Plainfield, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Plainfield is a city
in Union County
, New Jersey
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population increased to a record high of 49,808.
Plainfield was originally formed as a township
on April 5, 1847, from portions of Westfield Township
, while the area was still part of Essex County
. On March 19, 1857, it became part of the newly created Union County. Plainfield was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on April 21, 1869, from portions of Plainfield Township, based on the results of a referendum held that same day. The city and township coexisted until March 6, 1878, when Plainfield Township was dissolved and parts absorbed by Plainfield City and the remainder becoming Fanwood Township (now known as Scotch Plains
).
Plainfield is nicknamed "The Queen City".
The city is located in Central Jersey
on the southwestern edge of Union County and is bordered by nine municipalities. Scotch Plains
lies to the north and east, and Fanwood
to the northeast. Bordered to the south are South Plainfield
, and Piscataway. To the southwest lies Dunellen
, and Middlesex. To the southeast Edison
. All which are in Middlesex County
. Green Brook lies to the southwest, North Plainfield
lies to the north and Watchung
borders to the northwest. All three of these municipalities are in Somerset County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.04 square miles (15.6 km²), all of it land.
Plainfield is approximately equidistant between New Brunswick, New Jersey
and Westfield, New Jersey
. It is three miles closer to Princeton than it is to Newark. Sherman Avenue which is on the south side of Plainfield is considered the junction area of Plainfield, South Plainfield, and Piscataway. Plainfield lies roughly 25 minutes northeast of Princeton, and 30 minutes southwest of Newark. Plainfield is approximately 45 minutes southwest of New York City and 56 minutes northeast of Philadelphia. Plainfield is in Raritan Valley (a line of cities in central New Jersey). Plainfield lies on the east side of Raritan Valley along with Edison.
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As of the census
of 2000, there were 47,829 people, 15,137 households, and 10,898 families residing in the city. The population density
was 7,921.7 people per square mile (3,057.4/km²). There were 16,180 housing units at an average density of 2,679.8 per square mile (1,034.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 21.45% White, 61.78% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 10.78% from other races
, and 4.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.16% of the population.
There were 15,137 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples
living together, 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.49.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,683, and the median income for a family was $50,774. Males had a median income of $33,460 versus $30,408 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,052. About 12.2% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
It was settled in 1684 by Quakers
, and incorporated as a city in 1869. Formerly a bedroom suburb in the New York metropolitan area
, it has become the urban center of 10 closely allied municipalities, with diversified industries, including printing and the manufacture of chemicals, clothing
, electronic
equipment, and vehicular
parts. Among the several 18th-century buildings remaining are a Friends' meetinghouse (1788), the Martine house (1717), and the Nathaniel Drake House
(1746), known as George Washington
's headquarters. Nearby Washington Rock is a prominent point of the Watchung Mountains
and is reputed to be the vantage point from which Washington watched British troop movements.
In music history, Plainfield is known as the birthplace of P-Funk
. George Clinton
founded The Parliaments
while working in a barber shop in Plainfield. Parliament-Funkadelic
was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 1997. Plainfield is now home to former New Jersey governor James McGreevey.
In sports history, Plainfield is the birthplace of several current and former athletes, including professionals and well-known amateurs. Included in their number are Milt Campbell
, the 1956 Olympic
Decathlon
gold medalist (the first African-American to earn this title); and Joe Black
, the first African-American pitcher to win a World Series
game.
There are numerous sites, including homes, parks, and districts in town listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
in July 1967. This civil disturbance occurred in the wake of the larger Newark riots
. One Plainfield police officer died, about fifty people were injured, and several hundred thousand dollars of property was damaged by looting and arson. The New Jersey National Guard restored order after three days of unrest. This civil unrest caused a massive white flight, a process which accelerated the decline of the city.
Plainfield is governed under a Special Charter
granted by the New Jersey Legislature
by a mayor and a seven-member City Council, all of whom serve four-year terms in office. All council members are elected to four-terms of office. There are four wards, with one ward seat up for election each year. There are three at-large seats: one from the First and Fourth Wards; one from the Second and Third Wards; and one from the City as a whole. The three at-large seats and mayoral seat operate in a four-year cycle, with one seat up for election each year.
