Rutherford, New Jersey Explained

Rutherford, New Jersey should not be confused with East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Rutherford, New Jersey
Settlement Type:Borough
Nickname:"Borough of Trees",[1] [2]
"First Borough of Bergen County"[3]
Mapsize:250x200px
Image Map1:Census_Bureau_map_of_Rutherford,_New_Jersey.png
Mapsize1:250x200px
Map Caption1:Census Bureau map of Rutherford, New Jersey
Pushpin Map:USA New Jersey Bergen County#USA New Jersey#USA
Pushpin Label:Rutherford
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:Borough
Governing Body:Mayor and Council
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Frank Nunziato (D, term ends December 31, 2023)[4]
Leader Title1:Administrator
Leader Name1:Robert J. Kakoleski[5] [6]
Leader Title2:Municipal clerk
Leader Name2:Margaret "Missy" Scanlon[7]
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:September 21, 1881
Named For:John Rutherfurd
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[8]
Area Total Km2:7.49
Area Land Km2:7.20
Area Water Km2:0.29
Area Total Sq Mi:2.89
Area Land Sq Mi:2.78
Area Water Sq Mi:0.11
Area Water Percent:3.88
Area Rank:342nd of 565 in state
29th of 70 in county[9]
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:18834
Population Rank:146th of 565 in state
16th of 70 in county[10]
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Density Sq Mi:6772.4
Population Density Rank:72nd of 565 in state
22nd of 70 in county
Population Est:18852
Pop Est As Of:2023
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:−05:00
Timezone Dst:Eastern (EDT)
Utc Offset Dst:−04:00
Elevation Footnotes:[11]
Elevation Ft:66
Coordinates Footnotes:[12]
Coordinates:40.8203°N -74.106°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:07070[13] [14]
Area Code:201[15]
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:3400365280[16] [17]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0885383[18]

Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 18,834, an increase of 773 (+4.3%) from the 2010 census count of 18,061, which in turn reflected a decline of 49 (−0.3%) from the 18,110 counted in the 2000 census.[19]

Rutherford was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 21, 1881, from portions of Union Township, based on the results of a referendum held on the previous day.[20] The borough was named for John Rutherfurd, a U.S. Senator who owned land in the area.[21] [22]

Rutherford has been called the "Borough of Trees"[23] and "The First Borough of Bergen County",[24] and is known as well for its pedestrian-focused downtown area adjacent to the borough's Bergen County Line (New Jersey Transit) railway station.

History

The ridge above the New Jersey Meadowlands upon which Rutherford sits was settled by Lenape Native Americans long before the arrival of Walling Van Winkle in 1687. Union Avenue, which runs from the Meadowlands to the Passaic River, may have been an Indian trail, but was more likely a property boundary line; it was referenced in the 1668 grant of land by proprietary Governor Philip Carteret to John Berry.

During the early days of settlement, the land that is now Rutherford was part of New Barbadoes Township, as Berry had lived in Barbados, another English colony, before claiming his grant in New Jersey. New Barbadoes was part of Essex County from 1693 to 1710, when Bergen County was formed. In 1826, the land became part of Lodi Township (of which today's remaining portion is now South Hackensack). When Hudson County was formed in 1840, the area that is today North Arlington, Lyndhurst, Rutherford and East Rutherford became part of Harrison Township (of which today's remaining portion is Harrison town). However, the area reverted to Bergen County in 1852 and became known as Union Township.[20]

Part of the region was known as Boiling Springs for a powerful and ceaseless spring located in the vicinity. Despite its name, the spring actually consisted of cold groundwater seeps rather than hot springs.[25]

The Erie Railroad built its Main Line from Jersey City across the Meadowlands in the 1840s. Daniel Van Winkle, a descendant of Walling, donated land in 1866 for a train station at Boiling Springs. Several resorts were built along the Passaic, with guests disembarking at Boiling Springs station and taking Union Avenue to the river. Later, the railroad opened a station closer to the river, at Carlton Hill, and a horsecar line (briefly on rails) along Jackson Ave took travelers to the resort area.

At the time, much of the property in Rutherford was farmland owned by the estate of John Rutherfurd, a former New Jersey legislator and U.S. Senator, whose homestead was along the Passaic River, near present-day Rutherford Avenue.[26] Van Winkle opened a real estate office at Depot Square (now Station Square) to sell the land of the Rutherfurd Park Association, and began to lay out the area's street grid. The main roads were Orient Way, a wide boulevard heading south-southwest from Station Square, and Park Avenue, which headed west-southwest from Station Square to bring traffic to the new Valley Brook Race Course in what is now Lyndhurst.

In the 1870s, the area began to be called "Rutherford". The definitive reason for the change in spelling of the final syllable from "furd" to "ford" is unknown, though the change may have been the result of name recognition of the Ohio politician Rutherford B. Hayes, who was elected President in 1876, or could have been because of a clerical error by the United States Postal Service.[27] The Post Office opened a facility called "Rutherford" in 1876. On September 21, 1881, the Borough of Rutherford was formed by formal vote of secession from Union Township.[20] By then, the community had about 1,000 residents.

Historic sites

Rutherford is home to the following locations on the National Register of Historic Places:

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.89 square miles (7.49 km2), including 2.78 square miles (7.20 km2) of land and 0.11 square miles (0.29 km2) of water (3.88%).[9]

Rutherford is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located 8miles west of Midtown Manhattan.[33]

The borough is bounded by the Passaic River bordering Clifton and Passaic in Passaic County to the west, the Erie Railroad bordering East Rutherford to the north and east, the Hackensack River bordering Secaucus to the southeast, and Berrys Creek, Wall Street West and Rutherford Avenue bordering Lyndhurst to the south and southwest.[34] [35] [36]

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 Census, Rutherford borough had a population of 18,834 with 6,835 households.

Of that total population, 71.3% was White, 2.3% was Black or African American, 0.2% was American Indian and Alaska Native, 16.2% was Asian, 7.7% was two or more races, and 22.7% was Hispanic or Latino.

Of the total population, 50.6% of residents were female. There were 455 veterans living in the borough, and 24.5% were foreign born persons.

95.0% of persons 25 years and older had a high school diploma, or more, and 51.9% of persons 25 years and older had a bachelor's degree or higher. 94.1% of the households had a computer and 89.8% had a broadband internet subscription.

Rutherford's had a median household income of $106,817 and per capita income of $48,764, with 5.8% of the local population living below the poverty line.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 18,061 people, 6,949 households, and 4,663 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 7,278 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 77.57% (14,010) White, 2.92% (527) Black or African American, 0.07% (13) Native American, 13.08% (2,362) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 3.68% (664) from other races, and 2.68% (484) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.08% (2,543) of the population.

Of the 6,949 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18; 52.8% were married couples living together; 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.9% were non-families. Of all households, 27.4% were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.17.

21.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $85,783 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,632) and the median family income was $104,293 (+/− $6,102). Males had a median income of $70,071 (+/− $8,275) versus $55,080 (+/− $4,045) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,662 (+/− $3,383). About 3.6% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.[37]

Same-sex couples headed 65 households in 2010, an increase from the 48 counted in 2000.[38]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 18,110 people, 7,055 households, and 4,670 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6451.7sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 7,214 housing units at an average density of 2570sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the borough was 81.99% White, 2.70% African American, 0.04% Native American, 11.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races, and 2.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.59% of the population.

There were 7,055 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $63,820, and the median income for a family was $78,120. Males had a median income of $51,376 versus $39,950 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,495. About 2.3% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Rutherford is the site of Architectural Window Manufacturing Corporation's plant[39] and Blue Foundry Bank's (formerly Boiling Springs Savings Bank) corporate headquarters.[40]

Rutherford, together with Lyndhurst and North Arlington, was the site of the EnCap project, an effort to remediate landfills on the 785acres site and construct homes and golf courses on top of the remediated site. On May 27, 2008, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission terminated its agreement with EnCap Golf Holdings, the company that had the contract to redevelop the site, after the company had missed targets to clean up the landfills as part of the project.[41]

The Highland Cross Development is a proposed project to consist of 800 units of housing, including 160 affordable units, two hotels, and a large retail component. Rutherford officials have worked to get approval for the plan, in the face of opposition from the 14 mayors of the Hackensack Meadowlands Municipal Committee.[42]

Arts and culture

William Carlos Williams, the Pulitzer Prize–winning poet who died in 1963, was born in Rutherford in 1883. For most of his adult life, he maintained a physician's office in the house in which he lived, at 9 Ridge Road, at the corner of Park Avenue, even as he continued his artistic endeavors.[43]

The Rivoli Theatre was opened in 1922 as a vaudeville house but was quickly converted into a movie palace. It was known for a large crystal chandelier suspended from the center of the auditorium. On January 9, 1977, the Rivoli was severely damaged in a fire.[44] Soon afterward, a plan was developed to restore the Rivoli and turn it into a performing arts center. The William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts opened in 1981 and contains three movie screens as well as two performance halls.[45] Since 1995, the Williams Center's primary focus has been on concerts, ballet, opera, and theater for children.

