Ridgefield Park is a village in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the village's population was 13,224, an increase of 495 (+3.9%) from the 2010 census count of 12,729, which in turn reflected a decline of 144 (−1.1%) from the 12,873 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. Of the 564 municipalities in the state, Ridgefield Park is one of only four with a village type of government, though it operates a Walsh Act (city commission) form of government. Of the four New Jersey villages, Loch Arbour also uses the commission form of government, while Ridgewood operates under the council-manager form, and the Township of South Orange Village operates under a special charter form with many characteristics of village government.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.

Ridgefield Park was formed as a village on June 15, 1892, within Ridgefield Township, based on the results of a referendum passed on June 6, 1892. Overpeck Township was formed on March 23, 1897, to be coextensive with Ridgefield Park village, and was created within Ridgefield Township for the purpose of administering a Board of Education. Portions of the village gained in both 1921 and 1926 were taken from Bogota and Teaneck. On May 31, 1938, Overpeck Township became Ridgefield Park Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 85. Accessed May 30, 2024. The village was named for the area's terrain.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 26. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 21, 2015.

The village's Fourth of July Parade, first established in 1894, is said to be the longest continuously celebrated such event in New Jersey and one of the oldest in the country.Klein, Alvin; and Emblen, Mary L. New Jersey Guide, The New York Times, July 3, 1994. Accessed July 12, 2011. "Ridgefield Park will strike up the band with extra gusto at this year's Fourth of July parade tomorrow because it is the 100th and, the sponsors assert, the longest consecutively produced one in the nation. Residents of the village took seriously the suggestion made years before by John Adams that the nation's citizenry to celebrate independence with parades, fireworks and joyous gatherings. Volunteer committees have put together an observance every year since 1894 in spite of two World Wars, the Great Depression and other distractions." The village eliminated its July 4 fireworks in 2009, citing the $50,000 cost amid a difficult economy, but has restored the tradition since then.Kocieniewski, David. "Bad Economy Dampens Celebrations for July 4th", The New York Times, June 21, 2009. Accessed July 12, 2011. "But in Ridgefield Park, N.J., home of the state's oldest Fourth of July celebration, village leaders decided this year that because of the exceptionally bleak economic outlook, they could not afford to put on their traditional show, which costs about $50,000. "'I'm not going to say it's a luxury, because fireworks are a very important tradition, and Fourth of July is a very important day,' said Ridgefield Park's mayor, George D. Fosdick. 'But if you're confronting a situation where you're afraid you may have to lay people off and cost a family its livelihood, then it's a decision that you have to make.' Mr. Fosdick said the village would hold the rest of its Independence Day celebration, including its home- and business-decorating contest and two parades."

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the village had a total area of , including of land and of water (10.84%).

The village borders the Bergen County municipalities of Bogota, Hackensack, Leonia, Little Ferry, Palisades Park, Ridgefield and Teaneck.Areas touching Ridgefield Park, MapIt. Accessed March 3, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 3, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the village include Overpeck and West View.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Ridgefield Park village, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)8,3385,8824,47764.77%46.21%33.86%Black or African American alone (NH)4465816493.46%4.56%4.91%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)151580.12%0.12%0.06%Asian alone (NH)1,0071,4471,4607.82%11.37%11.04%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)1110.01%0.01%0.01%Other race alone (NH)1841930.14%0.32%0.70%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1851573471.44%1.23%2.62%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2,8634,6056,18922.24%36.18%46.80%Total12,87312,72913,224 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Ridgefield Park had a population of 13,224. The population density was .

Racially, 39.9% (5,272) of residents were White, 6.4% (851) were Black or African American, 0.9% (115) were American Indian and Alaska Native, 11.3% (1,489) were Asian, 0.0% (5) were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 22.4% (2,960) were some other race; 19.1% (2,532) were from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 46.8% (6,189) of the population.

The median age was 40.5 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.9 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 4,986 households in Ridgefield Park, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.6% were married-couple households, 18.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 5,269 housing units, of which 5.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%.

Demographic estimates

According to Census Bureau estimates, 89.1% of residents were living in the same housing unit as one year earlier, and the average household size was 2.69.

An estimated 3.14% of residents were veterans, 37.1% were foreign-born, 91.3% of residents age 25 and older were high school graduates, and 38.5% held a bachelor's degree or higher. Mean travel time to work was 31.3 minutes.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 12,729 people, 4,851 households, and 3,274 families in the village. The population density was . There were 5,164 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 66.09% (8,413) White, 6.40% (815) Black or African American, 0.35% (44) Native American, 11.48% (1,461) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 11.93% (1,519) from other races, and 3.74% (476) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.18% (4,605) of the population.

Of the 4,851 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18; 48.5% were married couples living together; 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.5% were non-families. Of all households, 27.7% were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.25.

21.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $60,656 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,846) and the median family income was $83,189 (+/− $13,092). Males had a median income of $51,781 (+/− $2,949) versus $47,714 (+/− $8,394) for females. The per capita income for the village was $30,893 (+/− $2,038). About 3.1% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Ridgefield Park village, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 29, 2012.

Same-sex couples headed 34 households in 2010, an increase from the 21 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 July 24, 2013.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 12,873 people, 5,012 households, and 3,242 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 5,134 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 78.20% White, 4.10% African American, 0.22% Native American, 7.85% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.50% from other races, and 3.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.24% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Ridgefield Park village, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 13, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Ridgefield Park village, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 13, 2013.

There were 5,012 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $51,825, and the median income for a family was $62,414. Males had a median income of $44,507 versus $35,217 for females. The per capita income for the village was $24,290. About 4.7% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over. Economy

Overpeck Corporate Office Park is located on Challenger Road on the east side of the village (east of I-95), to the south of Bergen County's Overpeck Park. The office park contains approximately of Class-A office space which has undergone substantial renovations and upgrades. The Office Park also contains an AMC Movie Theater and Hilton Garden Inn Hotel. Corporate residents of Overpeck Corporate Park include the headquarters of American Stock Transfer and Samsung Electronics America, the latter of which announced plans to move to Englewood Cliffs in 2024.Contact Information, Samsung Electronics America. Accessed October 21, 2013.