Long the home of theLenape,Native Americans, European settlement in the area that would become Garfield dates back to 1679, when Jacques Cortelyou acquired more than 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) of land surrounding thePassaic River known as "Acqueyquinonke", that ran from theSaddle River to present dayGlen Rock.[24]
When the area that is now Garfield was first developed in 1873 with an initial group of seven homes constructed by Gilbert D. Bogart, it was known as East Passaic.[24]
In 1881, the community's name was changed to Garfield in honor ofPresident of the United StatesJames Garfield.[25][26][27] There are two explanations given for the circumstances behind the renaming. 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.[28] 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.[29]
Garfield was originally incorporated as aborough on March 15, 1898, from portions ofSaddle River Township andWallington. At the time, theNew 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.[30]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 2.19 square miles (5.67 km2), including 2.11 square miles (5.47 km2) of land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2) of water (3.65%).[2][3]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Belmont, Bogart Heights, Dundee Dam and Plauderville.[31]
Based on data from the 2011–2015American Community Survey, the city had a median age of 35.4, the lowest median age in the county. Garfield was one of four municipalities with a median age below the national and state average of 37.6, and well below the median age of 41.5 in Bergen County.[45]
The borough is also home to the architecturally prominentRussian Orthodox Church of Three Saints, which serves the growingUkrainian American community in western Bergen County.[46]
Of the 11,073 households, 33.4% had children under the age of 18; 45.2% were married couples living together; 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.3% were non-families. Of all households, 24.7% were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.29.[21]
23.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.0 males.[21]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $51,407 (with a margin of error of +/− $1,842) and the median family income was $56,701 (+/− $5,020). Males had a median income of $42,927 (+/− $1,953) versus $33,231 (+/− $3,471) for females. Theper capita income for the city was $24,022 (+/− $1,348). About 9.8% of families and 13.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of ages 65 years or over.[47]
As of the2000 United States census[18] there were 29,786 people, 11,250 households, and 7,425 families residing in the city. The population density was 13,976.0 inhabitants per square mile (5,396.2/km2). There were 11,698 housing units at an average density of 5,488.8 per square mile (2,119.2/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% fromother races, and 3.79% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 20.11% of the population.[43][44]
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.[43][44]
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 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.[43][44]
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. Theper capita income for the city was $19,530. About 6.4% of families and 7.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.[43][44]
As of the 2000 Census, an adjusted 22.9% of Garfield's population reported Polish ancestry, ranked third highest in New Jersey behindManville (23.1%) and neighboringWallington (45.5%).[49][50]
The City of Garfield operates under the1923 Municipal Manager Law of New Jersey municipal government, with a governing body comprised of a five-member Council, who appoint a City Manager. Council members are electedat-large innon-partisan elections to serve four-year terms on a concurrent basis.[8][51][52] The city is one of seven municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.[53] In November 2015, following a referendum that supported the move by a 3-1 margin, the City Council voted to shift the city's municipal elections from May to November, citing hopes for greater voter participation and potential savings of $50,000 for each election; the shift result in the extension of terms for the then-serving council and municipal manager by six months, to the end of December 2016. The most recent municipal election was held on November 8, 2016, together with the presidential election.[54][55][56]
At a reorganization meeting held after each election, the Council selects one of its members to be the Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor. The day-to-day operation of the city is carried out under the supervision of the appointed department heads, who report to the City Manager.
As of 2025[update], members of the Garfield City Council areMayor Everett E. Garnto Jr., Deputy Mayor Kevin Kane, Deputy Mayor Tana Raymond, Joseph Delaney and Richard Rigoglioso, all serving concurrent terms of office that end December 31, 2028.[4][57][58][59]
In July 2021, the city council appointed Alejandina Banch to fill the council seat that had been held by Erin Nora Delaney until she stepped down to take office as the city manager / clerk, succeedingThomas Duch, who had been appointed as the administrator ofBergen County.[60] Banch served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[61]
Bergen County is governed by a directly electedCounty Executive, with legislative functions performed by aBoard of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are electedat-large to three-year terms in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each November; a Chairman and Vice Chairman are selected from among its seven members at a reorganization meeting held every January. As of 2025[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D,Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[67]
Macedonian andAmerican flags on the streets in Garfield, New Jersey on Macedonian Independence Day.
