Ringwood is a borough in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 11,735, a decrease of 493 (−4.0%) from the 2010 census count of 12,228, which in turn reflected a decrease of 168 (−1.4%) from the 12,396 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

It is the home of Ringwood State Park which contains the New Jersey Botanical Garden at Skylands (plus Skylands Manor), the Shepherd Lake Recreation Area and historic Ringwood Manor.

The Borough of Ringwood was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1918, from a "portion of the Township of Pompton", as one of three boroughs formed from Pompton Township, joining Bloomingdale and Wanaque, based on the results of a referendum held on March 22, 1918.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 211. Accessed May 30, 2024. The first organizational meeting of the borough council took place in the existing Borough Hall on May 6, 1918. The borough was named for an iron mining company in the area.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 22, 2015.

History The Lenape, an Algonquian language-speaking tribe of Native Americans who occupied much of the mid-Atlantic coastal areas and the interior mountains including along the Delaware River resided in the area of present-day Ringwood when Europeans first entered the area. Some retreated to the mountains to escape colonial encroachment.

Colonists called the local band the Ramapough, and named the Ramapo River and other regional features after them. Their descendants and Afro-Dutch migrants from New York were among the people who formed the multiracial group known as the Ramapough Mountain Indians, recognized in 1980 as the "Ramapough Lenape Nation" Native American tribe by the state of New Jersey, though the federal government has denied their application for formal recognition.Martin, Douglas. "Ronald Van Dunk, 68, Chief Red Bone of the Ramapough Mountain Indians, Is Dead", The New York Times, April 8, 2011. Accessed November 3, 2013. "Mr. Van Dunk, who was known as Chief Red Bone, held the title of grand chief of the 3,000 Ramapough Mountain Indians, who belong to three groups or clans living in Hillburn, in Rockland County, and across the state line in Mahwah and Ringwood in northeastern New Jersey. They were recognized as a tribe by New York and New Jersey in 1980, but the federal government has denied their application for tribal status, filed in 1979."LaGorce, Tammy. "Documentary Explores Struggle of New Jersey's Ramapough Tribe", The New York Times, August 8, 2015. Accessed December 20, 2016. "Theories about their multiracial ancestry have centered around freed black slaves, Dutch settlers and the Lenape Delaware Indians, who fled to the mountains in the late 17th century to escape Dutch and English settlers. New York and New Jersey recognized the tribe in 1980 as the Ramapough Lenape Nation."

Early in the 18th century, colonists discovered iron in the area. The Ogden family built a blast furnace in Ringwood in 1742. By 1765, Peter Hasenclever used Ringwood as the center of his ironmaking operations, which included in New Jersey, New York and Nova Scotia. Iron mining was prominent in the area from the 18th century until the Great Depression, and iron shafts and pits, landfills and other elements still exist. The London, Roomy, Peters and Hope mines were all originally opened by Peter Hasenclever's London Company.A Brief History of the Forges & Manor of Ringwood , The Forges & Manor of Ringwood. Accessed March 14, 2012.

A number of well-known ironmasters owned and lived at Ringwood Manor from the 1740s to the late 19th century. During the American Revolutionary War, Robert Erskine managed ironmaking operations from Ringwood, and became George Washington's first geographer and Surveyor-General, producing maps for the Continental Army. Washington visited the Manor House several times. Ringwood iron was used in the famous Hudson River Chain, and for tools and hardware for the army. One of the Manor's last owners was Abram S. Hewitt, ironmaster, educator, lawyer, U.S. Congressman, and Mayor of New York City. The Manor is part of a National Historic Landmark District.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, Ringwood had a total area of , including of land and of water (10.20%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Brushwood Pond, Cupsaw Lake, Skyline Lake, Conklintown, Erskine, Harrison Mountain Lake, Lake Erskine, Upper Erskine Lake, Monksville, Negro Pond, Sheppard Pond, Stonetown, Upper Lake and Weyble Pond.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The borough borders Bloomingdale, Wanaque and West Milford in Passaic County; Mahwah and Oakland in Bergen County; Tuxedo and Warwick in Orange County, New York; and Ramapo in Rockland County, New York.Areas touching Ringwood, MapIt. Accessed March 3, 2020.Passaic County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 3, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

The town is split by the Wanaque Reservoir, which provides water to urban areas in Northeastern New Jersey.

Climate Ringwood has a hot summer continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa).

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Ringwood had a population of 11,735. The median age was 45.0 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.1 males age 18 and over.

74.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 26.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 4,180 households in Ringwood, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 67.9% were married-couple households, 11.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 16.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,364 housing units, of which 4.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.3%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 9,906 84.4% Black or African American 184 1.6% American Indian and Alaska Native 115 1.0% Asian 202 1.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0% Some other race 284 2.4% Two or more races 1,043 8.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,084 9.2%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 12,228 people, 4,182 households, and 3,413 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 4,331 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 92.58% (11,321) White, 1.36% (166) Black or African American, 1.24% (152) Native American, 1.74% (213) Asian, 0.02% (2) Pacific Islander, 1.18% (144) from other races, and 1.88% (230) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.78% (707) of the population.

Of the 4,182 households, 37.9% had children under the age of 18; 70.8% were married couples living together; 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 18.4% were non-families. Of all households, 14.5% were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.23.

24.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $109,139 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,896) and the median family income was $117,793 (+/− $9,712). Males had a median income of $70,086 (+/− $9,303) versus $54,397 (+/− $6,682) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,931 (+/− $2,197). Estimates of families and population below the poverty line were not available.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Ringwood borough, Passaic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 14, 2012.

Same-sex couples headed 37 households in 2010, an increase from the 26 counted in 2000.Lipman, Harvy; and Sheingold, Dave. "North Jersey sees 30% growth in same-sex couples", The Record, August 14, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 3, 2013. Accessed September 30, 2014.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 12,396 people, 4,108 households, and 3,446 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 4,221 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 93.87% White, 1.61% African American, 1.44% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 4.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Ringwood borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 29, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Ringwood borough, Passaic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 29, 2012.

There were 4,108 households, out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.5% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.1% were non-families. 12.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $81,636, and the median income for a family was $85,108. Males had a median income of $60,097 versus $36,005 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,341. 2.8% of the population and 2.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.9% of those under the age of 18 and 2.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Parks and recreation Ringwood State Park is a state park located in the heart of the Ramapo Mountains. The park consists of four distinct areas: Ringwood Manor, Skylands Manor/NJ State Botanical Garden, Shepherd Lake, and Bear Swamp Lake.

Norvin Green State Forest covers in parts of Ringwood, as well as portions of Bloomingdale and West Milford.Walsh, Deborah. "Bloomingdale seeks to ban bear hunt on town property", Suburban Trends, August 3, 2016. Accessed April 17, 2026. "The hunting ban would not cover the 5,416-acre Norvin Green State Forest that straddles Bloomingdale, West Milford and Ringwood."