The Meadowlands Museum, which focuses on local history and began as a project of parents of children in the public schools in 1961 and was originally based in a room at Sylvan School,[46] moved to the Yereance-Berry House at 91 Crane Avenue in 1974.

The GFWC Woman's Club of Rutherford is a non-profit volunteer organization that was organized in 1889. The club is located in the former Iviswold carriage house.[47]

The Rutherford Community Band was founded in 1941 and performs free concerts at venues throughout the borough, including the Hutzel Memorial Band Shell in Lincoln Park.[48] [49]

Annual cultural events

Rutherford holds an annual street fair on Labor Day, which is the longest running street fair in New Jersey, and usually attracts 20,000 people.[50] [51]

The first annual Rutherford West End Festival was held October 3, 2009, in the West End section of town.[52]

The Rutherford Multicultural Festival is an annual event that provides traditional entertainment and food from around the world.[53]

In 2017, the first annual Rutherford Downhill Derby provided kids and adults with the opportunity to build, design, and race gravity powered race carts.[54]

In 2018, the Rutherford Pride Alliance was founded.[55] In June 2019, there was a public raising of the LGBTQ Rainbow flag, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots; the Rutherford council unanimously approved the flag raising, despite opposition from residents who argued that the move was divisive, and special preferences were being granted.[56]

Parks and recreation

Rutherford Memorial Park, in the northwest corner of town along the Passaic, was set aside as parkland by the voters in 1951. Its 30acres include two baseball diamonds, five softball diamonds, a Little League Baseball field, a football stadium, six tennis courts, two basketball courts, and three playgrounds. Other active recreation parks include Tamblyn Field, near Route 3.[57]

The borough also has several smaller passive parks, including Lincoln Park across from borough hall, which was renovated in 2004. It includes a band shell and several monuments, including a cannon dating to the Spanish–American War, and is home to the borough's 9/11 memorial, containing a piece of steel debris recovered from the site of the attacks.[58] Sunset Park is located just north of the intersection of Union and Jackson Avenues and is on the western-facing side of a rather steep hill. A plan to redesign the park is currently being developed.[59] Firefighters' Memorial Park is a pocket park located at the intersection of Park and Mortimer Avenues.[60]

Lincoln Park has been host to town events, concerts, and memorials for decades. The Rutherford Community Band plays concerts during the summer. Other summer concerts are sponsored by the borough, as well as several movie nights in the park. In the fall, it has hosted the Bergen County Cultural Festival, which is funded and run by the Civil Rights Commission.

The Nereid Boat Club occupies a former boat sales building on the Passaic, at the foot of Newell Avenue. The rowing club, established in Nutley in 1875, relocated to Rutherford in 1996.[61]

Government

Local government

Rutherford is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[62] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[63] The borough form of government used by Rutherford 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 subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[64] [65] The borough operates with numerous committees to assist the government in carrying out its responsibilities. In addition to statutory bodies such as the planning board and zoning board of adjustment, dozens of volunteers staff other committees appointed annually, providing recommendations to the council.

, the mayor of the Borough of Rutherford is Democrat Frank Nunziato, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Rutherford Borough Council are Council President Stephanie McGowan (D, 2023), Maria Begg-Roberson (D, 2024), Matthew Cokeley (D, 2023), Christie Del Rey-Cone (D, 2025), Raymond L. Guzmán (D, 2024), and Susan E. Quatrone (D, 2025).[66] [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72]

In November 2019, the borough council selected Raymond Guzman from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to complete the term expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Frank Nunziato until he resigned from his council seat to take office as mayor.[73]

Federal, state and county representation

Rutherford is located in the 9th Congressional District[74] and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district.[75] [76] [77]

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 10,609 registered voters in Rutherford, of which 3,436 (32.4% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,287 (21.6% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 4,875 (46.0% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 11 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[78] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 58.7% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 74.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[78] [79]

