Cliffside Park, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cliffside Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 23,007.
Cliffside Park was formed based on the results of a referendum held on January 15, 1895, from portions of Ridgefield Township at the start of the second year of the Boroughitis phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County.[1][2]
U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg currently resides in the borough. Cliffside Park was also home to the former Palisades Amusement Park.
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[edit] Geography
Cliffside Park is located at (40.821540, -73.989493)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²), all land.
The East Palisade section offers incredible views of the New York City skyline. Many McMansions have been built in this section.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 15,267 |
|
|
| 1940 | 16,892 | 10.6% | |
| 1950 | 17,116 | 1.3% | |
| 1960 | 17,642 | 3.1% | |
| 1970 | 18,891 | 7.1% | |
| 1980 | 21,464 | 13.6% | |
| 1990 | 20,393 | -5.0% | |
| 2000 | 23,007 | 12.8% | |
| Est. 2005 | 23,035 | [3] | 0.1% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[4] | |||
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 23,007 people, 10,027 households, and 6,036 families residing in the borough. The population density was 9,253.2/km² (23,847.7/mi²). There were 10,375 housing units at an average density of 4,172.7/km² (10,754.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.85% White, 1.83% African American, 0.25% Native American, 12.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.97% from other races, and 3.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.16% of the population.
As of the 2000 census, 3.6% of Cliffside Park's residents identified themselves as being of Armenian-American ancestry. This was the highest percentage in New Jersey, and the seventh highest percentage of Armenian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[5]
There were 10,027 households out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the borough the population was spread out with 16.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $46,288, and the median income for a family was $54,915. Males had a median income of $40,114 versus $36,100 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,516. About 8.5% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The form of government is mayor and council. There are six council members, with two elected every year to three-year terms on a staggered basis. The mayor serves a four-year term.
The Mayor of Cliffside Park is Gerald A. Calabrese.
2006 committee assignments are as follows[6]:
- Mayor Gerald A. Calabrese - Police Department
- Donna M. Spoto (2009) - Finance, Legal, Recycling, Historical Events and Public Celebrations
- Bernard J. Fontana (2009) - Public Works, Real Estate and Insurance
- Bongard - Building and Grounds, Public Transportation and Board of Health
- T. Calabrese - Recreation, Parks and Playgrounds
- Dana Martinotti - Library, Social Services and Fire Department
- Corcoran (2006; serving unexpired term of Richard Spadaccini that ends in 2007) - Planning, Zoning, Liaison to the Board of Education
On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Democratic Party incumbents Bernard J. Fontana (3,904 votes) and Donna M. Spoto (3,909) won reelection unopposed to three-year terms on the Borough Council. Kenneth Corcoran (3,829) also ran unopposed, winning his bid to serve the one year remaining on the seat he had been appointed to of the unexpired term of the late Richard Spadaccini.[7][8][9]
[edit] Federal, state, and county representation
Cliffside Park is in the Ninth Congressional District is part of New Jersey's 38th Legislative District.[10]
New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District, covering the southern portion of Bergen County and sections of Hudson County and Passaic County, is represented by Steve Rothman (D, Fair Lawn). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 38th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph Coniglio (D, Paramus) and in the Assembly by Robert M. Gordon (D, Fair Lawn) and Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D). The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. Bergen County's Freeholders are Chairman Tomas J. Padilla (D, Park Ridge), Vice-Chairman Elizabeth Calabrese (D, Wallington), David L. Ganz (D, Fair Lawn), James M. Carroll (D, Demarest), Bernadette P. McPherson (D, Rutherford), Julie O'Brien (D) and Connie Wagner (D).
Other countywide elected officials are Sheriff Leo McGuire (D), Surrogate Court Judge Mike Dressler (D, Cresskill) County Clerk Kathleen Donovan (R).
[edit] Politics
As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 23,012 in Cliffside Park, there were 10,730 registered voters (46.6% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 3,271 (30.5% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 944 (8.8% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 6,515 (60.7% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were no voters registered to other parties.[11]
On the national level, Cliffside Park leans strongly toward the Democratic Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 60% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 39%.[12]
[edit] Education
The Cliffside Park School District serves students in Kindergarten through Twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with enrollment data from the 2004-05 School Report Cards from the New Jersey Department of Education) are Number 3 School with 309 students in grades K-6, Number 4 School with 416 students in grades K-6, Number 5 School with 189 students in grades K-6, Number 6 School with 699 students in grades K-8 and Cliffside Park High School with 1,052 students in grades 9-12. Students from Fairview, Bergen County, New Jersey attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Fairview Public Schools.
[edit] Popular culture
In the 1988 movie Big, starring Tom Hanks, young Josh is supposed to live in Cliffside Park.
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Cliffside Park include:
- Bruce Elia, former NFL football player / local businessman
Gloria Gaynor, singer.[13]
- Heidi Groskreutz, dancer and finalist on So You Think You Can Dance.[14]
- Frank Lautenberg, United States Senator.[15]
- Gus Lesnevich, boxer.[16]
- Randy Neumann, boxing referee and former professional boxer.[16]
- Mehmet Oz, cardiothoracic surgeon and author.[17]
- Joe Pantoliano, actor.[18]
- Marc Bauer, B-movie actor, talent agent, future presidential candidate
- Joseph Dunninger
- Otto Messmer
[edit] Sources
- "History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630-1923;" by "Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858-1942."
- "Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties)" prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.
[edit] References
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 76.
- ^ "History of Bergen County" p. 342
- ^ Census data for Cliffside Park, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Armenian Communities, accessed June 28, 2006
- ^ 2006 Committee Assignments, accessed May 28, 2006
- ^ "Election 2006: Municipal Results", The Record (Bergen County), November 8, [2006]]
- ^ Cliffside Park Election Guide, The Record (Bergen County), November 8, [2006]]
- ^ Bergen County 2006 General Election Results, accessed February 1, 2007
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 56, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," dated April 1, 2006
- ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety: Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004
- ^ Gloria Gaynor: She Has Survived, Road & Travel, accessed March 9, 2007. "Gaynor, who won’t divulge her age (“Just as old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth,” is all she’ll say) and lives in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, with her manager/husband of 20 years, Linwood Simon, always knew she’d be a singer."
- ^ Heidi Groskreutz contestant profile from So You Think You Can Dance, accessed December 30, 2006
- ^ Dems pick Lautenberg to replace Torricelli, CNN.com, October 2, 2002
- ^ a b Randy Neumann profile, New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, accessed March 3, 2007
- ^ Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. Speaker Profile, accessed March 3, 2007
- ^ LG ELECTRONICS SALUTES PUBLIC EDUCATION EXCELLENCE, BRINGS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TO SCHOOLS, LG Electronics press release dated July 7, 2005
http://northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MDk3Mzg1
[edit] External links
- Borough of Cliffside Park website
- Cliffside Park Vol. Fire Department
- Cliffside Park Online
- Cliffside Park Public Library
- Cliffside Park School District
- Cliffside Park School District's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Cliffside Park School District
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
