ref> The township's name was changed to avoid confusion with the borough of [[Madison, New Jersey|Madison]] in [[Morris County, New Jersey|Morris County]].<ref name=NYT1975/><ref name=NYT1991>Cheslow, Jerry. [https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/21/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-of-living-in-old-bridge.html "If You're Thinking of Living in: Old Bridge"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117003409/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/21/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-of-living-in-old-bridge.html |date=November 17, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 21, 1991. Accessed March 11, 2012.</ref> When the township was established, the area was made up primarily of farms and the population grew slowly. In 1880, the population was 1,662 and by 1950 it had reached 7,365. Over the next decade, a building boom started;<ref>Depalma, Rachelle. [https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/01/realestate/if-youre-thinking-of-living-in-old-bridge.html "If You're Thinking Of Living In; Old Bridge"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 1, 1986. Accessed May 28, 2024. "In the 1950s, large-scale development began in the community - then called Madison Township - when investors purchased huge tracts of land to meet the housing demands of people anxious to leave urban areas."</ref> as farms gave way to developments, the population tripled to 22,772 by 1960.<ref name=NYT2000/> The [[1980 United States census|1980 census]] cited 51,406 people. The township saw major changes with the extension of Route 18 to the shore.

The township was named as a contender for the title of one of the best places to live in the United States by ''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]'' magazine in both 2005 and 2007.<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2007/snapshots/PL3454690.html MONEY Magazine Best places to live 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928133259/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2007/snapshots/PL3454690.html |date=September 28, 2020 }}, ''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]''.</ref><ref>[https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2005/snapshots/46391.html Best Places to Live 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925013256/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2005/snapshots/46391.html |date=September 25, 2021 }}, ''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]''.</ref>

In 2016, SafeWise named Old Bridge Township as the sixth-safest city in America to raise a child; the township was the second-highest ranked of the 12 communities in New Jersey included on the list.<ref>Maurer, Caroline. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160630012800/http://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-to-raise-a-child/ "The 30 Safest Cities to Raise a Child – 2016"], SafeWise, June 27, 2016. Accessed August 22, 2016.</ref>