South Hackensack is a township in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 2,701, an increase of 323 (+13.6%) from the 2010 census count of 2,378, which in turn reflected an increase of 129 (+5.7%) from the 2,249 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 South Hackensack was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 15, 1935, replacing Lodi Township, based on the results of a referendum held November 5, 1935, which passed by a margin of 309 to 15.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 87. Accessed May 30, 2024.Staff. "Lodi Town Changes Name To South Hackensack", The New York Times, November 7, 1935. Accessed October 8, 2019. "As the name indicates, South Hackensack is directly south of Hackensack, the county seat of Bergen County." The township's name derives from its location relative to Hackensack.

The territory that became South Hackensack was the "last unattractive portion" of Lodi Township that neighboring municipalities didn't want as it was "either rural areas or areas that the others did not want to include in their boundaries because they didn't want to pave the roads there or school the children" according to Kevin Wright, a local historian. The state government has occasionally proposed the merger of South Hackesack into its neighboring municipalities, however, there is very little desire for such a merger within the township's residents.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 0.75 square miles (1.94 km2), including 0.72 square miles (1.86 km2) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) of water (4.27%).

After several boroughs were formed within the limits of Lodi Township, what remains as South Hackensack is divided into three noncontiguous sections. The northeastern, primary residential section is adjacent to Hackensack, Little Ferry and Teterboro. A small western portion, known as Garfield Park, lies in between Garfield, Lodi, Wallington and Wood-Ridge,Na, Myles. "A town divided: Boroughitis leaves South Hackensack split", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 16, 2014. Accessed July 27, 2022. "While the Township Council is made up entirely of residents of the main section of town, Garfield Park residents are active in the recreation program and the planning and zoning boards, Regan said.... The police department covers all three sections of town, but South Hackensack has mutual aid agreements with Wallington, which borders remote Garfield Park, for fire and ambulance services. Wallington also plows the sections of Saddle River Avenue and Main Street that lie in Garfield Park." while a southern sliver containing only industrial properties lies in the Meadowlands between Carlstadt, Moonachie, and Ridgefield.Areas touching South Hackensack, MapIt. Accessed March 5, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 5, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Along with other municipalities in the Bergen County area, South Hackensack is a suburb of New York City.

Demographics

2020 census +South Hackensack township, Bergen County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)1,6981,3261,06875.50%55.76%39.54%Black or African American alone (NH)47981352.09%4.12%5.00%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)5410.22%0.17%0.04%Asian alone (NH)1291211725.74%5.09%6.37%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)3010.13%0.00%0.04%Other race alone (NH)22170.09%0.08%0.63%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)2635511.16%1.47%1.89%Hispanic or Latino (any race)3397921,25615.07%33.31%46.50%Total2,2492,3782,701100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 2,378 people, 845 households, and 613 families in the township. The population density was . There were 879 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 72.08% (1,714) White, 5.34% (127) Black or African American, 0.34% (8) Native American, 5.30% (126) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 14.05% (334) from other races, and 2.90% (69) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.31% (792) of the population.

Of the 845 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18; 49.0% were married couples living together; 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.5% were non-families. Of all households, 21.8% were made up of individuals and 10.8% 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 3.28.

22.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $70,500 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,389) and the median family income was $81,919 (+/− $8,497). Males had a median income of $55,250 (+/− $13,321) versus $33,472 (+/− $11,009) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,777 (+/− $2,660). About 3.4% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for South Hackensack township, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 5, 2012.

Same-sex couples headed 5 households in 2010, an increase from the 4 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 26, 2014.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,249 people, 811 households, and 593 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 830 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 82.93% White, 2.18% African American, 0.22% Native American, 5.74% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 6.31% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.07% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for South Hackensack township, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 16, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for South Hackensack township, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 16, 2013.

As of the 2000 Census, 36.3% of township residents were of Italian ancestry, the 11th-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States, and fourth-highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.Italian Communities , EPodunk. Accessed June 9, 2007.

There were 811 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the township the population was spread out, with 19.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $57,917, and the median income for a family was $66,071. Males had a median income of $39,918 versus $32,344 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,128. About 5.2% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government South Hackensack is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The Township Committee has five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 160."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor. The Township Committee is composed entirely of residents from the main section of the township, although Garfield Park residents are active in the zoning and planning boards. While South Hackensack has its own police department serving all three portions of the township, the neighboring borough of Wallington provides other emergency services for Garfield Park.

, members of the Township Committee are Mayor James Anzevino (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2025), Deputy Luis Perdono (D, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2026), James Gary Brugger (D, 2027), Frank X. Cagas (D, 2027), and Yris Encarnacion (D, 2025).Township Committee Members, Township of South Hackensack. Accessed January 9, 2025.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of South Hackensack. Accessed January 9, 2025.2024 County and Municipal Directory, Bergen County, New Jersey, April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.2024 General Election Official Results, Bergen County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.Official Statement of Vote 2023 General Election - November 7, 2023 Official Results, Bergen County, New Jersey, November 27, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.Bergen County November 8, 2022 General Election Statement of Vote, Bergen County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.

Federal, state and county representation South Hackensack is located in the 9th Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 38th state legislative district.Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.

Politics