The name is derived from a Native American term, variously said to mean "place of sands",[26][27] "creek between two hills"[28] or "bushy" / "difficult to cross".

[31][32][33] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and moderately cold winters.

[34][35] The 2010 United States census counted 6,438 people, 2,443 households, and 1,656 families in the borough.

[42] As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 6,473 people, 2,445 households, and 1,709 families residing in the borough.

[7] The borough form of government used by Rockaway 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.

[44][45] As of 2023[update], the mayor of Rockaway is Republican Thomas Mulligan, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.

[3][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] In October 2019, the borough council appointed Patrick McDonald to fill the term expiring in December 2020 that became vacant following the death of Joyce Kanigel the previous month.

[54] In January 2020, the borough council selected Melissa Burnside from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant when Thomas Mulligan resigned to take office as mayor.

[57][58][59] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 11th congressional district is represented by Mikie Sherrill (D, Montclair).

[61] For the 2024-2025 session, the 25th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Anthony M. Bucco (R, Boonton Township) and in the General Assembly by Christian Barranco (R, Jefferson Township) and Aura K. Dunn (R, Mendham Borough).

[63] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.

[99] The Rockaway Borough Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

[105][106][107] Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Morris Hills High School, in Rockaway Borough, which also serves students from Wharton and some from Rockaway Township (the White Meadow Lake section and other southern portions of the township).

[112] Divine Mercy Academy, operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson, is the only private school in Rockaway.

NJ Transit train service does not stop in the borough, but is accessible in adjacent municipalities at Denville station[116] and Dover station,[117] where commuter trains are available on the Morris & Essex Lines and the Montclair-Boonton Line.

[118][119] The Morris and Essex Railroad and its successor the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad formerly provided service to the town, but the Boonton Branch bypass was constructed in 1902 that provided a much shorter path to Dover, so service was cut in 1948.

[125][126] Many scenes (the train tracks, Main Street and The Mill Lane Tavern) from the 2003 movie, The Station Agent, were filmed in Rockaway.