Country United States County Bergen Elevation 18 m Population 5,528 (2000) Named for La Rochelle | State New Jersey Area 2.751 km² Zip code 07662 Local time Monday 5:36 PM | |
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Incorporated March 7, 1871 as Midland Township Reincorporated November 5, 1929 as Rochelle Park Area rank 494th of 566 in state
64th of 70 in county Weather 11°C, Wind NW at 13 km/h, 23% Humidity | ||
Rochelle Park is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 5,530, reflecting an increase of 2 (+0.0%) from the 5,528 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 59 (-1.1%) from the 5,587 counted in the 1990 Census.
Contents
- Map of Rochelle Park NJ USA
- Geography
- 2010 Census
- 2000 Census
- Economy
- Local government
- Federal state and county representation
- Politics
- Education
- Roads and highways
- Public transportation
- Places of interest
- Notable people
- References
Map of Rochelle Park, NJ, USA
What is now Rochelle Park was originally incorporated as Midland Township on March 7, 1871, from portions of New Barbadoes Township. Portions of the township were taken to form the boroughs of Delford (on March 8, 1894; now Oradell), Maywood (June 30, 1894), Riverside (also June 30, 1894; now River Edge) and Paramus (March 2, 1922). Rochelle Park was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 5, 1929, replacing Midland Township, based on the results of a referendum held on that same day that passed by a 503-69 margin. The main impetus behind the change in name was to avoid confusion with the nearby community of Midland Park. The township was named for the port city of La Rochelle, France.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 1.063 square miles (2.751 km2), including 1.041 square miles (2.695 km2) of land and 0.022 square miles (0.056 km2) of water (2.03%).
The township borders the Bergen County municipalities of Fair Lawn, Maywood, Saddle Brook, Lodi and Paramus.
2010 Census
The 2010 United States Census counted 5,530 people, 2,087 households, and 1,455 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,313.8 per square mile (2,051.7/km2). The township contained 2,170 housing units at an average density of 2,085.2 per square mile (805.1/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 82.22% (4,547) White, 2.89% (160) Black or African American, 0.25% (14) Native American, 8.72% (482) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.89% (215) from other races, and 2.03% (112) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 16.35% (904) of the population.
Out of a total of 2,087 households, 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the township, 18.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females the census counted 92.8 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 86.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,341 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,539) and the median family income was $81,113 (+/- $4,718). Males had a median income of $50,275 (+/- $2,954) versus $53,634 (+/- $11,176) for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,633 (+/- $2,836). About 2.8% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Same-sex couples headed 14 households in 2010, an increase from the 12 counted in 2000.
2000 Census
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,528 people, 2,061 households, and 1,393 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,287.7 people per square mile (2,032.7/km2). There were 2,111 housing units at an average density of 2,019.2 per square mile (776.2/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 90.09% White, 0.45% African American, 0.04% Native American, 6.02% Asian, 2.03% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.57% of the population.
There were 2,061 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the township the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $60,818, and the median income for a family was $74,016. Males had a median income of $43,580 versus $36,827 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,054. About 0.4% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Rochelle Park is the business headquarters for specialty retailer United Retail Group, which is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange.
Local government
Rochelle Park is governed under the Township form of government. The five-member Township Committee is elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2017, the members of the Rochelle Park Township Committee are Mayor Frank Valenzuela (R, term as mayor and on committee ends December 31, 2017), Deputy Mayor William J. Hauser (D, term on committee ends 2018, term as deputy mayor ends 2017), Michael Kazimir (R, 2018), Joseph Scarpa (R, 2017) and Michael Warren (D, 2019).
Federal, state and county representation
Rochelle Park 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, Rochelle Park had been in the 37th 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 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 3,376 registered voters in Rochelle Park Township, of which 895 (26.5% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 693 (20.5% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,784 (52.8% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 61.0% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 74.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,289 votes (50.0% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,238 votes (48.1% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 27 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,576 ballots cast by the township's 3,518 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.2% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,398 votes (50.8% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,304 votes (47.4% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 20 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,752 ballots cast by the township's 3,637 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.7% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,405 votes (52.6% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,226 votes (45.9% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 27 votes (1.0% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,669 ballots cast by the township's 3,647 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.2% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.7% of the vote (1,027 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.1% (566 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (20 votes), among the 1,675 ballots cast by the township's 3,460 registered voters (62 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 904 votes (52.8% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 704 votes (41.1% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 73 votes (4.3% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 14 votes (0.8% vs. 0.5%), among the 1,713 ballots cast by the township's 3,476 registered voters, yielding a 49.3% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).
Education
The Rochelle Park School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Midland School, which opened in 1926. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 668 students and 40.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 16.5:1.
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 Maywood and South Hackensack. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,815 students and 135.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1. Rochelle Park is about 2.6 miles from Hackensack High School which is about an eight-minute drive on average.
Public school students from the township, 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 township had a total of 18.16 miles (29.23 km) of roadways, of which 13.34 miles (21.47 km) were maintained by the municipality, 3.14 miles (5.05 km) by Bergen County, 1.05 miles (1.69 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.63 miles (1.01 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Route 17 and the Garden State Parkway travel through Rochelle Park. The Garden State Parkway crosses the northwest corner of the township, extending from Saddle Brook Township in the south for 0.6 miles (0.97 km) to Paramus. Route 17 extends for 1.0 mile (1.6 km) along the township's eastern border from Maywood to Paramus.
Public transportation
NJ Transit provides bus service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 144, 162, 163 and 164 routes, to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on the 175 route, and local service on the 709, 712, 758, and 770 routes.
Places of interest
The Cornelius Demarest House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, having been constructed between 1824 by 1826 by Samuel C. Demarest for his son.
The Captain William Tyson House is a historical landmark, and an exemplar of the late-19th century Italianate architectural style.
The People's Park is located on Rochelle Avenue and Central Avenue and offers swimming at the community pool, basketball, tennis, baseball, cycling, jogging and walking trails.
Westfield Garden State Plaza is located in Paramus, near the border of Rochelle Park.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Rochelle Park include: