[23] Carlstadt was originally formed as a village by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1860, within Lodi Township.

Most sources indicate that the community was named for Carl Klein, the leader of a group of early German settlers who led the project to establish the community[24][25] though Henry Gannett stated that the name derived from the city of Karlovac in Croatia, which was known as "Carlstadt" in German.

[8] The borough form of government is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie.

The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council.

[47][48] As of 2024[update], the mayor of Carlstadt is Republican Robert J. Zimmermann, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

Members of the Borough Council are Diane DeBiase (R, 2024), Joseph T. Emerson (R, 2026), Suzanne M. Fonseca (R, 2025), James A. Lenoy (R, 2026), William J. Roseman (R, 2024) and David A. Stoltz (R, 2025).

[3][49][50][51][52][53] In January 2014, Joseph Emerson was appointed from among three nominees offered to fill the vacant seat of Dennis Ritchie that was scheduled to expire in December 2014.

[57][58][59] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 9th congressional district is represented by Nellie Pou (D, North Haledon)[60] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).

[61] For the 2024-2025 session, the 36th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Paul Sarlo (D, Wood-Ridge) and in the General Assembly by Clinton Calabrese (D, Cliffside Park) and Gary Schaer (D, Passaic).

As of 2025[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[63] Bergen County's Commissioners are: Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. (D, Montvale, 2025),[64] Chair Germaine M. Ortiz (D, Emerson, 2025),[65] Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee, 2026),[66] Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso (D, Mahwah, 2025),[67] Rafael Marte (D, Bergenfield, 2026),[68] Steven A. Tanelli (D, North Arlington, 2027)[69] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, Franklin Lakes, 2027).

[70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77] Bergen County's constitutional officials are: Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale, 2026),[78][79] Sheriff Anthony Cureton (D, Englewood, 2027)[80][81] and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill, 2026).

[85] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 55.8% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 70.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

[104] With the opening of the Carlstadt Public School in 2007, which now serves all of Carlstadt's K–8 students, the Lincoln and Washington school sites have been turned over to the borough and plans have been developed to convert the sites to senior housing.

The CFD utilizes three engines, a ladder truck, a heavy rescue vehicle and a boat.

[113] Emergency medical services are provided in the borough by the Carlstadt Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CVAC), established on January 1, 1974.

The charitable organization has roughly 25 volunteer members on the roster (Emergency Medical Technicians and First Responders).

No interchange from the turnpike directly serves Carlstadt, but there is an entry and exit point for the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

The 18W high-speed tollgate is located in the borough, but the nearest turnpike interchange is in East Rutherford.