What is now Emerson was originally formed on April 8, 1903, from portions of Washington Township as the Borough of Etna, the name of a railroad station in the community.[24] The name was changed to Emerson as of March 9, 1909.[3][25] The name came from author Ralph Waldo Emerson.[26][27] The borough calls itself "The Family Town".[28]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.42 square miles (6.27 km2), including 2.23 square miles (5.78 km2) of land and 0.19 square miles (0.49 km2) of water (7.85%).[1][2]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Old Hook.[29]
Of the 2,480 households, 36.2% had children under the age of 18; 67.7% were married couples living together; 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.7% were non-families. Of all households, 18.1% were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.29.[21]
23.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.0 males.[21]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $99,292 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,946) and the median family income was $108,300 (+/− $12,689). Males had a median income of $71,868 (+/− $16,071) versus $69,271 (+/− $15,233) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,501 (+/− $4,093). About 0.7% of families and 1.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.[40]
Same-sex couples headed 17 households in 2010, an increase from the 14 counted in 2000.[41]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[18] there were 7,197 people, 2,373 households, and 1,964 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,216.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,241.8/km2). There were 2,398 housing units at an average density of 1,071.7 per square mile (413.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 89.62% White, 0.85% African American, 0.06% Native American, 7.89% Asian, 0.88% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.[38][39]
As of the 2000 Census, 2.2% of Emerson's residents identified themselves as being of Armenian-American ancestry. This was the 20th highest percentage of Armenian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[42]
There were 2,373 households, out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.5% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no partner present, and 17.2% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.23.[38][39]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.[38][39]
The median income for a household in the borough was $75,556, and the median income for a family was $83,521. Males had a median income of $52,450 versus $36,818 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,506. About 1.3% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.[38][39]
Economy
Pascack Valley Shopping Center is a shopping center located on Kinderkamack Road. It had a movie theater and bowling alley.[43]
Ackerman Park, located on Ackerman Avenue. It has a playground, basketball courts, a bocci court, and picnic area.[45]
Centennial Park, located on Main Street, has a gazebo and walking path and a residents-only community garden (opened in 2017) managed by the Environmental Commission. It was named Centennial Park in 2003 in honor Emerson's 100th Anniversary.[46]
Hillman Park, located on Thomas Street, was created on land donated by borough resident Richard Hillman. It has baseball fields such as, Ken Benkovic Jr. Memorial Field, which was a majors field that is fenced in and a lighted field, and Babes Field which is also a lighted field behind the firehouse but is also located on Thomas Street. There is also a soccer field, and a playground. There is also a library and a community center located next to the park.[47]
Rosengart Park, sometimes referred as "Sunset Park", is a park located on Sunset Place. It has a playground.[48]
Veterans' Park, a memorial park located on High Street, with monuments honoring veterans from Emerson.[49]
Washington Park, a park located on Washington Avenue.General Washington camped at this location before heading to Delaware to cross the Delaware River.It has a playground and a picnic area.[50]
Emerson Woods covers approximately 19 acres (7.7 ha) of woodland along Main Street east of the high school, and is located in the buffer area of the Oradell Reservoir. The property was slated for townhouse development, but local opposition resulted in the parcel being purchased by the borough in 2001, with the aid of grants from the county and state. It remains in its natural state, with the addition of trails to make the property accessible to visitors.[51]
Government
Local government
Emerson 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.[52] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the 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.[8][53] The borough form of government used in Emerson 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.[54][55][56]
As of 2024[update], the mayor of Emerson Borough is Republican Danielle DiPaola, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Emerson Borough Council are Council President Michael Timmerman (R, 2026), Nicole Argenzia (R, 2025), Brian Gordon (R, 2024), Jill McGuire (R, 2025), Kelly Moore (R, 2024) and Ashley M. Rice (R, 2026).[4][57][58][59][60][61]
In September 2021, the borough council selected Don Pierro from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Carl Carbo until he resigned to move out of the borough.[62][63]
In January 2020, the borough council selected Patricia L. Dinallo to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Christopher Knoller until he resigned from office late in 2019; with Dinallo taking office and Nicole Argenzia and Jill McGuire sworn in to full terms, Emerson's governing body had a female majority for the first time since the borough was established.[64]
In January 2019, the borough council selected Jill McGuire from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that was vacated by Danielle DiPaola when she took office as the borough's first female mayor.[65]
Day-to-day operation of the borough is handled by Richard J. Sheola, who serves as interim borough administrator.[6] The borough clerk is Jane S. Dietsche[7] and the CFO is Catherine Henderson.[66]
Federal, state and county representation
Emerson is located in the 5th Congressional District[67] and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.[68][69][70]
