Wyckoff is a township in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 16,585, a decrease of 111 (−0.7%) from the 2010 census count of 16,696, which in turn reflected an increase of 188 (+1.1%) from the 16,508 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
As of the 2010 census, Wyckoff ranked 55th in highest-household income places in the United States with a population of at least 10,000 at $103,614. Statewide, Wyckoff ranked 41st among New Jersey locations by per capita income, with a per capita money income of $49,375 as of 1999, an increase of 49.1% from the $33,124 recorded in 1989.Money Income (1989 and 1999) and Poverty (1999) New Jersey, Counties and Municipalities, New Jersey State Data Center, April 2003. Accessed November 5, 2012.
From the mid-18th century, what is now Wyckoff was a community within Franklin Township, formed on June 1, 1797, when Saddle River Township (now Saddle Brook) was split, which consisted of most of northern Bergen County west of the Saddle River. Starting in the 1840s, several new municipalities were created from portions of Franklin Township (Pompton Township on April 10, 1797, Hohokus Township (now Mahwah) on April 9, 1849, and Ridgewood Township on March 30, 1876; remaining now the Village of Ridgewood), so that today what is now Wyckoff borders eight different communities. Wyckoff was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 2, 1926, replacing Franklin Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. Portions of Wyckoff were ceded to Midland Park based on the results of a referendum held on June 9, 1931.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 80. Accessed May 30, 2024.
Though there is no solid historical evidence for any of the various theories, the most commonly given origin for the name Wyckoff, which was the origin accepted by the township committee when the municipality was established, is that the name is from the Lenape word , meaning "high ground", or that it is from , meaning "water".History, Township of Wyckoff. Accessed October 11, 2019. "There is reason to believe that the name Wyckoff is a derivation of the Indian word 'wickoff' meaning high ground or 'wickok' meaning water." However, similarly named Wyckoff Heights in New York City is named after the Wyckoff family, who settled in the New York/New Jersey area when both states were part of the Dutch colony of New Netherlands.P.S. 81Q, New York City Department of Education, backed up by the Internet Archive as of August 8, 2012. Accessed January 3, 2018. Other sources ascribe the name to Wicaugh in Malpas, England.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed November 9, 2015.
History The first known human inhabitants of the area were the Lenni Lenape Native Americans who lived north of the Raritan River and spoke a Munsee dialect of Algonquian. Sicomac, said to mean "resting place for the departed" or "happy hunting ground", is an area of Wyckoff that, according to tradition, was the burial place of many Native Americans, including Chief Oratam of the Ackingshacys, and many stores and buildings in the community have been named after the area's name, including Sicomac Elementary School.Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Wyckoff; Country Ambiance in Ramapo Foothills", The New York Times, March 19, 1995. Accessed May 7, 2012. "Wyckoff, which means 'water' in the Leni Lenape Indian language, is built around a dozen ponds connected by brooks and streams. The Minisink Indian Trail from the Delaware River to the Atlantic Ocean passed through what is now Wyckoff, in a neighborhood that is still called Sicomac, meaning 'Happy Hunting Ground.'" Most Native Americans had left by the 19th century, although a small group lived near Clinton Avenue until 1939.
What is Wyckoff today was originally part of Saddle River Township, which included all of Bergen County west of the Saddle River. Saddle River Township was split in 1771, with the area containing Wyckoff becoming Franklin Township. By 1755, about 100 families lived in the Franklin Township area, of which no more than 20 were in what is now Wyckoff. Franklin Township (1771) consisted of what is today Ho-Ho-Kus (seceded 1849), Ridgewood (seceded 1876), Midland Park (seceded 1894), Oakland (seceded 1902), Franklin Lakes (seceded 1922), and Wyckoff. The size of Franklin Township decreased as areas seceded and were incorporated into their own municipalities. After Franklin Lakes was established in 1922, Franklin Township consisted of only the area known locally as Wyckoff. On November 2, 1926, residents voted (243 positive votes out of 337) to change the name from Franklin Township to the Township of Wyckoff.
