| Official Name: | Fords, New Jersey |
| Settlement Type: | Census-designated place |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Pushpin Map: | USA New Jersey Middlesex County#USA New Jersey#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Fords |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Middlesex County##Location in New Jersey##Location in the United States |
| Pushpin Relief: | yes |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Middlesex |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Subdivision Name3: | Woodbridge |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 4.90 |
| Area Land Km2: | 4.89 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.01 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1.89 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1.89 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Area Water Percent: | 0.15 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 12941 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 6850.7 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | −05:00 |
| Timezone Dst: | Eastern (EDT) |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −04:00 |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [3] |
| Elevation M: | 42 |
| Elevation Ft: | 138 |
| Coordinates: | 40.5438°N -74.3129°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 08863[4] |
| Area Code: | 732/848 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | [5] [6] [7] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2389094[8] |
Fords is a census-designated place (CDP)[9] in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, in the United States.[10] [11] [12] As of the 2020 census, the CDP's population was 12,941.[2]
The area originally known as "Fords Corner" abuts neighboring Edison, part of which was once within Woodbridge Township, until an act of legislature in April 1870 apportioned land to what was then called Raritan Township.[13] [14] [15]
The community is in northeastern Middlesex County, in the southwest part of Woodbridge Township. Within the township it is bordered to the north by Menlo Park Terrace and Iselin, to the east by the Woodbridge CDP, to the southeast by Hopelawn, and to the south by Keasbey. To the west it is bordered by Edison Township.
The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) crosses the middle of Fords from west to east, while the Garden State Parkway forms much of the eastern border of the community. Most of the interchange connecting the two highways is in the neighboring Woodbridge CDP to the east. U.S. Route 1 crosses the northern part of Fords, paralleling the New Jersey Turnpike. Newark is to the northeast, while New Brunswick, the Middlesex county seat, is 9miles to the southwest.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Fords CDP has a total area of 1.89mi2, of which 0.002sqmi, or 0.11%, are water.[1]
The 2010 United States census counted 15,187 people, 5,386 households, and 4,013 families in the CDP. The population density was 5767.5/mi2. There were 5,675 housing units at an average density of 2155.2/mi2. The racial makeup was 60.99% (9,263) White, 9.21% (1,399) Black or African American, 0.28% (43) Native American, 20.70% (3,143) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 5.99% (909) from other races, and 2.82% (429) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.40% (2,643) of the population.[16]
Of the 5,386 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18; 56.7% were married couples living together; 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.5% were non-families. Of all households, 21.1% were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.31.[16]
21.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.9 males.[16]
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 15,032 people, 5,591 households, and 4,014 families living in the CDP. The population density was 2240.9/km2. There were 5,688 housing units at an average density of 847.9/km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 72.86% White, 5.93% African American, 0.11% Native American, 16.11% Asian, 2.71% from other races, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.23% of the population.[17]
There were 5,591 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.21.[17]
In the CDP the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% 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 92.4 males.[17]
The median income for a household in the CDP was $61,015, and the median income for a family was $68,652. Males had a median income of $49,141 versus $36,591 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,917. About 2.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.[17]
Fords has two elementary schools — Menlo Park Terrace School #19 and Lafayette Estates School #25 — and one middle school, Fords Middle School (Formerly Fords Junior High), all of which are a part of the Woodbridge Township School District. MPT School #19 has a mailing address in Metuchen, however, children who live in parts of Fords attend the school.
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Fords include: