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.[22] The main impetus behind the change in name was to avoid confusion with the nearby community of Midland Park.[23] The township was named for the port city of La Rochelle, France.[24][25]
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%).[1][2]
Rochelle Park township, Bergen County, New Jersey – Racial and Ethnic Composition (NH = Non-Hispanic) Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
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.[19]
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.[19]
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.[39]
Same-sex couples headed 14 households in 2010, an increase from the 12 counted in 2000.[40]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 5,528 people, 2,061 households, and 1,393 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,287.7 inhabitants per square mile (2,041.6/km2). There were 2,111 housing units at an average density of 2,019.2 per square mile (779.6/km2). 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.[35][36]
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.[35][36]
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.[35][36]
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.[35][36]
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.[42] 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.[7][43] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.[3]
As of 2023[update], the members of the Rochelle Park Township Committee are Acting Mayor Jen Appice (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Perrin Mosca (R, 2023), Gail Artola (R, 2025), Vincent Bessetti (R, 2024) and Linda Boniface (D, 2023).[3][44][45][46][47][48]
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.[49]
Federal, state, and county representation
Rochelle Park is located in the 9th Congressional District[50] and is part of New Jersey's 38th state legislative district.[51][52][53]
Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at-large to three-year terms in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each November; a Chairman and Vice Chairman are selected from among its seven members at a reorganization meeting held every January. As of 2024[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[62]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,376 registered voters in Rochelle Park Township, of which 895 (26.5% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 693 (20.5% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,784 (52.8% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[84] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 61.0% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 74.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[84][85]
In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 1,426 votes (50.8% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 1,291 votes (46.0% vs. 54.2%) and other candidates with 91 votes (3.2% vs. 4.6%), among the 2,852 ballots cast by the township's 3,842 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County).[86] In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,289 votes (50.0% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,238 votes (48.1% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 27 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,576 ballots cast by the township's 3,518 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.2% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[87][88] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,398 votes (50.8% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,304 votes (47.4% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 20 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,752 ballots cast by the township's 3,637 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.7% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[89][90] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,405 votes (52.6% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,226 votes (45.9% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 27 votes (1.0% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,669 ballots cast by the township's 3,647 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.2% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[91]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.7% of the vote (1,027 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.1% (566 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (20 votes), among the 1,675 ballots cast by the township's 3,460 registered voters (62 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.4%.[92][93] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 904 votes (52.8% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 704 votes (41.1% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 73 votes (4.3% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 14 votes (0.8% vs. 0.5%), among the 1,713 ballots cast by the township's 3,476 registered voters, yielding a 49.3% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[94]
Public school students from the township, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Paramus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.[102][103]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 18.16 miles (29.23 km) of roadways, of which 13.34 miles (21.47 km) were maintained by the municipality, 3.14 miles (5.05 km) by Bergen County, 1.05 miles (1.69 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.63 miles (1.01 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[104]
Route 17 and the Garden State Parkway travel through Rochelle Park.[105] The Garden State Parkway crosses the northwest corner of the township, extending from Saddle Brook Township in the south for 0.6 miles (0.97 km) to Paramus.[106] Route 17 extends for 1.0 mile (1.6 km) along the township's eastern border from Maywood to Paramus.[107]
The Captain William Tyson House, which was constructed by a wealthy 19th century ship owner from New York City, is a historic home constructed in the mid-1860s and stands as one of the few remaining uses of the late-19th century Italianate architectural style in Bergen County. One of Rochelle Park's oldest remaining structures, it was acquired by the township in 2015 for $600,000. Groups of residents have opposed the municipal expenditure of funds towards the acquisition and restoration of the 150-year-old building.[111][112][113] The State Historic Preservation Office issued an opinion in 2002 indicating that the structure would be eligible for inclusion on the New Jersey register and the National Register of Historic Places; a Certification of Eligibility for the property was issued in 2015 that represents the next step towards inclusion on the state and national registers.[114]
The Rochelle Park Area of Saddle River County Park offers a biking/jogging path, pavilion, tennis courts, basketball court, playground and softball field. The Rochelle Park area of the park can be accessed at Rail Road Avenue, Lotz Lane, and Howard Avenue.[115]
The Rochelle Park Swim Club is a private club for members and their guests. The club is located on Lotz Lane.[116]
Mychal Judge (1933–2001), Franciscan friar and Catholic priest at Sacred Heart in Rochelle Park who served as a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department in which capacity he was killed, becoming the first certified fatality of the September 11 terrorist attacks[118]
Andrew Kohut (1942–2015), pollster and nonpartisan news commentator about public affairs topics[119]
^ abcTownship 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."
