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Allendale, New Jersey

Allendale is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 6,848, the highest recorded in any decennial count and an increase of 343 (+5.3%) from the 2010 census count of 6,505,  which in turn reflected a decline of 194 (−2.9%) from the 6,699 counted in 2000.

In 2012, Forbes.com listed Allendale as 481st in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $579,081.

History
In 1888, Henry J. Appert, a Swiss immigrant, drained a bog for the cultivation of onions and celery. The business—Allendale Produce Gardens, or the "celery farm" to locals—supplied wholesale markets and Campbell Soup Company. Allendale was formed on November 8, 1894, from portions of Franklin Township (remainder now Wyckoff), Hohokus Township (remainder now Mahwah) and Orvil Township (remainder now Waldwick).

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. The borough was named for Joseph Warner Allen, a surveyor for the Erie Railroad.

Babe Ruth would frequently vacation at the Allendale Hotel, which remains in use as a rooming house.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 3.12 square miles (8.08 km2), including 3.10 square miles (8.02 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (0.67%).

The borough borders the Bergen County municipalities of Mahwah, Ramsey, Saddle River, Waldwick and Wyckoff.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 6,505 people, 2,236 households, and 1,798 families in the borough. The population density was 2100.7 /sqmi. There were 2,388 housing units at an average density of 771.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 87.41% (5,686) White, 0.51% (33) Black or African American, 0.05% (3) Native American, 9.64% (627) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.83% (54) from other races, and 1.57% (102) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.67% (304) of the population.

Of the 2,236 households, 42.8% had children under the age of 18; 70.8% were married couples living together; 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.6% were non-families. Of all households, 17.5% were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.25.

28.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 32.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $131,563 (with a margin of error of +/− $22,630) and the median family income was $150,268 (+/− $26,670). Males had a median income of $121,089 (+/− $19,180) versus $71,534 (+/− $36,833) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $60,466 (+/− $8,969). About 1.0% of families and 1.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 17 households in 2010, an increase from the 1 counted in 2000.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 6,699 people, 2,110 households, and 1,795 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,143.9 PD/sqmi. There were 2,143 housing units at an average density of 685.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 92.48% White, 0.39% African American, 0.06% Native American, 6.09% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.

There were 2,110 households, out of which 47.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.5% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 13.1% 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 3.03 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 30.4% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $105,704, and the median income for a family was $113,390. Males had a median income of $88,210 versus $50,781 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $47,772. About 1.6% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Culture
Allendale is home to the Celery Farm, a nature preserve that is home to hundreds of animals, including fox, deer, rabbits, frogs, turtles, rodents, and most notably exotic birds. Many rare birds have been observed by ornithologists including bald eagles, common ravens, and pileated woodpeckers. A full list of birds and their frequency of appearance can be found online.

There is a variety of recreation opportunities throughout the borough, including Crestwood Park, which covers 71 acres and includes a man-made lake with three diving boards, three beaches, and six swim lanes. Included in the Park is a recreational barn, three baseball / softball fields, two soccer / football fields, a lacrosse field, and four tennis courts.

Several episodes of the television show Ed were filmed in Allendale, including a Thanksgiving Day Parade episode. Scenes from the movie Presumed Innocent, starring Harrison Ford and Bonnie Bedelia, were filmed in Allendale.

Local government
Allendale is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, 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 includes 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 Allendale 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. The mayor and borough council conduct all of their business during monthly meetings open to the public. All Legislative powers of the borough are exercised by the mayor and council. These powers can take the form of a resolution, ordinance or proclamation. The mayor presides at all meetings of the council. At Workshop meetings, the governing body discusses and debates proposed resolutions, ordinances and other policy matters. These meetings are open to the public, and members of the public may participate at an appropriate time at the meeting.

, the mayor of Allendale is Republican Amy E. Wilczynski, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Matthew J. O'Toole (R, 2025), Joseph Daloisio (R, 2026), Elizabeth C. "Liz" Homan (R, 2024), Susanne C. Lovisolo (R, 2024), Edward O'Connell (R, 2026) and Tyler Yaccarino (R, 2025).

In January 2019, the borough council appointed Matthew O'Toole to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that had been held by Ari Bernstein until he resigned to take office as mayor.

In January 2015, the borough council selected Liz Homan to fill Liz White's vacant council seat on an interim basis until the November 2015 general election.

Federal, state and county representation
Allendale is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,537 registered voters in Allendale, of which 860 (19.0% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,690 (37.2% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,983 (43.7% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 69.7% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 97.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2020 presidential election, Democrat Joseph Biden received 2,458 votes (54.7%), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 1,945 votes (43.3%), and other candidates with 89 votes (2.0%), among the 4,492 ballots cast.

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 1,759 votes (47.4% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 1,756 votes (47.3% vs. 41.1% countywide) and other candidates with 194 votes (5.2% vs 2.9% countywide), among the 3,773 ballots cast by the borough's 5,162 registered voters for a turnout of 73.1% (vs. 73% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,057 votes (60.3% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,322 votes (38.7% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 25 votes (0.7% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,413 ballots cast by the borough's 4,834 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.6% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,033 votes (56.4% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,537 votes (42.7% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 16 votes (0.4% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,602 ballots cast by the borough's 4,613 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.1% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,108 votes (59.5% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,398 votes (39.4% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 32 votes (0.9% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,545 ballots cast by the borough's 4,458 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.5% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 53.9% of the vote (1,232 cast), ahead of Democrat Phil Murphy with 44.3% (1,013 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (40 votes), among the 2,321 ballots cast by the borough's 4,892 registered voters (36 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.4%. In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.4% of the vote (1,524 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.9% (517 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (34 votes), among the 2,104 ballots cast by the borough's 4,648 registered voters (29 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,415 votes (59.5% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 795 votes (33.4% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 137 votes (5.8% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.4% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,378 ballots cast by the borough's 4,557 registered voters, yielding a 52.2% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education
The Allendale School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 859 students and 69.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.4:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics. ) are Hillside School with 343 students in pre-kindergarten to 3rd grade and Brookside School with 506 students from 4th to 8th grades.

Public school students in Allendale for ninth through twelfth grades attend Northern Highlands Regional High School, which also serves students from Ho-Ho-Kus, Upper Saddle River and some of Saddle River's students (who have the option of attending either Northern Highlands or Ramsey High School, as part of sending/receiving relationships with the two districts). As of the 2020–21 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,364 students and 106.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1. New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked the high school as the 22nd-best of 328 ranked schools in New Jersey in its 2012 rankings of the "Top Public High Schools" after being ranked 6th of 322 schools in 2010. The ten voting seats on the high school district's board of education are allocated based on a percentage of the enrollment coming from each constituent municipality, with four seats allocated to Allendale.

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.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 33.47 mi of roadways, of which 24.99 mi were maintained by the municipality, 8.10 mi by Bergen County and 0.38 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

A small section of Route 17 passes through the far eastern edge of Allendale. The main roads in Allendale are Franklin Turnpike, Allendale Avenue, Brookside Avenue, and Crescent Avenue.

Interstate 287 is accessible in Franklin Lakes and the neighboring town of Mahwah.

