Cliffside Park is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 25,693, an increase of 2,099 (+8.9%) from the 2010 census count of 23,594, which in turn reflected an increase of 587 (+2.6%) from the 23,007 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Cliffside Park was formed based on the results of a referendum held on January 15, 1895, from portions of Ridgefield Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026."History of Bergen County" p. 342 The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, as one of two boroughs created in 1895 after 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.Harvey, Cornelius Burnham. Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, p. 11, New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed September 15, 2013. "For a period of sixteen years following the passage of this act few boroughs were organized in the State, only three of them being in Bergen County.... As it was twenty-six boroughs were created in the county from January 23, 1894, to December 18, of the same year." The borough was named for its location as a "Park by the Cliffs".Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg resided in the borough until his death in 2013. Cliffside Park was home to the former Palisades Amusement Park, part of which was located in adjoining Fort Lee. The park operated from 1898 until 1971, remaining one of the most-visited amusement parks in the country until its closure, after which the rides and attractions were removed and the site replaced by high-rise apartment buildings.Horner, Shirley. "About Books: Palisades Park Memories", The New York Times, September 4, 1994. Accessed December 3, 2013. "Now they can vicariously relive those days with The Park on the Palisades, by Vince Gargiulo, a 200-page history of the park from 1898 to 1971 -- when its 38 acres in Fort Lee and Cliffside Park virtually disappeared to make way for high-rises."

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.48 km2), all of which was land. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, Anderson Avenue and Palisade Avenue are the town's major north–south thoroughfares, the latter offering views of the Hudson River and New York City skyline.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Grantwood and Shadyside.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The borough borders the municipalities of Edgewater, Fairview, Fort Lee and Ridgefield in Bergen County, as well as North Bergen in Hudson County.Areas touching Cliffside Park, MapIt. Accessed March 24, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 24, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Grantwood is named for Grant's Tomb, located on the opposite shore of the river.Gargiulo, Vince. Palisades Amusement Park: A Century of Fond Memories, p. 8. Lulu.com, 2006. . "Knox was a real-estate developer, widely known around the area, who had named a section of Cliffside Park 'Grantwood' because of its location directly across the Hudson River from Grant's Tomb."Staff. "North Jersey Development: Bergen County's 27 Per Cent. Growth in Population Since 1900.", The New York Times, May 24, 1908. Accessed May 19, 2011. Gorge Road runs along the face of the cliff to the Edgewater waterfront.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Cliffside Park borough, Bergen County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)15,26212,43411,18566.34%52.70%43.53%Black or African American alone (NH)3565846561.55%2.48%2.55%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)2224230.10%0.10%0.09%Asian alone (NH)2,7553,2193,78411.97%13.64%14.73%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)51050.02%0.04%0.02%Other race alone (NH)541893540.23%0.80%1.38%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)3764307321.63%1.82%2.85%Hispanic or Latino (any race)4,1776,7048,95418.16%28.41%34.85%Total23,00723,59425,693 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Cliffside Park had a population of 25,693. The median age was 41.5 years. 17.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.0 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 10,735 households in Cliffside Park, of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.8% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 11,435 housing units, of which 6.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.7%.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 23,594 people, 9,948 households, and 6,178 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 10,665 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 70.11% (16,541) White, 3.29% (776) Black or African American, 0.32% (75) Native American, 13.78% (3,252) Asian, 0.05% (11) Pacific Islander, 8.65% (2,042) from other races, and 3.80% (897) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.41% (6,704) of the population.

Of the 9,948 households, 23.6% had children under the age of 18; 44.8% were married couples living together; 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 37.9% were non-families. Of all households, 31.6% were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98.

17.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey shows that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $67,856 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,782) and the median family income was $80,856 (+/− $5,828). Males had a median income of $53,529 (+/− $4,598) versus $52,134 (+/− $5,805) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,157 (+/− $2,000). About 7.3% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 7, 2012.

Same-sex couples headed 56 households in 2010, a decline from the 72 counted in 2000.Lipman, Harvy; and Sheingold, Dave. "North Jersey sees 30% growth in same-sex couples", The Record, August 14, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 3, 2013. Accessed September 6, 2014.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 23,007 people, 10,027 households, and 6,036 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 10,375 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 77.85% White, 1.83% African American, 0.25% Native American, 12.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.97% from other races, and 3.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.16% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Cliffside Park borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 5, 2013., United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 5, 2013.

As of the 2000 census, 3.6% of Cliffside Park's residents identified themselves as being of Armenian American ancestry. This was the highest percentage in New Jersey, and the seventh-highest percentage of Armenian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.Armenian Communities , EPodunk. Accessed June 28, 2006. Additionally, according to the 2000 Census, 1.3% of Cliffside Park identified themselves as Turkish American, the sixth-highest of any municipality in the United States and four-highest in the state.Turkish Communities , EPodunk. Accessed September 17, 2015.

There were 10,027 households, out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 16.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $46,288, and the median income for a family was $54,915. Males had a median income of $40,114 versus $36,100 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,516. About 8.5% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

, more than three quarters of Cliffside Park residents categorize themselves as being affiliated with a formal religious body. A majority of the borough is Roman Catholic (52.60%), many of whom attend the Roman Catholic Church of the Epiphany on Knox Avenue. 8.12% Jewish; 1.21% Lutheran; 1.20% Episcopalian; 0.84% Methodist; 0.88% Muslim; 0.62% Baptist; 0.46% Pentecostal; and 0.02% Eastern Orthodox Christian.Religion in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, BestPlaces.net. Accessed September 12, 2011.

Government Local government