North Plainfield is a borough in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located within the Raritan Valley region. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 22,808, an increase of 872 (+4.0%) from the 2010 census count of 21,936, which in turn reflected an increase of 833 (+3.9%) from the 21,103 counted in the 2000 census.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.

North Plainfield Township was created from portions of Warren Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature passed on April 2, 1872. The borough of North Plainfield became an independent municipality on June 9, 1885.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 155. Accessed May 30, 2024.Police Department: North Plainfield's Beginning , Borough of North Plainfield. Accessed February 26, 2011. "On April 2, 1872, an Act of the New Jersey Legislature was passed, which divided North Plainfield Township from the Township of Warren. This new township included the towns of North Plainfield, Watchung and Green Brook. The boundaries of this new township were set up in the Act, known as Assembly No. 113. North Plainfield was set off from the Township in the year 1885, Watchung in the year 1926, and Green Brook in 1932." The name derives from Plainfield, which in turn derived its name from a local estateHutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 9, 2026. and for its scenic location.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 22. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 11, 2015.

In 1902, the New Jersey Legislature approved measures that would have allowed the borough to become part of Union County (a measure repealed in 1903) and to allow for a merger of North Plainfield with the City of Plainfield subject to the approval of a referendum by voters in both municipalities.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed : and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 208. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 11, 2015.Staff. "North Plainfield Annexation Bills.", The New York Times, April 15, 1902. Accessed September 2, 2020.

North Plainfield is home to the Washington Park Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. With

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, North Plainfield borough had a total area of 2.82 square miles (7.31 km2), including 2.81 square miles (7.27 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) of water (0.46%).

The borough is bordered by the municipalities of Watchung to the north, Green Brook Township to the southwest, all in Somerset County; and to the south by Plainfield in Union County.Areas touching North Plainfield, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.Municipalities, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

North Plainfield is in the northern division of the Raritan Valley along with Green Brook Township. The borough lies within the Raritan River watershed and has an elevation of approximately above sea level.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, North Plainfield had a population of 22,808. The median age was 36.9 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.1 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,715 households in North Plainfield, of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.7% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 8,055 housing units, of which 4.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.7%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 6,078 26.6% Black or African American 4,561 20.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 243 1.1% Asian 1,074 4.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 10 0.0% Some other race 7,163 31.4% Two or more races 3,679 16.1% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 11,548 50.6%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 21,936 people, 7,448 households, and 5,266 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 7,848 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 55.01% (12,066) White, 18.85% (4,134) Black or African American, 0.29% (63) Native American, 5.81% (1,275) Asian, 0.05% (12) Pacific Islander, 16.00% (3,510) from other races, and 3.99% (876) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 44.21% (9,699) of the population.

Of the 7,448 households, 35.8% had children under the age of 18; 48.3% were married couples living together; 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.3% were non-families. Of all households, 22.8% were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.40.

24.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $67,815 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,878) and the median family income was $70,359 (+/− $5,666). Males had a median income of $42,766 (+/− $2,549) versus $43,057 (+/− $3,208) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,529 (+/− $1,466). About 5.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for North Plainfield borough, Somerset County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 21,103 people, 7,202 households, and 5,084 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 7,393 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 63.06% White, 13.38% African American, 0.28% Native American, 5.04% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 13.68% from other races, and 4.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.77% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for North Plainfield borough , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for North Plainfield borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2012.

There were 7,202 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.40.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $55,322, and the median income for a family was $62,875. Males had a median income of $39,662 versus $30,816 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,791. About 4.4% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2000 Census, 5.39% of North Plainfield's residents identified themselves as being of Ecuadorian ancestry, which was the fourth highest of any municipality in New Jersey and the eighth highest percentage of Ecuadorian people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.Ecuadorian Communities , EPodunk. Accessed June 28, 2006.

Government

Local government The Borough of North Plainfield is governed within the Faulkner Act under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government (Plan E), implemented as of January 1, 1977, based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission."The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed October 29, 2013. The borough is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council. This form provides for a strong-mayor type of government, in which the mayor has executive functions and the legislative branch is the borough council. The councilmembers and mayor are elected in even-numbered years at the November general election to staggered four-year terms of office in partisan elections on an at-large basis, with four council seats up for election together and then the mayor and the other three council seats up for election at the same time, two years later.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 77."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. The Municipal Judge is appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council, and serves for three years. The mayor runs the borough on a day-to-day basis and ensures the enforcement of the legislation passed by the council.