, the Mayor of the City of Plainfield is Sharon M. Robinson-Briggs (D, term of office ends December 31, 2013). Members of the Plainfield City Council are:
Plainfield is in the 6th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 22nd state legislative district. The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The district is one of 31 Abbott District
s statewide. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are 11 elementary schools (K-6, except as indicated) —
Barlow Elementary School (334),
Cedarbrook Elementary School (524; K-7),
Clinton Elementary School (295),
Cook Elementary School (287; K-7),
Emerson Community School (469),
Evergreen Elementary School (535),
Jefferson Elementary School (452),
Stillman Elementary School (274),
Washington Community School (530; PreK-6) and
Woodland Elementary School (255) — and
Hubbard Middle School (350) and
Maxson Middle School (442) for grades 6-8, along with
Plainfield High School
(1,638; 9-12),
Barack Obama Academy for Academic & Civic Development (71; 10-12) and
Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced Studies (82; 7-12).
Plainfield High School was the 307th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly
magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 293rd in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was removed in 2009 from the persistently dangerous list of schools in New Jersey.
Plainfield is also home to New Jersey's first high school focused on sustainability
, the Barack Obama Green Charter High School.
, a community college
headquartered in nearby Cranford
, maintains a campus in downtown Plainfield.
. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax
rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide).
rail stations on the Raritan Valley Line
, formerly the mainline of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
. The main Plainfield
station is in the downtown and a second, smaller Netherwood
station is in the Netherwood section, east of the downtown.
NJ Transit also provides bus service on the 113 and 114 to the Port Authority Bus Terminal
in Midtown Manhattan
; the 59, 65 and 66 (Limited) to Newark
; and local service on the 822 and 819 routes.
Newark Liberty International Airport
is approximately 30 minutes away.
The New Brunswick train station is approximately 15 minutes away.
, a hospital in Plainfield, asked for permission to close the hospital. This request has been opposed by People's Organization for Progress, an advocacy group based in Newark, New Jersey
.
The cause of the closing is due to the large number of uninsured patients inundating the hospital.
City (New Jersey)
A City in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
in Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population increased to a record high of 49,808.
Plainfield was originally formed as a township
Township (New Jersey)
A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...
on April 5, 1847, from portions of Westfield Township
Westfield, New Jersey
Westfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 30,316. The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract....
, while the area was still part of Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
. On March 19, 1857, it became part of the newly created Union County. Plainfield was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on April 21, 1869, from portions of Plainfield Township, based on the results of a referendum held that same day. The city and township coexisted until March 6, 1878, when Plainfield Township was dissolved and parts absorbed by Plainfield City and the remainder becoming Fanwood Township (now known as Scotch Plains
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Scotch Plains is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the township population increased to a record high of 23,510.-History:...
).
Plainfield is nicknamed "The Queen City".
Geography
Plainfield is located at 40.615352°N 74.416070°W.The city is located in Central Jersey
Central Jersey
Central Jersey is a common designation for a region of the state of New Jersey in the United States of America. Trenton is considered the boundary between designated "North Jersey" and "South Jersey"...
on the southwestern edge of Union County and is bordered by nine municipalities. Scotch Plains
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Scotch Plains is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the township population increased to a record high of 23,510.-History:...
lies to the north and east, and Fanwood
Fanwood, New Jersey
Fanwood is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,318.Fanwood was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 2, 1895, from portions of Fanwood Township , based on the results of a...
to the northeast. Bordered to the south are South Plainfield
South Plainfield, New Jersey
South Plainfield is a Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 23,385....
, and Piscataway. To the southwest lies Dunellen
Dunellen, New Jersey
Dunellen is a Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 6,823.Dunellen was formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 28, 1887, when it broke away from Piscataway Township, based on the results...
, and Middlesex. To the southeast Edison
Edison, New Jersey
Edison Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. What is now Edison Township was originally incorporated as Raritan Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1870, from portions of both Piscataway Township and Woodbridge Township...
. All which are in Middlesex County
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
. Green Brook lies to the southwest, North Plainfield
North Plainfield, New Jersey
North Plainfield is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 21,936....
lies to the north and Watchung
Watchung, New Jersey
Watchung is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,801.Watchung was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 23, 1826, from portions of North Plainfield Township based on the results...
borders to the northwest. All three of these municipalities are in Somerset County
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 6.04 square miles (15.6 km²), all of it land.
Plainfield is approximately equidistant between New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
and Westfield, New Jersey
Westfield, New Jersey
Westfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 30,316. The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract....
. It is three miles closer to Princeton than it is to Newark. Sherman Avenue which is on the south side of Plainfield is considered the junction area of Plainfield, South Plainfield, and Piscataway. Plainfield lies roughly 25 minutes northeast of Princeton, and 30 minutes southwest of Newark. Plainfield is approximately 45 minutes southwest of New York City and 56 minutes northeast of Philadelphia. Plainfield is in Raritan Valley (a line of cities in central New Jersey). Plainfield lies on the east side of Raritan Valley along with Edison.
