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Park Ridge, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Park Ridge is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The population was 8,708 at the 2000 census.
Park Ridge was created as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 15, 1894, from portions of Washington Township, at the height of the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. Park Ridge obtained a portion of River Vale (July 15, 1929), exchanged portions with Woodcliff Lake (December 12, 1955), received part of Washington Township (November 26, 1956), exchanged portions with Hillsdale (February 10, 1958) and Woodcliff Lake (June 9, 1958) and received another part of Washington Township (August 11, 1958).[1]
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Park Ridge is located at (41.034672, -74.040656)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 6.8 km² (2.6 mi²). 6.7 km² (2.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (1.52%) is water.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 2,229 |
|
|
| 1940 | 2,519 | 13.0% | |
| 1950 | 3,189 | 26.6% | |
| 1960 | 6,389 | 100.3% | |
| 1970 | 8,709 | 36.3% | |
| 1980 | 8,515 | -2.2% | |
| 1990 | 8,102 | -4.9% | |
| 2000 | 8,708 | 7.5% | |
| Est. 2005 | 8,959 | [2] | 2.9% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[3] | |||
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 8,708 people, 3,161 households, and 2,389 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,293.1/km² (3,353.3/mi²). There were 3,258 housing units at an average density of 483.8/km² (1,254.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.48% White, 0.86% African American, 0.14% Native American, 3.86% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.32% of the population.
There were 3,161 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $86,632, and the median income for a family was $97,294. Males had a median income of $71,042 versus $40,714 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,351. About 1.2% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.
Park Ridge operates under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government and is governed by a mayor and a six-member Borough Council. The mayor is directly elected by the voters to a four-year term of office. Borough council members serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
The Mayor of the Borough of Park Ridge is Don Ruschman. Members of the Park Ridge Borough Council are Ron Cangialosi, Joeen Ciannella (2009), Rich Henning, Tamara Levinson, Don Malcuit and Peter Wells (2009).[4]
On Election Day, November 7, 2006, two seats on the Borough Council were up for election, from a council that consisted entirely of Democrats as of Election Day, in a community in which registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by a 6-5 margin. Newcomer Republicans Peter Wells (1,859 votes) and Joeen Ciannella (1,745) won seats on the council, unseating seven-term incumbent Barbara Koehler Martine (1,479) and five-term incumbent John Burkhardt (1,371) in their bids for re-election. When Wells and Ciannella took office as of January 1, 2007, the Council had a 4-2 Democratic majority.[5][6][7]
Park Ridge is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th Legislative District.[8]
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 39th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Cresskill) and in the Assembly by John E. Rooney (R, Emerson) and Charlotte Vandervalk (R, Westwood). 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).
As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 8,970 in Park Ridge, there were 5,577 registered voters (62.2% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 890 (16.0% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,234 (22.1% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 3,453 (61.9% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were no voters registered to other parties.[9]
On the national level, Park Ridge leans strongly toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received around 42%.[10]
The Park Ridge Public Schools serve students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are West Ridge Elementary School (PreK-6), East Brook Elementary School (K-6) and Park Ridge High School (7-12).
Park Ridge is served by New Jersey Transit on the Pascack Valley Line at the Park Ridge train station. The station is located at Hawthorne and Park Avenues.
This line runs north-south to Hoboken Terminal with connections via the Secaucus Junction transfer station to New Jersey Transit one-stop service to New York Penn Station and to other NJ Transit rail service. Connections are available at the Hoboken Terminal to other New Jersey Transit rail lines, the PATH train at the Hoboken PATH station, New York Waterways ferry service to the World Financial Center and other destinations and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service.
The Pascack Valley Line is a single-track line providing service towards Hoboken during the morning rush hour and service from Hoboken in the evening rush hour.
- Park Ridge's landscapes were aired on the Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids "Heroes of the Game" segment
- Park Ridge's Pascack Historical Society Museum, at 19 Ridge Avenue, houses the world's only wampum drilling machine. This wooden artifact was made in Park Ridge by the Campbell Brothers who invented a way to drill through long pieces of hair pipe shells so that they could be strung and worn as breast plates by the Plains Indians, among others. Needing water for the operation, the industrious brothers leased a woolen mill that stood on the Pascack Brook. When that burned down they built their own mill farther down Pascack Creek on their land an another shop on Pascack Road near their homestead. Both building housed drilling machines on their second floors where they were safe from prying eyes, as the two machines had not been patented. In the early 1800's, John Jacob Astor purchased wampum from the Campbells to trade with the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest whose beaver pelts he turned into men's hats.[11] The best years for the wampum business were between 1835 and 1866. The drilling machine can be seen at the Pascack Historical Society Museum on Wednesdays from 10 a.m until noon and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. Admission is free.
- Park Ridge is currently home to the North American headquarters of Sony Corporation of America and Hertz Corporation.
Notable current and former residents include:
- Jedh Colby Barker, was a United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Vietnam War in September 1967.
- Tom Coughlin, current coach of the New York Giants resides in the "Bear's Nest."
- Brian Cushing, linebacker for the USC Trojans.
- Karen Duffy, model, grew up in Park Ridge and attended Park Ridge High School (Class of 1979).
- James Gandolfini, star of the HBO TV show, The Sopranos, grew up in Park Ridge and attended Park Ridge High School (Class of 1979).
- Augie Hoffmann, Guard signed by the New Orleans Saints.
- Former President Richard Nixon resided in Park Ridge, in the upscale townhome complex known as "Bears Nest." He and his wife, Pat, had moved to Park Ridge from their mansion in neighboring Saddle River in the early 1990's.
- The rock/pop band The Roches is from Park Ridge.
PKRG-TV, the public access television station in Park Ridge has produced and documented many shows over the past ten years. They continue to remain on the leading edge of public-television stations in the area, producing a weekly live show every Monday night. The station also broadcasts events in the town such as parades, sporting events, school plays, and charity events.
The Bear's Nest is a luxury gated community in Park Ridge. It has town house type style houses with luxury amenities including(in some houses) elevators. There is also a community house available for party rental, a pool, and multiple tennis courts. The community is well known for its famous residents including President Richard Nixon and Tom Coughlin, coach of the New York Giants. Nixon was well known for opening up the community and allowing residents to come in to "Trick-or-Treat" on Halloween and allowed pictures to be taken which can now be found on E-Bay.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 84.
- ^ Census data for Park Ridge, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Park Ridge Borough Council, accessed February 24, 2007
- ^ Park Ridge Election Guide, The Record (Bergen County), November 1, 2006
- ^ "Election 2006 Municipal Results", The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2006
- ^ Bergen County 2006 General Election Results, accessed February 1, 2007
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 62, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," dated April 1, 2006
- ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety: Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004
- ^ A Chronology of the Rise, Fall -- and Resurrection of Wampum, accessed December 21, 2006
- Park Ridge Borough website
- Park Ridge Public Schools
- Park Ridge Public Schools's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Park Ridge Public Schools
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
