Mahwah, New Jersey

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Township of Mahwah, New Jersey
Map highlighting Mahwah's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Map highlighting Mahwah's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Coordinates: 41°5′19″N 74°8′38″W / 41.08861, -74.14389
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Bergen
Incorporated November 7, 1944
Government
 - Type Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
 - Mayor Richard J. Martel (R, 2008)
 - Business Administrator Brian T. Campion.[1]
Area
 - Total 26.2 sq mi (67.9 km²)
 - Land 25.9 sq mi (67.2 km²)
 - Water 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
Elevation [3] 249 ft (76 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 24,560
 - Density 927.9/sq mi (358.3/km²)
Time zone U.S. EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) U.S. EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07430
Area code(s) 201
FIPS code 34-42750GR2
GNIS feature ID 0882312GR3
Website: http://www.mahwahtwp.org

Mahwah is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 24,062. The name Mahwah is derived from the Lenni Lenape word "mawewi" which means "Meeting Place" or "Place Where Paths Meet".[4][5]

The area that is now Mahwah was originally formed as Hohokus Township on April 9, 1849, from portions of Franklin Township. On November 7, 1944, the area was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature as the Township of Mahwah, based on the results of a referendum held that day, replacing Hohokus Township. [6]

Contents

Franklin Turnpike in Mahwah with the Manhattan skyline 30 miles distant.
Franklin Turnpike in Mahwah with the Manhattan skyline 30 miles distant.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 26.2 square miles (67.9 km²), of which, 25.9 square miles (67.2 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (1.03%) is water. It is the largest municipality in Bergen County by area.

Mahwah is near the Ramapo Mountains and the Ramapo River. Interstate 287 passes through Mahwah, but the only point of access is at the New Jersey-New York border where 287 meets Route 17. Historic U.S. Route 202 also runs through Mahwah from Oakland, New Jersey, to Suffern, New York.

Mahwah is bordered by the towns of Upper Saddle River, Ramsey, Allendale, Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, and Oakland in Bergen County, New Jersey; Ringwood in Passaic County, New Jersey; and Ramapo in Rockland County, New York.

Several state and county parks are located in Mahwah, due to its large size and scenic terrain. They include Campgaw Mountain Reservation, Darlington County Park, Ramapo Mountain Reservation, and Ramapo Mountain State Forest. The Ramapo River runs through the western section of Mahwah.

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1930 3,536
—
1940 3,908 10.5%
1950 4,880 24.9%
1960 7,376 51.1%
1970 10,800 46.4%
1980 12,127 12.3%
1990 17,905 47.6%
2000 24,062 34.4%
Est. 2006 24,560 [2] 2.1%
Population 1930 - 1990[7]

As of the census² of 2000, there were 24,062 people, 9,340 households, and 6,285 families residing in the township. The population density was 927.9 people per square mile (358.3/km²). There were 9,577 housing units at an average density of 369.3/sq mi (142.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 87.93% White, 2.16% African American, 0.70% Native American, 6.31% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.50% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.27% of the population.

There were 9,340 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the township the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $79,500, and the median income for a family was $94,484. Males had a median income of $62,326 versus $42,527 for females. The per capita income for the township was $44,709. About 1.2% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Mahwah is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.

The Mayor of Mahwah is Richard J. Martel (R, term ends June 30, 2008).[8]

The legislative power of the municipality is exercised by a seven member Township Council. Officials are elected at non-partisan elections, held every other May, for four-year terms. Members of the Mahwah Township Council are Council President H. Lisa DiGiulio (R, 2008), Council Vice President John Roth (R, 2008), Samuel Alderisio (R, 2008), John DaPuzzo (R, 2010), Robert Hermansen (R, 2010), Allan R. Kidd (R, 2010) and Roy Larson (2008).[9][10]

Mahwah is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 40th Legislative District.[11]

New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District, covering the northern portions of Bergen County, Passaic County and Sussex County and all of Warren County, is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 40th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Henry McNamara (R, Wyckoff) and in the Assembly by Kevin J. O'Toole (R, Wayne) and David C. Russo (R, Midland Park). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).

Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D). The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. Bergen County's Freeholders are Chairman Tomas J. Padilla (D, Park Ridge), Vice-Chairman Elizabeth Calabrese (D, Wallington), David L. Ganz (D, Fair Lawn), James M. Carroll (D, Demarest), Bernadette P. McPherson (D, Rutherford), Julie O'Brien (D) and Connie Wagner (D).

Other countywide elected officials are Sheriff Leo McGuire (D), Surrogate Court Judge Mike Dressler (D, Cresskill) County Clerk Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford).

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 24,682 in Mahwah, there were 14,204 registered voters (57.5% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,736 (12.2% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 3,443 (24.2% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 9,019 (63.5% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were six voters registered to other parties.[12]

On the national level, Mahwah leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 58% of the vote, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received around 41%.[13]

In 2004, the New Jersey Legislature passed the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, which regulates the New Jersey Highlands region. Mahwah was included in the highlands planning area and is subject to the rules of the act and the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, a division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.[23] Some of the territory in the protected region is classified as being in the highlands preservation area, and thus subject to additional rules.[24]

The Mahwah Township Public Schools provides public education in Mahwah. Schools include:

Elementary Schools

Middle School

High School

Interstate 287 and Route 17 merge in Mahwah, and U.S. Route 202 also passes through. The interchange for Exit 66 is unique, since all traffic wishing to use Route 17 south must merge onto 287 south, and then keep left before the split for NJ 17 and I-287. The northern terminus of County Route 507 is also in Mahwah.

