Norwood

History

The territory that became present-day Norwood was originally settled about 1686 by a dozen or more families mostly from the Dutch Republic, who purchased the land under the Tappan Patent. About that time a grant was also given by Philip Carteret, Governor of the Province of East Jersey, during the reign of King Charles II of England. The Lenape, a Native American tribe, roamed the valley. The name Norwood emanated from the old description of its location in the "North-Woods". It was a part of Harrington Township, which was formed in 1775 from the northernmost portions of Hackensack Township and New Barbadoes Township, stretching from the Hudson River in the east to the Saddle River in the west.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.79 square miles (7.24 km2), including 2.79 square miles (7.21 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.32%). Unincorporated communities, localities and place names within the borough include West Norwood. As of 2026, the borough is a member of Local Leaders for Responsible Planning in order to address the borough's Mount Laurel doctrine-based housing obligations.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  66,532
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  64,137
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  62,230
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  54,339
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  54,285
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  48,702
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  48,522
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  48,296

Largest nearby schools

• Ridgewood High School
  High · RIDGEWOOD · 1,746 students · 12.7:1 ratio
• Hackensack High School
  High · HACKENSACK · 1,745 students · 12.7:1 ratio
• Fair Lawn High School
  High · FAIR LAWN · 1,624 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Hackensack Middle School
  Middle · Hackensack · 1,363 students · 10.8:1 ratio
• Teaneck High School
  High · TEANECK · 1,271 students · 11.8:1 ratio
• Bergenfield High School
  High · BERGENFIELD · 1,224 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• Tenafly High School
  High · TENAFLY · 1,200 students · 11.7:1 ratio
• Lewis F. Cole Middle School
  Middle · FORT LEE · 1,194 students · 11.8:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.8 — 2025-08-05
  1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey
• M 3 — 2025-08-03
  0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey
• M 2.9 — 2024-05-24
  6 km E of Califon, New Jersey
• M 2.6 — 2024-05-01
  1 km NW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 2.9 — 2024-04-27
  7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 2.6 — 2024-04-10
  5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey