[
], one of Edison Township's notable landmarks.]]
Edison Township (usually known as
Edison) is a
township in
Middlesex County, New Jersey,
United States. As of the
United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 97,687, making it at the time the
fifth largest municipality in New Jersey. As of the U.S. Census 2005 estimate, the population of Edison was 100,499, sixth in the state, and a mere 78 people behind
Woodbridge Township, although the 2006 estimate had the township's population down to 99,523
[, moving back ahead of Woodbridge, which had 99,208 according the 2006 estimate, as the fifth largest municipality in the state.]
What is now Edison Township was originally incorporated as Raritan Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1870, from portions of both Piscataway Township and Woodbridge Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Metuchen (March 20, 1900) and Highland Park (March 15 1905). The name was officially changed to Edison Township as of November 10, 1954, based on the results of a referendum passed eight days earlier.["The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 170 re Edison Township, p. 173 re Raritan Township.]
