| Ridgewood, New Jersey | |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Pushpin Map: | USA New Jersey Bergen County#USA New Jersey#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Ridgewood |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Bergen County##Location in New Jersey##Location in the United States |
| Pushpin Relief: | yes |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Bergen |
| Government Type: | Faulkner Act Council-Manager |
| Governing Body: | Village Council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Paul Vagianos (term ends December 31, 2024)[1] |
| Leader Title1: | Manager |
| Leader Name1: | Keith Kazmark[2] |
| Leader Title2: | Municipal clerk |
| Leader Name2: | Heather Mailander[3] |
| Established Title: | Incorporated |
| Established Date: | November 20, 1894 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [4] |
| Area Total Km2: | 15.03 |
| Area Land Km2: | 14.87 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.16 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 5.80 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 5.74 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.06 |
| Area Water Percent: | 1.07 |
| Area Rank: | 262nd of 565 in state 8th of 70 in county[5] |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 25979 |
| Population Rank: | 99th of 565 in state 10th of 70 in county[6] |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 4524.4 |
| Population Density Rank: | 131st of 565 in state 32nd of 70 in county |
| Population Est: | 26194 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | −05:00 |
| Timezone Dst: | Eastern (EDT) |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −04:00 |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [7] |
| Elevation Ft: | 85 |
| Coordinates Footnotes: | [8] |
| Coordinates: | 40.9816°N -74.1135°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Codes |
| Postal Code: | 07450–07452[9] [10] |
| Area Code: | 201[11] |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 3400363000[12] [13] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0885369[14] |
Ridgewood is a village in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Ridgewood is a suburban bedroom community of New York City, located approximately northwest of Midtown Manhattan.[15] As of the 2020 United States census, the village's population was 25,979, an increase of 1,021 (+4.1%) from the 2010 census count of 24,958, which in turn reflected an increase of 22 (+0.1%) from 24,936 in the 2000 census.[16]
It has been one of the state's highest-income communities. In 2000, its per capita income of $51,658 was ranked the 35th-highest in the state.[17] Based on data from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey, it had a per-capita income of $67,560, 31st in the state.[18] Based on data from the American Community Survey for 2013–2017, it had a median household income of $162,011, ranked 7th in the state among municipalities with more than 10,000 residents, more than double the statewide median of $76,475.[19]
Ridgewood was ranked 26th in Money magazine's "Best Places to Live" in 2011.[20]
In 1700, Johannes Van Emburgh built the first home in Ridgewood, having purchased a property in 1698.[21]
The Village of Ridgewood was created on November 20, 1894, with the same boundaries as Ridgewood Township, also in Bergen County. The Village became the municipal government while the Township remained a school district.[22] In 1902, the village added portions of Orvil Township,[23] which were returned to Orvil Township in 1915. In 1925, Ridgewood Village acquired area from Franklin Township (remainder now dissolved as Wyckoff). On February 9, 1971, Ridgewood acquired area from Washington Township. On May 28, 1974, it acquired area from Ho-Ho-Kus.[24] The name of the village derives from the characteristics of its terrain.[25]
In 2014, former Ridgewood Public Works Inspector Thomas Rica was convicted of stealing over $460,000 in coins collected from the village's parking meters. Rica was ordered to pay the entire amount back to the village and was permanently barred from seeking public employment in the state of New Jersey.[26]
Ridgewood is home to the following locations on the National Register of Historic Places:[27]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village had a total area of 5.80 square miles (15.03 km2), including 5.74 square miles (14.87 km2) of land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2) of water (1.07%).[5]
Ridgewood is adjacent to nine municipalities, eight in Bergen County − Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Ho-Ho-Kus, Midland Park, Wyckoff, Paramus, Waldwick and Washington Township − and Hawthorne in Passaic County.[33] [34] [35]
Ridgewood's neighborhoods include:[36]
Ridgewood has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and the hardiness zone is 7a bordering on 6b.
In the 2020 United States census, the population of Ridgewood was reported at 25,979, an increase of 1,121 people since the 2010 Census. Based on data from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey, it was reported that there were 8,300 households in the village. The average number of persons per household was 3.01. 96.8% of the households owned a computer. 96.5% of the population (age 25+) graduated high school and 76.0% have a bachelor's degree. 78.8% of the population was White, 15.5% were Asian, 7.9% were Hispanic or Latino, and 1.2% were Black or African American.