Public transportation
NJ Transit provides train service at the Allendale station located at Allendale Avenue, Myrtle Avenue and Park Avenue. There are two ticket vending machines and a shelter at the southbound platform, with an underpass to transfer between the northbound and southbound platforms. The station provides service on both Main Line and Bergen County Line trains. The lines offer service to Hoboken Terminal, with transfers available at Secaucus Junction to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan and to most of New Jersey Transit's other train lines.

Coach USA / Short Line offers bus service between Allendale and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

There is no NJ Transit bus service in Allendale.

Sister city
Allendale is a sister city of Ōmachi, Saga in Japan.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Allendale include:

 * Jim Burt (born 1959), professional football player
 * Phillip Chorba (born 1983), actor who has appeared in Silver Linings Playbook and Concussion
 * James Comey (born 1960), former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
 * John Fell (1721–1798), judge and member of the Continental Congress
 * Richard Matheson (1926–2013), author and screenwriter
 * Marion Clyde McCarroll (1891–1977), writer and journalist who was the first woman issued a press pass by the New York Stock Exchange and also penned "Advice for the Lovelorn", the nationally syndicated column she inherited it from Dorothy Dix
 * Patricia Peardon (1923/24-1993), actress who originated the title role in the Broadway play Junior Miss.
 * Lou Piniella (born 1943), former baseball player and manager
 * J. Parnell Thomas (1895–1970), Congressman who served as Mayor of Allendale from 1926 to 1930
 * Tony Vlachos (born 1973), winner of Survivor: Cagayan and Survivor: Winners at War
 * Chris Wylde (born 1976), actor and comedian

title: Allendale, New Jersey


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Alpine, New Jersey

Alpine is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, approximately 15 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. It is the easternmost community in New Jersey.

As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,762, a decrease of 87 (−4.7%) from the 2010 census count of 1,849, which in turn reflected a decline of 334 (−15.3%) from the 2,183 counted in the 2000 census.

In 2012, Forbes ranked Alpine as America's most expensive ZIP Code with a median home price of $4.25 million. It was ranked 4th in the magazine's 2010 listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $3,814,885. In 2009, Forbes ranked Alpine first, along with Greenwich, Connecticut, with a median home price of $4.14 million. Alpine was tied with Greenwich for first in both 2006 and 2007 on the ABC News list of most expensive ZIP Codes, with a median home sale price of $3.4 million. In 2019, PropertyShark ranked Alpine as the 53rd most expensive ZIP Code in the country with a median sales price of $1,785,000, a drop from a ranking of 33rd nationwide in 2018 due to a decline of 19% in sales prices. Based on data from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey, the borough had a per-capita income of $107,604, ranked second in the state.

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Alpine as its 15th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.

Alpine was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1903, from portions of Harrington Township. The borough acquired a portion of Cresskill in 1904. The borough's name came from the wife of journalist Charles Nordhoff, who found the setting reminiscent of the Swiss Alps.

Geography
The borough has a total area of 9.22 square miles (23.89 km2), including 6.40 square miles (16.58 km2) of land and 2.82 square miles (7.31 km2) of water (30.61%).

The borough borders Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Norwood, Rockleigh and Tenafly in Bergen County. Across the Hudson River, the borough borders The Bronx in New York City, and in Westchester County the city of Yonkers and the village of Hastings-on-Hudson (within the town of Greenburgh). North of the New York State border, the borough borders the hamlet of Tappan (in the town of Orangetown) in Rockland County.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 1,849 people, 611 households, and 529 families in the borough. The population density was 288.4 /sqmi. There were 670 housing units at an average density of 104.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 68.14% (1,260) White, 2.38% (44) Black or African American, 0.05% (1) Native American, 26.07% (482) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.30% (24) from other races, and 2.06% (38) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.81% (89) of the population.

Of the 611 households, 32.9% had children under the age of 18; 73.8% were married couples living together; 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 13.4% were non-families. Of all households, 11.8% were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.24.

22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 16.0% from 25 to 44, 36.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.4 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $172,054 (with a margin of error of +/− $23,256) and the median family income was $192,188 (+/− $56,076). Males had a median income of $124,375 (+/− $28,708) versus $56,719 (+/− $21,358) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $107,604 (+/− $18,758). About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed four households in 2010, down from the eight counted in the 2000 Census.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,183 people, 708 households, and 623 families residing in the borough. The population density was 343.5 PD/sqmi. There were 730 housing units at an average density of 114.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 77.37% White, 1.51% African American, 0.23% Native American, 19.10% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.52% of the population.

There were 708 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 79.8% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.0% were non-families. 9.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 34.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $130,740, and the median income for a family was $134,068. Males had a median income of $87,544 versus $45,536 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $76,995. 6.2% of the population and 5.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 8.5% were under the age of 18 and 6.4% were 65 or older.

Local government
Alpine is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, 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 includes 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 Alpine 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.

, the mayor of Alpine is Democrat Paul H. Tomasko, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Alpine Borough Council are Council President Gayle Gerstein (D, 2025), Scott Bosworth (D, 2025), Steven Cohen (D, 2024), Arthur I. Frankel (D, 2026), Vicki Frankel (D, 2024) and David Kupferschmid (D, 2026).

In August 2022, David Kupferschmid was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Laurence A. Shadek until he resigned from office the previous month.

In February 2021 the borough council appointed Scott Bosworth from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the council seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by John Halbreich until he resigned from office earlier that month. Bosworth served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

Joan Ornstein was appointed by the borough council in February 2012 to fill the vacant seat of her husband Steve, who had died the previous month after being sworn in for a three-year term of office.

In 2018, the borough had an average property tax bill of $21,299, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.

Federal, state and county representation
Alpine is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,352 registered voters in Alpine, of which 341 (25.2% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 372 (27.5% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 638 (47.2% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 73.1% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 94.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 458 votes (50.8% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 419 votes (46.5% vs. 41.6% countywide) and other candidates with 25 votes (2.7% vs. 3.7% countywide), among the 902 ballots cast by the borough's 1,480 registered voters for a turnout of 60.9% (vs. 73% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 522 votes (59.0% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 342 votes (38.6% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 9 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 885 ballots cast by the borough's 1,416 registered voters, for a turnout of 62.5% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).

In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 532 votes (54.0% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 434 votes (44.1% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 8 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 985 ballots cast by the borough's 1,378 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.5% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 588 votes (56.1% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 451 votes (43.0% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 8 votes (0.8% vs. 0.7%), among the 1,048 ballots cast by the borough's 1,394 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.2% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 53.0% of the vote (229 cast), ahead of Democrat Phil Murphy with 46.1% (199 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (4 votes), among the 436 ballots cast by the borough's 1,416 registered voters (4 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 30.8%. In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 76.1% of the vote (348 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.2% (106 votes), and other candidates with 0.7% (3 votes), among the 465 ballots cast by the borough's 1,347 registered voters (8 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 34.5%.

In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 328 votes (54.8% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 227 votes (37.9% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 34 votes (5.7% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 3 votes (0.5% vs. 0.5%), among the 599 ballots cast by the borough's 1,347 registered voters, yielding a 44.5% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education
The Alpine Public School District is a community school district serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Alpine School. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 170 students and 21.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.9:1. In the 2016–17 school year, Alpine had the 33rd smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 160 students.

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Tenafly High School in Tenafly as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Tenafly Public Schools under which the Alpine district pays tuition for each student. As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,200 students and 103.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1.

