Paramus, NJ

The borough of Paramus is located in northeast New Jersey, roughly 20 miles northwest of New York City. Paramus is home to roughly 27,000 residents. The name Paramus comes from a Lenape Native American word meaning "land of the wild turkey" or "place of fertile soil." Paramus, along with the neighboring communities of Ridgewood and Hackensack, was an important site during the Revolutionary War.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The population of Paramus is largely affluent and family-oriented. The borough also has a rich ethnic heritage, with roughly a quarter of the population comprised of foreign-born residents. Traditionally, Paramus was home to large Italian, Irish, German, and Polish communities. More recently, the borough has seen a significant influx of Hispanic and Asian immigrants. A large percentage of the borough's most recent arrivals are of Korean, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino origin.

A small section of Paramus known as Dunkerhook was an African-American community dating back to the early 18th century. The name of this neighborhood was derived from the Dutch word "Donkere Hoek," which means "Dark Corner."

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The economy of Paramus is strongly tied to retail, which accounts for a sizable portion of the community's employment opportunities. The borough is one of the largest shopping destinations in the country, with over $5 billion in annual retail sales. Paramus's reputation as a retail hub of northern New Jersey originated in 1957, with the construction of the Garden State Plaza, the first mall to be built in the then-rural borough. The Plaza remains the largest mall in New Jersey. 1957 also saw the construction of the Bergen Mall. Other local malls include the Fashion Center Mall, constructed in 1968, and the Paramus Park Mall, which was built six years later in 1974. Since 2003, Paramus has also been home to the third-largest IKEA outlet in the world. In 2006, the Bergen Mall was renamed the Bergen Town Center.

Paramus has earned its reputation as a retail hub despite strict "blue laws" that prohibit businesses from remaining open on Sundays. First enacted in 1957, these blue laws remain popular with the borough, as residents have come to appreciate having one "quiet" day per week. Paramus remains one of the last places in the United States to have such a code restricting commercial activity on Sundays.

Research has shown that, in spite of its six-day shopping week, Paramus is home to some of the highest-grossing store locations for a number of major national chain retailers. Indeed, a number of prominent department stores and retail outlets have multiple locations in the borough.

EDUCATION

• Paramus High School is one of the three public schools in the borough to be declared a National Blue Ribbon School, considered the highest honor an American public school can receive. Two of the borough's elementary schools, Parkway Elementary and Ridge Ranch Elementary, have also been recognized with this honor.
• Paramus is also home to several private religious schools. Among these is Paramus Catholic High School, the largest Roman Catholic high school in the state of New Jersey with approximately 1,500 students.
• Paramus has four schools, including one high school, dedicated to special-needs students.
• Built in 1965, Bergen Community College is based in Paramus. The borough also has a branch of Berkeley College, a for-profit business school.

FAMILY FUN

Aside from its multitude of retail centers, the borough offers several other attractions and diversions not related to shopping. Some popular spots for visitors to Paramus include:

• New Jersey Children's Museum: Located near the Fashion Center and Paramus Park Malls, the New Jersey Children's Museum is a favorite destination for young and old alike. The facility offers a wide range of interactive exhibits and educational displays, including a virtual reality room, a construction area featuring actual building equipment, a mock television studio, and a space and aviation center. The museum also hosts regular classes and activities for area children, and is available for birthday parties and other private events.
• Van Saun County Park: This popular outdoor space is located in the eastern section of the borough. The park features baseball and softball fields, walking trails, bicycle paths, tennis and basketball courts, fishing access, and a concessions stand. Visitors can picnic in various designated areas.
• Bergen County Zoological Park: Nestled within the grounds of the Van Saun County Park, the zoo is home to a range of animals from throughout the Western Hemisphere, including prairie dogs, elk, mountain lions, and a variety of monkeys. The zoo also boasts the World of Butterflies, where visitors can walk among more than 20 individual species of butterfly, and a working farm area.

GETTING AROUND

New Jersey Transit has more than 20 different bus lines that offer service to and from Paramus. There are no commuter trains operating in the borough, however, and the majority of residents drive to work. Drivers are served by the Garden State Parkway, which passes through Paramus, as well as two of New Jersey's major state highways, 4 and 17.

LOCAL MEDIA

Due to its small size and proximity to New York City, Paramus has no media outlets of its own.