Tenafly, New Jersey

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Tenafly, New Jersey
Map highlighting Tenafly's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Map highlighting Tenafly's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Tenafly, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Tenafly, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°55′20″N 73°57′50″W / 40.92222, -73.96389
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Bergen
Incorporated January 24, 1894
Government
 - Type Borough
 - Mayor Peter S. Rustin (I, 2011)
 - Administrator Joseph DiGiacomo[1]
Area
 - Total 5.2 sq mi (13.5 km²)
 - Land 4.6 sq mi (11.9 km²)
 - Water 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²)
Elevation [2] 171 ft (52 m)
Population (2006)[3]
 - Total 14,390
 - Density 2,993.4/sq mi (1,155.8/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07670
Area code(s) 201
FIPS code 34-72420[4]
GNIS feature ID 0885417[5]
Website: http://www.tenaflynj.org

Tenafly (pronounced /ˈtɛnəflaɪ/) is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the borough population was 13,806.

The first to settle in Tenafly were the Dutch in the late 1600s. The name "Tenafly" is derived from the Dutch words "Tiene Vly" or "Ten Swamps" which was given by Dutch settlers in 1688.[6]

Tenafly was incorporated as a borough on January 24, 1894, under an Act of the New Jersey Legislature from portions of the now-defunct Palisades Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day, at the height of the Boroughitis phenomenon sweeping through Bergen County at the time.[7][8]

Contents

[edit] Geography

Tenafly is located at 40°55′20″N, 73°57′50″W (40.922139, -73.963772)[9].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²), of which, 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²) of it (11.15%) is water.

The eastern half of the town is known as the "East Hill" for its higher elevation in relation to the rest of the borough. The terrain rises rapidly to the east of the downtown area, ending at the spectacular New Jersey Palisades, overlooking the Hudson River. From atop the cliffs, Tenafly residents have a wide-ranging view of New York City. The Tenafly Nature Center is located at 313 Hudson Avenue.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1900 1,746
—
1910 2,756 57.8%
1920 3,585 30.1%
1930 5,669 58.1%
1940 7,413 30.8%
1950 9,651 30.2%
1960 14,264 47.8%
1970 14,827 3.9%
1980 13,552 −8.6%
1990 13,326 −1.7%
2000 13,806 3.6%
Est. 2006 14,390 [3] 4.2%
Population 1900 - 1990.[10][11]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 13,806 people, 4,774 households, and 3,866 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,993.4 people per square mile (1,156.3/km²). There were 4,897 housing units at an average density of 1,061.8/sq mi (410.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 76.79% White, 0.96% African American, 0.09% Native American, 19.08% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.40% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.65% of the population. 9.0% were of Irish, 8.8% American, 8.5% Italian, 8.2% Russian and 5.0% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 67.1% spoke English, 9.1% Korean, 5.1% Spanish, 3.7% Chinese or Mandarin, 3.1% Hebrew, 1.9% Japanese, 1.5% German, 1.3% Russian, 1.3% Greek, 1.2% Italian, 1.1% Tagalog, 1.0% Armenian and 1.0% French as their first language.

There were 4,774 households out of which 43.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the borough the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $90,931, and the median income for a family was $111,029. Males had a median income of $79,641 versus $50,617 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $53,170. About 3.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Tenafly is governed under a special charter granted by the New Jersey Legislature. This charter retains most aspects of the Borough form of government, with the addition of initiative, referendum, and recall features.[12] 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.[13]

The Mayor of Tenafly is Peter Rustin, whose term of office ends December 31, 2011. The Mayor is elected to a four-year term and is eligible for re-election. The Mayor presides over all meetings of the Council but may vote only in case of a tie. The Mayor has veto power, which may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the Council.[14]

The Borough Council consists of six members, who are elected at large for three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats up for election each year. As the legislative body, the Council adopts ordinances and resolutions, decides on appropriations, approves appointments made by the Mayor, determines policy, and establishes the functions of the various departments of the local government. Each Council member is chairperson of one of the six standing committees.[14]

Members of the Tenafly Borough Council are Carol Hoernlein (Fire Committee; D, 2009), Nadia LaMastra (Administration & Personnel Committee; D, 2009), Michael Lattif (Finance Committee; D, 2008), Joseph McDermott (Buildings & Grounds Committee; D, 2010), Patrick J. Rouse (Police Commission; D, 2010) and Jon Warms (Public Works Committee; D, 2008).[14][15]

In elections held on November 6, 2007, voters elected a Mayor and filled two seats on the Borough Council. Independent incumbent Peter S. Rustin (2,146) won re-election to a second term as mayor, outrunning Democratic Councilman Michael Lattif (665) and Republican William S. Saunders (382). The two Democrats running for office ran unopposed, with incumbent Patrick J. Rouse and newcomer Joseph McDermott winning three-year seats. The 2008 council taking office in January will consist entirely of Democrats.[16][17]

