Elmwood Park, New Jersey
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For other places with the same name, see Elmwood Park.
| Borough of Elmwood Park, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Bergen |
| Incorporated | April 18, 1916 (as East Paterson)[1] |
| Name changed | January 1, 1973 (to Elmwood Park)[2] |
| Government | |
| - Type | Borough (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Richard A. Mola (R, 2011) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 2.8 sq mi (7.1 km²) |
| - Land | 2.7 sq mi (6.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²) |
| Elevation [3] | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Population (2006)[4] | |
| - Total | 18,805 |
| - Density | 7,129.8/sq mi (2,757.4/km²) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07407 |
| Area code(s) | 201 |
| FIPS code | 34-21300[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0876060[6] |
| Website: http://www.epnj.org | |
Elmwood Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 18,925.
Prior to 1916, the area was known as Dundee Lake, a section of Saddle River Township.[2] Residents of the Dundee Lake area voted on April 18, 1916, to secede from Saddle River Township to form the Borough of East Paterson.[1] In 1917, residents of the Rosemont section of Saddle River Township voted to be annexed to East Paterson.[2] In November of 1972, residents voted to change the name of the Borough to Elmwood Park. The new name became official on January 1, 1973.[2]
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[edit] Geography
Elmwood Park is located at (40.905639, -74.119909)[7].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.1 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (6.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (3.99%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 892 |
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| 1910 | 1,396 | 56.5% | |
| 1920 | 2,441 | 74.9% | |
| 1930 | 4,779 | 95.8% | |
| 1940 | 4,937 | 3.3% | |
| 1950 | 15,386 | 211.6% | |
| 1960 | 19,344 | 25.7% | |
| 1970 | 20,511 | 6% | |
| 1980 | 18,377 | −10.4% | |
| 1990 | 17,623 | −4.1% | |
| 2000 | 18,925 | 7.4% | |
| Est. 2006 | 18,805 | [4] | −0.6% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[8][9] | |||
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 18,925 people, 7,089 households, and 5,075 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,129.8 people per square mile (2,757.4/km²). There were 7,242 housing units at an average density of 2,728.3/sq mi (1,055.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 82.53% White, 2.16% 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 13.39% of the population.
Elmwood Park is a culturally diverse community. In the mid 2000s Elmwood Park has seen a huge increase in the Polish population.[citation needed]
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.
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.
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.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Elmwood Park is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[10]
Under the Borough form of government, Council members act as the legislative body with the Mayor presiding at meetings and voting in the event of a tie. Most appointments are made by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council. The Mayor assigns Council committee and liaison duties to effectively carry on the business of government.[11]
As of 2008, the Mayor is Richard A. Mola (R, term ends December 31, 2011). Members of the Elmwood Park Borough Council are Council President Richard Trawinski (R, 2008), Frank Caramagna (D, 2008), Lawrence V. Castiglia (R, 2010), Thomas G. Conboy (R, 2010), John "Jack" McLaughlin (D, 2009) and Lorraine Pellegrine (D, 2008).[12][13][14]
In elections held on November 6, 2007, voters turned out to select a mayor and fill two seats on the borough council. Incumbent Republican Richard A. Mola (2,721 votes) was re-elected to his tenth term as mayor, defeating Democratic Councilmember Frank Caramagna (1,676), who will retain his seat on the council. Republicans Lawrence V. Castiglia (2,448) and Thomas G. Conboy (2,363) were elected to the council, defeating Democrats Sandra Balistrieri (1,820) and Angela Fava (1,726). The election sweep gives the Republicans control of the 2008 council, with the 3-3 split on the council broken by a mayoral tie vote.[15][16][17]
On Election Day, November 7, 2006, voters filled two three-year seats on the borough council, at the time both filled by Republican incumbents, with Robert Kassai running for re-election and Karen Tyburczy not running for another term in office. As of Election Day, Democrats had a 4-2 majority on the council, in a community in which registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by a 6-5 margin. Democrat John McLaughlin (2,305 votes) won a seat, returning to a council on which he had served for 15 years, and incumbent Republican Robert Kassai (2,265) was also re-elected. The two won election over Democrat Sandra Balistrieri (2,173) and former Republican Councilman Robert Colletti (2,136).[18][19][20][21] In April 2008, incumbents Michelle Steepy, Raymond Nangle, and Linda Rothenberg were defeated by newcomers Arlene Perna, Douglas A. DeMatteo, and Michael Bufis. However, the school budget failed by only roughly two dozen votes. The new school board President became Robert Iarossi.
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Elmwood Park is in the Ninth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 38th Legislative District.[22].
New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District, covering the southern portion of Bergen County and sections of Hudson County and Passaic County, is represented by Steve Rothman (D, Fair Lawn). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 38th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Robert M. Gordon (D, Fair Lawn) and in the Assembly by Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee) and Connie Wagner (D, Paramus).[23] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[24]
Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D).[25] The executive, along with the seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. As of 2008, Bergen County's Freeholders are Chairman Tomas J. Padilla (D, Park Ridge), Vice-Chairman Elizabeth Calabrese (D, Wallington), James M. Carroll (D, Demarest), David L. Ganz (D, Fair Lawn), Bernadette P. McPherson (D, Rutherford), Julie O'Brien (D, Ramsey) and Vernon Walton (D, Englewood).[26]
Other countywide elected officials are Sheriff Leo McGuire (D), Surrogate Court Judge Mike Dressler (D, Cresskill) County Clerk Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford).[27]
[edit] Politics
As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 19,005 in Elmwood Park, there were 10,359 registered voters (54.5% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,792 (17.3% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,523 (14.7% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 7,040 (68.0% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were four voters registered to other parties.[28]
On the national level, Elmwood Park leans toward the Democratic Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 54% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 45%.[29]
[edit] Education
The Elmwood Park Public Schools serve students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[30] are three K-5 elementary schools — Gantner Avenue School with 308 students, Gilbert Avenue School with 307 students and Sixteenth Avenue School with 327 students — Memorial Middle School with 515 students in grades 6-8 and Elmwood Park Memorial High School with 674 students in grades 9-12. Each of the schools went through construction, which was finished in 2007.
Despite boasting several State Championship football teams in the early 1970s, the Elmwood Park High School Crusaders' football team is now notorious for having one of the worst records in the entire state of New Jersey. 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, snapping the four-year-long losing streak.[31]
[edit] Transportation
Elmwood Park is served by New Jersey Transit buses 160, 161, 702, 712, 758 and 770.[32] New Jersey Transit's Bergen County Line also travels through (but does not stop at) Elmwood Park.
Route 4, Interstate 80, U.S. Route 46, and the Garden State Parkway serve Elmwood Park.
[edit] 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 were recovered that included tapes and books by the police, soon to be forwarded to the FBI.[33]
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Elmwood Park include:
- Michael Cade (1972-), actor, who appeared in California Dreams.[citation needed]
- Cornelius A. Cadmus (1844-1902), represented New Jersey's 5th congressional district from 1891-1895.[34]
- Dick Vitale, basketball coach and broadcaster.[35]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 77.
- ^ a b c d Brief History of Elmwood Park, accessed June 23, 2006.
- ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Elmwood Park, Geographic Names Information System, accessed July 8, 2007.
- ^ a b Census data for Elmwood Park, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 11, 2007.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Historical Population Trends in Bergen County (1900 - 2000), Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed December 23, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 160.
- ^ Borough Government, Borough of Elmwood Park. Accessed June 23, 2006.
- ^ Elmwood Park Mayor & Council, Borough of Elmwood Park. Accessed May 24, 2008.
- ^ "County of Bergen: 2007 County and Municipal Directory", Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 40.
- ^ Fabiano, Giovanna. "Elmwood Park fills council vacancy", The Record (Bergen County), November 6, 2007. Accessed December 17, 2007.
- ^ "Elmwood Park municipal elections", The Record (Bergen County), November 3, 2007. Accessed December 17, 2007.
- ^ "Elmwood Park election results", The Record (Bergen County), November 6, 2007. Accessed December 17, 2007.
- ^ Bergen County election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 7, 2007. Accessed November 10, 2007.
- ^ Elmwood Park Election Guide, The Record (Bergen County), November 1, 2006.
- ^ Elmwood Park Election Results, The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2006.
- ^ Lost council seat adds to GOP's woes, The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2006.
- ^ Bergen County 2006 General Election Results, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 57. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ Bergen County Executive, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
- ^ Freeholder Home Page, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
- ^ Constitutional Officers, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
- ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," Bergen County, New Jersey, dated April 1, 2006.
- ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004.
- ^ Data for the Elmwood Park Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 24, 2008.
- ^ Go crazy, EP! Losing streak kaput, The Record (Bergen County), October 1, 2006.
- ^ New Jersey Transit Bus Schedules, New Jersey Transit. Accessed August 30, 2007.
- ^ Brubaker, Paul. "Meeting hall owner changes the locks", Herald News, September 28, 2007. Accessed October 1, 2007.
- ^ Cornelius A. Cadmus, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed October 9, 2007.
- ^ Dick Vitale bio, ESPN.com, dated November 2004.
[edit] External links
- Elmwood Park Borough website
- Elmwood Park Public Schools
- Elmwood Park Public Schools's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Elmwood Park Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- Elmwood Park, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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