Park Ridge 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 8,883, its highest decennial census count ever and an increase of 238 (+2.8%) from the 2010 census count of 8,645, which in turn had reflected a decline of 63 (−0.7%) from the 8,708 counted at 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. Park Ridge has continued to grow in population since the 2020 census, by 557 (+6.3%) to an estimated 9,440 residents as of 2023.

History Park Ridge was created as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 15, 1894, from portions of Washington Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 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 1, 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." Park Ridge obtained a portion of River Vale (July 15, 1929), exchanged portions with Woodcliff Lake (December 12, 1955), received part of Washington Township (November 26, 1956), exchanged portions with Hillsdale (February 10, 1958) and Woodcliff Lake (June 9, 1958) and received another part of Washington Township (August 11, 1958).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 84. Accessed May 30, 2024. The borough's name derives from its location.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 16, 2015.

Park Ridge's Pascack Historical Society Museum, at 19 Ridge Avenue, houses the world's only wampum drilling machine. This wooden artifact was made in Park Ridge by the Campbell Brothers who invented a way to drill through long pieces of hair pipe shells so that they could be strung and worn as breast plates by the Plains Indians, among others. Needing water for the operation, the industrious brothers leased a woolen mill that stood on the Pascack Brook. When that burned down they built their own mill farther down Pascack Creek on their land and another shop on Pascack Road near their homestead. Both buildings housed drilling machines on their second floors where they were safe from prying eyes, as the two machines had not been patented. In the early 19th century, John Jacob Astor purchased wampum from the Campbells to trade with the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest whose beaver pelts he turned into men's hats.A Chronology of the Rise, Fall – and Resurrection of Wampum , accessed December 21, 2006. The best years for the wampum business were between 1835 and 1866. The drilling machine can be seen at the Pascack Historical Society Museum on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until noon and Sundays from 1–4 p.m. Admission is free.

Historic sites Park Ridge is home to the following locations on the National Register of Historic Places:New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places; Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office, updated November 20, 2024. Accessed November 3, 2025.

John G. Ackerson House – 142 Pascack Road (added 1983) Isaac Debaun House – 124 Rivervale Road (added 1983) Park Ridge Station – Hawthorne and Park Avenue (added 1984) Peter D. Perry House – 107 Rivervale Road (added 1983) Wortendyke Barn – 13 Pascack Road (added 1973) Frederick Wortendyke House – 12 Pascack Road (added 1983)

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.63 square miles (6.81 km2), including 2.61 square miles (6.75 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (0.80%).US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.

The borough is a part of the Pascack Valley region of Bergen County. It is bordered by the Bergen County municipalities of Hillsdale, Montvale, River Vale and Woodcliff Lake.Areas touching Park Ridge, MapIt. Accessed March 2, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 2, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019. Although no major highways run through the borough, it is serviced by the Garden State Parkway at exits 168, 171 and 172 in Washington Township, Woodcliff Lake and Montvale, respectively.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Park Ridge borough, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)7,7787,2886,97289.32%84.30%78.49%Black or African American alone (NH)6780910.77%0.93%1.02%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)6520.07%0.06%0.02%Asian alone (NH)3365246313.86%6.06%7.10%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)1200.01%0.02%0.00%Other race alone (NH)214330.02%0.16%0.37%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)55632180.63%0.73%2.45%Hispanic or Latino (any race)4636699365.32%7.74%10.54%Total8,7088,6458,883 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Park Ridge had a population of 8,883. The median age was 47.1 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and older there were 88.6 males age 18 and older.

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

There were 3,310 households in Park Ridge, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 61.4% were married-couple households, 13.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,435 housing units, of which 3.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 8,645 people, 3,283 households, and 2,351 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,428 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 89.14% (7,706) White, 1.04% (90) Black or African American, 0.22% (19) Native American, 6.07% (525) Asian, 0.02% (2) Pacific Islander, 2.58% (223) from other races, and 0.93% (80) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.74% (669) of the population.

Of the 3,283 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18; 62.0% were married couples living together; 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.4% were non-families. Of all households, 25.0% were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.

22.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $104,053 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,870) and the median family income was $118,984 (+/− $7,463). Males had a median income of $85,242 (+/− $13,024) versus $65,216 (+/− $12,814) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $46,695 (+/− $3,650). About 1.1% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 0.5% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Park Ridge borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2011.

Same-sex couples headed 11 households in 2010, an increase from the 7 counted in the 2000 Census.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 October 21, 2014.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census, there were 8,708 people, 3,161 households, and 2,389 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,258 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 93.48% White, 0.86% African American, 0.14% Native American, 3.86% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.32% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Park Ridge borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 11, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Park Ridge borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 11, 2013.

There were 3,161 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $66,632, and the median income for a family was $97,294. Males had a median income of $71,042 versus $40,714 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,351. About 1.2% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy The Hertz Corporation, a car rental company, had been headquartered in Park Ridge and was the borough's largest single taxpayer. On May 7, 2013, Hertz announced that the firm was moving their corporate HQ to Estero, Florida, and would keep certain operations in Park Ridge., The Hertz Corporation. Accessed December 27, 2011.

Sony Corporation of America moved its R&D and engineering facility out of Park Ridge in 2015 when it sold the building to Paramus-based Hornrock Properties.

Government

Local government