As of March 2011, there were a total of 11,904 registered voters in Garfield, of which 3,958 (33.2% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered asDemocrats, 1,395 (11.7% vs. 21.1%) were registered asRepublicans and 6,541 (54.9% vs. 47.1%) were registered asUnaffiliated. There were 10 voters registered asLibertarians orGreens.[89] Among the city's 2010 Census population, 39.0% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 50.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[89][90]
United States Gubernatorial election results for Garfield[91]
In the2016 presidential election, DemocratHillary Clinton received 5,477 votes (57.3% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of RepublicanDonald Trump with 3,782 votes (39.6% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 299 votes (3.1% vs. 4.6%), among the 9,690 ballots cast by the city's 14,816 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.4% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County).[92] In the2012 presidential election, DemocratBarack Obama received 5,538 votes (67.1% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of RepublicanMitt Romney with 2,540 votes (30.8% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 96 votes (1.2% vs. 0.9%), among the 8,256 ballots cast by the city's 13,183 registered voters, for a turnout of 62.6% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[93][94] In the2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,138 votes (59.7% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of RepublicanJohn McCain with 3,315 votes (38.5% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 68 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 8,613 ballots cast by the city's 13,013 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.2% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[95][96] In the2004 presidential election, DemocratJohn Kerry received 4,804 votes (57.8% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of RepublicanGeorge W. Bush with 3,394 votes (40.9% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 66 votes (0.8% vs. 0.7%), among the 8,305 ballots cast by the city's 12,665 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.6% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[97]
In the2013 gubernatorial election, RepublicanChris Christie received 50.4% of the vote (1,960 cast), ahead of DemocratBarbara Buono with 48.0% (1,865 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (63 votes), among the 3,960 ballots cast by the city's 12,609 registered voters (72 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 31.4%.[104][105] In the2009 gubernatorial election, DemocratJon Corzine received 2,428 ballots cast (54.1% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,796 votes (40.0% vs. 45.8%), IndependentChris Daggett with 203 votes (4.5% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 27 votes (0.6% vs. 0.5%), among the 4,490 ballots cast by the city's 12,282 registered voters, yielding a 36.6% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[106]
United States Senate election results for Garfield1[107]
As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of 12 schools, had an enrollment of 4,713 students and 438.1 classroom teachers (on anFTE basis), for astudent–teacher ratio of 10.8:1.[114] Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from theNational Center for Education Statistics[115]) are Garfield Early Childhood Learning Center[116] (178 students; in Pre-K), Garfield Public Preschool Annex[117] (95; Pre-K), Garfield Public Preschool Annex 3[118] (159; Pre-K), Washington Irving School #4[119] (382; K–5), Woodrow Wilson School #5[120] (280; K–5), Abraham Lincoln Elementary School #6[121] (365; Pre-K–5), Theodore Roosevelt School #7[122] (273; K–5), Christopher Columbus School #8[123] (306; K–5), Thomas Jefferson School #9[124] (295; K–5), James Madison School #10[125] (245; K–5), Garfield Middle School[126] (989; 6–8) andGarfield High School[127] (1,159; 9–12).[128][129]
Public school students from the city, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by theBergen County Technical Schools, which include theBergen County Academies inHackensack, and theBergen Tech campus in Teterboro orParamus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.[130][131]
Bergen Arts and Science Charter School, which opened in September 2006, serves public school students in the district, as well as those fromHackensack andLodi.[132] The elementary (grades K–3) and middle (4–8) school facilities are located in Garfield, while the high school (9–12) is in Hackensack.[133] As of the 2018–19 school year, the charter school had an enrollment of 1,163 students and 83.0 classroom teachers (on anFTE basis), for astudent–teacher ratio of 14.0:1.[134]
The Garfield Fire Department (GFD) is a fullyvolunteer fire department.[136] The GFD was organized on July 17, 1893.[137] The department is staffed by 150 fully trainedfirefighters operating out of five firehouses. The department has three engine companies, one rescue engine company and one ladder(tiller) company. In addition they have a hazardous materials unit, a water rescue boat and a foam tender.[138]
As of May 2010[update], the city had a total of 49.24 miles (79.24 km) of roadways, of which 42.67 miles (68.67 km) were maintained by the municipality, 6.44 miles (10.36 km) by Bergen County and 0.13 miles (0.21 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation.[139]
Linda Bove (born 1945), deaf actress who played the part of Linda the Librarian on the children's television programSesame Street from 1971 to 2003[151]
Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties) prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.
^Kuperinsky, Amy."'The Jewel of the Meadowlands'?: N.J.'s best, worst and weirdest town slogans", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, January 22, 2015. Accessed July 12, 2016. "Garfield, a city spanning two square miles on the Passaic River, is 'The City of Champions' because of some athletic feats from the distant past — including a championship by the 1939 high school football team."
^abAbout, City of Garfield. Accessed June 26, 2022. "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'."
^Lanza, Howard D.Garfield, p. 10.Arcadia Publishing, 2002.ISBN9780738510507. Accessed August 29, 2017. "On the fay following the inauguration of Pres. James A. Garfield, Bogart boasted, "Don't speak of East Passaic anymore, call it 'Garfield' after the man who will lead this great country to prosperity.'"
^About, City of Garfield. Accessed September 9, 2025. "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."
^Na, Myles."EPA has $37M plan for North Jersey chromium cleanup, but no money", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, September 21, 2016. Accessed February 6, 2017. "The federal Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday finalized a plan to clean up groundwater contaminated with chromium from a former electroplating plant on Clark Street, though it still lacks the funds to pay finish it."
^"20 towns in Bergen County with the lowest median age", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, January 8, 2017. Accessed December 24, 2019. "Towns in Bergen County are comprised of people who have higher median ages than fellow New Jerseyans, the most recent Census data shows. There were only four towns in Bergen County with lower median ages than the national and state average of 37.6, according to figures from 2005 to 2009, compared to those from 2011 to 2015.... The youngest median age in the county was in Garfield. There was no change from pre-to post-Recession in terms of age."
^Cattafi, Kristie."Council introduces ordinance to move elections in Garfield",Community News (Garfield edition), November 19, 2015, backed up by theInternet Archive as of March 5, 2016. Accessed August 29, 2017. "The council unanimously voted in favor of the ordinance after the public voted on Nov. 3, 846 to 276 for a non-binding referendum on whether to change the city council election from May to the day of the general election in November.... If adopted, the next scheduled council election will switch from May 10, 2016 to Nov. 8, 2016. The council elections will be on cycle every four years with the presidential election."
^Cattafi, Kristie."Ten residents seek seats during Garfield's first November election",Community News (Garfield edition), November 8, 2016. Accessed August 29, 2017. "Garfield will be holding it first November council election after the governing body approved to change the date this year."
^Chapter 18: Elections, Municipal, Garfield City Code. Accessed August 29, 2017. "Municipal elections in the City of Garfield shall be held on the day of the general election, that is, the Tuesday after the first Monday in November."
^Sobko, Katie."Garfield hires former Deputy Mayor Erin Delaney as city manager",The Record, July 14, 2021. Accessed June 26, 2022. "Former Deputy Mayor Erin Delaney was hired as the city’s new manager on Tuesday, just a week after resigning her elected office, and only a month after the City Council repealed employment restrictions on former elected officials.... The council was also tasked with appointing a new member. It opted for Alejandina Banch, known in the city simply as 'Sugar.' She will fill the council seat vacated by Delaney until the general election this fall."
^Cattafi, Kristie."Democrats pick Bergenfield councilman to fill vacancy on Bergen County commissioners board",The Record, March 13, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. "A Democratic councilman from Bergenfield will be sworn in as a Bergen County commissioner Wednesday night, filling a vacancy on the governing body for almost 1 million residents. Rafael Marte will serve until Dec. 31, taking on the unexpired term left by former Commissioner Ramon Hache, a Democrat who resigned last week to lead the Ridgewood YMCA as its chief executive officer."
^Home Page, Garfield Public Schools. Accessed August 27, 2020. "The Garfield school district is comprised of approximately five thousand students housed in seven elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. In addition, the district also offers PreK education to three and four-year-old children in various locations in the city."
^Garfield Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification,Garfield Public Schools. Accessed March 25, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Garfield School District. Composition: The Garfield School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Garfield."
^What We Do: History,New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in theAbbott v. Burke case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.... Full funding for approved projects was authorized for the 31 special-needs districts, known as 'Abbott Districts'."
^Admission Portal, iLearn Schools. Accessed May 31, 2020. "Charter schools first accept applications from students living within the charter school’s local school district. If places are unfilled, out-of-district children can then be accepted. Local school districts for iLearn Schools are as follows: Bergen-ASCS: Garfield, Hackensack, and Lodi"
^Home Page, Bergen Arts and Science Charter School. Accessed May 31, 2020.
^Police Department, City of Garfield. Accessed December 1, 2023. "The Garfield Police Department located at 411 Midland Ave Garfield, NJ 07026 (non-emergency telephone number 973-478-8500) currently employs 66 Sworn officers, 8 Civilian Parking Enforcement Officers, and 2 Civilian Record Room clerks."
^Garfield Volunteer Fire Department, City of Garfield. Accessed May 27, 2024. "The City of Garfield is served by a volunteer Fire Department comprised of five separate fire companies. Each company is composed of a 20-person roster of members."
^Garfield History. Accessed August 29, 2017. "On July 17, 1893 a group of citizens gathered at Hollingshead Hall on Washington Place and formed the first Fire Department. It is still called 'Old Reliable' today. Fire Company No. 1 used the bell at the First Presbyterian Church as the companies' fire alarm."
^Lees, Gene.Leader of the band: The life of Woody Herman, p. 117.Oxford University Press, 1995.ISBN0-19-505671-X. Accessed June 30, 2011. "Born Anthony Allesandrini in Garfield, New Jersey, on August 22, 1921, Tony would stay with the band for two years, and then work with various members of the Herman alumni in small groups, and with Charlie Parker, Sheldon Powell and others."
^"Garfield's Child Star",The Herald-News, November 28, 1939. Accessed April 17, 2023, viaNewspapers.com, "Mary Thomas, seven-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Novotny, formerly of Garfield, (shown above with Edmund Lowe), has been cast by Charles R. Rogers for part in Paramount'sOur Neighbors The Carters, with Fay Balnter, Frank Craven, Edmund Lowe and Genevieve Tobin."
^Zeitchik, Steven."In Person; Meet Joe Fan",The New York Times, January 23, 2005. Accessed January 16, 2019. "Amid the swirl of the New York region's media personalities, most people have probably never heard of Mr. Benigno. But as the longtime host of WFAN's overnight program, the Garfield-born, Paramus-bred broadcaster combined an uncommon mix of black humor, esoteric knowledge and incredulity to become a cult figure."
^Riley, Lori."The Road Is Fruitful For Peaches",Hartford Courant, November 18, 1999. Accessed June 25, 2022. "She lives in Lodi, N.J., but she grew up with Knebl in nearby Garfield.... Knebl was sophomore at Garfield High School when she first tried out for the Peaches, the most successful team in the league."
^Thomas Jr., Robert McG."Two Giants Were Heroes Far From Playing Field",The New York Times, January 26, 1991. Accessed September 25, 2009. "Blozis, who was born in Garfield, N.J., and was a star athlete at Dickinson High School in Jersey City before going to Georgetown on a track scholarship, was regarded as the strongest player in professional football and had the physique to prove it."
^Pelzman, J.P."Jets notes: Garfield's Luis Castillo feels the hurt of loss",The Record, January 18, 2010, backed up by theInternet Archive as of September 27, 2012. Accessed August 29, 2017. "'We'll have nine months,' the Garfield native said, 'for every individual to find a way to point to themselves and to find a way, one of these years, to get past one of these games.'"
^Steinreich, Stanley."'The Kid Next Door' Likely to Be Mayor",The New York Times, May 25, 1980. Accessed June 26, 2022. "He considers himself the kid next door, but when the votes were tallied two weeks ago, the 23-year-old law student was not just another face in the crowd. He was Thomas J. Duch, the man most likely to be the new Mayor of Garfield."
^Gianfranco Iannotta,Team USA. Accessed December 13, 2019. "Birthplace: Passaic, N.J. Hometown: Garfield, N.J. High School: Garfield High School (Garfield, N.J.) '12"
^Morse, Steve."Janice Robinson The Color Within Me Warner Bros.",The Boston Globe, December 23, 1999. Accessed August 29, 2017. "Get ready for a pumped-up blast of rock'n soul, hip-hop and gospel spirit that goes by the name of Janice Robinson. Hailing from Garfield, N.J., she holds nothing back on this very personal and appealing record."
^Staff."Joseph Villa, Pianist, 46",The New York Times, April 15, 1995. Accessed June 30, 2011. "Mr. Villa was born in Garfield, N.J., on Aug. 9, 1948, and studied at the Juilliard School with Sascha Gorodnitzki."
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