On Election Day, November 7, 2006, voters filled two three-year terms on the Borough Council held by Republicans Charles M. Lipson and Joseph Salvatore, and the unexpired two-year term that had been filled by Jon Warms to replace Jeffrey Romano. As of Election Day, the council was split 3-3 between Democrats and Republicans, in a community in which registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 5-4 margin. The Democrats swept all three seats, with challengers Carol Hoernlein (2,768 votes) and Nadia LaMastra (2,718) elected, defeating incumbents Salvatore (1,769) and Lipson (1,746). Jon Warms (with 2,830 votes) was elected to serve the balance of the two-year term, defeating Republican challenger (and longtime former Councilman and one-time Republican Mayoral primary candidate) William S. Saunders (1,629). As of January 1, 2007, when Hoernlein and LaMastra took office, the Democrats have a 5-1 edge.[18][19][20]

In November 2005, Councilman Jeffery Romano was arrested in Newark following a drug bust that uncovered forty bags of heroin in his car.[21] Romano resigned from the council in June 2006 after pleading guilty to heroin possession and was replaced, then temporarily, by Jon Warms, who has since been elected to his own full term (November 2006).[22]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

The former Tenafly Railroad Station, currently a restaurant
The former Tenafly Railroad Station, currently a restaurant

Tenafly is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 37th Legislative District.[23]

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).

For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 37th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Loretta Weinberg (D, Teaneck) and in the Assembly by Valerie Huttle (D, Englewood) and Gordon M. Johnson (D, Englewood).[24] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[25]

Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D).[26] 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).[27]

Other countywide elected officials are Sheriff Leo McGuire (D), Surrogate Court Judge Mike Dressler (D, Cresskill) County Clerk Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford).[28]

[edit] Politics

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 14,214 in Tenafly, there were 8,633 registered voters (60.7% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,769 (20.5% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,407 (16.3% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 5,454 (63.2% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were three voters registered to other parties.[29]

On the national level, Tenafly leans towards the Democratic Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 61% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 38%.[30]

[edit] Education

The Tenafly Public Schools serve students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are four K-5 elementary schools (Mackay School, Maugham School, Smith School and Stillman School), Tenafly Middle School for grades 6-8 and Tenafly High School for grades 9-12. Students from Alpine attend Tenafly High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[31]

Tenafly High School was awarded the prestigious Blue Ribbon School Award, awarded by the United States Department of Education at a special assembly to the Tenafly High School Community on September 20, 2005. Tenafly was the only high school in New Jersey and one of 38 public high schools in the U.S. to receive the 2005 Blue Ribbon School Award.[32]

Tenafly High School was the 2nd ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 316 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2006 cover story on the state's Top Public High Schools.[33]


[edit] Transportation

Bus service to and from New York City is available via New Jersey Transit bus routes 166 and 20, and Coach USA (Red and Tan) routes 9, 14 and 84.[34][35]

County Route 501, U.S. Route 9W, and the Palisades Interstate Parkway all pass through Tenafly.

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] Noted residents

Noted residents of Tenafly and those of note who were born in the borough include:

[edit] Popular culture

Tenafly has influenced and been featured in many different movies and television shows, including:

  • Tenafly was a 1973 TV series starring James McEachin in the title role, which was named after the New Jersey municipality.
  • Street Trash (1987) - the movie features bottles of "Tenafly Viper", a 60 year old wine that has "gone bad" and causes those who drink it to melt in spectacularly colorful fashions.
  • Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
  • Running on Empty (1988)
  • Lost at Home (1996)
  • Gunplay (2002)
  • Garden State (2004)
  • 13 Going on 30 (2004) - the town in the movie, Tamerak, is based on and made to resemble Tenafly.
  • Distance (2006)
  • Baby M (1988); TV
  • Ned and Stacey (1995) -- Stacey and her sister, Amanda, grew up in Tenafly, where their parents still lived.
  • The Sopranos
  • NJ Classroom CloseUp, episode focusing on the Tenafly Middle School Music Program.
  • MTV: TRL (Total Request Live), episode regarding high schools around the country; focused on Tenafly's Technological Department.
  • HBO's Entourage (2006). The town was referred to by character Ari Gold.
  • "Law and Order: SVU (2006); TV

