| Borough of Park Ridge, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Borough — | |
| Map highlighting Park Ridge's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey | |
| Census Bureau map of Park Ridge, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Bergen |
| Incorporated | May 15, 1894 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough |
| • Mayor | Donald J. Ruschman (D, term ends 2011)[1] |
| • Administrator | Kelley R. O'Donnell[2] |
| Area[3] | |
| • Total | 2.603 sq mi (6.740 km2) |
| • Land | 2.582 sq mi (6.686 km2) |
| • Water | 0.021 sq mi (0.021 km2) 0.79% |
| Elevation[4] | 141 ft (43 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[5][6] | |
| • Total | 8,645 |
| • Density | 3,348.6/sq mi (1,292.9/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07656[7] |
| Area code(s) | 201/551 |
| FIPS code | 34-56130[8][9] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885341[10] |
| Website | http://parkridgeboro.com |
Park Ridge is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Park Ridge had a population of 8,645 as of the 2010 United States Census.[5][11]
Park Ridge was created as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 15, 1894, from portions of Washington Township, at the height of the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. Park Ridge obtained a portion of River Vale (July 15, 1929), exchanged portions with Woodcliff Lake (December 12, 1955), received part of Washington Township (November 26, 1956), exchanged portions with Hillsdale (February 10, 1958) and Woodcliff Lake (June 9, 1958) and received another part of Washington Township (August 11, 1958).[12]
Contents |
Park Ridge is located at (41.036301,-74.043561). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.603 square miles (6.740 km2), of which, 2.582 square miles (6.686 km2) of it is land and 0.021 square miles (0.054 km2) of it (0.79%) is water.[13][3]
Park Ridge is a part of the Pascack Valley region of Bergen County. It is bounded by the boroughs of Montvale, River Vale, Woodcliff Lake and Hillsdale. Although no major highways run through the borough, it is serviced by the Garden State Parkway at exits 168, 171 and 172 in Washington Township and Montvale, respectively.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 870 |
|
|
| 1910 | 1,401 | 61.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,481 | 5.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,229 | 50.5% | |
| 1940 | 2,519 | 13.0% | |
| 1950 | 3,189 | 26.6% | |
| 1960 | 6,389 | 100.3% | |
| 1970 | 8,709 | 36.3% | |
| 1980 | 8,515 | −2.2% | |
| 1990 | 8,102 | −4.9% | |
| 2000 | 8,708 | 7.5% | |
| 2010 | 8,645 | −0.7% | |
| Population sources:1910-1930[14] 1900-1990[15][16] 2000[17][18] 2010[5][11][6] |
|||
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,645 people, 3,283 households, and 2,351 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,348.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,292.9 /km2). There were 3,428 housing units at an average density of 1,327.8 per square mile (512.7 /km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 89.14% (7,706) White, 1.04% (90) African American, 0.22% (19) Native American, 6.07% (525) Asian, 0.02% (2) Pacific Islander, 2.58% (223) from other races, and 0.93% (80) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.74% (669) of the population.[5]
There were 3,283 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.[5]
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.2 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.[5]
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $104,053 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,870) and the median family income was $118,984 (+/- $7,463). Males had a median income of $85,242 (+/- $13,024) versus $65,216 (+/- $12,814) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $46,695 (+/- $3,650). About 1.1% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 0.5% of those age 65 or over.[19]
As of the 2000 United States Census[8], there were 8,708 people, 3,161 households, and 2,389 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,353.3 people per square mile (1,293.1/km2). There were 3,258 housing units at an average density of 1,254.6 per square mile (483.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.48% White, 0.86% African American, 0.14% Native American, 3.86% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.32% of the population.[17][18]
There were 3,161 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12.[17][18]
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.[17][18]
The median income for a household in the borough was $66,632, and the median income for a family was $97,294. Males had a median income of $71,042 versus $40,714 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,351. About 1.2% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.[17][18]
Park Ridge 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.[20]
As of 2011[update], the mayor of the Borough of Park Ridge is Donald J. Ruschman (D, term ends December 31, 2011). Members of the Park Ridge Borough Council are Council President Terry Maguire, Steve Hopper, John Kane, Ann Kilmartin, Keith Misciagna and Mike Viola.[21]
Park Ridge is in the 5th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 39th Legislative District.[22] The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[11]
New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
39th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Demarest) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Bob Schroeder (R, Washington Township) and Charlotte Vandervalk (R, Hillsdale).[23] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[24] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[25]
