South Hackensack, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 0.741 square miles (1.919 km²), including 0.718 square miles (1.860 km²) of land and 0.023 square miles (0.060 km²) of water (3.11%).

As a result of the formation of boroughs within its previous limits, South Hackensack is split into three sections. The northeastern, primary residential section is adjacent to Hackensack, Little Ferry and Teterboro. A small section western portion is sandwiched in between Garfield, Lodi, Wallington and Wood-Ridge, while a southern sliver containing only industrial properties lies in the Meadowlands between Carlstadt, Moonachie, and Ridgefield.

Along with other municipalities in the Bergen County area, South Hackensack is a suburb of New York City.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 2,378 people, 845 households, and 612.6 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,311.7 per square mile (1,278.7/km²). The township contained 879 housing units at an average density of 1,224.1 per square mile (472.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 72.08% (1,714) White, 5.34% (127) Black or African American, 0.34% (8) Native American, 5.30% (126) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 14.05% (334) from other races, and 2.90% (69) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 33.31% (792) of the population.

Out of a total of 845 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the township, 22.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females the census counted 95.4 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 93.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $70,500 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,389) and the median family income was $81,919 (+/- $8,497). Males had a median income of $55,250 (+/- $13,321) versus $33,472 (+/- $11,009) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,777 (+/- $2,660). About 3.4% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 5 households in 2010, an increase from the 4 counted in 2000.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,249 people, 811 households, and 593 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,161.2 people per square mile (1,223.0/km²). There were 830 housing units at an average density of 1,166.6 per square mile (451.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 82.93% White, 2.18% African American, 0.22% Native American, 5.74% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 6.31% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.07% of the population.

As of the 2000 Census, 36.3% of town residents were of Italian ancestry, the 11th-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States, and fourth-highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.

There were 811 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the township the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $57,917, and the median income for a family was $66,071. Males had a median income of $39,918 versus $32,344 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,128. About 5.2% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

South Hackensack 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 2016, members of the Township Committee are Mayor Gary C. Brugger (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2018; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Mayor Francis X. "Frank" Cagas (D, term on committee ends 2018; term as deputy mayor ends 2016), Walter Eckel Jr. (D, 2017), William Regan (D, 2017) and Vincent Stefano (R, 2016).

Federal, state and county representation

South Hackensack is located in the 9th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, South Hackensack had been in the 38th state legislative district.

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 36th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Paul Sarlo (D, Wood-Ridge) and in the General Assembly by Marlene Caride (D, Ridgefield) and Gary Schaer (D, Passaic). 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 1,300 registered voters in South Hackensack Township, of which 302 (23.2% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 309 (23.8% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 688 (52.9% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 54.7% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 70.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 551 votes (57.2% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 389 votes (40.4% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 11 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 963 ballots cast by the township's 1,368 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.4% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 541 votes (50.1% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 512 votes (47.5% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.1% vs. 0.8%), among the 1,079 ballots cast by the township's 1,385 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.9% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 499 votes (49.9% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 485 votes (48.5% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 8 votes (0.8% vs. 0.7%), among the 999 ballots cast by the township's 1,377 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.5% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 56.2% of the vote (355 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.7% (238 votes), and other candidates with 6.2% (39 votes), among the 653 ballots cast by the township's 1,343 registered voters (21 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 333 votes (43.6% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 329 votes (43.1% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 34 votes (4.5% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 5 votes (0.7% vs. 0.5%), among the 763 ballots cast by the township's 1,351 registered voters, yielding a 56.5% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade are served by the South Hackensack School District at Memorial School. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 255 students and 19.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.88:1. Students from Teterboro attend the district's school as part of a sending/receiving relationship.

Students attending public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Hackensack High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Hackensack Public Schools, together with students from Maywood and Rochelle Park, with approximately 80 students from South Hackensack attending the high school as of 2012.

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 township had a total of 11.16 miles (17.96 km) of roadways, of which 8.57 miles (13.79 km) were maintained by the municipality, 1.60 miles (2.57 km) by Bergen County and 0.99 miles (1.59 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Interstate 80 crosses the main portion of the township, while U.S. Route 46 skirts its southern border and County Route 503 goes along its eastern border.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service between the township and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 161 and 165 routes, to Newark on the 76 route, with local service offered on the 772 route.

Recreation

South Hackensack is home to "School of Rock East," a musical school and venue that features pop rock and indie rock bands on a regular basis.