In 1840, the portions of Harrington Township west of the Hackensack River were taken away to create Washington Township. At that point, Harrington Township was somewhat in the form of a square measuring about 5 miles (8 km) on each side, bounded on the north by Rockland County, New York; east by the Hudson River, south by Hackensack Township and west by the Hackensack River. At that time, Norwood, Northvale (once called Neuvy), Old Tappan, Demarest, Closter, and Harrington Park were communities within Harrington Township.[24]
On March 14, 1905, Norwood seceded from its parent Harrington Township and was incorporated as an independent borough.[23][24][26]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.79 square miles (7.24 km2), including 2.79 square miles (7.21 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.32%).[1][2]
Of the 1,927 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18; 67.8% were married couples living together; 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.0% were non-families. Of all households, 18.2% were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.23.[20]Same-sex couples headed 7 households in 2010, an increase from the 6 counted in 2000.[36]
23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 88.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.4 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $102,132 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,413) and the median family income was $107,356 (+/− $10,538). Males had a median income of $80,837 (+/− $8,419) versus $56,429 (+/− $15,763) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,755 (+/− $5,524). About 0.6% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.[37]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 5,751 people, 1,857 households, and 1,563 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,091.4 inhabitants per square mile (807.5/km2). There were 1,888 housing units at an average density of 686.6 per square mile (265.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.86% Caucasian, 18.99% Asian, 0.83% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.94% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.99% of the population.[34][35]
As of the 2000 Census, 12.69% of Norwood's residents identified themselves as being of Korean ancestry, which was the eighth highest in the United States and sixth highest of any municipality in New Jersey, for all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[38]
There were 1,857 households, out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.26.[34][35]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.[34][35]
The median income for a household in the borough was $92,447, and the median income for a family was $100,329. Males had a median income of $70,000 versus $37,059 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,039. About 2.3% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.[34][35]
Government
Local government
Norwood is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[39] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[7][40] The borough form of government used by Norwood is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[41][42][43]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of Norwood is Republican James P. Barsa, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.[3] Members of the Borough Council are Council President Annie Hausman (D, 2023), Joseph Ascolese (R, 2024), Thomas L. Brizzolara (D, 2024), Edward P. Condoleo (R, 2025), Anthony Foschino (R, 2025) and Bong June "BJ" Kim (R, 2023).[40][44][45][46][47][48][49]
Ermin Suljic was appointed in July 2022 to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had become vacant following the resignation of John Rooney.[50]
In November 2018, the borough council selected Anthony Foschino from a list of candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2019 that had been held by Frank Marino.[51] In the November 2019 general election, Foschino was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[49]
Federal, state and county representation
Norwood is located in the 5th Congressional District[52] and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.[53][54][55]
Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at-large to three-year terms in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each November; a Chairman and Vice Chairman are selected from among its seven members at a reorganization meeting held every January. As of 2024[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[61]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,518 registered voters in Norwood, of which 961 (27.3% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 728 (20.7% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,829 (52.0% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[83] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 61.6% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 80.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[83][84]
In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 1,415 votes (50.5% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 1,249 votes (44.6% vs. 41.6%) and other candidates with 89 votes (3.2% vs. 3.0%), among the 2,801 ballots cast by the borough's 3,824 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.2% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County).[85] In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,296 votes (49.8% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,275 votes (49.0% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 18 votes (0.7% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,604 ballots cast by the borough's 3,683 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.7% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[86][87] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,458 votes (50.3% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,389 votes (47.9% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 25 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,897 ballots cast by the borough's 3,761 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.0% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[88][89] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,461 votes (51.9% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,317 votes (46.8% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 25 votes (0.9% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,813 ballots cast by the borough's 3,766 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.7% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[90]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.7% of the vote (966 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.7% (459 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (24 votes), among the 1,486 ballots cast by the borough's 3,510 registered voters (37 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.3%.[91][92] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,031 votes (52.7% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 803 votes (41.0% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 92 votes (4.7% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 11 votes (0.6% vs. 0.5%), among the 1,957 ballots cast by the borough's 3,630 registered voters, yielding a 53.9% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[93]
Public school students from the borough, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Paramus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.[103][104]
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 25.31 miles (40.73 km) of roadways, of which 18.27 miles (29.40 km) were maintained by the municipality and 7.04 miles (11.33 km) by Bergen County.[105]
The forests in Norwood house many deciduous species, sheltering deer, wild turkey, turtles, foxes, rabbits, and coyotes. Suburban sprawl is beginning to interfere with the wildlife. Deer and auto collisions as well as human interaction with coyotes have been an issue.[110]
Chodae Community Church – By 2000, the congregation had grown to 700 members and the church sought approval from the borough for the construction of a $5 million, 47,000-square-foot (4,400 m2) facility on a 7 acres (2.8 ha) site that would include a sanctuary large enough to accommodate 720 worshipers. A local citizens group, the Norwood Civic Association was created to oppose church's plans, with more than one-third of all resident families joining the organization, which argued that the size of the proposed church would cause flooding and cause congestion on Sundays, given the proximity between the proposed site and the borough's athletic complex.[129]
^Government, Borough of Norwood. Accessed July 18, 2022. "The Borough of Norwood is a corporate body, having a corporate seal, with full power to make and enforce policy ordinances and impose penalties, enter into contracts and appropriate and expend moneys, and exercise the powers of taxation, borrowing and condemnation. The municipal corporation is comprised of a Mayor and six Council members."
^Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes for May 19, 2022, Borough of Norwood. Accessed July 18, 2022. "The mayor stated the reason for the meeting and the sole topic of discussion for this special meeting is to fill the vacancy in the governing body created by the resignation of Councilman Rooney.... Mayor Barsa offered his congratulations to Mr. Suljic and administered the Oath of Office."
^Biography, Congressman Josh Gottheimer. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Josh now lives in Wyckoff, New Jersey with Marla, his wife who was a federal prosecutor, and their two young children, Ellie and Ben."
^Cattafi, Kristie. "Democrats pick Bergenfield councilman to fill vacancy on Bergen County commissioners board", The Record, March 13, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. "A Democratic councilman from Bergenfield will be sworn in as a Bergen County commissioner Wednesday night, filling a vacancy on the governing body for almost 1 million residents. Rafael Marte will serve until Dec. 31, taking on the unexpired term left by former Commissioner Ramon Hache, a Democrat who resigned last week to lead the Ridgewood YMCA as its chief executive officer."
^Norwood Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Norwood Public School District. Accessed April 2, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through eight in the Norwood School District. Composition: The Norwood School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Norwood."
^Home page, Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 4, 2011. Accessed October 14, 2014. "Welcome to Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, home of the Golden Knights. Although our students reside in four different towns; Harrington Park, Northvale, Norwood, and Old Tappan, once they arrive here they are treated as one."
^Rockleigh Public Services, Rockleigh, New Jersey. Accessed October 14, 2014. "Rockleigh Borough is a 'sending district' in that there is no public school within the Borough, except for three special-education schools administered by Bergen County.... The Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, a nationally ranked high school, receives older children from Rockleigh Borough."
^Northern Valley Regional High School District 2016 Report Card NarrativeArchived September 12, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 1, 2020. "Located in the upper North Eastern corner of the state, Northern Valley Regional is comprised of two high schools, Northern Valley at Demarest and Northern Valley at Old Tappan.... Our long standing successful and cost efficient Pre-K-12 consortium remains an exemplar model of shared services including seven local Pre-K-8 districts that send their students to the regional high schools: Closter, Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood and Old Tappan."
^Our Communities, Northern Valley Regional High School District. Accessed May 31, 2016. "The seven towns that make up the Northern Valley Regional High School District - Closter, Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood, and Old Tappan - are situated in the northeast corner of Bergen County, New Jersey."
^Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the Northern Valley regional High School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2018. Accessed April 2, 2020. "The Northern Valley Regional School District is comprised of the municipalities of Closter, Demarest, and Haworth that are constituents of the high school in Demarest. Harrington Park, Northvale, Norwood, and Old Tappan are constituents of the high school at Old Tappan.... The district is governed by an elected Board of Education, who serves three-year terms and is administrated by a Superintendent of Schools, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, and other appropriate administrators and supervisors. The Board seats are proportionate to student enrollment by town. The current membership consists of Closter (2), Demarest (1), Haworth (1), Harrington Park (1), Northvale (1), Norwood (1), and Old Tappan (2)."
^Kleimann, James. "Norwood becomes 'center of coyote universe' after attack", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 21, 2015. Accessed December 23, 2023. "Hours after officials shot and killed a coyote suspected of attacking a borough resident on Sunday, state wildlife officials and local police continue to comb the woods of Norwood for other aggressive and possibly rabid coyotes."
