Upper Saddle River is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 8,353, an increase of 145 (+1.8%) from the 2010 census count of 8,208, which in turn reflected an increase of 467 (+6.0%) from the 7,741 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.
Upper Saddle River had a per capita income of $73,639 and was ranked 20th in New Jersey based on data from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey (ACS) from the United States Census Bureau, more than double the statewide average of $34,858.Median Household, Family, Per-Capita Income: State, County, Municipality and Census Designated Place (CDP) With Municipalities Ranked by Per Capita Income; 2010 5-year ACS estimates, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed June 17, 2020. In the 2013–2017 ACS, Upper Saddle River had a median household income of $176,674 (ranked 8th in the state) and included 42.9% of households earning more than $200,000 annually.Cervenka, Susanne. "Rich in New Jersey: Here are the 50 wealthiest towns in the state. Is yours one of them?", Asbury Park Press, July 1, 2019. Accessed June 17, 2020. "8. Upper Saddle River County: Bergen County Median household income: $176,674 Percent making more than $200,000: 44.5%"
History Upper Saddle River was originally settled by the Lenape Native Americans and was colonized in the 18th century principally by Dutch settlers who built mills along the Saddle River. The area was granted borough status in 1894 and remained principally rural until the 1950s. The suburban growth of New Jersey included Upper Saddle River and surrounding municipalities, as the borough's population increased tenfold from 1950 to 1970. The population has remained fairly constant since 1970.
Predominantly a residential community consisting of one-acre (4,000 m2) lots, Upper Saddle River also contains a library, police station, fire station, ambulance corps, municipal hall, and three primary schools. Commerce and industry are concentrated along the town's western border along Route 17. Postal service is shared with the neighboring borough of Saddle River.
Upper Saddle River was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 22, 1894, from portions of Hohokus Township and Orvil Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 87. Accessed May 30, 2024. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone. Upper Saddle River's referendum passed on November 20, one day after the referendum passed for Saddle River.Harvey, Cornelius Burnham. Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, p. 11, New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed September 15, 2013. "For a period of sixteen years following the passage of this act few boroughs were organized in the State, only three of them being in Bergen County.... As it was twenty-six boroughs were created in the county from January 23, 1894, to December 18, of the same year." The name of the river, and hence the borough, is thought to come from early explorers who thought that the geography of the area resembled that of the Sadle Burn, the valley surrounding a stream in the Scottish area of Argyll.History , Borough of Upper Saddle River. Accessed October 17, 2015. "There are a number of theories on the origin of the name Saddle River, but the most likely is that it came from two Scotsmen exploring the area in the 1600s who thought it resembled the Sadle Burn in their homeland."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 17, 2015.Edwards, Richard. Industries of New Jersey, Part 1, p. 121. Historical Publishing Company, 1882. Accessed October 17, 2015.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 5.27 square miles (13.66 km2), including 5.25 square miles (13.60 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (0.38%). The borough is bisected by the Saddle River, a tributary of the Passaic River.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Duffys Mills, Hoppers Mills and Posts Mills.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
Upper Saddle River is bounded by seven municipalities: Mahwah, Montvale, Ramsey, Saddle River, as well as small portions of Woodcliff Lake in Bergen County, New Jersey; and both Airmont and Chestnut Ridge in the Town of Ramapo in Rockland County, New York.Areas touching Upper Saddle River, MapIt. Accessed March 15, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 15, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
The borough is served by several major highways, including the Garden State Parkway at exits 172 and 171 in Montvale and Woodcliff Lake, and Route 17, which runs through the borough, though some portions of Upper Saddle River are served by roads located in Saddle River, Ramsey and Mahwah.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Upper Saddle River borough, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)6,9366,8096,12089.60%82.96%73.27%Black or African American alone (NH)721081290.93%1.32%1.54%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)11010.01%0.12%0.01%Asian alone (NH)4848221,2406.25%10.01%14.84%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)1110.01%0.01%0.01%Other race alone (NH)1311330.17%0.13%0.40%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)65922500.84%1.12%2.99%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1693555792.18%4.33%6.93%Total7,7418,2088,353 100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Upper Saddle River had a population of 8,353. The median age was 44.2 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.8 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 2,658 households in Upper Saddle River, of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 75.7% were married-couple households, 8.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 13.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 10.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 2,785 housing units, of which 4.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%.
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 8,208 people, 2,639 households, and 2,299 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,776 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 86.55% (7,104) White, 1.44% (118) Black or African American, 0.13% (11) Native American, 10.09% (828) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.48% (39) from other races, and 1.30% (107) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.33% (355) of the population.
Of the 2,639 households, 48.1% had children under the age of 18; 78.3% were married couples living together; 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 12.9% were non-families. Of all households, 10.7% were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.37.
30.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.8 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $175,399 (with a margin of error of +/− $22,259) and the median family income was $179,241 (+/− $47,207). Males had a median income of $160,795 (+/− $24,471) versus $67,885 (+/− $27,436) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $73,639 (+/− $8,085). About 1.5% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Upper Saddle River borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 16, 2012.
Same-sex couples headed 13 households in 2010, an increase from the 12 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 17, 2014.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,741 people, 2,497 households, and 2,242 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,560 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 91.24% White, 0.93% African American, 0.03% Native American, 6.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Upper Saddle River borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 3, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Upper Saddle River borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 3, 2013.
There were 2,497 households, out of which 47.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 83.6% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.2% were non-families. 8.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 30.7% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $127,635, and the median income for a family was $132,401. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $51,587 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $57,239. None of the families and 0.7% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 2.1% of those over 64. Economy The North American headquarters of Hunter Douglas are located in the borough.The Hunter Douglas Legacy, Hunter Douglas. Accessed September 8, 2007. "Headquartered in Upper Saddle River, NJ, Hunter Douglas Window Fashions is the leading manufacturer of custom window coverings in North America, representing 50% of the Hunter Douglas Group sales."