West Paterson, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Woodland Park is a borough
in Passaic County
, New Jersey
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,987.
Woodland Park was formed as a borough under the name West Paterson, by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on March 25, 1914, from portions of Little Falls Township
, based on the results of a referendum held on May 1, 1914.
On November 4, 2008, the citizens of West Paterson voted to change the official name of the borough from West Paterson to Woodland Park. The new name retains the initials "W.P." and is a reference to the community's wooded areas. At a November 10, 2008, community meeting attended by 200 residents, a number of residents demanded that a recount be held if the official results showed that the measure had passed. And in case the recount demand was unsuccessful, the group discussed filing a petition to change the name back to West Paterson, including discussion of how to raise the $33,000 needed to cover the cost of a special election in spring 2009 for voters to reconsider the name. By November 25, 2008, the provisional vote counts had been tallied, and the name change won by 25 votes. The Mayor and Council approved Resolution R08-253 at the council meeting on Dec. 17, changing the borough's name to the Borough of Woodland Park, effective Jan. 1, 2009. A referendum held on November 3, 2009 affirmed the name change.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a grand total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), of which, 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it is precious land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (4.53%) is water.
of 2000, there were 10,987 people, 4,397 households, and 3,025 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 3,715.5 people per square mile (1,433.1/km2). There were 4,497 housing units at an average density of 1,520.8 per square mile (586.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.53% White, 3.16% African American, 0.08% Native American, 3.83% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.17% from other races
, and 3.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.06% of the population.
As of the 2000 census, 34.3% of Woodland Park residents were of Italian ancestry, the 18th-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States, and seventh-highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.
There were 4,397 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $60,273, and the median income for a family was $67,292. Males had a median income of $47,389 versus $36,814 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $29,758. About 3.2% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
's, Small Municipality
Plan C of the Option Municipal Charter Law form of government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a three-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with elections take place in a three-year cycle, with the mayor elected one year and three council seats up for election in years two and three. A government reorganization takes place on January 1 of every year, at which time a mayor-elect or newly elected council members are sworn in.
The Mayor exercises executive power and appoints department heads with Council approval. The Council may adopt the municipal budget proposed by the Mayor, but revisions may be required by a majority of the governing body before final approval.
, the Mayor
of Woodland Park is Pat Lepore
(D
), whose current term of office ends December 31, 2011, and who also serves on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders
. Members of the Woodland Park Borough Council are Council President Joseph Spinelli (D, 2013), DominickDi Domenico (D, 2012), Tina Gatti (D, 2012), Gary Holloway (D, 2013), Rita Pascrell (D, 2013), Joseph Spinelli (D, 2013) and Robert Vargas (D, 2012).
Woodland Park is in the
Such a change is not unique in recent New Jersey history: Dover Township
in Ocean County
became Toms River Township
in November 2006, and Washington Township in Mercer County
became Robbinsville Township in November 2007. Moreover, the Paterson vicinity has also seen a previous name change in recent decades, as the borough of East Paterson (located in adjacent Bergen County
) changed its name to Elmwood Park
in 1972.
Both East and West Paterson changed their names in hopes of dissociating themselves from the larger city of Paterson
, which is significantly poorer and faces higher levels of crime, while preserving their E.P. and W.P. initials. In West Paterson, proponents of name change claimed that their proposal would improve the borough's reputation and thus property values within the borough, as outsiders would be less likely to confuse it with Paterson. Conversely, opponents of changing saw no need to change, with businesses and the fire department fearing the expense of changing and the consequences of forgetting the community's history as West Paterson. Also, the name change has been marred with accusations of racism and discrimination due to the city of Paterson's lower quality of life and diverse minority demographics. Some Paterson residents and advocates have suggested renaming Paterson to East Woodland Park and West Elmwood Park.
Residents who voted "NO" to the name change petitioned the municipal government in an attempt to change the name back to West Paterson. A referendum was held on November 3, 2009, and the proposal was defeated by 2248 votes to 2216.
There is an unincorporated area called Woodland Park in the City of Summit
, in Union County
, adjacent to New Providence, New Jersey
.
) is one K-2 elementary school — Beatrice Gilmore School with 232 students and the 3-4 Charles Olbon School with 321 students — and Memorial School with an enrollment of 396 students in grades 5-8.
For grades 9 - 12, public school students attend Passaic Valley Regional High School
, which serves students from Little Falls Township, Totowa
, and Woodland Park. The school facility is located in Little Falls Township.
The Garret Mountain campus of Berkeley College
is located in Woodland Park.
Borough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
in Passaic County
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,987.
Woodland Park was formed as a borough under the name West Paterson, by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on March 25, 1914, from portions of Little Falls Township
Little Falls, New Jersey
Little Falls is a township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 10,855. It is located about from New York City....
, based on the results of a referendum held on May 1, 1914.
On November 4, 2008, the citizens of West Paterson voted to change the official name of the borough from West Paterson to Woodland Park. The new name retains the initials "W.P." and is a reference to the community's wooded areas. At a November 10, 2008, community meeting attended by 200 residents, a number of residents demanded that a recount be held if the official results showed that the measure had passed. And in case the recount demand was unsuccessful, the group discussed filing a petition to change the name back to West Paterson, including discussion of how to raise the $33,000 needed to cover the cost of a special election in spring 2009 for voters to reconsider the name. By November 25, 2008, the provisional vote counts had been tallied, and the name change won by 25 votes. The Mayor and Council approved Resolution R08-253 at the council meeting on Dec. 17, changing the borough's name to the Borough of Woodland Park, effective Jan. 1, 2009. A referendum held on November 3, 2009 affirmed the name change.
Geography
Woodland Park is located at 40.893698°N 74.198904°W (40.893698, -74.198904).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a grand total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), of which, 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it is precious land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (4.53%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 10,987 people, 4,397 households, and 3,025 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,715.5 people per square mile (1,433.1/km2). There were 4,497 housing units at an average density of 1,520.8 per square mile (586.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.53% White, 3.16% African American, 0.08% Native American, 3.83% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.06% of the population.
As of the 2000 census, 34.3% of Woodland Park residents were of Italian ancestry, the 18th-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States, and seventh-highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.
There were 4,397 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $60,273, and the median income for a family was $67,292. Males had a median income of $47,389 versus $36,814 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $29,758. About 3.2% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
The Borough of Woodland Park was chartered by the State of New Jersey to function under a variation of the Faulkner ActFaulkner Act (New Jersey)
The Optional Municipal Charter Law or Faulkner Act provides New Jersey municipalities with a variety of models of local government. This legislation is called the Faulkner Act in honor of the late Bayard H...
's, Small Municipality
Faulkner Act (Small Municipality)
The Faulkner Act, or Optional Municipal Charter Law, provides for New Jersey municipalities to adopt a Small Municipality form of government...
Plan C of the Option Municipal Charter Law form of government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a three-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with elections take place in a three-year cycle, with the mayor elected one year and three council seats up for election in years two and three. A government reorganization takes place on January 1 of every year, at which time a mayor-elect or newly elected council members are sworn in.
The Mayor exercises executive power and appoints department heads with Council approval. The Council may adopt the municipal budget proposed by the Mayor, but revisions may be required by a majority of the governing body before final approval.
, the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Woodland Park is Pat Lepore
Pat Lepore
Pat Lepore is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders since 2004. Lepore has served as the Mayor of Woodland Park since 2003, and also served as Mayor from 1997 to 1999. As of January 2, 2007, Lepore was unanimously elected to serve...
(D
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
), whose current term of office ends December 31, 2011, and who also serves on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
. Members of the Woodland Park Borough Council are Council President Joseph Spinelli (D, 2013), DominickDi Domenico (D, 2012), Tina Gatti (D, 2012), Gary Holloway (D, 2013), Rita Pascrell (D, 2013), Joseph Spinelli (D, 2013) and Robert Vargas (D, 2012).
