Passaic County is situated in the upper northeastern portion of New Jersey, and is a wonderfully diverse area which ranges from city and suburban areas that offer a wide range of historical, entertainment, and shopping venues to the rural tranquility and beautiful vistas of the northernmost portion of the county. Passaic County has a total area of approximately 197square miles of which 94% is land and 6% water. As of the 2000 census, there were 489,049 people, 163,856 households, and 119,614 families residing in Passaic County, NJ.