Demographics
As of the 2010 Census, Plainfield had a population of 49,808. The median age was 33.3. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 23.5% White, 50.2% Black or African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 20.1% some other race and 4.2% reporting two or more races. 40.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.}}
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 47,829 people, 15,137 households, and 10,898 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 7,921.7 people per square mile (3,057.4/km²). There were 16,180 housing units at an average density of 2,679.8 per square mile (1,034.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 21.45% White, 61.78% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 10.78% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.16% of the population.
There were 15,137 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.49.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,683, and the median income for a family was $50,774. Males had a median income of $33,460 versus $30,408 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $19,052. About 12.2% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
, and incorporated as a city in 1869. Formerly a bedroom suburb in the New York metropolitan area
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
, it has become the urban center of 10 closely allied municipalities, with diversified industries, including printing and the manufacture of chemicals, clothing
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
, electronic
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
equipment, and vehicular
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
parts. Among the several 18th-century buildings remaining are a Friends' meetinghouse (1788), the Martine house (1717), and the Nathaniel Drake House
Nathaniel Drake House
The Nathaniel Drake House, is located in Plainfield, New Jersey. The house was built in 1746 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 19, 1973. It now operated as the Drake House Museum and is the headquarters of the Historical Society of Plainfield, though the building is...
(1746), known as George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's headquarters. Nearby Washington Rock is a prominent point of the Watchung Mountains
Watchung Mountains
The Watchung Mountains are a group of three long low ridges of volcanic origin, between 400 ft. and 500 ft. high, lying parallel to each other in northern New Jersey in the United States...
and is reputed to be the vantage point from which Washington watched British troop movements.
In music history, Plainfield is known as the birthplace of P-Funk
P-Funk
P-Funk is a shorthand term for the repertoire and performers associated with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective and the distinctive style of funk music they performed...
. George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
founded The Parliaments
The Parliaments
The Parliaments were a doo-wop quintet from Plainfield, New Jersey, formed in the back room of a barbershop in the late 1950s and named after the cigarette brand. After some early personnel changes their lineup solidified with George Clinton, Ray Davis, Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, and Grady Thomas...
while working in a barber shop in Plainfield. Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
in 1997. Plainfield is now home to former New Jersey governor James McGreevey.
In sports history, Plainfield is the birthplace of several current and former athletes, including professionals and well-known amateurs. Included in their number are Milt Campbell
Milt Campbell
Milton Gray Campbell is an American decathlete of the 1950s. In 1956, he became the first African American to win the gold medal in the decathlon of the Summer Olympic Games....
, the 1956 Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
gold medalist (the first African-American to earn this title); and Joe Black
Joe Black
Joseph Black was an American right-handed pitcher in Negro League and Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Redlegs, and Washington Senators who became the first black pitcher to win a World Series game, in 1952. Black died of prostate cancer at age 78.A native of Plainfield,...
, the first African-American pitcher to win a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
game.
There are numerous sites, including homes, parks, and districts in town listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Civil disturbance
Plainfield was affected by the Plainfield riots1967 Plainfield riots
The Plainfield Riots were a series of racially-charged violent disturbances that occurred in Plainfield, New Jersey during the summer of 1967, which mirrored the 1967 Newark riots in nearby Newark, New Jersey.-Background:...
in July 1967. This civil disturbance occurred in the wake of the larger Newark riots
1967 Newark riots
The 1967 Newark riots were a major civil disturbance that occurred in the city of Newark, New Jersey between July 12 and July 17, 1967. The six days of rioting, looting, and destruction left 26 dead and hundreds injured.-Social unrest:...
. One Plainfield police officer died, about fifty people were injured, and several hundred thousand dollars of property was damaged by looting and arson. The New Jersey National Guard restored order after three days of unrest. This civil unrest caused a massive white flight, a process which accelerated the decline of the city.
Local government
Special Charter (New Jersey)
A Special Charter allows a New Jersey municipality to operate under a charter that differs from those of the traditional forms of government or the many options available under the Faulkner Act...
granted by the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
by a mayor and a seven-member City Council, all of whom serve four-year terms in office. All council members are elected to four-terms of office. There are four wards, with one ward seat up for election each year. There are three at-large seats: one from the First and Fourth Wards; one from the Second and Third Wards; and one from the City as a whole. The three at-large seats and mayoral seat operate in a four-year cycle, with one seat up for election each year.
