Little Ferry was formed on September 18, 1894, from portions of both Lodi Township and New Barbadoes Township, at the height of Bergen County's "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County.
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Little Ferry as its 35th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,800 people, 4,366 households, and 2,785 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,075.2 people per square mile (2,725.4/km). There were 4,449 housing units at an average density of 2,914.6/sq mi (1,122.7/km). The racial makeup of the borough was 68.76% White, 4.71% African American, 0.15% Native American, 17.10% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.75% from other races, and 3.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.19% of the population.
There were 4,366 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 36.3% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $49,958, and the median income for a family was $59,176. Males had a median income of $42,059 versus $34,286 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,210. About 5.9% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
The Little Ferry Circle connects U.S. Route 46 and Bergen Turnpike. The circle was originally constructed in 1933. The circle was largely reconstructed in 1985, allowing vehicles traveling on Route 46 to pass directly through the circle. The circle has been a constant site of accidents, with 40-50 accident per year at the circle each year from 2004 through 2006.
In March 2007, the New Jersey Department of Transportation proposed its latest plan to address issues at the circle. The plan would realign the circle into a straight intersection, complete with turning lanes; prohibit left turns onto many residential streets; and would include construction of a pump station to move water off the oft-flooded highway and into the Hackensack River.
New Jersey Transit bus routes 161, 165 and 772 serve Little Ferry.
The Little Ferry Seaplane Base (FAA LID: 2N7) is a public-use seaplane base located 1 mile (2 km) east of the borough's central business district, on the Hackensack River. The base is privately owned.