South Plainfield Public Library
USEFUL WEBSITES

Local Information See also:
BUSINESS; CONSUMER INFORMATION;
EDUCATION; GOVERNMENT;
HEALTH; JOBS; TAXES;

• South Plainfield
• Middlesex County / Central Jersey
• New Jersey

Check out our Staycation Guide to find fun & family-friendly things to do in South Plainfield and the surrounding area!

Proquest Newspapers - Full-text searchable database for the Home News Tribune, Courier-News, Asbury Park Press, Daily Record (Morristown), Courier Post (Cherry Hill), and Daily Journal (Vineland); most from 1999 to the present. Also provides full-text access to over 200 U.S. newspapers and other publications, from 1985 to the present. DOES NOT INCLUDE THE NEW YORK TIMES. To search only the NJ papers, click on US Northeast Newsstream Search. To search all publications, use the search box under Current News. NOTE: The current ProQuest platform has been designed to be fully compatible with all mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Newspaper Source Plus - A full-text digital collection of the world's major news content, with millions of articles from newspapers, newswires and news magazines. Includes the AP Regional State Report - New Jersey. In addition, it offers television and radio transcripts and ongoing daily updates from popular news sources.

South Plainfield

BOROUGH OF SOUTH PLAINFIELD HOME PAGE - Official borough website, includes information on the mayor and council, departments and agencies, municipal court, and recreation, links to the Fire Department and Police Department home pages, borough history, recycling & yard waste info, Senior Corner, Community Bulletin Board, and a directory of local civic organizations, businesses, hospitals, and places of worship. See also Borough of South Plainfield Facebook Page. For more on government and politics, see our Government & Law links.

South Plainfield Outreach and Referral Resources - Phone numbers for local, county & state resources covering a variety of needs such as emergency shelters, crisis hotlines, counseling, employment/unemployment, alcoholism/drug abuse, domestic violence, and more (Borough of South Plainfield). See also Community & Social Services Information.

Check out our Staycation Guide to find fun & family-friendly things to do in South Plainfield and the surrounding area!

Census Data Quick Facts: South Plainfield - Quick reference profile of the most recent available population, housing, economic, and social data for the South Plainfield zip code (07080), Middlesex County, and the United States. (U.S. Census Bureau).

Growing Up on a Family Farm in South Plainfield during the Great Depression - See South Plainfield History links, below

Highland Avenue Woods Environmental Education Reserve and Friends of the Woods - See South Plainfield Environmental Commission, below.

Motor Vehicle Agency - There is a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission licensing agency in South Plainfield; see this page for address and services offered in South Plainfield and other locations, and to make an appointment.

Recycling in South Plainfield - Information for local residents on drop-off and curbside pickup, including yard waste and electronics, plus a free download of the the My Waste® app. See also Middlesex County Improvement Authority, below.

South Plainfield Business Association UPDATED LINK! - Local association to promote the development of local businesses in the borough; no member directory was found when checked 8/24. You'll find more resources for local businesses in our Local & State Business Resources (South Plainfield / Middlesex County / New Jersey) links.

South Plainfield Environmental Commission (Facebook page) - Updates and news about upcoming events at Highland Woods, as well as other environmental news & events for South Plainfield, including Sustainable South Plainfield, below. See also Friends of the Woods at Highland Wood Environmental Reserve, Environmental Commission Members & Meetings UPDATED LINK! and South Plainfield Recreation Department, below. Spring Lake Park describes recreational facilities available at local park. For other parks and nature preserves in the Central Jersey area, see Middlesex County Parks & Recreation, Middlesex County Conservation Areas & Preserves, Monmouth County Parks, Somerset County Parks, Union County Parks & Recreation, and Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Duke Farms in Hillsborough (Somerset County) offers hiking & biking trails, nature & horticulture programs, family activities, and more. The Nature Conservancy in N.J. offers information on nature preserves in the New Jersey area. See also Staycation Guide.

South Plainfield Green Map Project - Lists dozens of local schools, parks, civic & religious organizations, and more, with descriptions and locations.

South Plainfield History - Describes the history of South Plainfield from prehistoric times to the 20th century. See also South Plainfield Historical Society Facebook page, South Plainfield Historical Society [Archived site]; includes brief Oral Histories. Click here for information about membership & contact info. See also Growing Up on a Family Farm in South Plainfield during the Great Depression [Archived page], an interesting first-person narrative by Al Prehodka (Garden State Heirloom Seed Society; hosted on archive.org).

South Plainfield Newspapers on DigiFind-It - Our local newspaper archive is now on DigiFind-It. This expanded archive contains searchable digitized copies of the South Plainfield Chronicle (2003 - 2007), Observer (1997 - 2018), Reporter (1990 - 1994, 2003), and Review (1947 - 2002) newspapers.

