Ramsey is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a suburb of New York City, located northwest of Midtown Manhattan. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 14,798, an increase of 325 (+2.2%) from the 2010 census count of 14,473, which in turn reflected an increase of 122 (+0.9%) from the 14,351 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.
Ramsey was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 10, 1908, from portions of Hohokus Township (whose remnants are now Mahwah Township). Additional territory was annexed from Waldwick in 1921, and portions of the borough were ceded to Saddle River in 1925.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.
History Before European settlement, the area that became Ramsey was occupied by the Lenape Native Americans in the United States.
The most noteworthy local historical site is the Old Stone House, which is, as its name describes, both old and constructed of stone, though its construction materials in the early 1700s also included hog's hair.History, Ramsey Historical Association. Accessed October 6, 2019. It was originally a Dutch farmhouse and served as a tavern during the Revolutionary War. Legend has it that Aaron Burr slaked his thirst at this site, on his way to courting the woman who would become his wife in Ho-Ho-Kus."Jerseyans Save Colonial House; Once-Doomed Building Will Open Today as Historical Museum in Ramsey", The New York Times, April 3, 1960. Accessed October 6, 2019. The structure opened as a historic site in 1960 with a display of antique pitchers.
Ramsey is named after Peter J. Ramsey, a 19th-century landowner who died , who had sold the land that in 1848 became the site of a railroad station called "Ramsey's Station".Van Valen, James M. History of Bergen County, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Publishing and Engraving Co.; 1900. p. 199. Accessed January 20, 2024. "The most important village in the township is Ramsey, so named from Peter J. Ramsey, the original owner of the land."Ramsey’s Station, Postcards of Historical Ramsey, NJ, December 6, 2014. Accessed January 20, 2024. "While it would be years before it became its own Borough on March 10, 1908, the Bergen County Atlas of 1876 does include an inset in its map of Hohokus Township entitled ‘Ramsey’s Station’, referring to the train station built on land acquired from Peter J. Ramsey."Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living in: Ramsey", The New York Times, May 19, 1991. Accessed September 21, 2015. "The roots of the northern New Jersey borough date to 1848, when the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad opened a line to connect Paterson with ferries crossing the Hudson River to New York. One stop along the way was named Ramsey's, after Peter J. Ramsey, a farmer who sold the land for the station to the railroad."Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Ramsey, N.J.; Small-Town Life Survives the Pressures", The New York Times, September 7, 2003. Accessed December 2, 2020. "The Paterson and Ramapo Railroad, seeking a route to Jersey City, where passengers could board a ferry to New York, bought the right of way through 60 acres of land owned by a businessman named Peter J. Ramsey. The train station was known as Ramsey's Station; the name was shortened to Ramsey when the borough was incorporated in 1908."
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 5.57 square miles (14.43 km2), including 5.50 square miles (14.25 km2) of land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) of water (1.24%).
The borough is bordered by the Bergen County municipalities of Allendale on the southeast, Mahwah on the north, west, and southwest and by Saddle River and Upper Saddle River on the east.Areas touching Ramsey, 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.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Ramsey borough, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)12,84612,39111,71189.51%85.61%79.14%Black or African American alone (NH)110901270.77%0.62%0.86%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)10940.07%0.06%0.03%Asian alone (NH)8339591,1345.80%6.63%7.66%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)1010.01%0.00%0.01%Other race alone (NH)619640.04%0.13%0.43%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1251393830.87%0.96%2.59%Hispanic or Latino (any race)4208661,3742.93%5.98%9.29%Total14,35114,47314,798 100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the borough had a population of 14,798. The median age was 44.3 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and older there were 92.0 males.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 5,488 households, of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 61.1% were married-couple households, 12.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 5,670 housing units, of which 3.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.8%.
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 14,473 people, 5,363 households, and 3,926 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 5,550 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 89.45% (12,946) White, 0.65% (94) Black or African American, 0.12% (17) Native American, 6.66% (964) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.89% (274) from other races, and 1.23% (178) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.98% (866) of the population.
Of the 5,363 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18; 62.2% were married couples living together; 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.8% were non-families. Of all households, 23.4% were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.21.
26.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.8 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $111,549 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,131) and the median family income was $136,475 (+/− $2,642). Males had a median income of $90,326 (+/− $5,483) versus $63,234 (+/− $6,177) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $52,491 (+/− $36,084). About 1.9% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Ramsey borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 27, 2011.
Same-sex couples headed 20 households in 2010, unchanged from 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 October 23, 2014.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 14,351 people, 5,313 households, and 3,947 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 5,400 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 91.62% White, 0.78% African American, 0.10% Native American, 5.85% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.93% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Ramsey borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Ramsey borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2012.
There were 5,313 households, out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the borough, the age distribution of the population shows 27.0% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $88,187, and the median income for a family was $104,512. Males had a median income of $75,017 versus $43,205 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,964. About 1.4% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over. Economy The Ramsey Farmers Market includes vendors offering locally sourced produce, foods, beverages and flowers at the Ramsey NJ Transit Station on Main Street every Sunday throughout the year.Home Page, Ramsey Farmers Market. Accessed January 7, 2021.
Corporate residents of Ramsey have included: Flight Centre, parent company of Liberty Travel and GOGO Worldwide Vacations, was located at 69 Spring Street.Terrero, Ruthanne. "GOGO Set to Expand", TravelAgentCentral.com, September 1, 2008. Accessed January 30, 2012. "Flight Centre Limited, a giant global retailer based in Australia, announced it had agreed to purchase Ramsey, NJ-based LibGo last year, which includes wholesaler GOGO and its corresponding retail travel agency arm, Liberty Travel, late last year. The transaction included the purchase of 193 retail travel locations along the East Coast, Chicago and Florida and 40 wholesale locations in 22 states." The company announced in February 2016 that they were relocating to Montvale.Strauss, Eric. "Travel company moving its HQ from Ramsey to Montvale", NJBIZ, February 18, 2016. Accessed December 3, 2020. "FC USA Inc., whose brands include Liberty Travel, GOGO Vacations and others, signed a 15-year lease for 70,863 square feet at 5 Paragon Drive, a 119,254-square-foot Class A office building owned by Lone Star Funds, JLL said last week in a news release." Konica Minolta's U.S. offices are in Ramsey.Company Overview, Konica Minolta. Accessed January 30, 2012. Okonite, based in Ramsey.
The most common industries for females in Ramsey, according to City-data.com, from 2008 to 2012:Ramsey, New Jersey, City-Data. Accessed August 31, 2015. Health care and social assistance (22%) Educational services (16%) Finance and insurance (11%) Manufacturing (10%) Professional, scientific, and technical services (8%) Retail trade (8%)