Location of Harrington Park in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
The name Harrington Park was based on the larger Harrington Township from which it was in part derived, which in turn was based on the Harring family, early settlers to the region.[21][22]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.06 square miles (5.34 km2), including 1.85 square miles (4.78 km2) of land and 0.22 square miles (0.56 km2) of water (10.53%).[1][2]
Of the 1,592 households, 41.8% had children under the age of 18; 73.9% were married couples living together; 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 16.6% were non-families. Of all households, 14.6% were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.26.[16]Same-sex couples headed 34 households in 2010, an increase more than five-fold from the six counted in 2000.[33]
28.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 18.3% from 25 to 44, 33.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.6 males.[16]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $115,875 (with a margin of error of +/− $28,119) and the median family income was $132,108 (+/− $18,521). Males had a median income of $95,119 (+/− $12,806) versus $49,656 (+/− $16,730) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $49,159 (+/− $5,612). About none of families and 1.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.[34]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census,[13] there were 4,740 people, 1,563 households, and 1,344 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,555.0 inhabitants per square mile (986.5/km2). There were 1,583 housing units at an average density of 853.3 per square mile (329.5/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 83.52% White, 0.68% African American, 0.04% Native American, 14.66% Asian, 0.63% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.57% of the population.[31][32]
There were 1,563 households, out of which 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.4% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.0% were non-families. 12.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.31.[31][32]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.[31][32]
The median income for a household in the borough was $100,302, and the median income for a family was $124,376. Males had a median income of $71,776 versus $42,833 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,017. About 1.8% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.[31][32]
Government
Local government
Harrington Park is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[35] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[4] The borough form of government used by Harrington Park is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[36][37]
As of 2024[update], the position as mayor of Harrington Park is vacant, following the death of Independent Paul A. Hoelscher, whose term of office was set to expire December 31, 2027. Members of the Harrington Park Borough Council are Council President Diane G. Walker (I, 2025), William Blackinton (I, 2024), Joon L. Chung (I, 2026), Gregory J. Evanella (I, 2025), Allan S. Napolitano (I, 2026) and Jorden "Nick" Pedersen (I, 2024).[38][39][40][41][42][43]
Paul Hoelscher, who had been the borough's mayor since being elected in 1992, died in office in June 2024.[44]
In March 2016, Diane Walker was selected to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 of Michael Rutigliano, who cited personal reasons for his resignation from office the previous month.[45][46]
Federal, state and county representation
Harrington Park is located in the 5th Congressional District[47] and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.[48][49][50]
Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at-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.[55]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,243 registered voters in Harrington Park, of which 813 (25.1% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 813 (25.1% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,615 (49.8% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[77] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 69.5% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 96.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[77][78]
In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 1,382 votes (51.7% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 1,147 votes (42.9% vs. 41.6%) and other candidates with 76 votes (2.8% vs. 3.0%), among the 2,673 ballots cast by the borough's 3,510 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.2% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County).[79] In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,340 votes (51.2% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,218 votes (46.5% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 32 votes (1.2% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,618 ballots cast by the borough's 3,447 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.0% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[80][81] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,371 votes (49.7% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,355 votes (49.1% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 14 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,761 ballots cast by the borough's 3,413 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.9% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[82][83] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,445 votes (52.8% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,263 votes (46.2% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 22 votes (0.8% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,735 ballots cast by the borough's 3,324 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.3% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[84]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.6% of the vote (1,019 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 34.9% (559 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (23 votes), among the 1,655 ballots cast by the borough's 3,307 registered voters (54 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 50.0%.[91][92] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 994 votes (51.2% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 815 votes (42.0% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 90 votes (4.6% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 13 votes (0.7% vs. 0.5%), among the 1,941 ballots cast by the borough's 3,338 registered voters, yielding a 58.1% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[93]
Public school students from the borough, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Paramus. 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.[104][105]
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 26.66 miles (42.91 km) of roadways, of which 21.04 miles (33.86 km) were maintained by the municipality and 5.62 miles (9.04 km) by Bergen County.[106]
Gregory Jacobs (born 1968), film director, producer and screenwriter, who has frequently collaborated with several film directors, most notably Steven Soderbergh[113]
^History, Borough of Harrington Park. Accessed January 29, 2024. "Its earliest known settlers were the Harring family, and the earliest available reference to any individual is to Peter Harring who established a residence here in the early 17th century. A son, John, was born to the Harring family Dec. 20, 1633."
