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Edison Township (usually known as Edison) is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 97,687, making it at the time the fifth largest municipality in New Jersey. As of ... more »
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Airports Edison Township (usually known as Edison) is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 97,687, making it at the time the fifth largest municipality in New Jersey. As of the U.S. Census 2004 estimate, the population of Edison is 100,142, moving down a notch behind Woodbridge Township into sixth place.
Edison entirely surrounds Metuchen borough, which broke away from Raritan Township in 1900. Edison is bounded on the east by Woodbridge, on the south by the Raritan River (across which are Sayreville, East Brunswick Township, and New Brunswick), on the southwest by Highland Park (which also broke away from Edison, in 1905), on the west by Piscataway and South Plainfield, and on the north by Scotch Plains and Clark.
Early history - Edison Township Seal
Edison was originally part of Woodbridge Township and Piscataway Township when settlement commenced in the late 17th Century.
The town was previously known as "Raritan Township," not be confused with the current-day Raritan Township in Hunterdon County. In 1954, the township's name was changed to honor inventor Thomas A. Edison.
The Edison era
In 1876, Thomas A. Edison set up his home and research laboratory on the site of an unsuccessful real estate development in Raritan Township called Menlo Park. It was in the Menlo Park Laboratory that Thomas Edison came up with his most famous inventions, including the phonograph and electric light. Christie Street was the first street to use electric lights for illumination. Edison subsequently moved his lab to West Orange in 1883.
Modern Edison
Edison is currently one of the fastest growing towns in New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, it was the fifth most-populated municipality in the state, after the cities of Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Elizabeth. The United States Census Bureau's 2004 Population Estimate showed that the town's population was 100,142, making it one of six municipalities in New Jersey with a population over 100,000. It is also one of the largest townships in the North Jersey in terms of area, as it is a conglomerate of several formerly individual towns.
Edison has a large middle-class Chinese and Korean community. Edison has a large Jewish community next to Highland Park, with multiple synagogues located in Edison. Edison also has a growing Indian community and a number of temples serving the religious needs of the community.
In July 2006, Edison was placed 28th in MONEY Magazine's "Best Places To Live" in the US.
Gas fire of 1994
The Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion and Fire occurred on March 23, 1994, at the Durham Woods apartment complex in Edison. The resulting fire destroyed or severely damaged 14 of the apartment buildings. One death occurred from a heart attack by someone fleeing the fire.
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Temperature - Yearly Average
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