Colonia is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP)State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022. in Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed November 30, 2012.GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Middlesex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 30, 2012. As of the 2020 United States census, the CDP's population was 18,609.
History In 1919, the New Jersey State Highway Commission built a new road that became part of the Lincoln Highway, an early plan to create a transcontinental highway. The stretch was constructed on the west side of the Pennsylvania Railroad (now the Northeast Corridor) from near the northeast of Dow Avenue between Colonia and Iselin to Cedar Street in Menlo Park, to avoid two railroad crossings. The old road is now Middlesex-Essex Turnpike and Thornall Street, on the east side of the tracks.
Geography Colonia is in northeastern Middlesex County, in the northwest corner of Woodbridge Township. It is bordered to the north by Clark, to the northeast by Rahway, to the east by Avenel, to the south by Iselin, and to the west by Edison. Union County borders the community to the north and northeast. Newark is to the northeast, and New Brunswick, the Middlesex county seat, is to the southwest.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Colonia CDP has a total area of , including of water (0.10%). The community is drained to the northeast by the South Branch of the Rahway River, part of the watershed of the Arthur Kill. Colonia has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and average monthly temperatures range from in January to in July.
The Garden State Parkway passes through the western portion of the CDP but does not interchange there. For northbound Garden State Parkway traffic only there is a service plaza in Colonia; it is the parkway's only area located on private property.Higgs, Larry. "The oddity of the twin Parkway service areas that are on private property", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 31, 2017, updated January 16, 2019. Accessed February 6, 2022. "A Dunkin' Donuts and new convenience store are under construction at the Colonia service area in Woodbridge, while one has been open at the Exxon next door since the early 2000's. The Colonia Service area is the only area on the Garden State Parkway on private property."
In 2018 the president of the Historical Association of Woodbridge, Daniel D'Arcy, stated that "Colonia is to Woodbridge like the Bronx is to NYC. People like the identity."
Demographics
Colonia first appeared as a census designated place in the 1990 U.S. census.
Racial and ethnic composition +Colonia CDP, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)14,71313,08411,42682.61%73.53%61.40%Black or African American alone (NH)8288889664.65%4.99%5.19%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1316290.07%0.09%0.16%Asian alone (NH)1,1201,8923,0496.29%10.63%16.38%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)10220.06%0.01%0.01%Other race alone (NH)3734870.21%0.19%0.47%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)2042304991.15%1.29%2.68%Hispanic or Latino (any race)8861,6492,5514.97%9.27%13.71%Total17,81117,79518,609 100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Colonia had a population of 18,609. The median age was 42.7 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.1 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 6,403 households in Colonia, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 64.9% were married-couple households, 11.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 6,599 housing units, of which 3.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.1%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 11,982 64.4% Black or African American 1,036 5.6% American Indian and Alaska Native 38 0.2% Asian 3,077 16.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 6 0.0% Some other race 760 4.1% Two or more races 1,710 9.2% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,551 13.7%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 17,795 people, 6,160 households, and 4,977 families in the CDP. The population density was . There were 6,321 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 80.37% (14,302) White, 5.26% (936) Black or African American, 0.12% (21) Native American, 10.70% (1,904) Asian, 0.04% (8) Pacific Islander, 1.54% (274) from other races, and 1.97% (350) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.27% (1,649) of the population.DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Colonia CDP, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 30, 2012.
Of the 6,160 households, 34.8% had children under the age of 18; 65.6% were married couples living together; 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.2% were non-families. Of all households, 16.4% 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 2.89 and the average family size was 3.25.
22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.6 males.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 17,811 people, 6,184 households, and 5,077 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 6,254 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.00% White, 4.76% African American, 0.10% Native American, 6.31% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.97% of the population.DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Colonia CDP, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 30, 2012.
There were 6,184 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% were non-families. 15.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the CDP the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $67,372, and the median income for a family was $76,090. Males had a median income of $50,260 versus $36,657 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,732. About 1.5% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over. Parks and recreation Merrill Park is a Middlesex County park located on the South Branch of the Rahway River. The park was created as a "Progressive Playground" and spans . The park's maintenance is handled by funding from the municipality, local schools, community groups and local businesses. Merrill Park includes four tennis courts, three baseball fields, a soccer field, seven picnic groves that can be reserved in advance, the progressive playground, a football field, two basketball courts, two softball fields, two open picnic groves, and three other playgrounds. The football field and soccer field are surrounded by a walkway for joggers as well. There are numerous small trails around the park.Merrill Park , Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 29, 2016.
Education Public schools
Schools in Colonia operated as part of the Woodbridge Township School District are:
Elementary schools (K-5) Claremont Avenue Elementary School #20 - Claremont Avenue, Colonia Lynn Crest Elementary School #22 - New Dover Road, Colonia Oak Ridge Heights Elementary School #21 - Inman Avenue Pennsylvania Avenue Elementary School #27 - Pennsylvania Avenue
Middle school (6th-8th) Colonia Middle School - Delaware Avenue
High school (9th-12th) Colonia High School - East Street
Private/religious school (K-8th) St. John Vianney Grammar School - 420 Inman AvenueSt. John Vianney School, Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Accessed May 13, 2013.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Colonia include: Chad Baker-Mazara (born 2000), college basketball player for the Auburn TigersMitch, Tommy. "Colonia High School’S Chad Baker Mazara… Earns Sixth Man Of The Year In San Diego", The Corner. Accessed March 8, 2025. "Chad Baker Mazara, born in Santo Domingo, has had his love for the game of basketball take him all over the world. Chad moved to Colonia, New Jersey in 2017 for a better opportunity to showcase his talents, and boy did he turn heads in a hurry." John Carlson (born 1990), defenseman and Stanley Cup champion (2018) with the Washington CapitalsHageny, John Christian. "Hockey: Where are they now? St. Joseph's John Carlson a Capital Investment", The Star-Ledger, February 10, 2013. Accessed May 4, 2015. "Playing alongside defensive partner, Karl Alzner, Carlson, whose family made their home in Colonia while living in New Jersey, appeared in his 198th-career NHL game last night when Washington hosted the Florida Panthers." John Gorka (born 1958), contemporary folk singer/songwriterGluck, Robert. "Home AgainFolksinger John Gorka has never stopped being a Jersey boy.", New Jersey Monthly, March 15, 2010. Accessed November 20, 2012. "Jennie Esposito remembers her first encounter with John Gorka. He was a shy eighth-grader in Colonia who had been invited to join her church folk group." Kelsey Grammer (born 1955), actor who appeared in Frasier and CheersMartel, Jay. "Tears of a Clown; After years of grappling with his demons Kelsey Grammer says he's finally putting his past behind him. Can Frasier's gifted alter ego TV's most popular funnyman live happily ever after?", US Weekly, May 1997. Accessed March 8, 2025. "When Grammer was 18 months old, his parents separated and his mother, Sally, was flat broke and had nowhere to go but back home. Grammer and his younger sister, Karen, were brought up by Sally and her parents in a middle-class household in Colonia, N.J." Tom Higgins (born 1954), former American and Canadian football playerRalph, Dan. , The Hamilton Spectator, February 26, 2004. Accessed November 30, 2012. "The native of Colonia, N.J., has made Alberta his home, retiring as a player in 1981 to become a high school coach in Calgary." Stewart Krentzman (born 1951), CEO of Oki Data Americas, Inc.