Prospect Park is a borough in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 6,372, an increase of 507 (+8.6%) from the 2010 census count of 5,865, which in turn reflected an increase of 86 (+1.5%) from the 5,779 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.
The borough of Prospect Park was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1901, from portions of the now-defunct Manchester Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 211. Accessed May 30, 2024.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Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 210. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 22, 2015. The borough was named for Prospect Park, Brooklyn.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 22, 2015.
It is a dry town, where alcohol cannot be sold, as affirmed by an ordinance passed in 1978.New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.47 square miles (1.22 km2), including 0.47 square miles (1.20 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.01 km2) of water (1.06%).
The borough borders the Passaic County municipalities of Haledon, Hawthorne, North Haledon and Paterson.Areas touching Prospect Park, MapIt. Accessed March 3, 2020.Passaic County Map, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 3, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Prospect Park had a population of 6,372. The median age was 33.7 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.4 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,932 households in Prospect Park, of which 48.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.0% were married-couple households, 16.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 2,017 housing units, of which 4.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.0%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 1,624 25.5% Black or African American 1,120 17.6% American Indian and Alaska Native 48 0.8% Asian 304 4.8% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 2,199 34.5% Two or more races 1,077 16.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 3,752 58.9%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 5,865 people, 1,797 households, and 1,456 families in the borough. The population density was 12,347.2 per square mile (4,767.3/km2). There were 1,931 housing units at an average density of 4,065.2 per square mile (1,569.6/km2). The racial makeup was 51.07% (2,995) White, 19.86% (1,165) Black or African American, 1.50% (88) Native American, 3.21% (188) Asian, 0.10% (6) Pacific Islander, 18.21% (1,068) from other races, and 6.05% (355) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 52.09% (3,055) of the population.
Of the 1,797 households, 43.6% had children under the age of 18; 47.6% were married couples living together; 26.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.0% were non-families. Of all households, 14.7% were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.26 and the average family size was 3.59.
28.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.7 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $63,194 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,308) and the median family income was $65,625 (+/− $6,456). Males had a median income of $43,109 (+/− $6,443) versus $30,142 (+/− $9,427) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,993 (+/− $2,145). About 12.0% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Prospect Park borough, Passaic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 29, 2012.
Same-sex couples headed 8 households in 2010, a decline from the 11 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 5,779 people, 1,822 households, and 1,432 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,889 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 61.17% White, 13.65% African American, 0.42% Native American, 3.15% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 13.70% from other races, and 7.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.26% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Prospect Park borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 29, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Prospect Park borough, Passaic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 29, 2012.
There were 1,822 households, out of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.17 and the average family size was 3.56.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 29.6% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $46,434, and the median income for a family was $49,405. Males had a median income of $31,951 versus $26,569 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,410. About 7.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
As part of the 2000 Census, 1.7% of Prospect Park's residents identified themselves as being of Albanian ancestry. This was the 11th-highest percentage of Albanian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.Albanian Communities, EPodunk. Accessed June 28, 2006. In the same census, 3.2% of Prospect Park's residents identified themselves as being of Arab American ancestry. This was the sixth-highest percentage of Arab American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.Arab Communities , EPodunk. Accessed June 28, 2006. Government
Local government Prospect Park 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 comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions 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. 151. The borough form of government used by Prospect Park is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which 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, and 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 Prospect Park is Democrat Mohamed Khairullah, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Khairullah was appointed to the office in 2005, after his predecessor Will Kubofcik vacated his seat to move out of the borough; he has since been elected to four full terms. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Mohammed A. Hussain (D, 2025), Robert Artis (D, 2023), Alaa Matari (D, 2024), Felicia Ortiz (D, 2023), Esther Perez (D, 2024) and Anand Shah (D, 2025).Meet the Mayor and Council, Borough of Prospect Park. Accessed April 16, 2023.2021 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Prospect Park. Accessed July 13, 2022.Passaic County 2022 Directory, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.2022 General Election November 8, 2022 Summary Report Passaic County Official Results, Passaic County, New Jersey, updated December 7, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Passaic County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.November 3, 2020 Summary Report Official Results, Passaic County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.