Garwood was incorporated as a borough on March 19, 1903, from portions of Cranford and Westfield Town.[21]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.65 square miles (1.68 km2), all of which was land.[1][2]
The borough is roughly bisected by the tracks of NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, originally built as part of the Jersey Central railroad. On the north side of the railroad, most of the streets are numbered, while on the south side of Garwood most of the streets are named after trees.
Of the 1,778 households, 23.9% had children under the age of 18; 47.5% were married couples living together; 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 37.1% were non-families. Of all households, 29.9% were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.[18]
19.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.3 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $72,254 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,274) and the median family income was $86,959 (+/− $8,603). Males had a median income of $58,258 (+/− $3,197) versus $43,455 (+/− $3,625) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,753 (+/− $2,821). About 0.9% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[31]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 4,153 people, 1,731 households, and 1,125 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,292.9 inhabitants per square mile (2,429.7/km2). There were 1,782 housing units at an average density of 2,700.2 per square mile (1,042.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.91% White, 0.36% African American, 1.32% Asian, 1.54% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.98% of the population.[29][30]
There were 1,731 households, out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.[29][30]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.[29][30]
The median income for a household in the borough was $52,571, and the median income for a family was $64,053. Males had a median income of $50,951 versus $36,538 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,944. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.[29][30]
Government
Local government
Garwood Municipal Building
Garwood 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.[32] 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.[6] The borough form of government used by Garwood 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.[33][34]
As of 2024[update], the mayor of Garwood is Democrat Jen Blumenstock, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Garwood Borough Council are Council President Vincent Kearney (D, 2026), Karina Boto (D, 2026), Sean Foley (D, 2024), Marc Lazarow (D, 2025), Clarissa Nolde (D, 2025), and Kimberly Salmon (R, 2024).[3][35][36][37][38][39]
In December 2022, the borough council appointed Rachel Herz to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Louis Petruzzelli, who served briefly before resigning. Petruzzelli had been appointed to fill the seat that had originally been held by Heather Loffredo until she stepped down from office in September 2022.[40]
In January 2019, the borough council selected Russell Graham from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant when Sara Todisco took office as mayor.[41] Graham served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[42]
The Borough Administrator is Kyle Harris. The Borough Clerk is Catherine D. Cameron.[5]
Federal, state, and county representation
Garwood is located in the 10th Congressional District[43] and is part of New Jersey's 21st state legislative district.[44][45][46]
Union County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, whose nine members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis with three seats coming up for election each year, with an appointed County Manager overseeing the day-to-day operations of the county. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.[51] As of 2025[update], Union County's County Commissioners are:
Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (D, Union Township, 2025),[62][63]
Sheriff Peter Corvelli (D, Kenilworth, 2026)[64][65] and
Surrogate Christopher E. Hudak (D, Clark, 2027).[66][67]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,685 registered voters in Garwood, of which 796 (29.6% vs. 41.8% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 496 (18.5% vs. 15.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,393 (51.9% vs. 42.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[68] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 63.5% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 78.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).[68][69]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 968 votes (48.8% vs. 66.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 957 votes (48.2% vs. 32.3%) and other candidates with 38 votes (1.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 1,985 ballots cast by the borough's 2,812 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.6% (vs. 68.8% in Union County).[70][71] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,090 votes (51.6% vs. 35.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 971 votes (46.0% vs. 63.1%) and other candidates with 31 votes (1.5% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,111 ballots cast by the borough's 2,782 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.9% (vs. 74.7% in Union County).[72] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 995 votes (50.5% vs. 40.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 928 votes (47.1% vs. 58.3%) and other candidates with 30 votes (1.5% vs. 0.7%), among the 1,970 ballots cast by the borough's 2,539 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.6% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county).[73]
In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Democrat Phil Murphy received 698 votes (49.8% vs. 65.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Kim Guadagno with 654 votes (46.6% vs. 32.6%), and other candidates with 51 votes (3.6% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,466 ballots cast by the borough's 3,007 registered voters, for a turnout of 48.8%.[74][75] In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.1% of the vote (802 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 34.3% (429 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (20 votes), among the 1,297 ballots cast by the borough's 2,763 registered voters (46 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.9%.[76][77] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 823 votes (56.4% vs. 41.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 477 votes (32.7% vs. 50.6%), Independent Chris Daggett with 127 votes (8.7% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 18 votes (1.2% vs. 0.8%), among the 1,460 ballots cast by the borough's 2,681 registered voters, yielding a 54.5% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).[78]
Emergency services
Police
Garwood's primary law enforcement is the borough's police department, serving the borough since its establishment in 1906. The Garwood Police Department is a small force consisting of Chief of Police James H. Wright, one captain, two lieutenants, two sergeants, ten patrolmen, and four civilian dispatchers. Patrol operations normally consist of one north side car, one south side car, and one supervisor. Officers work 12-hour shifts, four days on, four days off, alternating between days and nights.[79]
EMS
Garwood First Aid Squad serves as the emergency medical service in town. Founded in 1939, it is non-profit service, consists of a dedicated all volunteer staff serving the borough 24 hours per day, seven days a week, at no cost to the residents. Drivers and EMTs on the squad also answer calls for mutual aid when an ambulance is needed in other towns where one is not available. GFAS answers anywhere from 350 to 400 calls annually.
