Riverdale is a borough in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 4,107, an increase of 548 (+15.4%) from the 2010 census count of 3,559, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,061 (+42.5%) from the 2,498 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.
Riverdale was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1923, from portions of Pequannock Township, subject to the results of a referendum passed on April 17, 1923.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 196. Accessed May 30, 2024.Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries , Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1923, April 17. Riverdale Borough is established from Pequannock." Riverdale is situated in the northeasternmost part of Morris County bordering Passaic County along the Pequannock and Pompton rivers.
Geography and climate According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.07 square miles (5.35 km2), including 2.03 square miles (5.25 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km2) of water (1.98%).
The borough is bordered by the municipalities of Butler and Kinnelon to the west and by Pequannock Township to the south, all in Morris County; and by Bloomingdale to the north and Pompton Lakes to the east in Passaic County.Areas touching Riverdale, MapIt. Accessed March 4, 2020.Morris County Municipalities Map, Morris County, New Jersey Department of Planning and Preservation. Accessed March 4, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Riverdale had a population of 4,107. The median age was 47.5 years. 15.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.1 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,929 households in Riverdale, of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.3% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 2,009 housing units, of which 4.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 3,353 81.6% Black or African American 90 2.2% American Indian and Alaska Native 32 0.8% Asian 219 5.3% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2 0.0% Some other race 123 3.0% Two or more races 288 7.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 411 10.0%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 3,559 people, 1,547 households, and 917 families in the borough. The population density was 1,766.5 per square mile (682.0/km2). There were 1,657 housing units at an average density of 822.5 per square mile (317.6/km2). The racial makeup was 89.86% (3,198) White, 1.21% (43) Black or African American, 0.06% (2) Native American, 5.31% (189) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.66% (59) from other races, and 1.91% (68) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.19% (256) of the population.
Of the 1,547 households, 22.7% had children under the age of 18; 48.7% were married couples living together; 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 40.7% were non-families. Of all households, 33.2% were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 3.01.
18.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.7 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $86,328 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,294) and the median family income was $97,900 (+/− $13,684). Males had a median income of $63,750 (+/− $13,660) versus $52,083 (+/− $4,896) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,675 (+/− $3,548). About 2.1% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Riverdale borough, Morris County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,498 people, 919 households, and 671 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 940 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 93.39% White, 1.08% African American, 0.04% Native American, 2.72% Asian, 1.60% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.40% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Riverdale borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Riverdale borough, Morris County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.
Riverdale has a substantial Italian population, with 25.1% of residents reporting that they were of Italian ancestry in the 2000 Census.Italian Communities , EPodunk. Accessed November 3, 2008.
There were 919 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 21.1% 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 2.68 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $71,083, and the median income for a family was $79,557. Males had a median income of $50,457 versus $41,420 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,187. About 3.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over. Government
Local government
Riverdale 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.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 121. The borough form of government used by Riverdale 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.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
, the mayor of Riverdale is Republican Paul M. Carelli, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Vincent L. Pellegrini (R, 2023), Dave Desai (R, 2024), Michael Kheyfets (R, 2023), Matt Oswald (R, 2024), Paul A. Purcell (R, 2025) and Stephen W. Revis (R, 2026).Directory, Borough of Riverdale. Accessed April 27, 2023.2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Riverdale. Accessed September 5, 2022.Morris County Manual 2024, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed May 1, 2024.Morris County Municipal Elected Officials For The Year 2024, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk, updated March 20, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024.General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results, Morris County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.General Election Winners For November 2, 2021, Morris County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed January 1, 2022.General Election 2020 November 3, 2020 Summary Report Official Results, Morris County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.General Election November 5, 2019, Official Results, Morris County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 31, 2020.
Federal, state and county representation Riverdale is located in the 11th Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 26th state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed September 1, 2023.
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,378 registered voters in Riverdale, of which 419 (17.6%) were registered as Democrats, 803 (33.8%) were registered as Republicans and 1,155 (48.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.Voter Registration Summary - Morris, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 22, 2012.