South Plainfield, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement South Plainfield is a borough in northern Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough is situated on the border with Union County in the Raritan Valley region, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 24,338,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 953 (+4.1%) from the 23,385 recorded at the 2010 census,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 1,575 (+7.2%) from the 21,810 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

South Plainfield was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1926, from portions of Piscataway, based on the results of a referendum passed on April 6, 1926.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 174. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The borough's name derives from Plainfield, which derived its name from a local estate<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 7, 2015.</ref> or from its scenic location.<ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 22. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed October 7, 2015.</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 8.33 square miles (21.58 km²), including 8.30 square miles (21.49 km²) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.09 km²) of water (0.42%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Avon Park, Hadley Airport, Holly Park and Samptown.Template:Citation needed<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

The borough is bordered by Piscataway on the south and west, Edison on the east, both in Middlesex County, and by Plainfield on the north and Scotch Plains both in Union County.<ref>Areas touching South Plainfield, MapIt. Accessed March 8, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 23,385 people, 7,876 households, and 6,175 families in the borough. The population density was 2,808.5 per square mile (1,084.4/km²). There were 8,093 housing units at an average density of 971.9 per square mile (375.3/km²). The racial makeup was 66.74% (15,607) White, 10.10% (2,361) Black or African American, 0.37% (87) Native American, 14.68% (3,433) Asian, 0.03% (8) Pacific Islander, 4.79% (1,120) from other races, and 3.29% (769) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.24% (3,097) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 7,876 households, 35.2% had children under the age of 18; 62.1% were married couples living together; 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.6% were non-families. Of all households, 18.2% were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.34.<ref name=Census2010/>

23.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.1 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $92,263 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,066) and the median family income was $98,913 (+/− $4,289). Males had a median income of $61,480 (+/− $7,597) versus $48,639 (+/− $4,924) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,495 (+/− $1,546). About 2.7% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for South Plainfield borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 28, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 21,810 people, 7,151 households, and 5,856 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,307 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 77.74% White, 8.56% African American, 0.22% Native American, 7.57% Asian, 3.48% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.66% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for South Plainfield borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 28, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for South Plainfield borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 28, 2012.</ref>

There were 7,151 households, out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.35.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $67,466, and the median income for a family was $72,745. Males had a median income of $47,465 versus $34,329 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,270. About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Economy

Tumi Inc. is a manufacturer of suitcases and bags for travel that was founded in 1975 by Charlie Clifford after serving in Peru with the Peace Corps.<ref>Corporate Contacts, Tumi Inc. Accessed October 7, 2015.</ref>

PTC Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development of small molecule, orally administered treatments for orphan diseases.<ref>Locations, PTC Therapeutics. Accessed October 7, 2015.</ref>

Jem Records (also known as JEM Records) was a record label that existed from 1970 to 1988, at the time principally known as the parent company of Passport Records; The label was resurrected in 2013 as Jem Recordings.<ref>Siler, Julia Flynn. "Business People; Jem Records President Confident Despite Woes", The New York Times, August 22, 1988. Accessed October 7, 2015. "For two decades, Martin L. Scott, the 38-year-old president and co-founder of Jem Records Inc., has tied his fortunes to those of the pioneering independent record company.... As a result, the future of the South Plainfield, N.J., company and Mr. Scott in the industry is unclear, but in an interview he expressed confidence in the company's restructuring plan and his own future."</ref>

Sports

The Plainfield Curling Club is a curling club that owns and operates the only dedicated curling facility in New Jersey. Established in 1963, the club's two-sheet structure was completed in 1967.<ref>About, Plainfield Curling Club. Accessed March 8, 2020. "The Plainfield Curling Club (PCC) was founded in 1963 and is the only curling club active with its own indoor ice facility in New Jersey."</ref>

Government

Local government

South Plainfield is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 84.</ref> The borough form of government used by South Plainfield is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of South Plainfield is Republican Matthew P. Anesh, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.<ref name=Mayor>Mayor, Borough of South Plainfield. Accessed May 28, 2024.</ref> Members of the South Plainfield Borough Council are Council President Robert A. Bengivenga Jr. (R, 2024), Christine Noonan Faustini (R, 2026), Melanie McCann-Mott (R, 2025), Peter D. Smith (R, 2025), Derryck C. White (R, 2026) and Joseph Wolak (R, 2024).<ref>Council Members, Borough of South Plainfield. Accessed May 28, 2024.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of South Plainfield. Accessed May 28, 2024.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2023>November 7, 2023 General Election Official Results, Middlesex County, New Jersey, December 7, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2022>November 8, 2022 General Election Official Results, Middlesex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2021>General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Middlesex County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2021. Accessed April 13, 2022.</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

South Plainfield is located in the 6th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 18th state legislative district<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 14,119 registered voters in South Plainfield, of which 4,368 (30.9%) were registered as Democrats, 2,235 (15.8%) were registered as Republicans and 7,511 (53.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Middlesex, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 27, 2012.</ref> As of April 2024, there were a total of 17,380 registered voters in South Plainfield, of which 6,217 (35.77%) were registered as Democrats, 3,667 (21.10%) were registered as Republicans and 7,315 (42.10%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.Template:Citation needed

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.9% of the vote (5,720 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 40.9% (4,043 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (114 votes), among the 9,974 ballots cast by the borough's 14,424 registered voters (97 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.1%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.4% of the vote (5,723 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.7% (4,797 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (110 votes), among the 10,720 ballots cast by the borough's 14,454 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Middlesex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 27, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 49.9% of the vote (4,893 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 49.0% (4,808 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (67 votes), among the 9,803 ballots cast by the borough's 13,191 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.3.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Middlesex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 27, 2012.</ref>

Presidential Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2024<ref name="2024Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|48.6% 5,697	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|49.1% 5,748	2.3% 135
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|44.2% 5,446	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|53.9% 6,648	1.9% 188
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|44.9% 4,742	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|51.0% 5,380	3.4% 358
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2012<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|40.9% 4,043	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|57.9% 5,720	1.2% 114
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2008<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Middlesex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|44.7% 4,797	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|53.4% 5,723	1.0% 110
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2004<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Middlesex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|49.0% 4,808	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|49.9% 4,893	0.5% 67

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.7% of the vote (3,950 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.2% (2,186 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (68 votes), among the 6,289 ballots cast by the borough's 14,512 registered voters (85 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.3%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 51.6% of the vote (3,616 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 39.0% (2,736 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.6% (534 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (55 votes), among the 7,010 ballots cast by the borough's 14,053 registered voters, yielding a 49.9% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Middlesex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 27, 2012.</ref>

Education

The South Plainfield Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>South Plainfield Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, South Plainfield Public Schools. Accessed July 7, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the South Plainfield School District. Composition: The South Plainfield School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of South Plainfield in the County of Middlesex."</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of seven schools, had an enrollment of 3,400 students and 304.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.2:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for South Plainfield School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> The schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics).<ref>School Data for the South Plainfield Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> are Franklin Elementary School<ref>Franklin Elementary School, South Plainfield Public Schools. Accessed July 7, 2022.</ref> with 264 students in grades K-4, John F. Kennedy Elementary School<ref>John F. Kennedy Elementary School, South Plainfield Public Schools. Accessed July 7, 2022.</ref> with 268 students in grades PreK-4, John E. Riley Elementary School<ref>John E. Riley Elementary School, South Plainfield Public Schools. Accessed July 7, 2022.</ref> with 333 students in grades PreK-4, Roosevelt Elementary School<ref>Roosevelt Elementary School, South Plainfield Public Schools. Accessed July 7, 2022.</ref> with 448 students in grades PreK-4, Grant School<ref>Grant School, South Plainfield Public Schools. Accessed July 7, 2022.</ref> with 444 students in grades 5-6, South Plainfield Middle School<ref>South Plainfield Middle School, South Plainfield Public Schools. Accessed July 7, 2022.</ref> with 529 students in grades 7-8 and South Plainfield High School<ref>South Plainfield High School, South Plainfield Public Schools. Accessed July 7, 2022.</ref> with 1,076 students in grades 9-12.<ref>School Performance Reports for the South Plainfield School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the South Plainfield Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Eighth grade students from all of Middlesex County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Middlesex County Magnet Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its schools in East Brunswick, Edison, Perth Amboy, Piscataway and Woodbridge Township, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.<ref>Heyboer, Kelly. "How to get your kid a seat in one of N.J.'s hardest-to-get-into high schools", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 23, 2019. Accessed February 8, 2025. "Middlesex County has two stand-alone career academies for high-achieving students: the Academy for Science, Math and Engineering Technology, located on the campus of Middlesex County College in Edison, and the Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences in Woodbridge. How to apply: Students must attend a mandatory information session and submit an application by November of their 8th grade year."</ref><ref>About Our Schools, Middlesex County Magnet Schools. Accessed February 8, 2025. "These high schools are free public schools that offer hands-on, integrated learning opportunities for students in grades 9-12 interested in all types of careers as well as higher education. Any student who resides anywhere in Middlesex County's 25 municipalities student may apply to the school district. If accepted, the home school district will permit the student to attend and will organize daily transportation at no cost to the student's family."</ref>