, the Mayor of the City of Plainfield is Sharon M. Robinson-Briggs (D, term of office ends December 31, 2013). Members of the Plainfield City Council are:
- Ward 1: William Reid (D; 2014)
- Ward 2: Cory Storch (D; 2011)
- Ward 3: Adrian Mapp (D; 2012)
- Ward 4: Bridget B. Rivers (D; 2013)
- At Large (Wards 1&4): Vera Greaves (D; 2011, filling vacancy)
- At Large (Wards 2&3): Rebecca Williams (D; 2014)
- At Large (All Wards): Council President Annie McWilliams (D; 2012)
Federal, state and county representation
New Jersey Apportionment Commission
The New Jersey Apportionment Commission is a constitutionally-created ten-member commission responsible for apportioning the forty districts of the New Jersey Legislature. The commission is convened after each decennial U.S. Census, and the districts are to be in use for the legislative elections...
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
Public schools
The Plainfield Public School DistrictPlainfield Public School District
The Plainfield Public School District is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade from Plainfield, in Union County, New Jersey, United States...
serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The district is one of 31 Abbott District
Abbott District
Abbott districts are school districts in New Jersey that are provided remedies to ensure that their students receive public education in accordance with New Jersey’s state constitution. They were created in 1985 as a result of the first ruling of Abbott v. Burke, a case filed by the Education Law...
s statewide. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are 11 elementary schools (K-6, except as indicated) —
Barlow Elementary School (334),
Cedarbrook Elementary School (524; K-7),
Clinton Elementary School (295),
Cook Elementary School (287; K-7),
Emerson Community School (469),
Evergreen Elementary School (535),
Jefferson Elementary School (452),
Stillman Elementary School (274),
Washington Community School (530; PreK-6) and
Woodland Elementary School (255) — and
Hubbard Middle School (350) and
Maxson Middle School (442) for grades 6-8, along with
Plainfield High School
Plainfield High School (New Jersey)
Plainfield High School is a comprehensive community four-year public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Plainfield, in Union County, New Jersey, United States. The school is part of the Plainfield Public School District, one of New Jersey's 31 Abbott Districts...
(1,638; 9-12),
Barack Obama Academy for Academic & Civic Development (71; 10-12) and
Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced Studies (82; 7-12).
Plainfield High School was the 307th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly is a monthly glossy publication featuring issues of possible interest to residents of the United States state of New Jersey...
magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 293rd in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was removed in 2009 from the persistently dangerous list of schools in New Jersey.
Plainfield is also home to New Jersey's first high school focused on sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, the Barack Obama Green Charter High School.
Higher education
Union County CollegeUnion County College
Union County College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in Union County, New Jersey. As the first and oldest of New Jersey's 19 community colleges, Union County College has been serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The...
, a community college
Community colleges in the United States
In the United States, community colleges are primarily two-year public institutions of higher education and were once commonly called junior colleges....
headquartered in nearby Cranford
Cranford, New Jersey
Cranford is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,625.Cranford was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 14, 1871, from portions of the Townships of Clark, Linden,...
, maintains a campus in downtown Plainfield.
Commerce
Portions of Plainfield are part of an Urban Enterprise ZoneUrban Enterprise Zone
In the United States, Urban Enterprise Zones , also known as Enterprise Zones, are intended to encourage development in blighted neighborhoods through tax and regulatory relief to entrepreneurs and investors who launch businesses in the area. UEZs are areas where companies can locate free of...
. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide).
Transportation
Plainfield has two New Jersey TransitNew Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
rail stations on the Raritan Valley Line
Raritan Valley Line
The Raritan Valley Line is a diesel-engine-powered commuter rail service operated by New Jersey Transit , originating out of Pennsylvania Station, located in Newark, New Jersey, with most trains terminating at the Raritan station, located in Raritan, New Jersey.Some weekday trains continue further...
, formerly the mainline of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
. The main Plainfield
Plainfield (NJT station)
Plainfield is a New Jersey Transit railroad station on the Raritan Valley Line, in Plainfield, New Jersey. It was the westmost station on the line with ADA accessibility, until Somerville station's new high-level platforms were opened on December 7, 2010. One of two train stations in Plainfield,...
station is in the downtown and a second, smaller Netherwood
Netherwood (NJT station)
Netherwood is a New Jersey Transit railroad station on the Raritan Valley Line, in Plainfield, New Jersey. The station has a ticket vending machine.-External links:*...
station is in the Netherwood section, east of the downtown.
NJ Transit also provides bus service on the 113 and 114 to the Port Authority Bus Terminal
Port Authority Bus Terminal
The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City...
in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
; the 59, 65 and 66 (Limited) to Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
; and local service on the 822 and 819 routes.
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
is approximately 30 minutes away.
The New Brunswick train station is approximately 15 minutes away.
Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center
Solaris Health System, a nonprofit company which owns Muhlenberg Regional Medical CenterMuhlenberg Regional Medical Center
Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center was a community-based acute care hospital in Plainfield, New Jersey.-History:It was founded in 1877 by the residents of Plainfield, New Jersey after a railroad accident...
, a hospital in Plainfield, asked for permission to close the hospital. This request has been opposed by People's Organization for Progress, an advocacy group based in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
.
The cause of the closing is due to the large number of uninsured patients inundating the hospital.
Plainfield Teacher's College hoax
- Plainfield Teacher's CollegePlainfield Teacher's CollegePlainfield Teacher's College was an imaginary college, created as a hoax, that fooled the New York Times sports department and college football fans across the country....
, a mythical institution created as a hoax by a duo of college football fans in 1941. The phony college's equally nonexistent football team had its scores carried by major newspapers including The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
before the hoax was discovered.
Arts and popular culture
- The Plainfield Symphony makes its home in Plainfield. It performs concerts at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church. The orchestra was founded in 1919, making it one of the oldest continuously operating orchestras in the United States.
- In October 2010, former Plainfield music teacher Anwar RobinsonAnwar RobinsonAnwar Farid Robinson is an American singer/songwriter/musician who was the 7th place finalist on the fourth season of American Idol.-American Idol:...
and performer Yolanda AdamsYolanda AdamsYolanda Adams is an American Grammy- and Dove-award-winning Yolanda Adams is an American [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]- and [[Dove Awards|Dove]]-award-winning...
joined with community residents to try to break the Guinness World RecordsGuinness World RecordsGuinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for the largest gospel chorus in the world.
- In the 1985 film Brewster's MillionsBrewster's Millions (1985 film)Brewster's Millions is a 1985 comedy film starring Richard Pryor and John Candy based on the 1902 novel of the same name by George Barr McCutcheon. It is the seventh film based on the story, with a screenplay by Herschel Weingrod & Timothy Harris...
, Richard PryorRichard PryorRichard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets...
portrays an aging minor league baseball pitcher whose team has recently visited a bar in Plainfield.
- In a 2003 episode of the television series Law & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
, the mother of an escaped convict receives chemotherapyChemotherapyChemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
at Garden State Memorial Hospital, a fictional medical facility in Plainfield.
Famous residents and natives
- Ernest R. AckermanErnest R. AckermanErnest Robinson Ackerman was an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey's 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1919 to 1931.-Early years:...
(1863–1931), represented New Jersey's 5th congressional districtNew Jersey's 5th congressional districtNew Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Scott Garrett. Garrett defeated Democrat Paul Aronsohn and independent candidate R. Matthew Fretz 55%-44% in the United States general elections, 2006....
from 1919-1931. - John AdamsJohn Adams (educator)John Adams was an American educator noted for organizing several hundred Sunday schools. His life was celebrated by Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr...
(1772–1863), educator, taught at the Plainfield Academy here for some years. - Rich BaggerRich BaggerRichard H. "Rich" Bagger is an American Republican Party politician from New Jersey, former State Senator and currently chief of staff to Governor Chris Christie. He is a resident of Westfield, New Jersey....
(born 1960), former mayor of Westfield, New JerseyWestfield, New JerseyWestfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 30,316. The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract....
. - Jeff BarryJeff BarryJeff Barry is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer.-Early career:...
(born 1938) childhood home; pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer. - Joe BlackJoe BlackJoseph Black was an American right-handed pitcher in Negro League and Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Redlegs, and Washington Senators who became the first black pitcher to win a World Series game, in 1952. Black died of prostate cancer at age 78.A native of Plainfield,...
(1924–2002), birthplace and childhood home, professional baseball player, Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. - Judy BlumeJudy BlumeJudy Blume is an American author. She has written many novels for children and young adults which have exceeded sales of 80 million and been translated into 31 languages...
(born 1938), author. - Van Wyck BrooksVan Wyck BrooksVan Wyck Brooks was an American literary critic, biographer, and historian.- Biography :Brooks was educated at Harvard University and graduated in 1908...
(1886–1963), author. - Benjamin BrownBenjamin Brown (actor)Benjamin Brown is an actor who currently is on Fox's Safari Tracks as Ushaka, a South African zoological protector and expert. It first aired in 2005.In 1986, Brown graduated from Plainfield High School in Plainfield, New Jersey...
(born 1968), actor, attended Plainfield High School. - Taiwan BrownTaiwan BrownTaiwan Brown is an American actor, host, and former MtvU video jockey. He is currently the host for the iptv network OmitTV.com...
(born 1987), TV personality. - Milt CampbellMilt CampbellMilton Gray Campbell is an American decathlete of the 1950s. In 1956, he became the first African American to win the gold medal in the decathlon of the Summer Olympic Games....
