Westwood, New Jersey

Westwood, New Jersey
Borough
Borough of Westwood
Motto: "Hub of the Pascack Valley"
Map highlighting Westwood's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Westwood, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°59′21″N 74°01′55″W / 40.989032°N 74.031872°W / 40.989032; -74.031872Coordinates: 40°59′21″N 74°01′55″W / 40.989032°N 74.031872°W / 40.989032; -74.031872[1][2]
Country	United States of America
State	New Jersey
County	Bergen
Incorporated	May 8, 1894
Government[3]
• Type	Borough
• Mayor	John Birkner, Jr. (term ends December 31, 2015)[4]
• Clerk	Karen Hughes[5]
Area[2][6]
• Total	2.314 sq mi (5.992 km2)
• Land	2.266 sq mi (5.868 km2)
• Water	0.048 sq mi (0.124 km2)  2.07%
Area rank	387th of 566 in state 42nd of 70 in county[2]
Elevation[7]	66 ft (20 m)
Population (2010 Census)[8][9][10]
• Total	10,908
• Estimate (2012[11])	11,011
• Rank	224th of 566 in state 33rd of 70 in county[12]
• Density	4,814.5/sq mi (1,858.9/km2)
• Density rank	115th of 566 in state 29th of 70 in county[12]
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	07675, 07677[13][14]
Area code(s)	201[15]
FIPS code	3400380270[16][2][17]
GNIS feature ID	0885442[18][2]
Website	www.westwoodnj.gov

Westwood (nicknamed "The Hub of the Pascack Valley"^[19]) is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 10,908,^[8][9][10] reflecting a decline of 91 (-0.8%) from the 10,999 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 553 (+5.3%) from the 10,446 counted in the 1990 Census.^[20]

Westwood was officially incorporated as a borough on May 8, 1894, from portions of Washington Township, early during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.^[21][22] Isaac D. Bogert served as the first mayor of the Borough.^[23] In April 1909, Westwood was enlarged through the annexation of the "Old Hook" section of the borough of Emerson, and on September 24, 1957, portions of the borough were exchanged with Emerson.^[21]

Geography

Westwood is located at 40°59′21″N 74°01′55″W / 40.989032°N 74.031872°W / 40.989032; -74.031872 (40.989032,-74.031872). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.314 square miles (5.992 km²), of which, 2.266 square miles (5.868 km²) of it was land and 0.048 square miles (0.124 km²) of it (2.07%) was water.^[1][2]

History

The earliest history of Westwood begins with the Lenni-Lenape Native Americans who inhabited this part of the state and shared it with the transient hunters and trappers until the permanent settlers began to enter in mid-18th century.^[24] In the early 19th century, the area that would later become Westwood was within the larger political boundaries of Harrington Township, which had been established by royal charter in 1775. In 1840, the western half of Harrington Township became Washington Township, with the Hackensack River as the dividing line.^[21] Washington Township was an agrarian region with isolated farmsteads. Early families, including the Hoppers and Ackermans, are buried at the Old Hook Cemetery. An 18th century mill was situated at the dammed stream near the intersection of today’s Mill Street and First Avenue. This mill was on an important east west pathway and was the first on Musquapsink Brook.^[25] After operating for close to two centuries, it was almost completely ruined by an arsonist’s fire and had to be dismantled in 1910.

A brief description of Washington Township written in 1844 described it as a township with six stores, four schools for 135 students, six grist mills, and 14 saw mills.^[26]

The first wave of concentrated development took place as the result of the coming of the Hackensack and New York Railroad in 1870, which followed the route of today's Pascack Valley Line. On March 5, 1870, service began between Westwood and New York City (via Jersey City and a ferry ride). Several small hotels were built near the depot, and in 1872 several houses in the latest European-influenced styles began to be built along Centre Avenue.^[27] Old maps show that growth occurred simultaneously on the land both to the east and west of the tracks. The commercial buildings included lumber and coal sheds, stores, and a bakery. There was a chapel on the corner of Third and Park avenues. The triangular park that has played an important role as a place of community gatherings is also shown on the 1876 map.^[28]

By the 1880s, Westwood had four factories, several distilleries, a new school, a laundry and grocery store, and a new Reformed Church. In 1890, following a meeting of interested residents, those favoring the incorporation of Westwood as an independent borough conducted a petition drive. By 1894, Washington Township lost one of its villages as Westwood established itself as an independent borough. Isaac D. Bogert, from a long established Bogert family, was elected mayor.^[29]

In 1899, a water plant constructed by Cornelius S. DeBraun provided service to thehouses that had been built along the borough's newly laid streets.^[27] By the time of the 1905 New Jersey Census, there were 234 dwellings housing a population of 1,044.^[30]

