Prior to 1916, the area was known as Dundee Lake, a section of Saddle River Township.[4] Residents of the Dundee Lake area voted on April 18, 1916, to secede from Saddle River Township to form the Borough of East Paterson.[3] In 1917, residents of the Rosemont section of Saddle River Township voted to be annexed to East Paterson.[4] In November 1972, residents voted to change the name of the borough to Elmwood Park. The new name became official on January 1, 1973.[4]
Elmwood Park, being located in Bergen County, has strict blue laws, which require most businesses to be closed on Sunday.[26]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.73 square miles (7.06 km2), including 2.64 square miles (6.85 km2) of land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2) of water (3.00%).[1][2]
The borough borders Paterson and Clifton in Passaic County across the Passaic River to the West; Fair Lawn to the North and East; Saddle Brook to the East; and Garfield to the South (the latter three municipalities in Bergen County). A trip clockwise along the border from the Northwest corner runs from the middle of the Passaic River ENE along Willow Street, SSE along Cyril Avenue, ENE along New Jersey Route 4 (Broadway), SSE along the Bergen County Line, WSW along the extension of Rosario Court from Saddle Brook, continuing WSW along Dye Ave. and between Garwood Court North and Kipp Avenue, and N along the middle of the Passaic River.[27][28][29]
The 2010 United States census counted 19,403 people, 7,032 households, and 5,140 families in the borough. The population density was 7,327.9 per square mile (2,829.3/km2). There were 7,385 housing units at an average density of 2,789.1 per square mile (1,076.9/km2). The racial makeup was 75.37% (14,624) White, 5.25% (1,019) Black or African American, 0.33% (65) Native American, 10.72% (2,080) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander, 5.47% (1,062) from other races, and 2.83% (549) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.22% (4,117) of the population.[23]
Of the 7,032 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18; 53.8% were married couples living together; 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.9% were non-families. Of all households, 22.3% 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 2.76 and the average family size was 3.25.[23]
20.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.9 males.[23]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,719 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,506) and the median family income was $75,587 (+/− $4,326). Males had a median income of $50,943 (+/− $1,704) versus $41,654 (+/− $3,193) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,959 (+/− $2,217). About 3.7% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.[37]
Same-sex couples headed 49 households in 2010, an increase from the 33 counted in 2000.[38]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[19] there were 18,925 people, 7,089 households, and 5,075 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,129.8 inhabitants per square mile (2,752.8/km2). There were 7,242 housing units at an average density of 2,728.3 per square mile (1,053.4/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 78.53% White, 4.16% African American, 0.11% Native American, 7.80% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.44% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.39% of the population.[35][36]
There were 7,089 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.17.[35][36]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.[35][36]
The median income for a household in the borough was $52,319, and the median income for a family was $59,131. Males had a median income of $40,684 versus $39,535 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,588. About 4.7% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.[35][36]
Elmwood 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.[40] 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.[9] 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.[41][42]
As of 2024[update], the mayor of Elmwood Park is Republican Robert Colletti, whose term of office expires December 31, 2027.[5] Members of the borough council are Council President Theresa Sheridan (R, 2024), Tanisha Dennis (D, 2024), Francesco Fasolo (D, 2025), Daniel Golabek (D, 2025), Lorraine Pellegrine (R, 2026) and Pamela Troisi (R, 2026).[43][44][45][46][47][48]
After being denied support by the Democratic Party in her re-election bid, Lorraine Pellegrine announced in March 2023 that she would switch parties and run as a Republican in the November general election.[49]
Republican Richard A. Mola served continuously as mayor for nearly 45 years, from 1972 (a year before the borough's name was changed from East Paterson) until his death in 2016.[50] He was replaced by Robert Colletti on an interim basis.[51] In May 2019, Daniel Golabek was selected from three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to take the mayoral seat after Frank Caramanga resigned in the wake of accusations that he had completed voter ballots.[52] In June 2019, Francesco Fasolo was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that became vacant when Daniel Golabek took office as mayor in April.[53]
Federal, state and county representation
Elmwood Park is located in the 9th Congressional District[54] and is part of New Jersey's 35th state legislative district.[55]
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.[61]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 10,470 registered voters in Elmwood Park, of which 3,256 (31.1% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,898 (18.1% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 5,312 (50.7% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[83] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 54.0% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 68.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[83][84]
