Midland Park was incorporated as a borough on September 6, 1894, at the height of the "Boroughitis" craze then sweeping through Bergen County that led to the creation of over two dozen new municipalities in the county in that one year alone. The new borough consisted of portions of both Franklin Township and Ridgewood Township. The borough expanded in April 1920 by adding another part of Franklin Township. In a referendum held on June 9, 1931, Midland Park acquired additional land from Wyckoff (which until 1926 had been known as Franklin Township).[23][24] Midland Park was named after the New Jersey Midland Railway, which operated the railroad passing through the area of the borough in the 1870s,[24][25] though elsewhere the name is said to be based on being situated "amid Bergen hills".[26]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.58 square miles (4.09 km2), including 1.57 square miles (4.07 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.51%).[1][2]
The borough is divided by Prospect Street, a main road running north–south through the center of the town. Prospect Street is the southernmost end of what is otherwise known as Crescent Avenue (or West Crescent Avenue), which runs through Ramsey, Allendale, and Wyckoff.
Northside borders Waldwick and is the location of Midland Park High School. The Catholic church, Nativity, is also located on the Northside of the borough.
Wortendyke borders Wyckoff and is home to longtime retailers such as Rosario's, Romeo's Barber Stylists, and Creations by Fran, and other small businesses; this is the other, quieter downtown region of Midland Park, near Wortendyke Station.
Of the 2,756 households, 32.4% had children under the age of 18; 58.0% were married couples living together; 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.2% were non-families. Of all households, 26.5% were made up of individuals and 13.9% 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 3.17.[20]
24.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.0 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $87,905 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,258) and the median family income was $105,287 (+/− $9,882). Males had a median income of $74,688 (+/− $8,609) versus $49,398 (+/− $2,348) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,654 (+/− $3,206). About 1.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.[39]
Same-sex couples headed 8 households in 2010, an increase from the 6 counted in 2000.[40]
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 6,947 people, 2,613 households, and 1,883 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,439.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,714.1/km2). There were 2,650 housing units at an average density of 1,693.5 per square mile (653.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.81% White, 0.43% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.76% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.69% of the population.[37][38]
There were 2,613 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.19.[37][38]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.[37][38]
The median income for a household in the borough was $76,462, and the median income for a family was $83,926. Males had a median income of $55,044 versus $39,142 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,284. About 1.0% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.[37][38]
Midland Park is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the most commonly used form of government in the state.[43] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes 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.[7][44] The borough form of government used by Midland Park 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.[45][46]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of Midland Park Borough is Republican Harry Shortway Jr., whose term of office ends on December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Mark Braunius (R, 2025), Lorenzo Damiano (R, 2023), Keith DeBlasio (R, 2024), Lorraine DeLuca (R, 2023), Kenneth Kruis (R, 2024) and Nancy Cronk Peet (R, 2025).[3][47][48][49][50][51][52]
In June 2016, the borough council selected Jerry Iannone to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had become vacant following the resignation of Jack Considine who stepped down from office earlier in the month after he lost the Republican primary.[53]
In November 2013, the borough council selected former councilmember Mark Braunius from among three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Michael Junta, who had resigned in the previous month as he was moving out of the borough.[54]
Jack Considine was appointed in January 2012 to fill the vacant seat on the borough council expiring in December 2013 that had been held by Patrick "Bud" O'Hagan, who had taken office as mayor.[55]
Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at-large to three-year terms in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each November; a Chairman and Vice Chairman are selected from among its seven members at a reorganization meeting held every January. As of 2025[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[62]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,756 registered voters in Midland Park, of which 890 (18.7% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,865 (39.2% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,998 (42.0% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[90] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 66.7% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 88.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[90][91]
