Ringwood, New Jersey

History

The Lenape, an Algonquian language-speaking tribe of Native Americans who occupied much of the mid-Atlantic coastal areas and the interior mountains including along the Delaware River resided in the area of present-day Ringwood when Europeans first entered the area. Some retreated to the mountains to escape colonial encroachment.

Colonists called the local band the Ramapough, and named the Ramapo River and other regional features after them. Their descendants and Afro-Dutch migrants from New York were among the people who formed the multiracial group known as the Ramapough Mountain Indians, recognized in 1980 as the "Ramapough Lenape Nation" Native American tribe by the state of New Jersey, though the federal government has denied their application for formal recognition.

Early in the 18th century, colonists discovered iron in the area. The Ogden family built a blast furnace in Ringwood in 1742. By 1765, Peter Hasenclever used Ringwood as the center of his ironmaking operations, which included 150,000 acres (610 km²) in New Jersey, New York and Nova Scotia. Iron mining was prominent in the area from the 18th century until the Great Depression, and iron shafts and pits, landfills and other elements still exist. The London, Roomy, Peters and Hope mines were all originally opened by Peter Hasenclever's London Company.

A number of well-known ironmasters owned and lived at Ringwood Manor from the 1740s to the late 19th century. During the American Revolutionary War, Robert Erskine managed ironmaking operations from Ringwood, and became George Washington's first geographer and Surveyor-General, producing maps for the Continental Army. Washington visited the Manor House several times. Ringwood iron was used in the famous Hudson River Chain, and for tools and hardware for the army. One of the Manor's last owners was Abram S. Hewitt, ironmaster, educator, lawyer, U.S. Congressman, and Mayor of New York City. The Manor is part of a National Historic Landmark District.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 28.173 square miles (72.966 km²), including 25.211 square miles (65.295 km²) of land and 2.962 square miles (7.671 km²) of water (10.51%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Brushwood Pond, Cupsaw Lake, Conklintown, Erskine, Harrison Mt. Lake, Lake Erskine, Monks, Negro Pond, Sheppard Pond, Stonetown, Upper Lake and Weyble Pond.

The borough borders Bloomingdale, Wanaque and West Milford in Passaic County; Mahwah and Oakland in Bergen County; Tuxedo and Warwick in Orange County, New York; and Ramapo in Rockland County, New York.

Climate

Ringwood has a hot summer continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa).

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 12,228 people, 4,182 households, and 3,413 families residing in the borough. The population density was 485.0 per square mile (187.3/km²). The borough contained 4,331 housing units at an average density of 171.8 per square mile (66.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.58% (11,321) White, 1.36% (166) Black or African American, 1.24% (152) Native American, 1.74% (213) Asian, 0.02% (2) Pacific Islander, 1.18% (144) from other races, and 1.88% (230) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.78% (707) of the population.

Out of a total of 4,182 households, 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.8% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the borough, 24.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females the census counted 100.3 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 97.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $109,139 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,896) and the median family income was $117,793 (+/- $9,712). Males had a median income of $70,086 (+/- $9,303) versus $54,397 (+/- $6,682) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,931 (+/- $2,197). Estimates of families and population below the poverty line were not available.

Same-sex couples headed 37 households in 2010, an increase from the 26 counted in 2000.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there are 12,396 people, 4,108 households, and 3,446 families residing in the borough. The population density is 491.0 people per square mile (189.5/km²). There are 4,221 housing units at an average density of 167.2 per square mile (64.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough is 93.87% White, 1.61% African American, 1.44% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 4.25% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 4,108 households out of which 42.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.5% are married couples living together, 7.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 16.1% are non-families. 12.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.00 and the average family size is 3.28.

In the borough the population is spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough is $81,636, and the median income for a family is $85,108. Males have a median income of $60,097 versus $36,005 for females. The per capita income for the borough is $31,341. 2.8% of the population and 2.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.9% of those under the age of 18 and 2.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Local government

Ringwood operates within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Council-Manager form of municipal government Plan E, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1979. The borough is governed by a seven-member Borough Council whose members are elected at-large in partisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either three or four seats coming up for election every other year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the council selects a Mayor and a deputy mayor from among its members.

As of 2016, members of the Ringwood Borough Council are Mayor Walter J. Davison Jr. (R, term on council ends December 31, 2019; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Mayor John M. Speer (R, term on council ends 2019; term as deputy mayor ends 2016), Donna S. Anderson (R, 2017), William E. Marsala (R, 2017), James R. Martocci (R, 2019), Sean T. Noonan (R, 2019) and Linda M. Schaefer (R, 2017).

Federal, state and county representation

Ringwood is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Ringwood had been in the 40th 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 39th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Demarest) and in the General Assembly by Holly Schepisi (R, River Vale) and Robert Auth (R, Old Tappan). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Passaic County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large to staggered three-year terms office on a partisan basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At a reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects a Director and Deputy Director from among its members to serve for a one-year term. As of 2015, Passaic County's Freeholders are John W. Bartlett (D, 2015; Wayne), Theodore O. Best, Jr. (D, 2017; Paterson), Ronda Cotroneo (D, 2015; Ringwood), Terry Duffy (D, 2016; West Milford), and Pat Lepore (D, 2016; Woodland Park). The last seat, vacated by Hector Lora who resigned to become mayor of Passaic, is still up for discussion as of December 2016. Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Kristin M. Corrado (R, 2019), Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik (2016) and Surrogate Bernice Toledo (2016).

Highlands protection

In 2004, the New Jersey Legislature passed the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, which regulates the New Jersey Highlands region. Ringwood was included in the highlands preservation area and is subject to the rules of the act and the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, a division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. All of the territory in the protected region is classified as being in the highlands preservation area, and thus subject to additional rules.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 8,676 registered voters in Ringwood, of which 1,733 (20.0% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,714 (31.3% vs. 18.7%) were registered as Republicans and 4,225 (48.7% vs. 50.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 71.0% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 94.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 53.9% of the vote (3,411 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.0% (2,845 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (68 votes), among the 6,359 ballots cast by the borough's 8,936 registered voters (35 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 71.2%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 3,667 votes (52.5% vs. 37.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,146 votes (45.0% vs. 58.8%) and other candidates with 68 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 6,985 ballots cast by the borough's 8,922 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.3% (vs. 70.4% in Passaic County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 3,636 votes (54.7% vs. 42.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,897 votes (43.6% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 46 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 6,647 ballots cast by the borough's 8,372 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.4% (vs. 69.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.8% of the vote (2,531 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.6% (1,313 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (61 votes), among the 3,957 ballots cast by the borough's 9,014 registered voters (52 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,573 votes (55.9% vs. 43.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,714 votes (37.2% vs. 50.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 236 votes (5.1% vs. 3.8%) and other candidates with 50 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,606 ballots cast by the borough's 8,696 registered voters, yielding a 53.0% turnout (vs. 42.7% in the county).

Emergency services

Ringwood is serviced by a volunteer ambulance corps and three volunteer fire companies, with each fire company covering one section of the borough. The Erskine Lakes Fire Company covers Erskine Lakes, and Cupsaw Lake. Ringwood Volunteer Fire Company #1 (Stonetown) covers Stonetown. and Skyline Lake Fire Department covers Skyline Lake area.

Education

Students in kindergarten through eighth grade are served by the Ringwood Public School District. As of the 2013-14 school year, the district's four schools had an enrollment of 1,218 students and 96.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.6:1. Schools in the district (with 2013-14 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Peter Cooper Elementary School (grades K-3; 258 students), Robert Erskine Elementary School (K-3; 244), Eleanor G. Hewitt Intermediate School (4-5; 282) and Martin J. Ryerson Middle School (6-8; 434).

Ringwood's public schools are supported in part with grants from the Ringwood Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit organization which sponsors, among other things, the annual Shepherd Lake 5K run.

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Lakeland Regional High School in Wanaque, which serves students from the Boroughs of Ringwood and Wanaque. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 962 students and 94.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.2:1.

Private schools include St. Catherine of Bologna School, a regional Roman Catholic parochial school that serves kindergarteners through eighth grade, with part-time or full-time pre-school and pre-kindergarten sessions, operating under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Ringwood Christian School, which was founded in 1973 through the Ringwood Baptist Church, serves 80 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, with part-time sessions available for pre-schoolers.

Community

Depending on where they live, Ringwood residents may be eligible to join one of several private lake communities: assorted lakes in Stonetown, Cupsaw Lake, Erskine Lakes or Skyline Lakes, each of which have annual fees and initiation fees.

Each year on the third Saturday in March, Ringwood holds its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, the only such parade in Passaic County. Since 1990, the Parade Committee selects a grand marshal and a Citizen of the Year. These chosen outstanding citizens of the community are honored at a Unity Breakfast that precedes the parade. The parade includes bagpipe bands, floats, Irish step dancers, the county sheriff's department with their equestrian unit, local police, and fire and ambulance departments. Other marchers include Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, local school groups and other recreational teams. The parade ends at the St. Catherine of Bologna Church Parish Center, where the celebration continues with live music and entertainment.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 87.52 miles (140.85 km) of roadways, of which 72.73 miles (117.05 km) were maintained by the municipality and 14.79 miles (23.80 km) by Passaic County.

Skyline Drive connects Ringwood and Oakland through Ringwood State Park. There are no state, U.S., or Interstate highways in Ringwood, but I-287 is accessible via Skyline Drive in neighboring Oakland. In June 2013, the first traffic light was installed in Ringwood, at the intersection of Skyline Drive and Erskine Road, though the borough still has no sidewalks or street lights.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus transportation is available at the Ringwood Park and Ride, located adjacent to Ringwood Public Library. The 196 offers express bus service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, while the 197 route offers local service, including to the Willowbrook Mall and Willowbrook Park and Ride.

Notable people

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