Roselle Park is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 13,281. Roselle Park was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1901, from portions of Union Township.[7][8] The separation occurred due to a number of grievances based on a lack of sufficient public services, including; lack of a modern sewage system, poor schools, neglected roads, and minimal public safety measures.

DEMOGRAPHICS

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,281 people, 5,137 households, and 3,416 families residing in the borough. The population density was 10,855.7 people per square mile (4,203.1/km2). There were 5,258 housing units at an average density of 4,297.8/sq mi (1,664.0/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 80.87% White, 2.42% African American, 0.11% Native American, 9.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.89% from other races, and 2.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.34% of the population.

There were 5,137 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% 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 3.22.

In the borough the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $53,717, and the median income for a family was $63,403. Males had a median income of $42,623 versus $33,105 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,101. About 3.4% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

EDUCATION

The Roselle Park School District serves public school students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[17]) are:

Elementary Schools (Grades K-5)
  Aldene/Ernest J. Finizio School - Virginia Gilcrest, Principal (259 students)
  Robert Gordon School - James Salvo, Principal (300 students)
  Sherman School - Thomas Faria, Principal (313 students)
  Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Roselle Park Middle School (326 students)
  Jeannine Grasso, Principal
  James Shriner, Vice Principal
High School (Grades 9-12)
  Roselle Park High School (845 students). Roselle Park High School reported a 99.7% high school graduation rate for the class of 2006.
  Sarah Costa, Principal
  Frances Kenny, Vice Principal of Academics
  John Wagner, Vice Principal of Athletics
  Susan Carlstrom, Director of Guidance and Testing

TRANSPORTATION

Route 28 passes through Roselle Park, and the Garden State Parkway skirts the western boundary of the borough. New Jersey Transit Bus Operations provides bus service on three routes:

58 - Elizabeth to Kenilworth
94 - Bloomfield to Linden
113 - Dunellen to New York City

Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 10 minutes away, with hundreds of flights departing to and arriving from all over the globe daily. Linden Airport, a general aviation facility, is also in nearby Linden, New Jersey.

NOTABLE RESIDENTS

• Michael Ausiello, TV Guide writer
• Rick Barry (born 1944), NBA All-Pro Forward. Ranked #2 on the Sports Illustrated list of The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures
• Mike Daly, Songwriter / Record Producer
• Gregory Gillespie (1936-2000), artist
• Keith Loneker, former professional football player and actor
• Alan Pasqua (born 1952), pianist, composer and jazz musician