(born 1933), birthplace and childhood home, 1956 Olympic Decathlon Gold Medal winner. - Earl ClarkEarl ClarkEarl Rashad Clark is an American professional basketball player. Clark played collegiate basketball for the University of Louisville men's basketball team and was drafted 14th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2009 NBA Draft....
(born 1988), basketball player for the Orlando MagicOrlando MagicThe Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, formerly for the University of LouisvilleUniversity of LouisvilleThe University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
CardinalsLouisville Cardinals men's basketballThe Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is the 18th winningest college basketball team in NCAA Division I history and has the 10th best winning percentage in college basketball history. Currently coached by Rick Pitino, the Cardinals of the University of Louisville have been to 37 NCAA...
. - George ClintonGeorge Clinton (funk musician)George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
(born 1941), founder of Parliament-FunkadelicParliament-FunkadelicParliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
, childhood home. - Manny CollinsManny CollinsManny Collins is an American football cornerback for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Rutgers.-Early years:...
(born 1984) American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerbackCornerbackA cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
. - Archibald CoxArchibald CoxArchibald Cox, Jr., was an American lawyer and law professor who served as U.S. Solicitor General under President John F. Kennedy. He became known as the first special prosecutor for the Watergate scandal. During his career, he was a pioneering expert on labor law and also an authority on...
(1912–2004), Watergate special prosecutor. - Bill EvansBill EvansWilliam John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
(1929–1980), jazz pianist. - J. Michael FayJ. Michael FayJ. Michael Fay is an American ecologist and conservationist notable for, among other things, the MegaTransect, in which he spent 455 days walking 3200 miles across Africa and the MegaFlyover in which he and pilot Peter Ragg spent months flying 70,000 miles in a small plane at low altitude, taking...
(born 1956), conservationist. - Jan GrooverJan GrooverJan Groover is an American photographer residing in Montpon-Menesterol, France, She is noted for her use of emerging color technologies...
(born 1943) photographerPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
noted for her use of emerging colorColorColor or colour is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, green, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors...
technologies. - Dick GroteDick GroteRichard Charles "Dick" Grote is an American management consultant and writer on business management processes. He is the developer of the Discipline Without Punishment performance management system and an expert on performance appraisal...
(born 1941), management consultant and author. - Mark HainesMark HainesMark Haines was a host on the CNBC television network.-Early life and education:Haines grew up in Oyster Bay, New York, and resided in Monmouth County, New Jersey. His alma mater was Denison University, and in 1989, the University of Pennsylvania Law School...
(1946-2011), former host of the CNBCCNBCCNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
shows Squawk BoxSquawk BoxSquawk Box is a business news television program which airs at breakfast time on the CNBC network. The program is currently co-hosted by Joe Kernen, Rebecca Quick and Andrew Ross Sorkin. Since debuting in 1995, the show has spawned a number of versions across CNBC's international channels, many of...
and Squawk on the StreetSquawk on the StreetSquawk on the Street, which debuted on December 19, 2005, is a business show on CNBC that follows the first 90 minutes of trading on Wall Street in the United States....
. - Robert HandRobert HandRobert Sterling Hand is an American astrologer, author, translator, and lecturer, who received the Regulus Award for his life's work at the "United Astrology Conference" in Denver in 2008.-Early life:...
(born 1942), astrologer. - Bret HarteBret HarteFrancis Bret Harte was an American author and poet, best remembered for his accounts of pioneering life in California.- Life and career :...
(1836–1902), author and poet. - Eddie HazelEddie HazelEdward Earl "Eddie" Hazel was a guitarist in early funk music in the United States who played lead guitar with Parliament-Funkadelic...
(1950–92), lead guitarist and founding member of Parliament-FunkadelicParliament-FunkadelicParliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
. - Byron HurtByron HurtByron Patrick Hurt is an American activist and documentary filmmaker.-Biography:Byron Hurt attended Northeastern University, where he played football as a quarterback, and founded God Bless the Child Productions before graduating with a degree in Journalism in 1993...
(born 1969), documentary filmmaker. - David T. KenneyDavid T. KenneyDavid T. Kenney was an inventor with nine patents, granted between 1903 and 1913, applicable to both machine-driven and manual vacuum cleaners, dominated the vacuum cleaner industry in the United States until the 1920s....
(1866–1922), inventor, longtime resident - Robyn KenneyRobyn KenneyRobyn Kenney is a field hockey midfielder from the United States, who earned her first senior career cap vs Russia on May 2, 2002. Kenney attended Boston University...
