Wayne

Wayne was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 12, 1847, from portions of Manchester Township. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township had a total population of 54,717, reflecting an increase of 648 (+1.2%) from the 54,069 counted in the 2000 Census. Home to William Paterson University, Willowbrook Mall, Wayne Towne Center, High Mountain Park Preserve, and Dey Mansion, Wayne is a bedroom suburb of New York City and regional commercial hub of North Jersey. In 1868, Milton H. Sanford, owner of the Preakness Stud, purchased a racehorse for $4,000, naming it Preaknesses, after the Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation established by him in Wayne. On the horse's maiden start, he was entered into the inaugural "Dinner Party Stakes" at the new Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, winning the race on October 25, 1870. Today, the preakness is the second race in the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. In the early 20th century, Wayne grew as a vacation retreat for wealthy New Yorkers who came by train to stay in bungalows along the area's New Jersey lakes. The township's namesake Anthony Wayne and the Marquis de Lafayette, who made his headquarters at the nearby Van Saun House, lived there during the Revolutionary War. During World War II, Wayneized as farmlands were turned into housing developments.

History

Arent Schuyler, a surveyor, trader and land speculator, was sent by the British into northwestern New Jersey to investigate rumors that the French were trying to incite the local Lenape Native Americans to rebel against them. He found no evidence of a rebellion, but discovered a fertile river valley where the Lenape grew crops. He convinced a group including Major Anthony Brockholst and Samuel Bayard to invest in the land he referred to as the Pompton Valley. The group completed their purchase of 5,000 acres (20 km²) on November 11, 1695, and the area became part of what was then known as New Barbadoes Township in Bergen County. During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington made his headquarters at the Dey Mansion, first in July 1780, and again in October and November 1780. In 1868, Milton H. Sanford, owner of the Preakness Stud, purchased a racehorse for $4,000, naming it Preaknesses. On the horse's maiden start, he was entered into the inaugural "Dinner Party Stakes" at the new Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, winning the race on October 25, 1870. The race was named in honor of the first horse to win a race at the track. In the early 20th century Wayne grew as a vacation retreat for wealthy New Yorkers who came by train to stay in bungalows along the area's lakes. During World War II, summer Bungalows were converted to year-round residences to accommodate people moving to Wayne to work in war-related industries. Following the war, Wayne suburbanized as farmlands were turned into housing developments.

Geography

Wayne has a number of lakes, with distinct communities and neighborhoods located around them. The Passaic River also flows through a portion of Wayne and often floods near Willowbrook Mall and riverside neighborhoods. Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Barbours Mills, Barbours Pond, Lower Preakness, Mountain View, Packanack Lake, Pines Lake, Point View, Pompton Falls, preakness and Two Bridges. Wayne shares its borders with 11 neighboring municipalities: Haledon, Little Falls, North Haled on, Pomptons Lakes and Totowa in Passaic County; Franklin Lakes and Oakland in Bergen County; Fairfield and North Caldwell in Essex County; and Lincoln Park and Pequannock in Morris County. The township had a total area of 25.14 square miles (65.11 km²), including 23.72 square miles of land and 1.42 sq miles (3.67 km²) of water (5.64%) as of the 2010 U.S. Census. It is located on the New Jersey Turnpike, which runs from Long Island to New York City, and the New York River, which flows into the Hudson River from New York to Long Island. It has a population of 1,816, according to the U.N. Census Bureau. It was the largest township in New Jersey in the 1990s, with 1,715,000 residents.

Demographics

The 2010 U.S. census counted 54,717 people, 19,127 households, and 14,230 families in the township. 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, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.92% (4,335) of the population.Same-sex couples headed 105 households in 2010, an increase from the 75 counted in 2000. From 2000 to 2010, the percentage of every minority group has gone up. Some of the prevalent ethnic minority groups include Indian Americans at 3.0% and Korean Americans at 2.0%. Puerto Ricans were 2.3% of the town's population in the 2010 Census. The median household income was $117,745 (+/ $5,252) in 2010. The per capita income for the township in 2010 was $40,875 (-/ $1,473). About 2.2% of families and 3.6% of those age 18 and over were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of people under age 18. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.21. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.4 males. The. median age was 42.8 years, and the. population had 91.9 males.

Economy

Wayne was home to the Toys "R" Us United States corporate headquarters, before it filed for Chaper 11 bankruptcy in September 2017. Willowbrook Mall is a two-level indoor shopping mall, the fourth-largest mall in the state, featuring 200 retail establishments and a gross leasable area (GLA) of 1,514,000 square feet (140,700 m2) Sears was closed and a Sears Tire Center was demolished; a 12-screen state-of-the-art Cinemark movie theater was built in its place. Adjacent to it is the Wayne Towne Center regional shopping center, which features a movie theater under the AMC brand. Wayne continues to host the headquarters of the Valley Bank (formerly Valley National Bank) corporate headquarters. JVC has their US office in Wayne and employ approximately 19,040. Wayne Today is a local weekly magazine. Wayne is home to a number of non-profit organizations, including the Wayne Foundation and the Wayne Township Chamber of Commerce. The Wayne Township Police Department is based in the township and has a force of about 2,000 officers. Wayne has a population of about 3,000. Wayne was the site of the U.S. Civil War and the Battle of the Bulge, which took place in 1864. The town was the birthplace of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which was founded in 1868. The city is also home to Wayne High School, which was established in 1872.

