Waldwick () 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 10,058, an increase of 433 (+4.5%) from the 2010 census count of 9,625, which in turn reflected an increase of three people (+0.0%) from the 9,622 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.

History Originally inhabited during the pre-Columbian era by the Lenape Native American tribe, the region surrounding Waldwick was first explored by Europeans when a Dutch trading expedition landed near there in 1610. With the creation of the Nieuw Amsterdam colony in 1624, the present site of the borough became a Dutch possession along with the rest of northeastern New Jersey. During the period from 1624 to 1664 it was sparsely developed by Dutch settlers, mainly for agricultural purposes. With the annexation of Nieuw Amsterdam by the English in 1664 came a nearly instant increase in immigration to the region and the development of several settlements in and around the present borders of the borough.

In the mid-19th century, Waldwick and the surrounding area constituted a small settlement within Franklin Township, an area that encompassed much of northwestern Bergen County. The area's population grew significantly after the Erie Railroad established a train station. On January 1, 1886, Orvil Township was formed from portions of Hohokus Township and Washington Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 83 re Orvil Township, p. 87 re Waldwick. Accessed May 30, 2024. The "Boroughitis" phenomenon that swept through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone, hit Orvil Township particularly hard, resulting in the formation of five new boroughs created from the nascent township, including Montvale and Woodcliff (now Woodcliff Lake) on August 31, 1894, Allendale on November 10, 1894, Saddle River on November 20, 1894, and Upper Saddle River formed on November 22, 1894.Harvey, ornelius 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." On April 7, 1919, a council of citizens voted to incorporate as the borough of "Waldwick", from the remaining portions of Orvil Township. With the creation of the borough of Waldwick, Orvil Township was dissolved.Municipal Incorporations, p. 80.

Various derivations of the borough's name have been offered, including one that "Waldwick" is Old English, from "wald" (forest) and "wick" (settlement or place). According to The History of Bergen County written in 1900 by James M. Van Valen, the name Waldwick comes from a Saxon language word meaning "beautiful grove"Van Valen, James M. The History Of Bergen County, New Jersey Publishing and Engraving co., 1900, full source accessed via the Internet Archive. Accessed August 22, 2011. "Waldwick, another enterprising little town of the township, where the Post silk mill is located, is on the Erie railroad. Waldwick is a Saxon word, which means beautiful grove, and the old village was well named." though other sources show a related meaning of "village in a grove".Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 19, 2015.

Historic places Waldwick is home to the following historic places listed on the National Register of Historic Places:New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office, updated December 20, 2022. Accessed February 2, 2023.

Erie Railroad Signal Tower, Waldwick Yard – Northeast end of Bonhert Place, west side of railroad tracks (listed 1983). Built in 1848 for the Erie Railroad. Albert Smith House – 289 Wyckoff Avenue, built in 1750 Waldwick Railroad Station – Hewson Avenue and Prospect Streets (listed 1978). The station opened in 1886 as a station along the Erie Railroad. White Tenant House – 16 White's Lane (listed 1983, now demolished)

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.07 square miles (5.35 km2), including 2.05 square miles (5.30 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (0.97%).

The borough is surrounded by the Bergen County municipalities of Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Midland Park, Ridgewood, Saddle River and Wyckoff.Areas touching Waldwick, 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 Ho-Ho-Kus Brook flows through the center of the borough in a roughly southward direction.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Waldwick borough, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)8,5458,1227,70188.81%84.38%76.57%Black or African American alone (NH)57741260.59%0.77%1.25%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)3960.03%0.09%0.06%Asian alone (NH)4344786404.51%4.97%6.36%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%Other race alone (NH)78310.07%0.08%0.31%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)651042390.68%1.08%2.38%Hispanic or Latino (any race)5118301,3155.31%8.62%13.07%Total9,6229,62510,058 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Waldwick had a population of 10,058. The median age was 40.7 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.4 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 3,577 households in Waldwick, of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 64.6% were married-couple households, 10.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,691 housing units, of which 3.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%. 2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 9,625 people, 3,420 households, and 2,681 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,537 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 90.63% (8,723) White, 1.08% (104) Black or African American, 0.11% (11) Native American, 4.99% (480) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.76% (169) from other races, and 1.43% (138) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.62% (830) of the population.

Of the 3,420 households, 37.4% had children under the age of 18; 66.1% were married couples living together; 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.6% were non-families. Of all households, 18.5% were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.20.

25.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $95,774 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,836) and the median family income was $104,335 (+/− $12,466). Males had a median income of $66,838 (+/− $8,541) versus $57,137 (+/− $6,800) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,689 (+/− $3,047). About 2.8% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Waldwick borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 17, 2012.

Same-sex couples headed 16 households in 2010, an increase from the 10 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 October 29, 2014.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 9,622 people, 3,428 households, and 2,677 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,495 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 92.68% White, 0.59% African American, 0.04% Native American, 4.52% Asian, 1.31% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.31% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Waldwick 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 Waldwick borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 3, 2013.

There were 3,428 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $75,532, and the median income for a family was $82,208. Males had a median income of $60,671 versus $37,145 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,733. About 1.3% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government