Fords, Woodbridge, NJ

Fords, Woodbridge, NJ, is a small town in the northeastern part of New Jersey, United States. It is neighbored by the townships of Old Bridge to the west, Monroe to the south, Berkeley Heights to the southeast, and Edison to the northwest. The borough’s total land area is just under 1 square mile (1.6 km²). Its population was 7,131 at the 2010 census.

The land that is now Fords was originally a community called Vienna, which had an inn and tavern for travelers on the Perth Amboy-Elizabethtown Turnpike. The inn burned down in 1910. It later became known as Arthursburg after merchant Hiram Arthur, who opened his general store in the community. Upon Arthur’s death, his family established a cemetery next to the store, where they buried him in an Egyptian sarcophagus purchased from Theodore Davis of Egyptology fame.

The boundaries were finalized with the creation of Woodbridge Township in 1693. The settlement was known as Fords until it was renamed Arthursburg in 1821. The renaming came from local merchant Samuel B. Allen, who purchased the settlement’s first ropewalk (a rope factory) and renamed it Arthursburg.

In 1864, John F. Dryden began developing houses on a stretch of road in the community, which became known as Ford Avenue by 1891. The Fords Land Company, formed in 1895 by Ira B. Ford, son of industrialist Henry Ford, was responsible for the development of the area into a streetcar suburb.

With just over 7,100 people in 2010, Fords’ population is growing at an astonishing rate of 9%. This growth could be attributed to higher gas prices and increased public awareness of the benefits associated with living in a walkable community, as well as its access to major highways (including Route 18 and Route 440) and NJ Transit’s North Jersey Coast Line.

Fords Parks and Recreation

Fords feature several parks, among them Fords Memorial Park, which offers picnic areas, playgrounds, a large pond for fishing and ice skating in the winter, basketball courts, and plenty of open space.

Fords also has two community pools: the Circle Pool at Vienna Park (named after Vienna), and the Adult & Senior Swim Center on Ford Avenue. The Adult & Senior Swim Center features a zero-depth pool with water slides, whirlpools, and an interactive play fountain.

Fords’ Little League teams are among the best in the region. Its Pop Warner football team is also one of the most competitive in Middlesex County.

Fords Schools and Education

Fords is home to one of the most prominent high schools in Middlesex County: John F. Kennedy Memorial High School. The school is known for its excellent athletic teams and is often referred to as ‘JFK’ (and the ‘Eagles’).

The elementary and middle schools that serve Fords are also among the best in the state