Maywood, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.287 square miles (3.335 km²), including 1.286 square miles (3.332 km²) of land and 0.001 square miles (0.004 km²) of water (0.11%).

The borough borders the Bergen County municipalities of Hackensack, Lodi, Paramus and Rochelle Park.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 9,555 people, 3,649 households, and 2,591 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,428.0 per square mile (2,868.0/km²). The borough contained 3,769 housing units at an average density of 2,930.0 per square mile (1,131.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 74.78% (7,145) White, 5.34% (510) Black or African American, 0.18% (17) Native American, 10.98% (1,049) Asian, 0.02% (2) Pacific Islander, 6.16% (589) from other races, and 2.54% (243) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 18.68% (1,785) of the population.

Out of a total of 3,649 households, 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the borough, 21.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females the census counted 90.4 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 87.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $82,792 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,759) and the median family income was $97,776 (+/- $5,312). Males had a median income of $62,450 (+/- $4,738) versus $54,471 (+/- $7,2865) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,461 (+/- $2,475). About 3.4% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 32 households in 2010, an increase from the 24 counted in 2000.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 9,523 people, 3,710 households, and 2,626 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,326.2 people per square mile (2,828.3/km²). There were 3,777 housing units at an average density of 2,905.7 per square mile (1,121.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 84.57% White, 2.79% African American, 0.07% Native American, 7.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.31% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.71% of the population.

There were 3,710 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $62,113, and the median income for a family was $73,419. Males had a median income of $49,566 versus $38,193 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,117. About 2.5% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The central business district of the borough is located on West Pleasant Avenue from the intersection of Maywood Avenue to Lincoln Avenue, and is where most of the local restaurants and shops reside. The business district of Maywood was renovated through a "Streetscapes" grant used to fix up the sidewalks, streets and lighting.

The Outlets at Bergen Town Center, formerly known as the Bergen Mall, is primarily located in Paramus, with portions of the mall in Maywood.

Coca-Cola uses a coca leaf extract prepared by a Stepan Company plant in Maywood as in ingredient. The facility, which had been known as the Maywood Chemical Works (and is also a known Superfund site), was purchased by Stepan in 1959. The plant is the only commercial entity in the country authorized by the Drug Enforcement Administration to import coca leaves, which come primarily from Peru. The non-narcotic extract is sold to Coke, while the active ingredient is sold to a pharmaceutical firm for medicinal purposes.

Fake Chapter Records is an independent record label that was founded by Michael Gilligan in 1996.

Myron Corp, a manufacturer of personalized business gifts, is headquartered in Maywood.

Parks and recreation

Maywood's Memorial Park is across the street from Memorial School on Grant Avenue and is open to anyone. The park includes multiple baseball fields and a vast open field for soccer, football, running, etc. Further back is a multi-hoop concrete basketball court and two jungle gyms with swings. Around the circumference of the park is a 1/2-mile long bike path.

Local government

Maywood 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 Maywood is Republican Adrian Febre, serving a term of office ending December 31, 2019. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Frank Morrone (R, 2018; who switched parties from Democrat to Republican in 2015), Rickie A. DeHeer (R, 2017), Michael Gervino (R, 2016), Thomas Lindenau (R, 2016), Francis J. "Frank" Messar, III (R, 2017) and Claire Padovano (R, 2018).

Adrian Febre was appointed to serve the remaining term of office vacated by former Mayor Gregg Padovano who resigned upon his appointment to a seat on the New Jersey Superior Court. In turn, Michael Gervino was appointed in February 2015 to serve the remaining months of the council tern term vacated by Febre. Gervino won election in November 2015 to serve the balance of the term.

In elections held on November 4, 2013, Republican incumbent Adrian Febre and Republican newcomer Thomas Lindenau defeated Democratic incumbent Erich Fleischmann and Democratic newcomer Jonathan King, shifting the council from a 3-3 tie in 2013 to a majority of four Republicans versus two Democrats.

