Verona, New Jersey

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Verona is a township located in Essex County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 13,533.

The Fire Department is an all volunteer fire department with 2 stations, 3 engines, 1 ladder truck, and 1 reserve engine.

The Verona Rescue Squad has 3 Ambulances, and 1 heavy rescue truck in one station on Church Street.

The main street in Verona is Bloomfield Avenue, where the Town Hall, Library, Middle School, and many shops, restaurants, and businesses are located.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Demographics
4 Education
5 Transportation
6 Government
- 6.1 Local government
- 6.2 Federal, state and county representation
7 External links

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Geography

Verona is located at 40°49'57" North, 74°14'32" West (40.832449, -74.242276)^GR1.

Verona lies between two mountains, with a small river, the Peckman, flowing at the bottom of the valley.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 7.2 km² (2.8 mi²). 7.1 km² (2.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.72% water.

Most of Verona's housing stock is pre-World War II. At one point, Verona was serviced by a trolley line.

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History

Early in the 17th century, an area called "Horseneck" (now known as West Essex) was part of Newark. In 1798, "Horseneck" separated from Newark and became the "Township of Caldwell" consisting of what is now the Caldwells, Fairfield, Roseland, Essex Fells, Verona and Cedar Grove. By the mid-19th century, this area where today's Verona and Cedar Grove are located became known as Vernon Valley. However, when application was made for a United States Post Office, the townspeople were informed that another Vernon Valley, in Sussex County, had first claim to the name. The name Verona was put forth by the townspeople as a suitable alternative and was eventually accepted.

At various times between 1798 and 1892, issues arose which caused dissatisfaction between the Caldwell and Verona areas. These included a desire of the citizens of Verona to more closely control their own governmental affairs; with the population growing, Verona needed to centrally locate essential services such as schools and places of worship; problems with the water supply; and the disposition of road repair funds. And so, in 1892, the citizens of Verona voted to secede from Caldwell Township to form Verona Township. Further growth and the need for a water system and other public utilities found Verona moving ahead of the other half of the township and in 1902 the two areas decided to separate into 2 separate municipalities: Verona Township and Verona Borough. It took two sessions of the state legislature to approve the new borough, but on May 13, 1907, the borough of Verona was incorporated. Verona Township was later renamed to Cedar Grove Township.

In the 1970s the borough of Verona was renamed to “The Township of Verona Borough”

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Demographics

By national standards, Verona is an upper middle class town.

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there are 13,533 people, 5,585 households, and 3,697 families residing in the township. The population density is 1,900.0/km² (4,917.4/mi²). There are 5,719 housing units at an average density of 803.0/km² (2,078.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the township is 92.99% White, 1.53% African American, 0.02% Native American, 3.41% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. 3.45% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 5,585 households out of which 29.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% are married couples living together, 7.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% are non-families. 30.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.42 and the average family size is 3.06.

In the township the population is spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township is $74,619, and the median income for a family is $97,673. Males have a median income of $60,434 versus $43,196 for females. The per capita income for the township is $41,202. 3.3% of the population and 1.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.6% of those under the age of 18 and 6.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

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Education

Verona has six schools: There are four K-4 elementary schools (Lanning, Brookdale, Forest, and F.N. Brown) strategically located in each corner of town. Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School serves students from grades 5-8, and students in grade 9-12 attend Verona High School. The high school mascot is the "Hillbilly". In addition, there is a Catholic school affiliated with Our Lady of the Lake situated near Verona Park as well as "The Children's Institute" (TCI), a private, non-profit school approved by the New Jersey State Board of Education, serving children facing learning, language and social challenges, for children ages 3-21.

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Transportation

Major roads around the township are State routes 3, 7, 10, 21 & 23; US 46; Interstates 80, 280 and 287. The Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike are minutes away.

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Government

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Local government

The members of the Verona Township Council are Mayor Jay Sniatkowski (term ends 2009), Deputy Mayor Jim Robbins (2007), Robert Detore (2007), Santi Condorelli (2009) and Ken McKenna (2009).

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Federal, state and county representation

Verona is part of New Jersey's 40th Legislative District and is in the Eighth Congressional District.

New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District, covering the southern portion of Passaic County and northern sections of Essex County, is represented by Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D, Paterson). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken) and Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park).

The 40th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Henry McNamara (R, Wyckoff) and in the Assembly by Kevin J. O'Toole (R, Wayne) and David C. Russo (R, Midland Park).

Essex County's County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. Essex County's Freeholders are Freeholder President Johnny Jones, Freeholder Vice President Patricia Sebold, Freeholder-At-Large Blonnie R. Watson, Freeholder-At-Large Albertus Jenkins, Freeholder District 1 Samuel Gonzalez, Freeholder District 2 D. Bilal Beasley, Freeholder District 3 Carol Y. Clark, Freeholder District 4 Muriel M. Shore and Freeholder District 5 Ralph R. Caputo.

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