Garfield, New Jersey
Garfield is a city in Bergen County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 32,655, an increase of 2,168 from the 2010 census count of 30,487, which in turn reflected an increase of 701 from the 29,786 counted in the 2000 census.
History
Long the home of the Lenape, Native Americans, European settlement in the area that would become Garfield dates back to 1679, when Jacques Cortelyou acquired more than of land surrounding the Passaic River known as "Acqueyquinonke", that ran from the Saddle River to present day Glen Rock.When the area that is now Garfield was first developed in 1873 with an initial group of seven homes constructed by Gilbert D. Bogart, it was known as East Passaic.
In 1881, the community's name was changed to Garfield in honor of President of the United States James Garfield. There are two explanations given for the circumstances behind the renaming. According to one, shortly after Garfield was elected to the presidency the founder of East Passaic said, "tell everyone...don't speak of East Passaic anymore; call it 'Garfield' after the man who will lead this great country to prosperity." Seven months later, President Garfield was assassinated but his name remained with the community. The second theory holds that after Garfield's death in 1881, a new train station was named in his honor, which in turn led to the surrounding area becoming associated with his name as well.
Garfield was originally incorporated as a borough on March 15, 1898, from portions of Saddle River Township and Wallington. At the time, the New Jersey Legislature set Garfield's boundaries as they exist today. On April 19, 1917, the borough became the City of Garfield, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 2.19 square miles, including 2.11 square miles of land and 0.08 square miles of water.Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Belmont, Bogart Heights, Dundee Dam and Plauderville.
The city has land borders with adjacent Elmwood Park, Lodi, Saddle Brook and South Hackensack. The Saddle River is a shared border with Wallington. There are three bridges over the Passaic River crossing the municipal and county line to Passaic and Clifton in Passaic County.
Environment
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has identified Garfield as the site of groundwater contaminated hexavalent chromium from a spill in 1983 at the E.C. Electroplating Corporation site. In 2016, the EPA announced a $37 million project to cleanup contamination at the site using Superfund money, as the company responsible for the spill of of chromic acid is no longer in business.Demographics
Based on data from the 2011–2015 American Community Survey, the city had a median age of 35.4, the lowest median age in the county. Garfield was one of four municipalities with a median age below the national and state average of 37.6, and well below the median age of 41.5 in Bergen County.The borough is also home to the architecturally prominent Russian Orthodox Church of Three Saints, which serves the growing Ukrainian American community in western Bergen County.
2020 census
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 30,487 people, 11,073 households, and 7,718 families in the city. The population density was. There were 11,788 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 76.73% White, 6.50% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 2.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 10.85% from other races, and 3.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.24% of the population.Of the 11,073 households, 33.4% had children under the age of 18; 45.2% were married couples living together; 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.3% were non-families. Of all households, 24.7% were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.29.
23.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $51,407 and the median family income was $56,701. Males had a median income of $42,927 versus $33,231 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,022. About 9.8% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of ages 65 years or over.
Same-sex couples headed 68 households in 2010.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 29,786 people, 11,250 households, and 7,425 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 11,698 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 82.11% White, 2.98% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 8.10% from other races, and 3.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.11% of the population.There were 11,250 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 22.4% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,748, and the median income for a family was $51,654. Males had a median income of $35,987 versus $26,896 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,530. About 6.4% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2000 Census, an adjusted 22.9% of Garfield's population reported Polish ancestry, ranked third highest in New Jersey behind Manville and neighboring Wallington.
Government
Local government
The City of Garfield operates under the 1923 Municipal Manager Law of New Jersey municipal government, with a governing body comprised of a five-member Council, who appoint a City Manager. Council members are elected at-large in non-partisan elections to serve four-year terms on a concurrent basis. The city is one of seven municipalities statewide that use this form of government. In November 2015, following a referendum that supported the move by a 3-1 margin, the City Council voted to shift the city's municipal elections from May to November, citing hopes for greater voter participation and potential savings of $50,000 for each election; the shift result in the extension of terms for the then-serving council and municipal manager by six months, to the end of December 2016. The most recent municipal election was held on November 8, 2016, together with the presidential election.At a reorganization meeting held after each election, the Council selects one of its members to be the Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor. The day-to-day operation of the city is carried out under the supervision of the appointed department heads, who report to the City Manager.
, members of the Garfield City Council are Mayor Everett E. Garnto Jr., Deputy Mayor Kevin Kane, Deputy Mayor Tana Raymond, Joseph Delaney and Richard Rigoglioso, all serving concurrent terms of office that end December 31, 2028.
In July 2021, the city council appointed Alejandina Banch to fill the council seat that had been held by Erin Nora Delaney until she stepped down to take office as the city manager / clerk, succeeding Thomas Duch, who had been appointed as the administrator of Bergen County. Banch served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
Federal, state and county representation
Garfield is located in the 9th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 35th state legislative district.Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 11,904 registered voters in Garfield, of which 3,958 were registered as Democrats, 1,395 were registered as Republicans and 6,541 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 10 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the city's 2010 Census population, 39.0% were registered to vote, including 50.9% of those ages 18 and over.In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 5,477 votes, ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 3,782 votes and other candidates with 299 votes, among the 9,690 ballots cast by the city's 14,816 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.4%. In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,538 votes, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2,540 votes and other candidates with 96 votes, among the 8,256 ballots cast by the city's 13,183 registered voters, for a turnout of 62.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,138 votes, ahead of Republican John McCain with 3,315 votes and other candidates with 68 votes, among the 8,613 ballots cast by the city's 13,013 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 4,804 votes, ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 3,394 votes and other candidates with 66 votes, among the 8,305 ballots cast by the city's 12,665 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.6%.
| Year | Republican | Democratic |
| 2024 | 52.5% 5,342 | 44.6% 4,537 |
| 2020 | 42.7% 4,761 | 55.9% 6,233 |
| 2016 | 39.6% 3,782 | 57.3% 5,477 |
| 2012 | 30.8% 2,540 | 67.1% 5,538 |
| 2008 | 38.5% 3,315 | 59.7% 5,138 |
| 2004 | 40.9% 3,394 | 57.8% 4,804 |
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 50.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 48.0%, and other candidates with 1.6%, among the 3,960 ballots cast by the city's 12,609 registered voters, for a turnout of 31.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 2,428 ballots cast, ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,796 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 203 votes and other candidates with 27 votes, among the 4,490 ballots cast by the city's 12,282 registered voters, yielding a 36.6% turnout.