Bloomfield Township, New Jersey

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, NewJersey S E T T L E I N A ND E N J OY L I F E services. During World War II, Bloomfield’s farms and factories, largely staffed by women, supported the war effort. In 1942, the Westinghouse Lamp Plant in Bloomfield produced the majority of uranium metal used in the Chicago Pile-1, the world’s first self-sustaining chain reaction; a critical early phase of the Manhattan Project to create the first atomic bomb. In the decades after the war, the township’s industrial base steadily shut down due to stricter environmental regulations, rising labor costs, and growing competition. In 1981, Bloomfield was one of seven Essex County municipalities to pass a referendum to become a township in order to take advantage of federal revenue sharing policies that allocated townships a greater share of government aid to municipalities on a per capita basis. In the early 21st century, redevelopment of blighted and T welve miles due west of New York City lies the suburb of Bloomfield Township, New Jersey. The historic Essex County community was named after Brigadier General Joseph Bloomfield, a New Jersey troop commander in the Whiskey Rebellion and the War of 1812. At the time it was incorporated in 1812, Bloomfield Township covered 20.52 square miles, almost four times its current area of 5.3 square miles and included several municipalities which were later formed from portions of Bloomfield during the 19th century. The smaller Bloomfield was incorporated as a town in 1900. In the 20th century, General Electric, Westinghouse, and Schering built major facilities, and the Charms Candy Company was started and grew. After World War I, Brookdale Farms were developed into residential neighborhoods and supporting