Little Falls, New Jersey

Little Falls is a township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the township's population was 14,432,  reflecting an increase of 3,577 (+33.0%) from the 10,855 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 439 (-3.9%) from the 11,294 counted in the 1990 Census. It is located about 15 mi from New York City.

Little Falls was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1868, from portions of Acquackanonk Township. On March 25, 1914, portions of the township were taken to form the borough of West Paterson (now Woodland Park).

The Morris Canal, once an important artery of trade and transportation between the Delaware and Hudson rivers, wound its way through the town, and vestiges of it still remain.

Geography
Little Falls is located at 40.87624°N, -74.21889°W (40.876235,-74.218886). According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 2.810 square miles (7.277 km2), of which, 2.735 square miles (7.084 km2) of it is land and 0.075 square miles (0.193 km2) of it (2.65%) is water.

Little Falls has three township sub-divisions. Great Notch is the easternmost part of the township. The downtown area is frequently referred to as "The Center of Town", mainly by longtime residents. Otherwise, it is usually referred to as simply Little Falls. Singac is in the westernmost portion of the township. Much of Singac borders the Passaic River.

Singac (with a 2010 Census population of 3,618 ) is a census-designated place and unincorporated communitys located within Little Falls Township.

Little Falls is bordered by the communities of Montclair, Wayne, Cedar Grove, Woodland Park, Totowa, North Caldwell, Fairfield and Clifton.

Census 2010
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,318 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,244) and the median family income was $92,462 (+/- $12,925). Males had a median income of $67,585 (+/- $7,860) versus $42,270 (+/- $3,385) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,505 (+/- $3,336). About 4.7% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 42 households in 2010.

Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 10,855 people, 4,687 households, and 2,873 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,941.8 people per square mile (1,524.1/km2). There were 4,797 housing units at an average density of 1,742.0 per square mile (673.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 92.13% white, 0.65% African American, 0.06% Native American, 4.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.33% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.33% of the population.

There were 4,687 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the township the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $58,857, and the median income for a family was $70,223. Males had a median income of $49,136 versus $37,727 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,242. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
For most of its history, Little Falls was governed by a township committee consisting of five committee members elected by the voters. Under this system, a chairman (mayor) and deputy-chair (deputy mayor) were selected annually by the Township Committee members. Effective January 1, 2005, this form of government was changed by a public referendum to a mayor-council form authorized by the Faulkner Act. Under the new government, the voters directly elect the mayor to a four-year term, and the five township council members to four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election in even years.

, the Mayor of Little Falls is Darlene Post, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2016. Members of the Township Council are Council President John Vantuno (2014), Louis Fontana (2016), Mercedes Gonzalez (2014), Pam Porter (2016) and Joseph Rento (2014, serving the balance of a vacancy).

Post won election to a full four-year term as mayor in the 2012 general election, along with all three of her Republican running mates for Township Council; Louis Fontana, Pamela Porter and Joseph Rento (who won the balance of an unexpired term of office).

Federal, state and county representation
Little Falls is located in the 11th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Little Falls had been part of the NJ's 8th congressional district, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 7,632 registered voters in Little Falls, of which 2,084 (27.3% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,800 (23.6% vs. 18.7%) were registered as Republicans and 3,745 (49.1% vs. 50.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 52.9% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 61.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).

In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,908 votes here (49.5% vs. 37.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,734 votes (46.5% vs. 58.8%) and other candidates with 65 votes (1.1% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,879 ballots cast by the township's 7,835 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.0% (vs. 70.4% in Passaic County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,994 votes here (50.6% vs. 42.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,723 votes (46.0% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 47 votes (0.8% vs. 0.7%), among the 5,921 ballots cast by the township's 7,798 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.9% (vs. 69.3% in the whole county).

In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,936 votes here (51.3% vs. 43.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,577 votes (41.8% vs. 50.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 183 votes (4.8% vs. 3.8%) and other candidates with 39 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,775 ballots cast by the township's 7,552 registered voters, yielding a 50.0% turnout (vs. 42.7% in the county).

Education
For public school, students in kindergarten through eighth grade are educated by the Little Falls Township Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2010–11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are School #2, with 318 students in grades kindergarten through two; School #3, with 203 students in grades three and four; and School #1, with 405 students in grades five through eight.

For grades nine through twelve, students in public school attend Passaic Valley Regional High School, which serves students from Little Falls, Totowa and Woodland Park. The school facility is located in Little Falls.

Most of Montclair State University is located in Little Falls.

Transportation
Little Falls is criss-crossed by several major roadways, including U.S. Route 46 and New Jersey Route 23. The Garden State Parkway and Interstate 80 run near the municipality.

The Little Falls and Montclair State University Stations of the New Jersey Transit both serve Little Falls, offering service on the Montclair-Boonton Line to Hoboken Terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey, or from Montclair State University Station on Midtown Direct trains to New York City's Pennsylvania Station in Midtown Manhattan via the Secaucus Junction. The township was formerly served by the Great Notch Station until NJ Transit closed it in January 2010 because of low ridership.

NJ Transit bus transportation is offered to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 191, 194 and 195 routes. Newark, New Jersey, is served by the 11, 28 (on Saturdays and Sundays) and on the 75 routes. Local routes are the 704 and 705 lines.

Little Falls is approximately 21 mi from Newark Liberty International Airport and approximately 27 mi from LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens, New York.

Sports
The New Jersey Jackals of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball (CanAm League) play at Yogi Berra Stadium, located in Little Falls.

Notable people
Notable current and former residents of Little falls include:
 * David Blaine (born 1973), illusionist
 * Frank DeCaro (born 1962), author and television personality
 * Kit McClure (born 1951), saxophonist, trombonist and bandleader.
 * Franklin E. Sigler (1924–1995), U.S. Marine who was the recipient of the congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima

In popular culture

 * A delicatessen on Main Street in Little Falls was featured in the episode "House Arrest" from the second season of television series The Sopranos.
 * The township was well known for the Colonial Inn, a hotel and lounge where comedian Jackie Gleason performed stand-up in the 1930s.