Federal, state and county representation

Maywood is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 38th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Maywood had been in the 37th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Maywood had been part of the 9th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff). 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 38th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Robert M. Gordon (D, Fair Lawn) and in the General Assembly by Tim Eustace (D, Maywood) and Joseph Lagana (D, Paramus). 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 5,711 registered voters in Maywood, of which 1,872 (32.8% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,066 (18.7% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,767 (48.5% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 6 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 59.8% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 75.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,513 votes (56.3% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,877 votes (42.1% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 47 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,462 ballots cast by the borough's 6,047 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.8% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,564 votes (54.0% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 2,087 votes (43.9% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 49 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,752 ballots cast by the borough's 5,992 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.3% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 2,293 votes (50.5% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 2,184 votes (48.1% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 43 votes (0.9% vs. 0.7%), among the 4,540 ballots cast by the borough's 5,752 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.9% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.0% of the vote (1,708 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.6% (1,052 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (39 votes), among the 2,898 ballots cast by the borough's 5,850 registered voters (99 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 1,352 ballots cast (46.4% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,340 votes (46.0% vs. 45.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 165 votes (5.7% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 26 votes (0.9% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,911 ballots cast by the borough's 5,850 registered voters, yielding a 49.8% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

The Maywood Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2011–12 school year, the district's two schools had an enrollment of 910 students and 65.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.96:1. Schools in the district (with 2011–12 enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Memorial School (PreK-3; 433 students) and Maywood Avenue School (4–8; 477).

The district offers a wide variety of after school activities ranging from cheerleading to chess club, and where all students have the opportunity to contribute to their school newspaper, The Hawk (Grades 6–8), and the school's new newspaper,The Mini Hawk (Grades 4 and 5), and eighth graders may assist with their yearbook. For the 1996–97 school year, Memorial School was formally recognized with the National Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence, the highest honor that an American school can achieve.

After graduating from Maywood Avenue School, students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Hackensack High School in Hackensack, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Hackensack Public Schools, together with students from Rochelle Park and South Hackensack. In 2011, the district announced that it was considering switching its students to Paramus High School in the face of rising tuition costs charged by the Hackensack 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.

Emergency services

The Maywood police department has been serving the community since 1894 and has a force of 22 sworn officers. Maywood Police Communications is staffed by certified EMD Telecommunicators who handle all local 9-1-1 emergency calls and dispatches all emergency services. Maywood also has sworn Class 1 Special Law Enforcement Officers who assist with traffic control and park patrols.

Maywood First Aid and Emergency Squad is comprised of all volunteers, manning two basic life support units. During the weekdays two paid EMTs staff the unit. Maywood FA&ES is a member of the 24th district New Jersey First Aid Council.

Maywood has an all-volunteer fire department. There are two fire stations in Maywood. Station 1 (T17-E18) is located on Park Avenue and Station 2 (E19-R23) is located on West Hunter Avenue. Maywood also houses a Fire Police department that was founded in 1926. The Fire Police assist both fire and police departments.

Religion

Maywood is home to Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, First Presbyterian Church, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Zion Lutheran Church, St. Martin's Episcopal Church, and Temple Beth Israel, a Reconstructionist synagogue established in 1928, which moved to its current location in 1931.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 24.91 miles (40.09 km) of roadways, of which 21.06 miles (33.89 km) were maintained by the municipality, 3.54 miles (5.70 km) by Bergen County and 0.31 miles (0.50 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 17 passes through Maywood. Main roads in Maywood include Maywood Avenue, Central Avenue, Passaic Street, and Spring Valley Road.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus routes 144, 145, 148, 162, 163 and 164 serve the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan; The 175 route serves the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal; and the 712, 751, 752, 753, 755, 758 and 770 provide local service in New Jersey.

The borough provides a shuttle three days a week operating from the senior center.

Historic sites

The Maywood Train Station was restored after a proposal was made by the borough in 2002 to consider demolishing the landmark. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2003 as Building #03000487. The station was restored by the all-volunteer, non-profit Maywood Station Historical Committee, who now operate the historic site as the Maywood Station Museum.

Notable people

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

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