Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 16,937, an increase of 1,092 from the 2010 census count of 15,845, which in turn reflected a drop in population of 685 from the 16,530 counted in the 2000 census.
Madison is noted for its historic railroad station, which is located on the Morris & Essex Lines, one of the nation's first commuter railroads. Many wealthy residents of Manhattan relocated to Madison and its surrounding communities since the rail line offered direct transport to New York City. Madison is known as "the Rose City" and was named in honor of President James Madison.
Madison was ranked 33rd in Money magazine's ranking of the "Best Places to Live" in 2011, the third-highest-ranked location in New Jersey and second-highest in Morris County behind Montville. New Jersey Monthly ranked Madison first in its 2019 rankings of the "Best Places to Live" in New Jersey.
Madison is a college town, the home of both Drew University and Fairleigh Dickinson University; Saint Elizabeth University is located in neighboring Convent Station, New Jersey. Madison is also home to the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, one of the largest professional Shakespeare companies in North America.
History
Pre-settlement
occupied present-day Madison and most of New Jersey for several thousand years, following the retreat of the Wisconsin Glacier. Lenape settlements in present-day Madison were agriculturally based following matrilineal lines. The protected lands nearby, Jockey Hollow, are what is remaining of the settlement. Occupation changed with the seasons, the variable nature of the climate, and to preserve the fertility of the rich soil. Their fishing and hunting territories were wide-ranging and similarly divided among the three clans of the matrilineal culture in this Eastern Woodland environment. Trade with these native peoples for food and furs was conducted by the Dutch during the period of colonization of New Netherland. Although the European principle of land ownership was not recognized by the Lenape, Dutch West India Company policy required their colonists to purchase land that they settled, but typically, trading relationships were established in this area, rather than Dutch settlements.18th century
During the British colonial period of the 17th and 18th centuries, the earliest settlers arriving in Madison were of European descent in what was then the colonial-era Province of New Jersey. Traditional native trails and pathways were followed as settlement began. Pressures upon the Lenape constantly drove them westward.In or around 1715, Bottle Hill, a village, was established at the crossing of Ridgedale Avenue and Kings Road. Village governance principles followed the British model. The Luke Miller house at 105 Ridgedale Avenue is thought to be the oldest remaining home, having been built around 1730. During British colonial rule, Kings Road was a toll road that assessed fees levied by the government appointed by the English king. Farther south was the Shunpike, a road with a parallel path that was used by colonists to avoid the fees.
Morris County was established in 1739 and was divided into three townships. The portion of the village north of Kings Road was put under the governance of Hanover Township and the portion to the south, under the governance of Morris Township. A meeting house for the Presbyterian Church of South Hanover, as Madison was then called, was started in 1747, where the Presbyterian Cemetery still exists between Kings Road and Madison Avenue. With the Treaty of Easton in 1758, the Lenape were required to vacate their lands in colonial New Jersey and to move westward. Their leaders allied with the colonists during the American Revolutionary War in hopes of regaining former lands, but those hopes were never realized.
Following the American Revolution, changes to governing the former colonies occurred gradually as the new nation organized. The state of New Jersey formed its government and debated best policies.
19th century
During a reorganization of Morris County in 1806, Chatham Township was established and included all of present-day Chatham Township and the three pre-Revolutionary War villages of Chatham, Florham Park, and Madison, which were still governed by Chatham Township, and ended the governmental division of Bottle Hill.In 1834, the name of the settlement was changed to Madison. As a tribute to the name, every year a fair called Bottle Hill Day is held.
In 1838, the Morris and Essex Railroad Line was founded, connecting Newark and Hoboken and providing transportation for farm produce grown in Madison. The railroad made possible the establishment of a flourishing rose growing industry, still commemorated in Madison's nickname, the Rose City. The rail service connected the commerce to the markets of Manhattan] Madison's growth accelerated after the Civil War and the Morris and Essex Lines became one of America's first commuter railroads, attracting well-to-do families from Manhattan and contributing to the development of "Millionaire's Row", which stretched from downtown Madison to downtown Morristown. Greenhouses dotted the countryside. Talented horticulturalists were attracted to the area for employment at the many wealthy estates in the immediate area and to establish related businesses. One of the first grand houses to be built on Millionaire's Row was the Ross Estate. In 1893, Florence Adele Vanderbilt and her husband Hamilton McKown Twombly began to build the impressive Florham estate. The estate name is a portmanteau of their first names, Florence and Hamilton. Home to Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham is a Gilded Age mansion and the 9th largest house in the United States.
On December 27, 1889, based on the results of a referendum passed on December 24, 1889, the village seceded from Chatham Township and adopted the newly created borough government to develop a local water supply system for its population of 3,250. Madison annexed additional portions of Chatham Township in 1891, and again each year from 1894 to 1898, which was followed by an exchange of certain lands in 1899 with Chatham Township.
Madison's historic railroad station was funded by the community, which passed an ordinance authorizing $159,000 for railroad improvement bonds. The result, with the cooperation of the D.L. & W.R.R. in the planning, was completed in 1916. The tracks were elevated through the downtown so that no established roadways were hindered by crossing delays. Mrs. D. Willis James financed much of the road grading caused by the elevation of the tracks. The station included baggage and cargo facilities readily accessible by wagon, as well as the stationmaster offices, a newsstand, and waiting facilities featuring extensive banks of high-backed wooden seating. Weeping mulberry trees were planted among the landscaping and in natural areas in the parking area.
The rose industry and the large estates in the area attracted working-class people of all kinds. As a result, Madison developed a diverse population very early, both in terms of socioeconomic status and ethnic background. The original settlers were of British stock; French settlers came after the American Revolution; African Americans have been members of the community from early in the 19th century; Irish came in the mid-19th century; and then Germans and Italians arrived around the turn of the 20th century. To this day, a substantial population of Italian descent remain in Madison. Madison remains a diverse community, with recent newcomers arriving from Central America, South America, and Asia. Madison is a railroad suburb of New York City.
20th century
The Evergreen Cemetery was mentioned in Weird NJ for an incident in 1902, when after a downpour, bodies were found on the streets.Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.33 square miles, including 4.31 square miles of land and 0.01 square miles of water. Madison is located about west of downtown Manhattan, and is a suburban town of New York City.Madison borders the Morris County municipalities of Chatham Borough to the east, Chatham Township to the south, Harding Township and Morris Township to the west and Florham Park to the north.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Brooklake Park, East Madison and North Park.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,937 people, 5,745 households, and 3,931 families residing in the borough. The population density was.2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 15,845 people, 5,485 households, and 3,675 families in the borough. The population density was 3,767.9 per square mile. There were 5,775 housing units at an average density of 1,373.3 per square mile. The racial makeup was 86.75% White, 2.96% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 5.51% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.34% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.87% of the population.Of the 5,485 households, 34.5% had children under the age of 18; 56.0% were married couples living together; 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.0% were non-families. Of all households, 27.2% were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.19.
23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 13.6% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 89.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.3 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $106,070 and the median family income was $139,886. Males had a median income of $100,289 versus $64,684 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $54,518. About 1.1% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.