Wanaque was incorporated as an independent borough on February 23, 1918, when Pompton Township was split up into three boroughs, along with Bloomingdale and Ringwood, and affirmed by a referendum held on March 22, 1918.[25] The borough's name Wanaque (original pronunciation 'Wa Na Kee') is thought to have been derived from a Lenni LenapeNative American word meaning "land of sassafras".[26][27][28]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 9.33 square miles (24.15 km2), including 8.07 square miles (20.89 km2) of land and 1.26 square miles (3.26 km2) of water (13.50%).[1][2]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Haskell, Lake Inez, Lake Washington, Meadow Brook Lake, Midvale, Ramapo Lake, Rotten Pond, Stephens Lake and Upper Midvale.[29]
Both Wanaque (formerly Midvale) and Haskell have their own ZIP Codes and are served by separate post offices.
Of the 4,018 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18; 61.1% were married couples living together; 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.7% were non-families. Of all households, 20.0% were made up of individuals and 8.8% 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 3.07.[22]
20.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.2 males.[22]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $89,459 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,457) and the median family income was $98,081 (+/− $7,333). Males had a median income of $62,454 (+/− $4,289) versus $49,421 (+/− $6,017) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,579 (+/− $3,293). About 1.0% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.[39]
Same-sex couples headed 20 households in 2010, a decline from the 22 counted in 2000.[40]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 10,266 people, 3,444 households, and 2,689 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,286.8 inhabitants per square mile (496.8/km2). There were 3,500 housing units at an average density of 438.7 per square mile (169.4/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 90.67% White, 1.51% African American, 0.34% Native American, 3.62% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.06% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.40% of the population.[37][38]
There were 3,444 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.23.[37][38]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.[37][38]
The median income for a household in the borough was $66,113, and the median income for a family was $71,127. Males had a median income of $43,675 versus $33,380 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,403. About 2.6% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.[37][38]
Law and government
Local government
Wanaque 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.[41] 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 is comprised of 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.[6] The borough form of government used by Wanaque 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.[42][43]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of Wanaque Borough is Republican Daniel Mahler, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Borough Council are Thomas Balunis (R, 2024), Dominick Cortellessa (R, 2025), Edward Leonard (R, 2025), Donald Pasquariello (R, 2023), Bridget A. Pasznik (R, 2024), and Robert Pettet (R, 2023).[3][44][45][46][47][48]
Federal, state, and county representation
Wanaque is located in the 5th Congressional District[49] and is part of New Jersey's 26th state legislative district.[50]
Passaic County is governed by Board of County Commissioners, comprised of seven members who are elected at-large to staggered three-year terms office on a partisan basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At a reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects a Director and Deputy Director from among its members to serve for a one-year term.[57] As of 2023[update], Passaic County's Commissioners are: Bruce James (D, Clifton, 2023),[58]
Cassandra "Sandi" Lazzara (D, Little Falls, 2024),[59]
Deputy Director John W. Bartlett (D, Wayne, 2024),[60]
Orlando Cruz (D, Paterson, 2023),[61]
Terry Duffy (D, West Milford, 2025),[62]
Nicolino Gallo (R, Totowa, 2024)[63] and
Director Pasquale "Pat" Lepore (D, Woodland Park, 2025).[64][57][65][66][67][68][69]
Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Danielle Ireland-Imhof (D, Hawthorne, 2023),[70][71]
Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik (D, Clifton, 2025)[72][73] and
Surrogate Zoila S. Cassanova (D, Wayne, 2026).[74][75][66]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 7,085 registered voters in Wanaque, of which 1,646 (23.2% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,191 (30.9% vs. 18.7%) were registered as Republicans and 3,243 (45.8% vs. 50.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[78] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 63.7% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 80.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).[78][79]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 51.7% of the vote (2,633 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 47.2% (2,400 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (55 votes), among the 5,132 ballots cast by the borough's 7,472 registered voters (44 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 68.7%.[80][81] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,798 votes (52.1% vs. 37.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,428 votes (45.2% vs. 58.8%) and other candidates with 46 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,374 ballots cast by the borough's 7,117 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.5% (vs. 70.4% in Passaic County).[82] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,452 votes (55.1% vs. 42.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,876 votes (42.1% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 39 votes (0.9% vs. 0.7%), among the 4,451 ballots cast by the borough's 6,132 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.6% (vs. 69.3% in the whole county).[83]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.1% of the vote (2,107 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 32.7% (1,042 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (38 votes), among the 3,235 ballots cast by the borough's 7,614 registered voters (48 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.5%.[84][85] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,802 votes (53.1% vs. 43.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,338 votes (39.4% vs. 50.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 194 votes (5.7% vs. 3.8%) and other candidates with 34 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,396 ballots cast by the borough's 6,887 registered voters, yielding a 49.3% turnout (vs. 42.7% in the county).[86]
Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Lakeland Regional High School, which serves students from the Boroughs of Ringwood and Wanaque. The high school is located in Wanaque and is part of the Lakeland Regional High School District.[95][96] As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 902 students and 81.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.0:1.[97]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 36.45 miles (58.66 km) of roadways, of which 29.30 miles (47.15 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.96 miles (7.98 km) by Passaic County and 2.18 miles (3.51 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[99]
Several major roadways traverse through the borough.[100]Interstate 287 passes through Wanaque for 2.2 miles (3.5 km), where it is accessible at Exit 55,[101] near the intersection of Union and Ringwood Avenues (County Route 511).[102]
Elks Camp Moore is an Elks accredited summer overnight camp for children with special needs. The camp was founded in 1971 and includes many activities for the children such as a swimming pool, three playgrounds, a small playing field, a recreation hall, and rooms that house other fun activities. The campers stay for one week from Sunday until Saturday. Each week, 75 campers attend the camp and are assigned to their own counselor. The camp is wheelchair accessible since handicapped children also attend the camp. People consider Camp Moore, the "Miracle on the Mountain". The camp is located high on top of a mountain overlooking Route 287 in Haskell. Admission is free for the campers, and the camp is funded in part by local New Jersey Elks lodges.[113]
^Hanley, Robert. "Full and Not at All: The Difference Between 2 New Jersey Reservoirs", The New York Times, March 5, 2002. Accessed November 19, 2018. "The primary reason is that the Wanaque (pronounced WAHN-a-cue or wa-NOCK-ee) is now supplemented by a new reservoir and pumping stations built after the 1980's drought. Yet despite those projects, trouble is looming again."
^Gansberg, Martin. "For Wanaque, Growth Is a Problem", The New York Times, May 27, 1973. Accessed June 26, 2017. "Wanaque-The first thing that one discovers on entering this Passaic County community is that the 9,500 residents cannot agree on the pronunciation of the name of their hometown. Longtime residents use the old Indian WA-NAH-KEY when they refer to the borough, while new homeowners call it WA-NAH-CUE."
^Biography, Congressman Josh Gottheimer. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Josh now lives in Wyckoff, New Jersey with Marla, his wife who was a federal prosecutor, and their two young children, Ellie and Ben."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^ abBoard of County Commissioners, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 21, 2022. "Passaic County is governed by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners. Each County Commissioner is elected at large for a three-year term. The board is headed by a director, who is selected for a one-year term at the board's annual reorganization meeting (at the first meeting of the year in January)."
^Bruce James, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 21, 2022.
^Wanaque Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Wanaque Borough Schools. Accessed May 3, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through eight in the Wanaque School District. Composition: The Wanaque School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Wanaque."
^Lakeland Regional High School District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Lakeland Regional High School. Accessed May 3, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades nine through twelve in the Lakeland Regional High School District. Composition: The Lakeland Regional High School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the Borough of Wanaque and the Borough of Ringwood."
^Lakeland Regional High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 28, 2016. "There are three highlighted areas that the Board of Education feels are important to address this year: expanding educational opportunities for all students, maximizing facility utilization, and enhancing communication between Lakeland Regional and the two sending districts of Wanaque and Ringwood."
^Kolton, Tara. "Actor with Wanaque roots takes the Broadway stage in Newsies the Musical", Suburban Trends, September 6, 2012. Accessed January 27, 2015. "Kevin Carolan knew pretty early on that he was made for the stage.... Now the Wanaque native can be seen on the Broadway stage as part of the cast of Disney's Newsies the Musical, playing the role of Teddy Roosevelt."
^Matthews, Wallace. "Czyz Pulls Fast One on Sears", Newsday, December 27, 1986. Accessed September 1, 2013. "It took [Bobby Czyz], of nearby Wanaque, just 61 seconds to knock out Sears, precisely two rounds quicker than Michael Spinks had managed the feat in a fight for the undisputed crown in February, 1985."
^Johnson, Eliana. "Christie's Right Hand", National Review, December 16, 2013. Accessed August 1, 2016. "His political instincts were honed at Frank's Tavern, the bar owned by his father and situated next door to the family's home in Haskell, N.J."
^Ernestine Petras, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association. Accessed August 16, 2015.
^Exhibition History, John Pfahl Photographs. Accessed October 20, 2015. "Raised in Wanaque, New Jersey."
^"College Scene", The Record, November 23, 1986. Accessed November 19, 2018. "Chris Port of Wanaque thought he was prepared for every challenge college football presented before he began his freshman year at Duke University. But there was one surprise for the former standout at Don Bosco Prep."
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