[22] Norwood was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 14, 1905, from portions of Harrington Township.

[23] The territory that became present-day Norwood was originally settled about 1686 by a dozen or more families mostly from the Dutch Republic, who purchased the land under the Tappan Patent.

About that time a grant was also given by Philip Carteret, Governor of the Province of East Jersey, during the reign of King Charles II of England.

At that point, Harrington Township was somewhat in the form of a square measuring about 5 miles (8 km) on each side, bounded on the north by Rockland County, New York; east by the Hudson River, south by Hackensack Township and west by the Hackensack River.

[24] On March 14, 1905, Norwood seceded from its parent Harrington Township and was incorporated as an independent borough.

[1][2] Norwood is in the northeastern part of New Jersey, about 2 miles (3 km) from the New York state line.

It is bordered by the Bergen County municipalities of Alpine, Closter, Harrington Park, Northvale, Old Tappan and Rockleigh.

[27][28][29] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names within the borough include West Norwood.

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

[41][42][43] As of 2023[update], the mayor of Norwood is Republican James P. Barsa, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.

[40][44][45][46][47][48][49] Ermin Suljic was appointed in July 2022 to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had become vacant following the resignation of John Rooney.

[50] In November 2018, the borough council selected Anthony Foschino from a list of candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2019 that had been held by Frank Marino.

[53][54][55] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 5th congressional district is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff).

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

[60] Bergen County's Commissioners are: Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. (D, Montvale, 2025),[61] Chair Germaine M. Ortiz (D, Emerson, 2025),[62] Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee, 2026),[63] Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso (D, Mahwah, 2025),[64] Rafael Marte (D, Bergenfield, 2026),[65] Steven A. Tanelli (D, North Arlington, 2027)[66] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, Franklin Lakes, 2027).

[67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74] Bergen County's constitutional officials are: Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale, 2026),[75][76] Sheriff Anthony Cureton (D, Englewood, 2027)[77][78] and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill, 2026).

[88] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 61.6% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 80.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

Rockland Coaches provides service on routes 20/20T to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

[113][114] The forests in Norwood house many deciduous species, sheltering deer, wild turkey, turtles, foxes, rabbits, and coyotes.