^ abOfficially 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."
^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."
^Salant, Jonathan D. "Big change, N.J.! 1.4M shifting to another congressional district. Use our tracker before voting.", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 31, 2022. Accessed December 8, 2022. "But now more than 1.4 million residents are moving due to new district lines drawn by New Jersey's independent redistricting commission to reflect population shifts under the 2020 census.... Redistricting will shift 106 municipalities — nearly one in five — into new congressional districts.... Moving from the 5th District, currently represented by Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, to the 9th District, represented by Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. - Franklin Lakes, Lodi, Oakland, Rochelle Park"
^Biography, Congressman Bill Pascrell. Accessed January 3, 2019. "A native son of Paterson, N.J., Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. has built a life of public service upon the principles he learned while growing up on the south side of the Silk City."
^Cattafi, Kristie. "Democrats pick Bergenfield councilman to fill vacancy on Bergen County commissioners board", The Record, March 13, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. "A Democratic councilman from Bergenfield will be sworn in as a Bergen County commissioner Wednesday night, filling a vacancy on the governing body for almost 1 million residents. Rafael Marte will serve until Dec. 31, taking on the unexpired term left by former Commissioner Ramon Hache, a Democrat who resigned last week to lead the Ridgewood YMCA as its chief executive officer."
^Rochelle Park Board of Education Bylaws 0110 - Identification, Rochelle Park School District. Accessed October 15, 2023. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Rochelle Park School District. Composition; The Rochelle Park School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Rochelle Park."
^Alvarado, Monsy. "Rochelle Park considers Hackensack tuition plan"Archived February 2, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The Record, June 22, 2011. Accessed January 21, 2017. "Rochelle Park sends about 120 students to Hackensack High School, and that number is expected to increase next year, Oberkehr said.... Hackensack, which also serves high school students from South Hackensack and Maywood, reached tuition agreements with South Hackensack earlier this year."
^Anzidei, Melanie. "Special Rochelle Park meeting about Tyson House happening Thursday", The Record, August 10, 2017. Accessed October 19, 2017. "The long-anticipated special meeting to discuss the Captain William Tyson House, which has pit neighbor against neighbor since the town bought the 150-year-old home two years ago, will take place Thursday at 7:30 p.m.... The Tyson House, believed to be the oldest standing structure in Rochelle Park, has been a polarizing topic in Rochelle Park.... Rochelle Park bought the Captain William Tyson House for approximately $600,000 from its previous owners. Experts estimate that the Italianate-style home was built between 1863 and 1864 for a New York City sea captain, and it is believed to be one of the few remaining structures of its kind in Bergen County."
^Home Page, Rochelle Park Swim Club. Accessed June 15, 2017.
^Bouton, Jim. "Bronx Tales; Pinstripe Empire and Damn Yankees", The New York Times, June 1, 2012. Accessed November 4, 2017. "Growing up in the blue-collar town of Rochelle Park, N.J., you rooted for either the Brooklyn Dodgers or the New York Giants. I was a Giants fan, and I loved going to the Polo Grounds. Nobody rooted for the Yankees in Rochelle Park."
^"No Greater Love: Chaplain Mychal Judge, O.F.M.", American Catholic. Accessed September 24, 2015. "Before his West Milford assignment, he also had served at Sacred Heart in Rochelle Park, New Jersey."
^Bernstein, Adam. "Andrew Kohut, connoisseur of public opinion, dies at 73", The Washington Post, September 8, 2015. Accessed September 24, 2015. "The son of a glass blower, Andrew Kohut was born in Newark on Sept. 2, 1942, and grew up in Rochelle Park, N.J. He graduated in 1964 from Seton Hall University and did graduate work in sociology at Rutgers University, both in New Jersey."
^Closson, Troy. "A Crossroads for N.Y.C. Pride", The New York Times,June 1, 2021. Accessed January 10, 2023. "Mr. Sidibe, who lives in Rochelle Park, N.J., is one of about 300 people who have crossed the nation on foot from coast to coast, according to a website that tracks the treks."
Sources
Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties) prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.
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