Woodbridge is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, in the central part of the state, roughly 25 miles southwest of Manhattan. With about 106,000 residents, it is one of New Jersey's largest and most populous municipalities, a dense, well-established suburb within the New York metropolitan area. Its location at the heart of the state's transportation network, between the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike and along NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, has made it a commuter community for generations. The township's history runs deep. Settled beginning in 1664 and granted its charter by King Charles II on June 1, 1669, Woodbridge is recognized as the oldest original township chartered in New Jersey. It was named for Reverend John Woodbridge of Newbury, Massachusetts, and its colonial roots still show in its oldest streets and institutions, even as the township has grown into a thoroughly modern suburban municipality. That long history means Woodbridge has accumulated layer upon layer of development, giving it a density and institutional depth unusual among New Jersey's suburbs. Woodbridge is best understood as a collection of distinct communities. Iselin, Colonia, Avenel, Fords, and Woodbridge Proper are the largest sections, each with its own character, while Port Reading and Sewaren hold the waterfront's maritime heritage. Woodbridge Center, a regional mall opened in 1971 with some 200 stores, anchors the township's retail and economic life. Students attend the Woodbridge Township School District, which serves the township from pre-kindergarten through high school. For residents, Woodbridge offers a rare combination of colonial history, suburban amenities, and direct access to New York City and the wider region, all within one of the state's oldest and most established communities.