Wallington, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.034 square miles (2.679 km²), including 0.983 square miles (2.546 km²) of land and 0.051 square miles (0.132 km²) of water (4.93%).

The borough borders Carlstadt, East Rutherford, Garfield, South Hackensack and Wood-Ridge in Bergen County, and the city of Passaic in Passaic County across the Passaic River.

The borough is located approximately 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Midtown Manhattan.

2010 Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 11,335 people, 4,637 households, and 2,991 families residing in the borough. The population density was 11,528.6 per square mile (4,451.2/km²). There were 4,946 housing units at an average density of 5,030.5 per square mile (1,942.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 85.48% (9,689) White, 3.23% (366) Black or African American, 0.16% (18) Native American, 5.57% (631) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.86% (438) from other races, and 1.70% (193) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.81% (1,225) of the population.

There were 4,637 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 18.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 91.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $58,724 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,808) and the median family income was $66,414 (+/- $7,756). Males had a median income of $46,632 (+/- $3,029) versus $40,968 (+/- $2,962) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,350 (+/- $1,947). About 7.0% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 25 households in 2010, a decrease from the 30 counted in 2000.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 11,583 people, 4,752 households, and 3,041 families residing in the borough. The population density was 11,632.5 people per square mile (4,472.2/km²). There were 4,906 housing units at an average density of 4,927.0 per square mile (1,894.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 87.60% White, 2.67% African American, 0.09% Native American, 4.98% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.32% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.70% of the population.

There were 4,752 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the borough the population was spread out with 18.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $45,656, and the median income for a family was $55,291. Males had a median income of $40,077 versus $30,503 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,431. About 4.8% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

The most common ancestries were Polish (51.5%), Italian (15.0%), Irish (7.1%) and German.

At 51.5%, Wallington has one of the highest per capita levels of Polish ancestry in the area. Wallington was ranked seventh nationwide and first in New Jersey among municipalities in the United States by percentage of population with Polish ancestry as of the 2000 Census.

Arts and culture

Parks and recreation

Samuel Nelkin County Park is located on Parkview Drive, covering 17 acres (6.9 ha). It has a playground, tennis courts, athletic fields, a dog park, picnic areas, and a shallow, artificial pond for fishing.

Wallington Lanes is a bowling alley that has 48 lanes, an arcade, restaurant and bar.

Local government

Wallington is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government by a Mayor and a six-member Borough Council. The Mayor is directly elected by the voters to a four-year term of office, and members of the Borough Council 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 Wallington, 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 Wallington Borough is Democrat Mark W. Tomko, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Wallington Borough Council are Council President Christopher Sinisi (R, 2016), Khaldoun Androwis (R, 2018), Joseph Brunacki IV (D, 2016), Roman Kruk (D, 2017), Eugeniusz Rachelski (R, 2018), Sharon Robie (R, 2017) and Krystyna Surowiec (D, 2015).

Federal, state and county representation

Wallington is located in the 9th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 36th 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 4,964 registered voters in Wallington, of which 1,428 (28.8% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 681 (13.7% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,852 (57.5% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 43.8% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 53.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,967 votes (54.4% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,548 votes (42.8% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 59 votes (1.6% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,615 ballots cast by the borough's 5,384 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.1% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,912 votes (50.4% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,783 votes (47.0% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 54 votes (1.4% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,793 ballots cast by the borough's 5,370 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.6% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,963 votes (53.2% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,668 votes (45.2% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 18 votes (0.5% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,690 ballots cast by the borough's 5,187 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.1% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.6% of the vote (1,365 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.1% (754 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (28 votes), among the 2,264 ballots cast by the borough's 5,138 registered voters (117 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.1%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,131 votes (47.5% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,053 votes (44.2% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 129 votes (5.4% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 20 votes (0.8% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,383 ballots cast by the borough's 5,191 registered voters, yielding a 45.9% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

The Wallington Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's three schools had an enrollment of 1,037 students and 86.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.97:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Jefferson Elementary School (grades K-3; NA students), Frank W. Gavlak Elementary School (K-6; 351) and Wallington High School (7-12; 541).

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.

Due to declining enrollment, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark closed Most Sacred Heart School after the 2013-14 school year. The school district is in talks with the Archdiocese to temporarily lease Most Sacred Heart School starting during the 2014-2015 school year, so that Jefferson Elementary School can be closed for repair/rebuilding without straining the capacity of Frank W. Gavlak Elementary School.

Police

The Wallington Police Department (WPD) provides emergency and protective services to the borough. The WPD consists of 20 sworn officers, as well as special officers and crossing guards, and is headed by a Chief of Police. The WPD responds to approximately 13,000 calls per year.

Fire

The Wallington Fire Department (WFD) is an all-volunteer fire department. The WFD was organized in October 1894 and consists of three fire companies operating out of three firehouses. The department is staffed by 85 fully trained firefighters.

Ambulance

The Wallington Fire Department Emergency Squad provides emergency medical and rescue services.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 18.93 miles (30.46 km) of roadways, of which 16.07 miles (25.86 km) were maintained by the municipality and 2.86 miles (4.60 km) by Bergen County.

State Route 21 passes through the very small portion of Wallington that is located across the Passaic River from the rest of the borough. In its path through Wallington, County Route 507 forms one of the borough's main roads. Three bridges, the Gregory Avenue Bridge, the Market Street Bridge, and the Eighth Street Bridge cross the Passaic River from Wallington to the city of Passaic.

Public transportation

NJ Transit's Bergen County Line passes through, but does not stop in, Wallington. New Jersey Transit bus routes 160 and 161 provide service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, with local service offered on the 703, 707, and 780 routes.

Notable people

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