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Not What You Meant?  There are 29 definitions for Garfield.

Garfield, New Jersey

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City of Garfield, New Jersey
Map highlighting Garfield's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Map highlighting Garfield's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°52′47″N 74°6′29″W / 40.87972, -74.10806
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Bergen
Incorporated March 15, 1898 (as Borough
April 19, 1917 (as City)
Government
 - Type 1923 Municipal Manager Law
 - Mayor Frank J. Calandriello
 - City Manager Thomas J. Duch, Esq.
Area
 - Total 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km²)
 - Land 2.1 sq mi (5.5 km²)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
Elevation [1] 95 ft (29 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 29,644
 - Density 13,976.0/sq mi (5,399.3/km²)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07026
Area code(s) 973
FIPS code 34-25770GR2
GNIS feature ID 0876557GR3
Website: http://www.garfieldnj.org

Garfield is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 29,786. When the area that is now Garfield was first developed in 1873, it was known as East Passaic. In 1881, the community's name was changed to Garfield in honor of President of the United States James Garfield. There are generally two explanations given for the new moniker. According to one, shortly after Garfield was elected to the presidency the founder of East Passaic said, "tell everyone...don’t speak of East Passaic anymore; call it 'Garfield' after the man who will lead this great country to prosperity." Seven months later, President Garfield was assassinated but his name remained with the community.[3] The second theory holds that after Garfield's death in 1881, a new train station was named in his honor, which in turn led to the surrounding area becoming associated with his name as well.[4] Garfield was originally incorporated as a borough on March 15, 1898, from portions of Saddle River Township and Wallington. At the time, the New Jersey Legislature set Garfield's boundaries as they exist today. On April 19, 1917, the borough became the City of Garfield, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.[5]

Contents

Geography

Garfield is located at 40°52′47″N, 74°6′29″W (40.879858, -74.108077)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.74%) is water.

Birds Eye View of Garfield New Jersey, image from memory.loc.gov
Birds Eye View of Garfield New Jersey, image from memory.loc.gov

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1900 3,504
1910 10,213 191.5%
1920 19,381 89.8%
1930 29,739 53.4%
1940 28,044 -5.7%
1950 27,550 -1.8%
1960 29,253 6.2%
1970 30,797 5.3%
1980 26,803 -13.0%
1990 26,727 -0.3%
2000 29,786 11.4%
Est. 2006 29,644 [2] -0.5%
Population 1900 - 1990.[6] [7]

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 29,786 people, 11,250 households, and 7,425 families residing in the city. The population density was 13,976.0 people per square mile (5,399.3/km²). There were 11,698 housing units at an average density of 5,488.8/sq mi (2,120.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.11% White, 2.98% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 8.10% from other races, and 3.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.11% of the population. There were 11,250 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.26. In the city the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $42,748, and the median income for a family was $51,654. Males had a median income of $35,987 versus $26,896 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,530. About 6.4% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The City of Garfield is governed under the 1923 Municipal Manager Law. Since 1972, Garfield has been governed by a City Manager and a five-member Council. The Council selects one of its members to be the Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor. All of the members of the City Council are elected at large for four-year terms of office. The work of the City is carried on under the supervision of the appointed Department Heads and they, in turn, report to the City Manager. Members of the Garfield City Council are:[8][9]

Federal, state and county representation

Garfield is in the Ninth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 36th Legislative District.[10] New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District, covering the southern portion of Bergen County and sections of Hudson County and Passaic County, is represented by Steve Rothman (D, Fair Lawn). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken). The 36th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Paul Sarlo (D, Wood-Ridge) and in the Assembly by Frederick Scalera (D, Nutley) and Gary Schaer (D, Passaic). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken). Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D). The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. Bergen County's Freeholders are Chairman Tomas J. Padilla (D, Park Ridge), Vice-Chairman Elizabeth Calabrese (D, Wallington), David L. Ganz (D, Fair Lawn), James M. Carroll (D, Demarest), Bernadette P. McPherson (D, Rutherford), Julie O'Brien (D) and Connie Wagner (D). Other countywide elected officials are Sheriff Leo McGuire (D), Surrogate Court Judge Mike Dressler (D, Cresskill) County Clerk Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford).

