Garfield, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Garfield, New Jersey
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City
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Dahnert's Lake County Park, located in the center of the city
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| Nickname(s):
"City of Champions"
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Location of Garfield in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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Census Bureau map of Garfield, New Jersey
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 Garfield, New Jersey
Location in Bergen County, New Jersey
Garfield, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Garfield, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | Bergen | |
| Incorporated | March 15, 1898 (as Borough) April 19, 1917 (as City) |
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| Named for | James Garfield | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | 1923 Municipal Manager Law | |
| • Body | City Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.19 sq mi (5.67 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.11 sq mi (5.47 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2) 3.65% | |
| Area rank | 395th of 565 in state 45th of 70 in county |
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| Elevation | 98 ft (30 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 32,655 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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32,456 | |
| • Rank | 71st of 565 in state 5th of 70 in county |
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| • Density | 15,469.0/sq mi (5,972.6/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 18th of 565 in state 5th of 70 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07026
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| Area code(s) | 973 | |
| FIPS code | 3400325770 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0876557 | |
Garfield is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey, in the United States. It's known for its friendly community and rich history.
As of the 2020 United States census, Garfield had a population of 32,655 people. This was a good increase of over 2,000 people since the 2010 census. The city continues to grow and welcome new residents.
Contents
History of Garfield, New Jersey
Early Settlement and Naming of Garfield
The area where Garfield now stands was originally home to the Lenape, a group of Native American people. European settlement began in 1679. Jacques Cortelyou bought a large piece of land, over 5,000 acres, around the Passaic River. This land was known as "Acqueyquinonke."
In 1873, the first homes were built by Gilbert D. Bogart. At that time, the community was called East Passaic.
The name changed to Garfield in 1881. This was done to honor James Garfield, who was the President of the United States. There are two main stories about why the name changed. One story says that after Garfield was elected president, the founder of East Passaic wanted to rename the town after him. President Garfield was sadly assassinated seven months later, but the name stuck.
Another story suggests that a new train station was named after President Garfield following his death. This led to the surrounding area also becoming known as Garfield.
Garfield Becomes a City
Garfield officially became a borough on March 15, 1898. Its boundaries were set by the New Jersey Legislature and are still the same today. Later, on April 19, 1917, Garfield changed from a borough to a city. This decision was made after a vote by the people living there.
Geography and Environment
Where is Garfield Located?
Garfield is a relatively small city. According to the United States Census Bureau, it covers about 2.19 square miles (5.67 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
The city shares its land borders with nearby towns like Elmwood Park, Lodi, Saddle Brook, and South Hackenack. The Saddle River forms a border with Wallington. There are also three bridges that cross the Passaic River, connecting Garfield to Passaic and Clifton in Passaic County.
Environmental Efforts in Garfield
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked on cleaning up a site in Garfield. This site had groundwater contaminated with a chemical called hexavalent chromium. This contamination came from a spill in 1983 at a company that is no longer in business.
In 2016, the EPA started a big project to clean up the site. They used money from the Superfund program to help fix the environmental issue.
People and Community
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,028 | — | |
| 1900 | 3,504 | 240.9% | |
| 1910 | 10,213 | 191.5% | |
| 1920 | 19,381 | 89.8% | |
| 1930 | 29,739 | 53.4% | |
| 1940 | 28,044 | −5.7% | |
| 1950 | 27,550 | −1.8% | |
| 1960 | 29,253 | 6.2% | |
| 1970 | 30,797 | 5.3% | |
| 1980 | 26,803 | −13.0% | |
| 1990 | 26,727 | −0.3% | |
| 2000 | 29,786 | 11.4% | |
| 2010 | 30,487 | 2.4% | |
| 2020 | 32,655 | 7.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 32,456 | 6.5% | |
| Population sources: 1890–1920 1880–1890 1890–1930 1900–2020 2000 2010 2020 |
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Garfield has seen its population grow significantly over the years. From just over 1,000 people in 1890, it grew to more than 30,000 by 2010. This shows how the city has developed and attracted more residents.
Community Life and Diversity
Garfield is a diverse city with people from many different backgrounds. The median age in Garfield is 35.4 years old. This is one of the youngest median ages in Bergen County, meaning there are many young people and families living here.
The city is home to the beautiful Russian Orthodox Church of Three Saints. This church serves the growing Ukrainian American community in the area.
Education in Garfield
Public Schools in Garfield
The Garfield Public Schools district provides education for students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. This means students can go to school in Garfield from their earliest years until they graduate high school.
The district has 12 schools in total. These include several preschools and elementary schools for younger students. There is also Garfield Middle School for grades 6-8 and Garfield High School for grades 9-12.
Special Programs and Charter Schools
Students in Garfield can also attend specialized programs. The Bergen County Technical Schools offer advanced technical and academic programs. These include the Bergen County Academies and Bergen Tech campuses. Students apply to these schools, and if accepted, their home school district covers the tuition.
Bergen Arts and Science Charter School also serves students from Garfield. This charter school opened in 2006. It has elementary and middle school facilities in Garfield, with the high school located in Hackensack.
Emergency Services
Garfield Police Department
The Garfield Police Department (GPD) is responsible for keeping the city safe. They provide emergency help and protection to all residents. The GPD has 66 police officers who work to serve the community.
Garfield Fire Department
The Garfield Fire Department (GFD) is made up entirely of volunteers. It was started on July 17, 1893. The department has about 150 trained firefighters. They operate from five different firehouses across the city.
The GFD has various types of fire trucks and equipment. This includes engine companies, a rescue engine, and a ladder company. They also have special units for hazardous materials and water rescues.
Transportation in Garfield
Roads and Highways
Garfield has a good network of roads that help people get around. Major roads that pass through the city include U.S. Route 46 and County Route 507. Other important local roads are Midland Avenue, Outwater Lane, River Drive, and Passaic Street. There are also five bridges that cross the Lower Passaic River.
Public Transportation Options
Public transportation is available through NJ Transit. There are two train stations in Garfield: the Garfield station and the Plauderville station. These stations are on the Bergen County Line. This line provides train service to Hoboken Terminal. From there, you can transfer to other trains to reach places like Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.
NJ Transit also offers bus services in Garfield. Several bus routes connect Garfield to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. There are also local bus routes that help residents travel within the city and to nearby areas.
Notable People from Garfield
Many interesting people have come from Garfield, New Jersey. Here are a few:
- Miles Austin (born 1984), a wide receiver who played for the Dallas Cowboys.
- Linda Bove (born 1945), a deaf actress famous for playing Linda the Librarian on Sesame Street.
- Wayne Chrebet (born 1973), a wide receiver who played for the New York Jets.
- Eddie Brigati (born 1945), a singer and songwriter, and a founding member of The Rascals.
- Michael J. Pollard (1939–2019), an actor known for his role in the movie Bonnie and Clyde.
- Gianfranco Iannotta (born 1994), a track and field athlete who won a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
Images for kids
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Bird's-eye view of Garfield New Jersey, image from memory.loc.gov
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Post Ford at River Drive and Columbus Avenue – Revolutionary War Monument
See also
In Spanish: Garfield (Nueva Jersey) para niños
