Paramus, New Jersey: Difference between revisions

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"ids": "Q1021714"

|population_est = 2635926282

|pop_est_as_of = 20222023

Paramus was incorporated as a borough by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]] on March 2, 1922, and ratified by a [[referendum]] held on April 4, 1922, that passed by a vote of 238 to 10.<ref name=Story/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110313235454/http://www.paramusborough.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32&Itemid=91 Paramus History], Borough of Paramus. Accessed June 1, 2015.</ref> Paramus was created from portions of [[Midland Township, New Jersey|Midland Township]], which now exists as [[Rochelle Park, New Jersey|Rochelle Park]].<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. [https://www.state.nj.usgov/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf ''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314055548/https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf |date=March 14, 2022 }}, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 84. Accessed JulyMay 1830, 20122024.</ref><ref>Staff. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Clw4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA81 ''Acts of the One Hundred and Forty-Sixth Legislature of the State of New Jersey''], pp. 81-83. [[New Jersey Secretary of State]], 1922. Accessed October 17, 2015. "An Act to incorporate the borough of Paramus, in the county of Bergen"</ref> The borough's name is thought to have originated from the [[Unami language]] spoken by the [[Lenape]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], derived from words meaning "land of the turkeys"<ref name=NYT1966/> or "pleasant stream."<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=250 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115082401/http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=250 |date=November 15, 2015 }}, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 8, 2015.</ref>

The area that ultimately became the present-day [[North Jersey]] had been occupied for thousands of years by prehistoric [[indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous peoples]]. At the time of European encounter, it was settled by the [[Lenape]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. The [[Lenape language]] word for the area, ''Peremessing'', which meant that it had an abundant population of [[wild turkey]], was [[anglicisation|anglicized]] to become the word "Paramus".<ref>Citizens Semi-Centennial Assoc., 1919, [https://books.google.com/books?id=QUYVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA3 ''Ridgewood, Bergen County, New Jersey, Past and Present''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930142338/https://books.google.com/books?id=QUYVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA3#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=September 30, 2023 }}, p. 3. Accessed October 6, 2019. "The name 'Paramus' is said to be derived from the Indian 'Peremessing', descriptive of the fact that the country abounded in wild turkey. The first white settlers called it 'Peremesse' from which the transition was gradually made to the present form, Paramus."</ref><ref name=Thinking>Cheslow, Jerry. [https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/15/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-of-living-in-paramus-in-shopping-mecca-houses-sell-well-too.html "If You're Thinking of Living In/Paramus; In Shopping Mecca, Houses Sell Well Too"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424054227/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/15/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-of-living-in-paramus-in-shopping-mecca-houses-sell-well-too.html |date=April 24, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 15, 2001. Accessed May 23, 2012.</ref> A large metal statue of a wild turkey in the [[Paramus Park]] mall commemorates this history.<ref name=Thinking/> Another alternative derivation is that the word means "pleasant stream".<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=25 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115082401/http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=25 |date=November 15, 2015 }}, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed November 13, 2015.</ref>

During the [[American Revolutionary War]], the county included both [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]] and [[Patriot (American Revolution)|Patriots]], with Patriots "greatly outnumbering" Tories.<ref>''Ridgewood Past and Present,'' p. 4</ref> Although no major battles were fought in Bergen County, Paramus was part of the military activity, as colonial troops were stationed in Ramapo under the command of [[Aaron Burr]].<ref>Hamilton, Alexander. ''The Papers of Alexander Hamilton,'' Columbia University Press, 1977, p. 296. While stationed in Ramapo, Burr met the woman he later married. The 1782 ceremony was held in Paramus.</ref> In 1777, the British raided the Hackensack area and Burr marched troops to Paramus, where he attacked the British, forcing them to withdraw.<ref>''Ridgewood Past and Present,'' p. 7.</ref> General [[George Washington]] was in Paramus several times during the War: December 1778; July 1780; and, December 1780.<ref>''Ridgewood Past and Present'', p. 6</ref> Following the [[Battle of Monmouth]], Washington established his headquarters in Paramus in July 1778.<ref>Bake, William Spohn. ''Itinerary of General Washington from June 15, 1775, to December 23, 1783'', [[J. B. Lippincott & Co.|J. B. Lippincott Company]], 1892, p. 137</ref> Over the advice of his staff, Washington moved his headquarters to [[Westchester County, New York]].<ref>Leiby, Adrian Coulter. [https://books.google.com/books?id=gRPUUwPFmNgC&pg=PA158 ''The Revolutionary War in the Hackensack Valley''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930142339/https://books.google.com/books?id=gRPUUwPFmNgC&pg=PA158#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=September 30, 2023 }}, p. 158. [[Rutgers University Press]], 1980. {{ISBN|9780813508986}}. Accessed October 6, 2019.</ref>

| estimate=2635926282

| estyear=20222023

| estref=<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=PopEst>[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-20222023/mcds/totals/SUB-MCD-EST2022EST2023-POP-34.xlsx Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 20222023] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521100653/https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2022/mcds/totals/SUB-MCD-EST2022-POP-34.xlsx |date=May 21, 2023 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]], released May 20232024. Accessed May 1816, 20232024.</ref>

The [[2010 United States census]] counted 26,342 people, 8,630 households, and 6,939 families in the borough. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2516.0|/sqmi}}. There were 8,915 housing units at an average density of {{convert|851.5|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup was 72.29% (19,042) [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 1.42% (374) [[Black (U.S. census)|Black or African American]], 0.11% (28) [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 22.28% (5,869) [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.05% (13) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.39% (366) from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#Race|other races]], and 2.47% (650) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic or Latino]] residents of any race were 7.26% (1,913) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/> 6.9% of residents self-identified as being [[Korean American]], which makes it the largest ethnic minority group in the borough.<ref name=Census2010/>

As of the [[2000 United States census]]<ref name="GR2" /> there were 25,737 people, 8,082 households, and 6,780 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|2,457.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 8,209 housing units at an average density of {{convert|783.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 79.19% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.13% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.05% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 17.23% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.89% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.51% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] residents of any race were 4.87% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>[http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/1603455950.pdf Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Paramus borough, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201034231/http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/1603455950.pdf |date=February 1, 2015 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 16, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3400355950 DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Paramus borough, Bergen County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212084323/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3400355950 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 16, 2012.</ref>

In the borough 23.2% of the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% was from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who werewas 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

At the intersection of Routes 4 and 17 is [[Garden State Plaza]], the largest and best-known mall in the borough. Westfield Garden State Plaza is the largest mall in the [[Westfield Group]]'s global portfolio and the largest in New Jersey, with a [[gross leasable area]] of {{convert|2128402|sqft|m2|sigfig=2}}.<ref>[http://www.westfield.com/corporate/property-portfolio/united-states/gardenstateplaza.html Westfield Garden State Plaza] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224215115/http://www.westfield.com/corporate/property-portfolio/united-states/gardenstateplaza.html |date=February 24, 2012 }}, [[Westfield Group]]. Accessed December 25, 2011. "Total retail space: 2,128,402ft2 or 197,728m2 (approx)"</ref> On Route 4, are [[Bergen Town Center]] (known as the Bergen Mall until 2006), Paramus Place and The Shoppes on IV. On Route 17, are [[Paramus Park]], Paramus Towne Square, Paramus Design Center, and the [[Fashion Center (Paramus, New Jersey)|Fashion Center]].

