Lincoln Park was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 11, 1922, from portions of Pequannock Township. The borough was reincorporated on February 26, 1925.[23][24] The borough was named for President Abraham Lincoln.[25][26] The borough is situated in the easternmost part of Morris County bordering both Essex and Passaic counties along the Passaic and Pompton rivers.
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Lincoln Park as its 5th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in the state.[27]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 6.91 square miles (17.91 km2), including 6.40 square miles (16.57 km2) of land and 0.52 square miles (1.34 km2) of water (7.47%).[1][2]
Of the 4,001 households, 26.8% had children under the age of 18; 51.0% were married couples living together; 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.2% were non-families. Of all households, 28.7% 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 2.46 and the average family size was 3.09.[20]
18.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 32.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.7 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $87,530 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,142) and the median family income was $98,709 (+/− $5,538). Males had a median income of $71,440 (+/− $4,204) versus $56,761 (+/− $3,088) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,807 (+/− $2,824). About 4.3% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.[35]
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 10,930 people, 4,026 households, and 2,705 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,624.2 inhabitants per square mile (627.1/km2). There were 4,110 housing units at an average density of 610.8 per square mile (235.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 90.07% White, 1.75% African American, 0.12% Native American, 5.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.79% of the population.[33][34]
There were 4,026 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.14.[33][34]
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 20.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.[33][34]
The median income for a household in the borough was $69,050, and the median income for a family was $77,307. Males had a median income of $51,651 versus $36,292 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,389. About 1.9% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.[33][34]
The Borough of Lincoln Park is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Mayor-Council Plan F system of municipal government, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1971.[36] The borough is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.[37] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the seven-member borough council, with three council seats elected at-large and four from wards, with all positions chosen in partisan elections held in even-numbered years as part of the November general election. Each council member is elected to a four-year term on a staggered basis, with the four ward seats up for vote simultaneously and the three at-large seats and the mayoral seat up for election together two years later.[7][38][39]
As of 2025[update], the Mayor of Lincoln Park is Republican David A. Runfeldt, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2026.[3] Members of the Borough Council are Council President Andrew Seise (R; at-large, 2026), Patrick Antonetti (D; Ward 3, 2028), Gary Gemian (R; Ward 1, 2028), Joseph Gurkovich (R, Ward 4, 2028), Daniel W. Moeller (R; at-large, 2026), Ellen Ross (R; Ward 2, 2028) and Ann Thompson (R; at-large, 2026).[38]
Morris County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised of seven members who are elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with either one or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election.[47] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.[48]
The county's constitutional officers are
County Clerk Ann F. Grossi (R, Parsippany–Troy Hills, 2028),[63][64]
Sheriff James M. Gannon (R, Boonton Township, 2025)[65][66] and
Surrogate Heather Darling (R, Roxbury, 2029).[67][68]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 6,421 registered voters in Lincoln Park, of which 1,371 (21.4%) were registered as Democrats, 2,088 (32.5%) were registered as Republicans and 2,955 (46.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 7 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[75]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 53.4% of the vote (2,301 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.7% (1,967 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (39 votes), among the 4,340 ballots cast by the borough's 6,735 registered voters (33 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 64.4%.[76][77] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 53.2% of the vote (2,745 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 44.8% (2,311 votes) and other candidates with 1.3% (69 votes), among the 5,162 ballots cast by the borough's 6,711 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.9%.[78] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 56.9% of the vote (2,767 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 42.1% (2,047 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (40 votes), among the 4,864 ballots cast by the borough's 6,635 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 73.3.[79]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.0% of the vote (1,857 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.9% (818 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (57 votes), among the 2,783 ballots cast by the borough's 6,632 registered voters (51 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.0%.[80][81] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 56.7% of the vote (1,762 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 34.8% (1,081 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.3% (226 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (28 votes), among the 3,108 ballots cast by the borough's 6,518 registered voters, yielding a 47.7% turnout.[82]
Lincoln Park was formerly the home for The Craig School, a private coeducationalday school serving students in second through twelfth grade. The school has an enrollment of 160 students split between the Lower School (grades 3–8), in Mountain Lakes, and the Upper School (grades 9–12), located in Lincoln Park until the end of the 2012–2013 school year. As of September 2013, the Craig School high school program is located at Boonton High School.[93]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 45.16 miles (72.68 km) of roadways, of which 39.40 miles (63.41 km) were maintained by the municipality and 5.76 miles (9.27 km) by Morris County.[94]
NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 871 route.[97][98] NJ Transit had provided service on the MCM1 route until 2010, when subsidies to the local provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.[99][100]
^ abMayor & Council, Borough of Lincoln Park. Accessed June 9, 2022. "The Borough of Lincoln Park is governed by a Mayor and seven borough council members; 3 at-large and 4 ward. The Mayor is elected to a 4-year term. The at-large council members and ward council members are elected to 4-year terms. The Mayor votes only in the event of a tie."
