Prospect Park, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Prospect Park borough had a total area of 0.478 square miles (1.238 km²), including 0.475 square miles (1.230 km²) of land and 0.003 square miles (0.008 km²) of water (0.61%).

The borough borders the Passaic County municipalities of Haledon, Hawthorne, North Haledon and Paterson.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 5,865 people, 1,797 households, and 1,456 families residing in the borough. The population density was 12,347.2 per square mile (4,767.3/km²). The borough contained 1,931 housing units at an average density of 4,065.2 per square mile (1,569.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 51.07% (2,995) White, 19.86% (1,165) Black or African American, 1.50% (88) Native American, 3.21% (188) Asian, 0.10% (6) Pacific Islander, 18.21% (1,068) from other races, and 6.05% (355) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 52.09% (3,055) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,797 households, 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 26.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.26 and the average family size was 3.59.

In the borough, 28.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.7 years. For every 100 females the census counted 90.6 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 86.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $63,194 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,308) and the median family income was $65,625 (+/- $6,456). Males had a median income of $43,109 (+/- $6,443) versus $30,142 (+/- $9,427) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,993 (+/- $2,145). About 12.0% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 8 households in 2010, a decline from the 11 counted in 2000.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,779 people, 1,822 households, and 1,432 families residing in the borough. The population density was 12,043.7 people per square mile (4,648.5/km²). There were 1,889 housing units at an average density of 3,936.8 per square mile (1,519.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 61.17% White, 13.65% African American, 0.42% Native American, 3.15% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 13.70% from other races, and 7.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.26% of the population.

There were 1,822 households out of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.17 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the borough the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $46,434, and the median income for a family was $49,405. Males had a median income of $31,951 versus $26,569 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,410. About 7.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

As part of the 2000 Census, 1.7% of Prospect Park's residents identified themselves as being of Albanian ancestry. This was the 11th-highest percentage of Albanian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry. In the same census, 3.2% of Prospect Park's residents identified themselves as being of Arab American ancestry. This was the sixth-highest percentage of Arab American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

Local government

Prospect 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 Prospect 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 Prospect Park is Democrat Mohamed Khairullah, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2018. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Cristina Peralta (D, 2016), Robert Artis (D, 2017), Richard Esquiche (D, 2018), Samir Hayek (D, 2018), Felicia Ortiz (D, 2017) and Adnan Zakaria (D, 2016).

Federal, state and county representation

Prospect Park is located in the 9th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 35th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Prospect Park had been part of the 8th 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 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 35th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nellie Pou (D, North Haledon) and in the General Assembly by Shavonda E. Sumter (D, Paterson) and Benjie E. Wimberly (D, Paterson). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Passaic County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large to staggered three-year terms office on a partisan basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At a reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects a Director and Deputy Director from among its members to serve for a one-year term. As of 2015, Passaic County's Freeholders are John W. Bartlett (D, 2015; Wayne), Theodore O. Best, Jr. (D, 2017; Paterson), Ronda Cotroneo (D, 2015; Ringwood), Terry Duffy (D, 2016; West Milford), and Pat Lepore (D, 2016; Woodland Park). The last seat, vacated by Hector Lora who resigned to become mayor of Passaic, is still up for discussion as of December 2016. Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Kristin M. Corrado (R, 2019), Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik (2016) and Surrogate Bernice Toledo (2016).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,139 registered voters in Prospect Park, of which 1,710 (54.5% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 345 (11.0% vs. 18.7%) were registered as Republicans and 1,084 (34.5% vs. 50.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 53.5% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 74.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 82.9% of the vote (1,744 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 16.5% (348 votes), and other candidates with 0.6% (12 votes), among the 2,130 ballots cast by the borough's 3,402 registered voters (26 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 62.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,721 votes (75.9% vs. 58.8% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 474 votes (20.9% vs. 37.7%) and other candidates with 15 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,267 ballots cast by the borough's 3,387 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.9% (vs. 70.4% in Passaic County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,325 votes (64.8% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 655 votes (32.0% vs. 42.7%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.1% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,046 ballots cast by the borough's 3,270 registered voters, for a turnout of 62.6% (vs. 69.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 62.3% of the vote (690 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 36.0% (398 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (19 votes), among the 1,143 ballots cast by the borough's 3,502 registered voters (36 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 32.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 743 ballots cast (66.1% vs. 50.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 310 votes (27.6% vs. 43.2%), Independent Chris Daggett with 33 votes (2.9% vs. 3.8%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.8% vs. 0.9%), among the 1,124 ballots cast by the borough's 3,116 registered voters, yielding a 36.1% turnout (vs. 42.7% in the county).

Education

The Prospect Park School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Prospect Park Elementary School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 1,215 students and 72.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 16.9:1. The school population was made up of Hispanic (54%), White (22%), Black (22%), and Other (2%).

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Manchester Regional High School, which serves students from Haledon, North Haledon, and Prospect Park. The school is located in Haledon. The Manchester district participates in the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, which allows non-resident students to attend the district's schools without cost to their parents, with tuition paid by the state. Available lots are announced annually by grade. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 896 students and 64.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

Students are also eligible to attend the Passaic County Technical Institute, a countywide program located in Wayne.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 8.10 miles (13.04 km) of roadways, of which 6.56 miles (10.56 km) were maintained by the municipality and 1.54 miles (2.48 km) by Passaic County.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 722 and 744 routes.

Notable people

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