^Mayor and Council, Borough of Harrington Park. Accessed June 4, 2024. "Harrington Park is governed by a Mayor and six (6) Council members elected for terms of four and three years, respectively."
^Wallace, Amanda. "Paul Hoelscher, longtime mayor of Harrington Park, dies at 82", The Record, June 14, 2024. Accessed June 15, 2024. "The Borough of Harrington Park is mourning the loss of longtime mayor Paul A. Hoelscher, who died Thursday. He was 82 years old.... In 1992, Hoelscher was elected mayor, and proudly served the community ever since."
^Lightdale, Marc. "Diane Walker fills vacancy on Harrington Park council", Northern Valley Suburbanite, March 31, 2016. Accessed August 31, 2017. "The borough council welcomed Diane Walker to the governing body, replacing Michael Rutigliano, on March 21 through the end of the year."
^Lightdale, Marc. "Harrington Park councilman resigns; cites personal reasons", Northern Valley Suburbanite, February 18, 2016, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 2, 2017. Accessed August 31, 2017. "Councilman Michael Rutigliano resigned from the governing body on Feb. 8 after two years, citing personal reasons."
^Biography, Congressman Josh Gottheimer. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Josh now lives in Wyckoff, New Jersey with Marla, his wife who was a federal prosecutor, and their two young children, Ellie and Ben."
^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."
^Harrington Park Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Harrington Park School District. Accessed July 17, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades kindergarten through eight in the Harrington Park School District. Composition: The Harrington Park School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Harrington Park."
^Home page, Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 4, 2011. Accessed November 22, 2011. "Welcome to Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, home of the Golden Knights. Although our students reside in four different towns; Harrington Park, Northvale, Norwood, and Old Tappan, once they arrive here they are treated as one."
^Board of Education, Rockleigh, New Jersey. Accessed August 31, 2017. "Rockleigh Borough is a 'sending district' in that there is no public school within the Borough, except for three special-education schools administered by Bergen County.... The Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, a nationally ranked high school, receives older children from Rockleigh Borough."
^Northern Valley Regional High School District 2016 Report Card NarrativeArchived September 12, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 12, 2017. "Located in the upper North Eastern corner of the state, Northern Valley Regional is comprised of two high schools, Northern Valley at Demarest and Northern Valley at Old Tappan.... Our long standing successful and cost efficient Pre-K-12 consortium remains an exemplar model of shared services including seven local Pre-K-8 districts that send their students to the regional high schools: Closter, Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood and Old Tappan."
^Our CommunitiesArchived October 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Northern Valley Regional High School District. Accessed May 31, 2016. "The seven towns that make up the Northern Valley Regional High School District - Closter, Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood, and Old Tappan - are situated in the northeast corner of Bergen County, New Jersey."
^Litsky, Frank. "World Records Set In 200-Meter Butterfly", The New York Times, July 31, 1980. Accessed November 15, 2018. "Craig Beardsley of Harrington Park, N.J., the 19-year-old son of an American father and Chinese mother, broke the world record this afternoon in the men's 200-meter butterfly swim."
^Mnookin, Seth. "The New Natural", New York, April 22, 2002. Accessed August 16, 2012. "Booker, the son of two IBM managers who raised him in Harrington Park, a wealthy Bergen County exurb, argues that his résumé represents progress, something to build on."
