Elmwood Park, New Jersey

Elmwood Park is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and is a bedroom suburb located from New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 21,422, an increase of 2,019 (+10.4%) from the 2010 census count of 19,403, which in turn reflected an increase of 478 (+2.5%) from the 18,925 counted in the 2000 census.

Prior to 1916, the area was known as Dundee Lake, a section of Saddle River Township. Residents of the Dundee Lake area voted on April 18, 1916, to secede from Saddle River Township to form the Borough of East Paterson.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 77. Accessed July 18, 2012. In 1917, residents of the Rosemont section of Saddle River Township voted to be annexed to East Paterson. In November 1972, residents voted to change the name of the borough to Elmwood Park. The new name became official on January 1, 1973.

Elmwood Park, being located in Bergen County, has strict blue laws, which require most businesses to be closed on Sunday.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.73 square miles (7.06 km²), including 2.64 square miles (6.85 km²) of land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km²) of water (3.00%).

The borough borders Paterson and Clifton in Passaic County across the Passaic River to the West; Fair Lawn to the North and East; Saddle Brook to the East; and Garfield to the South (the latter three municipalities in Bergen County). A trip clockwise along the border from the Northwest corner runs from the middle of the Passaic River ENE along Willow Street, SSE along Cyril Avenue, ENE along New Jersey Route 4 (Broadway), SSE along the Bergen County Line, WSW along the extension of Rosario Court from Saddle Brook, continuing WSW along Dye Ave. and between Garwood Court North and Kipp Avenue, and N along the middle of the Passaic River.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names within the borough include Cherry Hill, Dundee Lake, Passaic Junction and Rosemont.Mola, Geraldine
A Brief History of Elmwood Park
Borough of Elmwood Park. Accessed September 14, 2017. "After its passage, Dundee Lake residents voted on April 18, 1916, to secede from Saddle River Township. The new town was quickly incorporated as the Borough of East Paterson, and by June, citizens had elected its first public officials. One year later, residents from the Rosemont section of Saddle River Township voted to be annexed to East Paterson, extending the new Borough's borders.... The 1940s introduced many changes as large tracts of land were purchased for development. Early in the decade the Cherry Hill section was bought by the government to build much needed housing for workers in nearby defense factories, including Wright's local aeronautical plant."

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 19,403 people, 7,032 households, and 5,140 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 7,385 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 75.37% (14,624) White, 5.25% (1,019) Black or African American, 0.33% (65) Native American, 10.72% (2,080) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander, 5.47% (1,062) from other races, and 2.83% (549) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.22% (4,117) of the population.

Of the 7,032 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18; 53.8% were married couples living together; 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.9% were non-families. Of all households, 22.3% were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.25.

20.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,719 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,506) and the median family income was $75,587 (+/− $4,326). Males had a median income of $50,943 (+/− $1,704) versus $41,654 (+/− $3,193) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,959 (+/− $2,217). About 3.7% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 49 households in 2010, an increase from the 33 counted in 2000.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 18,925 people, 7,089 households, and 5,075 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 7,242 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 78.53% White, 4.16% African American, 0.11% Native American, 7.80% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.44% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.39% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Elmwood Park borough, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 16, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Elmwood Park borough, Bergen County, New Jersey
United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 18, 2012.

There were 7,089 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $52,319, and the median income for a family was $59,131. Males had a median income of $40,684 versus $39,535 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,588. About 4.7% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Musical groups from the borough include the hardcore punk band Adrenalin O.D.

Government

Local government

Elmwood Park 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. 160. The borough form of government 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 Elmwood Park is Republican Robert Colletti, whose term of office expires December 31, 2027.Mayor Robert Colletti
Borough of Elmwood Park. Accessed April 26, 2024. Members of the borough council are Council President Theresa Sheridan (R, 2024), Tanisha Dennis ( D, 2024), Francesco Fasolo (D, 2025), Daniel Golabek (D, 2025), Lorraine Pellegrine (R, 2026) and Pamela Troisi (R, 2026).''2024 County and Municipal Directory''
Bergen County, New Jersey