On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Elmwood Park is more historic than 24% of U.S. towns, #427 of 468 in New Jersey. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Elmwood Park’s overall grade.
New Jersey towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New Jersey town has 3.7 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Elmwood Park’s 0.5 sits below most of its state (26% of New Jersey towns have fewer) while its 1 listings outnumber those of 51% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1916.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D to C+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.0 points).
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Elmwood Park’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Elmwood Park. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1888Paterson sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Elmwood Park.
Places that used to be
Lost post offices
Elmwood Park’s post office has been open since 1974. Two other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.
Dundee Lake
1873–1917
East Paterson
1917–1974
Elmwood Park
1974–today
18701950today
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
The story so far
Elmwood Park, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Elmwood Park yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Elmwood Park is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and is a bedroom suburb located 14 miles (23 km) from New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 21,422, an increase of 2,019 (+10.4%) from the 2010 census count of 19,403, which in turn reflected an increase of 478 (+2.5%) from the 18,925 counted in the 2000 census. Prior to 1916, the area was known as Dundee Lake, a section of Saddle River Township. Residents of the Dundee Lake area voted on April 18, 1916, to secede from Saddle River Township to form the Borough of East Paterson.} In 1917, residents of the Rosemont section of Saddle River Township voted to be annexed to East…
Elmwood Park was established in 1916. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 19,403 to 21,422 (+10%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Timeline
Elmwood Park, 1844 to 1992
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1916, according to Wikidata. Elmwood Park’s post office opened in 1873, and the census of 1900 counted 892 people here.
How does Elmwood Park rank for history?
Elmwood Park is more historic than 24% of U.S. towns, #427 of 468 in New Jersey. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Elmwood Park?
One place: the Van Houten-Hillman House (listed 1983).
How old are the homes in Elmwood Park?
11% of Elmwood Park’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.0 points), against a typical 15% for a New Jersey town; the median home was built in 1958.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (11), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
Date?
2025
2025
2025
2017
2015
2015
2014
2011
2008
2007