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.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 30.40 mi of roadways, of which 16.12 mi were maintained by the municipality, 2.40 mi by Bergen County and 5.86 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 6.02 mi by the Palisades Interstate Parkway Commission.

U.S. Route 9W, the Palisades Interstate Parkway and County Route 502 all pass through Alpine.

Public transportation
Rockland Coaches provides service along Route 9W to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 9T / 9AT routes and to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on the 9 and 9A routes.

NJ Transit provides no bus or train service in Alpine.

NJ Transit bus route 753 provides service in Cresskill, which runs between Cresskill and Paramus at the Bergen Town Center.

Media
Alpine is home to the tower and laboratory built by Edwin Howard Armstrong after RCA evicted him from the Empire State Building. Armstrong's experimental FM station, W2XMN, used various frequencies to broadcast from the tower, first on 42.8 MHz; later on 44.1 MHz; and finally on 93.1 MHz in the modern FM band. The laboratory building and the tower still stand; the 400-foot (122-m) tower is home to many two-way radio users, one modern FM station (Fairleigh Dickinson University's WFDU), and backup transmitters for several of New York's television stations. The tower served as a primary tower for the stations after the September 11 terrorist attacks destroyed the World Trade Center.

There was some local opposition to this scheme, but the move was temporary, as the stations affected moved their primary broadcast facilities to the Empire State Building. The original lab building is home to a static display of historic communications equipment and offices; the USA Network cable channel operated from this building in the late 1970s.

Points of interest
Rio Vista is an upscale neighborhood in the southern section of Alpine. Rio Vista is home to Devil's Tower, a stone water tower that is claimed to be haunted. It was originally designed by Charles Rollinson Lamb for sugar baron Manuel Rionda (1854–1943) in order to allow his wife to see New York from the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. The legend has it that when his wife saw him with another woman, she committed suicide by jumping off the tower.

After becoming upset over his wife's death, Rionda stopped all work on the tower. In reality Harriet Rionda died of natural causes in 1922 and was interred nearby for approximately 20 years. Her coffin was moved to Brookside Cemetery, Englewood. The estate was later sub-divided into 197 housing sites consisting of miles of roadway, infrastructure, and related facilities in the mid-1980s.

The New Jersey Section of the Palisades Interstate Park runs the length of Alpine along the top of the New Jersey Palisades and along the Hudson River. The Alpine Boat Basin serves as both a public picnic area and small marina for private boats. The area is a scenic riverfront picnic area and boat basin, plus beach for car-top boat launches (canoe and kayak), with fishing, access to hiking trails and Henry Hudson Drive, restrooms, water, vending machines, and public phones. Alpine Pavilion, an open-air stone picnic pavilion built in 1934 by the Civil Works Administration and available for rental is located here, as well as the historic Blackledge-Kearney House, said to be the site where Lord Cornwallis and his troops landed on November 20, 1776, in their pursuit of the Continental Army following the rout of George Washington's forces in the Battle of New York.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Alpine include:

 * Aras Agalarov (born 1955), Russian billionaire
 * Gioia Marconi Braga, daughter of Guglielmo Marconi and chairwoman of the Marconi Foundation
 * J. Cleaveland Cady (1837–1919), architect
 * Sean Combs (born 1969), rap artist
 * Kellyanne Conway (born 1967), strategist, and pollster who was campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2016
 * Johnny Damon (born 1973), outfielder who played for the New York Yankees from 2006 to 2009
 * Damon Dash (born 1971), hip-hop entrepreneur
 * Eddie Einhorn (1936–2016), part owner of the Chicago White Sox
 * Patrick Ewing (born 1962), former center for the New York Knicks
 * Fabolous (born 1977), rap artist
 * Henry Clay Frick II (1919–2007), physician and head of the Frick Collection
 * Andre Harrell (born 1960), founder of Uptown Records
 * Matt Herr (born 1976), ice hockey forward who played for part of four NHL seasons
 * O'Kelly Isley Jr. (1937–1986), founding member of The Isley Brothers
 * Sachin H. Jain (born 1980), physician and Obama Administration official
 * Jay-Z (born 1969), rap artist
 * Ilya Kovalchuk (born 1983), former right wing for the NHL New Jersey Devils
 * Lil' Kim (born 1975), rap artist, who rapped about her new hometown in her song Aunt Dot ("Come on Shanice, I'm takin' you to my house in Alpine...")
 * Harold Lamb (1892–1962), historian, screenwriter, short story writer and novelist
 * Eric Maskin (born 1950), co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences
 * Pierre McGuire (born 1961), ice hockey analyst who was head coach of the Hartford Whalers
 * Peter Moraites (1922–2014), Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly who resigned from office in 1971 after facing charges that he accepted fees from a loan applicant
 * Tracy Morgan (born 1968), comedian and actor
 * Eddie Murphy (born 1961), comedian, actor who has appeared in the Beverly Hills Cop series and as the voice of Donkey in the Shrek series
 * Charles Nordhoff (1830–1901), journalist
 * Joe Piscopo (born 1951), actor, best known as a cast member of Saturday Night Live
 * John Ringling (1866–1936), best-known of the seven Ringling brothers, five of whom merged the Barnum & Bailey Circus with their own Ringling Brothers Circus to create the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, he built the Gray Crag estate in Alpine in the 1920s
 * Manuel Rionda (1854–1943), Spanish-born, US-based sugar baron in Cuba
 * Chris Rock (born 1965), comedian and actor, has described Alpine as "Beverly Hills with freaking snow" Rock has mentioned Alpine in his comedy act, pointing out the efforts and fame required of the black residents, while his next door neighbor, who is white, is "just a dentist".
 * Larry Robbins (born 1971), founder of Glenview Capital Management
 * Paul Rosenberg (born 1971), CEO of Goliath Records and former CEO of Def Jam Recordings, best known for his association with hip hop artist Eminem
 * CC Sabathia (born 1980), pitcher for the New York Yankees
 * Norman Sas (1925–2012), inventor of electric football and former member of the Alpine borough council
 * Gary Sheffield (born 1968), former baseball player
 * Russell Simmons (born 1957), hip-hop entrepreneur
 * Wesley Snipes (born 1962), actor
 * Britney Spears (born 1981), singer
 * Seth Stephens-Davidowitz (born 1982), data scientist, economist and author
 * Joseph A. Unanue (1925–2013), president of Goya Foods from 1976 to 2004
 * Stevie Wonder (born 1950), musician
 * Robert Zoellner (1932–2014), investor and stamp collector who was the second person to have assembled a complete collection of United States postage stamps

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Alpine, New Jersey


text:
Bergenfield, New Jersey

Bergenfield is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 28,321, an increase of 1,557 (+5.8%) from the 2010 census count of 26,764,  which in turn reflected an increase of 517 (+2.0%) from the 26,247 counted in the 2000 census.

Bergenfield was formed on the basis of a referendum held on June 25, 1894, from portions of Englewood Township and Palisades Township. 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. The borough was named for its location in Bergen County.

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Bergenfield as its 211th best place to live in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey. The magazine ranked Bergenfield as its 231st best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live".

