[24] In 1702, settlers purchased the 14,000 acres (57 km2) Horseneck Tract—so-called because of its irregular shape that suggested a horse's neck and head—from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans for goods equal to $325.

A miniature railroad operated from 1938 until 1972 on the Becker Farm, which once comprised nearly half of the total area within Roseland and which is now mostly a large business complex.

[28] In 1907, a delegation of residents petitioned Livingston Township officials to construct a school for the growing population in Roseland.

The rejection of their request led to the efforts to create an independent municipality, which was established on April 10, 1908.

[29][27] Roseland was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 10, 1908, from portions of Livingston Township.

[1][2] Roseland is located about 20 miles (30 km) west of New York City and is part of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT Metropolitan Statistical Area.

[38][39] Companies based in Roseland include Automatic Data Processing,[42] law firms Lowenstein Sandler[43] Connell Foley,[44] Curtiss-Wright, jams and jellys manufacturer Polaner, pickles and relish products maker B&G Foods, and pharmaceutical company Organon International, which opened its worldwide headquarters here in 2003.

[6] The borough form of government used by Roseland 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.

[48][49][50] As of 2025[update], the mayor of Roseland is Democrat James R. Spango, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[3] Members of the Roseland Borough Council are Christopher J. Bardi (D, 2026), John Biront (D, 2026), Jean Perrotti (R, 2025), Brian W. Schroeder (R, 2027), Michele Tolli (R, 2027) and Marcelino "Moose" Trillo (D, 2025).

[51][52][53][54][55][56] In March 2024, the borough council selected Neil Goldstein from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that became vacant when Roger Freda resigned from office the previous month.

[60][61][62] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 11th congressional district is represented by Mikie Sherrill (D, Montclair).

[64] For the 2024-2025 session, the 27th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by John F. McKeon (D, West Orange) and in the General Assembly by Rosy Bagolie (D, Livingston) and Alixon Collazos-Gill (D, Montclair).

As of 2025[update], the County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. (D, Roseland), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[67] Essex County's Commissioners are: Robert Mercado (D, District 1 – Newark's North and East Wards, parts of Central and West Wards; Newark, 2026),[68] A'Dorian Murray-Thomas (D, District 2 – Irvington, Maplewood and parts of Newark's South and West Wards; Newark, 2026),[69] Vice President Tyshammie L. Cooper (D, District 3 - Newark: West and Central Wards; East Orange, Orange and South Orange; East Orange, 2026),[70] Leonard M. Luciano (D, District 4 – Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Millburn, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange; West Caldwell, 2026),[71] President Carlos M. Pomares (D, District 5 – Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Nutley; Bloomfield, 2026),[72] Brendan W. Gill (D, at large; Montclair, 2026),[73] Romaine Graham (D, at large; Irvington, 2026),[74] Wayne Richardson (D, at large; Newark, 2026),[75] Patricia Sebold (D, at-large; Livingston, 2026).

Communities served by the district's schools are Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland.

[110] Interstate 280 passes for 2.5 miles (4.0 km) through the borough, connecting East Hanover Township and Livingston.

[116] People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Roseland include: Official website