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.[76]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,690 registered voters in Emerson, of which 905 (19.3% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,025 (43.2% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,759 (37.5% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[98] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 63.4% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 83.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[98][99]
In the 2016 presidential election Republican Donald Trump received 2,188 votes (55.2%), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 1,629 votes (40.9%) and other candidates with 150 votes (3.8%).[100] In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,019 votes (55.7% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,532 votes (42.3% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 31 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,623 ballots cast by the borough's 4,899 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.0% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[101][102] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,206 votes (56.7% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,636 votes (42.0% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 28 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,893 ballots cast by the borough's 4,922 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.1% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[103][104] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,228 votes (58.2% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,553 votes (40.6% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 23 votes (0.6% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,829 ballots cast by the borough's 4,913 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.9% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[105]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.4% of the vote (1,716 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 30.0% (742 votes), and other candidates with 0.6% (16 votes), among the 2,547 ballots cast by the borough's 4,753 registered voters (73 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 53.6%.[106][107] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,547 votes (55.7% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,042 votes (37.5% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 140 votes (5.0% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 11 votes (0.4% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,779 ballots cast by the borough's 4,824 registered voters, yielding a 57.6% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[108]
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.[117][118]
Assumption Academy, which had operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, closed its elementary school program for grades 1–8 in June 2012 due to declining enrollment, which it had been struggling to keep up for several years prior.[119]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 30.87 miles (49.68 km) of roadways, of which 28.54 miles (45.93 km) were maintained by the municipality and 2.33 miles (3.75 km) by Bergen County.[120]
On September 19, 2007, there was a threat made to the Emerson School System. A letter addressed to Emerson Mayor Lou Lamatina was received around 10:30 a.m. in a small envelope, along with what appeared to be a computer-printed address pasted onto the front, authorities said. The note inside appeared to also be computer-generated, and was pasted on a blank piece of paper; it read, "All three schools will be blown out on Thursday, Sept. 20th at 11:30 a.m., with two other schools in nearby towns." The note was later sent to the Bergen County Sheriff's Office for forensic examination.[126]
All three Emerson Schools were immediately evacuated by a fire drill around 11:00, and neither students nor teachers were allowed to collect any of their belongings, including backpacks, cell phones, and purses. Seniors were allowed to retrieve their cars later that day, but nobody else was allowed near the school.
Members of the Bergen County bomb squad were sent to Emerson on Wednesday morning; however, a search of the district's schools revealed nothing dangerous or extraordinary. The bomb squad also searched Oradell and Washington Township schools, and searched Emerson's Assumption Academy on Thursday morning.
Thirteen districts closed their schools for September 20, 2007, including Emerson, Westwood, Washington Township, Oradell, River Edge, Closter, River Vale, Demarest, Haworth, Harrington Park, Northvale, Norwood, and Old Tappan. Some selected Catholic grammar and high schools were closed. The bomb threat affected 12,000–14,000 students, including 1,200 from Emerson alone. The schools were closed for two days until they were deemed safe.[127]
Emerson Public Library was formed in 1957 and moved to its current facility in 1974.[128]
Soldier Hill Golf Club – The Bergen County Freeholders spent $8.5 million to acquire the semi-private course, which opened in 1963 and covers portions of both Emerson and Oradell near the Oradell Reservoir on 140 acres (57 ha) of land that had been owned by United Water until it sold off the property in 2008.[129]
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.
^ abMayor & Council, Borough of Emerson. Accessed April 26, 2024. "The Borough of Emerson was chartered in 1903 as a Borough Council form of government in which the Mayor is elected to a four-year term and six council members are elected at large to serve staggered three-year terms."
^Emerson Woods, Borough of Emerson. Accessed March 24, 2020. "Emerson Woods is a 19-acre preserve that is part of the watershed buffer surrounding the Oradell Reservoir. Emerson Woods, located on Main Street, was purchased by the Borough of Emerson in December 2001 with grants and loans from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund and NJ DEP Green Acres."
^Frequently Asked Questions, Borough of Emerson. Accessed March 13, 2023. "How is the government organized in Emerson and when do they meet? Emerson is organized under the "borough" form which is also referred to as the 'weak' Mayor form since the Mayor can only vote to break a tie and has no veto power. The Mayor is elected for a four-year term at the November General Election, presides over the bi-monthly Council meetings, and sits on the Planning Board as the Class I member by virtue of his office..... The Council Members are elected for staggered three-year terms and vote on matters such as local laws, the adoption of the municipal budget, and the raising of taxes."
