Emerson, New Jersey

Emerson, New Jersey
Nickname: 
"The Family Town"
Location of Emerson in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Census Bureau map of Emerson, New Jersey
Emerson
Location in Bergen County
Emerson
Location in New Jersey
Emerson
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°58′30″N 74°01′24″W / 40.97499°N 74.023248°W / 40.97499; -74.023248
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountyBergen
IncorporatedApril 8, 1903 (as Etna)
Name changedMarch 9, 1909 (to Emerson)
Named afterRalph Waldo Emerson
Government
 • TypeBorough
 • BodyBorough Council
 • MayorDanielle DiPaola (R, term ends December 31, 2026)
 • AdministratorRobert G. Hermansen
 • Municipal clerkTriessa DeSimone
Area
 • Total
2.42 sq mi (6.27 km2)
 • Land2.23 sq mi (5.78 km2)
 • Water0.19 sq mi (0.49 km2)  7.85%
 • Rank379th of 565 in state
40th of 70 in county
Elevation
49 ft (15 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
7,290
 • Estimate 
(2023)
7,251
 • Rank311th of 565 in state
51st of 70 in county
 • Density3,267.6/sq mi (1,261.6/km2)
  • Rank205th of 565 in state
43rd of 70 in county
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
07630
Area code201
FIPS code3400321450
GNIS feature ID0885208
Websiteemersonnj.gov

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 southernmost 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".