Sports

The Preakness Stakes is a race in the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. Wayne is home to the Ice Vault ice rink, where world-class figure skaters such as Johnny Weir and Stéphane Lambiel train. The rink is also home to hockey teams such as the New Jersey Bandits and the William Paterson University ice hockey team. The 1970 Little League World Series Champions were born in Wayne. Noted golf course architect Willie Tucker designed the preakness Hills Country Club in Wayne, Maryland. The golf course was completed in 1929 and is one of the oldest golf courses in the United States. It is located on the banks of the Paterson River, which runs through the town of Wayne, New Jersey. The city is also the home of the New York Yankees baseball team, which won the World Series in 1970. The town is the birthplace of Wayne High School, which was founded in 1881. The school was the site of the first high school in New Jersey, which opened in 1883. The Wayne High football team won the National Football League championship in 1969. The New Jersey High School baseball team won a World Series championship in 1971. The team was the first to win the title in the Little League Series, which began in 1974. Wayne High's football team also won the league title in 1971 and 1972. The football team is known as the "Hoosiers" because of the team's nickname, which means "hooligans" in English.

Government

Wayne is governed under the Mayor-Council plan F system of municipal government under the Faulkner Act, as implemented on January 1, 1962. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the township council. The Township's Police Department consists of 121 sworn officers and is led by Chief Jack McNiff. The Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad provides round the clock volunteer emergency medical services to the residents of Wayne. Wayne is located in the 9th and 11th Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district. In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $12,559, the highest in the county. New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Bob Menendez (Harrison, term end 2025). For the 2022-2023 session, the 40th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented by Kristin Corrado (R, Totowa) and in the General Assembly by Christopher DePhillips (R) and Kevin J. Rooney (R), both of whom are elected at-large. For the 117th U.S. Congress, Wayne's Ninth Congressional District is representedby Bill Pascrell (D, Paterson) and Mikie Sherrill (D) of Montclair. The Board of County Commissioners is made up of seven members who are elected to staggered three-year terms office on a partisan basis. At a reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects a Deputy Director from among its members to serve for a one-year term.

Education

The Wayne Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2018-2019 school year, the district, comprised of 14 schools, had an enrollment of 7,895 students and 666.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentteacher ratio of 11.8:1. Schools in the district (with 2018-2019 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are:Randall Carter Elementary School (334 students; in grades K5), Theunis Dey Elementary School (437; Pre-K5),  John F. Kennedy Elementary School, (416; K5) and Pines Lake Elementary School. Private schools include Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, recognized in 2007 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Academy Catholic School and DePaul Catholic High School. Al-Ghazaly High School, an Islamic high school, opened at a new facility in Wayne in September 2013, relocating from a site in Teaneck, where the school had been based since 1984. William Paterson University, founded in 1855, has over 11,500 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs. Passaic County Community College's Public Safety Academy (PSA) on Oldham Road offers training and facilities for fire fighting and emergency medical personnel. Adjacent to it is the Passaic City Police Academy, where police recruits and alternate route candidates are given basic police training.

Transportation

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 229.48 miles (369.31 km) of roadways, of which 180.59 miles (290.63 km) were maintained by the municipality. Wayne is served by NJ Transit at the Mountain View and Wayne Route 23 stations, offering service to Hoboken Terminal, with connections to Midtown Direct trains to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. In September 2012, as part of budget cuts, NJ Transit suspended service to Newark on the 75 line.Wayne is 25.9 miles (41.7 km) from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark / Elizabeth, and 30 miles (48 km)from LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens. The township is located on the New Jersey Turnpike, which runs from New Jersey to New York City. It is also on Interstate 80, U.S. Route 46, Route 202, Route 23, County Route 502, and County Route 504. The Wayne-Route 23 station opened in January 2008 and offers train service via the Montclair-Boonton Line. There is regular bus service into the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan on the 194 Newfoundland-New York route and the 198 William Paterson University- new York route on weekends, with local service on the 748 Paterson-Willowbrook route (except Sunday) The township has a population of 2,827,000 (as of May 2013), making it one of the most densely populated towns in New Jersey.

In popular culture

The indie rock band Fountains of Wayne took their name from a lawn ornament store that was located in the township on the westbound side of U.S. Route 46. The same store was featured in an episode of HBO's The Sopranos, along with several other locations in Wayne. The town is mentioned in the song "Jimmy Mushrooms Last Drink: Bedtime in Wayne, NJ" by Will Wood and the Tapeworms.Evergreen trees from Wayne have been selected to serve as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City in 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2006. The 2005 tree, a Norway Spruce that stood 74 feet (23 m) tall and weighed 9 short tons (8,200 kg), with a spread of 42 feet (13 m) wide, was one of the largest trees ever installed at Rockefeller Center. In a Hans and Franz sketch from Saturday Night Live, the pair says they are opening up a gym in Wayne and Wayne is mentioned as a possible location for the gym. The gym is now out of business and the town is no longer mentioned in any of the SNL sketches. In the film The Godfather: Part II, the town of Wayne is referred to as "Wayne, New Jersey" in the film's opening credits. The movie is based on a true story, with the town being the inspiration for the film. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, who also directed the film version of "The Godfather".

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Wayne, Passaic County, New Jersey = 25.1. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 20. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 10. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Wayne = 3.8 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 2,332 individuals with a median age of 41.4 age the population grows by 0.65% in Wayne, Passaic County, New Jersey population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,311.7 residents per square mile of area (892.6/km²). There are average 2.75 people per household in the 18,648 households with an average household income of $96,210 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 6.70% of the available work force and has dropped -4.60% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 19.60%. The number of physicians in Wayne per 100,000 population = 177.2.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Wayne = 49 inches and the annual snowfall = 20.3 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 124. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 210. 86 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 20.7 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 47, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Wayne, Passaic County, New Jersey which are owned by the occupant = 78.47%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 42 years with median home cost = $389,170 and home appreciation of -11.89%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $25.05 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $8,614 per student. There are 13.5 students for each teacher in the school, 712 students for each Librarian and 719 students for each Counselor. 4.39% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 26.29% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 15.40% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).