Passaic County, New Jersey

Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 489,049. Its county seat is Paterson ⁶. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area.

Passaic County was created in 1837 from portions of both Bergen County and Essex County

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 510 km² (197 mi²). 480 km² (185 mi²) of it is land and 30 km² (12 mi²) of it (5.97%) is water.

The highest point is any one of six areas on Bearfort Ridge in West Milford Township at approximately 1,480 ft (451 m) above sea level. The lowest elevation is approximately 30 ft (9 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.

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 489,049 people, 163,856 households, and 119,614 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,019/km² (2,639/mi²). There were 170,048 housing units at an average density of 354/km² (918/mi²). 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.

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.

Government

In Passaic County's commission form of government, the Board of Chosen Freeholders 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. 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.

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.

Passaic County's Freeholders are: 2006 Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, accessed June 6, 2006

Freeholder Director Elease Evans of Paterson
Freeholder Deputy Director Sonia Rosado of Ringwood
Tahesha L. Way, sworn in on July 6, 2006 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Lois A. CuccinelloTahesha Way to be sworn in as Passaic County Freeholder (PDF) Passaic County press release, dated July 5, 2006
Terry Duffy of West Milford
James Gallagher of Paterson
Bruce James of Clifton
Pat Lepore of West Paterson

Currently, all seven of Passaic County's Freeholders are Democrats, and this has been the case since the election of Freeholders Duffy and Lepore, who unseated longtime incumbent Walter Porter and former Passaic County Republican chairman Michael Mecca.

Four federal Congressional Districts cover the county, with most of the northern portion of the county in New Jersey's 5th congressional district, represented by Scott Garrett (R) and most of the southern portion of the county in New Jersey's 8th congressional district, represented by Bill Pascrell (D). The borough of Hawthorne is in New Jersey's 9th congressional district, represented by Steve Rothman (D), and a portion of the borough of Bloomingdale is in New Jersey's 11th congressional district, represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen (R).