Holy Savior Academy is a Catholic school serving students in preschool through eighth grade that operates under the supervision of Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.<ref>School Finder, Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Accessed March 8, 2020.</ref>

Al-Minhaal Academy is a private Islamic school serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>About Us, Al-Minhaal Academy. Accessed January 12, 2015.</ref>

Lincoln Tech's campus in South Plainfield (formerly known as Engine City Technical Institute) is an accredited, diesel technology school that was established in 1969 as a training center to accommodate the need for diesel mechanics.<ref>Lincoln Technical Institute in South Plainfield, NJ, Lincoln Group of Schools. Accessed October 7, 2015.</ref>

Transportation

Roads and highways

File:2021-06-23 10 19 59 View south along Interstate 287 (Middlesex Freeway) from the overpass for Middlesex County Route 529 (Stenton Road) in South Plainfield, Middlesex County, New Jersey.jpg

View southbound along Interstate 287 in South Plainfield

Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Middlesex County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Middlesex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed November 6, 2013.</ref>

Interstate 287 passes through the southern area of the borough for almost Template:Convert, including exits 4 and 5.<ref>Interstate 287 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, February 2010. Accessed November 6, 2013.</ref> The New Jersey Turnpike is accessible in neighboring Edison (via I-287).

The major county roads that pass through include CR 501 (New Durham Road) along the southern border with Piscataway,<ref>County Route 501 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, February 2010. Accessed November 6, 2013.</ref> CR 529 (Stelton Road) along the southwestern border with Piscataway<ref>County Route 529 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, April 2007. Accessed November 6, 2013.</ref> and CR 531 (Park Avenue) along the east side of the borough, from Edison to the south to Plainfield to the north.<ref>County Route 531 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, April 2007. Accessed November 6, 2013.</ref>

Public transportation

NJ Transit provided bus service between the borough and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 114 route, to Newark on the 65 route and local service on the 819 line.<ref>Middlesex County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of August 31, 2009. Accessed November 6, 2013.</ref>

Notable people

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

• Anthony Ashnault (born 1995), freestyle wrestler<ref>Cooper, Darren. "Anthony Ashnault finishes his Rutgers wrestling career with national title", The Record, March 23, 2019. Accessed March 19, 2020. "Anthony Ashnault was second, but he was also number one.... Ashnault, who is from South Plainfield, became a media darling this season and his mother captivated the ESPN audience by sitting in the stands and, well, not watching her son wrestle."</ref>
• John Bundy, magician and magic consultant<ref>Howell, Dave. "Spotlight On John Bundy's Spooktacular High-tech Show Owes As Much To Broadway As To Magic", The Morning Call, May 3, 1997. Accessed October 7, 2015. "John Bundy and his assistant, Morgan, will present their 'Spooktacular' during the second half of the two-hour show. Bundy, who sawed Martin Short in half last month on Late Night with David Letterman, said in a telephone interview from his home in South Plainfield, N.J., that the show is the star of his high-tech production."</ref>
• Patrick J. Diegnan (born 1949), represents the 18th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly<ref>Assembly Member Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 12, 2007.</ref>
• Greg Garbowsky (born 1986), bassist for Jonas Brothers<ref>Jordan, Chris. "Jonas Brothers bring tour to Izod Center", Home News Tribune, March 11, 2009. Accessed January 15, 2011. "The brothers were raised in Wyckoff. Band member Greg Garbowsky is from South Plainfield."</ref>
• Joshua Gomez (born 1975), appeared in the NBC series ChuckTemplate:Citation needed
• Rick Gomez (born 1972), actor best known for portraying Sgt. George Luz, in the HBO television miniseries Band of Brothers<ref>Gacser, Ava. "Singled out Forget 'Brian,' what about Dave?", Home News Tribune, April 14, 2006. Accessed July 11, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "His friend and business partner Dave (Rick Gomez, a former South Plainfield resident) struggles to meet halfway with his free-spirited stay-at-home wife and mother of three little girls, Deena (Amanda Detmer)."</ref>
• Ricky Gonzalez (born 1966), stock car racing driver<ref>Oberto, Dina. "ARCA Series marks 40th visit to Pocono Raceway", Standard-Speaker, June 11, 2005. Accessed October 31, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Ricky Gonzalez of South Plainfield, NJ, is a former runner at nearby Mahoning Valley Speedway in Legends Cars and Micro Stocks."</ref>
• Dontae Johnson (born 1991), cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL<ref>Branch, Eric. "Dontae Johnson steps up to next level admirably", San Francisco Chronicle, September 13, 2014. Accessed November 8, 2017. "Eure first saw Johnson’s potential at the Pennington School in Pennington, N.J., a private school for grades 6-12 located less than 10 miles from Princeton University. Johnson, who grew up about 40 miles away in South Plainfield, was a boarder at Pennington, which he attended because of its academic prowess."</ref>
• Daniel La Spata (born 1981) politician who has served as the alderman of Chicago's 1st ward since May 2019<ref>Saunders, Pete. "Daniel La Spata Drives Community Development Without Displacement", American Planning Association, October 27, 2022. Accessed June 12, 2023. "I'm the alderman representing Chicago's First Ward. I moved here 23 years ago from a town of 15,000 — South Plainfield, New Jersey — to attend college."</ref>
• Dennis Madalone (born 1954), stunt coordinator and musician, best known for his patriotic song "America We Stand As One"<ref>Abbott, Patricia. "Homecoming was overdue", Courier News, June 5, 2002. Accessed May 28, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Dennis 'Danger' Madalone, Hollywood stunt man turned singer/songwriter recently returned to his home town of South Plainfield with the message 'America, We Stand As One,' a message he hopes to share with the entire country."</ref>
• Josh Pauls (born 1992), ice sledge hockey player who was the youngest member of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team that won the gold medal at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver and won gold again at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi<ref>Johnson, Brent. "Jersey Paralympian goes to Vancouver as youngest member of sled hockey team", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 28, 2010, updated April 4, 2012. Accessed October 7, 2015. "'He's a rink rat,' Tony Pauls said of his son, who splits time between his divorced parents' homes: mom in Green Brook, dad in South Plainfield."</ref>
• Michael Price (born 1958), WGA Award and Emmy Award winning writer and producer best known for his work on The Simpsons and as co-creator of the Netflix series F is for Family<ref>Cirianni, Rosa. "South Plainfield man hopes to take home Emmy", Home News Tribune, July 25, 1999. Accessed May 28, 2024, via Newspapers.com.</ref>
• Michelle Visage (born 1968), radio DJ, singer, actress, producer, media personality, and television host who has appeared as a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race<ref>Junior, Chris M. "Jersey Groove", Courier-News, May 21, 2000. Accessed January 15, 2011. "Michelle Visage grew up in South Plainfield."</ref>

External links

• South Plainfield Home Page
• South Plainfield Public Schools
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the South Plainfield Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• South Plainfield Public Library