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 4.796 votes (54.0% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 3.681 votes (41.4% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 405 votes (4.6% vs. 4.6%), among the 8,978 ballots cast by the borough's 11,661 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.0% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County).[80] In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,771 votes (57.7% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 3,313 votes (40.1% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 111 votes (1.3% vs. 0.9%), among the 8,266 ballots cast by the borough's 11,229 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.6% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[81] [82] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,824 votes (53.7% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 3,973 votes (44.2% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 117 votes (1.3% vs. 0.8%), among the 8,984 ballots cast by the borough's 11,275 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.7% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[83] [84] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 4,539 votes (52.2% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 4,030 votes (46.3% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 96 votes (1.1% vs. 0.7%), among the 8,698 ballots cast by the borough's 11,077 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.5% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[85]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 56.6% of the vote (2,918 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 42.2% (2,174 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (59 votes), among the 5,299 ballots cast by the borough's 10,653 registered voters (148 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.7%.[86] [87] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 2,910 ballots cast (48.0% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 2,642 votes (43.6% vs. 45.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 421 votes (6.9% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 32 votes (0.5% vs. 0.5%), among the 6,062 ballots cast by the borough's 10,957 registered voters, yielding a 55.3% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[88]

Emergency services

Police

The Rutherford Police Department (RPD) provides emergency and protective services to the borough of Rutherford. The RPD consists of 40 officers. The current chief is John Russo who was appointed on March 26, 2013. The RPD responds to approximately 24,000 calls per year and conducts criminal investigations through its detective bureau.[89]

The police department was originally organized in June 1879 as the Rutherford Protective and Detective Association.[90]

Fire

The Rutherford Fire Department (RFD) is an all-volunteer fire department. The RFD was organized in May 1871 and consists of one Chief, one deputy chief and three assistant chiefs. There are five fire companies in three fire houses. Each company has a Captain and a Lieutenant. The department is staffed by 75 fully trained firefighters. The RFD utilizes three Engines, a Ladder truck, a Heavy Rescue, a Special Service Unit and two boats.[91]

Two of Rutherford's firefighters—Edwin L. Ward in 1965 and Thomas E. Dunn in 1994—have died in the line of duty.[92]

Ambulance

The Rutherford First Aid-Ambulance Corps is a volunteer service that was organized in 1949. The corp consists of 40 members that operate under the supervision of the Captain, First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant. The corps provides basic life support, and is staffed primarily by certified Emergency Medical Technicians. CPR-trained drivers are also sometimes on duty. They operate three Type III ambulances.[93]

Education

The Rutherford School District serves the borough's public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.[94] As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 2,652 students and 208.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.7:1.[95] Public education began in Rutherford prior to 1900, but the oldest school structure that is still standing is the former Park School, built in 1902. It is currently the home of the Rutherford borough hall, on Park Avenue. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[96]) are Kindergarten Center[97] (opened in 2014), Lincoln School[98] (490 students; in grades Pre-K–3), Washington School[99] (326; 1–3), Pierrepont School[100] (595; 4–6), Union School[101] (424; 7–8) and Rutherford High School[102] (762; 9–12), built in 1922.[103]

Rutherford formerly had three "neighborhood" schools for grades K–5 (Washington, Lincoln, and Sylvan) which fed into two "magnet" schools for 6–8. The magnet schools also served as elementary schools for their neighborhoods. Sylvan School was closed at the end of the 2004–2005 school year and has become a handicapped preschool, as well as office space for the special services department.

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.[104] [105]

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was established in Rutherford in the 1890s and opened a school shortly thereafter. The parish offers The Academy at Saint Mary for preschool through eighth grade[106] and St. Mary High School, founded in 1929.[107] Both schools are operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.[108]

In 1942, Fairleigh Dickinson University was founded in Rutherford as a two-year college, anchored by the Iviswold Castle on Montross Avenue, which was built in the 1880s as a summer home by David B. Ivison. After FDU expanded to a four-year college and then to offering graduate programs, it acquired other, larger campuses, and eventually left Rutherford, offering the campus for sale due to financial difficulties. In the fall of 1997, the Rutherford campus was purchased by Felician College, an independent private Roman Catholic institution, which often has cultural and community events.[109]

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Bergen County, by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[110]

In the 1920s, the original Route 17 came through downtown Rutherford. Following the 1927 New Jersey State Highway renumbering, the new New Jersey Route 2 (later Route 17) was built in 1928, skirting the southeast edge of the borough, between the residential area and the New Jersey Meadowlands.

