Passaic County, New Jersey

Etymology

Passaic County was created on February 7, 1837, from portions of Bergen and Essex counties.^[1] The county derives its name from "Pasaeck", which is a native Lenape word meaning "valley".^[12]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had 524,118 people, 177,075 households, and 120,593 families. The population density was 2,817.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,088.0/km²). There were 185,367 housing units at an average density of 996.59 per square mile (384.8/km²).^[18][4]

The racial makeup of the county was 43.8% White, 11.0% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.9% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 25.7% from some other race, and 12.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 42.7% of the population.^[19]

The median age was 37.9 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.4 males age 18 and over.^[18]

There were 177,075 households in the county, of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.9% were married-couple households, 17.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[18]

There were 185,367 housing units, of which 4.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 51.0% were owner-occupied and 49.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.5%.^[18]

97.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.8% lived in rural areas.^[20]

The county's median household income was $77,040, and the median family income was $81,873. About 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.^[4]

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 501,226 people, 166,785 households, and 120,919 families 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 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 or Latino of any race were 37.04% (185,677) of the population.^[8]

Of the 166,785 households, 34.5% had children under the age of 18; 48.7% were married couples living together; 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.5% were non-families. Of all households, 22.6% 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.^[8]

24.9% of the population were 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, the population had 94.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.1 males.^[8]

Same-sex couples headed one in 149 households in 2010.^[30]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census^[31] there were 489,049 people, 163,856 households, and 119,614 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,639 inhabitants 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.^[16][32] 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.^[32][33]

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.^[16]

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.^[16]

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.^[32][34]

County government

The Passaic County Court House and Administration Building complex is located at the county seat in Paterson.^[35] In Passaic County's commission form of government, the Board of County Commissioners discharges both executive and legislative responsibilities. Seven Commissioners are elected at-large for three-year terms on a staggered basis. A Director and Deputy Director are elected from among the seven Commissioners, at an annual reorganization meeting in January.^[36] Passaic County operates through six standing committees of the Board of County Commissioners. They are: Administration & Finance; Health, Education and Community Affairs; Public Works and Buildings & Grounds; Law & Public Safety; Human Services and Planning and Economic Development. The Commissioners also appoint individuals to departments, agencies, boards, and commissions for the effective administration of the county government. In 2016, commissioners were paid $28,500, and the director was paid an annual salary of $29,500.^[37] The Commissioners select a County Administrator, who, in the role of chief administrative officer, supervises the day-to-day operation of the county government and its departments; County counsel Matthew Jordan took office as administrator in 2022, succeeding Anthony J. DeNova III, who had served as administrator for 19 years.^[38][39]

As of 2025^[update], Passaic County's Commissioners are (with terms for Chair and Vice-Chair ending every December 31):^{[36][40][41][42][43][44]}

Democrats have been in the majority since winning two of three seats up for election in the 1997 general election. Republicans have not held a seat on the county board since Nicolino Gallo was elected in 2021.^[52] In March 2023, the commission swore Orlando Cruz, the president of the Greater Paterson Chamber of Commerce (as well as its counterpart in neighboring Wayne), into office to replace retiring commissioner T.J. Best, who resigned at the beginning of the month to spend time with family members down in Georgia.^[53][54]

Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis, are:

The Passaic County Prosecutor is Camelia M. Valdes of Bloomingdale, who was appointed by Governor of New Jersey Jon S. Corzine in May 2009, and renominated by Governor Chris Christie in June 2015.^[61][62] Passaic County constitutes Vicinage 11 of the New Jersey Superior Court and is seated at the Passaic County Court House in Paterson; the Assignment Judge for Vicinage 11 is Ernest M. Caposela.^[63] Law enforcement at the county level is provided by the Passaic County Sheriff's Office and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, which occasionally assist local police forces with investigations and patrol efforts.

Federal representatives

Three Congressional Districts cover the county, with most of the northern portion of the county in the 5th District, most of the southern portion of the county in the 9th District, and the central portion of the county in the 11th District.^[64][65] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 5th congressional district is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff).^[66] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 9th congressional district is represented by Nellie Pou (D, North Haledon)^[67] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 11th congressional district is currently vacant, following the resignation Mikie Sherrill (D, Montclair), who was elected Governor of New Jersey in 2025. A special election to replace Sherrill will be held on April 16, 2026.^[68][69][70]

State representatives

The 16 municipalities of Passaic County are represented by seven separate legislative districts.

Highlands protection

In 2004, the New Jersey Legislature passed the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, which regulates the New Jersey Highlands region. The northwestern area of the county, comprising the municipalities of Bloomingdale, Pompton Lakes, Ringwood, Wanaque and West Milford, was included in the highlands preservation area and is subject to the rules of the act and the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, a division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.^[72] Some of the territory in the protected region is classified as being in the highlands preservation area, and thus subject to additional rules.^[73]

Law enforcement

The Passaic County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement functions throughout the entirety of the county, plus unincorporated county area police patrol, detective, crime scene investigation, SWAT, K-9 function, operation of the Passaic County Jail, and the security of all county-owned facilities, including the Passaic County Court House and Administration Building. All of the incorporated municipalities within the county also have separate local police departments, almost always exclusively providing law enforcement operations within their physical boundaries.

In January 2024, Sheriff Richard Berdnik committed suicide inside a Turkish restaurant.^[74]

Public transportation

Passaic County has a number of NJ Transit stations, including Montclair State University, Little Falls, Wayne/Route 23, and Mountain View on the Montclair-Boonton Line. The “Main Line” corridor also runs through the county and includes the following stations: Hawthorne, Paterson, Clifton, Passaic, and Delawanna.

Roads and highways

Passaic County has numerous important roads that travel within its borders:^[75]

Major county roads that pass through include: CR 502 (only in Wayne), CR 504, CR 509 CR 511 and CR 513.

Route 19 runs entirely through the county, connecting the Garden State Parkway with Interstate 80 and Paterson. Both Route 20 and Route 21 run along the eastern border alongside the Passaic River. Route 23 runs through the western section of the county, while both Route 3 and Route 161 go through Clifton. Route 62 also runs passes through entirely in Totowa. U.S. Route 202 runs roughly north–south only in Wayne Township while U.S. Route 46 traverses east–west.

Interstate 80 (Bergen-Passaic Expressway) runs east–west through the county, while Interstate 287 passes through the mountainous sections of Passaic. The Garden State Parkway also runs through the county solely in Clifton.

State elections

Historic municipalities

• West Paterson Borough (renamed Woodland Park in 2009)

Other communities

• Montclair State University CDP (part; 2,180)

Corporation headquarters in Passaic County

• Toys "R" Us' former US corporate headquarters^[85] was in Wayne.
• Valley National Bank's corporate headquarters is in Wayne.^[86]
• Linens ‘n Things's headquarters office was in Clifton and employed 17,500 before closing in 2009.
• JVC has their US office in Wayne and employ approximately 19,040.^[87]