Bogota, New Jersey

Bogota is a borough in Bergen County of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 8,778, an increase of 591 (+7.2%) from the 2010 census count of 8,187, which in turn reflected a decline of 62 (−0.8%) from the 8,249 counted in the 2000 census.

Bogota was formed on November 14, 1894, from portions of Ridgefield Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 76. Accessed May 16, 2012. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed during 1894 alone. Portions of Bogota were taken in 1895 to form part of the newly created Township of Teaneck. Bogota was named in honor of the Bogert family, which had been the first European settlers to occupy the area, and may also be a blend of Bogert and Banta, another early family, with an "O" added to ease pronunciation.

The borough's name is pronounced , unlike Bogotá, capital city of Colombia, which is accented on the final syllable.Page, Jeffrey
"Our towns challenge our tongues"
''The Record'', June 17, 2005, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 12, 2016. Accessed September 7, 2017. "The reason Bogota is called buh-GO-ta – and not the South American sounding bo-go-TA – is that the word has nothing to do with Colombia or its capital, Bogota. The 'Bog' recalls the Bogarts and the 'ta' is for the Bantas, two families that used to own all of what is now Bogota. 'Or so the story goes,' Henry Komorowski, the borough historian, said dryly. In any case, the story explains the first syllable and the last. But what about that 'O' in the middle? It might have come about as a means of making pronunciation easier, Komorowski said."

Geography

Bogota is located on the east shore of the Hackensack River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.80 square miles (2.06 km²), including 0.76 square miles (1.95 km²) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km²) of water (5.25%).

The borough borders Hackensack to the west, Ridgefield Park to the south and Teaneck on the north and east.

Bogota is bisected by the CSX River Line, which divides the borough into an eastern and western portion. The eastern half is highly industrial, with more busy roads. The western half is mainly suburban, with the exception of storefronts on West Main Street, River Road, and a development on West Fort Lee Road.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 8,187 people, 2,773 households, and 2,080 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,888 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 61.00% (4,994) White, 9.42% (771) Black or African American, 0.78% (64) Native American, 9.81% (803) Asian, 0.09% (7) Pacific Islander, 14.80% (1,212) from other races, and 4.10% (336) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.71% (3,169) of the population.

Of the 2,773 households, 36.4% had children under the age of 18; 54.9% were married couples living together; 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.0% were non-families. Of all households, 20.7% were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.43.

23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $77,375 (with a margin of error of +/− $13,132) and the median family income was $96,563 (+/− $12,361). Males had a median income of $53,460 (+/− $5,549) versus $46,350 (+/− $9,142) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,844 (+/− $2,819). About 8.2% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 8,249 people, 2,874 households, and 2,126 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,915 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 75.72% White, 5.73% African American, 0.15% Native American, 7.75% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 6.76% from other races, and 3.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.32% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Bogota borough, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 4, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Bogota borough, Bergen County, New Jersey
United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 4, 2013.

There were 2,874 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $59,813, and the median income for a family was $69,841. Males had a median income of $49,347 versus $36,406 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,505. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Bogota is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 157. The borough form of government used by Bogota is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body, with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

, the mayor of the Borough of Bogota is Republican Daniele Fede, serving a term of office that expires on December 31, 2027. Members of the Bogota Borough Council are Council President Consuelo M. Carpenter ( D, 2024), Lisa Kohles (D, 2026), Patrick H. McHale (D, 2025), John G. Mitchell (D, 2025), Mary Ellen Murphy (D, 2023), Robert Robbins (D, 2024) and Diana Vergara (D, 2026).Mayor and Council
Borough of Bogota. Accessed February 21, 2024. "The Borough of Bogota is governed by a Mayor and Council who are elected by the voters. The mayoral term is a four-year term, while each council member is elected to serve for a three-year term"''2024 County and Municipal Directory''
Bergen County, New Jersey