Politics

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 29,833 in Garfield, there were 11,837 registered voters (39.7% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 2,644 (22.3% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,420 (12.0% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 7,769 (65.6% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were four voters registered to other parties.[11] On the national level, Garfield leans strongly toward the Democratic Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 58% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 41%.[12]

Education

The Garfield Public Schools serve students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Garfield is one of over thirty Abbott Districts statewide. Schools in the district are Garfield Preschool, six K-5 elementary schools (Washington Irving School #4, Woodrow Wilson School #5, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School #6, Roosevelt School #7, Christopher Columbus School #8, and James Madison School #10).Garfield Middle School, Garfield's brand new middle school for grades 6, 7, and 8. Students in grades 9 - 12 attend Garfield High School.

Transportation

Garfield Station is served by the New Jersey Transit's Bergen County Line, as is the Plauderville station, located on the Saddle Brook border. New Jersey Transit buses includes lines 160, 161, 702, 707, 709 and 758.[13] U.S. Route 46 and County Route 507 pass through Garfield. Other main roads include Midland Avenue, Outwater Lane, and Passaic Street.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Garfield include:

References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Garfield, Geographic Names Information System, accessed September 18, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Garfield city, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2007.
  3. ^ http://www.tccweb.org/garfield.htm, Garfield, NJ. "The founder of Garfield said, 'tell everyone...don’t speak of East Passaic anymore, call it 'Garfield' after the man who will lead this great country to prosperity.' Unfortunately, seven months later President Garfield was assassinated but his name would live on in this great city."
  4. ^ History of Garfield, City of Garfield. Accessed August 21, 2007. "Gilbert D. Bogart is often credited as having been the founder of “modern day” Garfield. When seven houses were constructed in 1873 between Monroe Street and Van Winkle Avenue, the area became known as “East Passaic”....In 1881, a railroad shortcut, the Bergen County Railroad, was laid and a station built and called Garfield after President James A. Garfield who died that year."
  5. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 78.
  6. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  7. ^ [1], Bergen County Census Data. Accessed December 23, 2007.
  8. ^ Meet Your City Council, City of Garfield. Accessed July 11, 2006.
  9. ^ "County of Bergen: 2007 County and Municipal Directory", Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 45.
  10. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 57. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  11. ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," dated April 1, 2006.
  12. ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004.
  13. ^ New Jersey Transit Bus Schedules, New Jersey Transit. Accessed August 30, 2007.
  14. ^ Brubaker, Paul. "NFL stars return to their roots", Herald News, July 7, 2007. Accessed July 24, 2007. "Luis Castillo, San Diego Chargers defensive end, and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin returned to Garfield High School's gridiron to pass the love of the game to some 65 boys between the ages of 8 and 14."
  15. ^ Luis Castillo player profile, National Football League Players Association. Accessed July 24, 2007. "Hometown: Garfield, N.J....SuperPrep All-America at Garfield High School in Garfield, New Jersey…first-team all-state and all-county as junior and senior by Associated Press and Newark Star-Ledger…three-time first-team all-league choice…team captain and team MVP as senior…also lettered in track and wrestling as state’s top heavyweight"
  16. ^ Lange, Randy. "Aches, pains can't keep Chrebet's spirit down", The Record (Bergen County), October 31, 2003. Accessed August 10, 2007. "Chrebet and the Jets will be taking survival to the next level Sunday against the Giants, and for the wide receiver from Garfield, playing in only his third regular-season 'braggin' rights' game has special meaning."

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Garfield, New Jersey from Wíkipedia. ©2006 by Wíkipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. View a list of authors or edit this article.

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