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 most southern 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.
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. The name was changed to Emerson as of March 9, 1909. The name came from author Ralph Waldo Emerson. The borough calls itself "The Family Town".
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.
The borough borders the Bergen County municipalities of Closter, Harrington Park, Haworth, Oradell, Paramus, River Vale, Washington Township and Westwood.
Demographics
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.
Same-sex couples headed 17 households in 2010, an increase from the 14 counted in 2000.
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.
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.
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.