kids encyclopedia robot

Passaic County, New Jersey facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Passaic County
County
Passaic County
The Great Falls of the Passaic River in Paterson
Official seal of Passaic County
Seal
Map of New Jersey highlighting Passaic County
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
Map of the United States highlighting New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
Founded February 7, 1837
Seat Paterson
Largest city Paterson (population)
West Milford (area)
Area
 • Total 197.10 sq mi (510.5 km2)
 • Land 184.59 sq mi (478.1 km2)
 • Water 12.51 sq mi (32.4 km2)  6.35%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 501,226
507,945 (2016 est.; 9th largest)
 • Density 2,768/sq mi (1,068.7/km2)
Congressional districts 5th, 9th, 11th
Bergen Passaic 1872
Bergen and Passaic counties, 1872

Passaic County ( pə-SAY-ik, locally pə-SAYK) is a county in the U.S. state of New Jersey that is part of the New York metropolitan area.

As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226, an increase of 12,177 (+2.5%) from the 489,049 counted in the 2000 Census, As of the 2016 Census estimate, the county's population was 507,945, making it the state's ninth-most populous county, and marking an increase of 1.3% from 2010. Its county seat is Paterson. The most populous place was Paterson, with 146,199 residents at the time of the 2010 Census, more than 29% of the county's population, while West Milford, covered 80.32 square miles (208.0 km2), the largest total area of any municipality, more than 40% of the county's area.

Passaic County was created on February 7, 1837, from portions of Bergen County and Essex County.

Geography

The highest point is any one of six areas on Bearfort Ridge in West Milford at approximately 1,480 feet (450 m) above sea level. The lowest elevation is approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) along the Passaic River in Clifton.

The southeastern, more populous half of the county is either flat near the river or mildly hilly. The northwestern section is rugged and mountainous.

According to the 2010 Census, the county had a total area of 197.10 square miles (510.5 km2), including 184.59 square miles (478.1 km2) of land (93.7%) and 12.51 square miles (32.4 km2) of water (6.35%).

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1840 16,734 —
1850 22,569 34.9%
1860 29,013 28.6%
1870 46,416 60.0%
1880 68,860 48.4%
1890 105,046 52.6%
1900 155,202 47.7%
1910 215,902 39.1%
1920 259,174 20.0%
1930 302,129 16.6%
1940 309,353 2.4%
1950 337,093 9.0%
1960 406,618 20.6%
1970 460,782 13.3%
1980 447,585 −2.9%
1990 453,060 1.2%
2000 489,049 7.9%
2010 501,226 2.5%
Est. 2016 507,945 1.3%
Historical sources: 1790-1990
1970-2010 2000 2010 2000-2010

2010 Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 501,226 people, 166,785 households, and 120,919 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,715.3 per square mile (1,048.4/km2). There were 175,966 housing units at an average density of 953.3 per square mile (368.1/km2)*. The racial makeup of the county was 62.65% (314,001) White, 12.83% (64,295) Black or African American, 0.67% (3,348) Native American, 5.01% (25,092) Asian, 0.03% (156) Pacific Islander, 15.11% (75,735) from other races, and 3.71% (18,599) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.04% (185,677) of the population.

There were 166,785 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.45.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 12% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.1 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 91.1 males.

Same-sex couples headed one in 149 households in 2010.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 489,049 people, 163,856 households, and 119,614 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,639 people per square mile (1,019/km²). There were 170,048 housing units at an average density of 918 per square mile (354/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 62.32% White, 13.22% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 3.69% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 16.24% from other races, and 4.05% from two or more races. 29.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among those who reported their ancestry, 16.6% were of Italian, 9.5% Irish, 8.1% German and 6.2% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 163,856 households out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.50% were married couples living together, 16.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.42.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,210, and the median income for a family was $56,054. Males had a median income of $38,740 versus $29,954 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,370. About 9.40% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

Municipalities

Passaic County, NJ municipalities labeled
labeled outline map of municipalities

Municipalities in Passaic County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units and area in square miles) are: Other, unincorporated communities in the county are listed next to their parent municipality. Most of these areas are census-designated places (CDPs) that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township. Other communities and enclaves that exist within a municipality are also listed next to the name.

