Bergen County, New Jersey

Bergen County
County
Atop the Hudson Palisades in Englewood Cliffs, overlooking the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge, and the skyscrapers of Midtown Manhattan
Atop the Hudson Palisades in Englewood Cliffs, overlooking the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge, and the skyscrapers of Midtown Manhattan
Flag of Bergen County
Flag
Official seal of Bergen County
Seal
Map of New Jersey highlighting Bergen County
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
Map of the United States highlighting New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°58′N 74°04′W / 40.96°N 74.07°W / 40.96; -74.07
Country United States
State New Jersey
Founded1683
Named forBergen, Norway or Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands[1]
SeatHackensack[2]
Largest municipalityHackensack (population)
Mahwah (area)
Government
 • County executiveJames J. Tedesco III (D, term ends December 31, 2026)
Area
[3]
 • Total246.45 sq mi (638.3 km2)
 • Land232.79 sq mi (602.9 km2)
 • Water13.66 sq mi (35.4 km2)  5.5%
Population
 (2020)[4][5]
 • Total955,732
 • Estimate 
(2023)[4][6]
957,736 Increase
 • Density3,900/sq mi (1,500/km2)
DemonymBergenite[7]
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts5th, 9th
Websitewww.co.bergen.nj.us
Range in altitude:
Highest elevation: 1,152 ft (351 m) (Bald Mountain, in the Ramapo Mountains, in Mahwah).
Lowest elevation: 0 ft (0 m) (sea level), at the Hudson River in Edgewater.
Map
Interactive map of Bergen County, New Jersey

Bergen County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[8] Located in the northeastern corner of New Jersey, Bergen County and its many inner suburbs constitute a highly developed part of the New York City metropolitan area, bordering the Hudson River; the George Washington Bridge, which crosses the Hudson, connects Bergen County with Manhattan. The county is part of the North Jersey region of the state.[9]

As of the 2020 United States census, the county's population was 955,732,[4][5] its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 50,616 (+5.6%) from the 905,116 recorded at the 2010 census,[10] which in turn reflected an increase of 20,998 (2.4%) from the 884,118 counted in the 2000 census.[11]

The county is divided into 70 municipalities, the most of any county in New Jersey, made up of 56 boroughs, nine townships, three cities, and two villages. Its most populous place, with 46,030 residents as of the 2020 census, is Hackensack,[5] which is also its county seat.[2] Mahwah covers the largest area of any municipality, at 26.19 square miles (67.8 km2).[11]

Bergen County is one of the largest commercial hubs in both New Jersey and the United States, generating over $6 billion in annual revenues from retailers in Paramus alone, despite blue laws keeping most stores in the county and especially Paramus itself (which has much stricter blue laws then the rest of the county) open only six days per week.[12] The county is one of the wealthiest counties in the United States, with a median household income of $109,497 (compared to $89,703 in New Jersey and $69,021 nationwide) and a per capita income of $55,710 (vs. $46,691 in the state and $37,638 in the U.S.) as of the 2017–2021 American Community Survey.[13] Bergen County has some of the highest home prices in New Jersey, with the median home price in 2022 exceeding $600,000.[14] The county's park system covers more than 9,000 acres (3,600 ha).[15]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hutchinson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed December 22, 2022.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference CensusArea was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Rutherford News from The Record and South Bergenite". northjersey.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  8. ^ Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Willis, David P. "'This is how wars start': Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?", Asbury Park Press, February 20, 2023. Accessed March 31, 2024. "North Jersey is defined as Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties; South Jersey would be Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. But for Central, things get a little tricky. It would include Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties."
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference CPH232 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Allison Pries (March 10, 2019). "Inside the N.J. town where retail spending beats Hollywood and tourism rivals Disney". NJ Advance Media. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  13. ^ QuickFacts Bergen County, New Jersey; New Jersey; United States, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 25, 2023.
  14. ^ Logan Williamson (January 6, 2023). "Bergen Co. Has Among Highest Average Home Prices In NJ: Report". Patch Media. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  15. ^ Outdoor Activities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed January 20, 2024. "Totaling nearly 9,000 acres, Bergen County boasts an exceptional park system where residents can ski, skate, jog, cycle, golf, picnic, camp overnight, tour a zoo, visit a Revolutionary War battle site, take a guided nature hike, swim, and a number of sports."