NeighborhoodScout named Bergenfield as the safest municipality in the nation in 2012 with more than 25,000 residents and in both 2013 and 2014 they named it as the 2nd safest town in the US only behind Franklin, Massachusetts. In 2019, Bergenfield has dropped in their ratings, falling to number 4.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.91 square miles (7.55 km2), including 2.90 square miles (7.52 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.31%).

The borough borders the Bergen County municipalities of Cresskill, Dumont, Englewood, New Milford, Teaneck and Tenafly.

Demographics
Bergenfield has been called the Little Manila of Bergen County. Of the 14,224 Filipino population in the county as a whole enumerated in the 2000 Census, 3,133 (22% of the county total) lived in Bergenfield. By the 2010 Census, 4,569 Bergenfield residents (17.1% of the population) listed themselves as being of Filipino ancestry, and increasing further to 5,062 (18.4%) by 2016.

A growing Jewish community in Bergenfield and neighboring Teaneck is comprised of Modern Orthodox Jews.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 26,764 people, 8,852 households, and 6,816 families in the borough. The population density was 9306.5 /sqmi. There were 9,200 housing units at an average density of 3199.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 52.42% (14,029) White, 7.70% (2,060) Black or African American, 0.31% (84) Native American, 25.60% (6,851) Asian, 0.05% (13) Pacific Islander, 10.12% (2,709) from other races, and 3.80% (1,018) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 26.52% (7,097) of the population.

Of the 8,852 households, 35.5% had children under the age of 18; 58.7% were married couples living together; 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.0% were non-families. Of all households, 19.4% were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.46.

23.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $82,546 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,568) and the median family income was $99,963 (+/− $5,602). Males had a median income of $52,891 (+/− $2,058) versus $50,443 (+/− $2,598) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,034 (+/− $2,133). About 3.9% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 62 households in 2010, an increase from the 51 counted in 2000.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 26,247 people, 8,981 households, and 6,753 families residing in the borough. The population density was 9,065.4 PD/sqmi. There were 9,147 housing units at an average density of 3,159.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 62.90% White, 6.90% African American, 0.24% Native American, 20.41% Asian (5,357 Asian), 0.02% Pacific Islander, 6.47% from other races, and 3.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 17.05% of the population.

There were 8,981 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the borough 24.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.3% was from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $62,172, and the median income for a family was $71,187. Males had a median income of $42,074 versus $35,137 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,706. About 2.6% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Prestige Records, a major producer of jazz recordings that was established in 1949, had its offices in Bergenfield from the mid-1960s until its sale in 1972.

Arts and culture
The infamous group suicide of the "Bergenfield Four" took place in March 1987 and received worldwide attention. The victims were four local high schoolers, ages sixteen to nineteen, and their mutual deaths by carbon monoxide were followed by a rash of copycat attempts. The suicides are examined in sociological perspective in Donna Gaines' Teenage Wasteland (1998). References in the arts include the Tom Russell song "Bergenfield" (1989), and the Alice Donut song "New Jersey Exit" (1988).

The Royal Teens were a 1950s rock and roll band from the borough that was best known as one-hit wonders for their song "Short Shorts". The Knickerbockers were a 1960s band that took their name from Knickerbocker Road in nearby Tenafly. Mucky Pup was a hardcore and heavy metal band from Bergenfield.

Several scenes for the Harlem Globetrotter 1954 film Go, Man, Go! were filmed at Franklin School, and along nearby Prospect Avenue. Those scenes included actors Dane Clark (portraying Abe Saperstein) and Patricia Breslin (playing Sylvia Saperstein). Many of the school's 5th grade boys were used as extras.

On May 4, 2006, the ABC show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came to Bergenfield to build a home for the Llanes family on New Bridge Road. The episode aired as the pre-season two-hour special originally broadcast on September 17, 2006. The Llanes sold their home in 2012 and went to live with relatives because their taxes increased beyond their ability to pay, having risen from under $6,500 in 2007 to more than $15,000 five years later due to the increased assessed value of the home following the renovation.

Sports
On July 22, 2007, the Team Bergenfield Roller Hockey Club, won the NARCh National Roller Hockey Championship defeating the Nor-Cal Patriots 6–5 in Estero, Florida. Team Bergenfield went 6–0–1 in the tournament en route to winning the Men's Silver Championship. The team formed in Bergenfield in 1994 and is one of the longest running roller hockey clubs in the United States.

Local government
Bergenfield is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, 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 includes 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 Bergenfield 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.

, the mayor of Bergenfield is Democrat Arvin Amatorio, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027; a former borough council member, Amatorio narrowly unseated Republican Norman Schmelz in the 2019 election. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Hernando D. Rivera Mejia (D, 2024), Domingo Almonte (D, 2026), Salvador S. "Buddy" Deauna (D, 2025), Ora C. Kornbluth (D, 2025), Thomas A. Lodato (D, 2024) and Marc Pascual (D, 2026).

In March 2023, the borough council appointed Domingo Almonte to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held been held by Rafael Marte.

In January 2020, the borough council selected Marc Pascual to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Arvin Amatorio until he stepped down to take office as mayor.

In January 2017, the borough council selected Rafael Marte to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Chris Tully until he resigned from office earlier that month.

Federal, state and county representation
Bergenfield is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 38th state legislative district.

Politics
As of 2022, there were 18,848 registered voters in Bergenfield. As of 2011, there were a total of 14,083 registered voters in Bergenfield, of which 5,139 (36.5% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,151 (15.3% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 6,782 (48.2% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 11 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 52.6% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 69.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 7,395 votes (63.4% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 3,745 votes (32.1% vs. 41.1% countywide) and other candidates with 305 votes (2.6% vs. 3.0% countywide), among the 11,653 ballots cast by the borough's 16,298 registered voters for a turnout of 71.5% (vs. 73% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 6,665 votes (62.7% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 3,773 votes (35.5% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 91 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 10,624 ballots cast by the borough's 15,285 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.5% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 6,410 votes (57.6% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 4,561 votes (40.9% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 70 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 11,138 ballots cast by the borough's 14,721 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.7% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).

In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Democrat Phil Murphy received 66.5% of the vote (3,822 cast), ahead of Republican Kim Guadagno with 32.3% (1,858 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (65 votes), among the 5,891 ballots cast by the borough's 15,631 registered voters (146 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 37.7%. In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 59.2% of the vote (3,576 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 40.0% (2,416 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (47 votes), among the 6,214 ballots cast by the borough's 14,629 registered voters (175 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 3,463 ballots cast (53.9% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 2,599 votes (40.5% vs. 45.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 276 votes (4.3% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 29 votes (0.5% vs. 0.5%), among the 6,420 ballots cast by the borough's 14,488 registered voters, yielding a 44.3% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Police
The Bergenfield Police Department provides police services to the Borough of Bergenfield. As of 2010, there are a total of 46 sworn officers in the department, 8 civilian telecommunicators, and three civilian Records Bureau employees.

The force is responsible for all aspects of policing in the borough, including responding to fire and medical emergency calls. Each patrol car is equipped with a first aid kit, oxygen tank, and an Automated external defibrillator.

Fire
Started in 1905, the Bergenfield Fire Department (BFD) has three independent fire companies and a career staff.

