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Norwood, New Jersey

Norwood 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 5,641, a decrease of 70 (−1.2%) from the 2010 census count of 5,711,  which in turn reflected a decline of 40 (−0.7%) from the 5,751 counted in the 2000 census.

Norwood was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 14, 1905, from portions of Harrington Township.

History
The territory that became present-day Norwood was originally settled about 1686 by a dozen or more families mostly from the Dutch Republic, who purchased the land under the Tappan Patent. About that time a grant was also given by Philip Carteret, Governor of the Province of East Jersey, during the reign of King Charles II of England. The Lenape, a Native American tribe, roamed the valley.

The name Norwood emanated from the old description of its location in the "North-Woods". It was a part of Harrington Township, which was formed in 1775 from the northernmost portions of Hackensack Township and New Barbadoes Township, stretching from the Hudson River in the east to the Saddle River in the west.

In 1840, the portions of Harrington Township west of the Hackensack River were taken away to create Washington Township. At that point, Harrington Township was somewhat in the form of a square measuring about 5 mi on each side, bounded on the north by Rockland County, New York; east by the Hudson River, south by Hackensack Township and west by the Hackensack River. At that time, Norwood, Northvale (once called Neuvy), Old Tappan, Demarest, Closter, and Harrington Park were communities within Harrington Township.

On March 14, 1905, Norwood seceded from its parent Harrington Township and was incorporated as an independent borough.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.79 square miles (7.24 km2), including 2.79 square miles (7.21 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.32%).

Norwood is in the northeastern part of New Jersey, about 2 mi from the New York state line. It is bordered by the Bergen County municipalities of Alpine, Closter, Harrington Park, Northvale, Old Tappan and Rockleigh.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names within the borough include West Norwood.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 5,711 people, 1,927 households, and 1,542 families in the borough. The population density was 2093.5 /sqmi. There were 2,007 housing units at an average density of 735.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 69.25% (3,955) White, 1.37% (78) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 27.18% (1,552) Asian, 0.02% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.03% (59) from other races, and 1.16% (66) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.55% (260) of the population. Korean Americans accounted for 20.1% of the population.

Of the 1,927 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18; 67.8% were married couples living together; 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.0% were non-families. Of all households, 18.2% were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.23. Same-sex couples headed 7 households in 2010, an increase from the 6 counted in 2000.

23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 88.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $102,132 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,413) and the median family income was $107,356 (+/− $10,538). Males had a median income of $80,837 (+/− $8,419) versus $56,429 (+/− $15,763) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,755 (+/− $5,524). About 0.6% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,751 people, 1,857 households, and 1,563 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,091.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,888 housing units at an average density of 686.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 77.86% Caucasian, 18.99% Asian, 0.83% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.94% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.99% of the population.

As of the 2000 Census, 12.69% of Norwood's residents identified themselves as being of Korean ancestry, which was the eighth highest in the United States and sixth highest of any municipality in New Jersey, for all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

There were 1,857 households, out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $92,447, and the median income for a family was $100,329. Males had a median income of $70,000 versus $37,059 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,039. About 2.3% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Norwood 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. 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. The borough form of government used by Norwood 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.

, the mayor of Norwood is Republican James P. Barsa, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Annie Hausman (D, 2023), Joseph Ascolese (R, 2024), Thomas L. Brizzolara (D, 2024), Edward P. Condoleo (R, 2025), Anthony Foschino (R, 2025) and Bong June "BJ" Kim (R, 2023).

Ermin Suljic was appointed in July 2022 to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had become vacant following the resignation of John Rooney.