^Board of County Commissioners, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025. "Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners, who serve three-year terms."
^"Morris County Appoints Deena Leary Acting Administrator", Morris County, New Jersey, August 1, 2022. Accessed January 19, 2025. "Assistant Morris County Administrator Deena Leary has been appointed Acting Administrator by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, placing her at the helm of county operations and ready to assume the post when long-time Administrator John Bonanni officially retires at year’s end."
^Tayfun Selen, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^Stephen H. Shaw, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^Douglas R. Cabana, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^John Krickus, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^District Overview, Lincoln Park Public Schools. Accessed January 21, 2025. "The Lincoln Park Public School system serves students from pre-kindergarten through Grade 8. Lincoln Park Elementary School serves our Pre-K to Grade 4 students and Lincoln Park Middle School serves our Grade 5 - 8 students. Students then move on to attend Boonton High School, as well as various academies at Pequannock Township High School and across Morris County."
^Lincoln Park Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Lincoln Park Public Schools, adopted December 15, 2020. Accessed January 21, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Lincoln Park School District. Composition: The Lincoln Park School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Lincoln Park."
^ abLincoln Park School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 17, 2017. "Lincoln Park participates in a sending-receiving relationship with Boonton High School, which offers a comprehensive educational program for children in grades 9 through 12. The Lincoln Park School District sends approximately 290 students to Boonton High School. Approximately 70 high school age students attend The Academies of Morris County."
^Staff. "New school year, new beginnings for the Craig High School in Boonton", Neighbor News (Boonton), September 11, 2013. Accessed October 27, 2014. "The Craig High School has come full circle, returning home to Boonton after starting out over a storefront on Main Street 33 years ago. Opened in 1980, the specialized school grew and evolved over the years, moving to new homes, most recently Lincoln Park, before completing its return to its roots."
^Gates, Anita. "Angelo Badalamenti, Composer for Twin Peaks, Is Dead at 85", The New York Times, December 12, 2022. Accessed December 15, 2022. "Angelo Badalamenti, an internationally sought-after composer who wrote the hypnotic theme to Twin Peaks, David Lynch’s 1990s television drama series, and the music for five Lynch films, including Blue Velvet (1986), died on Sunday at his home in Lincoln Park, N.J. He was 85."
^"Your Name in Stickup Light Bulbs!", New York Magazine. Accessed February 19, 2018. "Khubani inherited his peculiar acumen from his father, an Indian immigrant and serial entrepreneur who made enough money importing Japanese-made pocket radios—an inexpensive, sixties precursor to the Walkman—to move his family from a third-floor walk-up in Union City to a modest house in Lincoln Park, New Jersey."
^Iseman, Chris. "DePaul alum Klenofsky selected in MLS SuperDraft", The Record, January 13, 2017. Accessed April 9, 2017. "Eric Klenofsky, a DePaul graduate, was selected by D.C. United in the second round of the 2017 Major League Soccer SuperDraft on Friday.... The Lincoln Park native had a trial with Everton of the English Premier League in December before working out at the MLS Combine this week."
^Carroll, Kathleen. "William Mitchell, inventor of Pop Rocks", The Record, July 30, 2004. Accessed May 3, 2011. "William A. Mitchell, a longtime Lincoln Park resident whose inventions included Pop Rocks candy, died Monday in a Stockton, Calif., retirement home. He was 92."
^Polaris, XXV. Colorado Springs, Colorado: United States Air Force Academy, 1983. p. 396. Accessed June 3, 2020. "James Nelson Post III... Lincoln Park, New Jersey"
^"Amzi Emmons Zeliff", National Gallery of Art. Accessed March 4, 2019. "Family members say that at one time he owned the White Horse tavern in Lincoln Park, New Jersey. Zeliff's house in that town is reported to have had flower-patterned ceiling murals that may have been executed by the artist."