Lyndhurst, New Jersey

History

Lyndhurst was originally formed as Union Township on February 19, 1852, from portions of Harrison Township. While it was still Union Township, portions of territory were taken to form Rutherford (as of September 21, 1881), Boiling Springs Township (April 17, 1889; now known as East Rutherford) and North Arlington (March 11, 1896). On May 15, 1917, the area was reincorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature as the Township of Lyndhurst, based on the results of a referendum held one week earlier. The township is named for Lord Lyndhurst.

Kingsland explosion

On January 11, 1917, a fire started in Building 30 of the Canadian Car and Foundry Company, in what is now Lyndhurst, in a plant that was producing munitions for sale to the United Kingdom and the Russian Empire during World War I. After a spill of flammable liquid started a fire in a building where shells were cleaned, about 500,000, three-inch (76 mm) explosive shells were discharged in about four hours, destroying the entire facility. It was said to have been a spectacle more magnificent than the explosion at Black Tom in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Tessie McNamara, who operated the company switchboard, was credited with saving 1,400 lives, contacting each of the buildings and shouting the warning, "Get out or go up!" Thanks to her dedication, no one was killed in the fire. The Lyndhurst Historical Society has created a vest pocket park dedicated to the memory of McNamara. The park is located on Clay Avenue, between Valley Brook Avenue and Wall Street West. The brick stack can be seen from this park.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 4.894 square miles (12.676 km²), including 4.558 square miles (11.806 km²) of land and 0.336 square miles (0.870 km²) of water (6.86%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Kingsland and South Rutherford.

The township borders North Arlington and Rutherford in Bergen County; Belleville and Nutley in Essex County; Kearny and Secaucus in Hudson County; and Clifton in Passaic County.

The Passaic River, crossed by the Avondale Bridge and the Lyndhurst Draw, creates the municipal and county border at the west. The eastern portion of the municipality is part of the uninhabited wetlands in the New Jersey Meadowlands.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 20,554 people, 8,337 households, and 5,394 families residing in the township. The population density was 4,509.3 per square mile (1,741.1/km²). The township contained 8,787 housing units at an average density of 1,927.7 per square mile (744.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 82.97% (17,053) White, 1.98% (406) Black or African American, 0.17% (34) Native American, 6.59% (1,355) Asian, 0.03% (6) Pacific Islander, 5.57% (1,144) from other races, and 2.71% (556) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 18.34% (3,769) of the population.

Out of a total of 8,337 households, 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the township, 18.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.3 years. For every 100 females the census counted 92.6 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 90.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $68,177 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,370) and the median family income was $79,579 (+/- $4,878). Males had a median income of $56,299 (+/- $6,347) versus $44,468 (+/- $2,406) for females. The per capita income for the township was $34,233 (+/- $2,119). About 3.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 58 households in 2010, an increase from the 35 counted in 2000.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 19,383 people, 7,877 households, and 5,206 families residing in the township. The population density was 4,169.7 people per square mile (1,609.4/km²). There were 8,103 housing units at an average density of 1,743.1 per square mile (672.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.94% White, 9.0% Hispanic or Latino, 5.40% Asian, 0.61% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.95% from two or more races, and 2.05% from other races.

As of the 2000 Census, 33.8% of township residents were of Italian ancestry, the 19th-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States, and eighth-highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.

There were 7,877 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the township the age distribution of the population shows 19.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males. Lyndhurst has the highest proportion of single females ages 18–25.

The median income for a household in the township was $53,375, and the median income for a family was $63,758. Males had a median income of $42,359 versus $35,429 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,940. About 2.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Lyndhurst was historically home to manufacturers of machinery and metal products.

Lyndhurst is also home to several locally owned and operated businesses such as Mazur's Bakery and the Lyndhurst Pastry Shop, which produces regionally acclaimed Italian cakes and pastries, homemade Italian Ice during the spring, summer and fall. The main business sections are Valley Brook Avenue, Ridge Road and Stuyvesant Avenue. Lyndhurst has many neighborhood delis, eateries, restaurants and stores which allow residents the ability to walk rather than drive.