In November 2018, the borough council selected Anthony Foschino from a list of candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2019 that had been held by Frank Marino. In the November 2019 general election, Foschino was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

Federal, state and county representation
Norwood is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,518 registered voters in Norwood, of which 961 (27.3% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 728 (20.7% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,829 (52.0% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 61.6% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 80.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 1,415 votes (50.5% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 1,249 votes (44.6% vs. 41.6%) and other candidates with 89 votes (3.2% vs. 3.0%), among the 2,801 ballots cast by the borough's 3,824 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.2% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,296 votes (49.8% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,275 votes (49.0% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 18 votes (0.7% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,604 ballots cast by the borough's 3,683 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.7% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,458 votes (50.3% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,389 votes (47.9% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 25 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,897 ballots cast by the borough's 3,761 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.0% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,461 votes (51.9% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,317 votes (46.8% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 25 votes (0.9% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,813 ballots cast by the borough's 3,766 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.7% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.7% of the vote (966 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.7% (459 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (24 votes), among the 1,486 ballots cast by the borough's 3,510 registered voters (37 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,031 votes (52.7% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 803 votes (41.0% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 92 votes (4.7% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 11 votes (0.6% vs. 0.5%), among the 1,957 ballots cast by the borough's 3,630 registered voters, yielding a 53.9% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education
The Norwood Public School District serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Norwood Public School. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 618 students and 48.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.7:1.

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, together with students from Harrington Park, Northvale and Old Tappan, along with students from Rockleigh who attend the high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship. The school is one of the two schools of the Northern Valley Regional High School District, which also serves students from the neighboring communities of Closter, Demarest and Haworth at the Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest. During the 1994–1996 school years, Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,170 students and 97.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1. Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with one seat allocated to Norwood.

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.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 25.31 mi of roadways, of which 18.27 mi were maintained by the municipality and 7.04 mi by Bergen County.

County Route 501 runs for about 1 mi and County Route 505 for about 1.3 mi through Norwood.

Public transportation
Rockland Coaches provides service on routes 20/20T to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

Wildlife
The forests in Norwood house many deciduous species, sheltering deer, wild turkey, turtles, foxes, rabbits, and coyotes. Suburban sprawl is beginning to interfere with the wildlife. Deer and auto collisions as well as human interaction with coyotes have been an issue.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Norwood include:

 * Kenny Anderson (born 1970), basketball player who began his NBA career with the New Jersey Nets
 * Ray Barretto (1929–2006), percussionist and bandleader
 * Colleen Broomall (born 1983), actress and journalist
 * Devin Fuller (born 1994), wide receiver who played for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League
 * Jordan Fuller (born 1998), American football safety for the Los Angeles Rams
 * Bruce Harper (born 1955), former running back for the New York Jets
 * Catfish Hunter (1946–1999), pitcher who played for the Kansas City / Oakland A's and New York Yankees
 * Walter H. Jones (1912–1982), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate and was a candidate for Governor of New Jersey
 * Don Mattingly (born 1961), manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers who lived in the borough while playing for the New York Yankees
 * Bob McGrath (1932–2022), actor, singer, musician, and children's author best known for playing original human character Bob Johnson on the long-running educational television series Sesame Street.
 * Frank Messina (born c. 1968), poet and author
 * Gene Michael (1938–2017), former player, manager and executive in Major League Baseball
 * Thurman Munson (1947–1979), former baseball player who played catcher for the New York Yankees
 * Graig Nettles (born 1944), former baseball player who played third base for the New York Yankees
 * Dianna Russini (born 1983), sports journalist on ESPN
 * Julian Sanchez (born 1979), libertarian writer and journalist
 * Pamela Redmond Satran (born 1953), author
 * Abi Varghese, director and writer, best known for his Netflix released show Brown Nation

title: Norwood, New Jersey


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Oakland, New Jersey

Oakland is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey and a suburb of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 12,748, a decrease of six people from the 2010 census count of 12,754,  which in turn reflected an increase of 288 (+2.3%) from the 12,466 counted in the 2000 census.

Oakland was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1902, from portions of Franklin Township (now Wyckoff). The name comes from the white oak trees in the area.

History
The Van Allen House was built in 1748 and was a stop for George Washington and his troops in 1777.

