Waldwick, New Jersey

History

Inhabited during the pre-Columbian era by the Lenape Native American tribe, the region surrounding Waldwick was first explored by Europeans when a Dutch trading expedition landed near there in 1610. With the creation of the Nieuw Amsterdam colony in 1624, the present site of the borough became a Dutch possession along with the rest of northeastern New Jersey. During the period from 1624-1664 it was sparsely developed by Dutch settlers, mainly for agricultural purposes. With the annexation of Nieuw Amsterdam by the English in 1664 came a nearly instant increase in immigration to the region and the development of several settlements in and around the present borders of the borough.

In the mid-19th century, Waldwick and the surrounding area constituted a small settlement within Franklin Township, an area that encompassed much of northwestern Bergen County. The area's population grew significantly after the Erie Railroad established a train station. On January 1, 1886, Orvil Township was formed from portions of Hohokus Township and Washington Township. The "Boroughitis" phenomenon that swept through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone, hit Orvil Township particularly hard, resulting in the formation of five new boroughs created from the nascent township, including Montvale and Woodcliff (now Woodcliff Lake) on August 31, 1894, Allendale on November 10, 1894, Saddle River on November 20, 1894, and Upper Saddle River formed on November 22, 1894. On April 7, 1919, a council of citizens voted to incorporate as the borough of "Waldwick", from the remaining portions of Orvil Township. With the creation of the borough of Waldwick, Orvil Township was dissolved.

Various derivations of the borough's name have been offered, including one that "Waldwick" is Old English, from "wald" (forest) and "wick" (settlement or place). According to The History Of Bergen County written in 1900 by James M. Van Valen, the name Waldwick comes from a Saxon language word meaning "beautiful grove" though other sources show a related meaning of "village in a grove".

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.087 square miles (5.404 km²), including 2.067 square miles (5.353 km²) of land and 0.025 square miles (0.051 km²) of water (0.95%).

The borough is surrounded by the boroughs of Allendale, Saddle River, Midland Park, and Ho-Ho-Kus, by the village of Ridgewood and by the township of Wyckoff.

The Ho-Ho-Kus Brook flows through the center of town in a roughly southward direction.

Census 2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,625 people, 3,420 households, and 2,681 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,656.8 per square mile (1,798.0/km²). There were 3,537 housing units at an average density of 1,711.3 per square mile (660.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 90.63% (8,723) White, 1.08% (104) Black or African American, 0.11% (11) Native American, 4.99% (480) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.76% (169) from other races, and 1.43% (138) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.62% (830) of the population.

There were 3,420 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 93.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $95,774 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,836) and the median family income was $104,335 (+/- $12,466). Males had a median income of $66,838 (+/- $8,541) versus $57,137 (+/- $6,800) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,689 (+/- $3,047). About 2.8% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 16 households in 2010, an increase from the 10 counted in 2000.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 9,622 people, 3,428 households, and 2,677 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,616.2 people per square mile (1,786.1/km²). There were 3,495 housing units at an average density of 1,676.8 per square mile (648.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.68% White, 0.59% African American, 0.04% Native American, 4.52% Asian, 1.31% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.31% of the population.

There were 3,428 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the borough the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $75,532, and the median income for a family was $82,208. Males had a median income of $60,671 versus $37,145 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,733. About 1.3% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Waldwick operates under the Borough form of New Jersey government. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to serve a four-year term. 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 Waldwick, 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 Waldwick is Republican Thomas A. Giordano, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Borough Council (with party affiliation and term-end year listed in parentheses) are Council President Andrew M. Brennecke (R, 2017), Greg Bjork (R, 2016), Deborah Dellavechia (R, 2017), Charles J. Farricker (R, 2019), Joseph E. Oravetz (R, 2018) and Donald Sciolaro (R, 2016).

In January 2012, Greg Bjork was selected by the Borough Council from among three names submitted by the Republican County Committee to fill the unexpired term of Thomas Giordano who had resigned to take his seat as mayor.

Federal, state and county representation

Waldwick is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Waldwick 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 40th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Kevin J. O'Toole (R, Cedar Grove) and in the General Assembly by David C. Russo (R, Ridgewood) and Kevin J. Rooney (R, Wyckoff). Rooney was sworn into office on December 12, 2016, to fill the seat of Scott Rumana, who had resigned from office on October 20, 2016, to become a judge of the New Jersey Superior Court. 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 6,277 registered voters in Waldwick, of which 1,429 (22.8% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,617 (25.8% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 3,227 (51.4% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 65.2% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 87.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,606 votes (53.6% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,169 votes (44.6% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 50 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,861 ballots cast by the borough's 6,543 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.3% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,800 votes (53.4% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,353 votes (44.9% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 51 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,239 ballots cast by the borough's 6,529 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.2% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,891 votes (56.9% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,141 votes (42.1% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 33 votes (0.6% vs. 0.7%), among the 5,084 ballots cast by the borough's 6,281 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.9% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.7% of the vote (2,018 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 32.9% (1,010 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (42 votes), among the 3,110 ballots cast by the borough's 6,356 registered voters (40 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,883 votes (53.6% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,376 votes (39.1% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 208 votes (5.9% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 21 votes (0.6% vs. 0.5%), among the 3,515 ballots cast by the borough's 6,404 registered voters, yielding a 54.9% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

Students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade are educated in the Waldwick Public School District. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's four schools had an enrollment of 1,592 students and 136.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.63:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Crescent School (grades PreK-5; 345 students), Julia A. Traphagen School (K-5; 413), Waldwick Middle School (6-8; 379) and Waldwick High School (9-12; 455).

During the 2009-10 school year, Julia A. Traphagen School was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive. It was the only school in Bergen County that year out of ten schools honored statewide and the first Bergen County elementary school to receive the honor in six years.

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.

In addition, Waldwick is home of the Waldwick Seventh-day Adventist School; The Village School, a Montessori school for minors until 8th grade; and The Forum School, which is an alternative school for students who are developmentally disabled minors. Pre-school programs are also offered at Rainbow Corners day school, at the Methodist Church, Building Blocks Child Center at the Christ Community Church (across from the high school) Building Blocks and at Saddle Acres School.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 36.30 miles (58.42 km) of roadways, of which 31.86 miles (51.27 km) were maintained by the municipality, 3.77 miles (6.07 km) by Bergen County and 0.67 miles (1.08 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

State Route 17, County Route 502, and County Route 507 travel through Waldwick.

Public transportation

Waldwick is served by NJ Transit at the Waldwick train station, located at the intersection of West Prospect Street, Lafayette Place and Hewson Avenue. The station is served by both the Bergen County Line and Main Line, which run north-south to Hoboken Terminal with connections via the Secaucus Junction transfer station to New York Penn Station and to other NJ Transit rail service. Connections are available at the Hoboken Terminal to other NJ Transit rail lines, the PATH train at the Hoboken PATH station, New York Waterways ferry service to the World Financial Center and other destinations along with Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service.

Bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan is available via Short Line.

Notable people

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