^ abcdefRondinaro, Gene. "Picturesque, Affluent West of Palisades", The New York Times, November 3, 1996. Accessed October 29, 2013. "A short distance west of the Palisades and bordering the Boy Scouts' Camp Alpine is the picturesque and affluent Bergen County Borough of Norwood, just 10 miles northwest of the George Washington Bridge.... Like Mr. Harper, other sports figures such as Don Mattingly, Gene Michael, Craig Nettles, Jim (Catfish) Hunter and Kenny Anderson have at one time or another called the borough home."
^Chinen, Nate. "Ray Barretto, a Master of the Conga Drum, Dies at 76", The New York Times, February 18, 2006. Accessed November 26, 2022. "Ray Barretto, a percussionist who helped define the role of the conga drum in jazz and became an influential figure in both jazz and Latin music during a career spanning more than 50 years, died yesterday at the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. He was 76 and lived in Norwood, N.J."
^Tarrazi, Alexis. "Colleen Broomall's star is rising", Northern Valley Suburbanite, August 25, 2010. Accessed May 16, 2017. "Born Aug. 30, 1983, Broomall grew up in the small, Borough of Norwood with her parents, Barbara and Bill and her three siblings, Debbie, Tom and Jim."
^Staff. "Walter H. Jones, Jersey Politician", The New York Times, July 20, 1982. Accessed June 15, 2015. "Walter H. Jones, a former New Jersey State Senator and Assemblyman, died yesterday at Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, N.J. He was 69 years old and lived in Norwood, N.J."
^Beckerman, Jim. "Beckerman: Putting the worst in verse will be tough for him"[permanent dead link], The Record, October 7, 2007. Accessed October 29, 2013. "Even the bard of the bunt, the sonneteer of the strike, the Homer of the homer had a hard time waxing poetic about the Mets last week. 'The collapse the Mets endured almost defies the laws of physics,' says poet Frank Messina, a Norwood native."
^Durso, Joseph. "Most N. Y. Yankees Call N. J. Home", The New York Times, August 20, 1972. Accessed October 4, 2019. "'Some of the players go that route, too. Roy White just bought a house in Wagner, and Gene Michael is a year-round resident in Norwood. A house becomes a home.'"
^Milani, Jerry. "An inside look at 'Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain'"Archived August 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey News Room, July 27, 2009. Accessed October 29, 2013. "NJNR: Thurman had a New Jersey connection as well – he and the family lived in Norwood for a time. How did that work out? MA: It was a beautiful home.... When they built their home in Ohio, it was modeled after the house in Norwood. Thurman had a very active role in its design and construction."
^Dunleavy, Ryan. "Play Ball: Nettles has made Bridgewater his home", Courier News, May 4, 2007. Accessed October 29, 2013. "Nettles was born in Englewood and spent baseball-filled summers in Norwood from 1978-83 while his dad, Graig, played third base for the New York Yankees."
^Raj, Sunil Sunder. Dianna Russini, Double G Sports. Accessed August 16, 2019. "Originally from the Bronx, Russini’s parents’ moved the family to Norwood, New Jersey to give Dianna and her siblings a better life and education."
^"How Santa Made Me an Atheist", JulianSanchez.com, December 27, 2003. Accessed October 14, 2014. "On the five minute walk from the Norwood Public School to my house, I seriously considered the possibility that there might be a God for the first and last time."
^Passow, Sam. "Forward Direction: Abi Varghese", The Record, April 4, 2017. Accessed May 16, 2017. "'We always thought the Indian community was not represented in the comedy platform, especially the Indian diaspora who are from abroad,' says Varghese, a Norwood resident who grew up in Englewood after his family immigrated here when he was a kid."
^Hanley, Robert. "Communities; One Church, Two Visions", The New York Times, February 6, 2000. Accessed December 3, 2017. "In its 14-year history, the ChoDae Presbyterian Church in New Jersey has blossomed into one of the biggest Korean-American congregations in northern New Jersey. Its membership has grown to about 700 people from 50, and many of its three Sunday services in a rented 250-seat Lutheran church in Paramus are filled to overflowing. After a four-year search for new land, ChoDae has chosen seven wooded acres near the ball fields and swim club of this quiet suburb of 5,700 people in northeastern Bergen County and has drafted plans for a handsome new $5 million church. Besides a 720-seat sanctuary, the building would include 14 classrooms for Sunday school and Bible study and a fellowship hall with two gymnasiums. ChoDae's senior pastor, the Rev. Young-Chin Cho, called the proposed church 'our dream and our vision.'"
Sources
Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties) prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.