Norwood, New Jersey

History

The territory comprising Norwood was originally settled about 1670 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 Lenni Lenape Native Americans 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 across each way about 5 miles (8 km), 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, Norwood borough had a total area of 2.735 square miles (7.083 km²), including 2.728 square miles (7.066 km²) of land and 0.007 square miles (0.017 km²) of water (0.24%).

Norwood is in the northeastern part of New Jersey, about 2 miles (3 km) from the New York state line. It is bordered by the boroughs of Northvale, Old Tappan, Harrington Park, Closter, Alpine 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 residing in the borough. The population density was 2,093.5 per square mile (808.3/km²). The borough contained 2,007 housing units at an average density of 735.7 per square mile (284.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough 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. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.55% (260) of the population. Korean Americans accounted for 20.1% of the population.

Out of a total of 1,927 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.8% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 18.2% of all households 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.

In the borough, 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 census counted 88.0 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 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 people per square mile (807.4/km²). There were 1,888 housing units at an average density of 686.6 per square mile (265.1/km²). 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. 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 Norwood, 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 Norwood is Republican James P. Barsa, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Borough Council are Joseph Ascolese (R, 2018), Thomas Brizzolara (D, 2018), Frank Marino (R, 2016), Marianne Orecchio (R, 2017), Allen Rapaport (R, 2016) and Barry Scott (R, 2017).

Federal, state and county representation

Norwood is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th 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 39th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Demarest) and in the General Assembly by Holly Schepisi (R, River Vale) and Robert Auth (R, Old Tappan). 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 3,518 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 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 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 908 students and 47.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 19.1:1.

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 1994-96 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 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,287 students and 102.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

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

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 25.31 miles (40.73 km) of roadways, of which 18.27 miles (29.40 km) were maintained by the municipality and 7.04 miles (11.33 km) by Bergen County.

County Route 501 and County Route 505 pass through Norwood.

Public transportation

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

Saddle River Tours / Ameribus offers service on the 20 / 84 route to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.

Wildlife

The forests in Norwood house many deciduous species, sheltering deer, wild turkey, turtles, foxes, rabbits, wolves, and even coyote. Suburban sprawl is beginning to interfere with the wildlife. Deer and auto collisions as well as coyote and human interaction is a problem. Wolves have never been seen in Norwood.

Notable people

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