Ambulance
The Bergenfield Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. (BVAC) was formed in 1941 as the "Bergenfield Volunteer Firemen's Ambulance Corps." Renamed the "Bergenfield Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc." and established as an organization independent of the Bergenfield Fire Department in 1981, BVAC is located at 1 Froelich Street in Bergenfield. The BVAC is a volunteer independent public emergency medical service. As such, they do not bill for services. BVAC is funded by donations from the public as well as limited funding from the borough.

The corps provides basic life support, and is staffed by certified emergency medical technicians. BVAC has four ambulances, one first response SUV, and one EMS Support Unit. Dispatching is provided by the Bergenfield Police Department's 9-1-1 center.

The primary jurisdiction of the BVAC is the Borough of Bergenfield, but the corps also responds to requests for mutual-aid from the neighboring First Aid Squads of Dumont, New Milford, and Teaneck.

The BVAC is a member of the New Jersey State First Aid Council.

Education
Students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade are educated by the Bergenfield Public Schools. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of seven schools, had an enrollment of 3,666 students and 283.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Franklin Elementary School with 345 students in grades K-5, Hoover Elementary School with 261 students in grades K-5, Jefferson Elementary School with 278 students in grades K-5, Lincoln Elementary School with 410 students in grades PreK-5, Washington Elementary School with 300 students in grades K-5, Roy W. Brown Middle School with 855 students in grades 6-8 and Bergenfield High School with 1,203 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.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 60.50 mi of roadways, of which 54.75 mi were maintained by the municipality and 5.75 mi by Bergen County.

Main roads include Washington Avenue, Main Street, Prospect Avenue, River Edge Road and New Bridge Road.

Public transportation
NJ Transit bus service is available to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 166, 167 routes and to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on the 186 route; and to other New Jersey communities served on the 753, 756 and 772 routes.

Until 1959, the New York Central Railroad operated passenger service through the borough on the West Shore Railroad. Service operated north along the Hudson River to Albany, New York, and points west; and south to Weehawken Terminal.

Community
Bergenfield is one of a growing number of districts to form a SID (Special Improvement District). Bergenfield's Special Improvement District stretches a mile along Washington Avenue from Teaneck to Dumont has been promoting the local businesses for several years. Its mission is to inform people about Bergenfield's shopping district and its over 50 international restaurants and food stores within one mile.

Mayors

 * Arvin Amatorio, 2020–present
 * Norman Schmelz, 2013–2020.
 * Timothy J. Driscoll 2008 to 2013.
 * Richard J. Bohan 2004-2007.
 * Robert C. Rivas 1999 to 2003.
 * Kevin M. Clancy 1996-1998
 * Charles F. McDowell, Jr. 1992-1995
 * Robert J. Gallione, Jr. 1988-1991
 * Charles J. O'Dowd 1968-1971 and 1980-1987.
 * James F. Lodato 1976-1979.
 * William D. Armitage 1975
 * H. Alfred Struhs 1974
 * Walter S. Rosenbaum 1972-1973
 * William J. Patterson 1964-1967
 * Hugh M. Gillson 1960-1963
 * Edward C. Meyer 1954 to 1959.
 * Henry W. Theis 1946 to 1953.
 * Leonard Lindstrom 1931.
 * Charles A. Grabowski 1926.
 * T. J. Prime 1918 to 1922.
 * George Breisacher (1865–1934) 1912 to 1913.
 * Walter Cornelius Christie (1863–1941) 1897 to 1891. He was the founder and the second mayor of Bergenfield, New Jersey.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Bergenfield include:

 * Jack Antonoff (born 1984), singer, songwriter, and record producer, as well as guitarist of Fun
 * Harry Basil, stand-up comic, actor in Peggy Sue Got Married and film director
 * Chris Brantley (born 1970), former NFL wide receiver
 * Walter Christie (1863–1941), founder of Bergenfield who was the borough's second mayor in 1897
 * Pierce H. Deamer Jr. (1907–1986), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly and New Jersey Senate
 * Al Di Meola (born 1954), jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist, composer and record producer
 * Frank Eufemia (born 1959), Major League Baseball, pitcher
 * Ella Fajardo (born 2003), point guard who plays for the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights women's basketball team and has represented the Philippine national team in international competitions
 * Thom Fitzgerald (born 1968), filmmaker, The Hanging Garden, 3 Needles
 * George Gately (1928–2001), creator of the Heathcliff comic strip
 * Bob Gaudio (born 1942), from the Four Seasons
 * Bob Guccione (1930-2010), founder and former owner of Penthouse
 * Eugene Korn (born 1947), Orthodox rabbi who has focused on Jewish-Christian relations
 * David Lat (born 1975), blogger
 * Jimmy Lydon (1923-2022), who played Henry Aldrich in the movies, honored in the Bergenfield Hall of Fame
 * Produce Pete (born 1945), grocer, chef and celebrity spokesperson
 * Tom Reilly (born 1959), actor who played Bobby Nelson on CHiPs
 * Beatrice Schroeder Rose (1922–2014), author, composer, harpist and teacher, who was the principal harpist of the Houston Symphony for 31 years
 * Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University
 * Floyd James Thompson (1933–2002), America's longest held prisoner of war
 * McCoy Tyner (1938–2020), jazz pianist known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career
 * Ron Villone (born 1970), Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for 12 MLB teams, including for the New York Yankees in the 2006 season
 * Jacklyn Zeman (1953-2023), actress who has played Barbara "Bobbie" Spencer on General Hospital since 1977

title: Bergenfield, New Jersey


text:
Bogota, New Jersey

Bogota is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 8,778, an increase of 591 (+7.2%) from the 2010 census count of 8,187,  which in turn reflected a decline of 62 (−0.8%) from the 8,249 counted in the 2000 census.

Bogota was formed on November 14, 1894, from portions of Ridgefield Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed during 1894 alone. Portions of Bogota were taken in 1895 to form part of the newly created Township of Teaneck. Bogota was named in honor of the Bogert family, which had been the first European settlers to occupy the area, and may also be a blend of Bogert and Banta, another early family, with an "O" added to ease pronunciation.

The borough's name is pronounced, unlike Bogotá, capital city of Colombia, which is accented on the final syllable.

Geography
Bogota is located on the east shore of the Hackensack River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.80 square miles (2.06 km2), including 0.76 square miles (1.95 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km2) of water (5.25%).

The borough borders Hackensack to the west, Ridgefield Park to the south and Teaneck on the north and east.

Bogota is bisected by the CSX River Line, which divides the borough into an eastern and western portion. The eastern half is highly industrial, with more busy roads. The western half is mainly suburban, with the exception of storefronts on West Main Street, River Road, and a development on West Fort Lee Road.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 8,187 people, 2,773 households, and 2,080 families in the borough. The population density was 10702.5 /sqmi. There were 2,888 housing units at an average density of 3775.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 61.00% (4,994) White, 9.42% (771) Black or African American, 0.78% (64) Native American, 9.81% (803) Asian, 0.09% (7) Pacific Islander, 14.80% (1,212) from other races, and 4.10% (336) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.71% (3,169) of the population.

Of the 2,773 households, 36.4% had children under the age of 18; 54.9% were married couples living together; 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.0% were non-families. Of all households, 20.7% were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.43.

23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $77,375 (with a margin of error of +/− $13,132) and the median family income was $96,563 (+/− $12,361). Males had a median income of $53,460 (+/− $5,549) versus $46,350 (+/− $9,142) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,844 (+/− $2,819). About 8.2% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 8,249 people, 2,874 households, and 2,126 families residing in the borough. The population density was 10,841.3 PD/sqmi. There were 2,915 housing units at an average density of 3,831.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 75.72% White, 5.73% African American, 0.15% Native American, 7.75% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 6.76% from other races, and 3.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.32% of the population.

There were 2,874 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.9% 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 2.85 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $59,813, and the median income for a family was $69,841. Males had a median income of $49,347 versus $36,406 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,505. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Bogota is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, 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 includes 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 Bogota 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.

, the mayor of the Borough of Bogota is Republican Daniele Fede, serving a term of office that expires on December 31, 2027. Members of the Bogota Borough Council are Council President Consuelo M. Carpenter (D, 2024), Lisa Kohles (D, 2026), Patrick H. McHale (D, 2025), John G. Mitchell (D, 2025), Mary Ellen Murphy (D, 2023), Robert Robbins (D, 2024) and Diana Vergara (D, 2026).

Kathryn Gates-Ferris was appointed in late 2015 to fill the seat vacated by Lisa Kohles.

The council seat expiring in 2015 held by Chris Kelemen was vacated when he took office as mayor in January 2015.

Citing the bitter political differences in the governing body and the loss of two council seats to Republican challengers in the general election that month, Mayor Patrick McHale resigned from office in November 2013 and was replaced on an acting basis by Council President Tito Jackson, who served in that role until the November 2014 election. In September 2011, the borough council appointed Wanda Uceta to fill the vacant seat of Joseph Nooto who had died earlier that month. In December 2013, Lisa Kohles was chosen to fill Jackson's vacant council seat for a term ending in December 2014.

In 2012, Democrats retained full control of borough government, as incumbent Jorge Nunez won re-election along with his running mate Robert Robbins, who won his first term in office.

In the November 2011 general election, Democrats gained control of all of the borough's elected positions. Patrick McHale was re-elected to a four-year term as mayor. Incumbents Michael Brophy and Tito Jackson were elected to new three-year terms, while Wanda Uceta won a two-year unexpired term and Evaristo Burdiez Jr. won his first full three-year term, after both Burdiez and Uceta had been appointed to fill vacancies.

In the 2010 General Election, Councilmen Joseph Noto and Michael Brophy won reelection, while first-time candidate Arthur Konigsberg also captured a seat. They defeated Councilwoman Anne Marie Mitchell and challengers Jared Geist and Guillermo Martinez. Brophy led the way with 1,235 votes, followed by Noto with 1,072 and Konigsberg with 1,060. Mitchell received 966 votes, while Geist and Martinez earned 847 and 775 votes, respectively. Noto and Konigsberg won three-year terms, while Brophy—who was appointed to fill a vacancy last year—will serve for an additional year to finish the uncompleted term.

In July 2006, then-Mayor Lonegan created a controversy when he engineered a borough council resolution requesting the removal of a Spanish-language billboard in the borough that was advertising McDonald's iced coffee. Lonegan said the billboard was "divisive." The story received national publicity, occurring concurrently with a national debate on illegal immigration. The 2003 mayoral election won by Lonegan was the subject of the documentary Anytown, USA.

Federal, state and county representation
Bogota is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 37th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,345 registered voters in Bogota, of which 1,549 (35.7% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 735 (16.9% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,060 (47.4% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 53.1% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 69.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

On the national level, Bogota leans strongly toward the Democratic Party. In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 2,454 votes (63.9% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 1,230 votes (32.1% vs. 41.1% countywide) and other candidates with 154 votes (4.0% vs. 3.0% countywide), among the 3,890 ballots cast by the borough's 5,244 registered voters for a turnout of 74.2% (vs. 73% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,308 votes (66.7% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,085 votes (31.4% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 30 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,458 ballots cast by the borough's 4,796 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.1% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,291 votes (63.3% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,270 votes (35.1% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 26 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,619 ballots cast by the borough's 4,759 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.0% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).

In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Democrat Phil Murphy received 62.4% of the vote (1,289 cast), ahead of Republican Kim Guadagno with 35.2% (728 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (49 votes), among the 2,147 ballots cast by the borough's 5,053 registered voters (81 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.5%. In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 55.2% of the vote (1,178 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 42.8% (913 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (42 votes), among the 2,243 ballots cast by the borough's 4,694 registered voters (110 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 1,151 ballots cast (53.1% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 856 votes (39.5% vs. 45.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 119 votes (5.5% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.4% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,168 ballots cast by the borough's 4,549 registered voters, yielding a 47.7% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education
Students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade are educated in the Bogota Public Schools. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,381 students and 103.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1. Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics. ) are E. Roy Bixby School with 293 students in grades PreK–5, Lillian M. Steen School which served 326 students in grades PreK–5, Bogota Middle School with an enrollment of 197 students in grades 6–7 and Bogota High School with an enrollment of 442 students in grades 8–12. Lillian M. Steen School was one of nine schools in New Jersey honored in 2020 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which recognizes high student achievement.

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.

Saint Joseph Academy was a Catholic school serving students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. In summer of 2020 the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark made the decision to close the Saint Joseph Academy "...due to increasing financial burdens, declining enrollment and Covid 19 pandemic" The former site of the Saint Joseph Academy was leased to the Bogota Board of Education for a five year period and is currently used for preschooland grades 6 and 7.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 17.67 mi of roadways, of which 14.90 mi were maintained by the municipality, 2.39 mi by Bergen County and 0.38 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Bergen County CR 56-1, whose terminus is within the borough, CR 56-2, and CR 41 all pass through Bogota.

Interstate 80 passes through the southern tip of the borough, continuing from Ridgefield Park in the west onto its terminus in Teaneck to the east, and is accessible at Exit 67 in Ridgefield Park, just south of Bogota. Route 4 is accessible in Teaneck. These highways provide access to the George Washington Bridge, the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and other portions of the area's transportation network. There are several bridges, including the Court Street Bridge and the Midtown Bridge that span the Hackensack River to Hackensack.

Public transportation
Several NJ Transit bus lines travel through Bogota between Hackensack, Jersey City, Paramus and New York City. NJ Transit bus service is available to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 155 and 168 routes; to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on the 182 route; and to other New Jersey communities served on the 83 (to Jersey City), 751 and 755 routes.

Passenger rail service to Bogota station ended in 1966, but the right of way for freight lines of New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad (NYSW) and the CSX River Subdivision (formerly the West Shore Railroad) run along the riverbank on the west side of town. The Passaic–Bergen–Hudson Transit Project is a NJ Transit proposal to restore passenger service along the rail corridor with potential stations at West Fort Lee Road and Central Avenue.