Bergen County's County Executive is Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford; term ends December 31, 2014).[26] The Board of Chosen Freeholders is the county's legislative body and its seven members are elected at-large on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.[27] As of 2011, Bergen County's Freeholders are Chairman John Driscoll, Jr. (R, 2012; Paramus),[28] Vice-Chairwoman Maura DeNicola (R, 2013; Franklin Lakes),[29] Chair Pro Tempore John D. Mitchell (R, 2013; Cliffside Park)[30] John A. Felice (R, 2013; River Edge),[31] David L. Ganz (D, 2011; Fair Lawn),[32] Robert G. Hermansen (R, 2012; Mahwah)[33] and Bernadette P. McPherson (D, 2011; Rutherford).[34][35] Other countywide constitutional officials are Sheriff Michael Saudino (R), Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill) and County Clerk Elizabeth Randall (R, Westwood).[36]
As of Election Day, November 4, 2008, there were 5,578 registered voters. Of registered voters, 1,478 (26.5% of all registered voters) were registered as Democrats, 1,439 (25.8%) were registered as Republicans and 2,658 (47.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were three voters registered to other parties.[37]
In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 42.6% of the vote here (1,927 ballots cast), behind Republican John McCain, who received 56.4% of the vote (2,553 ballots), with 81.4% of registered voters participating.[37] In the 2004 election, Republican George W. Bush received 57.4% of the vote in Park Ridge (2,697 cast), ahead of Democrat John Kerry, who received around 41.7% (1,963 votes), with 4,702 ballots cast among the borough's 5,785 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.3%.[38]
The Hertz Corporation, a car rental company, is headquartered in Park Ridge and is the borough's largest single taxpayer.[39]
Sony Corporation of America maintains an R&D and engineering facility in Park Ridge.[40]
The Park Ridge Public Schools serve students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[41]) are East Brook Elementary School (grades PreK-6; 361 students) and West Ridge Elementary School (K-6; 368), Park Ridge High School (7-12; 587).
Our Lady of Mercy Academy is a K-8 Catholic school which operates in Park Ridge under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.[42]
Park Ridge is served by New Jersey Transit on the Pascack Valley Line at the Park Ridge train station. The station is located at Hawthorne and Park Avenues though is also accessible from Broadway.
This line 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.
The Rockland Coaches Route 11C serves the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal.[43]
County Route 503, which runs for 18 miles (29 km) from Route 4 to the New York State border, passes through Park Ridge. It is well known and posted as Kinderkamack Road, which was a trail used by the Lenape Native Americans, whose named signified that it was a place (the suffix "ack") where ceremonial dances or prayers ("kintekaye") were made.[44]
PKRG-TV, the public-access television cable TV station in Park Ridge has produced and documented many shows over the past ten years. They continue to produce a weekly live show every Monday night in addition to broadcasting special events in the town such as parades, sporting events, school plays, and charity events. Rolf Wahl, a borough resident, was the man who provided most of the guidance, technical knowledge and foresight for the station. The television studio also hosted a "series" of shows entitled Behind The Badge which provided residents with an insight into the way the police department works. It included a tour of the police station and police cruiser and also an overview of programs the department works on to improve the welfare of the community, i.e. DARE programs and computer crimes.<erf>PKRG-TV, Borough of Park Ridge. Accessed December 27, 2011.</ref>
The Bear's Nest is a luxury gated community in Park Ridge. It has town house type style houses with luxury amenities including (in some houses) elevators. There is also a community house available for party rental, a pool, and multiple tennis courts.[45] Notable residents of the development have included President Richard M. Nixon, Mrs. Pat Nixon, Raymond V. Gilmartin, current Board member on Microsoft, former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Merck & Co., Inc, and Tom Coughlin, coach of the New York Giants.
Park Ridge is one of the three towns involved with the Tri-Boro Volunteer Ambulance Corps which provides EMS service to Park Ridge, Woodcliff Lake and Montvale. Tri-Boro is a non-profit group which provides free emergency service to those in the community who need it at any time. The headquarters is located in Park Ridge near Mill Pond.[46]
Park Ridge also has its own Police Department, which has been led by Chief Joseph J. Madden since 2007.[47] The Park Ridge Fire Department dates back to 1898, created by community volunteers after a major fire destroyed a local factory.[48]
Park Ridge's Pascack Historical Society Museum, at 19 Ridge Avenue, houses the world's only wampum drilling machine. This wooden artifact was made in Park Ridge by the Campbell Brothers who invented a way to drill through long pieces of hair pipe shells so that they could be strung and worn as breast plates by the Plains Indians, among others. Needing water for the operation, the industrious brothers leased a woolen mill that stood on the Pascack Brook. When that burned down they built their own mill farther down Pascack Creek on their land another shop on Pascack Road near their homestead. Both building housed drilling machines on their second floors where they were safe from prying eyes, as the two machines had not been patented. In the early 19th century, John Jacob Astor purchased wampum from the Campbells to trade with the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest whose beaver pelts he turned into men's hats.[49] The best years for the wampum business were between 1835 and 1866. The drilling machine can be seen at the Pascack Historical Society Museum on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until noon and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. Admission is free.
Notable current and former residents include:
Park Ridge is home to the following locations on the National Register of Historic Places: