Carlstadt, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.243 square miles (10.989 km²), including 3.999 square miles (10.358 km²) of land and 0.244 square miles (0.632 km²) of water (5.75%).

Carlstadt is bordered on the south by East Rutherford in Bergen County, Secaucus and North Bergen in Hudson County, on the north by Wood-Ridge and Moonachie (Bergen) to the east by Ridgefield and South Hackensack (Bergen), and to the northwest by Wallington (Bergen). It is approximately 8 miles (13 km) northwest of New York City and 95 miles (153 km) northeast of Philadelphia.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 6,127 people, 2,378 households, and 1,579 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,532.1 per square mile (591.5/km²). The borough contained 2,495 housing units at an average density of 623.9 per square mile (240.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 81.41% (4,988) White, 2.38% (146) Black or African American, 0.16% (10) Native American, 8.23% (504) Asian, 0.07% (4) Pacific Islander, 5.35% (328) from other races, and 2.40% (147) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 18.02% (1,104) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,378 households, 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the borough, 20.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females the census counted 95.1 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 92.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,255 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,455) and the median family income was $71,506 (+/- $5,117). Males had a median income of $50,994 (+/- $7,494) versus $41,333 (+/- $6,468) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,403 (+/- $3,646). About 7.2% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 14 households in 2010, an increase from the 11 counted in 2000.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,917 people, 2,393 households, and 1,593 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,496.4 people per square mile (578.4/km²). There were 2,473 housing units at an average density of 625.4 per square mile (241.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 88.90% White, 1.37% African American, 0.08% Native American, 6.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.13% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.99% of the population.

There were 2,393 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the borough the age distribution of the population shows 19.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $55,058, and the median income for a family was $62,040. Males had a median income of $46,540 versus $36,804 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,713. About 3.1% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Corporate residents include:

Local government

Carlstadt is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, 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 consists of 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 Maywood, the most common system used in the state, 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.

As of 2016, the mayor of Carlstadt is Republican Craig J. Lahullier, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Borough Council are Council President David Stoltz (R, 2016), Richard E. Bartlett (R, 2016), Joe Emerson (R, 2017), James Lenoy (R, 2017), William D. "Bill" Shockley (R, 2018) and Robert J. "Bob" Zimmermann (R, 2018).

In January 2014, Joseph Emerson was appointed from among three nominees offered to fill the vacant seat of Dennis Ritchie that was scheduled to expire in December 2014.

Federal, state and county representation

Carlstadt is located in the 9th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district.

New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District is represented by Bill Pascrell (D, Paterson). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 36th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Paul Sarlo (D, Wood-Ridge) and in the General Assembly by Marlene Caride (D, Ridgefield) and Gary Schaer (D, Passaic). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of 2015, the County Executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus; term ends December 31, 2018). The seven freeholders are elected at-large in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year, with a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Chairman Pro Tempore selected from among its members at a reorganization meeting held each January. Bergen County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chairwoman Joan Voss (D, 2017; Fort Lee), Vice Chairman Steve Tanelli (D, 2015; North Arlington) Chairman Pro Tempore John A. Felice (R, 2016; River Edge), David L. Ganz (D, 2017; Fair Lawn), Maura R. DeNicola (R, 2016; Franklin Lakes) Thomas J. Sullivan Jr., (D, Montvale, 2015; serving the unexpired term of office that had been occupied by James Tedesco before he was sworn in as County Executive) and Tracy Silna Zur (D, 2015; Franklin Lakes). Countywide constitutional officials are County Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale), Sheriff Michael Saudino (R) and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,420 registered voters in Carlstadt, of which 897 (26.2% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 734 (21.5% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,788 (52.3% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 55.8% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 70.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 1,462 votes (50.0% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 1,289 votes (44.1% vs. 54.2% countywide) and other candidates with 106 votes (3.6% vs. 3.0% countywide), among the 2,924 votes cast by the borough's 3,860 registered voters for a turnout of 75.7% (vs. 73% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,416 votes (53.5% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,165 votes (44.0% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 34 votes (1.3% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,646 ballots cast by the borough's 3,663 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.2% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,481 votes (51.9% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,316 votes (46.1% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 34 votes (1.2% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,854 ballots cast by the borough's 3,707 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.0% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,414 votes (49.7% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,377 votes (48.4% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 33 votes (1.2% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,845 ballots cast by the borough's 3,696 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.0% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.5% of the vote (997 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 38.1% (628 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (23 votes), among the 1,694 ballots cast by the borough's 3,520 registered voters (46 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.1%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 942 votes (50.2% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 773 votes (41.2% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 115 votes (6.1% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 15 votes (0.8% vs. 0.5%), among the 1,878 ballots cast by the borough's 3,551 registered voters, yielding a 52.9% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

Public school students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade are served by the Carlstadt Public Schools. As of the 2013-14 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 594 students and 44.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1. With the opening of the new Carlstadt Public School, which now serves all of Carlstadt's K-8 students, the Lincoln and Washington school sites have been turned over to the borough and plans have been developed to convert the sites for senior housing.

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend the Henry P. Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford, which serves high school students from both Carlstadt and East Rutherford as part of the Carlstadt-East Rutherford Regional School District.

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.

Police

The Carlstadt Police Department is headed by Police Chief Thomas Nielsen. The department's first chief, Charles Schmidt, was appointed in 1907.

Fire

The Carlstadt Fire Department (CFD) is an all-volunteer fire department. The CFD was organized in March 1872 and consists of one Chief, one assistant chief, one deputy chief and one battalion chief. The department is staffed by 80 fully trained firefighters. The CFD utilizes three Engines, a Ladder truck, a Heavy Rescue and a boat. The Chief of the Department for 2015 is Thomas Sabia, the Assistant Chief is Tony D'Amico, Deputy Chief is Stephen Capuano, and the Battalion Chief is Brian Cervasio.

Ambulance

Emergency medical services are provided in the borough by the Carlstadt Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CVAC), established on January 1, 1974. The charitable organization has roughly 25 volunteer members on the roster (Emergency Medical Technicians and First Aiders). CVAC is led by a corps voted Captain and Lieutenant, and are managed by a Board of Officers composed solely of corps members. CVAC is part of NJ's First Aid Council, District 24. CVAC is based out of a borough-owned building at 424 Hackensack Street. They currently operate two Ford ambulances and a 2000 Ford Expedition utility vehicle, also owned by the Borough. CVAC responds to approximately 1500 emergency calls per year.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 27.82 miles (44.77 km) of roadways, of which 21.48 miles (34.57 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.85 miles (4.59 km) by Bergen County and 1.36 miles (2.19 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 2.13 miles (3.43 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

Route 120, County Route 503, and the western spur of the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) serve Carlstadt. No interchange from the turnpike directly serves Carlstadt, but there is an entry and exit point for the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The 18W high-speed tollgate is located in the borough, but the nearest turnpike interchange is in East Rutherford.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is available to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 161, 163 and 164 routes; to Newark on the 76; and to other New Jersey communities served on the 703 and 772 routes.

Carlstadt once had a rail station on the Hackensack and New York Railroad (later reformed as the New Jersey and New York Railroad), which closed in 1967, and was located on tracks that are used by NJ Transit's Pascack Valley Line.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Carlstadt include: