Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

History

Upper Saddle River was settled in the 18th century principally by Dutch settlers who built mills along the Saddle River. The area was granted borough status in 1894 and remained principally rural until the 1950s. The suburban growth of New Jersey affected Upper Saddle River and surrounding municipalities, as the borough's population increased tenfold from 1950 to 1970. The population has remained fairly constant since 1970.

Predominantly a residential community consisting of one-acre (4,000 m²) lots, Upper Saddle River also contains a library, police station, fire station, ambulance corps, municipal hall, and three primary schools. Commerce and industry are concentrated along the town's western border along Route 17. Postal service is shared with the neighboring borough of Saddle River.

Upper Saddle River was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 22, 1894, from portions of Hohokus Township and Orvil Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone. Upper Saddle River's referendum passed on November 20, one day after the referendum passed for Saddle River. The name of the river, and hence the borough, is thought to come from early explores who thought that the geography of the area resembled that of the Sadle Burn, the valley surrounding a stream in the Scottish area of Argyll.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 5.281 square miles (13.680 km²), including 5.261 square miles (13.627 km²) of land and 0.020 square miles (0.053 km²) of water (0.39%). The borough is bisected by the Saddle River, a tributary of the Passaic River.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Duffys Mills, Hoppers Mills and Posts Mills.

Upper Saddle River is bounded by seven municipalities: Montvale, Saddle River, Ramsey, and Mahwah, as well as small portions of Woodcliff Lake in Bergen County, New Jersey, and Chestnut Ridge and Airmont in the Town of Ramapo in Rockland County, New York.

The borough is served by several major highways, including the Garden State Parkway at exits 172 and 171 in Montvale and Woodcliff Lake, and Route 17, which runs through the borough, though some portions of Upper Saddle River are served by roads located in Saddle River, Ramsey and Mahwah.

Demographics

Along with the neighboring borough of Saddle River (ranked number 2), Upper Saddle River (at number 22) has traditionally ranked at and near the highest per-capita income in New Jersey. Recent development of low-income housing and associated population expansion has shifted the borough's standing slightly.

2010 Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,208 people, 2,639 households, and 2,299 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,560.0 per square mile (602.3/km²). There were 2,776 housing units at an average density of 527.6 per square mile (203.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.55% (7,104) White, 1.44% (118) Black or African American, 0.13% (11) Native American, 10.09% (828) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.48% (39) from other races, and 1.30% (107) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.33% (355) of the population.

There were 2,639 households out of which 48.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.3% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.9% were non-families. 10.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.37.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.9 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 93.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $175,399 (with a margin of error of +/- $22,259) and the median family income was $179,241 (+/- $47,207). Males had a median income of $160,795 (+/- $24,471) versus $67,885 (+/- $27,436) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $73,639 (+/- $8,085). About 1.5% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 13 households in 2010, an increase from the 12 counted in 2000.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 7,741 people, 2,497 households, and 2,242 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,462.7 people per square mile (565.0/km²). There were 2,560 housing units at an average density of 483.7 per square mile (186.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.24% White, 0.93% African American, 0.03% Native American, 6.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.

There were 2,497 households out of which 47.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 83.6% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10.2% were non-families. 8.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the borough the population was spread out with 30.7% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $127,635, and the median income for a family was $132,401. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $51,587 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $57,239. None of the families and 0.7% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 2.1% of those over 64.

Economy

Pearson Education (formerly Prentice Hall), a scholastic division of Pearson was headquartered in Upper Saddle River until late 2015.

Onkyo USA is headquartered in Upper Saddle River.

The North American headquarters of Hunter Douglas are located in the borough.

Local government

Upper Saddle River 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. 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 Upper Saddle River, 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 Upper Saddle River is Republican Joanne L. Minichetti, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Roger DeBerardine (R, 2017), Steve DiMartino (R, 2017), Jonathan Ditkoff (R, 2016), Vincent Durante (R, 2015), Joanne Florio (R, 2015) and Thomas Hafner (R, 2016).

Federal, state and county representation

Upper Saddle River is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 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 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).

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 Upper Saddle River, of which 996 (17.8% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,840 (32.9% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,746 (49.1% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 68.1% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 98.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,726 votes (65.3% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,405 votes (33.7% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 22 votes (0.5% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,174 ballots cast by the borough's 5,987 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.7% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,565 votes (58.1% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,788 votes (40.5% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 29 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,415 ballots cast by the borough's 5,648 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,671 votes (61.5% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,635 votes (37.6% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 24 votes (0.6% vs. 0.7%), among the 4,345 ballots cast by the borough's 5,319 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.7% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 78.0% of the vote (1,817 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 21.2% (493 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (19 votes), among the 2,369 ballots cast by the borough's 5,699 registered voters (40 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,830 votes (63.8% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 899 votes (31.3% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 115 votes (4.0% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.3% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,869 ballots cast by the borough's 5,620 registered voters, yielding a 51.0% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Upper Saddle River School District. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its three schools had an enrollment of 1,256 students and 108.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1. The schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Robert D. Reynolds Primary School (grades PreK-2; 342 students), Edith A. Bogert Elementary School (3-5; 428) and Emil A. Cavallini Middle School (6-8; 478).

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend the Northern Highlands Regional High School in nearby Allendale, which serves students from Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Upper Saddle River, and some students from Saddle River. As of the 2013-14 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,349 students and 117.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.5:1. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,373 students and 115.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.9:1.

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.

Rodie Child Care Center, run by the YWCA of Bergen County, is open to children from 6 weeks old to 6 years old, including an all-day private Kindergarten class, and is located on Pleasant Avenue.

Transportation

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 60.00 miles (96.56 km) of roadways, of which 51.56 miles (82.98 km) were maintained by the municipality, 7.83 miles (12.60 km) by Bergen County and 0.61 miles (0.98 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 17, West Saddle River Road, East Saddle River Road, and Lake Street are the main roads in Upper Saddle River.

Public transportation

Short Line offers limited service from stops on Lake Street and Saddle River Road between the borough and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Upper Saddle River include: