Rockaway is a borough in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 6,598, an increase of 160 (+2.5%) from the 2010 census count of 6,438, which was a decline of 35 (−0.5%) from the 6,473 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.

History

Rockaway was formed as a borough on June 19, 1894, from portions of Rockaway Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 196. Accessed May 30, 2024.Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries , Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1894, June 19. Rockaway Borough is established from Rockaway Township. This area was previously known as Rockaway Village." Additional portions of Rockaway Township were annexed by the borough in 1908.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 244. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 23, 2015.

The borough shares its name with the Rockaway River and the neighboring township. The name is derived from a Native American term, variously said to mean "place of sands",Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 24, 2015.Nestor, Sandy. Indian Place Names in America, Volume 1, p. 113. McFarland, 2004. . Accessed September 24, 2015. "creek between two hills""Indian Place Names in New Jersey" from the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration 1938-1939 Series, Bulletin 12. Accessed September 24, 2015. "Rockaway - Possibly from Powawachne, creek between two hills" or "bushy" / "difficult to cross".Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 265. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 24, 2015.

The First Presbyterian Church of Rockaway was founded in 1758. Many veterans of the American Revolutionary War are buried in its cemetery. The current brick church was built in 1832.

Geography The borough has a total area of 2.12 square miles (5.49 km2), including 2.07 square miles (5.37 km2) of land and 0.05 square miles (0.12 km2) of water (2.22%).

Rockaway borders the Morris County municipalities of Denville Township and Rockaway Township.Areas touching Rockaway, MapIt. Accessed March 4, 2020.Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed March 4, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Climate The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and moderately cold winters. In the Köppen climate classification system, Rockaway has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.Interactive United States Köppen Climate Classification Map, PlantMaps.Com. Accessed December 24, 2023.Climate Summary for Rockaway, New Jersey

Demographics

2020 census In the 2020 census, Rockaway had a population of 6,598. The median age was 42.2 years. 19.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.1 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 2,561 households in Rockaway, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.5% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,645 housing units, of which 3.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 4,517 68.5% Black or African American 204 3.1% American Indian and Alaska Native 23 0.3% Asian 559 8.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0% Some other race 613 9.3% Two or more races 681 10.3% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,355 20.5%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 6,438 people, 2,443 households, and 1,656 families in the borough. The population density was 3,106.7 per square mile (1,199.5/km2). There were 2,521 housing units at an average density of 1,216.5 per square mile (469.7/km2). The racial makeup was 82.79% (5,330) White, 3.22% (207) Black or African American, 0.14% (9) Native American, 7.66% (493) Asian, 0.06% (4) Pacific Islander, 4.05% (261) from other races, and 2.08% (134) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.07% (970) of the population.

Of the 2,443 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18; 51.7% were married couples living together; 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.2% were non-families. Of all households, 24.6% were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.20.

22.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $77,861 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,631) and the median family income was $108,776 (+/− $9,129). Males had a median income of $57,770 (+/− $13,090) versus $37,868 (+/− $9,230) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,636 (+/− $4,186). About 6.3% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Rockaway borough, Morris County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.

2000 census In the 2000 United States census there were 6,473 people, 2,445 households, and 1,709 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,491 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 87.75% White, 1.41% African American, 0.20% Native American, 6.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.98% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.39% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Rockaway borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Rockaway borough, Morris County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.

There were 2,445 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.16.

23.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.6% were aged from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $61,002, and the median income for a family was $66,997. Males had a median income of $44,673 versus $35,956 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,500. About 3.0% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government Rockaway 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 composed of the mayor and the borough council. All positions are elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The 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. 116.

The borough form of government used by Rockaway is a "weak mayor / strong council" government. 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. 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, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.

, the mayor of Rockaway is Republican Thomas Mulligan, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.Mayor's Office, Borough of Rockaway. Accessed May 5, 2026. Members of the Rockaway Borough Council are Council President Melissa Burnside (R, 2026), Robert DeVito (R, 2028), Thomas J. Haynes III (R, 2027), James R. Hurley (R, 2027), Patrick McDonald (R, 2026), and Thomas Slockbower (R, 2028).Mayor & Council, Borough of Rockaway. Accessed May 5, 2026. "The Borough of Rockaway government consists of an elected mayor and six elected council members. The mayor serves a four-year term, and each year two council members are elected to three-year terms."2025 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Rockaway. Accessed May 5, 2026.Morris County Manual 2026, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed May 1, 2026.2026 Municipal Elected Officials, Morris County, New Jersey, updated March 12, 2026. Accessed May 1, 2026.Summary Report Official Results 2025 General Election November 4, 2025, Morris County, New Jersey, updated November 17, 2025. Accessed January 1, 2026.Summary Results Report 2024 General Election November 5, 2024 Official Results, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 18, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk, updated December 11, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.