South Plainfield Public Schools - Official home page for all the South Plainfield public schools, including Parents section (notices, policies, programs, enrollment, and related information), Community Events & Resources, and Livestream videos on Vimeo. PLEASE NOTE: the South Plainfield Adult School has been closed. See also South Plainfield Education Foundation, whose ongoing mission is 'generating funds for scholastic and civic incentive programs, as well as provide scholarships for South Plainfield students.'

South Plainfield Recreation Department - Events and programs for children and adults. See also South Plainfield Recreation Commission.

Sustainable South Plainfield UPDATED LINK! - A community group which 'seeks to optimize quality of life for residents by ensuring that environmental, economic and social objectives are balanced and mutually supportive. Strives to save tax dollars, assure clean land, air and water, and improve working and living environments as steps to building a sustainable community that will thrive well into the next century.' (South Plainfield Environmental Commission and Sustainable Jersey)

Weather.gov: National Weather Service Forecast - Weather forecast for South Plainfield, with Weather Radar, and NJ Weather Alerts for current watches, warnings and advisories. See also Accuweather Forecast, AccuWeather Radar, and Weather.com. See also N.J. Air Quality Forecasts, below.

Middlesex County / Central Jersey

Check out our Staycation Guide to find fun & family-friendly things to do in South Plainfield and the surrounding area!

Middlesex County - Official website for the county. Contains links to county officials and departments, including consumer affairs and public health & safety, plus information on population, economics, government, community services, businesses, parks, etc.

Middlesex County Board of Social Services - Administers Federal and State public assistance programs, including adult protective services, homeless services, child support, cash assistance, food stamps, medical assistance programs, refugee resettlement, and more.

Community & Social Services Information - A collection of brochures from local agencies (mostly Middlesex County) that offer assistance to low-income residents, seniors, people with disabilities, and others, with links to additional information.

Cemeteries - A scanned booklet, A list of cemeteries in Middlesex, Somerset Counties and Princeton, NJ, along the Raritan and Millstone Rivers, two miles each side of the river. (2005, Raritan-Millstone Heritage Alliance)

Census Data Quick Facts: Middlesex County - Quick reference profile of population, housing, economic, and social data for the county. (U.S. Census Bureau).

Chamber of Commerce, Middlesex County - Information on chamber business programs and events, government information, and more. Search for a business in the Member Directory; search by keywords or browse by company name. You'll find more resources for New Jersey businesses in our Local & State Business Resources (South Plainfield / Middlesex County / New Jersey) links.

Middlesex County Improvement Authority - Operates recycling programs and two long term care centers in the county. The Department of Community Services runs programs and services designed to meet basic human needs and improve the quality of life of Middlesex County residents across the lifespan; it now operates REPLENISH program, which collects and distributes nonperishable food items and personal products at no cost to food pantries, agencies, and soup kitchens throughout the County. Publishes the REPLENISH directory, an extensive list of local agencies and organizations that provide emergency food assistance.

Middlesex County History Archives and Library - Online history hub that connects people to our past using photographs, documents, objects, and reference books on Middlesex County history. Some highlights of the database include letters and documents from the 1700s, over 300 glass negatives from the early 1900s, archaeological artifacts, antique furniture, and more. The database currently houses 22,231 images and continues to grow. Also maintains the Kler Reading Room at East Jersey Old Town Village in Piscataway. (Middlesex County Division of Historic Sites and History Services)

Middlesex County Land Records - A searchable online collection of deeds recorded into the Official Records of Middlesex County, New Jersey from January 1, 1929 to the present, mortgages from January 1, 1950 to the present, and all other documents from January 1, 1958 to the present. (Middlesex County Clerk)

Middlesex Creates - Highlights arts & artists, historical and cultural sites/organizations in the county.

My Central Jersey - Combined website for the Courier-News and Home-News Tribune. The site's Local Directory section includes listings for central NJ businesses, arts & entertainment, and other local information, though the filtering function doesn't work too well. (Courier News & Home News Tribune)

New Jersey

Check out our Staycation Guide to find fun & family-friendly things to do in South Plainfield and the surrounding area!

STATE OF NEW JERSEY HOME PAGE - Connect to the Governor's office, state departments and agencies, tourism information, education, employment, public safety, tax forms, and business resources for the state of New Jersey.

Call 2-1-1 when you need to find state or local resources to address urgent needs or everyday concerns. 2-1-1 is free, confidential, multi-lingual, confidential, TTY accessible, and available 24/7. NOTE: 2-1-1 calls are generally toll-free; however, if you are calling 2-1-1 from your cell phone, please check with your cell phone service provider first to find out whether you will be charged for the call. You can also reach 2-1-1 by dialing 877-652-1148. (United Way, in partnership with the State of New Jersey)

Air Quality Forecasts and Data - Enter a zip code to get current local air quality index and forecast (U.S. EPA).