In 1948, a new bypass road along the southwest edge of the borough was built to bring traffic from Clifton and points west to the Lincoln Tunnel. The construction of the highway spur Route S3 (now Route 3) caused the demolition or relocation of numerous borough homes. In 2013, the Route 3 bridge over the Passaic River was replaced, and further improvements were made to the Rutherford section of the highway. The swing span of the Union Avenue Bridge over the Passaic was replaced in June 2002 as part of a $9.5 million project.[111]

A short portion of the New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur (Interstate 95) passes through the southern section of Rutherford, but the closest interchange is located in neighboring East Rutherford at exit 16W.[112]

Public transportation

Thanks to its easy access to New York City by rail, Rutherford became an early bedroom community. Following the initial wave of settlement in the late 19th century, an additional building boom occurred in the 1920s, when the majority of the borough's current housing stock was constructed.

Public Service Railway brought trolley lines into Rutherford around the start of the 20th century. The lines extended east to Jersey City, south to Newark, north to Hackensack, and west to Passaic. By the late 1940s, the trolleys were replaced by bus service.

After the opening of the Lincoln Tunnel in 1937, the Inter-City Bus Company began bus service direct from Paterson to New York City. The line was taken over by NJ Transit in the early 1980s.

Today, NJ Transit offers service to and from New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on several routes. The 163 offers rush hour service only, as Rutherford is not typically along its route. The 190 offers local service along Union Avenue and Orient Way. The 191, 192 and 195 routes all serve the portion of Rutherford that is adjacent to Route 3, as well as the portion of Route 17 that goes through Rutherford. The 76 bus provides service between Hackensack and Newark.[113] [114]

Rutherford's train station, which was built by the Erie Railroad in 1898, serves passengers on NJ Transit's Bergen County Line.[115] Service is available to Suffern and various stations along Metro-North Railroad's Port Jervis Line, as well as all other Bergen County Line stations as Rutherford is the last stop before Secaucus Junction. Service is also provided to Hoboken Terminal with connections to Hudson–Bergen Light Rail, PATH, and NY Waterway service, and customers can connect at Secaucus for trains to New York Penn Station, Newark Liberty International Airport, and points west and south along the Morris & Essex Lines, North Jersey Coast Line, Northeast Corridor Line, and Montclair-Boonton Line. Access to the Raritan Valley Line is available at either Hoboken or at Newark Penn Station via Secaucus.[116]

Notable people

See main article: List of people from Rutherford, New Jersey.