(born 1979), field hockey player. - Phyllis KirkPhyllis Kirk-Early life and career:Born Phyllis Kirkegaard in Syracuse, New York , she contracted polio as a child which resulted in health problems for the rest of her life. As a teen, she moved to New York City to study acting and changed her last name to "Kirk"...
(1927–2006), actress - Peter LiskePeter LiskePeter A. "Pete" Liske, is a former American football quarterback and later a university athletics administrator.-High school and college football careers:...
(born 1942), former professional football player - Burke MarshallBurke MarshallBurke Marshall was an American lawyer and head of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice during the Civil Rights Era.-Early years:...
(1922–2003), head of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice during the Civil Rights Era. - James Edgar MartineJames Edgar MartineJames Edgar Martine was an American Democratic Party politician who served as United States Senator from New Jersey.-Biography:...
(1850–1925), United States Senator from New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
; childhood home. - Robert MasonRobert Mason (writer)Robert C. Mason is a Vietnam War veteran and author of several books, including his first, best-selling memoir: Chickenhawk . Mason piloted Huey "Slicks" in the United States Army as a Warrant Officer 1...
. author of ChickenhawkChickenhawk (book)Chickenhawk is Robert Mason's narrative of his experiences as a UH-1 Iroquois helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. The book chronicles his enlistment, flight training, deployment to and experiences in Vietnam, and his experiences after returning from the war.- Writing, Publishing, and Reaction...
, born in Plainfield on 29 Mar 1942 - Mary McCormackMary McCormackMary Catherine McCormack is an American actress. Best known for her work in television, she has had leading roles as Justine Appleton in the series Murder One , as Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper in The West Wing and as Mary Shannon in In Plain Sight .Her film roles include Private...
(born 1969), birthplace. - Jim McGreeveyJim McGreeveyJames Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...
(born 1957), former Governor of New JerseyGovernor of New JerseyThe Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. - Eugene MonroeEugene Monroe-Jacksonville Jaguars:In an effort to rebuild their offensive line, the Jaguars selected Monroe and Eben Britton with their first two picks. Monroe was expected to compete with veteran free-agent acquisition Tra Thomas for the start at left tackle...
(born 1987), professional football player for the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Dudley MooreDudley MooreDudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
(1935–2002), actor who resided there at time of death - Nonnie MooreNonnie MooreNonnie Moore was a fashion editor at Mademoiselle, Harper's Bazaar and GQ.She was born in Plainfield, New Jersey as Marjorie Eilers on January 21, 1922, and acquired the nickname "Nonnie" during her childhood...
(1922–2009), fashion editor at MademoiselleMademoiselle (magazine)Mademoiselle was an influential women's magazine first published in 1935 by Street and Smith and later acquired by Condé Nast Publications....
, Harper's BazaarHarper's BazaarHarper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
and GQ. - Cordell Mosson (born 1952), vocalist and bassist for Parliament-FunkadelicParliament-FunkadelicParliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
, childhood home. - James S. NegleyJames S. NegleyJames Scott Negley was an American Civil War General, farmer, railroader, and U.S. Representative from the state of Pennsylvania. He played a key role in the Union victory at the Battle of Murfreesboro.-Early life:...
(1826–1901), died there - Billy Bass NelsonBilly Bass NelsonWilliam "Billy Bass" Nelson is a U.S. musician, who was the original bassist for Funkadelic. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic....
(born 1951), bassist, founding member of Parliament-FunkadelicParliament-FunkadelicParliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
, childhood home. - Montell OwensMontell OwensMontell Ernest Owens is an American football fullback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was signed by the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Maine. He was listed in the Top 200 Players in the NFL Today by NFL Power Rankings 2011...
(born 1984), professional football player for the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Irving PennIrving PennIrving Penn was an American photographer known for his portraiture and fashion photography.-Early career:Irving Penn studied under Alexey Brodovitch at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art from which he was graduated in 1938. Penn's drawings were published by Harper's Bazaar and he...
(1917-2009), photographer. - Kasim ReedKasim ReedMohammed Kasim Reed, known as Kasim Reed, is a Democratic politician and the 59th Mayor of Atlanta, who previously represented the 35th District of the Georgia State Senate. He was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002...
(born 1969), birthplace, current Mayor of Atlanta. - Jane RuleJane RuleJane Vance Rule, CM, OBC was a Canadian writer of lesbian-themed novels and non-fiction.-Biography:Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Jane Vance Rule was the oldest daughter of Carlotta Jane and Arthur Richards Rule. She claimed she was a tomboy growing up and felt like an outsider for reaching six...