Archives and Records Management - The State Archives operates New Jersey's research center for public records of enduring historical value. The website offers access to the Archives' digitized Historical Image Collections and other historical and legal documents.

Census Data Quick Facts: New Jersey - Quick reference profile of population, housing, economic, and social data for the state. (U.S. Census Bureau).

Commuter Info - Information for motorists, bus & train riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians in New Jersey. Includes travel alerts, major road construction updates, transit schedules, E-Z Pass, Turnpike & Parkway road conditions, Commute Calculator, carpooling, park & ride locator, and more (State of New Jersey). See also N.J. Transit and related links, below.

Data Universe (N.J.) [NOTE: Available only to paid subscribers] - A portal to public government data, with links to property records & taxes, government payrolls, school performance report cards, crime reports, and more (Home News Tribune / Courier News; site includes advertisements).

Fun New Jersey - Links to a wide variety of fun things to do in the Garden State, including outdoor adventure & leisure activities, fun with kids, arts, nightlife, restaurants, and more. Browse by category or search by keywords (site includes advertisements and paid listings). See our Staycation Guide for more fun & family-friendly things to do in New Jersey.

Genealogy Resources for New Jersey - See our Genealogy Resources Webfinder and related posts.

Global Edge: N.J. State Profile [Some info is outdated; some links are broken] - Business-oriented profile of the state, including history, government, demographic & economic data, foreign trade/exports, corporations headquartered in N.J., recent headlines, and links to state-specific resources (Michigan State University). You'll find more business resources for New Jersey in our Local & State Business Resources (South Plainfield / Middlesex County / New Jersey) links.

Government and Law links - Links to selected state governmental and legal information.

Environmental Education Centers - Info about and links to year-round and seasonal Environmental Education Centers in New Jersey (NJ Department of Environmental Protection). N.J. Environmental Digital Library is 'an online library of environmental literature and multimedia related to New Jersey... includes documents and reports, scientific studies, photographs, maps, and more.' (Rutgers et al.).

Hall of Fame - Since 2008, this site celebrates noteworthy New Jerseyans.

Historical Society - Describes the various collections of the museum (located in Newark) and includes images of selected historical objects, guides for students and teachers, and other resources.

History: A Digital Archive (Electronic NJ) - Online lessons about N.J. history (Rutgers University et al.). See also N.J. Historical Commission: Materials for Teachers.

History Resources on the Net - Links to N.J. museums, libraries, archives, and historial societies (State of New Jersey). See also New Jersey History Research Guide (Kean University).

It Happened Here VIDEO - A collection of short videos and related PDFs on topics ranging from 'Haddy the Dinosaur' and 'The Founding of New Jersey' to 'The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping' and 'Frank Sinatra & the Hoboken Four'. (N.J. Historical Commission)

Jersey Fresh - Find out where you can get fresh local fruits and vegetables in season. This site lists roadside stands, pick-your-own, and urban/suburban farmers markets in the state, arranged by county. Also offers recipes, tips on selecting produce, and more. Jersey Grown includes searchable directories of New Jersey garden centers & nurseries, gardens & arboretums, and Christmas tree farms (N.J. Department of Agriculture). See also green food links.

Municipal Guide - An annual online directory of NJ municipalities by county and state & regional contacts, plus NJ Assembly, Senate, and US Congress members. Listings include mayor's name, addresses, phone/fax numbers, population, website URLs and, for elected officials, email addresses. Downloadable PDF is no longer available. (Municipal Publishing, LLC)

New Jersey Digital Highway - 'Your 'one stop shop' for New Jersey history and culture, from the collections of N.J. libraries, museums, archives and historical societies.' You can search the site by keyword, or browse by timeline or county. (Rutgers et al.)

Newspapers - Links to websites and information on newspapers which are members of the New Jersey Press Association, including Dailies, Weeklies, Non-English Language Newspapers, Specialty Newspapers, and Digital News Organizations.

New Jersey Monthly - Online edition of the print magazine.

NJ Transit - Schedules, fares, and online ticket sales for train, bus, and light rail, plus information on connecting services, handicapped access, and travel alerts & advisories. See Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for information about area airports, PATH commuter rail, bridges & tunnels, bus terminals, ferries and more; and Metropolitan Transit Authority of NY for info on New York City subways & buses, Staten Island Railway, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and Bridges & Tunnels, including schedules, fares, maps and more. See also N.J. Commuter, above.

Weather - See Weather.gov and related links, above.

Weird New Jersey - Just for fun, this site offers photos and descriptions of strange places like the 'Egg-O-Mat,' 'Shirtwood Forest,' 'Demon's Alley,' and 'Cookie Jar House,' as well as weird animals, ghosts, unexplained phenomena, and much more. 'Your travel guide to New Jersey's local legends and best-kept secrets.'

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