[21] Cliffside Park was formed based on the results of a referendum held on January 15, 1895, from portions of Ridgefield Township.

[26] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.48 km2), all of which was land.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Grantwood and Shadyside.

[38][39] As of 2011[update], more than three quarters of Cliffside Park residents categorize themselves as being affiliated with a formal religious body.

8.12% Jewish; 1.21% Lutheran; 1.20% Episcopalian; 0.84% Methodist; 0.88% Muslim; 0.62% Baptist; 0.46% Pentecostal; and 0.02% Eastern Orthodox Christian.

[6] The borough form of government used by Cliffside Park 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.

[46][47] As of 2024[update], the Mayor of Cliffside Park is Democrat Thomas Calabrese, who was elected to serve a term of office ending December 31, 2027.

[3][48][49][50][51][52] In October 2019, the borough council appointed John Chmielewski to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Donna M. Spoto until she resigned from her seat the previous month after 31 years in office in order to move out of the borough.

[53][54] In May 2015, the borough council selected Thomas Calabrese from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the vacant mayoral seat.

[59][60][61] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 9th congressional district is represented by Nellie Pou (D, North Haledon)[62] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).

[63] 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.

[65] Bergen County's Commissioners are: Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. (D, Montvale, 2025),[66] Chair Germaine M. Ortiz (D, Emerson, 2025),[67] Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee, 2026),[68] Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso (D, Mahwah, 2025),[69] Rafael Marte (D, Bergenfield, 2026),[70] Steven A. Tanelli (D, North Arlington, 2027)[71] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, Franklin Lakes, 2027).

[72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79] Bergen County's constitutional officials are: Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale, 2026),[80][81] Sheriff Anthony Cureton (D, Englewood, 2027)[82][83] and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill, 2026).

[87] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 47.1% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 56.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

Gerald Calabrese was longest serving mayor (50 years) in New Jersey at the time of his death.

Anthony J. Ferretti, the school was staffed by the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth (Convent Station, New Jersey).

Exteriors for The Vampire (1913), directed by Robert G. Vignola and starring Alice Hollister and Harry F. Millarde were filmed in the borough.

[146] Scenes from Cop Land, directed by James Mangold and starring Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta were filmed here.

[148][149] The exterior shown for the Heffernan house that was used in CBS sitcom The King of Queens is located in the borough.