Cliffside Park, New Jersey
Cliffside Park is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 25,693, an increase of 2,099 from the 2010 census count of 23,594, which in turn reflected an increase of 587 from the 23,007 counted in the 2000 census.
Cliffside Park was formed based on the results of a referendum held on January 15, 1895, from portions of Ridgefield Township. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, as one of two boroughs created in 1895 after 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone. The borough was named for its location as a "Park by the Cliffs".
U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg resided in the borough until his death in 2013. Cliffside Park was home to the former Palisades Amusement Park, part of which was located in adjoining Fort Lee. The park operated from 1898 until 1971, remaining one of the most-visited amusement parks in the country until its closure, after which the rides and attractions were removed and the site replaced by high-rise apartment buildings.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.96 square miles, all of which was land. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, Anderson Avenue and Palisade Avenue are the town's major north–south thoroughfares, the latter offering views of the Hudson River and New York City skyline.Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Grantwood and Shadyside.
The borough borders the municipalities of Edgewater, Fairview, Fort Lee and Ridgefield in Bergen County, as well as North Bergen in Hudson County.
Grantwood is named for Grant's Tomb, located on the opposite shore of the river. Gorge Road runs along the face of the cliff to the Edgewater waterfront.
Demographics
2020 census
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 23,594 people, 9,948 households, and 6,178 families in the borough. The population density was. There were 10,665 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 70.11% White, 3.29% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 13.78% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.65% from other races, and 3.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.41% of the population.Of the 9,948 households, 23.6% had children under the age of 18; 44.8% were married couples living together; 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 37.9% were non-families. Of all households, 31.6% were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98.
17.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey shows that median household income was $67,856 and the median family income was $80,856. Males had a median income of $53,529 versus $52,134 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,157. About 7.3% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.
Same-sex couples headed 56 households in 2010, a decline from the 72 counted in 2000.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 23,007 people, 10,027 households, and 6,036 families residing in the borough. The population density was. There were 10,375 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the borough was 77.85% White, 1.83% African American, 0.25% Native American, 12.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.97% from other races, and 3.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.16% of the population.As of the 2000 census, 3.6% of Cliffside Park's residents identified themselves as being of Armenian American ancestry. This was the highest percentage in New Jersey, and the seventh-highest percentage of Armenian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry. Additionally, according to the 2000 Census, 1.3% of Cliffside Park identified themselves as Turkish American, the sixth-highest of any municipality in the United States and four-highest in the state.
There were 10,027 households, out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 16.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $46,288, and the median income for a family was $54,915. Males had a median income of $40,114 versus $36,100 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,516. About 8.5% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
, more than three quarters of Cliffside Park residents categorize themselves as being affiliated with a formal religious body. A majority of the borough is Roman Catholic, many of whom attend the Roman Catholic Church of the Epiphany on Knox Avenue. 8.12% Jewish; 1.21% Lutheran; 1.20% Episcopalian; 0.84% Methodist; 0.88% Muslim; 0.62% Baptist; 0.46% Pentecostal; and 0.02% Eastern Orthodox Christian.Government
Local government
Cliffside Park is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, 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 includes 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 Cliffside Park 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., the Mayor of Cliffside Park is Democrat Thomas Calabrese, who was elected to serve a term of office ending December 31, 2027. Members of the borough council are Council President John Chmielewski, Peter J. Colao, Kenneth J. Corcoran, Dana Martinotti, Selvie Nikaj and Eurice Rojas.
In October 2019, the borough council appointed John Chmielewski to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Donna M. Spoto until she resigned from her seat the previous month after 31 years in office in order to move out of the borough.
In May 2015, the borough council selected Thomas Calabrese from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the vacant mayoral seat. Calabrese replaced his father, Gerald Calabrese, who was elected to the borough council in 1955 and had served continuously as mayor of Cliffside Park from 1965 until his death in April 2015, making him the longest-serving mayor in state history. In June 2015, Peter Colao was appointed to fill the vacant council seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Calabrese before he was selected to fill the vacancy as mayor.
Federal, state, and county representation
Cliffside Park is located in the 9th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district.Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 11,107 registered voters in Cliffside Park, of which 4,749 were registered as Democrats, 1,166 were registered as Republicans and 5,185 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 7 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 47.1% were registered to vote, including 56.9% of those ages 18 and over.In recent years, Cliffside Park has leaned strongly toward the Democratic Party. In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 5,474 votes, ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 3,119 votes and other candidates with 221 votes, among the 8,953 ballots cast by the borough's 12,979 registered voters for a turnout of 68.9%. In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,410 votes, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2,627 votes and other candidates with 64 votes, among the 8,203 ballots cast by the borough's 11,870 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,348 votes, ahead of Republican John McCain with 3,095 votes and other candidates with 88 votes, among the 8,636 ballots cast by the borough's 11,775 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.3%.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 52.0% of the vote, ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 47.0%, and other candidates with 1.1%, among the 4,639 ballots cast by the borough's 11,249 registered voters, for a turnout of 41.2%.