River Edge, New Jersey

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River Edge, New Jersey
Map highlighting River Edge's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey.
Map highlighting River Edge's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of River Edge, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of River Edge, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°55′39″N 74°2′15″W / 40.9275, -74.0375
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Bergen
Incorporated June 30, 1894
Government
 - Type Borough
 - Mayor Margaret Falahee Watkins (R, 2011)
Area
 - Total 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km²)
 - Land 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation [1] 52 ft (16 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 10,862
 - Density 5,804.5/sq mi (2,241.1/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07661
Area code(s) 201
FIPS code 34-63360[3]
GNIS feature ID 0885372[4]
Website: http://www.riveredgenj.org

River Edge is a Borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 10,946. The 2006 Census estimate was 10,862.[2]

Riverside was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 30, 1894, as the Borough of Riverside from portions of Midland Township, at the height of the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. On December 1, 1930, the borough's name was changed to River Edge.[5]

Contents

[edit] Geography

River Edge lies on the western bank of the Hackensack River and is located at 40°55′39″N, 74°2′15″W (40.927579, -74.037394)[6]. It is bordered by Paramus, Oradell, New Milford, and Hackensack.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.05%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1900 561
—
1910 736 31.2%
1920 1,077 46.3%
1930 2,210 105.2%
1940 3,287 48.7%
1950 9,204 180%
1960 13,264 44.1%
1970 12,850 −3.1%
1980 11,111 −13.5%
1990 10,603 −4.6%
2000 10,946 3.2%
Est. 2006 10,862 [2] −0.8%
Population 1930 - 1990[7][8]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 10,946 people, 4,165 households, and 3,102 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,804.5 people per square mile (2,236.1/km²). There were 4,210 housing units at an average density of 2,232.5/sq mi (860.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 84.12% White, 1.06% African American, 0.08% Native American, 12.60% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.31% of the population.

There were 4,165 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $71,792, and the median income for a family was $80,422. Males had a median income of $62,044 versus $41,085 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,188. About 2.5% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

River Edge is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office and only votes to break a tie. 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.[9]

The Mayor of the Borough of River Edge is Margaret Falahee Watkins (R, term ends December 31, 2011). The members of the River Edge Borough Council are Council President John Higgins (D, 2009), John Felice (R, 2008), Esther Fletcher (D, 2009), Christian Lau (R, 2008), Thomas Smith (D, 2010) and Wendy Walker (D, 2010).[10][11]

In elections held on November 6, 2007, Mayor Margaret Falahee Watkins (1,546 votes) won her bid for re-election to a third four-year term in office, defeating Council President Mary Anne O'Connell Hone (1,380). Incumbent Democrat Thomas J. Smith (1,653 votes, elected to a fifth term) and his running mate Wendy Walker (1,429) won their bids for three-year terms on the borough council, defeating Republicans James P. Serednicky (1,334) and Anne Marie Thomas (1,331). The new 2008 council will retain the 4-2 edge for the Democrats on the council.[12][13][14]

On Election Day, November 7, 2006, voters filled two seats on the Borough Council and voted on a ballot question regarding creation of an open space trust fund. As of Election Day, Democrats had a 4-2 majority on the council, in a community where registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by a 6-5 margin. Democratic Party incumbents John Higgins (2,355 votes) and Esther Fletcher (2,272) won in their bids for a second full term on the council, defeating Republicans Mary A. Pesce (1,360) and Albert W. Hein (1,349). Voters approved a one cent per $100 tax that will be used to purchase and maintain land for conservation and recreation by a 1,499-1,366 margin.[15][16][17]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

River Edge is in the Ninth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th Legislative District.[18]

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).

For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 39th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Demarest) and in the Assembly by John E. Rooney (R, Northvale) and Charlotte Vandervalk (R, Hillsdale).[19] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[20]

Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D).[21] The executive, along with the seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. As of 2008, Bergen County's Freeholders are Chairman Tomas J. Padilla (D, Park Ridge), Vice-Chairman Elizabeth Calabrese (D, Wallington), James M. Carroll (D, Demarest), David L. Ganz (D, Fair Lawn), Bernadette P. McPherson (D, Rutherford), Julie O'Brien (D, Ramsey) and Vernon Walton (D, Englewood).[22]

Other countywide elected officials are Sheriff Leo McGuire (D), Surrogate Court Judge Mike Dressler (D, Cresskill) County Clerk Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford).[23]

[edit] Politics

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 10,966 in River Edge, there were 6,715 registered voters (61.2% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,367 (20.4% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,184 (17.6% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 4,163 (62.0% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There was one voter registered to the libertarian party.[24]

On the national level, River Edge leans toward the Democratic Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 50% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 49%.[25]

[edit] Education

River Edge has two primary schools as part of the River Edge Elementary School District, both of which served students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[26]) are Roosevelt School (578 students) which is located on the north side of town and Cherry Hill School (526 students) which is on the south side of town. A third elementary school, Hollie M. Davis, was located on Eastbrook Drive. Hollie M. Davis had been a K-3 school, but added a grade a year before it closed as a K-6 school in 1977. It was later torn down and replaced with housing.