Because portions of the township are located in the New Jersey Meadowlands, a number of radio stations have their transmitters and towers located in Lyndhurst. These include AM stations WOR and WINS, as well as Amateur Radio and HD TV station W2INS.

Lyndhurst Meadowlands is home to one of nine Medieval Times dinner theaters nationwide.

Lyndhurst, together with North Arlington and Rutherford, was the site of the EnCap project, an effort to remediate landfills on the 785-acre (3.18 km²) site and construct homes and golf courses on top of the cleaned up 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.

At one time LJN Toys had its headquarters in Lyndhurst.

From 1946 until 1966, Lyndhurst was home to the BUR Barbell Company, the second-largest producer of weight training equipment in the United States.

Sports

Town mascot and names include the Lyndhurst Golden Bears/Lyndhurst Post 139/Lyndhurst Cubs/Lyndhurst Bulldogs

Lyndhurst baseball

American Legion, Cricket, Stellatos, Savinos, I.A.C.L, Bergen County Glass, Carucci, and Century 21 make up Lyndhurst Little League as of 2017.

On July 14, 2006, the Lyndhurst-American Little League baseball team ended their 17-year drought to become district champs. Throughout the nine district play-off games, Lyndhurst-American hit 14 home runs and eventually emerged as sectional finalists; two wins away from appearing on national television.

Lyndhurst Youth Soccer

Lyndhurst Youth Soccer has approximately 600 players from age 5 to age 13 and several travel teams.

Parks and recreation

Riverside County Park is a Bergen County park covering 85 acres (34 ha) located on Riverside Avenue between Lyndhurst and North Arlington. It has a playground, athletic fields, tennis courts, a Bocce ball court, and fitness center.

The township named Lewandowski Park and Lewandowski Street in honor of the three Lewandowski brothers, who were killed while serving in the armed forces during World War II.

Local government

The Township of Lyndhurst has been governed under the Walsh Act form of New Jersey municipal government since 1913. All committee members are elected concurrently at-large on a non-partisan basis to four-year terms of office as part of the May municipal election, with the five members selecting a mayor from amongst its members at a reorganization meeting held after each election.

As of 2016, members of the Township Committee are Mayor Robert B. Giangeruso (Commissioner of Public Safety), Thomas DiMaggio (Commissioner of Parks and Public Property), Theodore J. Dudek (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), John J. Montillo Jr. (Commissioner of Public Affairs) and Matthew T. Ruzzo (Commissioner of Public Works), all of whom are serving concurrent terms of office that end on May 16, 2017.

Federal, state and county representation

Lyndhurst is located in the 9th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district.

New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District is represented by Bill Pascrell (D, Paterson). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 36th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Paul Sarlo (D, Wood-Ridge) and in the General Assembly by Marlene Caride (D, Ridgefield) and Gary Schaer (D, Passaic). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of 2015, the County Executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus; term ends December 31, 2018). 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. Bergen County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chairwoman Joan Voss (D, 2017; Fort Lee), Vice Chairman Steve Tanelli (D, 2015; North Arlington) Chairman Pro Tempore John A. Felice (R, 2016; River Edge), David L. Ganz (D, 2017; Fair Lawn), Maura R. DeNicola (R, 2016; Franklin Lakes) Thomas J. Sullivan Jr., (D, Montvale, 2015; serving the unexpired term of office that had been occupied by James Tedesco before he was sworn in as County Executive) and Tracy Silna Zur (D, 2015; Franklin Lakes). Countywide constitutional officials are County Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale), Sheriff Michael Saudino (R) and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 11,595 registered voters in Lyndhurst Township, of which 3,237 (27.9% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,308 (19.9% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 6,044 (52.1% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 6 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 56.4% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 69.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,689 votes (55.8% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 3,536 votes (42.1% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 113 votes (1.3% vs. 0.9%), among the 8,409 ballots cast by the township's 12,126 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.3% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 4,531 votes (49.6% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 4,434 votes (48.6% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 80 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 9,131 ballots cast by the township's 12,250 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.5% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 4,346 votes (50.5% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 4,163 votes (48.3% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 81 votes (0.9% vs. 0.7%), among the 8,612 ballots cast by the township's 11,721 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.5% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.4% of the vote (2,949 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 38.4% (1,876 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (61 votes), among the 5,012 ballots cast by the township's 11,693 registered voters (126 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,628 votes (48.9% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 2,389 votes (44.5% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 303 votes (5.6% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 29 votes (0.5% vs. 0.5%), among the 5,374 ballots cast by the township's 11,916 registered voters, yielding a 45.1% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

The Lyndhurst School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011–12 school year, the district's seven schools had an enrollment of 2,368 students and 163.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.53:1. Schools in the district (with 2011–12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are six elementary schools — Columbus School (grades K-3; 148 students), Franklin School (K-3; 251), Jefferson School (4-8; 270), Lincoln School (4-8; 268), Roosevelt School (4-8; 481) and Washington School (K-3; 259) — along with Lyndhurst High School (9-12; 651).

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.

Founded in 1956, Sacred Heart School is a Catholic elementary school serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.

Bergen Community College has a campus in Lyndhurst. Nearby colleges and universities include Farleigh Dickinson University (Teaneck / Hackensack campus) and Felician College in Lodi and Rutherford.

Police

The Lyndhurst Police Department (LPD) provides emergency and protective services to the township of Lyndhurst, and is led by Chief James B. O'Connor. The LPD was established on January 1, 1907, under the laws of Union Township. The department has lost four officers in the line of duty; which is higher than any other municipality in Bergen County.

A Police Auxiliary Unit falls under the Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management. Lyndhurst Police Auxiliary is headed by Deputy Chief Wayne Alexander. The Police Auxiliary members augment the services of the Police Department, with participants required to dedicate at least 16 hours a month for patrols on weekends, evenings and at township events and functions.

Fire

The Lyndhurst Fire Department (LFD) is an all-volunteer fire department. The LFD was organized in February 1886. The department is staffed by 70 fully trained firefighters and responds to an average of 600 calls per year.

Ambulance

The township of Lyndhurst runs both a volunteer and paid ambulance service. Residents can depend on the Lyndhurst Police Emergency Squad for emergency services. The volunteers respond to medical calls from 6pm to 6am Monday through Friday and on a 24-hour basis on weekends, while the paid division is staffed from 6am-6pm during the week.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 45.95 miles (73.95 km) of roadways, of which 37.81 miles (60.85 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.93 miles (7.93 km) by Bergen County and 2.15 miles (3.46 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 1.06 miles (1.71 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

Route 17 and County Route 507 pass through Lyndhurst. Route 3 is just over the northern border of Lyndhurst in neighboring Rutherford. Route 21 is across the Passaic River in neighboring Nutley and Clifton.

The New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur (Interstate 95) passes through the southeastern part, but the closest interchanges are in East Rutherford (Exit 16W) and Kearny (Exit 15W).

The Avondale-DeJessa Bridge, which connects Lyndhurst and Nutley over the Passaic River with one lane in each direction, carries more than 26,000 vehicles a day, and is among 22 bridges in Bergen County that have been classified as "structurally deficient".

Public transportation

NJ Transit has two train stations in Lyndhurst, located at Lyndhurst Station and Kingsland Station. Trains at both stations operate on the Main Line to Hoboken Terminal, with transfers available at Secaucus Junction to New York Penn Station, Newark Penn Station, and Newark Airport, with transfers at Hoboken to PATH trains, Hudson Bergen Light Rail, and New York Waterway ferries. The trains travel over the Lyndhurst Draw, a railroad bridge crossing the Passaic River between Clifton and Lyndhurst that was constructed in 1901 and is owned and operated by NJ Transit Rail Operations.

New Jersey Transit offers buses serving Newark on the 76 route and to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 191, 192, 193 and 195 routes. Lyndhurst is also served by DeCamp Bus Lines routes 32, 44 and 99.

Notable people

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

Historic sites

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

Television

Lyndhurst has made several appearances on the hit TV series The Sopranos.