Municipality Municipal
type		 Population Housing
units		 Total
area		 Water
area		 Land
area		 Pop.
density		 Housing
density		 Unincorporated communities / notes
Bloomingdale borough 7,656 3,089 9.17 0.45 8.71 878.6 354.5
Clifton city 84,136 31,946 11.40 0.14 11.26 7,472.0 2,837.1
Haledon borough 8,318 2,932 1.16 0.00 1.15 7,203.9 2,539.3
Hawthorne borough 18,791 7,756 3.36 0.03 3.33 5,635.3 2,326.0
Little Falls township 14,432 4,925 2.81 0.07 2.74 5,276.2 1,800.5 Great Notch
Singac CDP (3,618)
North Haledon borough 8,417 3,213 3.50 0.04 3.45 2,436.8 930.2
Passaic city 69,781 20,432 3.24 0.10 3.15 22,179.6 6,494.2
Paterson city 146,199 47,946 8.70 0.28 8.43 17,346.3 5,688.7
Pompton Lakes borough 11,097 4,341 3.19 0.28 2.91 3,809.1 1,490.1
Prospect Park borough 5,865 1,931 0.48 0.00 0.48 12,347.2 4,065.2
Ringwood borough 12,228 4,331 28.17 2.96 25.21 485.0 171.8
Totowa borough 10,804 3,918 4.07 0.07 3.99 2,704.9 980.9
Wanaque borough 11,116 4,184 9.25 1.26 7.99 1,391.2 523.7 Haskell
Wayne township 54,717 19,768 25.17 1.45 23.73 2,306.0 833.1 Packanack Lake
Pines Lake
Preakness
West Milford township 25,850 10,419 80.32 5.23 75.09 344.3 138.8 Cooper
Hewitt
Macopin
Newfoundland
Oak Ridge
Woodland Park borough 11,819 4,835 3.11 0.15 2.96 3,987.9 1,631.4 (formerly West Paterson)
Passaic County county 501,226 175,966 197.11 12.51 184.59 2,715.3 953.3

Transportation

Roads and highways

As of 2010, the county had a total of 1,320.70 miles (2,125.46 km) of roadways, of which 1,024.41 miles (1,648.63 km) are maintained by the municipality, 237.45 miles (382.14 km) by Passaic County and 54.34 miles (87.45 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 4.50 miles (7.24 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

The major highways that travel through Passaic County are Interstate 287, Interstate 80, U.S. Route 202, U.S. Route 46, Route 23, Route 21, Route 20, Route 19, Route 4, Route 3, and the Garden State Parkway. The parkway crosses the county in Clifton, connecting Bloomfield in Essex County to the south to Elmwood Park in Bergen County in the north. Parkway interchanges 153 (signed for Route 3 and Route 46 West) / 153A (for Route 3 East) / 153B (for Route 3 and Route 46 West), 154 (for Route 46), 155 (for Clifton) / 155P (for Clifton / Paterson) and 156 (to Route 46).

Public transportation

NJ Transit's Main Line serves the eastern part of Passaic County, with station stops at Hawthorne, Paterson, Clifton, Passaic and Delawanna. Numerous New Jersey Transit bus routes serve Passaic County as well.

Points of interest

Climate and weather

Weather chart for Paterson, New Jersey
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
3.5
 
38
19
 
 
2.8
 
41
22
 
 
4.1
 
50
30
 
 
4.3
 
62
40
 
 
4.2
 
72
50
 
 
4.4
 
81
60
 
 
4.5
 
86
65
 
 
3.8
 
84
63
 
 
4.7
 
76
55
 
 
4.3
 
64
42
 
 
4
 
54
34
 
 
4
 
43
25
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Paterson have ranged from a low of 19 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −11 °F (−24 °C) was recorded in January 1961 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in September 1953. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.86 inches (73 mm) in February to 4.78 inches (121 mm) in September.

Images for kids

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Passaic County, New Jersey Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.