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Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than 15 miles from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069. Wayne was formed as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 12, 1847, from portions of Manchester Township. Totowa was formed from portions of Manchester and Wayne Townships on March 15, 1898.[7] Wayne was ranked at No. 32 on Money magazine's 2006 "best places" list, among towns in the nation with populations greater than 50,000.[8] . Wayne is home to Willowbrook Mall, Wayne Hills Mall, Wayne Towne Center, and also High Mountain Park Preserve.
GeographyAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 25.2 square miles (65.2 km²), of which, 23.8 square miles (61.7 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.5 km²) of it (5.44%) is water. Due to its large geographic area, Wayne shares its borders with 11 neighboring towns. Franklin Lakes and Oakland in Bergen County; Fairfield and North Caldwell in Essex County; Lincoln Park and Pequannock in Morris County; and Haledon, Little Falls, North Haledon, Pompton Lakes, and Totowa in Passaic County. Neighborhoods/Lake CommunitiesWayne has a number of lakes, with distinct communities and neighborhoods located around them. These include Pines Lake, Packanack Lake, Lions Head Lake, Tom's Lake and Pompton Lakes (half of which is in Wayne). The Passaic River also flows through a portion of Wayne and often floods near Willowbrook Mall and riverside neighborhoods. HistoryIn 1694, Arent Schuyler, a young surveyor, miner and land speculator, was sent into north-western New Jersey to investigate rumors that the French were trying to incite the local Lenni-Lenape Native American population to rebel against the English. Schuyler found no evidence of a rebellion, but discovered a rich fertile valley where the Lenni-Lenape grew a variety of crops. Schuyler reported his findings to the English and then convinced Major Anthony Brockholst, Samuel Bayard, Samuel Berry, Hendrick and David Mandeville, George Ryerson and John Mead to invest in the purchase of the land he referred to as the Pompton Valley. The seven chose Schuyler to be negotiator with the Lenape for the rights to the area. Samual Bayard, however, was chosen to negotiate with the East Jersey Company which maintained land rights over the area that is now Wayne. Approximately 5,000 acres were purchased on November 11, 1695. The area now known as Wayne Township then became part of New Barbadoes Township in Bergen County. In 1710, this same area became part of Saddle River Township in Bergen County. By 1837, the residents of Wayne found themselves in Manchester Township in the newly named Passaic County. Finally, on April 12, 1847 the first Wayne Township organization meeting was held at the Henry Casey House on the Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike. The first mayor, called the Chairman of the Township Committee until 1962, was William S. Hogencamp. The citizens voted to name the town after American Revolutionary War General Anthony Wayne. Throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries, Wayne Township remained a peaceful farming community. The Morris Canal ran through the southwestern part of Wayne, carrying produce to market and coal from Pennsylvania. The canal was replaced by the railroad at the end of the 19th century. In the early 20th century, Wayne grew as a vacation retreat for wealthy New Yorkers. In the summer, hordes of people from Manhattan and Brooklyn came to live in the summer bungalows and enjoy the beautiful rivers. World War II marked the impetus for tremendous change in Wayne. Summer bungalows were converted to year-round residences to accommodate factory workers. Following the war, farmland was converted to residential living. As Wayne grew, it adopted its current form of government in 1962.[9] Modern highways, including New Jersey Route 23, U.S. Route 46, and Interstate 80 made Wayne Township easily accessible, and several national firms have located here. Demographics
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 54,069 people, 18,755 households, and 14,366 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,269.5 people per square mile (876.4/km²). There were 19,218 housing units at an average density of 806.7/sq mi (311.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.05% White, 1.66% African American, 0.10% Native American, 5.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.09% of the population. There were 18,755 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.19. In the township the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males. The median income for a household in the township was $96,651, and the median income for a family was $117,047. Males had a median income of $61,271 versus $39,835 for females. The per capita income for the township was $35,349. About 1.6% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over. As of 2007, according to "Sperling's Best Places" and Fidelity National Financial, the median income for a household in the township now stands at $91,416, with the income per capita at $40,834. The median home value in Wayne is $599,000.[citation needed] GovernmentLocal governmentWayne Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government. A mayor is elected by the voters in partisan elections to serve a four-year term. A nine-member council forms the legislative branch of the township government. Three council members are elected at large and one from each of six wards for a term of four years.[1] Wayne's mayor is Christopher P. Vergano, appointed at the 2008 Reorganization Meeting to replace Scott Rumana.[11] Members of the Wayne Township Council are:[9]
Federal, state and county representationWayne is part of New Jersey's 40th Legislative District and is in the Eighth Congressional District.[12] New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District, covering the southern portion of Passaic County and northern sections of Essex County, is represented by Bill Pascrell Jr. (D, Paterson). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken). For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 40th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Kevin J. O'Toole (R, Cedar Grove) and in the Assembly by Scott Rumana (R, Wayne) and David C. Russo (R, Ridgewood).[13] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[14] Passaic County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected to staggered three-year terms on an at-large basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.[15] As of 2008, Passaic County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Sonia Rosado (2009, Ringwood), Freeholder Deputy Director Tahesha Way (2009, Wayne), Terry Duffy (2010, West Milford), Elease Evans (2008, Paterson), James Gallagher (2009, Paterson) Bruce James (2008, Clifton) and Pat Lepore (2010, West Paterson).[16] First Aid SquadThe Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad provides BLS (Basic Life Support) to all to reside in or travel through the Township of Wayne, New Jersey. The squad operates five Type I Rescue Ambulances, three boats, and one Heavy Rescue Vehicle. The First Aid Squad operates from two buildings known as Uptown and Downtown. The Uptown building, located on Hamburg Turnpike, houses three ambulances, Rescue 976 and one boat. The Downtown building, located between Taylor Drive and PAL Drive, houses two ambulances and two boats. The Squad is run by an elected Chief and several other line officers. The township is divided into two zones (Uptown and Downtown). EducationPublic SchoolThe Wayne Public Schools operate 14 public schools in Wayne. Elementary Schools
Middle Schools High Schools
Other schools
TransportationWayne is criss-crossed by several major roadways, including Interstate 80, U.S. Route 46, U.S. Route 202 and Route 23. Wayne is served by the Mountain View and Wayne Route 23 New Jersey Transit stations, offering service on the Montclair-Boonton Line to Hoboken Terminal or on Midtown Direct trains (about 16%) to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan via the Secaucus Junction. A Wayne-Route 23 station opened in January 2008 which offers train service via the Montclair-Boonton Line and regular bus service into the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. NJ Transit provides bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 191, 193, 194 and 195; to Newark on the 11, 28 (Saturday and Sunday only) and 75 routes, with local service provided on the MCM1, 704, 705, 712, 744, 748, 970 and 971 routes.[17] Wayne is 25.9 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark / Elizabeth, and 30 miles from LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens. Notable residentsSome noted current and former residents include:
Kim Alexis (1960-)- moved to Packanack Lake with husband and former Ranger Ron Duguay
Mark Rogers, center for the New York Rangers, Member of the 1980 USA Gold Medal Olympic Hockey Team Interesting facts
Filming on location
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
References
External links
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