Old Tappan ( Franco, Judi. "20 town names in NJ with crazy pronunciations that make no sense Read More: 20 NJ town names with crazy pronunciations that make no sense", WKXW, June 29, 2023. Accessed February 5, 2025. "Old Tappan - Incorrect: Old TAP-in; Correct: Old Tup-PAN") is a borough in northern Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 5,888, an increase of 138 (+2.4%) from the 2010 census count of 5,750, which in turn reflected an increase of 268 (+4.9%) from the 5,482 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.

Old Tappan was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 18, 1894, from portions of Harrington Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.Harvey, Cornelius Burnham. Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, p. 11, New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed September 3, 2013. "For a period of sixteen years following the passage of this act few boroughs were organized in the State, only three of them being in Bergen County.... As it was twenty-six boroughs were created in the county from January 23, 1894, to December 18, of the same year." On April 23, 1896, additional territory was annexed from Harrington Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 82. Accessed May 30, 2024. The borough's name is derived from the Tappan tribe of Native Americans.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 15, 2015.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.163 square miles (10.78 km2), including 3.315 square miles (8.59 km2) of land and 0.848 square miles (2.20 km2) of water (20.38%).

One of only four confluence points in New Jersey, the 41°N 74°W crossing, is in Old Tappan on watershed property owned by United Water.41°N 74°W Confluence Point, Degree Confluence Project. Accessed January 7, 2015.

The borough is bordered to the north by the hamlets of Pearl River and Tappan in the town of Orangetown in Rockland County, New York. Lake Tappan and the Hackensack River are on the western side of the town, bordering River Vale. Harrington Park is to the south and Northvale and Norwood are to the east.Old Tappan, MapIt. Accessed March 2, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 2, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

As of 2026, the borough is a member of Local Leaders for Responsible Planning in order to address the borough's Mount Laurel doctrine-based housing obligations.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Old Tappan borough, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)4,4124,0723,67380.48%70.82%62.38%Black or African American alone (NH)3040590.55%0.70%1.00%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)3430.05%0.07%0.05%Asian alone (NH)8571,2761,60015.63%22.19%27.17%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%Other race alone (NH)22150.04%0.03%0.25%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)27681580.49%1.18%2.68%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1512883802.75%5.01%6.45%Total5,4825,7505,888 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the borough had a population of 5,888. The median age was 46.6 years. Of residents, 22.7% were under age 18 and 19.9% were age 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

All residents were counted in urban areas (100.0%), with 0.0% in rural areas.

There were 1,982 households, of which 37.1% had children under age 18 living in them. Of all households, 71.7% were married-couple households, 8.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 17.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 15.0% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was age 65 or older.

There were 2,083 housing units, of which 4.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%, and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%. 2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 5,750 people, 1,931 households, and 1,593 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,995 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 74.78% (4,300) White, 0.73% (42) Black or African American, 0.09% (5) Native American, 22.24% (1,279) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.63% (36) from other races, and 1.53% (88) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.01% (288) of the population. Korean Americans accounted for 17.1% of the population.

Of the 1,931 households, 40.0% had children under the age of 18; 73.1% were married couples living together; 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 17.5% were non-families. Of all households, 16.1% 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 2.98 and the average family size was 3.35.

27.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 32.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $125,435 (with a margin of error of +/− $30,643) and the median family income was $158,140 (+/− $27,026). Males had a median income of $90,536 (+/− $18,555) versus $61,875 (+/− $9,686) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $58,673 (+/− $7,319). About 2.4% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Old Tappan borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 10, 2012.

Same-sex couples headed 8 households in 2010, an increase from the 6 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 14, 2014.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,482 people, 1,778 households, and 1,541 families residing in the borough. There were 1,804 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 82.69% Caucasian, 15.63% Asian, 0.60% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.44% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.75% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Old Tappan borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 18, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Old Tappan borough, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 18, 2012.

In 2000, there were 1,778 households, out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.7% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.3% were non-families. 12.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $102,127, and the median income for a family was $106,772. Males had a median income of $77,635 versus $48,047 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $48,367. About 1.0% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over. Parks and recreation Old Tappan Golf Course is a nine-hole golf course located on DeWolf Road. The golf course is a private club that is open to the public.Golf , Borough of Old Tappan. Accessed April 8, 2015. Stone Point Park is located on Westwood Avenue and is the site of many community events such as Town Day.Town Day, Borough of Old Tappan. Accessed December 12, 2017. Stone Point has four baseball fields, two basketball courts, a playground, a seasonal skate park, and four soccer fields. Oaks Park is a small park on Central Avenue with a small walking trail. It is the site of the borough's annual Halloween Parade.Activity Schedule, Borough of Old Tappan. Accessed December 12, 2017. There is also a little league field called Gallagher Field, which was renamed in 2006 for Edward J. Gallagher, who had served as the borough's mayor for 16 years; The field is located on Charles Place near the elementary and middle school."Gallagher Field Dedication Ceremony Speech by Mayor Victor M. Polce April 15, 2006", Old Tappan News, Summer 2006. Accessed December 12, 2017. "It is indeed a great privilege and honor for me to be here this morning to dedicate and rename this Little League Field in honor of Edward J. Gallagher, Mayor of Old Tappan for 16 years, from 1980 through 1995." There is also a track and football field as well as a dozen tennis courts at the high school that are open to the general public.

Government

Local government