Rochelle Park is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 5,528.
Rochelle Park was formed as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 5, 1929, replacing Midland Township, based on the results of a referendum held on that same day.
Geography
Rochelle Park is located at (40.906553, -74.077972).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 2.7 km² (1.0 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,528 people, 2,061 households, and 1,393 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,032.7/km² (5,287.7/mi²). There were 2,111 housing units at an average density of 776.2/km² (2,019.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.09% White, 0.45% African American, 0.04% Native American, 6.02% Asian, 2.03% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.57% of the population.
There were 2,061 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the township the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $60,818, and the median income for a family was $74,016. Males had a median income of $43,580 versus $36,827 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,054. About 0.4% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
The Rochelle Park Township Committee consists of Mayor Phyllis Strohmeyer (term ends December 31, 2009), Deputy Mayor Kenneth Kovalcik, Wilbur Lotz (2009), Joseph Scarpa and Frank Valenzuela (2008).
On Election Day, November 7, 2006, voters filled two full three-year terms and a single two-year unexpired term on the Township Council, and also voted on a non-binding resolution requesting compensation for a property Bergen County is planning to acquire. As of Election Day, the council was comprised entirely of Republicans, in a community where registered Republicans outnumbered Democrats by an 8-7 margin. In the three-year race, incumbent Republicans Phyllis Strohmeyer (992) and Wilbur Lotz (919) won re-election, defeating Independent James Pallouras (694), who had served on the Township Council in the 1980s, including five years as mayor. In the race for the unexpired term, Francis Valenzuela (1,035) ran unopposed to serve the balance of the term. A non-binding ballot item asking if the township should oppose plans by Bergen County to acquire the Board of Social Services property unless the County compensated the township for $280,000 in lost tax revenue, passed by a 1,067-177 margin.
Federal, state and county representation
Rochelle Park is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 37th Legislative District.
Politics
As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 5,734 in Rochelle Park, there were 3,393 registered voters (59.2% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 648 (19.1% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 599 (17.7% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 2,145 (63.2% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There was one voter registered to another party.
On the national level, Rockleigh leans towards the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 56% of the vote here, edging Democrat John Kerry, who received around 43%.
Education
The Midland School serves students in prekindergarten through eighth grade.
For grades 9-12, students attend Hackensack High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship.
Transportation
Route 17 travels through Rochelle Park.
Commerce
Rochelle Park is the business headquarters for specialty retailer United Retail Group, which is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange.
External links
