Carlstadt is a borough in Bergen 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 245 (+4.0%) from the 2010 census count of 6,127, which in turn reflected an increase of 210 (+3.5%) from the 5,917 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.
Carlstadt was originally formed as a village by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1860, within Lodi Township. Most sources indicate that the community was named for Carl Klein, the leader of a group of early German settlers who led the project to establish the communityVan Valen, James M. History of Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 363, New Jersey Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900. Accessed July 5, 2011. "Papers of incorporation were executed February 24, 1854. The projector of the village was Carl Klein, and in honor of him the village was named Carlstadt."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015. though Henry Gannett stated that the name derived from the city of Karlovac in Croatia, which was known as "Carlstadt" in German.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 69. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 28, 2015. The Borough of Carlstadt was incorporated on June 27, 1894, formally set off from Bergen Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.History of Bergen County, p. 341 The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.Harvey, Cornelius Burnham. Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, p. 11, New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed September 1, 2013. "For a period of sixteen years following the passage of this act few boroughs were organized in the State, only three of them being in Bergen County.... As it was twenty-six boroughs were created in the county from January 23, 1894, to December 18, of the same year."
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.21 square miles (10.90 km2), including 3.95 square miles (10.22 km2) of land and 0.26 square miles (0.67 km2) of water (6.18%).
Carlstadt is bordered on the south by East Rutherford in Bergen County, Secaucus and North Bergen in Hudson County, on the north by Wood-Ridge and Moonachie (Bergen) to the east by Ridgefield and South Hackensack (Bergen), and to the northwest by Wallington (Bergen).Areas touching Carlstadt, MapIt. Accessed March 22, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 22, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019. The borough is approximately northwest of New York City and northeast of Philadelphia.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Carlstadt borough, Bergen County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)4,9704,3123,85584.00%70.38%60.50%Black or African American alone (NH)641221321.08%1.99%2.07%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)45100.07%0.08%0.16%Asian alone (NH)3664996086.19%8.14%9.54%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)1200.02%0.03%0.00%Other race alone (NH)922410.15%0.36%0.64%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)30611440.51%1.00%2.26%Hispanic or Latino (any race)4731,1041,5827.99%18.02%24.83%Total5,9176,1276,372 100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Carlstadt had a population of 6,372. The median age was 41.9 years. 18.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.1 males age 18 and over.
All residents lived in urban areas.
There were 2,429 households in Carlstadt, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.4% were married-couple households, 18.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 2,563 housing units, of which 5.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.5%.
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 6,127 people, 2,378 households, and 1,579 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,495 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 81.41% (4,988) White, 2.38% (146) Black or African American, 0.16% (10) Native American, 8.23% (504) Asian, 0.07% (4) Pacific Islander, 5.35% (328) from other races, and 2.40% (147) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.02% (1,104) of the population.
Of the 2,378 households, 27.7% had children under the age of 18; 49.4% were married couples living together; 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.6% were non-families. Of all households, 26.5% were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.18.
20.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,255 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,455) and the median family income was $71,506 (+/− $5,117). Males had a median income of $50,994 (+/− $7,494) versus $41,333 (+/− $6,468) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,403 (+/− $3,646). About 7.2% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 31, 2012.
Same-sex couples headed 14 households in 2010, an increase 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 September 27, 2014.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,917 people, 2,393 households, and 1,593 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,473 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 88.90% White, 1.37% African American, 0.08% Native American, 6.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.13% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.99% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Carlstadt borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 4, 2013., United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 4, 2013.
There were 2,393 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the borough the age distribution of the population shows 19.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $55,058, and the median income for a family was $62,040. Males had a median income of $46,540 versus $36,804 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,713. About 3.1% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over. Economy Corporate residents include: Lion Brand Yarns, America's oldest manufacturer of craft yarn.Beller, Peter C. "Bearing Gifts, Restoring the Temple Amid the Ruins Left by Katrina", The Forward, March 17, 2006. Accessed September 8, 2017. "There's even been an avalanche of blankets, sweaters, caps and gloves donated by 350,000 knitting enthusiasts who subscribe to a newsletter put out by the Lion Brand Yarn Company of Carlstadt, N.J." Pantone, corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, supplying color space to the printing industry.Horyn, Cathy. "Pantone's Color of the Year Is...", The New York Times, December 20, 2007. Accessed September 8, 2008. "Nonetheless, Pantone's choice of blue iris, or No. 18-3943, got some news media attention last week, which seemed to be partly the objective of the company, which is based in Carlstadt, N.J." Yoo-hoo, a chocolate drink manufactured by Keurig Dr Pepper."People/Business; Yoo-Hoo: A Carlstadt Success Story", The New York Times, March 2, 1975. Accessed September 8, 2017. "According to Max A. Geller, he became involved in the soft-drink industry 'largely by accident.' It happened in 1960, when he acquired control of the thenfledgling Yoo-Hoo Chocolate Beverage Corporation. Today, the Carlstadt-headquartered concern, whose principal product is a milkbased, noncarbonated chocolate drink, operates internationally."
Government
Local government
Carlstadt 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 a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A 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. 154. The borough form of government 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.