From the 1940s through the end of the 1960s a summer bungalow colony was developed in a valley in West Oakland on the Ramapo River. This was a refuge for a close-knit group of several score families from the summer heat of New York City and urban New Jersey. During the summer months, the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad provided service at a West Oakland passenger station. This colony was located on the road between Oakland and Pompton Lakes, near a training camp for boxers. In the early morning, a resident could see Joe Louis or Sugar Ray Robinson, among others, running past the summer homes.

One section of streets in the town are named after Native American tribes and Native American first names. Now considered politically incorrect, the borough had a wooden sign posted downtown that read "Once there was [sic] Indians all over this place" which had been donated by a resident who insisted on the wording of the sign as having been a quotation from an author.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 8.77 square miles (22.71 km2), including 8.50 square miles (22.02 km2) of land and 0.27 square miles (0.69 km2) of water (3.06%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Ramapo Lake and Rotten Pond.

The borough borders Franklin Lakes and Mahwah in Bergen County; and Pompton Lakes, Ringwood, Wanaque and Wayne in Passaic County.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 12,754 people, 4,335 households, and 3,568 families in the borough. The population density was 1508.6 /sqmi. There were 4,470 housing units at an average density of 528.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 92.71% (11,824) White, 0.89% (113) Black or African American, 0.19% (24) Native American, 4.17% (532) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.49% (62) from other races, and 1.55% (198) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% (681) of the population.

Of the 4,335 households, 39.8% had children under the age of 18; 71.3% were married couples living together; 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 17.7% were non-families. Of all households, 14.3% were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.22.

26.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $111,390 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,160) and the median family income was $114,973 (+/− $7,378). Males had a median income of $82,750 (+/− $6,931) versus $59,349 (+/− $7,903) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $43,651 (+/− $3,082). About 0.7% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 21 households in 2010, an increase from the 18 counted in 2000.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 12,466 people, 4,255 households, and 3,565 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,448.9 PD/sqmi. There were 4,345 housing units at an average density of 505.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 94.76% White, 0.78% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.70% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.87% of the population.

There were 4,255 households, out of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.4% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.2% were non-families. 12.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $86,629, and the median income for a family was $93,695. Males had a median income of $62,336 versus $41,092 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,252. About 0.9% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Oakland's downtown shopping area is along Ramapo Valley Road (U.S. Route 202), with the Copper Tree Mall being the borough's largest single retail establishment.

There are a few industrial parks in Oakland, the biggest of which is off Long Hill Road near the Franklin Lakes border. The Oakland-McBride Center is the home of Royle Systems Group and of Topcon Medical Systems's United States operations.

Russ Berrie and Company, Inc., once headquartered in Oakland, was a manufacturer of teddy bears and other gift products. The company, since renamed to Kid Brands, moved to Wayne and from there to East Rutherford and is now defunct.

Parks and recreation
Recreation is run by an all-volunteer nine-member Recreation Commission. All members are appointed by the mayor for a five-year term. There are a number of municipal recreational facilities in Oakland. The largest is a recreational area located off Oak Street, known to residents simply as the "Rec Field," but formally known as the Alexander Potash Recreation Complex, which is home to nine baseball and softball fields, six tennis courts, a roller hockey rink, basketball courts, and other facilities.

New Jersey's Ramapo Mountain State Forest is located in Oakland and can be accessed from Skyline Drive just north of its interchange with I-287.

Camp Tamarack, which was a year round camp operated by the Boy Scouts of America from the late 1920s until the mid-1980s, sits abandoned off of Skyline Drive. The camp ceased all activities and was taken over by the Bergen County park system in 1998. Many of the structures in the camp have been torn down, but some remain standing. Oakland is the current location of the headquarters of the Northern New Jersey Council.

The Rec Field is home to the annual carnival and fireworks that take place during the summer.

Oakland offers a summer camp which runs for six weeks, as well as a "safety camp" for children entering kindergarten at Manito, Dogwood, or Heights.

Crystal Lake Beach Club is a private beach club open Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day weekend; purchase of a membership is required to use the site's facilities.

Holiday Bowl, located on Spruce Street, provides a facility for the high school bowling team, hosts a local league, and rents lanes by the hour.

Local government
Oakland 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. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at large on a partisan basis during 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. The borough form of government used by Oakland 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.

, the mayor of the Borough of Oakland is Republican Eric Kulmala, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Oakland Borough Council are Council President Steve Saliani (R, 2024), John J. McCann (R, 2025), Pat Pignatelli (R, 2023), Kevin F. Slasinski (R, 2025) and Russ Talamini (R, 2023), and Jodi Goffredo (R, 2024).

In February 2021, the borough council selected Kevin Slasinksi from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Robert Knapp until he resigned from office the previous month.

Emergency services
The Oakland Fire Department is an all-volunteer squad established in 1909 that came under the supervision of the borough in 1911. There are three firehouses in Oakland. The central station is located on Yawpo Avenue just off Ramapo Valley Road in downtown Oakland.

There is one police station and it is located on Ramapo Valley Road across from the intersection with Walnut Street.

Federal, state, and county representation
Oakland is located in the 9th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.

Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 census, Oakland had been in the 40th state legislative district. In redistricting following the 2010 census, the borough was in the 5th congressional district, which was in effect from 2013 to 2022.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 8,542 registered voters in Oakland, of which 1,718 (20.1% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,700 (31.6% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 4,116 (48.2% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 8 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 67.0% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 90.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 3,727 votes (53.7% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 2,872 votes (41.4% vs. 54.2%) and other candidates with 336 votes (4.8% vs. 4.6%), among the 7,013 ballots cast by the borough's 9,233 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.0% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 3,631 votes (55.4% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,845 votes (43.4% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 80 votes (1.2% vs. 0.9%), among the 6,555 ballots cast by the borough's 8,952 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.2% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 3,900 votes (54.9% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,082 votes (43.4% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 60 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 7,106 ballots cast by the borough's 8,974 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.2% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 3,938 votes (57.3% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,864 votes (41.7% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 46 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 6,867 ballots cast by the borough's 8,588 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.0% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.5% of the vote (2,746 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.3% (1,275 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (49 votes), among the 4,129 ballots cast by the borough's 8,623 registered voters (59 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,553 votes (54.3% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,776 votes (37.8% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 312 votes (6.6% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 23 votes (0.5% vs. 0.5%), among the 4,702 ballots cast by the borough's 8,782 registered voters, yielding a 53.5% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education
Public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Oakland Public Schools. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,326 students and 130.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.1:1. Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Dogwood Hill Elementary School with 241 students in grades K-5, Heights Elementary School with 357 students in grades K-5, Accessed February 14, 2024. Manito Elementary School with 256 students in grades K-5 and Valley Middle School with 440 students in grades 6-8.

Students in ninth through twelfth grades for public school attend the schools of the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District, a regional district serving students from Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff. Students entering the district as freshmen have the option to attend either of the district's high schools, subject to a choice made during eighth grade. Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Indian Hills High School, located in Oakland with 736 students and Ramapo High School, located in Franklin Lakes with 1,243 students. The district's nine-member board of education oversees the operation of the district; seats on the board are allocated based on population, with three of the nine seats allocated to Oakland. Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff (FLOW district) approved the creation of a regional high school in 1954, with Ramapo High School (in Franklin Lakes) opened in 1957 and Indian Hills High School in 1960.

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.

Private schools include Barnstable Academy, a college preparatory school for students in fifth through twelfth grades located in a business and industrial park off Long Hill Road; The New Jersey Japanese School, which serves Japanese expatriates to prepare them for the Japanese educational system when the students eventually return to Japan, located next to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church; and the Gerrard Berman Day School (Solomon Schechter of North Jersey), a Jewish day school for students in preschool through eighth grade, located on Spruce Street.

Awards
Oakland was ranked 43rd by Business Week on its list of "Great Places to Raise Kids—for Less", with only two places in New Jersey ranked higher than Oakland: Matawan (12th) and Echelon a neighborhood near Philadelphia (4th). The criteria were test scores in math and reading, number of schools, cost of living, recreational and cultural activities, and risk of crime.

In 2013, Oakland was ranked by New Jersey Monthly as #1 for Young Families: "...Oakland is woodsy and a bit remote, but its midsize homes, good schools and low crime rate make it popular with young families."

Roads and highways
, Oakland had a total of 67.62 mi of roadways, of which 54.95 mi were maintained by the borough, 9.45 mi by Bergen County and 3.22 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Major roads through Oakland include Interstate 287 (including exits 57 and 58), Route 208 and U.S. Route 202.

Public transportation
Commuter bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City is available from Coach USA via Short Line.

NJ Transit bus service is also available on a limited basis via the 752 route between Oakland and Hackensack via Ridgewood.

A freight rail line, the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway, runs through Oakland. Commuter rail service ended in 1966.

Newark Liberty International Airport provides scheduled air service.

Earlier railroad
A rail right-of-way was built by the New Jersey Midland Railway around 1870 and later served passengers on the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad (NYS&W). until service was abruptly curtailed in 1966. Plans to restore service have not materialized. The borough is a stop on the annual Toys for Tots train.

Media
WVNJ AM-1160 is licensed to Oakland. Oakland Patch provides hyperlocal content about news and events in Oakland, as part of the Patch Media network. The Franklin Lakes / Oakland Suburban News is published weekly, with additional news available online in conjunction with The Record. The Oakland Journal is an online hyper-local news source that covers local political, civic and social events. The borough also has its own Communications Commission which publishes a monthly e-newsletter and operates its own local access television channel, Oakland TV (airing on optimum Channel 77, which can be seen within the borough and also on Verizon fios Channel 45, which can be seen throughout western Bergen County) among other responsibilities.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Oakland include:

 * Jonathan Ames (born 1964), writer, artist, actor who created HBO's Bored to Death
 * Roger Nash Baldwin (1884–1981), one of the founders of the American Civil Liberties Union
 * Ali Brustofski (born 1993), singer-songwriter who was a finalist on The CW TV network's singing show, The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep
 * Cindy Callaghan (born c. 1976), author of children's books whose first book, Just Add Magic, was adapted into an Amazon television series by the same name
 * Neil Cole (1926–2016), stock car racing driver who competed in 19 NASCAR Grand National events between 1950 and 1953
 * DeAnne DeFuccio (born 1973), politician who has represented the 39th district in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2021.
 * Louis DiGiaimo (1938–2015), casting director and film producer
 * W. Cary Edwards (1943–2010), politician who served as New Jersey Attorney General from 1986 until 1989
 * Madge Evans (1909–1981), stage and film actress
 * Sidney Kingsley (1906–1995), dramatist who received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Men in White in 1934
 * Karen McCullah (born 1967), screenwriter and novelist
 * Doug McKeon (born 1966), actor, director and screenwriter who first achieved notability as a juvenile performer in the television series The Edge of Night and the films Uncle Joe Shannon and On Golden Pond
 * Peter "Produce Pete" Napolitano (born 1945), grocer known for his television news produce segments and as a spokesman for the Pathmark supermarket chain who owns Napolitano's Produce in the borough
 * Mike Teel (born 1986), football quarterback
 * Valentin Turchin (1931–2010), Soviet-American cybernetician and computer scientist
 * Lawrence Tynes (born 1978), placekicker who played for the New York Giants
 * Arthur Vervaet (1913–1999), politician who served four terms in the New Jersey General Assembly and was mayor of Oakland for two years

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Oakland, New Jersey


text:
Palisades Park, New Jersey

Palisades Park (팰리세이즈 파크) 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 20,292, an increase of 670 (+3.4%) from the 2010 census count of 19,622,  which in turn reflected an increase of 2,549 (+14.9%) from the 17,073 counted in the 2000 census.