River Edge shares public secondary schooling with Oradell. Together, they make up the River Dell Regional School District. Students in grades 7 and 8 attend River Dell Regional Middle School at the Oradell border in River Edge. Students in grades 9 - 12 attend River Dell Regional High School a block away in Oradell.[27]

There is also a Catholic school in River Edge, St. Peter Academy, which is a K-8 school. The Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey serves 935 students in nursery through eighth grade.

[edit] Transportation

River Edge has two separate stations on New Jersey Transit's Pascack Valley Line. The two stations are River Edge (at River Edge Road on the north end of town) and North Hackensack (at Grand Street on the south end of town).

This line runs north-south to Hoboken Terminal with connections to the PATH train from the Hoboken PATH station and New Jersey Transit service to New York Penn Station via the Secaucus Junction transfer station. Connections are also available at the Hoboken Terminal to NY Waterway ferry service to the World Financial Center and other destinations. This is a single-track line providing service towards Hoboken during the morning rush hour and service from Hoboken in the evening rush hour.

New Jersey Transit also offers bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattanon the 165 route.[28] The 11A route of Rockland Coaches also serves the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Route 4 and County Route 503 passes through River Edge.

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of River Edge include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of River Edge, Geographic Names Information System, accessed November 28, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Census data for River Edge, United States Census Bureau, accessed July 30, 2007.
  3. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 85.
  6. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  7. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  8. ^ Historical Population Trends in Bergen County (1900 - 2000), Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed December 23, 2007.
  9. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 165.
  10. ^ Current Council Members & Term Expiration, Borough of River Edge. Accessed May 28, 2008.
  11. ^ "County of Bergen: 2007 County and Municipal Directory", Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 60.
  12. ^ Kindergan, Ashley. "River Edge municipal elections", The Record (Bergen County), October 25, 2007. Accessed December 19, 2007.
  13. ^ Kindergan, Ashley. "River Edge election results", The Record (Bergen County), November 6, 2007. Accessed December 19, 2007.
  14. ^ Bergen County election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 7, 2007. Accessed November 10, 2007.
  15. ^ River Edge Election Guide, The Record (Bergen County), November 1, 2006.
  16. ^ River Edge election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2006.
  17. ^ Bergen County 2006 General Election Results, accessed February 1, 2007.
  18. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 63. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  19. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  20. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  21. ^ Bergen County Executive, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  22. ^ Freeholder Home Page, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  23. ^ Constitutional Officers, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  24. ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," dated April 1, 2006.
  25. ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004.
  26. ^ River Edge Elementary School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 14, 2008.
  27. ^ Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Oradell, N.J.; Giving an Old Downtown a New Life", The New York Times, August 20, 2000. Accessed May 28, 2008. "IN seventh grade, Oradell youngsters enter the River Dell Regional School District, which is shared with neighboring River Edge. It comprises the 423-student River Dell Middle School in River Edge for grades seven and eight and the 823-student River Dell High School in Oradell."
  28. ^ Bergen County Bus/Rail Connection(s), New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 29, 2007.
  29. ^ Campbell-Christie House, Bergen County Historical Society. Accessed May 28, 2008.
  30. ^ Reardon, Patricia; and Collina, Helen Lippman. "BICYCLISTS HEADING FOR THE OPEN ROAD", The New York Times, April 26, 1987. Accessed May 28, 2008. "SINCE 1965, says Freddie Hoffman of River Edge, he has bicycled more than 600,000 miles, or more than enough to go to the moon, orbit twice and come back."
  31. ^ Demarrais, Kevin G. "STARTING OVER; Leaving the spotlight (or jumping into it) is tough, but these people are satisfied with their new vocations.", The Record (Bergen County), April 29, 2007.
  32. ^ Skevin, Tom. "A Nets fan reminisces", The Record (Bergen County), January 27, 2004. "I go back to when Billy Paultz of River Edge was a rookie. I was surprised in the 1970-71 season when I saw that the 6-foot-11 Whopper didn't even jump center - the much shorter Sonny Dove did."

[edit] External links

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Bergen County, New Jersey
County seat: Hackensack
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