^Noda, Stephanie. "Emerson councilman resigns after seven months in office", The Record, August 25, 2021. Accessed May 16, 2022. "A Republican councilman has resigned after serving seven months on the Borough Council. Carl Carbo, who is moving out of town, submitted his resignation during the Aug. 17 council meeting and had his last day on Aug. 20."
^Borough Council Meeting Minutes for September 21, 2021, Borough of Emerson. Accessed May 16, 2022. "Nominations for seat vacated by former Councilman Carl Carbo... Motion to nominate Don Pierro to fill the council vacancy for the term ending with the certification of the 2021 General Election was moved by Council President Hoffman, and seconded by Councilman Gordon... Councilman Pierro was sworn in by Mayor DiPaola."
^Noda, Stephanie. "Emerson swears in a majority-female governing body", The Record, January 4, 2020. Accessed March 24, 2020. "For the first time in the borough history, the governing body is majority female.... Mayor Danielle DiPaola swore in Democrat Patricia Dinallo and Republicans Nicole Argenzia and Jill McGuire to the Borough Council during the annual reorganization meeting Thursday, while noting that the move came on the 100th anniversary of the year women won the right to vote.Councilman Chris Knoller, whose term was set to end in 2020, resigned from the six-member council at the end of 2019, leading to the appointment of Patricia Dinallo, who ran as a Democratic in the 2019 election."
^Snyder, John. "Jill McGuire Joins Emerson Borough Council", Pascack Press, January 21, 2019. Accessed September 29, 2019. "Saying she was moved that her new post as a borough councilmember earned her bipartisan and unanimous approval, Historic Preservation Committee Chair Jill McGuire slid into her seat at the dais, ready to get to work.... Three Republicans were nominated to fill the one-year unexpired term left by Mayor Danielle DiPaola: McGuire, Don Pierro, and Michael Timmerman."
^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."
^Harris, Chris. "Parents confused, frustrated over closing of Assumption Academy in Emerson", The Record, February 28, 2012, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 23, 2015. Accessed September 14, 2017. "Parents picking up children from Assumption Academy on Tuesday expressed both frustration and confusion over the elementary school's impending closure. On Monday, the Archdiocese of Newark designated eight schools for closure in Bergen, Essex, Union, and Hudson counties in June, including Assumption Academy on Jefferson Avenue."
^Library History, Emerson Public Library. Accessed June 19, 2016. "The Emerson Public Library was founded by a small group of dedicated residents in 1957 as a private library, which charged one dollar per year in dues.... However, throughout this period, the library was still operating out of its cramped quarters in the Field House, but in 1974, a new, purpose-built facility was completed. This is the building that houses the library today."
^Cowen, Richard. "Semi-private Emerson Golf Club to become public by spring", The Record, October 18, 2017. Accessed October 30, 2017. "The freeholders unanimously approved an ordinance to allow the Bergen County Improvement Authority to float $8.5 million in notes to finance the purchase of two lots, one which contains the 7,000-yard, par-71 golf course, and the other, a five-acre parcel that includes the clubhouse and parking lot.... The 135-acre, Par 71 course runs through Oradell and Emerson and is on land that was once owned by United Water. There is a deed restriction on the property that requires that the land remain a golf course forever."
^Locicero, Anthony. "Emerson Native, Iowa Energy Official Lone Female Coach In NBA League", Pascack Valley Daily Voice, March 4, 2016. Accessed April 25, 2016. "Emerson's Nicki Gross is making history as the National Basketball Association Development League's lone female coach at the moment."
^Kevin Higgins, Detroit Lions, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 21, 2005. Accessed September 14, 2017. "He was also the head basketball coach and assistant football coach at Emerson (N.J.) High School from 1977-78. A native of Emerson, N.J., Higgins attended Emerson High School where he was captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams during his senior year."
^Bernstein, Viv. "On Pit Row, It's First and Tire Change", The New York Times, August 15, 2006. Accessed October 17, 2007. "Hendrick Motorsports was the first to hire a pit crew coordinator when Andy Papathanassiou of Emerson, N.J., a former Stanford football player, joined the team in 1993."
_just_east_of_Main_Street_in_Emerson,_Bergen_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
