Waldwick, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Waldwick is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 9,622.
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[edit] Geography
Waldwick is located at (41.013109, -74.122311)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 5.4 km² (2.1 mi²). 5.4 km² (2.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.48% is water.
Waldwick is surrounded by the boroughs of Allendale, Saddle River and Ho-Ho-Kus, by the village of Ridgewood and by the townships of Midland Park and Wyckoff.
[edit] History
Inhabited since pre-Columbian times by the Lenni Lenape Native American tribe, the region surrounding Waldwick was first explored by Europeans when a Dutch trading expedition landed near there c. 1610. With the creation of the Nieuw Amsterdam colony in 1624, the present site of the borough, along with the rest of northeastern New Jersey, became a Dutch possession. During the period from 1624-1664 it was sparsely developed by Dutch settlers, mainly for agricultural purposes. With the annexation of Nieuw Amsterdam by the English in 1664 came a nearly instant increase in immigration to the region and the development of several settlements in and around the present borders of the borough.
On the eve of the American Revolutionary War, Waldwick and the surrounding area constituted a small settlement within Franklin Township, and are that encompassed much of northwestern Bergen County. On January 1, 1886, Orvil Township was formed from portions of Hohokus Township and Washington Township[1], in honor of its chief surveyor. Not long after, the Erie Railroad created a stop in the township, bringing about the first major population boom in the region's history. Still later, around the 1870s, the area constituting modern-day Ridgewood broke away from Orvil; not too long afterwards, Orvil Township as an independent municipality began to fade. On April 7, 1919, a council of citizens voted to incorporate as the borough of "Waldwick" (A Light in the Woods), from the remaining portions of Orvil Township.[1] With the creation of the borough of Waldwick, Orvil Township was dissolved.[2]
Since that time, Waldwick has undergone a transformation from sleepy railroad hamlet to prosperous suburban town. The borough is home to approximately 10,000 citizens, many employed in the New York City metropolitan area. It boasts two elementary schools, one junior high school, and one high school.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,728 |
|
|
| 1940 | 2,475 | 43.2% | |
| 1950 | 3,963 | 60.1% | |
| 1960 | 10,495 | 164.8% | |
| 1970 | 12,313 | 17.3% | |
| 1980 | 10,802 | -12.3% | |
| 1990 | 9,757 | -9.7% | |
| 2000 | 9,622 | -1.4% | |
| Est. 2005 | 9,650 | [3] | 0.3% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[4] | |||
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 9,622 people, 3,428 households, and 2,677 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,786.1/km² (4,616.2/mi²). There were 3,495 housing units at an average density of 648.8/km² (1,676.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.68% White, 0.59% African American, 0.04% Native American, 4.52% Asian, 1.31% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.31% of the population.
There were 3,428 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $75,532, and the median income for a family was $82,208. Males had a median income of $60,671 versus $37,145 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,733. About 1.3% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Waldwick operates under the Borough form of New Jersey government. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to serve a four-year term. the Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
The Mayor of Waldwick Borough is Rick VanderWende. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Anita Bozzo (2009), Chuck Farricker (2009), Thomas Giordano, David Marino, Susan O'Dwyer and Donald Sciolaro.[5]
On Election Day, November 7, 2006, voters filled two three-year terms on the borough council. As of Election Day, the Mayor and council were all Republicans, in a community in which registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by a nearly 3-2 margin. The Republicans won both seats, with newcomer Charles Farricker (with 1,762 votes) leading the pack, followed by incumbent Anita Bozzo (1,713) who won a second term in office, besting Democrats Arthur L. Barthold (1,522) and Kenneth N. Gurian (1,360).[6][7][8]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Waldwick is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th Legislative District.[9]
New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District, covering the northern portions of Bergen County, Passaic County and Sussex County and all of Warren County, is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 39th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Cresskill) and in the Assembly by John E. Rooney (R, Emerson) and Charlotte Vandervalk (R, Westwood). 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 9,664 in Waldwick, there were 6,077 registered voters (62.9% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 988 (16.3% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,390 (22.9% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 3,691 (60.7% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were eight voters registered to other parties.[10]
On the national level, Waldwick leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received around 42%.[11]
[edit] Education
Students in Kindergarten through grade 12 are educated in the Waldwick Public School District. Waldwick has two neighborhood elementary schools: Julia A. Traphagen School with 415 students and Crescent School with 354 students. Both schools serve grades pre-kindergarten through five and emphasize individual attention and a comprehensive curriculum. Waldwick Middle School covers grades 6 - 8. Waldwick High School serves grades 9 - 12.
In addition, Waldwick is home of the Waldwick Seventh-day Adventist School, The Village School for Children, and The Forum School, a facility for developmentally disabled youngsters. Pre-school experiences are also offered at Rainbow Corners day school, at the Methodist Church, and at Saddle Acres School.
[edit] Transportation
Waldwick is served by New Jersey Transit by both the Bergen County Line and Main Line at the Waldwick train station. The station is located at the intersection of West Prospect Street, Lafayette Place and Hewson Avenue.
The train lines runs north-south to Hoboken Terminal with connections via the Secaucus Junction transfer station to New Jersey Transit one-stop service to New York Penn Station and to other NJ Transit rail service. Connections are available at the Hoboken Terminal to other New Jersey Transit rail lines, the PATH train at the Hoboken PATH station, New York Waterways ferry service to the World Financial Center and other destinations and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service.
Route 17 travels through Waldwick.
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Waldwick include:
- Charles Kinsey, Congressman.[12]
- Andrea Mistretta, Artist noted for her annual New Orleans Mardi Gras posters.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 83 re Orvil Township, p. 87 re Waldwick.
- ^ "Municipal Incorporations, p. 80
- ^ Census data for Waldwick, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Borough of Waldwick, accessed January 6, 2007
- ^ Waldwick Election Guide, The Record (Bergen County), November 1, 2006
- ^ Waldwick Election Results, 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. 65, 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
- ^ Congressional biography of Charles Kinsey, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Poster child for hope, The Record (Bergen County) by Jim Beckerman, January 8, 2006
[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] External links
- Waldwick official website
- Waldwick Public School District
- Waldwick Public School District's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Waldwick Public 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