Popular culture
The 2005 documentary film Anytown, USA focused on the 2003 mayoral race between Republican Steve Lonegan, Democrat Fred Pesce and independent Dave Musikant. The film was screened at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival on April 9, 2005, where it won the award for Best Documentary.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Bogota include:

 * Eddie Adams (1933–2004), photographer and photojournalist who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for his photo of police chief General Nguyễn Ngọc Loan executing a Vietcong prisoner, Nguyễn Văn Lém, on a Saigon street
 * Jimmy Gnecco (born 1973), musician from the Ours
 * Beth Hall (born 1958), actress best known for her portrayal of Wendy Harris on the CBS sitcom Mom
 * Richie Incognito (born 1983), guard for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League
 * Steve Lonegan (born 1956), politician who served for 12 years as Mayor of Bogota, was candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 2005 and 2009, and was the 2013 U.S. Senate candidate in the election following the death of Frank Lautenberg
 * Norman Pittenger (1905–1997), Anglican theologian who was one of the first acknowledged Christian defenders for the open acceptance of homosexual relations among Christians
 * Stanley Foster Reed (1917–2007), entrepreneur
 * Sid Schacht (1918–1991), pitcher who appeared in 19 games in the Major Leagues for the St. Louis Browns (1950–1951) and Boston Braves (1951)
 * Pat Schuber (born 1947), politician who served for four years as Mayor of Bogota, represented the district in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1982 to 1990 and served 12 years as the County Executive of Bergen County.
 * Vin Scully (1927-2022), sportscaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers
 * Harvey Silverglate (born 1942), attorney, journalist, writer, and co-founder of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
 * Pat Sullivan (born 1971), assistant coach for the New York Knicks
 * Andy Unanue, businessman and investor
 * Al Yates (1945–2007), outfielder who played in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers

title: Bogota, New Jersey


text:
Cliffside Park, New Jersey

Cliffside Park is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 25,693, an increase of 2,099 (+8.9%) from the 2010 census count of 23,594,  which in turn reflected an increase of 587 (+2.6%) from the 23,007 counted in the 2000 census.

Cliffside Park was formed based on the results of a referendum held on January 15, 1895, from portions of Ridgefield Township. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, as one of two boroughs created in 1895 after 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone. The borough was named for its location as a "Park by the Cliffs".

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg resided in the borough until his death in 2013. Cliffside Park was home to the former Palisades Amusement Park, part of which was located in adjoining Fort Lee. The 38 acre park operated from 1898 until 1971, remaining one of the most-visited amusement parks in the country until its closure, after which the rides and attractions were removed and the site replaced by high-rise apartment buildings.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.48 km2), all of which was land. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, Anderson Avenue and Palisade Avenue are the town's major north–south thoroughfares, the latter offering views of the Hudson River and New York City skyline.

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

The borough borders the municipalities of Edgewater, Fairview, Fort Lee and Ridgefield in Bergen County, as well as North Bergen in Hudson County.

Grantwood is named for Grant's Tomb, located on the opposite shore of the river. Gorge Road runs along the face of the cliff to the Edgewater waterfront.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 23,594 people, 9,948 households, and 6,178 families in the borough. The population density was 24508.7 /sqmi. There were 10,665 housing units at an average density of 11078.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 70.11% (16,541) White, 3.29% (776) Black or African American, 0.32% (75) Native American, 13.78% (3,252) Asian, 0.05% (11) Pacific Islander, 8.65% (2,042) from other races, and 3.80% (897) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.41% (6,704) of the population.

Of the 9,948 households, 23.6% had children under the age of 18; 44.8% were married couples living together; 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 37.9% were non-families. Of all households, 31.6% were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98.

17.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey shows that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $67,856 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,782) and the median family income was $80,856 (+/− $5,828). Males had a median income of $53,529 (+/− $4,598) versus $52,134 (+/− $5,805) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,157 (+/− $2,000). About 7.3% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 56 households in 2010, a decline from the 72 counted in 2000.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 23,007 people, 10,027 households, and 6,036 families residing in the borough. The population density was 23,847.7 PD/sqmi. There were 10,375 housing units at an average density of 10,754.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 77.85% White, 1.83% African American, 0.25% Native American, 12.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.97% from other races, and 3.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.16% of the population.

As of the 2000 census, 3.6% of Cliffside Park's residents identified themselves as being of Armenian American ancestry. This was the highest percentage in New Jersey, and the seventh-highest percentage of Armenian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry. Additionally, according to the 2000 Census, 1.3% of Cliffside Park identified themselves as Turkish American, the sixth-highest of any municipality in the United States and four-highest in the state.

There were 10,027 households, out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 16.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $46,288, and the median income for a family was $54,915. Males had a median income of $40,114 versus $36,100 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,516. About 8.5% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Religion
, more than three quarters of Cliffside Park residents categorize themselves as being affiliated with a formal religious body. A majority of the borough is Roman Catholic (52.60%), many of whom attend the Roman Catholic Church of the Epiphany on Knox Avenue. 8.12% Jewish; 1.21% Lutheran; 1.20% Episcopalian; 0.84% Methodist; 0.88% Muslim; 0.62% Baptist; 0.46% Pentecostal; and 0.02% Eastern Orthodox Christian.

Local government
Cliffside Park is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, 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 includes 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 Cliffside Park 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.

, the Mayor of Cliffside Park is Democrat Thomas Calabrese, who was elected to serve a term of office ending December 31, 2027. Members of the borough council are Council President John Chmielewski (D, 2024), Peter J. Colao (D, 2025), Kenneth J. Corcoran (D, 2025), Dana Martinotti (D, 2026), Selvie Nikaj (D, 2024) and Eurice Rojas (R, 2026).

In October 2019, the borough council appointed John Chmielewski to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Donna M. Spoto until she resigned from her seat the previous month after 31 years in office in order to move out of the borough.

In May 2015, the borough council selected Thomas Calabrese from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the vacant mayoral seat. Calabrese replaced his father, Gerald Calabrese, who was elected to the borough council in 1955 and had served continuously as mayor of Cliffside Park from 1965 until his death in April 2015, making him the longest-serving mayor in state history. In June 2015, Peter Colao was appointed to fill the vacant council seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Calabrese before he was selected to fill the vacancy as mayor.

Federal, state, and county representation
Cliffside Park is located in the 9th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 11,107 registered voters in Cliffside Park, of which 4,749 (42.8% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,166 (10.5% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 5,185 (46.7% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 7 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 47.1% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 56.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In recent years, Cliffside Park has leaned strongly toward the Democratic Party. In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 5,474 votes (61.1% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 3,119 votes (34.8% vs. 41.1% countywide) and other candidates with 221 votes (2.5% vs. 3.0% countywide), among the 8,953 ballots cast by the borough's 12,979 registered voters for a turnout of 68.9% (vs. 73% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,410 votes (66.0% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2,627 votes (32.0% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 64 votes (0.8% vs. 0.9%), among the 8,203 ballots cast by the borough's 11,870 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.1% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,348 votes (61.9% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 3,095 votes (35.8% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 88 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 8,636 ballots cast by the borough's 11,775 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.3% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 52.0% of the vote (2,298 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 47.0% (2,077 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (47 votes), among the 4,639 ballots cast by the borough's 11,249 registered voters (217 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 3,305 ballots cast (59.8% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,914 votes (34.6% vs. 45.8%), independent Chris Daggett with 202 votes (3.7% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 24 votes (0.4% vs. 0.5%), among the 5,529 ballots cast by the borough's 11,381 registered voters, yielding a 48.6% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Local elections
In the 2010 General Election, Democratic incumbents Thomas Calabrese (3,167 votes) and Kenneth Corcoran (3,111 votes) were re-elected to three-year terms of office after being challenged by Republican Party candidates Eric Soto (1,835 votes) and Michelle Talamo (1,836 votes).