Federal, state and county representation
Woodland Park is in the 8th Congressional district.Woodland Park is in the
Borough renaming
Borough residents voted in November 2008 to change the community's name to Woodland Park. This close decision — the majority was only 33 votes according to early results — marked the fourth attempt to change the borough's historic name of West Paterson: voters rejected the names "Whispering Pines", "West Park," and "Garret Mountain" in 1989, 1995, and 2001 respectively.Such a change is not unique in recent New Jersey history: Dover Township
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
in Ocean County
Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
became Toms River Township
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
in November 2006, and Washington Township in Mercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
became Robbinsville Township in November 2007. Moreover, the Paterson vicinity has also seen a previous name change in recent decades, as the borough of East Paterson (located in adjacent Bergen County
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
) changed its name to Elmwood Park
Elmwood Park, New Jersey
Elmwood Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 19,403....
in 1972.
Both East and West Paterson changed their names in hopes of dissociating themselves from the larger city of Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, which is significantly poorer and faces higher levels of crime, while preserving their E.P. and W.P. initials. In West Paterson, proponents of name change claimed that their proposal would improve the borough's reputation and thus property values within the borough, as outsiders would be less likely to confuse it with Paterson. Conversely, opponents of changing saw no need to change, with businesses and the fire department fearing the expense of changing and the consequences of forgetting the community's history as West Paterson. Also, the name change has been marred with accusations of racism and discrimination due to the city of Paterson's lower quality of life and diverse minority demographics. Some Paterson residents and advocates have suggested renaming Paterson to East Woodland Park and West Elmwood Park.
Residents who voted "NO" to the name change petitioned the municipal government in an attempt to change the name back to West Paterson. A referendum was held on November 3, 2009, and the proposal was defeated by 2248 votes to 2216.
There is an unincorporated area called Woodland Park in the City of Summit
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
, in Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
, adjacent to New Providence, New Jersey
New Providence, New Jersey
New Providence is a borough on the northwestern edge of Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is located on the Passaic River, which forms the county boundary with Morris County...
.
Education
Students in public school for Kindergarten through eighth grade are educated by the Woodland Park School District. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) is one K-2 elementary school — Beatrice Gilmore School with 232 students and the 3-4 Charles Olbon School with 321 students — and Memorial School with an enrollment of 396 students in grades 5-8.
For grades 9 - 12, public school students attend Passaic Valley Regional High School
Passaic Valley Regional High School
Passaic Valley Regional High School is the name of both a public high school in Little Falls, New Jersey, and the regional school district for three communities in Passaic County: Little Falls , Totowa and Woodland Park .As of the...
, which serves students from Little Falls Township, Totowa
Totowa, New Jersey
Totowa is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 9,892.Totowa was formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1898, from portions of the now-defunct Manchester Township and Wayne...
, and Woodland Park. The school facility is located in Little Falls Township.
The Garret Mountain campus of Berkeley College
Berkeley College
Berkeley College is a proprietary higher education institution founded in 1931, specializing in business and professional studies.-Academic programs:...
is located in Woodland Park.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of West Paterson include:- Rick CeroneRick CeroneRichard Aldo Cerone from Seton Hall University is a former Major League Baseball player from 1975 to 1992 for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Montreal Expos...
(born 1954), former MLB catcher who played most of his career with the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. - Victor SantosVíctor SantosVíctor Irving Santos is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He currently is a free agent.-Early life:...
(born 1976), MLB relief pitcher who is currently a free agentFree agentIn professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He played for the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, Colorado RockiesColorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, and the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. - Natalia ShaposhnikovaNatalia ShaposhnikovaNatalia Vitalyevna Shaposhnikova , , married name Natalia Sout, was a Soviet gymnast, two-time Olympic Champion, Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR. She was born in Rostov on Don, Russian SFSR. She was known for her risky and original skills along with her expressive choreography, especially on...
(born 1961), former Soviet gymnast, two-time Olympic champion, currently resides and coaches gymnastics in Woodland Park.
External links
- Borough of Woodland Park website
- Woodland Park School District
- Data for the West Paterson School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Passaic Valley Regional High School
- Woodland Park Public Library
- WXWP-NJ Woodland Park and surrounding regional weather