Rochelle Park, New Jersey

Rochelle Park is a township in Bergen County of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 5,814, an increase of 284 (+5.1%) from the 2010 census count of 5,530, which in turn reflected an increase of two people (+0.0%) from the 5,528 counted in the 2000 census.

What is now Rochelle Park was originally incorporated as Midland Township on March 7, 1871, from portions of New Barbadoes Township. Portions of the township were taken to form the boroughs of Delford (on March 8, 1894; now Oradell), Maywood (June 30, 1894), Riverside (also June 30, 1894; now River Edge) and Paramus (March 2, 1922). Rochelle Park was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 5, 1929, replacing Midland Township, based on the results of a referendum held on that same day that passed by a 503–69 margin.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. pp. 81 and 86. Accessed May 30, 2024. The main impetus behind the change in name was to avoid confusion with the nearby community of Midland Park.Officially Rochelle Park
Township of Rochelle Park. Accessed January 30, 2012. "Little noticed by the world in general, on November 5, 1929, a week after the Crash, Midland Township changed its name to Rochelle Park. Residents voted 503 to 69 to end the confusion with Midland Park." The township was named for the port city of La Rochelle, France.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 1.02 square miles (2.65 km²), including 0.99 square miles (2.57 km²) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km²) of water (3.04%).

The township borders the Bergen County municipalities of Fair Lawn, Lodi, Maywood, Paramus and Saddle Brook.

Demographics

2020 census

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 5,530 people, 2,087 households, and 1,455 families in the township. The population density was . There were 2,170 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 82.22% (4,547) White, 2.89% (160) Black or African American, 0.25% (14) Native American, 8.72% (482) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.89% (215) from other races, and 2.03% (112) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.35% (904) of the population.

Of the 2,087 households, 26.3% had children under the age of 18; 55.5% were married couples living together; 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.3% were non-families. Of all households, 26.1% were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.09.

18.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,341 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,539) and the median family income was $81,113 (+/− $4,718). Males had a median income of $50,275 (+/− $2,954) versus $53,634 (+/− $11,176) for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,633 (+/− $2,836). About 2.8% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 14 households in 2010, an increase from the 12 counted in 2000.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,528 people, 2,061 households, and 1,393 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,111 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 90.09% White, 0.45% African American, 0.04% Native American, 6.02% Asian, 2.03% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.57% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Rochelle Park township, Bergen County, New Jersey
United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 13, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Rochelle Park township, Bergen County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 13, 2013.

There were 2,061 households, out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out, with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $60,818, and the median income for a family was $74,016. Males had a median income of $43,580 versus $36,827 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,054. About 0.4% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Companies with headquarters in Rochelle Park include the specialty retailer United Retail Group, which is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange.

Garden State Plaza is located in Paramus, near the border of Rochelle Park.

Government

Local government

Rochelle Park is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

, the members of the Rochelle Park Township Committee are Acting Mayor Jen Appice ( R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Perrin Mosca (R, 2023), Gail Artola (R, 2025), Vincent Bessetti (R, 2024) and Linda Boniface ( D, 2023).Township Committee
Township of Rochelle Park. Accessed January 10, 2023. "The Township of Rochelle Park is organized as a Township form of municipal government as set forth under N.J.S.A. 40A:63-1 et seq. The elected officers of every Township are the members of the Township Committee, the governing body of the municipality. The Township has a five member Township Committee whose terms of office begin on January 1st following the preceding general election. Each member holds office for a term of three years.... It is during the traditional January Reorganization Meeting that the members of the governing body elect one of their number as Chairman of the Committee whose responsibility it is to preside at all meetings of the Township Committee and who shall be known as the Mayor of the Township."''2024 County and Municipal Directory''
Bergen County, New Jersey