Only four blocks wide, Guttenberg is one of the smallest municipalities in New Jersey. However, it is also one of the most densely populated municipalities in the the state, with over twice the density of New York City.
Guttenberg was formed as a town on March 9, 1859, from portions of North Bergen Township.
Recent scandals include the convictions of the mayor, David Delle Donna, and his wife, a member of the town planning board, on federal extortion and mail fraud charges; a former mayor, Peter LaVilla, who pleaded guilty in 2003 to misappropriating campaign funds and using the money for a private brokerage account; a councilman who resigned after being accused of receiving illegal advances on his salary; and a chief financial officer, who pleaded guilty in 2002 to misappropriation of funds.
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,807 people, 4,493 households, and 2,619 families residing in the town. The population density was 21,961.1/km² (56,012.0/sq mi), making it the most densely populated municipality in North America. There were 4,650 housing units at an average density of 24,100.7/sq mi (9,449.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 64.98% White, 3.81% African American, 0.38% Native American, 7.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 16.42% from other races, and 7.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 54.33% of the population.
There were 4,493 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,515, and the median income for a family was $47,440. Males had a median income of $38,628 versus $33,154 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,931. About 11.1% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
New Jersey Transit bus service is available to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 128, 154, 156, 158, 159, 165, 166, 168 routes; to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal on the 181 and 188 routes; and to other New Jersey communities served on the 22, 23, 84/86, 88 and 89 routes.
The closest airport in New Jersey with scheduled passenger service is Newark Liberty International Airport, located 14.9 miles away in Newark / Elizabeth, about 22 minutes away. New York City's LaGuardia Airport is 17.7 miles away in Flushing, Queens via the George Washington Bridge (approximately 31 minutes).