The borough of Palisades Park was created by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township. A portion of its area was annexed by the neighboring borough of Fort Lee in April 1909. The borough was named for its location atop the New Jersey Palisades.

It is one of the largest and fastest-growing ethnic Korean enclaves outside of Korea. Koreans comprise the majority (65%) of the population of the borough of Palisades Park,  the municipality with the highest density of ethnic Koreans in the Western Hemisphere and the home of both the highest Korean-American density and percentage of any municipality in the United States. It has been called Koreatown on the Hudson and Little Korea. The borough's population has grown by 40% since the 1990 census, accelerated by zoning laws that permit duplex homes on land previously containing a single-family detached home.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.28 square miles (3.32 km2), including 1.24 square miles (3.21 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km2) of water (3.28%).

The borough borders Fort Lee, Leonia, Ridgefield and Ridgefield Park. Morsemere is a neighborhood largely in the northern part of Ridgefield straddling the southern border of Palisades Park.

The town's central business district centered around Broad Avenue has been called Koreatown    In mid-2015, a proposal was submitted by the Korean-American Association of Palisades Park to the mayor and council to add a second name to Broad Avenue, such as "Korean Market Street" (Meokjagolmok) or "Korea Way".

History
Until the 1980s, Palisades Park was overwhelmingly Caucasian, a mix of blue-collar workers and professionals whose families originated largely from Italy, Croatia, Germany, and Greece. Its houses were inexpensive, and it had a number of vacant shops and offices. In the 1990s, a continuous stream of Korean immigrants emerged into Palisades Park. A substantial number of affluent and educated Korean American professionals have settled in Bergen County since the early 2000s and have founded various academic and communally supportive organizations, including the Korean Parent Partnership Organization at the Bergen County Academies magnet high school and the Korean-American Association of New Jersey. Approximately 120 Korean stores were counted in Palisades Park in 2000, a number which has risen significantly since then, featuring restaurants and karaoke (noraebang) bars, grocery markets, education centers and bookstores, financial institutions, offices, electronics vendors, apparel boutiques, and other commercial enterprises.

In May 2012, borough officials rejected requests by two diplomatic delegations from Japan to remove a small monument from a public park, a brass plaque on a block of stone, dedicated in 2010 to the memory of comfort women, tens of thousands of women and girls, many Korean, who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese soldiers during World War II. Days later, a South Korean delegation endorsed the borough's decision. The first Japanese delegation cited apologies offered by their country's government for its involvement as justifying the removal of the monument, while officials from the second delegation controversially claimed that "comfort women were a lie". However, in neighboring Fort Lee, various Korean American groups could not reach consensus on the design and wording for such a monument as of early April 2013.

In May 2014, the Palisades Park Public Library created a memorial dedicated to the victims of the tragic sinking of the Sewol ferry off the South Korean coast on April 16, 2014.

Demographics
The per capita Korean American population of Bergen County, 6.3% by the 2010 United States Census, (increasing to 6.9% by the 2011 American Community Survey), is the highest of any county in the United States, with all of the nation's top ten municipalities by percentage of Korean population and an absolute total of 56,773 Korean Americans (increasing to 63,247 by the 2011 American Community Survey) living in the county. The concentration of Korean Americans in Palisades Park in turn is the highest of any municipality in the United States, at 52% of the population, enumerating 10,115 residents of Korean ancestry as of the 2010 Census. Palisades Park is often referred to as the Korean village. Along with Koreatowns in New York City and Long Island, Bergen County serves as the nexus for an overall Korean American population of 218,764 individuals in the Greater New York Combined Statistical Area, the second largest population of ethnic Koreans outside of Korea.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 19,622 people, 6,934 households, and 5,020 families in the borough. The population density was 15681.6 /sqmi. There were 7,362 housing units at an average density of 5883.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 28.90% (5,670) White, 1.96% (385) Black or African American, 0.31% (60) Native American, 57.84% (11,350) Asian, 0.05% (10) Pacific Islander, 9.00% (1,765) from other races, and 1.95% (382) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.22% (3,575) of the population.

