East Newark, New Jersey

East Newark is a borough in the western part of Hudson County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough, a suburb of Newark, which sits across the Passaic River, is the second-smallest municipality by total area in the state.
The Borough of East Newark was established on July 2, 1895, from portions of Kearny lying between the Erie Railroad's Newark Branch right of way and Harrison, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.
As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 2,594, an increase of 188 from the 2010 census count of 2,406, which in turn reflected an increase of 29 from the 2,377 counted in the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.13 square miles, including 0.10 square miles of land and 0.02 square miles of water.
The borough is bordered to the north by Kearny and to the south and east by Harrison, both in Hudson County, and to the west by the Passaic River across from which is Newark in Essex County.
The Clark Thread Company Historic District is located in the borough.

Demographics

2020 census

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 2,406 people, 759 households, and 569 families in the borough. The population density was 23,532.1 per square mile. There were 794 housing units at an average density of 7,765.8 per square mile. The racial makeup was 63.01% White, 1.91% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 7.81% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 22.90% from other races, and 3.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 61.39% of the population.
Of the 759 households, 36.6% had children under the age of 18; 45.2% were married couples living together; 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.0% were non-families. Of all households, 15.3% were made up of individuals and 4.3% 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 3.38.
22.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 14.6% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $54,722 and the median family income was $59,423. Males had a median income of $41,173 versus $28,224 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,242. About 7.9% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 2,377 people, 767 households, and 605 families residing in the borough. The population density was. There were 799 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the borough was 67.02% White, 1.68% African American, 0.50% Native American, 2.52% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 20.99% from other races, and 7.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 47.54% of the population.
As of the 2000 Census, 10.1% of East Newark's residents identified themselves as being of Peruvian American ancestry. This was the highest percentage of Peruvian American people in any place in the United States. In the same census, 6.2% of East Newark's residents identified themselves as being of Brazilian American ancestry, which was the highest percentage of Brazilian American people in any place in the United States. As of the 2000 Census, 7.67% of East Newark's residents identified themselves as being of Ecuadorian ancestry, which was the highest of any municipality in New Jersey and the third highest percentage of Ecuadorian people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.
There were 767 households, out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.1% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.40.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $44,352, and the median income for a family was $46,375. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $24,231 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,415. About 11.3% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

East Newark is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 218 municipalities statewide that use this form, the most commonly used form of government in the state. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The 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 East Newark 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 East Newark is Democrat Dina M. Grilo, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027; Mayor Grilo is the first woman to serve as East Newark's mayor, having defeated Democratic-turned-Republican incumbent mayor Joseph Smith in the 2019 local election. Members of the East Newark Borough Council are Chair Christopher Reis, Jessica Diaz, Rose M. Evaristo, Kenneth J. Graham, Acacio De Oliveira and Jeanne Zincavage.

Federal, state and county representation

East Newark is located in the 8th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 29th state legislative district.

Politics

As of November 2024, there are a total of 1,105 registered voters in East Newark.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 82.3% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 16.5%, and other candidates with 1.2%, among the 492 ballots cast by the borough's 844 registered voters, for a turnout of 58.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 76.0% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain with 22.6% and other candidates with 0.7%, among the 545 ballots cast by the borough's 904 registered voters, for a turnout of 60.3%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 71.2% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 26.4% and other candidates with 0.8%, among the 473 ballots cast by the borough's 800 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 59.1.

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2024	45.7% 258	51.3% 290	3.0% 14
2020	31.7% 201	64.4% 408	3.9% 10
2016	24.6% 135	71.4% 392	3.8% 21
2012	16.5% 80	82.3% 400	1.2% 6
2008	22.6% 123	76.0% 414	0.7% 4
2004	26.4% 125	71.2% 337	0.8% 6

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 64.9% of the vote, ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 32.9%, and other candidates with 2.2%, among the 232 ballots cast by the borough's 884 registered voters, for a turnout of 26.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 71.8% of the vote, ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 21.8% and Independent Chris Daggett with 4.0%, among the 326 ballots cast by the borough's 765 registered voters, yielding a 42.6% turnout.

Education

The East Newark School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 240 students and 19.4 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.4:1.
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Harrison High School in Harrison, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Harrison Public Schools. As of the 2023–24 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 784 students and 53.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 14.8:1.

Public safety

East Newark is protected by a volunteer fire department. There are approximately 34 firefighters who staff one ladder and two engines, one of which is a spare. The department also has shared use of a hazmat mass decontamination trailer unit with the Kearny and Harrison Fire Departments. The fire department has mutual aid agreements with all Hudson County departments and is also a member of the Southern Bergen County Mutual Aid Association.
East Newark has a police department, led by Public Safety Director Al Bringa.