PASSAIC County, NJ

thumb|right|Bergen and Passaic counties, 1872

Passaic County is a county in the U.S. state of New Jersey that is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population of Passaic County was enumerated at 524,118, an increase of 22,892 (4.6%) from the 501,226 counted at the 2010 U.S. Census, in turn an increase of 12,177 (+2.5%) from the 489,049 counted in the 2000 Census. The most populous place in Passaic County is Paterson, with 159,732 residents at the 2020 Census, more than 29% of the county's population, while West Milford covered , the largest total area of any municipality and more than 40% of the county's area.

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

Geography

The landscape of Passaic County, near the north edge of New Jersey, spans some hilly areas and has dozens of lakes. The county covers a region about . The region is split by major roads, including portions of Interstate 287 and I-80, near Paterson. The Garden State Parkway (GSP) cuts across the southern end, near Clifton. The Passaic River winds northeast past Totowa into Paterson, where the river then turns south to Passaic town, on the way to Newark, further south.

The highest point is any one of six areas on Bearfort Ridge in West Milford at approximately above sea level. The lowest elevation is approximately 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 , including of land (93.7%) and of water (6.35%).

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Paterson have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1961 and a record high of was recorded in September 1953. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in September. The county has a humid continental climate which is hot-summer (Dfa) except in higher areas to the north where it is warm-summer (Dfb).

Demographics

2020 Census

As of the Census of 2020, the county's had 524,118 people, 168,059 households, and 120,593 families. The population density was . There were 185,367 housing units at an average density of . The county's racial makeup was 38.8% White, 9.9% African American, 0.13% Native American, 5.76% Asian, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 42.74% of the population.

Of the 168,059 households, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 30.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 15.2% had a male householder with no wife present and 28.2% were non-families. 47.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.49.

About 23.7% of the county's population was under age 18, 9.6% was from age 18 to 24, 39.6% was from age 15 to 44, and 15.0% was age 65 or older. The median age was 37.7 years. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males.

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.

2010 Census

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.

Law, government, policing

The Passaic County Court House and Administrative Building complex is located at the county seat in Paterson.

In Passaic County's commission form of government, the Board of County Commissioners discharge both executive and legislative responsibilities. Seven Freeholders are elected at-large for three-year terms on a staggered basis. A Freeholder Director and Freeholder Deputy Director are elected from among the seven Freeholders at an annual reorganization meeting in January. Passaic County operates through six standing committees of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. 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 Freeholders also appoint individuals to departments, agencies, boards and commissions for the effective administration of county government. In 2016, freeholders were paid $28,500 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $29,500. The Freeholders select a County Administrator who, in the role of chief administrative officer, supervises the day-to-day operation of county government and its departments; Anthony J. DeNova III is the County Administrator.

, Passaic County's Commissioners are:

Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term). Constitutional officers. elected on a countywide basis are:

The Passaic County Prosecutor is Camelia M. Valdes of Bloomingdale, who was nominated by Governor of New Jersey Jon S. Corzine in May 2009 and renominated by Governor Chris Christie in June 2015.

Passaic County constitutes Vicinage 11 of the New Jersey Superior Court and is seated at the Passaic County Courthouse in Paterson; the Assignment Judge for Vicinage 11 is Ernest M. Caposela. Law enforcement at the county level is provided by the Passaic County Sheriff and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.

U.S. representatives

Three federal 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.

State representatives

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

Policing

The Passaic County sheriff's department provides law enforcement functions throughout entire Passaic 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 Courthouse/Administration Complex. The incorporated cities within the county: Paterson, Passaic City, Clifton, Bloomingdale, Pompton Lakes, Prospect Park have separate municipal police departments.

Politics

As of August 1, 2020, there were a total of 318,029 registered voters in Passaic County, of which 128,114 (40.3%) were registered as Democrats, 64,389 (20.3%) were registered as Republicans and 120,282 (37.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5,244 (1.7%) voters registered to other parties. Among the county's 2010 Census population, 53.2% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 70.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).

In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 58.8% of the vote here (113,257 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 37.7% (72,552 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (1,586 votes), among the 192,558 ballots cast by the county's 273,483 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 53.9% of the vote here (94,962 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 42.7% (75,200 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (1,149 votes), among the 176,303 ballots cast by the county's 254,569 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 69.3.

In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 50.8% of the vote here (57,010 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 43.2% (48,500 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 3.8% (4,288 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (981 votes), among the 112,278 ballots cast by the county's 262,723 registered voters, yielding a 42.7% turnout.

Municipalities

thumb|right|300px|labeled outline map of municipalities

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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.

Economy

Education

Media

Passaic County is served by New York City-based commercial television & radio stations and New Jersey Network public television.

Points of interest