Of the 6,934 households, 26.1% had children under the age of 18; 53.7% were married couples living together; 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.6% were non-families. Of all households, 19.8% were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.20.

16.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 37.9% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.3 males.

As of the 2010 Census, 51.5% of the population (10,115) reported themselves as being of Korean ancestry, with both the highest Korean-American density and percentage of any municipality in the United States. Broad Avenue has been characterized as a major epicenter of Korean American life. Based on data from the 2012-2016 American Community Survey, 80.9% of borough residents did not speak English as their dominant language, the third-highest percentage in the state; the Korean language is spoken at home by more than half of the residents of Palisades Park.

Same-sex couples headed 41 households in 2010, an increase from the 37 counted in 2000.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $55,602 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,300) and the median family income was $66,725 (+/− $8,196). Males had a median income of $43,919 (+/− $8,170) versus $46,014 (+/− $6,780) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,666 (+/− $2,900). About 12.0% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 17,073 people, 6,247 households, and 4,447 families residing in the borough. The population density was 14,112.4 PD/sqmi. There were 6,386 housing units at an average density of 5,278.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 48.27% White, 1.38% African American, 0.19% Native American, 41.09% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.80% from other races, and 3.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.48% of the population.

In 2000, 36.38% of Palisades Park residents identified as being of Korean heritage. This was the highest percentage of Korean Americans of any place in the country with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry and more than double that of second-ranked Cerritos, California. Also in the 2000 Census, 3.1% of Palisades Park's residents identified themselves as being of Croatian ancestry. This was the second highest percentage of people with Croatian ancestry in any place in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

There were 6,247 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 19.4% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 37.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $48,015, and the median income for a family was $54,503. Males had a median income of $37,204 versus $31,997 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,607. About 8.5% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Palisades 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. The government 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. The borough form of government used by Palisades 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.

In July 2015 Gina S. Kim became the borough's municipal clerk, reflecting the growing political influence of the Korean American population. Korean Americans, who compose more than half of the borough's population and have attended town meetings in large numbers, have requested Korean interpreters to be present at these meetings as of August 2016. In 2017, the borough created a Korean language version of its website.

, the mayor of Palisades Park is Democrat Chong "Paul" Kim, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. His predecessor, Christopher Chung, was the first Korean-American mayor in Bergen County, and second ever in New Jersey. Members of the Palisades Park Borough Council are Council President Cynthia A. Pirrera (D, 2023), Stephanie S. Jang (R, 2024), Son K. "Andy" Min (D, 2025), Suk Min (D, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Jae K. Park (R, 2023) and Michael P. Vietri (D, 2025).

After Chong "Paul" Kim took office as mayor in January 2023, the borough council declined to pick from one of the three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee and chose Andy Min to fill the council seat he had held expiring in December 2024, after which the Democratic committee chose Suk Min to fill the seat. With two people chosen to fill the seat, the Democratic committee and a group of three elected officials prevailed in a suit, with a judge deciding to give the vacant seat to Suk Min.

During the 2018 primary election for mayor, former mayor James Rotundo's mother Lorraine Rotundo went on a "racist tirade" on Facebook two days after the primary election. The race was extremely close with Christopher Chung winning by a narrow margin. Lorraine Rotundo made the post in response to the massive number of Koreans at the voting booths. She stated that Palisades Park should "go to hell," and said that the Korean residents could "have this F'n town." She later went on to post that only English should be spoken in the Borough Hall. Former mayor James Rotundo apologized on behalf of his mother and strongly denounced her comments. "I'm disgusted with her statement," he said. Rotundo claimed that he was not raised by these sentiments.