Fire
Garwood Fire Department is entirely volunteer, and serves the borough in the capacity of fire protection, fire prevention, and fire code enforcement.
The fire chief is John Scalzadonna.[80]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 13.88 miles (22.34 km) of roadways, of which 11.90 miles (19.15 km) were maintained by the municipality, 1.02 miles (1.64 km) by Union County and 0.96 miles (1.54 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[87]
Route 28 is the main highway through Garwood, connecting east to Cranford and west to Westfield. Route 59, which borders Cranford to the east, has been described as the shortest four-lane paved highway in the United States. It was built in the late 1920s, numbered Route 22 at the time and was originally planned to run from Fairfield Township to Rahway, but was never completed. Its total length is 792 feet (241 m).[88]
^ abMayor and Council, Borough of Garwood. Accessed March 6, 2023. "The Borough of Garwood is a Borough form of Government with a Mayor and six (6) Council people elected by the citizens. There are four (4) districts in the Borough of Garwood and the Governing Body is elected by the citizens at large."
^Mehorter, Kelly."Garwood Appoints Republican Rachel Herz To Vacant Seat", Union County Hawk, December 14, 2022. "At its December 8 meeting, the Garwood Borough Council appointed Republican Rachel Herz to fill Councilman Louis Petruzzelli’s vacated seat after he resigned last month.... Ms. Herz’s seat on the council has been vacated twice in the past six months – first by Councilwoman Heather Loffredo, who stepped down in September, and then by Mr. Petruzelli, who resigned in November after attending only one meeting as an official member of the governing body."
^Minutes of the Meeting of Mayor and Council for January 24, 2019, Borough of Garwood. Accessed February 21, 2020. "Motion by Councilman Benoit to nominate Russell Graham to fill the vacancy, second by Council President Lazarow.... Councilman Graham was sworn in by the Pete Corvelli, Union County Sheriff."
^Home page, Garwood Police Department. Accessed May 13, 2013.
^Fire Department, Borough of Garwood. Accessed February 15, 2024. "The Garwood Fire Department was organized in 1903, and currently boasts a roster of 50 members. The Department covers an area of 1 square mile, which is known as the industrial center of Union County."
^Clark Township Public Schools 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 5, 2016. "The school district educates more than 2,350 students in five buildings and enjoys a very positive and collaborative send/receive relationship with the Garwood Public Schools. Students from Garwood are educated in their local K-8 district. They subsequently attend grades 9-12 at our Arthur L. Johnson High School here in Clark."
^About Us, Garwood Public Schools. Accessed June 5, 2016. "High school students attend ALJ High School in Clark, NJ"
^Beckerman, Jim. "Visiting Grandma - Barry Lubin's character is feisty, mischievous - and totally lovable", The Record, May 16, 2004. "That's part of the mystique of Grandma, 2002 International Clown Hall of Fame inductee, who is busy putting on her face in the kitchen of Lubin's Garwood home."
^Collins, Glenn. "Public Lives; Just in Time, Grandma Is Out of Retirement", The New York Times, November 20, 201. Accessed September 7, 2017. "In 1982, Mr. Lubin began his first of 13 different Big Apple seasons. Three years ago he made a wrenching decision and retired from the show so he could spend more time at home in Garwood, N.J., with his daughters, Danielle, now 16, and Emily, now 10, both of whom have performed with Big Apple."
^O' Sullivan, Eleanor. "Outtakes: Local Man Edits Lennon Documentary", Asbury Park Press, February 25, 2007. Accessed June 30, 2022. "Still, says Little Children co-screenwriter nominee Tom Perrotta, who grew up in Garwood and spent summer weekends basking in the sun at the Jersey Shore, the Oscar is the award that people really, really want."
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