(1931-2007), author of lesbian-themed novels and non-fiction. - William Nelson RunyonWilliam Nelson RunyonWilliam Nelson Runyon was a Republican who served as Acting Governor of New Jersey from 1919 to 1920.Runyon was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. He was a lawyer, then a member of New Jersey General Assembly from Union County, New Jersey from 1915 to 1917. Runyon served in the New Jersey Senate...
(1871–1931), Acting Governor of New JerseyGovernor of New JerseyThe Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
from 1919 to 1920. - Robert Shapiro (born 1942), childhood home.
- Garry ShiderGarry ShiderGarry Marshall Shider was an American musician and guitarist. He was musical director of the P-Funk All-Stars for much of their history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.-Early life:Shider was born in Plainfield, New...
(1953–2010), musical director of P-FunkP-FunkP-Funk is a shorthand term for the repertoire and performers associated with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective and the distinctive style of funk music they performed...
. - Percy Hamilton StewartPercy Hamilton StewartPercy Hamilton Stewart was a Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1931-1933....
(1867–1951), mayor of Plainfield in 1912 and 1913, represented New Jersey's 5th congressional districtNew Jersey's 5th congressional districtNew Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Scott Garrett. Garrett defeated Democrat Paul Aronsohn and independent candidate R. Matthew Fretz 55%-44% in the United States general elections, 2006....
from 1931-1933. - Edward Herbert ThompsonEdward Herbert ThompsonEdward Herbert Thompson was an American-born archaeologist and diplomat.-Biography:Edward H. Thompson was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. Initially inspired by the books of John Lloyd Stephens, Thompson devoted much of his career to study of the Maya civilization...
(1856–1935), archaeologist and diplomat. - Jeff Torborg (born 1941), former professional baseball player and manager.
- Fred Van EpsFred Van EpsFred Van Eps was a noted banjoist and banjo maker. The "Van Eps Recording Banjo" was a well-known model until 1930.-Biography:...
(1878–1960), banjoist and early recording artist. - Rich VosRich VosRichard Ira "Rich" Vos is an American comedian. Originally from Plainfield, New Jersey, Vos has been a working stand-up for decades. Colin Quinn described Vos in his early days as a "Jersey Hack"....
(born 1957), comedian. - David S. WareDavid S. WareDavid Spencer Ware , is an American jazz saxophonist.Ware grew up in Scotch Plains, New Jersey and graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. He attended the Berklee College of Music and worked in New York City as a cab driver for 14 years, later returning to Scotch Plains to live...
(born 1949), jazz saxophonist. - Vic WashingtonVic WashingtonVictor Arnold Washington is a former American football running back/safety...
(born 1946), former professional football player. - James Edward Maceo WestJames Edward Maceo WestJames Edward Maceo West is an American inventor and acoustician. Along with Gerhard Sessler, West developed the foil electret microphone in 1962...
(born 1941), co-inventor of the foil electret microphoneElectret microphoneAn electret microphone is a type of condenser microphone, which eliminates the need for a polarizing power supply by using a permanently charged material....
and member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. - Harrison A. WilliamsHarrison A. WilliamsHarrison Arlington "Pete" Williams, Jr. was a Democrat who represented New Jersey in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate . Williams was convicted on May 1, 1981 for taking bribes in the Abscam sting operation, and resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1982...
(1919–2001), birthplace. - Jay WilliamsJay Williams (basketball)Jason David Williams , professionally known as Jay Williams, is a former American professional basketball player with the NBA Chicago Bulls. He last signed with the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League, but was waived by the Toros on December 30, 2006 to rehabilitate a nagging injury...
(born 1981), former professional basketball player with the Chicago BullsChicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
. - Malinda Williams (born 1975), actress who played hair stylist Tracy "Bird" Van Adams on the Showtime television drama Soul Food.
- Bernie WorrellBernie WorrellGeorge Bernard "Bernie" Worrell, Jr. is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic...
(born 1944), keyboardist, founding member of Parliament-FunkadelicParliament-FunkadelicParliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
, childhood home. - James A. YorkeJames A. YorkeJames A. Yorke is a Distinguished University Professor of Mathematics and Physics and chair of the Mathematics Department at the University of Maryland, College Park. He and Benoit Mandelbrot were the recipients of the 2003 Japan Prize in Science and Technology...
(born 1941), chair of the Mathematics Department at the University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College ParkThe University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
External links
- Plainfield, New Jersey's Homepage
- Plainfield Public School District
- Data for the Plainfield Public School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Plainfield Symphony
- Plainfield Area YMCA
- Cedarbrook Park & Shakespeare Garden
- Plainfield High School - NJ's 2nd oldest
- Tri-County Red Cross serving Plainfield 91 years