Christopher Chung was sworn into office as a council member in January 2014, having been selected by the council from among three names submitted by the Democratic Municipal Committee to fill the vacant seat of Jason Kim, who had resigned earlier that month.

Federal, state, and county representation
Palisades Park is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 37th state legislative district.

In redistricting following the 2010 census, the borough was in the 9th congressional district, which was in effect from 2013 to 2022.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were 6,410 registered voters, of which 1,839 (28.7% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,128 (17.6% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 3,443 (53.7% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 32.7% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 39.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,487 votes here (67.1% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,147 votes (31.0% vs. 43.5%), for a turnout of 53.5% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 50.6% of the vote (919 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 47.6% (864 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (33 votes), among the 1,878 ballots cast by the borough's 6,473 registered voters (62 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 29.0%.

Culture
Palisades Park has emerged as a dominant nexus of Korean American culture. Palisades Park High School has hosted national Kumdo martial arts tournaments.

Broad Avenue has been referred to as a "Korean food walk of fame", with diverse offerings. Palisades Park now incorporates the highest concentration of Korean restaurants within a one-mile radius in the United States, and Broad Avenue has evolved into a Korean dessert destination as well. Korean Chinese cuisine is now also available in Koreatown, as is misugaru. Bulgogi and galbi are staples on Broad Avenue in the Palisades Park. Korean cafés have become a major cultural element within Palisades Park, not only for the coffee, bingsu (shaved ice), and pastries, but also as communal gathering places.

Korean and English are both spoken prevalently in Palisades Park. Korean is spoken at home by more than half of the residents of Palisades Park and nearby Englewood Cliffs, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in 2017. Retail signs using Hangul are ubiquitous. In 1996, an ordinance was passed that storefront signage be same size in English as in Korean.

Additionally, as of 2010, more than 15 percent of Palisades Park’s residents speak Spanish.

Education
The Palisades Park Public School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,846 students and 95.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 19.3:1. Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Dr. Charles R. Smith Early Childhood Center with 196 students in grades Pre-K–K, Lindbergh Elementary School with 858 students in grades 1–6 and Palisades Park High School with 774 students in grades 7–12.

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.

According to The Record, the Korean-American Association of New Jersey petitioned Palisades Park school officials in 2013 to use textbooks that refer to the Sea of Japan as the East Sea as well.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 28.00 mi of roadways, of which 22.80 mi were maintained by the municipality, 1.01 mi by Bergen County and 4.19 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Roadways in Palisades Park include U.S. Route 1/9, U.S. Route 46, Route 5, Route 63, Route 93 and County Route 501.

The nearby George Washington Bridge, the world's busiest motor vehicle bridge, provides access to Palisades Park from Manhattan in New York City via adjacent Fort Lee.

Public transportation
NJ Transit provides bus service between the borough and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 127, 154, 155, 157, 166 and 168 routes, to Jersey City on the 83 route, with local service offered on the 751 and 755 bus lines.

Rockland Coaches provides service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal on routes 11T/11AT and 20/20T.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Palisades Park include:

 * Barbara Bennett (1906–1958), stage and film actress and dancer
 * John J. Dickerson (1900–1966), politician who served as Mayor of Palisades Park from 1939 to 1952, and was Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
 * William J. Dorgan (1921–2003), Bergen County Freeholder Director and member of the New Jersey General Assembly who served as mayor of Palisades Park from 1960 to 1967
 * Don Guardian (born 1953), politician who has represented the 2nd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2022
 * Barbara McLean (1903–1996), film editor who won the 1944 Academy Award for Film Editing for the film Wilson
 * Steven Pedulla, rhythm guitar, backing vocals for the post-hardcore band, Thursday
 * Patrick J. Roma (1949–2017), lawyer and politician who represented the 38th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1988 to 1997
 * Elaine Romagnoli (1942–2021), businesswoman and community leader who founded and ran restaurants and lesbian bars in New York City
 * V. H. Viglielmo (1926–2016), scholar and translator of Japanese literature

title: Palisades Park, New Jersey