The first recorded permanent settlers were John and William Van Voor Haze (Anglicized as Voorhees), who bought of land in the area in 1720. Other early settlers, primarily Dutch, included the Van Horns, Terhunes, Ackermans, Quackenbushes, Pulises and Vanderhoffs. In 1940, the population was just under 4,000, with 30% of the land devoted to farming. By 1969, the number of farms had decreased to 13. By 2012, only two farms remained: Abma's Farm and Goffle Road Poultry Farm, which is Bergen County's only remaining live market.Staff. "The good egg: tasty and versatile, it's at the heart of many a recipe", The Record, February 17, 2010. Accessed May 7, 2012. "For the freshest eggs locally, look to such farms as Goffle Road Poultry Farm or Abma's Farm, both in Wyckoff, where the eggs are collected from their own chickens..." Rail service by the New Jersey Midland Railway began in 1870. That service was purchased by the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway, which abruptly ended passenger service in 1966.
The Terhune House is an historic home listed on the National Register of Historic Places, located at 161 Godwin Avenue, that was initially constructed in 1737.NEW JERSEY - Bergen County, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed February 20, 2008.
In 1994, the Vander Plaat funeral home prepared the body of Richard Nixon for burial.Leifer, Joshua. "Nixon’s Ghost", Nassau Weekly, August 11, 2016. Accessed July 18, 2024. "Richard Nixon’s body was prepared for burial at the Vander Plaat funeral home in Wyckoff, New Jersey, around the corner from a Dairy Queen—I used to go there after soccer practice to get an Oreo Blizzard."
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 6.65 square miles (17.22 km2), including 6.59 square miles (17.07 km2) of land and 0.06 square miles (0.15 km2) of water (0.89%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Sicomac.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The township borders the municipalities of Allendale, Franklin Lakes, Mahwah, Midland Park, Ridgewood and Waldwick in Bergen County; and both Hawthorne and North Haledon in Passaic County.Areas touching Wyckoff, MapIt. Accessed March 15, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 15, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
As of 2026, the township is a member of Local Leaders for Responsible Planning in order to address the township's Mount Laurel doctrine-based housing obligations.
Climate The climate in this area is characterized by hot, mild summers and generally cold winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Wyckoff has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.Climate Summary for Wyckoff, New Jersey
Demographics
+Wyckoff township, Bergen County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)15,31215,00513,76792.76%89.87%83.01%Black or African American alone (NH)7381930.44%0.49%0.56%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)19540.12%0.03%0.02%Asian alone (NH)6117058723.70%4.22%5.26%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)2030.01%0.00%0.02%Other race alone (NH)1312230.08%0.07%0.14%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1021515080.62%0.90%3.06%Hispanic or Latino (any race)3767371,3152.28%4.41%7.93%Total16,50816,69616,585 100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census The 2020 United States census counted 16,589 people and 5,749 households in the township, and the population density was 2532.6 people per square mile. The racial makeup was 90.1% White (14,946), 87.7% non-Hispanic White (14,549), 1.0% Black (166), 0.1% Native American (17), 5.2% Asian (863), 0.0% Pacific Islander (0), 5.4% Latino (896), and 3.3% from two or more races (547).
Of the 16,589 inhabitants, 24.7% were under the age of 18; 4.4% were under the age of 5; 20.6% were 65 or older; 12.8% spoke a language other than English at home; 10.7% were foreign-born; 4.0% were veterans; and 51.4% were female. The average household size was 2.86. 90.0% of homes were owner-occupied and the median value of such homes was $803,500; the median gross rent, meanwhile, was $2,127.
The median yearly household income was $167,368 and the per-capita yearly income was $82,422; 62.1% of residents older than 16 had a job and the mean commute time was 30.6 minutes. 96.3% of inhabitants older than 25 had a high-school diploma and 65.1% had a bachelor's degree or higher. 1.6% of Wyckoff's population was living in poverty, 1.5% of those younger than 65 did not have health insurance, and 2.9% of the same group was disabled.
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 16,696 people, 5,646 households, and 4,641 families in the township. The population density was . There were 5,827 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 93.53% (15,616) White, 0.56% (94) Black or African American, 0.04% (7) Native American, 4.23% (706) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.47% (79) from other races, and 1.2% (194) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.41% (737) of the population.
Of the 5,646 households, 40.6% had children under the age of 18; 73.2% were married couples living together; 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 17.8% were non-families. Of all households, 16.1% were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.26.
27.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 17.9% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $145,366 (with a margin of error of +/− $11,501) and the median family income was $163,034 (+/− $10,963). Males had a median income of $111,950 (+/− $12,210) versus $64,148 (+/− $10,102) for females. The per capita income for the township was $64,476 (+/− $5,019). About 0.6% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Wyckoff township, Bergen County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 7, 2012.