Lincoln High School was constructed around the turn of the 20th century, which also saw the introduction of electricity, telephones, and automobiles to the town. Underwood & Underwood Stereoscope Company opened a plant during the first decades of the 20th century, and many congregations established their first chapels, which were replaced in later years as the congregations grew in numbers and wealth.^[27] Following a typical pattern of development throughout the 20th century, the results are a mature railroad suburb almost covered with housing units, commercial, municipal and ecclesiastical buildings. The town still retains the open space of the triangular park at its heart.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	828		—
1910	1,870		125.8%
1920	2,597		38.9%
1930	4,861		87.2%
1940	5,388		10.8%
1950	6,766		25.6%
1960	9,046		33.7%
1970	11,105		22.8%
1980	10,714		−3.5%
1990	10,446		−2.5%
2000	10,999		5.3%
2010	10,908		−0.8%
Est. 2012	11,011	[11]	0.9%
Population sources: 1900-1920[31] 1900-1910[32] 1910-1930[33] 1900-2010[34][35][36] 2000[37][38] 2010[8][9][10]

2010 Census

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,908 people, 4,438 households, and 2,858 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,814.5 per square mile (1,858.9 /km²). There were 4,636 housing units at an average density of 2,046.2 per square mile (790.0 /km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 82.98% (9,052) White, 4.62% (504) Black or African American, 0.31% (34) Native American, 7.38% (805) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 2.77% (302) from other races, and 1.93% (211) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.58% (1,263) of the population.^[8]

There were 4,438 households of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.11.^[8]

In the borough, 21.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.^[8]

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $79,133 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,195) and the median family income was $107,966 (+/- $10,189). Males had a median income of $70,598 (+/- $14,566) versus $52,721 (+/- $10,753) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,839 (+/- $2,990). About 1.8% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.^[39]

Same-sex couples headed 21 households in 2010, an increase from the 19 counted in 2000.^[40]

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 10,999 people, 4,485 households, and 2,879 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,745.0 people per square mile (1,830.5/km²). There were 4,610 housing units at an average density of 1,988.8 per square mile (767.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.60% White, 5.72% African American, 0.14% Native American, 4.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.00% of the population.^[37][38]

There were 4,485 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.08.^[37][38]

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.^[37][38]

The median income for a household in the borough was $59,868, and the median income for a family was $77,105. Males had a median income of $50,800 versus $42,459 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,083. About 1.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.^[37][38]

Government

Local government

Westwood is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a mayor directly elected by the voters and a six-member Borough Council. The Mayor serves a four-year term of office, and the Borough Council members serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.^[3] The Borough form of government used by Westwood, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances, which can be overridden with a 2/3 vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, with most appointments are made by the mayor subject to the advice and consent of the council.^[41]

As of 2013, the Mayor of Westwood is Democrat John Birkner, Jr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2015. Members of the Westwood Borough Council are Council President John J. Sciara (R, 2014), Ray Arroyo (R, 2015), Peter A. Grefrath (R, 2015), Robert W. Miller (R, 2013), William C. Phayre (R, 2015), Ingrid H. Quinn (R, 2013) and Cynthia L. Waneck (R, 2014).^{[42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]}

Federal, state and county representation

Westwood is located in the 5th Congressional District^[50] and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.^[9][51][52]

New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township).^[53] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark; took office on October 31, 2013, after winning a special election to fill the seat of Frank Lautenberg)^[54][55] and Bob Menendez (D, North Bergen).^[56][57]

The 39th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Demarest) and in the General Assembly by Holly Schepisi (R, River Vale) and Bob Schroeder (R, Washington Township, Bergen County).^[58] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township).^[59] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).^[60]

Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders.^[61] The County Executive is Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford; term ends December 31, 2014).^[62] The seven freeholders are elected at-large in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year, with a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Chairman Pro Tempore selected from among its members at a reorganization meeting held each January.^[63] As of 2013, Bergen County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chairman David L. Ganz (D, 2014; Fair Lawn),^[64] Vice Chairwoman Joan Voss (D, 2014; Fort Lee),^[65] Chairman Pro Tempore John A. Felice (R, 2013; River Edge),^[66] Maura R. DeNicola (R, 2013; Franklin Lakes),^[67] John D. Mitchell (R, 2013; Cliffside Park),^[68] Steve Tanelli (D, 2015; North Arlington)^[69] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, 2015; Franklin Lakes).^[69][70] Countywide constitutional officials are Sheriff Michael Saudino (R), Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill) and County Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale).^[71]

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 6,847 registered voters in Westwood, of which 1,805 (26.4% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,986 (29.0% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 3,049 (44.5% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 7 voters registered to other parties.^[72] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 62.8% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 80.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).^[72][73]

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,701 votes here (50.4% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2,564 votes (47.9% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 49 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 5,355 ballots cast by the borough's 7,151 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.9% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).^[74][75] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,915 votes here (51.5% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 2,657 votes (46.9% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 47 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,664 ballots cast by the borough's 7,130 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.4% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).^[76][77] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,795 votes here (51.4% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,576 votes (47.4% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 47 votes (0.9% vs. 0.7%), among the 5,436 ballots cast by the borough's 6,837 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.5% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).^[78]

