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Colonia, New Jersey

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Colonia is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP)<ref>State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> in Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey.<ref name=CPH232>New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed November 30, 2012.</ref><ref>GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Middlesex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 30, 2012.</ref> As of the 2020 United States census, the CDP's population was 18,609.<ref name=Census2020/>

History

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In 1919, the New Jersey State Highway Commission built a new road that became part of the Lincoln Highway, an early plan to create a transcontinental highway. The stretch was constructed on the west side of the Pennsylvania Railroad (now the Northeast Corridor) from near the northeast of Dow Avenue between Colonia and Iselin to Cedar Street in Menlo Park, to avoid two railroad crossings. The old road is now Middlesex-Essex Turnpike and Thornall Street, on the east side of the tracks.

Geography

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Colonia is in northeastern Middlesex County, in the northwest corner of Woodbridge Township. It is bordered to the north by Clark, to the northeast by Rahway, to the east by Avenel, to the south by Iselin, and to the west by Edison. Union County borders the community to the north and northeast. Newark is Template:Convert to the northeast, and New Brunswick, the Middlesex county seat, is Template:Convert to the southwest.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Colonia CDP has a total area of Template:Convert, including Template:Convert of water (0.10%).<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/> The community is drained to the northeast by the South Branch of the Rahway River, part of the watershed of the Arthur Kill. Colonia has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and average monthly temperatures range from Template:Convert in January to Template:Convert in July.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Garden State Parkway passes through the western portion of the CDP but does not interchange there. For northbound Garden State Parkway traffic only there is a service plaza in Colonia; it is the parkway's only area located on private property.<ref>Higgs, Larry. "The oddity of the twin Parkway service areas that are on private property", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 31, 2017, updated January 16, 2019. Accessed February 6, 2022. "A Dunkin' Donuts and new convenience store are under construction at the Colonia service area in Woodbridge, while one has been open at the Exxon next door since the early 2000's. The Colonia Service area is the only area on the Garden State Parkway on private property."</ref>

In 2018 the president of the Historical Association of Woodbridge, Daniel D'Arcy, stated that "Colonia is to Woodbridge like the Bronx is to NYC. People like the identity."<ref name=Zimmeretal>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2010 census

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The 2010 United States census counted 17,795 people, 6,160 households, and 4,977 families in the CDP. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,321 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 80.37% (14,302) White, 5.26% (936) Black or African American, 0.12% (21) Native American, 10.70% (1,904) Asian, 0.04% (8) Pacific Islander, 1.54% (274) from other races, and 1.97% (350) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.27% (1,649) of the population.<ref name=Census2010>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Colonia CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 30, 2012.</ref>

Of the 6,160 households, 34.8% had children under the age of 18; 65.6% were married couples living together; 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.2% were non-families. Of all households, 16.4% were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.25.<ref name=Census2010/>

22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.6 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States Census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 17,811 people, 6,184 households, and 5,077 families residing in the CDP. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,254 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.00% White, 4.76% African American, 0.10% Native American, 6.31% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.97% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Colonia CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 30, 2012.</ref>

There were 6,184 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% were non-families. 15.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.21.<ref name=Census2000/>

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 24.8% 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 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.<ref name=Census2000/>

The median income for a household in the CDP was $67,372, and the median income for a family was $76,090. Males had a median income of $50,260 versus $36,657 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,732. About 1.5% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/>

Parks and recreation

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Merrill Park is a Middlesex County park located on the South Branch of the Rahway River. The park was created as a "Progressive Playground" and spans Template:Convert. The park's maintenance is handled by funding from the municipality, local schools, community groups and local businesses. Merrill Park includes four tennis courts, three baseball fields, a soccer field, seven picnic groves that can be reserved in advance, the progressive playground, a football field, two basketball courts, two softball fields, two open picnic groves, and three other playgrounds. The football field and soccer field are surrounded by a walkway for joggers as well. There are numerous small trails around the park.<ref>Merrill Park , Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 29, 2016.</ref>

Education

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Public schools

Schools in Colonia operated as part of the Woodbridge Township School District are:

Elementary schools (K-5)

  • Claremont Avenue Elementary School #20 - Claremont Avenue, Colonia
  • Lynn Crest Elementary School #22 - New Dover Road, Colonia
  • Oak Ridge Heights Elementary School #21 - Inman Avenue
  • Pennsylvania Avenue Elementary School #27 - Pennsylvania Avenue

Middle school (6th-8th)

  • Colonia Middle School - Delaware Avenue

High school (9th-12th)

Private/religious school (K-8th)

Notable people

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Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Colonia include:

See also

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References

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Template:Reflist

Template:Middlesex County, New Jersey Template:Authority control

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