Rochelle Park is a township in Bergen County, in the U.S. state 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.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.

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.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 24, 2015.Timko, Michael. The Collected Almost Works of Michael Timko, p. 69. iUniverse, 2007. . Accessed December 16, 2013. "Rochelle Park would be easy if one remembered La Rochelle, France, after which it is named."

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.Areas touching Rochelle Park, MapIt. Accessed March 4, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 4, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census +Rochelle Park township, Bergen County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)4,6503,9183,25484.12%70.85%55.97%Black or African American alone (NH)251472080.45%2.66%3.58%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1630.02%0.11%0.05%Asian alone (NH)3274816025.92%8.70%10.35%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%Other race alone (NH)43280.07%0.05%0.48%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)47711440.85%1.28%2.48%Hispanic or Latino (any race)4749041,5758.57%16.35%27.09%Total5,5285,5305,814 100.00%100.00%100.00%

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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Rochelle Park township, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 30, 2012.

Same-sex couples headed 14 households in 2010, an increase from the 12 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 October 23, 2014.

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., Bloomberg Businessweek. Accessed August 19, 2013.

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.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. 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."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. 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 Mayor Thomas Miller (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2027, and term as mayor ends December 31, 2026), Deputy Mayor Matthew Trawinski (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2027, and term as deputy mayor ends December 31, 2026), Sean Smyth (D, 2028), Teresa E. Judge Cravello (D, 2026), and Jennifer Appice (R, 2026).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."2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Rochelle Park. Accessed July 21, 2022.2024 County and Municipal Directory, Bergen County, New Jersey, April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.Bergen County November 8, 2022 General Election Statement of Vote, Bergen County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.Bergen County Statement of Vote November 2, 2021 Official results, Bergen County, New Jersey, updated November 17, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.Precinct Summary Results Report - Combined 2020 Bergen County General Election - November 3, 2020 Official Results, Bergen County, New Jersey, December 3, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.

In June 2023, Perrin Mosca was removed from office as mayor in a controversy based on his opposition to the township's raising of the rainbow flag; Jen Appice was chosen to serve as mayor on an acting basis.Wildstein, David. "Rochelle Park tosses mayor, GOP leader pulls re-election support; Controversy over pride flag was last straw, Republican chairman says", New Jersey Globe, June 16, 2023. Accessed June 18, 2023. "A venomous split between Republicans in Rochelle Park led to the censure and removal of Perrin Mosca as mayor on Wednesday and the withdrawal of GOP party support for his re-election campaign, after calling some elected officials 'not good Catholics' for supporting the raising of a rainbow flag during Pride Month and then threatening colleagues who disagreed with him.... The township committee voted 4-0 to pull the mayoralty from Mosca – Democrat Linda Boniface joined three Republicans; Deputy Mayor Jennifer Appice will serve as acting mayor until a vote for a new mayor can be held at the governing body’s next meeting."

Federal, state, and county representation