Oradell, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Oradell borough had a total area of 2.577 square miles (6.673 km²), including 2.424 square miles (6.278 km²) of land and 0.153 square miles (0.395 km²) of water (5.92%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Delford.

The borough borders Dumont, Emerson, Haworth, New Milford, Paramus and River Edge.

Oradell Reservoir was formed by the Oradell Reservoir Dam placed on the Hackensack River, which was started in 1921 and finished in 1923. The reservoir is fed by the Pascack Brook and Dwars Kill in addition to the Hackensack River. The Dam has greatly reduced the amount of flooding in the eastern part of Oradell caused by the Hackensack River, though it also resulted in the loss of flora and fauna that depended on the fresh water that flowed down the river. Fed by rain from Hurricane Irene in August 2011, the water level in the reservoir was two feet above the top of the dam, allowing billions of gallons of water to flow over the dam and exacerbating flooding conditions in Oradell and New Milford.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Oradell has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 7,978 people, 2,749 households, and 2,293 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,291.5 per square mile (1,270.9/km²). The borough contained 2,831 housing units at an average density of 1,168.0 per square mile (451.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 85.79% (6,844) White, 0.68% (54) Black or African American, 0.08% (6) Native American, 11.26% (898) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.80% (64) from other races, and 1.40% (112) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.98% (397) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,749 households, 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.5% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.6% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% 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 3.20.

In the borough, 26.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.1 years. For every 100 females the census counted 91.6 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 89.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $123,750 (with a margin of error of +/- $23,641) and the median family income was $147,139 (+/- $14,419). Males had a median income of $91,332 (+/- $10,621) versus $68,208 (+/- $17,195) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,520. About 1.4% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 14 households in 2010, an increase from the 13 counted in 2000.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 8,047 people, 2,789 households and 2,300 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,319.0 per square mile (1,283.9/km²). There were 2,833 housing units at an average density of 1,168.5 per square mile (452.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 90.07% White, 0.48% African American, 0.04% Native American, 8.09% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.09% of the population.

3.1% of Oradell's residents identified themselves as being of Armenian American ancestry. This was the 11th highest percentage of Armenian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

There were 2,789 households of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.9% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.17.

Age distribution was 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The 2000 Census showed that median household income was $91,014 and the median family income was $102,842. Males had a median income of $76,683 versus $42,318 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,520. About 1.7% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Oradell is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, 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 consists of 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. The Borough form of government used by Oradell, 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 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.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Oradell is Democrat Diane Carmelo Didio, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2019. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Eric Shuler (R, 2016), R. Garrie Murphy (R, 2016), Edward Pfleging (R, 2017), Tracy Schoenberg (D, 2018), Michael Staff (R, 2017) and Roger B. Tashjian (I, 2018).

In the November 2015 general election, the Democratic and independent candidates who ran together as Put Oradell First won election to the mayoral and council seats up for vote, winning by a 2-1 margin over the Republican incumbents, who had not faced an election challenge since 2011.

In December 2013, Michael Staff was named to fill the vacant seat of Antonio B. Meo, who resigned from office that month following his marriage and planned move out of the borough.

Federal, state and county representation

Oradell is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 38th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Oradell had been in the 39th state legislative district.

New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff). 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 38th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Robert M. Gordon (D, Fair Lawn) and in the General Assembly by Tim Eustace (D, Maywood) and Joseph Lagana (D, Paramus). 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 5,587 registered voters in Oradell, of which 1,302 (23.3% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,774 (31.8% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,506 (44.9% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 70.0% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 94.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,354 votes (53.7% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,973 votes (45.0% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 40 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,386 ballots cast by the borough's 5,856 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.9% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,491 votes (51.9% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,245 votes (46.8% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 29 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,798 ballots cast by the borough's 5,826 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.4% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,592 votes (55.5% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,034 votes (43.5% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 32 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 4,672 ballots cast by the borough's 5,696 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.0% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.4% of the vote (1,797 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 32.4% (878 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (32 votes), among the 2,753 ballots cast by the borough's 5,717 registered voters (46 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,775 votes (53.8% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,320 votes (40.0% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 158 votes (4.8% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 14 votes (0.4% vs. 0.5%), among the 3,302 ballots cast by the borough's 5,745 registered voters, yielding a 57.5% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

The Oradell Public School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Oradell Public School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 761 students and 60.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

Oradell and neighboring River Edge share a combined school district for seventh through twelfth grades, River Dell Regional School District which was established in 1958. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are River Dell Regional Middle School in River Edge (with 606 students in grades 7-8) and River Dell Regional High School in Oradell (with 1,067 students in grades 9-12).

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.

Oradell is home to Bergen Catholic High School, a private Roman Catholic college preparatory school that was founded in 1955 and is run by the Christian Brothers of Ireland, under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Bergen Catholic serves students in ninth through twelfth grade, and had an enrollment of 835 students as of September 2013. It offers 17 sports at the varsity level, and attracts students from all over the Northern Jersey region. Oradell is also home to St. Joseph Elementary School, a Catholic school that serves children from Pre-K through grade 8, as part of the Newark Archdiocese.

Organizations

Oradell has two Boy Scout troops - Troop 36 and Troop 142 - as well as two Cub Scout packs; Pack 136 and Pack 142.

Troop 36 was established on February 11, 1911. Originally known as Troop 1, it was one of the first Boy Scout troops chartered in the United States and the second troop chartered in New Jersey. Sponsored by American Legion Post 41 since 1919, Troop 36 is currently the oldest Boy Scout troop in the state of New Jersey and has the distinction of being the second-oldest continually operating troop in the United States. It is one of the largest and most decorated troops in New Jersey. As of January 2007, Troop 36 had 127 Eagle Scouts.

Troop 142 was re-established in 1999, and has over 40 members and more than 30 Eagle Scouts.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 35.17 miles (56.60 km) of roadways, of which 30.06 miles (48.38 km) were maintained by the municipality and 5.11 miles (8.22 km) by Bergen County.

Public transportation

Oradell is served by NJ Transit at the Oradell train station, located at Oradell and Maple Avenues. on the Pascack Valley Line.

NJ Transit bus service is available to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 165 route, while local service is offered on the 762 bus line.

Rockland Coaches offers service on the 11T/11AT route from Stony Point, New York to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Saddle River Tours / Ameribus provides service to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on route 11C.

Places of interest

Media appearances

Rockapella, the a cappella group best known for performing on the children's game show Where in The World Is Carmen Sandiego?, had their first gig at a private party in Oradell on April 5, 1986.

In the 2004 movie Taxi, a map read by Detective Washburn (Jimmy Fallon) shows a fictional uncompleted highway off the Garden State Parkway in Oradell. The approximate location of the uncompleted highway is the location of the Bergen Regional Medical Center.

Notable people

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