Passaic County, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Passaic County
County
The Great Falls of the Passaic River in Paterson
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
Founded	February 7, 1837
Named for	"Pasaeck", a Lenape word meaning "valley"
Seat	Paterson
Largest municipality	Paterson (population) West Milford (area)
Area
• Total	198.39 sq mi (513.8 km2)
• Land	186.01 sq mi (481.8 km2)
• Water	12.38 sq mi (32.1 km2)  6.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	524,118
• Estimate  (2024)	526,597
• Density	2,641.86/sq mi (1,020.027/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts	5th, 9th, 11th

Bergen and Passaic counties, 1872

Passaic County is a county in the state of New Jersey. It is part of the larger New York metropolitan area. In 2020, Passaic County was the eighth-most-populated county in New Jersey. It had 524,118 people, which was its highest number ever recorded. This was an increase of over 22,000 people since 2010.

The largest city in Passaic County is Paterson. Paterson is also the county seat, which means it's where the county government is located. More than 30% of the county's population lives in Paterson. West Milford is the largest town by land area, covering over 40% of the county's total space. Passaic County is in the northern part of New Jersey.

History of Passaic County

How Passaic County Got Its Name

Passaic County was formed on February 7, 1837. It was created from parts of Bergen and Essex counties. The name "Passaic" comes from "Pasaeck," a word from the native Lenape people. It means "valley."

Geography and Climate

Passaic County is located in northern New Jersey. It has some hilly areas and many lakes. The county is about 30 miles long and 20 miles wide. Major roads like Interstate 287 and Interstate 80 cross through it, especially near Paterson. The Garden State Parkway also runs through the southern part, near Clifton.

The Passaic River flows northeast past Totowa into Paterson. Then, it turns south towards Passaic and Newark. The highest points in the county are on Bearfort Ridge in West Milford, reaching about 1,480 feet above sea level. The lowest point is about 20 feet along the Passaic River in Clifton.

The southeastern part of the county, where most people live, is mostly flat or gently hilly. The northwestern part is rugged and mountainous. It is part of the New Jersey Highlands.

The county has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm to hot summers and cold winters. In Paterson, average temperatures range from 19°F in January to 86°F in July. The county gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Passaic County covers 198.39 square miles. About 186.01 square miles (93.8%) is land, and 12.38 square miles (6.2%) is water.

Population and People

Passaic County in 2020

In 2020, Passaic County had 524,118 people. The population density was about 2,818 people per square mile. The county is very diverse. About 38.8% of residents were White, 9.9% were African American, and 5.76% were Asian. A large part of the population, 42.74%, identified as Hispanic or Latino.

There were 168,059 households in the county. About 30.4% of these households had children under 18 living there. Many households were married couples (48.6%). The average household had 2.93 people. The median age in the county was 37.7 years old.

How Passaic County is Governed

County Government Structure

The Passaic County Court House and Administration Building complex (center) is located in Downtown Paterson.

The main government buildings for Passaic County are in Paterson. The county is run by a Board of County Commissioners. There are seven Commissioners, and they are elected by all the voters in the county. They serve three-year terms.

The Commissioners choose a Director and a Deputy Director from among themselves each January. They also have six main committees that handle different areas like finance, health, public works, and public safety. The Commissioners also appoint people to help run different county departments and agencies.

As of 2025, the Passaic County Commissioners include:

The county also has other important elected officials:

The Passaic County Prosecutor is Camelia M. Valdes. She was appointed in 2009. The county's main court is the New Jersey Superior Court, located in Paterson. The Passaic County Sheriff's Office and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office help keep the county safe. They also assist local police departments.

Representatives in Washington D.C.

Passaic County is covered by three different Congressional Districts. These districts send representatives to the U.S. Congress in Washington D.C.

• Most of the northern part of the county is in the 5th District.
• Most of the southern part is in the 9th District.
• The central part is in the 11th District.

State Representatives

The towns and cities in Passaic County are represented by seven different legislative districts in the New Jersey state government. Each district has a Senator and two Assembly members.

The northwestern part of the county, including Bloomingdale, Pompton Lakes, Ringwood, Wanaque, and West Milford, is part of the New Jersey Highlands. This area is known for its natural beauty and is important for water preservation.

