Midland Park, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.563 square miles (4.049 km²), including 1.555 square miles (4.028 km²) of land and 0.008 square miles (0.021 km²) of water (0.52%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Wortendyke.

The borough borders Ridgewood and Waldwick.

The borough is divided by Prospect Avenue, a main road running North/South through the center of the town. Prospect Avenue is the southernmost end of what is otherwise known as Crescent Avenue (or West Crescent Avenue), which runs through Ramsey, Allendale, and Wyckoff.

Neighborhoods

Northside borders Waldwick and is the location of Midland Park High School. The Catholic church, Nativity, is also located on the Northside of the borough.

Park Wood is located on the east side of Midland Park. The area is composed of only homes and borders Ridgewood. At some points one can see the New York City skyline.

Wortendyke borders Wyckoff and is home to longtime retailers such as Rosario's, Romeo's Barber Stylists, and Creations by Fran, and other small businesses; this is the other, quieter downtown region of Midland Park, near Wortendyke Station.

South Central is the industrial region of the town, with fewer households. It follows the Goffle Brook and the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway.

Southeast is the home of the Midland Park Shopping Center and to many other businesses.

2010 census

The 2010 United States Census counted 7,128 people, 2,756 households, and 1,924 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,583.2 per square mile (1,769.6/km²). The borough contained 2,861 housing units at an average density of 1,839.6 per square mile (710.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.82% (6,616) White, 0.84% (60) Black or African American, 0.13% (9) Native American, 2.69% (192) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.88% (134) from other races, and 1.64% (117) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.65% (474) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,756 households, 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% 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 3.17.

In the borough, 24.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females the census counted 92.3 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 89.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $87,905 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,258) and the median family income was $105,287 (+/- $9,882). Males had a median income of $74,688 (+/- $8,609) versus $49,398 (+/- $2,348) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,654 (+/- $3,206). About 1.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 8 households in 2010, an increase from the 6 counted in 2000.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 6,947 people, 2,613 households, and 1,883 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,439.5 people per square mile (1,719.4/km²). There were 2,650 housing units at an average density of 1,693.5 per square mile (655.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.81% White, 0.43% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.76% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.69% of the population.

There were 2,613 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $76,462, and the median income for a family was $83,926. Males had a median income of $55,044 versus $39,142 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,284. About 1.0% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Midland Park 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 Midland Park, 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 Midland Park Borough is Republican Harry Shortway Jr., whose term of office ends on December 31, 2019. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Nancy Cronk Peet (R, 2016), Mark Braunius (R, 2017), Lorraine DeLuca (R, 2017), Jerry Iannone (R, 2016; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Kenneth Kruis (R, 2018) and Robert Sansone (R, 2018).

In June 2016, the Borough Council selected Jerry Iannone to fill the seat that expires in December 2016 that had become vacant following the resignation of Jack Considine who stepped down from office earlier in the month after he lost the Republican primary.

In November 2013, the Borough Council selected former councilmember Mark Braunius from among three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Michael Junta, who had resigned in the previous month as he was moving out of the borough.

Jack Considine was appointed in January 2012 to fill the vacant seat on the borough council expiring in December 2013 that had been held by Patrick "Bud" O'Hagan, who had taken office as mayor.

Federal, state and county representation

Midland Park is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district.

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 40th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Kevin J. O'Toole (R, Cedar Grove) and in the General Assembly by David C. Russo (R, Ridgewood) and Kevin J. Rooney (R, Wyckoff). Rooney was sworn into office on December 12, 2016, to fill the seat of Scott Rumana, who had resigned from office on October 20, 2016, to become a judge of the New Jersey Superior Court. 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 4,756 registered voters in Midland Park, of which 890 (18.7% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,865 (39.2% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,998 (42.0% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 66.7% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 88.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,135 votes (57.3% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,533 votes (41.1% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 42 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,726 ballots cast by the borough's 4,978 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.8% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,266 votes (56.3% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,695 votes (42.1% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 26 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,022 ballots cast by the borough's 4,941 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.4% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,367 votes (61.0% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,491 votes (38.4% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 17 votes (0.4% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,879 ballots cast by the borough's 4,765 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.4% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.4% of the vote (1,646 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 30.7% (738 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (23 votes), among the 2,438 ballots cast by the borough's 4,805 registered voters (31 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 50.7%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,546 votes (58.2% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 962 votes (36.2% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 131 votes (4.9% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 6 votes (0.2% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,658 ballots cast by the borough's 4,856 registered voters, yielding a 54.7% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

The Midland Park School District serves students in public school for kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's then two schools (since expanded to three) had an enrollment of 807 students and 90.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.88:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Godwin School (new for grades K-2), Highland School (grades 3 - 6; 292 students when it was K-6) and Midland Park High School for grades 7 - 12 (515 students).

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.

Eastern Christian Elementary School is a private Christian day school that serves students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade as part of the Eastern Christian School Association, which also includes a middle school located in Wyckoff and Eastern Christian High School in North Haledon.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 25.66 miles (41.30 km) of roadways, of which 21.64 miles (34.83 km) were maintained by the municipality and 4.02 miles (6.47 km) by Bergen County.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus routes 148 and 164 provide service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, with local service offered on the 722 and 752 routes.

Police

Midland Park is served by a 15-man police force, including a Chief (Michael Powderley), two Lieutenants, a Detective, three Sergeants and eight patrolmen. The Midland Park Police Department responds to all variety of emergencies (including medical and fire) within the Borough, as well as special events.

Ambulance

Emergency Medical Services are provided to the Borough by the Midland Park Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity founded in 1942 and funded by donations, which provides Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance services around the clock on a volunteer basis, without any fees charged to users of its services. Advanced Life Support services (which are billed to the patient or their insurance) are provided by area hospitals through the Northern New Jersey Mobile Intensive Care Consortium (a.k.a. "MICCOM"), primarily by The Valley Hospital.

Fire

The Midland Park Fire Department is an all-volunteer organization that provides full-time response to fires, motor vehicle accidents and search and rescue incidents within Midland Park. The department consists of approximately 40 active volunteers. The department staffs the following apparatus: Engine 531 - 2006 Pierce Lance Engine, Ladder 541 - 2015 Pierce 105' Ladder, Engine 533 - 1997 SimonDuplex/LTI Engine and Rescue 534 - 1997 Ford/Kenco Light Rescue.

Notable people

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

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