[edit] References

  1. ^ Office of the Borough Administrator, Borough of Tenafly. Accessed December 31, 2007.
  2. ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Tenafly, Geographic Names Information System, accessed November 12, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Census data for Tenafly, United States Census Bureau, accessed July 31, 2007.
  4. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  6. ^ a b c O'Connor, Ian. If You're Thinking of Living in: Tenafly, The New York Times, April 24, 1988. Accessed September 7, 2006.
  7. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 87.
  8. ^ About Tenafly, accessed September 7, 2006.
  9. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  10. ^ Historical Population Trends in Bergen County (1900 - 2000), Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed December 23, 2007.
  11. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  12. ^ Special Charters, New Jersey State Library. Accessed May 29, 2008.
  13. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 165.
  14. ^ a b c Tenafly Mayor and Council, Borough of Tenafly. Accessed February 14, 2008.
  15. ^ "County of Bergen: 2007 County and Municipal Directory", Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 65.
  16. ^ "Tenafly election results", The Record (Bergen County), November 6, 2007. Accessed November 10, 2007.
  17. ^ Bergen County election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 7, 2007. Accessed November 10, 2007.
  18. ^ Tenafly Election Guide, The Record (Bergen County), November 1, 2006.
  19. ^ Tenafly election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2006.
  20. ^ Bergen County 2006 General Election Results, accessed February 1, 2007.
  21. ^ Tenafly Councilman Arrested, The New York Times, accessed September 7, 2005.
  22. ^ Bergen County Briefs, The Record (Bergen County), accessed September 7, 2006.
  23. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 65. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  24. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  25. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  26. ^ Bergen County Executive, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  27. ^ Freeholder Home Page, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  28. ^ Constitutional Officers, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  29. ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," dated April 1, 2006.
  30. ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated September 7, 2006.
  31. ^ Alvarado, Monsy. "Alpine to keep sending students to Tenafly", The Record (Bergen County), April 4, 2003. Accessed January 2, 2008."ALPINE - The borough's high school students will continue to attend Tenafly High School under a new contract approved by the Board of Education this week."
  32. ^ Schools selected as No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools in 2005. Retrieved on May 2, 2006.
  33. ^ Top Public High Schools in New Jersey, New Jersey Monthly, September 2006
  34. ^ New Jersey Transit Bus Schedules. New Jersey Transit. Accessed August 30, 2007.
  35. ^ Coach USA Bus Schedules, Coach USA
  36. ^ Aoki Will Leave Powerboat Racing, The New York Times, February 7, 1983.
  37. ^ Smith, Dinitia. "A Poet Knits Together Memories of Armenian Horrors", The New York Times, August 19, 1997. Accessed November 8, 2007. "Growing up in Tenafly, N.J., during the strange sweetness of a privileged childhood, the poet Peter Balakian could feel beneath the membrane of suburban life the intimations of his family's ancient and exotic Armenian culture and a dark and terrifying past."
  38. ^ Rowe, John. "Barfield's Injury Stalls Trade Talk", The Record (Bergen County), May 25, 1992. Accessed May 29, 2007. "Put all those Jesse Barfield trade rumors on hold.... The veteran outfielder told Yankees manager Buck Showalter that he had fallen in the sauna in his Tenafly home on Saturday night.
  39. ^ Galarcep, Ives. "Injury replacement wasn't sure if he deserved to play", Herald News, June 20, 2006. Accessed May 29, 2007. "As he stood on the sideline watching the U.S. national team's gutsy effort in its 1-1 draw against Italy on Saturday, Gregg Berhalter cheered his teammates on and congratulated them as they laid on the field after the 90 brutal minutes.... The Tenafly native wasn't sure what to make of the news, which he received while on vacation at Disney World with his family."
  40. ^ Orestes Cleveland biography, United States Congress. Accessed June 12, 2007.
  41. ^ Hope Davis: the always-true actress talks toppling expectations and taking the offbeat path with a fellow traveler, Interview (magazine), February 2005.
  42. ^ "Walter Jones Taylor Wed To Connie Elizabeth Dean", The New York Times, November 8, 1987. Accessed May 29, 1987. "At the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York yesterday Connie Elizabeth Dean, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Dean of Tenafly, N.J., was married to Walter Jones Taylor, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Taylor Jr. of Jackson, Miss.... Her father, the country and western singer, is chairman of the Jimmy Dean Meat Company in Dallas."