New Jersey Transit rail service to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan, Hoboken Terminal, and Newark is available from the Mahwah station on the Main Line and Bergen County Line. Shortline bus service to NYC and points between is available from several locations.

The Ramapough Mountain Indians were the original inhabitants of Mahwah and surrounding area, and now number approximately 5,000 people living around the Ramapo Mountains of northern New Jersey and southern New York. The tribe is officially recognized by the states of New Jersey and New York, but does not have federal recognition.[15] Their tribal office is located on Stag Hill Road in Mahwah, and the Chief of the Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation is Dwaine Perry (as of March 2007).[16]

For 25 years Mahwah hosted the A&P Tennis Classic, a tune up for the U.S. Open tennis tournament held at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens.

In August 1997, due to personal debt, then-Mayor David J. Dwork shot and killed himself in the town's mayoral offices. There were also unverified allegations of corruption.[17] Dwork was memorialized with a tree dedicated to him at the site of the Mahwah Public Library.

The definitive history book of Mahwah is "From Pioneer Settlement to Suburb, A History of Mahwah, New Jersey, 1700-1976" by Henry Bischoff and Mitchell Kahn L.C 78-55451ISBN0-498-02218-8. Originally published by A.S. Barnes and Company, a re-print was issued in 2005 by the Mahwah Historical Society. The book is 469 pages long.

Ford Motor Company operated an assembly plant in Mahwah from 1955 to 1982. At the time of it's completion, it was the largest motor vehicle assembly plant in the United States. The Ford plant, along with other businesses such as American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company, helped contribute to the economic development of the town and its reputation for low home property taxes. The Mahwah town sports teams remain named Thunderbirds in honor of the Ford plant.

Mahwah is also mentioned briefly in the Bruce Springsteen song "Johnny 99."

Notable current and former residents of Mahwah include:

  1. ^ Contacts Directory, Township of Mahwah. Accessed October 1, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Mahwah, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 1, 2007.
  3. ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Mahwah, Geographic Names Information System, accessed October 1, 2007.
  4. ^ If You're Thinking of Living in: Mahwah, The New York Times, June 2, 1991.
  5. ^ Mahwah High School Mission Statement, Mahwah High School. Accessed October 9, 2006.
  6. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 81.
  7. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  8. ^ Mayor, Township of Mahwah. Accessed September 23, 2007.
  9. ^ Township Council, Township of Mahwah. Accessed August 1, 2007.
  10. ^ "County of Bergen: 2007 County and Municipal Directory", Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 51.
  11. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 60. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  12. ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," Bergen County, New Jersey, dated April 1, 2006.
  13. ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004.
  14. ^ Locations, DialAmerica. Accessed October 25, 2007.
  15. ^ Kelley, Tina. "New Jersey Tribe Member Dies After Police Shooting at a Back-Roads Party", The New York Times, April 11, 2006. Accessed October 24, 2007. "New York and New Jersey recognize the Ramapoughs as a tribe, but the tribe has failed to obtain federal recognition. It has about 5,000 members."
  16. ^ Salazar, Carolyn; and Markos, Kibret. "Two Ramapoughs also charged in Mahwah encounter", The Record (Bergen County), March 28, 2007. Accessed October 24, 2007. "Caption: Fran Mann, Emil Mann's sister-in-law, hugging Ramapough chief Dwaine Perry after learning of the indictment Tuesday."
  17. ^ Debt Drove A Mayor To Suicide, Widow Says, The New York Times, August 26, 1997.
  18. ^ Frank Chamberlin player profile, accessed April 5, 2007.
  19. ^ Joyce Kilmer (1886 - 1918) - Author of Trees and Other Poems, accessed April 5, 2007.
  20. ^ Fredrix, Emily. "Guitarist Les Paul plays for hometown", Yahoo! News via Associated Press, May 10, 2007. Accessed May 11, 2007. "Paul, who lives in Mahwah, N.J., has donated many artifacts and memorabilia for the planned exhibit, a $3 million project expected to open in 2010."
  21. ^ 'Father Knows Best' Actress Jane Wyatt Dies, NewsMax.com. October 23, 2007. Accessed September 2, 2007. "Wyatt was born in Campgaw, N.J., into a wealthy family in 1910, according to McDonald, her publicist."
  22. ^ Cavanaugh, Jack. "GOLF;Trevino Tied With No Ordinary Amateur", The New York Times, July 31, 1994. Accessed November 3, 2007. "WALT ZEMBRISKI, the 59-year-old former steelworker from Mahwah, N.J., who finished tied for second last year, shot a 75 and was at nine-over 153."
  23. ^ Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly, No. 2635 (PDF) pp. 15-16. New Jersey Legislature (2004-06-07). Retrieved on 2007-05-08.
  24. ^ Highlands Municipalities. NJDEP (August 23, 2005). Retrieved on 2007-05-08.

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Municipalities and communities of
Bergen County, New Jersey
County seat: Hackensack
Boroughs
Map of New Jersey highlighting Bergen County
Cities
Townships
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Coordinates: 41°05′19″N, 74°08′38″W

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahwah%2C_New_Jersey"
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