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., Distance between Cities: Elmwood Park, NJ to New York, NY. Accessed May 3, 2022. 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.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.
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. Accessed May 1, 2026.} 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.Verdon, Joan. "Foes of Bergen County blue laws gear up again", The Record, February 3, 2013, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 15, 2016. Accessed September 14, 2017. "Bergen County's blue laws — the rules that keep most of the county's stores closed on Sundays — are being scrutinized for signs of weakness by groups that believe the time is right to repeal them.... Bergen County is the last county in the state to retain blue laws, which prohibit sales of certain goods on Sundays, and keep all of the county's department stores and malls closed, with the exception of mall restaurants and movie theaters."
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.Areas touching Elmwood 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.
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."Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2015.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Elmwood Park borough, Bergen County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)14,13811,95710,92874.71%61.62%51.01%Black or African American alone (NH)3798841,4942.00%4.56%6.97%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1919250.10%0.10%0.12%Asian alone (NH)1,4742,0552,3677.79%10.59%11.05%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)1300.01%0.02%0.00%Other race alone (NH)21692380.11%0.36%1.11%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)3582994721.89%1.54%2.20%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2,5354,1175,89813.39%21.22%27.53%Total18,92519,40321,422 100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Elmwood Park had a population of 21,422. The median age was 40.9 years, with 19.7% of residents under the age of 18 and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.5 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 7,652 households in Elmwood Park, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.9% were married-couple households, 15.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 7,949 housing units, of which 3.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.9%.
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., United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 18, 2012.
Same-sex couples headed 49 households in 2010, an increase from the 33 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 December 1, 2014.
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., 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.Lustig, Jay. "N.J. Rock & Pop Hall: Looking to the future", The Star-Ledger, March 16, 2012. Accessed November 22, 2014. "Adrenalin O.D., Elmwood Park. Punk band specializing in fast, funny songs."
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.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. 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.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.