Little Falls is a township in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township was named after a waterfall on the Passaic River at a dam near Beattie Mill.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 3, 2015.About, Township of Little Falls. Accessed April 14, 2020."Our Township is named for the Passaic River waterfall that formerly spilled downstream from the dam in front of the Beattie Mill."Our History, The Mill on the River: At Little Falls. Accessed August 15, 2023. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 13,360, a decrease of 1,072 (−7.4%) from the 2010 census count of 14,432, which in turn reflected an increase of 3,577 (+33.0%) from the 10,855 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.

History Little Falls traces its first European settlement to 1711, when seven Bergen Dutch settlers banded together to begin farming.2013 Master Plan Re-examination Report, Little Falls Township. Accessed December 24, 2016. "Little Falls, in Passaic County New Jersey traces its history back to its founding in 1711 when seven Dutch farmers banded together to begin farming in this fertile area of Northern New Jersey, which was then referred to as the Village of Little Falls. One of the old farm houses, the Speer Homestead built in 1680, proudly stands in Little Falls today as one of the oldest homes in New Jersey and a reminder of the towns' agrarian roots." The Speer Homestead dates from (and may have originally been built in 1680).Nomination Form for Reynier Speer House, National Park Service. Accessed December 24, 2016.

The Morris Canal, once an important artery of trade and transportation until 1925 between the Delaware and Hudson rivers, wound its way through the township, and vestiges of it still remain today,Passaic County Morris Canal Greenway Status Map, ArcGIS, February 18, 2015. Accessed December 24, 2016. "The Morris Canal passed through today's Passaic County towns of Wayne, Little Falls, Woodland Park, Paterson, and Clifton." some parts of which form a greenway.Great Falls/S. U. M. Power Canal System, Paterson, Passaic County, NJ - Morris Canal in Passaic County, Library of Congress. Accessed June 7, 2017."Spotlight on the Morris Canal in the Township of Little Falls , A Journey Along the Towpath, April 2011. Accessed June 7, 2017.

Little Falls was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1868, from portions of Acquackanonk Township. On March 25, 1914, portions of the township were taken to form the borough of West Paterson (now Woodland Park).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 209. Accessed May 29, 2024.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 2.87 square miles (7.43 km2), including 2.80 square miles (7.24 km2) of land and 0.07 square miles (0.19 km2) of water (2.54%).

Great Notch (with a 2020 Census population of 3,289) and Singac (3,602) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDP) located within Little Falls Township.GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Passaic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 12, 2013.2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 12, 2013.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed January 12, 2013.

The township has three main sub-divisions. Great Notch is the easternmost part of Little Falls. The downtown area is frequently referred to as "The Center of Town", mainly by longtime residents, and is usually referred to as simply Little Falls. Singac is in the westernmost portion of the township. Much of Singac borders the Passaic River.Spiewak, Anna. "One Hometown You Won't Want To Leave". The Record, January 20, 2008. Accessed February 29, 2008. "The township is divided into three sections: Little Falls; Singac, off Route 23; and Great Notch, off Long Hill & Ridge Roads."Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Little Falls is bordered by the municipalities of Clifton, Totowa, Wayne, and Woodland Park in Passaic County, and Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Montclair, and North Caldwell in Essex County.Areas touching Little Falls, MapIt. Accessed February 25, 2020.Passaic County Park System, See Passaic County. Accessed February 25, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019. It is located about west of New York City.

As of 2026, the township is a member of Local Leaders for Responsible Planning in order to address the township's Mount Laurel doctrine-based housing obligations.

Demographics

2020 census +Little Falls township, Passaic County, New Jersey – Racial and Ethnic Composition (NH = Non-Hispanic)Race / EthnicityPop 2010Pop 2020% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)11,5309,11679.89%68.23%Black or African American alone (NH)5498343.80%6.24%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1340.09%0.03%Asian alone (NH)6527234.52%5.41%Pacific Islander alone (NH)120.01%0.01%Some Other Race alone (NH)34680.24%0.51%Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)2253491.56%2.61%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1,4282,2649.89%16.95%Total14,43213,360100.00%100.00%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 14,432 people, 4,740 households, and 2,825 families in the township. The population density was . There were 4,925 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 86.68% (12,510) White, 4.11% (593) Black or African American, 0.15% (22) Native American, 4.56% (658) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 2.38% (344) from other races, and 2.11% (304) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.89% (1,428) of the population.

Of the 4,740 households, 22.8% had children under the age of 18; 45.8% were married couples living together; 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 40.4% were non-families. Of all households, 33.1% were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.04.

13.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 29.4% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 81.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 78.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,318 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,244) and the median family income was $92,462 (+/− $12,925). Males had a median income of $67,585 (+/− $7,860) versus $42,270 (+/− $3,385) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,505 (+/− $3,336). About 4.7% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Little Falls township, Passaic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 27, 2012.

Same-sex couples headed 42 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 September 27, 2014.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 10,855 people, 4,687 households, and 2,873 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 4,797 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 92.13% white, 0.65% African American, 0.06% Native American, 4.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.33% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.33% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Little Falls township, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 27, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Little Falls township, Passaic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 27, 2012.

There were 4,687 households, out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 18.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $58,857, and the median income for a family was $70,223. Males had a median income of $49,136 versus $37,727 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,242. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy Mountain View Diners Company operated from 1939 to 1957, manufacturing a total of 400 prefabricated diners that were shipped nationwide.Funk, Richard W. "Building diners was specialty of several companies", Standard-Speaker, December 2, 2001. Accessed July 21, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "New Jersey could be considered the capital of the diner industry.... Mountain View Diners of Singac, N.J., was in business from 1939 to 1957. Hazleton's Blue Comet is a heavily remodeled 1957 model. This firm was known as a very aggressive marketer in the 1950s and its diners were shipped all over the country."

Points of interest

The Little Falls Old Town Hall on Stevens Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 9, 2026,

Montclair State University Ice Arena is an ice rink located on the grounds of Montclair State University that is located in Little Falls. The facility supports public skating, figure skating, and hockey.About, Montclair State Ice Arena. Accessed January 6, 2024.

Sports