In the 2020 presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden received 2,322 votes (50.1% to 48.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 2,240 votes (48.1% to 50.1% countywide).[92] In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 2,191 votes (54.1% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 1,690 votes (41.7% vs. 54.2%) and other candidates with 171 votes (4.2% vs. 4.6%), among the 4,100 ballots cast by the borough's 5,178 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.2% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County).[93] In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,135 votes (57.3% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,533 votes (41.1% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 42 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,726 ballots cast by the borough's 4,978 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.8% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[94][95] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,266 votes (56.3% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,695 votes (42.1% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 26 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,022 ballots cast by the borough's 4,941 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.4% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[96][97] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,367 votes (61.0% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,491 votes (38.4% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 17 votes (0.4% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,879 ballots cast by the borough's 4,765 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.4% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[98]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.4% of the vote (1,646 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 30.7% (738 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (23 votes), among the 2,438 ballots cast by the borough's 4,805 registered voters (31 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 50.7%.[99][100] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,546 votes (58.2% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 962 votes (36.2% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 131 votes (4.9% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 6 votes (0.2% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,658 ballots cast by the borough's 4,856 registered voters, yielding a 54.7% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[101]
Public school students from the borough, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Paramus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.[109][110]
Eastern Christian Elementary School is a private Christian day school that serves students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade as part of the Eastern Christian School Association, which also includes a middle school located in Wyckoff and Eastern Christian High School in North Haledon.[111][112]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 25.66 miles (41.30 km) of roadways, of which 21.64 miles (34.83 km) were maintained by the municipality and 4.02 miles (6.47 km) by Bergen County.[113] The most significant roads directly serving Midland Park are minor county roads such as County Route 84. Several major highways are near the town, however, including New Jersey Route 17 and New Jersey Route 208.
Midland Park is served by a 15-man police force, including a Chief (Michael Powderley), two Lieutenants, a Detective, three Sergeants and eight patrolmen. The Midland Park Police Department responds to all variety of emergencies (including medical and fire) within the Borough, as well as special events.[116]
Emergency Medical Services are provided to the borough by the Midland Park Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity founded in 1942 and funded by donations, which provides Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance services around the clock on a volunteer basis, without any fees charged to users of its services.[117]Advanced Life Support services (which are billed to the patient or their insurance) are provided by area hospitals through the Northern New Jersey Mobile Intensive Care Consortium (a.k.a. "MICCOM"), primarily by The Valley Hospital.[118]
Dating back to 1909, the Midland Park Fire Department is an all-volunteer organization that provides full-time response to fires, motor vehicle accidents and search and rescue incidents within Midland Park. The department consists of approximately 40 active volunteers. The department staffs the following apparatus: Engine 531 – 2006 Pierce Lance Engine, Ladder 541 – 2015 Pierce 105' Ladder, Engine 533 – 1997 SimonDuplex/LTI Engine and Rescue 542 – 1997 Ford/Kenco Light Rescue.[119] The current chief of the Midland Park Fire Department is Jason Crean.
Roy Den Hollander (1947–2020), lawyer who gained notoriety as a suspected murderer after acting as an attorney in several unsuccessful sex discrimination suits on behalf of men[121]
^Lustig, Jay. "Honor Society learns the rock-star ropes", The Star-Ledger, July 9, 2009. Accessed May 27, 2016. "The band, which is based in Midland Park, has not released an album yet. But as proteges of the Jonas Brothers -- drummer Alexander Noyes used to be a member of the Jonases' touring band, and the group will release its album on a new label the Jonases are creating -- Honor Society has a built-in following."
^Paulson BiographyArchived December 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Song365.com. Accessed August 18, 2013. "Paulson is an indie rock band from Midland Park, New Jersey signed to Doghouse Records."
^Bruggemnn, Lynn. "Midland Park council seats November candidate to vacancy", Midland Park Suburban News, June 24, 2016. Accessed July 5, 2016. "The Borough Council on June 23 appointed Jerry Iannone to fill the council seat vacated by Jack Considine. Considine resigned effective immediately at the June 9 council meeting, two days after he and running mate John Meeks were defeated by Iannone and Councilwoman Nancy Cronk Peet in the June 7 GOP primary."
^Bruggemann, Lynn. "Midland Park appoints former councilman to vacancy on governing body ", Midland Park Suburban News, November 8, 2013. Accessed January 7, 2015. "Lifelong resident Mark Braunius was appointed to fill the council seat vacated by Michael Junta and sworn in at the Nov. 7 session. Junta cited his impending marriage and move out of town for his resignation on Oct. 12. Braunius will serve the remainder of Junta's three-year term, which expires in December 2014. Braunius previously served as councilman from 1994-2005."
^Greene, Rebecca. "Midland Park council fills vacancy", Midland Park Suburban News, January 27, 2012. Accessed December 10, 2013. "Jack Considine was appointed Jan. 26 to fill the council seat vacated by Patrick "Bud" O'Hagan on Jan. 5, when he was sworn in as mayor. Considine will serves on the council through the end of the year. The remainder of O'Hagan's two-year unexpired term will appear on the ballot in November."
^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."
^Cattafi, Kristie. "Democrats pick Bergenfield councilman to fill vacancy on Bergen County commissioners board", The Record, March 13, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. "A Democratic councilman from Bergenfield will be sworn in as a Bergen County commissioner Wednesday night, filling a vacancy on the governing body for almost 1 million residents. Rafael Marte will serve until Dec. 31, taking on the unexpired term left by former Commissioner Ramon Hache, a Democrat who resigned last week to lead the Ridgewood YMCA as its chief executive officer."
^Midland Park Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Midland Park School District. Accessed May 10, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Special Education Pre-K through twelve in the Midland Park School District. Composition: The Midland Park School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Midland Park."
^HistoryArchived December 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Midland Park Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Accessed December 29, 2011.
^Emergency Transportation Services, Valley Health System. Accessed August 18, 2013. "Our MICU responds to approximately 8,000 calls per year. The majority of these requests for our services come from our 'primary service area' which includes the following communities: Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, Ho-Ho-Kus, Mahwah, Midland Park, Oakland, Paramus, Ramsey, Ridgewood, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick and Wyckoff."
^Midland Park Fire Department, Borough of Midland Park. Accessed May 10, 2020. "The Midland Park Fire Department is comprised of approximately fifty volunteer professionals and has served the Borough of Midland Park proudly since 1909."
^Anna Whitehead Bodeker, Dictionary of Virginia Biography. Accessed July 26, 2019. "Anna Whitehead Bodeker (ca. 26 July 1826–26 October 1904), woman suffrage activist, was born in Midland Park, Bergen County, New Jersey, the daughter of Jesse Whitehead and Sophia Candy Whitehead, both of whom were English immigrants."
^Hong, Nicole; Zaveri, Mihir; and Rashbaum, William K. "Inside the Violent and Misogynistic World of Roy Den Hollander", The New York Times, July 26, 2020. Accessed February 8, 2022. "Mr. Den Hollander grew up in Midland Park, N.J., a middle-class town about 25 miles northwest of Manhattan, and had a loathing for his mother, clinging to grudges against her."
^Staff. "Carol Habben, 63, Ex-Baseball Player", The New York Times, January 14, 1997. Accessed December 10, 2013. "Ms. Habben started playing baseball in high school in Midland Park, N.J., and played for a women's sandlot team in Rahway before signing a $250-a-month contract to play with the Peaches when she was still a teen-ager, said her sister, Jane Iannuzzi."
^"Pompton High Graduates", The Morning Call, June 22, 1936. Accessed May 4, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The following 32 Midland Park students were graduated at Pompton Lakes High school Friday night... The honor students from. Midland Park are Fred Kornet, Jr, and Cornelius Alfred Roughgarden."
^Naanes, Marlene; and Koloff, Abbott. "Bergen County native leading investigation of Colorado theater massacre", The Record, July 23, 2012. Accessed July 25, 2012. "Daniel Oates, who, as the chief of police in Aurora, Colo., is in charge of investigating the most extensive mass shooting in the nation's history, grew up in Midland Park.... Oates was born in Hackensack and lived in Oradell before his family moved to Midland Park, his parents said.... He graduated from St. Joseph's Regional High School in 1973 and attended college at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, where he majored in English."
^"Gov't Scholarship Awarded to Yennie", Herald News, October 6, 1950. Accessed February 19, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Donald R. Yennie, president of the Student Council at Pompton Lakes High, School in 1941, has received a government scholarship..... Yennie resides at 268 Godwin Avenue. Midland Park."
Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties) prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.