  43. ^ Edel, Raymond A. "People, The Record (Bergen County), June 21, 1997. Accessed May 29, 2007. "Tate Donovan is not as combative as Hercules, the hero whose voice he supplies in the new Walt Disney film. "It was really devastating," says Donovan, 34, a Tenafly native who has been seen on TV's Partners,..."
  44. ^ Shales, Tom. "The Man Who Sharpened TV News's Vision: Reuven Frank, NBC's Pioneering Exec, Made Sure Viewers Got the Picture", The Washington Post, February 12, 2006. Accessed May 29, 2007. "Brokaw was among those attending a memorial service Wednesday near Frank's home town of Tenafly, N.J."
  45. ^ Rohan, Virginia. " He brings it home in 'Miz'", The Record (Bergen County), November 5, 2006. Accessed May 29, 2007. "Alexander Gemignani, the Tenafly native who stars in Broadway's new revival of "Les Miserables," knows that, at 27, he's "certainly on the young side" to be portraying Jean Valjean -- the tortured, tragic hero who did 19 years of hard labor in prison for stealing bread."
  46. ^ Rohan, Virginia. "Tenafly High grad stars in Fox pilot", The Record (Bergen County), March 4, 2008. Accessed March 4, 2008.
  47. ^ Radar Report: Sixties teen icon and singer-songwriter LESLEY GORE records her first album in 30 years, ASCAP, accessed December 18, 2006. "Lesley Gore, one-time Tenafly, New Jersey high school junior who catapulted to becoming 1963's version of Avril Lavigne or Britney Spears"
  48. ^ "Ed Harris leaves the sidelines", BBC News, March 12, 2001. Accessed June 28, 2007. "Harris, 50, grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey where he was a baseball and American football hero and captained the school team."
  49. ^ John Huyler, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2, 2007.
  50. ^ Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Elects New Members To Board of Trustees and Medical Center Foundation, Englewood Hospital press release, dated January 23, 2003. " Englewood Hospital and Medical Center’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the election of two new board members, Ron Insana of Tenafly, and Barry Sussman, MD, of Englewood who were recently elected to one-year terms."
  51. ^ Anderman, Joan, "Power trio: Meet three examples of a new breed of record company talent hunter. In a downsized, downloading industry, they need more than good ears to put out great music.", The Boston Globe, November 5, 2006. Accessed July 8, 2007. " "When she was 21 the Tenafly, N.J., native was managing an unknown Jersey band called My Chemical Romance, and two years later she turned Stevenson on to the Killers, whom he signed to Island."
  52. ^ Spitz, Marc. "Grrrl's Got Rhythm", Vanity Fair (magazine), November 2006. Accessed July 8, 2007. "An Orthodox Jew, Lewitinn recently abandoned a recording session on the West Coast to fly to her parents' home in Tenafly, New Jersey."
  53. ^ Thomas Jr., Robert McG. "Mattingly Lets Numbers Talk", The New York Times, November 19, 1986. "On one hand, Mattingly said in a conference call from his home in Tenafly, N.J., that Clemens, who compiled a 24-4 record and led the league in earned-run average with 2.48..."
  54. ^ Drebinger, John. "Will Gil Move His Bag or Baggage?; McDougald May Go to 2d, 3d or Short or to New Team", The New York Times, March 3, 1960. "The former Californian, who now lives in Tenafly, N. J., has helped the Yankees win pennants as a star second baseman, third baseman and shortstop."
  55. ^ Tropia, Joe. "Lea Michele", Broadway.com. Accessed May 30, 2008. "Hometown: Tenafly, New Jersey."
  56. ^ Perlez, Jane. "H.U.D. SUSPENDS AIDE DURING INQUIRY", The New York Times, January 18, 1983. Accessed November 12, 2007. "Mr. Dempsey, the Inspector General, said that 18 trips to New York came under review after the department learned that Dr. Savas had conducted H.U.D. business in the city and had then gone to spend the weekends at his home in Tenafly, N.J."
  57. ^ Tierney, John. "Bringing His Gospel Home; City Hall Lends Ear to Captain of Privatization", The New York Times, May 25, 1995. Accessed November 12, 2007. "Until recently, E. S. Savas considered himself the quintessential prophet without honor. For more than two decades, ever since he says he learned a crucial lesson from the New York City Department of Sanitation, he has traveled the world preaching the virtues of having private companies perform government services, and he found appreciative audiences just about everywhere, except in the place of his inspiration."
  58. ^ Mira Sorvino's Barcelona, American Way, January 1, 2001. "When Mira Sorvino arrived in Barcelona in 1994 to film a movie called Barcelona, she had a past in academia and a future in acting. Raised in Tenafly, New Jersey, she was the daughter of tough-guy character actor Paul Sorvino, who raised his kids to strive for an education instead of childhood acting careers."
  59. ^ Saunders, Dusty. " SORVINO ENJOYS ANOTHER `CHAMPIONSHIP'.", Rocky Mountain News, June 6, 1999. Accessed June 28, 2007. "``I was raking leaves at my home in Tenafly (N.J.) when I got the call. ... Joseph Papp from the Public Theater in New York City. I was requested to attend a meeting about a new play by Jason Miller, a talent I didn't know."
  60. ^ Thomas D Thacher, United States Department of Justice. Accessed February 14, 2008.

[edit] External links

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