Emerson is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, a suburb in the New York City metropolitan area. Emerson is the southernmost municipality in an area of the county known as the Pascack Valley. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,290, a decrease of 111 (−1.5%) from the 2010 census count of 7,401, which in turn reflected an increase of 204 (+2.8%) from the 7,197 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.

What is now Emerson was originally formed on April 8, 1903, from portions of Washington Township as the Borough of Etna, the name of a railroad station in the community.Emerson: A Brief History, Borough of Emerson. Accessed March 24, 2020. The name was changed to Emerson as of March 9, 1909.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.}History of Bergen County, Vol. 1, p. 354-355 shows March 16, 1909 for creation of Emerson. The name came from author Ralph Waldo Emerson.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed May 1, 2026.Lurie, Maxine N.; and Mappen, Marc. "Emerson", p. 252. Encyclopedia of New Jersey, Rutgers University Press, 2004. . Accessed December 5, 2013. The borough calls itself "The Family Town".About Emerson, Borough of Emerson. Accessed February 28, 2021.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.42 square miles (6.27 km2), including 2.23 square miles (5.78 km2) of land and 0.19 square miles (0.49 km2) of water (7.85%).

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

The borough borders the Bergen County municipalities of Closter, Harrington Park, Haworth, Oradell, Paramus, River Vale, Washington Township and Westwood.Areas touching Emerson, MapIt. Accessed March 24, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 24, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Emerson borough, Bergen County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)6,2095,9865,32886.27%80.88%73.09%Black or African American alone (NH)47641080.65%0.86%1.48%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)4140.06%0.01%0.05%Asian alone (NH)5686297097.89%8.50%9.73%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)0400.00%0.05%0.00%Other race alone (NH)44150.06%0.05%0.21%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)33941780.46%1.27%2.44%Hispanic or Latino (any race)3326199484.61%8.36%13.00%Total7,1977,4017,290 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Emerson had a population of 7,290. The median age was 43.9 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.2 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 2,482 households in Emerson, of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 65.6% were married-couple households, 10.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,600 housing units, of which 4.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.6%.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 7,401 people, 2,480 households, and 1,967 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,552 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 87.31% (6,462) White, 1.08% (80) Black or African American, 0.04% (3) Native American, 8.55% (633) Asian, 0.11% (8) Pacific Islander, 1.15% (85) from other races, and 1.76% (130) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.36% (619) of the population.

Of the 2,480 households, 36.2% had children under the age of 18; 67.7% were married couples living together; 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.7% were non-families. Of all households, 18.1% were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.29.

23.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $99,292 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,946) and the median family income was $108,300 (+/− $12,689). Males had a median income of $71,868 (+/− $16,071) versus $69,271 (+/− $15,233) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,501 (+/− $4,093). About 0.7% of families and 1.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 31, 2012.

Same-sex couples headed 17 households in 2010, an increase from the 14 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 July 24, 2013.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,197 people, 2,373 households, and 1,964 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,398 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 89.62% White, 0.85% African American, 0.06% Native American, 7.89% Asian, 0.88% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Emerson borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 5, 2013., United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 5, 2013.

As of the 2000 Census, 2.2% of Emerson's residents identified themselves as being of Armenian-American ancestry. This was the 20th highest percentage of Armenian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.Armenian Communities , EPodunk. Accessed June 28, 2006.

There were 2,373 households, out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.5% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no partner present, and 17.2% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $75,556, and the median income for a family was $83,521. Males had a median income of $52,450 versus $36,818 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,506. About 1.3% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over. Economy Pascack Valley Shopping Center is a shopping center located on Kinderkamack Road. It had a movie theater and bowling alley.Pascack Valley Shopping Center, Wikimapia. Accessed March 16, 2015.

Parks and recreation Parks in the borough include:Emerson's Parks, Borough of Emerson. Accessed March 24, 2020. Ackerman Park, located on Ackerman Avenue. It has a playground, basketball courts, a bocci court, and picnic area.Ackerman Park, Borough of Emerson. Accessed March 24, 2020. Centennial Park, located on Main Street, has a gazebo and walking path and a residents-only community garden (opened in 2017) managed by the Environmental Commission. It was named Centennial Park in 2003 in honor Emerson's 100th Anniversary.Centennial Park, Borough of Emerson. Accessed March 24, 2020. Hillman Park, located on Thomas Street, was created on land donated by borough resident Richard Hillman. It has baseball fields such as, Ken Benkovic Jr. Memorial Field, which was a majors field that is fenced in and a lighted field, and Babes Field which is also a lighted field behind the firehouse but is also located on Thomas Street. There is also a soccer field, and a playground. There is also a library and a community center located next to the park.Hillman Park, Borough of Emerson. Accessed March 24, 2020. Rosengart Park, sometimes referred as "Sunset Park", is a park located on Sunset Place. It has a playground.Rosengart Park, Borough of Emerson. Accessed March 24, 2020. Veterans' Park, a memorial park located on High Street, with monuments honoring veterans from Emerson.Veterans' Park, Borough of Emerson. Accessed March 24, 2020. Washington Park, a park located on Washington Avenue.General Washington camped at this location before heading to Delaware to cross the Delaware River.It has a playground and a picnic area.Washington Park, Borough of Emerson. Accessed March 24, 2020. Emerson Woods covers approximately of woodland along Main Street east of the high school, and is located in the buffer area of the Oradell Reservoir. The property was slated for townhouse development, but local opposition resulted in the parcel being purchased by the borough in 2001, with the aid of grants from the county and state. It remains in its natural state, with the addition of trails to make the property accessible to visitors.Emerson Woods, Borough of Emerson. Accessed March 24, 2020. "Emerson Woods is a 19-acre preserve that is part of the watershed buffer surrounding the Oradell Reservoir. Emerson Woods, located on Main Street, was purchased by the Borough of Emerson in December 2001 with grants and loans from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund and NJ DEP Green Acres."

Government

Local government