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. O'Keefe, Daniel. "Fall colors may not be so bright", South Bergenite, October 7, 2010. Accessed February 2, 2012. "True to its name, the Borough of Trees is one of the better places in the South Bergen area to observe the change of seasons. For most people the two seasons that rival for favorite are autumn and spring: spring has all the pinks, whites and startling greens that appear after long months of cold, dead winter, but autumn has the brilliant oranges, reds and yellows of trees as they slowly start to shed their leaves in preparation for the lean months ahead.... New Jersey certified tree expert Bill Comery, who works part-time for Rutherford, said that means trouble for trees not just in the near future but for years to come."
  2. Kuperinsky, Amy. "'The Jewel of the Meadowlands'?: N.J.'s best, worst and weirdest town slogans", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 22, 2015. Accessed July 12, 2016. "Rutherford, while accessible through bustling Route 17, is 'The Borough of Trees' because of tall trees that form canopies over its residential streets."
  3. http://www.downtownrutherfordnj.com/the-history-of-rutherford/ History of Rutherford
  4. https://www.state.nj.us/dca/home/2023mayors.pdf 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory
  5. https://www.rutherfordboronj.com/departments/borough-administrator/ Borough Administrator
  6. McDonald, Terrence T. "B.A., redevelopment chief departing Jersey City", The Jersey Journal, February 28, 2018, updated January 30, 2019. Accessed October 19, 2019. "Business Administrator Bob Kakoleski was appointed to that role soon after Fulop became mayor in July 2013. Kakoleski was hired as Rutherford's borough administrator on Tuesday night."
  7. http://www.rutherford-nj.com/departments/borough-clerk/ Borough Clerk
  8. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 11, 2022.
  9. https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_cousubs_34.txt 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places
  10. https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/dmograph/est/mcd/density.xlsx Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021
  11. , Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 11, 2013.
  12. https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990
  13. http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=rutherford&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Rutherford, NJ
  14. http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/njzips.htm Zip Codes
  15. http://www.area-codes.com/search.asp?frmNPA=&frmNXX=&frmState=NJ&frmCity=Rutherford Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Rutherford, NJ
  16. https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website
  17. https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey
  18. http://geonames.usgs.gov US Board on Geographic Names
  19. https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2010/2010data/table7cm.xls Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010
  20. Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 86. Accessed May 30, 2024.
  21. Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 27, 2015.
  22. [Henry Gannett|Gannett, Henry]
  23. Kvasager, Whitney. "Leaves ablaze with colors of the season", The Record, October 31, 2004. Accessed October 22, 2008. "In the Saturday drizzle, Rutherford - the Borough of Trees - was living up to its title."
  24. http://www.rutherford-nj.com/default.asp Rutherford Borough
  25. J. M. Van Valen. History of Bergen County, New Jersey, New Jersey Publishing and Engraving Company, NY, 1900. See Page 413, Chapter XXVI - Union Township.
  26. Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed November 14, 2015.
  27. http://www.rutherford-nj.com/PDF/MPFinalDraft62807.pdf#page=50 2007 Master Plan - Final Draft 6.28.07
  28. Malysa, Matthew. "Days of grandeur here again for Rutherford's Iviswold Castle", South Bergenite, March 27, 2013. Accessed December 16, 2013. "The $9 million transformation of the historical Iviswold Castle on Felician College campus in Rutherford is finally complete-after nearly 14 years of careful, step-by-step restoration."
  29. O'Keefe, Daniel. "Historic sites incorporated into Master Plan", South Bergenite, January 27, 2011. Accessed September 17, 2015. "Up until this resolution was adopted, Rutherford's Master Plan only recognized seven sites in the borough that were already on the state or national register of historic sites. They include Iviswold Castle at Felician College, the Kip Homestead at 12 Meadow Rd...."
  30. http://www.njtransit.com/tm/tm_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=PressReleaseTo&PRESS_RELEASE_ID=2513 "NJ Transit Approves Interior Work On Rutherford Station; Project will continue restoration of historic station building"
  31. Leith, Rod. "History Chest: Breakthrough in search for birth place of William Carlos Williams", South Bergenite, December 11, 2014. Accessed September 19, 2015. "Dr. Williams gave an address for his office and residence as 9 Ridge Road, a house he purchased in 1913 and where he died March 4, 1963."
  32. Hickey, James P. "Meadowlands Museum maps out history of Rutherford", South Bergenite, June 27, 2013. Accessed September 19, 2015. "The map exhibit highlights the museum's Yereance Berry House's location from the 1680s to the present."
  33. Patterson, Mary Jo. "Real Estate: Rutherford, N.J., Quiet Outpost Beyond the Tunnel", The New York Times, July 29, 2015. Accessed September 19, 2015. "Quiet residential neighborhoods are many in a borough that could be considered the first suburban outpost along the Route 3 corridor from the Lincoln Tunnel."
  34. https://global.mapit.mysociety.org/area/837980/touches.html Areas touching Rutherford
  35. https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/visitors-guide/county-maps Bergen County Map of Municipalities
  36. https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf New Jersey Municipal Boundaries
  37. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3400365280 DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Rutherford borough, Bergen County, New Jersey
  38. Lipman, Harvy; and Sheingold, Dave. "North Jersey sees 30% growth in same-sex couples", The Record, August 14, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 3, 2013. Accessed October 24, 2014.
  39. http://new.architecturalwindow.com/about-us/why-aw/ Why Architectural Window?
  40. http://www.rutherford-nj.com/home.asp Welcome to Rutherford
  41. Belson, Ken. "Meadowlands Commission Cuts Ties With Developer", The New York Times, May 8, 2008. Accessed February 2, 2012. "The decision comes less than a week after the borough of Rutherford voided its contract with EnCap, which wanted to finance the development partly by issuing bonds based on the tax revenue of the borough."
  42. O'Keefe, Daniel. "Officials meet for mediation over Highland Cross", South Bergenite, February 4, 2010. Accessed August 30, 2011. "Although the Hackensack Meadowlands Municipal Committee, the committee made up of the mayors of the 14 towns in the meadowlands district, has vetoed the Highland Cross development, the developers contend they will continue to work with the town to get the 800 units plus retail built."
  43. DeMasters, Karen. "A House With Poetic Cachet And a Doctor's Office", The New York Times, August 11, 1996. Accessed August 29, 2011. "For Sale: Home of the poet and pediatrician William Carlos Williams. Where: 9 Ridge Road, Rutherford, at the intersection with Park Avenues near the business district."
  44. Emblen, Frank. "New Jersey Guide", The New York Times, September 18, 1988. Accessed August 29, 2011. "The Rivoli, a vaudeville theater that dates to 1922, had a glorious history until ravaged by a fire in 1977. The Williams Center is a modern performing-arts complex built around and under the scarred theater."
  45. Jailer, Mildred. "Balancing the Old and New in Rutherford; The Talk of Rutherford", The New York Times, November 9, 1980. Accessed August 30, 2011. "The second project is the William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts, which, it is hoped, will open next February or March."
  46. http://meadowlandsmuseum.com/ Home Page
  47. http://www.rutherfordwomansclub.org/historyofwcr.html Rutherford Women's Club
  48. Heule, Melissa. "Rutherford Band Carries Tune In Memory Of Longtime Conductor", Rutherford Daily Voice, November 24, 2015. Accessed June 25, 2017. "Monroe's father, Tom 'Doc' Monroe, launched the band in 1941."
  49. http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?n=raymond-heller&pid=175791024&fhid=10641 Raymond Heller
  50. http://www.rutherford-nj.com/PDF/sponsorshipfinal.pdf Rutherford Labor Day Street Fair
  51. Batson, Annette. Rutherford's Mega Street Fair, Baristanet, August 30, 2008, backed bup by the Internet Archive as of September 17, 2008. Accessed May 20, 2022.
  52. http://www.rutherfordwestend.com/1701.html Rutherford West End
  53. http://www.rutherfordtogether.com/default.aspx Rutherford Multicultural Festival
  54. Grant, Meghan. "Rutherford to hold first Soap Box Derby in spring", South Bergenite, September 2, 2016. Accessed May 4, 2017. "Hoping to start a new community tradition, the Borough of Trees is planning on holding its first Rutherford Soap Box Derby next spring. The derby aims to give Rutherford kids and adults a chance to design, build and race cars."
  55. https://www.rutherfordpridealliance.org/our-mission About Us
  56. Sobko, Katie; and Shkolnikova, Svetlana. "Rutherford raises its first LGBTQ flag as towns throughout Bergen County mark Pride Month", The Record, June 1, 2019. Accessed March 29, 2023. "The pride flag raising, the borough’s first, was a coming out moment for the nascent Rutherford Pride Alliance. The group grew out of a Facebook conversation about rainbow crosswalks in Maplewood last summer and has since become a force in Rutherford, successfully lobbying the borough council to raise a rainbow flag at Borough Hall. The flag will fly through the month of June to honor Pride Month and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in Manhattan, a tipping point for the gay rights movement in the U.S.... group called Rutherford United created a petition last month opposing the move, arguing that the pride flag’s inclusion at Borough Hall would foster division and give unfair preference to a special interest group."
  57. https://www.rutherford-nj.com/departments/recreation/parks-facilities/ Parks and Facilities
  58. O'Keefe, Daniel. "Rutherford to renovate Sept. 11 monument for anniversary", South Bergenite, August 25, 2011. Accessed August 30, 2011. "As the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 quickly approaches, towns are preparing for the memorials that will mark the solemn day. In Rutherford, the council has made plans for the memorial that has marked Lincoln Park since 2004 to be renovated and restored in time for the anniversary."
  59. http://www.southbergenite.com/NC/0/1992.html South Bergenite
  60. http://www.rutherfordfire.org/firemenspark.htm Firemans' Park
  61. http://www.nereidbc.org/about.htm About
  62. https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey
  63. 2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 154.
  64. Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014.
  65. https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=6 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"
  66. https://www.rutherfordboronj.com/government/mayor-council/ Mayor and Council
  67. https://storage.googleapis.com/static.rutherford-nj.com/finance/budgets/2022%20Budget%20-%20As%20Introduced.pdf#page=8 2022 Municipal Data Sheet
  68. https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/images/About_Bergen_County/2024-county-directory.pdf#page=61 2024 County and Municipal Directory
  69. https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/Certified%20Statement%20of%20Vote%20Book%2011-21-22.pdf Bergen County November 8, 2022 General Election Statement of Vote
  70. https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/Statement%20of%20Vote%2011-17-21(1).pdf Bergen County Statement of Vote November 2, 2021 Official results
  71. https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/NOV_2020_General_Precinct_Summary.pdf Precinct Summary Results Report - Combined 2020 Bergen County General Election - November 3, 2020 Official Results
  72. http://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/SOV%20Book%20Report%20as%20of%2012-10-2019.pdf Bergen County November 5, 2019 General Election Statement of Vote
  73. Katzban, Nicholas. "Rutherford Mayor Frank Nunziato's council term will be finished by Ray Guzman", The Record, January 17, 2020. Accessed March 5, 2020. "Democrat Ray Guzman was unanimously appointed to the Borough Council to finish Frank Nunziato's term after he was elected mayor in November. Guzman was one of three nominees put forth by the local Democratic Committee and appointed by council members during last week's meeting."
  74. https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report
  75. https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District
  76. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf 2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government
  77. https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#36 Districts by Number for 2011-2020
  78. http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-bergen-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Bergen
  79. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey
  80. http://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/elections/BC-Statement-of-Vote-Book-11-08-2016.pdf Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results - Bergen County
  81. http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-bergen.pdf Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Bergen County
  82. http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-bergen.pdf Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Bergen County
  83. http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-bergen.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Bergen County
  84. http://dng.northjersey.com/media_server/tr/smaps/2008/electionresults2008/att/North_Jersey_election_results_79.html 2008 General Election Results for Rutherford
  85. http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_bergen_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Bergen County
  86. Web site: Governor - Bergen County . January 29, 2014 . New Jersey Department of Elections . December 24, 2014.
  87. Web site: Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Bergen County. January 29, 2014 . New Jersey Department of Elections . December 24, 2014.
  88. http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-bergen.pdf 2009 Governor: Bergen County
  89. http://www.rutherford-nj.com/emergency%20services/Police/ Rutherford Police Department
  90. Neumann, William. Rutherford: A Brief History, The History Press, 2008.
  91. http://www.rutherfordfire.org/ Rutherford Fire Department
  92. http://www.rutherfordfire.org/firemenspark.htm Firefighters' Memorial Park
  93. http://www.rutherfordems.org/ Home Page
  94. https://www.straussesmay.com/seportal/Public/DistrictPolicy.aspx?policyid=0110&id=c36e2cb412ce4a1092235b01e48bccc0 Rutherford Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification
  95. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&details=1&ID2=3414460&DistrictID=3414460 District information for Rutherford School District
  96. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3414460 School Data for the Rutherford School District
  97. https://www.rutherfordschools.org/kcenter/ Kindergarten Center
  98. https://www.rutherfordschools.org/lincoln/ Lincoln School
  99. https://www.rutherfordschools.org/washington/ Washington School
  100. https://www.rutherfordschools.org/pierrepont/ Pierrepont School
  101. https://www.rutherfordschools.org/union/ Union School
  102. https://www.rutherfordschools.org/rhs/ Rutherford High School
  103. https://homeroom6.doe.state.nj.us/directory/school/districtid/4600 New Jersey School Directory for Rutherford School District
  104. http://bcts.bergen.org/index.php/about-us About Us
  105. https://bcts.bergen.org/index.php/admissions Admissions
  106. https://catholicschoolsnj.org/elementary/bergen-elementary/ Bergen County Elementary Schools
  107. http://www.stmaryhs.org/aboutus/geninfo/default.aspx Abouts Us
  108. https://catholicschoolsnj.org/high-school/bergen-county-catholic-high-schools/ Bergen County Catholic High Schools
  109. Winters, Jaimie Julia. "Iviswold restorer bringing back the bling", South Bergenite, July 28, 2011. Accessed August 30, 2011. "In 1942, Peter Sammartino bought the property and opened Fairleigh Dickinson College with the castle as its heart. Fairleigh Dickinson University closed the Rutherford campus in 1994 due to lack of space. The facilities and the castle were locked and unoccupied for three years until 1997 when Felician College purchased the entire 10.5-acre campus and acquired the castle."
  110. http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_Bergen.pdf Bergen County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction
  111. http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2002/062802.shtm Union Avenue bridge over Passaic River to open to traffic tonight
  112. https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000095W_-.pdf#page=3 Interstate 95 / New Jersey Turnpike-West Alignment Straight Line Diagram
  113. https://web.archive.org/web/20090522212317/http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=BusRoutesBergenCountyTo Bergen County Bus/Rail Connection(s)
  114. http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/Bergen_County_Map.pdf Bergen County System Map
  115. http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=TrainStationLookupFrom&selStation=134 Rutherford station
  116. http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=LineDetailsTo&selLine=MNBN Main/Bergen-Port Jervis Line