The 2010 United States census counted 24,958 people, 8,456 households, and 6,756 families in the village. The population density was . There were 8,743 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 82.21% (20,518) White, 1.59% (398) Black or African American, 0.06% (16) Native American, 12.99% (3,242) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander, 1.06% (265) from other races, and 2.06% (515) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.27% (1,316) of the population.
Of the 8,456 households, 45.4% had children under the age of 18; 69.1% were married couples living together; 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.1% were non-families. Of all households, 17.4% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.34.
30.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $143,229 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,530) and the median family income was $172,825 (+/− $9,197). Males had a median income of $111,510 (+/− $12,513) versus $77,651 (+/− $9,008) for females. The per capita income for the village was $67,560 (+/− $3,740). About 2.2% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.[37]
Same-sex couples headed 38 households in 2010, an increase from the 22 counted in 2000.[38]
As of the 2000 United States census there were 24,936 people, 8,603 households, and 6,779 families residing in the village. The population density was 4308.9sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 8,802 housing units at an average density of 1521sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the village was 87.82% White, 1.64% African American, 0.04% Native American, 8.67% Asian, 0.59% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.78% of the population.[39] [40]
There were 8,603 households, out of which 44.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.4% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.30.[39] [40]
In the village, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.[39] [40]
The median income for a household in the village was $104,286, and the median income for a family was $121,848. Males had a median income of $90,422 versus $50,248 for females. The per capita income for the village was $51,658. 3.0% of the population and 1.8% of families were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.[39] [40]
The indie rock band Real Estate was described by The Record as "Ridgewood's best-known musical export".[41] Rock band Senses Fail was founded in Ridgewood in 2002.[42]
Park facilities in Ridgewood include:[43]
Ridgewood is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under Council-Manager plan B, as implemented on July 1, 1970, by direct petition.[46] The village is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form.[47] The governing body is comprised of five council members who are responsible to hire and oversee a professional village manager who has full executive power for all departments. The government consists of five council members, with all positions elected at-large in nonpartisan elections to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election in even-numbered years on the second Tuesday in November. At a reorganization meeting held in January after newly elected council members take office, the council chooses a mayor and deputy mayor from among its members for two-year terms, with the mayor presiding over council meetings, but without any executive authority.[48] [49] The village council appoints a village manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the village, to handle personnel, citizen inquiries and complaints, and to handle the administrative duties of the village. The village council passes local laws, makes appointments to various boards and committees, and awards various contracts for purchases of goods and services used by the village. They also review, amend, and adopt the annual budget for the Village prepared by the Village Manager and Chief Financial Officer.
, members of the Ridgewood Village Council are Mayor Paul Vagianos (term on council ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Pamela Perron (2024), Lorraine Reynolds (2024), Evan Weitz (2026) and Siobhan Winograd (2026).[50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] [56]
In August 2021, councilmember Bernadette Walsh resigned from the seat expiring in December 2024, which was left temporarily vacant.[57] In the November 2021 general election, Paul Vagianos was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[54] [58]
In the November 2020 general election, voters approved by a 59%-41% margin a referendum that would move school and municipal elections (which had been held in April and May respectively) so that they were included as part of the November general election. The supporters of the initiative argued that the shift would "save money, improve turnout and improve security at schools where elections are held".[59] The village council challenged the results of the referendum, but the village lost in Superior Court and had the ruling affirmed on appeal in March 2021, with the judge ruling that the village clerk had acted "improperly and unlawfully" in seeking to block the referendum.[60]
Ridgewood is one of only four municipalities in New Jersey with the village type of government, joining Loch Arbour, Ridgefield Park and South Orange.[61]
Ridgewood is located in the 5th Congressional District[62] and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district.[63] [64] [65]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 15,983 registered voters in Ridgewood, of which 4,727 (29.6% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 4,125 (25.8% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 7,118 (44.5% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 13 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[66] Among the village's 2010 Census population, 64.0% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 92.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[66] [67]
