• What does the name “Passaic” mean and where does it come from?

The name “Passaic” is of Native American origin and means “valley”. The Dutch settlers spelled it as “Passaick”.

• When was Passaic County formed?

Passaic County was formed in 1837 from parts of northern Essex and western Bergen counties.

• Does Passaic County have a county flag?

Yes, and please click here for a photo of our county flag.

• What is the population of Passaic County?

According to the 2000 U.S. Census the total population of the county is 489,049.

• What is the county seat of Passaic County?

The county seat is also our largest city, Paterson.

• How is Passaic County governed?

The Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders is the governing body. This Board is comprised of seven (7) members who are all elected “at-large” (which means that all the voters throughout the county vote for each of them and not just voters in a specific district).

The County Administrator, who is appointed by the Freeholders, oversees the day-to-day operations of the county.

• How many towns are there in Passaic County?

There are sixteen (16) towns in Passaic County: Bloomingdale, Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Passaic, Paterson, Pompton Lakes, Prospect Park, Ringwood, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne, West Milford, and West Paterson.