^Amdur, Neil. "Award-winning TV producer got start in Harrington Park Elementary film class", The Record, August 7, 2014. Accessed November 15, 2018. "Jacobs played varsity tennis at Northern Valley High School in Old Tappan and worked as a summer teaching pro at various Bergen tennis clubs.... Besides his Harrington Park roots, Jacobs' father, Rafael Jacobs, is an attorney in Tenafly."
^Lynch, James F. "Interview: A Practical, Pragmatic Assemblywoman", The New York Times, January 14, 1979. Accessed April 26, 2020. "'I joined the league in the sixties,' Mrs. Kiernan recalled, 'and when was asked to be a [Democratic Party] County Committewoman from Harrington Park, I realized that I didn't know anything about government. I got my "degree" from the league.'"
^Feldberg, Robert. "Beth Leavel of Harrington Park has a featured role in Elf on Broadway", The Record, November 7, 2010, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 6, 2016. Accessed August 31, 2017. "Leavel, who lives with her husband and two sons in Harrington Park, achieved the pinnacle of recognition in 2006, when she won a Tony Award for her performance in the title role in The Drowsy Chaperone."
^"Justin Minaya". Real GM Basketball. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
^Coffey, Wayne. "Minaya Won't Trade This Expos GM a Long Way From Mets", New York Daily News, July 7, 2002. Accessed May 13, 2016. "Minaya finalized the Colon trade on the afternoon of June 27, in the upstairs office of his home in Harrington Park, N.J. The last pieces were getting the Indians to pay the $600,000 salary differential between Colon and first baseman Lee Stevens, and Shapiro to add pitcher Tim Drew to the deal."
^Feuer, Alan. "A Teenager's Last Steps on a Trail of Missed Chances", The New York Times, July 29, 2006. Accessed October 20, 2007. "Even the settings seemed cruelly accidental: She began the evening in safety and affluence in Harrington Park, N.J.... She was co-captain of the team at Saddle River Day School in Saddle River, N.J., where the honors English class has been asked to read Pygmalion this summer and earlier this year two students picked up silver medals in the National Latin Exam."
^Alden, Bill. "Princeton Women's Soccer Star Negron Gets Call for U.S. U-21 Training Camp", Town Topics, June 23, 2004. Accessed May 13, 2016. "Negron, a native of Harrington Park, N.J., will be one of 25 players vying for one of the 18-20 spots on the squad that will represent the U.S. U-21s when they compete at the Nordic Cup to be played in Iceland from July 19–30."
^Head Coach: Jeff Albies, William Paterson University, backed up by the Internet Archive as of August 30, 2006. Accessed May 13, 2016. "This streak continued through the years when he lured prospects such as Dan Pasqua, a product of nearby Harrington Park who helped William Paterson slug its way into their first NCAA Division III College World Series in 1982."
^Sheridan, Angeline. "Here's What's Buzzing in Bergen This Week", Macaroni Kid Northeast Bergen, September 3, 2015. Accessed August 31, 2017. "NBC recently announced the addition of 25 year old Jon Rudnitsky as a featured player on Saturday Night Live. Rudnitsky, who grew up in Harrington Park, is a stand-up comedian who got his start at Northern Valley Old Tappan High School."
^"Jackie Simes", Sports-Reference.com. Accessed May 13, 2016.
^Levin, Jay. "Jean-Claude Suares of Harrington Park, illustrator and graphic designer, dies at 71", The Record, August 7, 2013, backed up by the Internet Archive as of August 12, 2016. Accessed August 31, 2017. "Jean-Claude Suares of Harrington Park, an illustrator, graphic designer and creative consultant whose work embellished major publications and dozens of books, notably those on a topic dear to him — dogs and cats — died July 30 at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. He was 71."
^Diaz, Jaime. "Senior Open Is for Shot-Makers and Par-Breakers", The New York Times, June 27, 1990. Accessed June 4, 2012. "Tillinghast's genius was in the contouring of greens to make holes difficult without abundant length, narrow fairways, or hazards. He had a special fondness for Ridgewood, perhaps because he lived in nearby Harrington Park. He pronounced it his greatest work."
Sources
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.