Wanaque ()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."Melisurgo, Len. "Here's the right way to pronounce 25 N.J. town names everyone botches", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 25, 2017. Accessed June 26, 2017. "Wanaque (Passaic County)Some locals say this town is pronounced WAHN-a-cue, and others say it’s WAHN-a-key. The first one is correct." is a borough in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 11,317, an increase of 201 (+1.8%) from the 2010 census count of 11,116, which in turn reflected an increase of 850 (+8.3%) from the 10,266 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.

History 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.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 211. Accessed May 30, 2024. The borough's name Wanaque (original pronunciation 'Wa Na Kee') is thought to have been derived from a Lenni Lenape Native American word meaning "land of sassafras".Wanaque Area Local History , accessed October 10, 2006.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 20, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 31. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed October 20, 2015.

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%).

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.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Both Wanaque (formerly Midvale) and Haskell have their own ZIP Codes and are served by separate post offices.

The borough borders the municipalities of Bloomingdale, Pompton Lakes and Ringwood in Passaic County; and Oakland in Bergen County.Areas touching Wanaque, MapIt. Accessed March 12, 2020.Passaic County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 12, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Wanaque had a population of 11,317. The median age was 45.9 years. 16.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.2 males age 18 and over.

97.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 4,392 households in Wanaque, of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.6% were married-couple households, 14.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,597 housing units, of which 4.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.2%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 8,706 76.9% Black or African American 338 3.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 51 0.5% Asian 545 4.8% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2 0.0% Some other race 588 5.2% Two or more races 1,087 9.6% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,659 14.7%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 11,116 people, 4,018 households, and 3,026 families in the borough. The population density was 1,391.2 per square mile (537.1/km2). There were 4,184 housing units at an average density of 523.7 per square mile (202.2/km2). The racial makeup was 87.48% (9,724) White, 3.07% (341) Black or African American, 0.40% (45) Native American, 4.65% (517) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 2.25% (250) from other races, and 2.14% (238) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.67% (1,075) of the population.

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.

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.

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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Wanaque borough, Passaic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.

Same-sex couples headed 20 households in 2010, a decline from the 22 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 29, 2014.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 10,266 people, 3,444 households, and 2,689 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,500 housing units at an average density of . 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Wanaque borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Wanaque borough, Passaic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.

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.

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.

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.

Parks and recreation Back Beach Park is a recreational park located in Haskell, that features various sports fields and hiking trails. Completed at a cost o $290,000 on and purchased in the early 1980, a took a decade to complete the park amid environmental challenges.Agnish, Jai. "Back Beach Park in Wanaque set for $175,000 in upgrades", The Record, June 24, 2018. Accessed May 3, 2026. "The township's 27-acre Back Beach Park, constructed in the early 1990s at the site of an illegal dumping ground, will be renovated using nearly $175,000 in Passaic County Open Space grant money. It took five years to construct the park, off Fourth Avenue near the Wanaque River, at a cost of $290,000 once the borough contracted to buy the property in 1982." Accessible trails include the Wanaque Ridge, which overlooks the town at its peak, as well as the Indian Hills Trail, which connects to the Ramapo Valley County Reservation in Mahwah.Chazin, Daniel R. "Hike to Ramapo Lake and Along the Wanaque Ridge", The Jewish Link, July 16, 2026. Accessed May 3, 2026. "This six-mile-loop hike approaches Ramapo Mountain State Forest from the west via Back Beach Park in Wanaque. It climbs to the scenic Ramapo Lake, heads north along its shore, then proceeds south along the Wanaque Ridge, with panoramic views to the west and east."

Law and government

Local government