In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 8,000 votes (60.4% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 4,576 votes (34.6% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 665 votes (5.0% vs. 4.6%), among the 13,308 ballots cast by the village's 17,892 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.4% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County).[68] In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 6,181 votes here (50.5% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 5,852 votes (47.8% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 130 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 12,232 ballots cast by the village's 17,124 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.4% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[69] [70] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 7,387 votes here (55.5% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 5,743 votes (43.2% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 80 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 13,306 ballots cast by the village's 16,867 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.9% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[71] [72] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 6,656 votes here (50.7% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 6,357 votes (48.4% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 94 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 13,141 ballots cast by the village's 16,325 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.5% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[73]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.9% of the vote (4,259 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.2% (2,453 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (59 votes), among the 6,864 ballots cast by the village's 16,103 registered voters (93 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.6%.[74] [75] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 4,192 votes here (48.8% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 3,885 votes (45.3% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 423 votes (4.9% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 44 votes (0.5% vs. 0.5%), among the 8,582 ballots cast by the village's 16,509 registered voters, yielding a 52.0% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[76]
The Ridgewood Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.[77] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of 10 schools, had an enrollment of 5,613 students and 432.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1.[78] Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[79]) are Glen School[80] with 60 students in PreK and Private Day Care Center, Henrietta Hawes Elementary School[81] with 593 students in grades K-5, Orchard Elementary School[82] with 299 students in grades K-5, Ridge Elementary School[83] with 443 students in grades K-5, Irwin B. Somerville Elementary School[84] with 383 students in grades K-5, Ira W. Travell Elementary School[85] with 377 students in grades K-5, Willard Elementary School[86] with 461 students in grades K-5, Benjamin Franklin Middle School[87] with 698 students in grades 6-8, George Washington Middle School[88] with 666 students in grades 6-8 and Ridgewood High School[89] with 1,775 students in grades 9-12.[90] [91]
The district's high school was the 28th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.[92] The school had been ranked 28th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 20th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[93] The school was ranked 606th in U.S. News & World Report national rankings for 2019.[94]
According to the New Jersey Department of Education, Ridgewood is a socioeconomic District Factor Group of J, the highest of eight categories.[95]
Public school students from the village, 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 an extremely selective and competitive application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.[96] [97]
The Holmstead School serves students of high school age with high intellectual potential who have not succeeded in traditional school settings. Students are placed in the school by referral from their home public school districts, with tuition paid for by the school district.[98]
Preschools in Ridgewood include Bethlehem Early Learning Center, West Side Presbyterian, First Presbyterian School, the Cooperative Nursery School of Ridgewood, and the Montessori Learning Center
The village of Ridgewood is served by two weekly community newspapers, The Ridgewood News and the Ridgewood Suburban News, both of which are published by North Jersey Media Group. The daily newspaper for the region is The Record which is also published by North Jersey Media Group. The company's website, NorthJersey.com, has a Ridgewood town page that includes local coverage from all three of these papers. Patch Media provides Ridgewood with its own daily news website, which offers news, events, announcements and Local Voices.[99]
, the village had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Bergen County, and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[100] Major roads that pass through Ridgewood include New Jersey Route 17, Franklin Turnpike, County Route 84 (commonly known as East and West Ridgewood Avenue) and County Route 507 (Maple Avenue).
The Ridgewood train station[101] is served by the NJ Transit Main Line as well as the Bergen County Line.[102] The station features three platforms. The first is for all trains headed south toward Hoboken Terminal. The second is for Bergen County Line trains headed in the same direction, and the third is for Main Line trains headed toward Suffern and Port Jervis. NJ Transit trains on both the Bergen County and the Main Lines go to Hoboken, stopping at Secaucus Junction, for transfers to trains to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan and other destinations served by the station. Parking is limited near the Ridgewood train station. Taxicabs are available at the train station; the taxi building is on the northbound platform.
NJ Transit buses in Ridgewood include the 148, 163 and 164 to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, the 175 to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, and local service offered on the 722 (to Paramus Park and Paterson), 746 (to Paterson, as Ridgewood is its terminus) and 752 (to Hackensack) routes.[103] [104] Except for the 148 route, all the others stop at NJ Transit's Ridgewood Bus Terminal on Van Neste Square.
Short Line offers service along Route 17 to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, as well as to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station and down the East Side on Manhattan to 23rd Street.[105]
See List of people from Ridgewood, New Jersey.
The Ridgewood Post Office was the site of a postal killing in 1991, where a former postal worker, Joseph M. Harris, killed his former supervisor, Carol Ott, with a katana and shot her fiancé, Cornelius Kasten Jr., at their home. The following morning, on October 10, 1991, Harris shot and killed two mail handlers at the Ridgewood Post Office.[106] [107]
Warner Theater is a Bow Tie Cinema located on East Ridgewood Avenue.[108]