In the 2009 General Election, Democratic incumbents Bernard J. Fontana (2,943 votes) and Donna M. Spoto (2,983 votes) were re-elected over Republican Party candidates John Mitchell (2,040 votes) and Eric Soto (2,004 votes).

List of mayors
Cliffside Park was formed in 1895 and has the borough form of New Jersey municipal government. It has had numerous mayors, a number of whom served non-consecutive terms. Gerald Calabrese was longest serving mayor (50 years) in New Jersey at the time of his death. The following is a list of previous mayors:

 * Thomas Calabrese (D) 2015 acting, 2016 to present
 * Gerald Calabrese (D) (1961–1963, 1965 to 2015) the longest-serving mayor in New Jersey
 * James F Madden (1963–1965)
 * Frederick F. Dyer (R) (1958 to 1959)
 * Francis J. Murphy (1954–1957)
 * Edward Ulrich (R) (1952–1959)
 * William T. Michaelson (1950 to 1951) He was indicted in 1951, and again in 1953, on charges of failure to enforce gambling laws, but the charges were dropped in 1955.
 * Joseph C. Woodcock (1939–1943)
 * Thomas A. Fox (1934–1939) Died in office in his third term.
 * Frank A. Meyer (1931–1934)
 * Joseph W. Marini (R) (1924–1929, 1944–1947), twice defeated Edward Aloysius Kenney, an unsuccessful candidate who ran as an independent in 1921, as a Republican in 1923, and as a Democrat in 1927. (Kenney later defeated Marini in a race for the U.S. House of Representatives. ) Became New Jersey Superior Court judge. New Jersey Assembly 1944-1945
 * John C. Cadien (1918–1924) Instrumental in the establishment of Cliffside Park Public Library
 * S. Wood McClave (1910–1914)
 * John E. Ferdinand (1904–1906)
 * August Neuman (1895–1904, 1906–1910, 1914–1918) An investor in Palisades Amusement Park, he was the first mayor of the borough. He asked the wife of Gaetano Bresci to move out of the town after her husband assassinated Umberto I of Italy. Served as postmaster 1895–1914. He was briefly shunned by townsfolk after a forgery of his signature.

Education
The Cliffside Park School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 3,074 students and 255.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1. Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Number 3 School with 358 students in grades PreK-4, Number 4 School with 485 students in grades K-5, Number 5 School with 275 students in grades PreK-4, Number 6 School / Cliffside Park Middle School with 692 students in grades 5-8 and Cliffside Park High School with 1,192 students in grades 9-12. Students from Fairview attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Fairview Public Schools.

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.

For generations, the borough was the home of Epiphany School, an elementary school of the Roman Catholic Church of the Epiphany. Completed in 1930, having been constructed under the direction of Msgr. Anthony J. Ferretti, the school was staffed by the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth (Convent Station, New Jersey). In 2005, due to changing demographics and low enrollment, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark decided to merge Epiphany School with Christ the Teacher Interparochial School in Fort Lee, New Jersey, which is jointly sponsored by Epiphany RC Church, Madonna RC Church (Fort Lee), Holy Trinity RC Church (Fort Lee) and Holy Rosary RC Church (Edgewater).

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 24.47 mi of roadways, of which 20.29 mi were maintained by the municipality and 4.18 mi by Bergen County.

Palisade Avenue and Anderson Avenue are the main north–south roads of Cliffside Park.

Public transportation
NJ Transit bus lines 156, 159 and 181 offer service to and from Manhattan; the 22 route serves Jersey City; and the 751 and 755 offer local service.

Popular culture
Many films have had scenes filmed in Cliffside Park.

Exteriors for The Vampire (1913), directed by Robert G. Vignola and starring Alice Hollister and Harry F. Millarde were filmed in the borough.

Scenes from Cop Land, directed by James Mangold and starring Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta were filmed here.

Portions of the 1988 film Big, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Penny Marshall, were filmed in Cliffside Park.

The exterior shown for the Heffernan house that was used in CBS sitcom The King of Queens is located in th eborough.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Cliffside Park include:

 * Randi Altschul (born 1960), toy inventor
 * Oksana Baiul (born 1977), figure skater
 * Ed Benguiat (1927–2020), typographer and lettering artist who crafted over 600 typeface designs including Bookman, Souvenir and the eponymous ITC Benguiat
 * Betsy Blair (1923–2009), actress of film and stage, long based in London
 * Nick Borelli (1905–1992), professional football player who spent one season in the National Football League with the Newark Tornadoes in 1930
 * Clinton Calabrese (born 1986), politician who has represented the 36th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since February 2018
 * Gerald Calabrese (1925–2015), former professional basketball player who served 50 consecutive years as mayor of Cliffside Park
 * Rene Paul Chambellan (1893–1955), architectural sculptor
 * Ann Corio (1909–1999), burlesque stripper, actress
 * William J. Dorgan (1921–2003), was a politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly, as Mayor of Palisades Park, New Jersey, and as a member of the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders
 * Joseph Dunninger (1892–1975), mentalist
 * Ruth Brewer Eisenberg (1902–1996), "Ivory" of Ebony and Ivory
 * Bruce Elia (born 1953), former NFL football player / local businessman
 * Eileen Farrell (1920–2002), opera singer
 * Frank H. Field (1922–2013), chemist and mass spectrometrist known for his work in the development of chemical ionization
 * Fred C. Galda (1918–1997), Superior Court judge and mayor of Paramus, New Jersey
 * Gloria Gaynor (born 1949), singer
 * Ray Gillen (1959–1993), former member of Black Sabbath
 * Heidi Groskreutz (born 1981), dancer and finalist on the second season of So You Think You Can Dance
 * Valerie Huttle (born 1956), politician who represented the 37th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2006 to 2022
 * Alfred J. Kahn (1919–2009), social policy expert
 * Edward Aloysius Kenney (1884–1938), member of the United States House of Representatives
 * Frank Lautenberg (1924–2013), United States Senator
 * Gus Lesnevich (1915–1964), boxer
 * Remy Ma (born 1981), Grammy Award-winning rapper
 * John Marin (1870–1953), artist known for his watercolors
 * Ralph Mercado (1941–2009), promoter of Latin American music
 * Otto Messmer (1892–1983), animator
 * Ed Mioduszewski (1931–2010), former NFL football player
 * Chris Neild (born 1987), NFL player
 * Randy Neumann (born 1948), boxing referee and former professional boxer
 * Charles Henry Niehaus (1855–1935), sculptor
 * Archibald Olpp (1882–1949), member of the United States House of Representatives
 * Daphne Oz (born 1986), author and talk show host
 * Mehmet Oz (born 1960), cardiothoracic surgeon, talk show host and author
 * Joe Pantoliano (born 1951), actor
 * Patrick J. Roma (1949–2017), lawyer and politician who represented the 38th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1988 to 1997
 * Julia Scotti, transgender stand-up comedian
 * Harold Snyder (1922–2008), co-founder of generic drug manufacturer Biocraft Laboratories
 * Manny Suárez (born 1993), basketball player who has competed internationally on the Chile national team
 * Joseph C. Woodcock (1925–1997), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly, New Jersey Senate and as Bergen County Prosecutor
 * Maysoon Zayid (born 1974), actress, comedian and activist

title: Cliffside Park, New Jersey