Many national chain stores have at least one location in Paramus. [[Nordstrom]]'s Paramus location was its first New York area store when it opened in September 1990, with strong sales volume.<ref>Barmash, Isadore. [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/09/business/sales-strong-for-jersey-nordstrom-s.html "Sales Strong for Jersey Nordstrom's"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702230815/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/09/business/sales-strong-for-jersey-nordstrom-s.html |date=July 2, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 9, 1990. Accessed August 11, 2015. "Nordstrom Inc.'s store here, its first in the New York metropolitan area, appears to be off to a strong start in its first month, industry analysts and company executives say. Nordstrom executives refused to give details on the store's sales but said it had had the best initial sales volume of any of the company's three East Coast stores."</ref> There are 25 retailers that occupy multiple stores in Paramus, including [[Macy's]], which had outlets in three malls for a period of time. Some retail analysts view Paramus as being two distinct markets, centered on the two major highways. [[Lord & Taylor]] had locations at both Westfield Garden State Plaza and Fashion Center, giving Paramus the distinction of being the only town with more than one Lord & Taylor location. However, by 2021, both locations closed, due to the company's bankruptcy from the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]]. [[Toys "R" Us]] had two locations: at the Fashion Center, and at a location on the eastbound side of [[New Jersey Route 4|Route 4]] near Forest Avenue. Paramus also housed a [[Babies "R" Us]] on the northbound side of [[New Jersey Route 17|Route 17]], but it closed in 2018. Later that year, the [[Fashion Center]] and Route 4 Toys "R" Us locations both closed due to the company's bankruptcy. In 1983, Paramus was the location of one of the first [[Kids "R" Us]] stores.<ref>[http://www.toysrusinc.com/about-us/history/ Our History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418142247/https://www.toysrusinc.com/about-us/history |date=April 18, 2019 }}, [[Toys "R" Us]]. Accessed August 11, 2015. "In 1983, the company branched out into children's clothing when it opened its first Kids 'R' Us® stores in Paramus, New Jersey and Brooklyn, New York."</ref> When Toys "R" Us was revived in 2019 after emerging from bankruptcy, the first new Toys "R" Us store opened at [[Garden State Plaza]] on November 27, 2019. However, it closed again on January 26, 2021, as a result of financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>[https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2019/11/27/toys-r-us-opens-countrys-first-new-store-paramus-nj/4307012002/ "Toys R Us opens 'new' kind of store, with its first US location in Garden State Plaza"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128040628/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2019/11/27/toys-r-us-opens-countrys-first-new-store-paramus-nj/4307012002/ |date=November 28, 2019 }} ''NorthJersey.com''. Accessed November 27, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://abc7ny.com/society/toys-r-us-retrenches-again-shutters-its-last-2-us-stores/10138677/ "Toys R Us retrenches again, shutters its last 2 US stores"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130032350/https://abc7ny.com/society/toys-r-us-retrenches-again-shutters-its-last-2-us-stores/10138677/ |date=January 30, 2021 }} "ABC7NY.com" Accessed January 29, 2021.</ref> [[H&M]] has two locations in Paramus: Westfield Garden State Plaza, and The Outlets at Bergen Town Center.<ref>[https://www2.hm.com/en_us/customer-service/shopping-at-hm/store-locator Store Locator] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401032439/https://www2.hm.com/en_us/customer-service/shopping-at-hm/store-locator |date=April 1, 2023 }}, [[H&M]]. Accessed March 31, 2023.</ref>

* 2003 – [[IKEA]] opens a {{convert|370000|sqft|adj=on}} store, its second-largest location in North America, at the intersection of Routes 4 and 17 on the site of the old [[Alexander's]] department store.<ref>Sloan, Carole. [http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/21728-Ikea_adds_breathing_space_in_Paramus.php "Ikea adds breathing space in Paramus"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102092513/http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/21728-Ikea_adds_breathing_space_in_Paramus.php |date=November 2, 2013 }}, ''Furniture Today'', August 10, 2003. Accessed October 30, 2013. "More lifestyle vignettes, fewer rigid product displays, and more places for shoppers to relax are key elements in the furniture presentation at the just-opened Ikea store in Paramus, N.J., said Ian Wrling, U.S. deputy manager, North America. The store, at 370,000-square-feet, is the second-largest of Ikea's North American units, and 'offers us the opportunity to give customers breathing space in what had been a very rigid furniture presentation,' he said."</ref> It was joined the next year by three other retailers, [[Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.|Bed Bath and Beyond]], [[Christmas Tree Shops]], and [[Sports Authority]] to form a shopping center with a combined [[gross leasable area]] of {{convert|719,226|sqft}}. However, when Sports Authority went out of business in 2016, the store was closed.<ref>[http://www.mallsandoutlets.com/malls/paramus-ikea-shopping-center-paramus-nj-mall/ Paramus-IKEA Shopping Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095523/http://www.mallsandoutlets.com/malls/paramus-ikea-shopping-center-paramus-nj-mall/ |date=March 4, 2016 }}, Malls and Outlets. Accessed June 1, 2015.</ref>

The borough has four golf courses. Two are open to the public, with the Paramus Golf Course operated by the borough<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110313235429/http://www.paramusborough.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=12 Golf Course], Borough of Paramus. Accessed December 25, 2011.</ref> and Orchard Hills County Golf Course operated by the county.<ref>[http://golfbergencounty.com/orchard_hills_course/ Orchard Hills Golf Course] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607231611/http://golfbergencounty.com/orchard_hills_course/ |date=June 7, 2015 }}, [[Bergen County, New Jersey]]. Accessed June 1, 2015.</ref> The two private golf course located in Paramus are the [[Ridgewood Country Club]] and Arcola Country Club. Ridgewood Country Club was ranked as the #6 Center Ranked Among Top 500 Holes in the World Golf Magazine – 2000 and Ranked # 84 on the list of Most Prestigious Clubs in America Golf Connoisseur – 2006.

Paramus has an outdoor municipal swimming pool complex on Van Binsberger Boulevard. It has three pools: a main pool, a pool for younger swimmers, and a baby pool.<ref>[https://www.paramusborough.org/259/Pool Pool] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723105325/https://www.paramusborough.org/259/Pool |date=July 23, 2022 }}, Borough of Paramus. Accessed July 6, 2022.</ref> Paramus Little League were the 2011 New Jersey State [[Little League Baseball]] Champions.<ref>[http://www.unpage.org/newjersey/nj-2011.htm New Jersey State Tournament Major Baseball Division] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925120447/http://www.unpage.org/newjersey/nj-2011.htm |date=September 25, 2015 }}, Unpage. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref>

Paramus is governed under the [[Borough (New Jersey)|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.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601184216/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf |date=June 1, 2023 }}, [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> 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 is comprised ofincludes 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.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 160.</ref> The borough form of government used by Paramus 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 [[veto override|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.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. [http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924045019/http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html |date=September 24, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]]. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=6 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604040836/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=6 |date=June 4, 2023 }}, p. 6. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

The borough's original public library, known locally as the Howland House, was originally located at the intersection of Spring Valley Road and Howland Avenue. It was demolished sometime in the late 1990s. A [[September 11 terrorist attack|September 11, 2001]] memorial park now exists at the site known as Howland Memorial Grove.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110314000340/http://www.paramusborough.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=96 Paramus Municipal Parks], Borough of Paramus. Accessed June 29, 2011.</ref>

[[Coach USA]] provides bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal via [[Rockland Coaches]] routesroute 45/45A/45X from [[Pomona, New York]], and via [[Short Line (bus company)|Short Line]] on Route 17.<ref>[http://www.coachusa.com/rockland/ss.listing.asp?action=Lookup&c1=Paramus&s1=NJ&c2=New+York&s2=NY&resultId=161434&order=&dayFilter=&scheduleChoice=&sitePageName=%2Frockland%2Fss.local.asp&cbid=767956752449 Available Schedules from Paramus, NJ to New York, NY.]{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, [[Coach USA]]. Accessed December 12, 2013.</ref>

The Paramus Fire Department is a volunteer fire department that has a total of about 130 members who are on call around-the-clock, 365 days a year. Over the last several years, the number of calls for service that the fire department has responded to averages about 1,300 calls per year. The mission of the Paramus Fire Department is to protect the lives and property of the community. The fire department comprises four fire companies:<ref>[https://www.paramusborough.org/257/Volunteer-Fire-Department Volunteer Fire Department] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006134410/https://www.paramusborough.org/257/Volunteer-Fire-Department |date=October 6, 2019 }}, Borough of Paramus. Accessed October 6, 2019.</ref>

*Fire Company 3 (Engine 3, HazMat 3 – staffed by HazMat Technicians from all four fire companies, Utility 3, and Foam 3 – which carries AFFF firefighting foam) is located at 198 West Midland Avenue.