In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 4,559 votes (53.3% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 3,737 votes (43.7% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 261 votes (3.1% vs. 4.6%), among the 8,690 ballots cast by the borough's 12,582 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.1% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County).[85] In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,506 votes (60.6% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2,790 votes (37.5% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 59 votes (0.8% vs. 0.9%), among the 7,434 ballots cast by the borough's 11,262 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.0% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[86][87] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,462 votes (55.0% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 3,459 votes (42.7% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 93 votes (1.1% vs. 0.8%), among the 8,109 ballots cast by the borough's 11,201 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.4% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[88][89] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 4,246 votes (54.3% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 3,474 votes (44.4% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 56 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 7,819 ballots cast by the borough's 10,922 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.6% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[90]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 58.8% of the vote (2,498 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 39.9% (1,695 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (57 votes), among the 4,383 ballots cast by the borough's 10,906 registered voters (133 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.2%.[91][92] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 2,297 ballots cast (48.4% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 2,099 votes (44.2% vs. 45.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 264 votes (5.6% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 27 votes (0.6% vs. 0.5%), among the 4,750 ballots cast by the borough's 10,758 registered voters, yielding a 44.2% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[93]
Despite boasting several state championship football teams in the early 1970s, the Elmwood Park High School Crusaders football team went into a lengthy period of decline. The Crusader football team had a 41-game losing streak in effect from 2002 until September 30, 2006, when they defeated the Manchester Regional High School Falcons, 33–14, ending the four-year-long losing streak.[104]
Public school students from the borough, 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.[105][106]
Emergency services
Elmwood Park has a fire department with four fire stations. Station 1 (E1-R1) on Grove Street. Station 2 (E2-R2-Marine 1 and 2) on Parkview Avenue. Station 3 (E3-Squad 3) on Martha Avenue. And Station 4 (T4) at the intersection of Boulevard and Veterans Place.[107]
Established in the 1960s, Elmwood Park had a volunteer ambulance corps on Falmouth Avenue, which was disbanded in 2019 due to declining numbers of volunteers. Elmwood Park is now served by a paid EMS service.[108]
Elmwood Park has a police department located on Market Street.[109]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 52.86 miles (85.07 km) of roadways, of which 41.87 miles (67.38 km) were maintained by the municipality, 5.95 miles (9.58 km) by Bergen County and 3.40 miles (5.47 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 1.64 miles (2.64 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[110]
Artesian Fields County Park- a Bergen County-owned park located on Boulevard and Gilbert Street. The park consists of athletic fields, a walking path, a lake beach, a small zoo, and a playground.
Parkway Lanes is a bowling alley located at the intersection of the Garden State Parkway and Route 46 that has been in operation since June 1959.[115]
The Marcal Paper Company Plant was a landmark until its destruction by fire in January 2019.[116] Its parent company, Soundview Paper Company, continues to make Marcal paper products. In January 2020, one year and one day following the devastating fire that destroyed the Mill, Marcal Paper officially restarted paper manufacturing.[117]
Controversy
White supremacist groups had been meeting at a local branch of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics since the 1990s. David Duke stopped there during his 1988 presidential campaign. On September 25, 2007, the locks were changed, reported the secretary treasurer of the JOUAM. At this time, he states, "As soon as we found out, we took action," referring to the revelation that some members of the Junior Order chapter were white power activists. Numerous boxes containing tapes and books were recovered by the police, which were sent to the FBI.[118]
Cora-Ann Mihalik (born c. 1954), former television news anchor and reporter who was best known as co-anchor and news reporter for Fox WNYW and My 9 WWOR from 1987 to 2011[126][127]
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.
^ abcdeMola, Geraldine. A Brief History of Elmwood Park, Borough of Elmwood Park. Accessed September 14, 2017. "After its passage, Dundee Lake residents voted on April 18, 1916, to secede from Saddle River Township. The new town was quickly incorporated as the Borough of East Paterson, and by June, citizens had elected its first public officials. One year later, residents from the Rosemont section of Saddle River Township voted to be annexed to East Paterson, extending the new Borough's borders.... The 1940s introduced many changes as large tracts of land were purchased for development. Early in the decade the Cherry Hill section was bought by the government to build much needed housing for workers in nearby defense factories, including Wright's local aeronautical plant."
^Verdon, Joan. "Foes of Bergen County blue laws gear up again", The Record, February 3, 2013, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 15, 2016. Accessed September 14, 2017. "Bergen County's blue laws — the rules that keep most of the county's stores closed on Sundays — are being scrutinized for signs of weakness by groups that believe the time is right to repeal them.... Bergen County is the last county in the state to retain blue laws, which prohibit sales of certain goods on Sundays, and keep all of the county's department stores and malls closed, with the exception of mall restaurants and movie theaters."
^Sobko, Katie. "New Elmwood Park mayor sworn in; Republican primary heats up", The Record, May 16, 2019. Accessed September 29, 2019. "Caramagna was arrested and resigned last month after allegedly filling in ballots of other registered voters between March 2017 and November 2018. Meanwhile, the council swore in acting Mayor Daniel Golabek into the role of mayor. Council members voted on the three Democratic nominees submitted by the Elmwood Park Democratic County Committee: Councilwoman Sandra Balistrieri, Golabek and Councilwoman Lorraine Pellegrine. Eleven committee members, including Caramagna, signed off on the nominees."