Law Enforcement

The Passaic County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement across the entire county. They patrol areas, investigate crimes, and manage the Passaic County Jail. They also provide security for county buildings. Each town and city in the county also has its own local police department. These local departments usually handle law enforcement within their own borders.

Transportation

Getting Around by Public Transit

Passaic County has several NJ Transit train stations. These stations are on the Montclair-Boonton Line and the Main Line. Some of the stations include:

• Montclair State University
• Little Falls
• Wayne/Route 23
• Mountain View
• Hawthorne
• Paterson
• Clifton
• Passaic
• Delawanna

Roads and Highways

Many important roads run through Passaic County. These include:

• County Routes: CR 502, CR 504, CR 509, CR 511, and CR 513.
• New Jersey Routes: Route 19, Route 20, Route 21, Route 23, Route 3, Route 161, and Route 62.
• U.S. Routes: U.S. Route 202 and U.S. Route 46.
• Interstates: Interstate 80 and Interstate 287.
• Parkway: The Garden State Parkway also passes through Clifton.

Politics

Passaic County has historically been a "swing county," meaning it often voted for the winning presidential candidate. However, since 1996, it has mostly voted for Democratic candidates. In the 2024 presidential election, the county voted Republican. This was the first time a Republican presidential candidate won the county since 1992. This change shows a recent shift in the county's voting patterns.

As of August 1, 2020, there were over 318,000 registered voters in Passaic County. About 40.3% were registered as Democrats, 20.3% as Republicans, and 37.8% were not affiliated with any party.

Towns and Cities

Passaic County has 16 different towns and cities, called municipalities. Some of these municipalities also contain smaller, unincorporated communities. These smaller areas are often used for census purposes.

Other Communities

• Montclair State University (partially in Passaic County)

Economy

In 2021, the total value of all goods and services produced in Passaic County was $20.5 billion. This ranked it 13th in New Jersey and was an increase of 4.8% from the year before.

Companies in Passaic County

Several companies have their main offices in Passaic County:

• Toys "R" Us used to have its U.S. headquarters in Wayne.
• Valley National Bank has its main office in Wayne.
• JVC has its U.S. office in Wayne.

Education

Passaic County offers several options for higher education and specialized schooling:

• Passaic County Community College: This college was founded in 1971. It serves students from Passaic County at campuses in Paterson, Wanaque, and Wayne.
• William Paterson University: Established in 1855, this is a public university located in Wayne.
• Montclair State University: Founded in 1908, this public university is mainly in Montclair, but parts of its campus are also in Little Falls and Clifton.
• Passaic County Technical Institute: This school, founded in 1975, provides vocational training for students in grades 9-12.

Media

Passaic County receives television and radio broadcasts from New York City. There are also local newspapers that serve the area:

• The West Milford Messenger is a community newspaper for the West Milford area.
• The Record, Suburban Trends and AIM West Milford are weekly community newspapers.

Fun Places to Visit

Passaic County has many interesting places to explore:

• Dey Mansion: Located in Wayne, this historic house served as George Washington's headquarters during the American Revolutionary War.
• Garret Mountain Reservation: This large park in Paterson and Woodland Park covers 568 acres. It is a National Natural Landmark.
• Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park: A beautiful park in Paterson featuring the impressive Great Falls of the Passaic River.
• High Mountain Park Preserve: A natural area in Wayne, great for hiking and enjoying nature.
• Hinchliffe Stadium: This stadium in Paterson has 7,000 seats. It was once used for Negro league baseball. Since 2023, it has been the home of the New Jersey Jackals baseball team.
• Lambert Castle: A historic castle in Paterson that you can visit.
• Long Pond Ironworks State Park: Located in West Milford, this park preserves the remains of an old iron-making village.
• Paterson Museum: Housed in the former Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works building in Paterson, it showcases the city's industrial history.
• Ringwood State Park: A large state park in Ringwood with beautiful natural areas.
• Skylands, the New Jersey State Botanical Garden: Located in Ringwood, these formal gardens are open to the public all year. They include a Lilac Garden, Magnolia Walk, and many other plant collections.
• Yogi Berra Stadium: Located on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls. It was home to the New Jersey Jackals until 2022 and is still used by Montclair State's baseball team.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Passaic para niños