Roselle Park is a borough in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 13,967, an increase of 670 (+5.0%) from the 2010 census count of 13,297, which in turn reflected an increase of 16 (+0.1%) from the 13,281 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.

Roselle Park was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1901, from portions of Union Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 240. Accessed May 30, 2024.Borough of Roselle Park, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed January 2, 2008.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 245. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 25, 2015. Roselle Park's name is derived from the Roselle Land Improvement Company, which was created in 1866 to lay out a community around the Mulford Station on the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The name "Roselle" is said to have been based on the company's founder, John Conklin RoseA Brief History of Roselle, Borough of Roselle. Accessed September 25, 2015. "By 1866, a Mr. John Conklin Rose took advantage of his connections with the railroad, (which was by then known as the Central Railroad of New Jersey) and with the cooperation of several landowners in this area established the Roselle Land Improvement Company. They laid out 'The Village of Roselle' on an area that the railroad had called Mulford Station, a stop on the road named for the many Mulford families who lived here." or from John Pierre Roselle, a friend of the railroad's president.The History of Roselle Park, New Jersey, Borough of Roselle Park. Accessed September 25, 2015. "In 1839, the first railroad began regular routes from Elizabethtown to Plainfield, and soon a stop at Mulford Station, named in honor of a prominent family, was scheduled, where Union Road crossed the tracks to Roselle. The stop was moved to Chestnut street about 30 years later and named Roselle in honor of the railroad president's good friend, John Pierre Roselle."

History The first known settlement within what is now the borough was built by Samuel Williams in 1700. Galloping Hill Road was continually used by revolutionary war scouts, delivering messages to and from General George Washington and Governor Livingston. Galloping Hill Road also believed to be the route traveled by the British columns en route to the Battle of Connecticut Farms, battling the New Jersey militia the entire way. Son of American general William Crane, was bayoneted and killed by the British near what is now Galloping Hill Road and Colonial Road.

Elizabethtown & Somerville Railroad passed through in 1839, as the first railroad in Northern New Jersey. The first store in the world to be lit by electric light was Stone's Store on Westfield Avenue, lit by Thomas Edison's carbon filament prototype.Morgan, Audrey; Pagnetti, Patricia; and Sokol, Barbara. Roselle Park, p. 87. Arcadia Publishing, 2000. . Accessed April 7, 2016. "In 1883, the first store in the world to be lighted by electricity was Charles E. Stone's general store at 14 East Westfield Avenue."

The formation of Roselle Park in 1901 occurred due to a number of grievances based on a lack of sufficient public services, including; lack of a modern sewage system, poor schools, neglected roads, and minimal public safety measures.The History of Roselle Park, New Jersey , Borough of Roselle Park. Accessed January 2, 2008.

In 1907, the first poured concrete building in the world, now the Robert Gordon School, was built in Roselle Park using Edison's revolutionary process.About the School, Robert Gordon Elementary School. Accessed April 7, 2016. "The Robert Gordon School is quite distinctive in that it is the first poured concrete building, created by an experimental process invented by Thomas Edison." Roselle Park was home to the factory and lab of Marconi Wireless Telegraph, and in late 1921 became the site of WDY, the first radio broadcasting station licensed in the state of New Jersey.Roselle Park - History. Accessed December 10, 2011.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.23 square miles (3.17 km2), all of which was land.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Lorraine.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The borough is bordered to the northeast by Union Township, to the northwest by Kenilworth, to the east by Elizabeth, to the south by Roselle and to the west by Cranford.Areas touching Roselle Park, MapIt. Accessed March 4, 2020.Union County Municipal Profiles, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed March 4, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Roselle Park borough, Union County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)9,3977,2615,72570.76%54.61%40.99%Black or African American alone (NH)2986971,1862.24%5.24%8.49%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)6770.05%0.05%0.05%Asian alone (NH)1,1991,3371,2719.03%10.05%9.10%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)1010.01%0.00%0.01%Other race alone (NH)17251360.13%0.19%0.97%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1931613481.45%1.21%2.49%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2,1703,8095,29316.34%28.65%37.90%Total13,28113,29713,967 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Roselle Park had a population of 13,967. The median age was 39.1 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.2 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 5,213 households in Roselle Park, of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.7% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 5,346 housing units, of which 2.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.2%.

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 13,297 people, 5,002 households, and 3,406 families in the borough. The population density was 10,792.7 per square mile (4,167.1/km2). There were 5,231 housing units at an average density of 4,245.8 per square mile (1,639.3/km2). The racial makeup was 73.72% (9,802) White, 5.89% (783) Black or African American, 0.15% (20) Native American, 10.18% (1,354) Asian, 0.02% (2) Pacific Islander, 7.52% (1,000) from other races, and 2.53% (336) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.65% (3,809) of the population.

Of the 5,002 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18; 49.9% were married couples living together; 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.9% were non-families. Of all households, 26.8% were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.28.

22.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $61,923 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,415) and the median family income was $75,017 (+/− $8,553). Males had a median income of $50,502 (+/− $5,243) versus $41,193 (+/− $5,261) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,566 (+/− $2,011). About 3.6% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Roselle Park borough, Union County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 22, 2013.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 13,281 people, 5,137 households, and 3,416 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 5,258 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 80.87% White, 2.42% African American, 0.11% Native American, 9.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.89% from other races, and 2.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.34% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Roselle Park borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 22, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Roselle Park borough, Union County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 22, 2013.

There were 5,137 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $53,717, and the median income for a family was $63,403. Males had a median income of $42,623 versus $33,105 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,101. About 3.4% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government