^Sobko, Katie. "Elmwood Park council full for the first time since April as Francesco Fasolo sworn in", The Record, June 13, 2019. Accessed September 29, 2019. "Francesco Fasolo was appointed to fill the borough's vacant council seat during Thursday night's special meeting. Fasolo was appointed unanimously to replace Councilman Daniel Golabek, who was appointed to replace Mayor Frank Caramagna in April."
^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."
^Elmwood Park Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Elmwood Park Public Schools. Accessed December 1, 2022. "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 twelve in the Elmwood Park School District. Composition: The Elmwood Park School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Elmwood Park."
^Conley, Jen. "Giants Name Elmwood Park's Luciani Coach Of The Week"[permanent dead link], New York Giants, October 3, 2006. Accessed April 12, 2011. "Elmwood Park Memorial High School football, notorious in Northern New Jersey for its 41 game losing streak, finally snapped that record by defeating Manchester Regional High School 33-14 and winning its first game since 2002."
^Noda, Stephanie. "Elmwood Park disbands volunteer ambulance service after response times rise", The Record, December 7, 2019. Accessed April 24, 2021. "After 55 years serving the borough, the Elmwood Park Volunteer Ambulance Corps has shut down due to lack of membership. The borough decided to disband the group at the beginning of December and move toward having a paid emergency medical service by applying for a basic life support license, said Borough Administrator Michael Foligno."
^Home Page, Elmwood Park Police Department. Accessed October 8, 2018.
^"Marcal Paper Resumes Operations After Devastating Fire Destroyed Plant", WCBS-TV, January 31, 2020. Accessed January 30, 2021. "year after a devastating fire, an iconic New Jersey factory says it is back in business. Marcal paper factory is making a comeback Friday. 'Marcal paper is official back in business,' said Marcal Paper CEO Robert Baron, announcing the official restart of paper manufacturing."
^Brubaker, Paul. "Meeting hall owner changes the locks", Herald News, September 28, 2007, backed up by the Internet Archive as of October 24, 2007. Accessed September 14, 2017. "Elmwood Park -- For years, the community tolerated white supremacists promulgating intolerance under the First Amendment's protection at a tiny meeting hall off of Interstate 80."
^Zeichner, Naomi. "Interview: ASAP Rocky", The Fader, September 8, 2011. Accessed January 2, 2012. "Last year, ASAP Rocky left Manhattan and moved to Elmwood Park, New Jersey with his mom and little sister."
^Romano, Jay. "On the Road With Cary Edwards", The New York Times, April 25, 1993. Accessed December 5, 2013. "W. Cary Edwards, 48, was born in Ridgewood and grew up in Bergen County. When he was 11 years old, his parents separated, and he moved with his mother, Virginia, and a brother and a sister to East Paterson."
^Tartaglia, Greg. "Boston College football commit Christian Mahogany headlines Paramus Catholic signees", The Record, February 6, 2019. Accessed May 3, 2023. "Christian Mahogany heard about Boston College's reputation for fielding strong offensive lines and decided he wanted to be a part of one.... Mahogany, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound Elmwood Park resident, was listed as the No. 3 guard in New Jersey by 247Sports, and according to bceagles.com, the ACC school also signed the No. 2 guard in the state, Blerim Rustemi of DePaul."
^Longo, Rosalie. "Newswoman, Businessmen Honored by University", Herald News, September 7, 2001. Accessed March 6, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "For years, she has been applauding others for achievements. This summer, Cora-Ann Mihalik was on the receiving end.... Cited many times for her work in communications, the Elmwood Park native received an Excellence in Journalism Award from the Cleveland Press Club for public service and was nominated for an Emmy for political reporting at WLS-TV in Chicago."
^Kubasik, Ben. "TV Spots; Mihalik's Advice to Graduates", Newsday, June 23, 1989. Accessed March 6, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "WNYW/5 anchor Cora Ann Mihalik, class of '72, Elmwood Park (NJ) High School, returns to offer pointers to tonight's graduates."
^Staff. "Liv Morgan is livin' the dream in NXT ", WWE. Accessed April 22, 2017. "Liv's love of WWE consumed her so much that she and her four older brothers built a makeshift ring in the backyard of their Elmwood Park, N.J., home."
^Levin, Jay. "Soldier depicted in Band of Brothers dies at 92", Stars and Stripes, April 26, 2012. Accessed February 8, 2020. "John McGrath, a reluctant World War II hero whose derring-do became well known after his depiction in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, died on Tuesday. He was 92. For decades, McGrath’s local claim to fame was his service to the Elmwood Park Fire Department in New Jersey, which he joined in 1952."
^Iannazzone, Al. "Vitale continues fight against cancer for old lost pal Valvano", The Record, September 25, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 19, 2016. Accessed September 14, 2017. "Dick Vitale stood behind Jim Valvano during his moving, unforgettable speech more than 18 years ago and continues standing by a promise he made his dear friend.... Vitale has made it his life's mission.Using his greatest gifts – his voice and his passion – the Elmwood Park native has been a driving force in The V Foundation raising more than $100 million for cancer research."
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