Little Ferry, New Jersey
Little Ferry 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 10,987, an increase of 361 from the 2010 census count of 10,626, which in turn reflected a decline of 174 from the 10,800 counted in the 2000 census.
History
Little Ferry was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 18, 1894, from portions of Lodi Township and New Barbadoes Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.During the colonial era, the borough was the site of an important ferry crossing between the region's towns at Bergen and Hackensack, which was operated by rope on the site starting in 1659, continuing until 1826 when it was replaced by a bridge on the Bergen Turnpike.
Gethsemane Cemetery, an African burial ground, was opened in 1860 and was used for interments until 1924. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
In the earlier 20th nearby Fort Lee on the Hudson Palisades was home to many film studios of America's first motion picture industry. On July 9, 1937, a major fire broke out in a 20th Century-Fox film storage facility in Little Ferry. Flammable nitrate film had previously contributed to several fires in film industry laboratories, studios and vaults, although the precise causes were often unknown; in the Little Ferry fire, temperatures of and insufficient venting were the proximate causes.
Rosie's Diner was used in the 1970s for the filming of Bounty paper towel commercials featuring Nancy Walker as Rosie the Waitress.
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Little Ferry 35th in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.67 square miles, including 1.48 square miles of land and 0.19 square miles of water.The borough borders the Bergen County municipalities of Hackensack, Moonachie, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, South Hackensack and Teterboro.
The borough lies near the confluence of the Hackensack River and Overpeck Creek in the New Jersey Meadowlands.
Demographics
2020 census
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 10,626 people, 4,239 households, and 2,730 families in the borough. The population density was. There were 4,439 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 60.78% White, 3.94% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 24.24% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 7.05% from other races, and 3.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.98% of the population. Korean Americans accounted for 12.0% of the population.Of the 4,239 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18; 47.9% were married couples living together; 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.6% were non-families. Of all households, 31.0% were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.19. Same-sex couples headed 27 households in 2010, an increase from the 24 counted in 2000.
19.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.8 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $57,276 and the median family income was $74,000. Males had a median income of $52,898 versus $40,934 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,257. About 4.8% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 10,800 people, 4,366 households, and 2,785 families residing in the borough. The population density was. There were 4,449 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the borough was 68.76% White, 4.71% African American, 0.15% Native American, 17.10% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.75% from other races, and 3.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.19% of the population.There were 4,366 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 36.3% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $49,958, and the median income for a family was $59,176. Males had a median income of $42,059 versus $34,286 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,210. About 5.9% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Little Ferry is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 218 municipalities statewide that use this form, the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the 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 Little Ferry 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 Little Ferry is Democrat Mauro D. Raguseo, serving now in his 5th consecutive term of office which ends December 31, 2027. Raguseo previously was elected and served on the borough council from 2000- 2007. He was elected to the council at the age of 22, at the time one of the youngest elected officials in the State of New Jersey. He was elected the youngest Mayor in Borough history November 2007 at the age of 29. In 2024 he became the longest serving mayor in Little Ferry's history elected five times to the office. Members of the borough council are Council President Ronald Anzalone, Jenifer Lange, Stephen Lanum, George J. Muller, Alexander Enrique and Peggy Steinhilber.
In the 2011 election, Mauro Raguseo was re-elected, defeating Republican Bernard Sobolewski, while council incumbents Roberta Henriquez and Peggy Steinhilber earned new terms in office, fending off Republican challengers Eileen De Leeuw and Stephen Lanum. In the 2010 general election, incumbents Thomas Sarlo and Sue Schuck were re-elected to three-year terms of office, knocking off Republican challengers Foster Lowe and Claudia Zilocchi.
Federal, state and county representation
Little Ferry is located in the 9th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 38th state legislative district.Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,008 registered voters in Little Ferry, of which 1,511 were registered as Democrats, 634 were registered as Republicans and 2,860 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 47.1% were registered to vote, including 58.7% of those ages 18 and over.In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,024 votes, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,091 votes and other candidates with 25 votes, among the 3,159 ballots cast by the borough's 5,344 registered voters, for a turnout of 59.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,237 votes, ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,537 votes and other candidates with 38 votes, among the 3,844 ballots cast by the borough's 5,393 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.3%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 2,064 votes, ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,645 votes and other candidates with 29 votes, among the 3,759 ballots cast by the borough's 5,335 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.5%.
| Year | Republican | Democratic |
| 2024 | 49.7% 2,014 | 47.0% 1,903 |
| 2020 | 40.8% 1,873 | 58.1% 2,665 |
| 2016 | 41.3% 1,491 | 55.6% 2,007 |
| 2012 | 34.5% 1,091 | 64.1% 2,024 |
| 2008 | 40.0% 1,537 | 58.2% 2,237 |
| 2004 | 43.8% 1,645 | 54.9% 2,064 |
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.7% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.6%, and other candidates with 0.7%, among the 2,012 ballots cast by the borough's 5,051 registered voters, for a turnout of 39.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 1,160 ballots cast, ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 908 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 114 votes and other candidates with 13 votes, among the 2,225 ballots cast by the borough's 5,180 registered voters, yielding a 43.0% turnout.