In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 4,288 votes here (62.9% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 2,104 votes (30.8% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 352 votes (5.2% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 26 votes (0.4% vs. 0.5%), among the 6,822 ballots cast by the borough's 12,051 registered voters, yielding a 56.6% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).^[79]

Education

Students in public school for grades Kindergarten through 12 attend the Westwood Regional School District, a comprehensive regional school district serving both Washington Township and Westwood that is the county's only regional K-12 district.^[80] Schools in the district (with 2010-11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics^[81]) are four elementary schools — Berkeley Avenue Elementary School^[82] (287 students; grades K-5), Brookside Elementary School^[83] (371; K-5), Jessie F. George Elementary School^[84] (354; PreK-5), Washington Elementary School^[85] (318; K-5) — Westwood Regional Middle School^[86] (411; 6-7, opened in Fall 2010) and Westwood Regional High School^[87] (973; 8-12).^[88]

As of the 2010-11 school year, Ketler Elementary School, which had served K-4, was shifted to become Westwood Regional Middle School for grades 6 and 7, while the other elementary schools would all serve K through 5, and the high school was shifted to grades 8-12 (from 7-12).^[89]

Public school students from the borough, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Paramus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.^[90][91]

Westwood is also home to The Healing Hands Institute for Massage Therapy.^{[citation needed]}

Transportation

Roads and highways

The borough had a total of 39.29 miles (63.23 km) of roadways, of which 31.23 miles (50.26 km) are maintained by the municipality and 8.06 miles (12.97 km) by Bergen County.^[92]

County Route 503 and County Route 502 pass through Westwood.

Public transportation

Westwood is served by New Jersey Transit at the Westwood train station, located at Broadway and Westwood Avenue.^[93] The Pascack Valley Line runs north-south to Hoboken Terminal with connections via the Secaucus Junction transfer station to New York Penn Station and to other NJ Transit rail service. Connections are available at 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.^[94]

New Jersey Transit bus route 165 serves Westwood with service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Westwood is the terminus for bus route 165.^[95]

Rockland Coaches offers service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal on routes 11T/11AT, 14ET and 46/47, and to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on route 11C and 14K.^[96][97]

Shopping and entertainment

The Westwood Plaza, is an outdoor shopping mall that has a Kmart and other stores and restaurants.

Westwood has its own cinema, located on 182 Center Ave.

Westwood is home to Fritz Deitl Ice Rink, which opened in 1958. The rink is home to Doug Brown Power Skating programs and offers open ice sessions, figure skating lessons, skating school, and Stick Time open hockey.^[98]

Points of interest

• Pascack Valley Hospital (PVH), a 291-bed hospital located at 250 Old Hook Road,^[99] filed for bankruptcy on September 24, 2007, and shut down on November 21, 2007.^[100] On October 1, 2008, Hackensack University Medical Center opened Hackensack University Medical Center North at Pascack Valley as a satellite emergency department. As of November 2008, Hackensack University Medical Center plans to re-open the entire facility as a for-profit full-service hospital with Legacy Hospital Partners of Texas.^[101]

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Westwood include:

• F. Herbert Bormann (1922–2012), scientist who helped discover the ecological impact of acid rain.^[102]
• Rob Delaney (born 1984), Major League Baseball pitcher who plays for the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays.^[103]
• James Gandolfini (1961–2013), actor known for playing Tony Soprano on HBO's The Sopranos.^[104]
• Jason Knapp (born 1990), professional baseball pitcher.^[105]
• Robert Sean Leonard (born 1969), actor best known for his roles in House and Dead Poets Society.^[106]
• James O'Keefe (born 1984), activist-filmmaker who targeted ACORN.^[107]
• Elizabeth Randall, former member of the New Jersey General Assembly and Bergen County Clerk.^[108]
• Katie Sagona (born 1989), model and actress who appeared in You've Got Mail and Grumpier Old Men.^[109]
• Kevin Sampson (born 1981), tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs.^[110]

References

Sources

• Clayton, W. Woodford; and Nelson, William. History of Bergen and Passaic Counties, New Jersey, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men., Philadelphia: Everts and Peck, 1882.
• Harvey, Cornelius Burnham (ed.), Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Co., 1900.
• Pelegrino, Michael. Westwood, Images of America Series, Arcadia Publishing, 2004. ISBN 9780738536590
• Van Valen, James M. History of Bergen County, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900.
• Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858-1942, History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630-1923, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1923.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westwood, New Jersey.

• Borough of Westwood official website
• Westwood Regional School District
• Westwood Regional School District's 2010–11 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Data for the Westwood Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• Westwood Chamber of Commerce website
• Westwood NJ HandyGuide
• Westwood Heritage Society
• Westwood United Methodist Church
• Fritz Deitl Website

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