Bergenfield, New Jersey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Borough of Bergenfield, New Jersey
Map highlighting Bergenfield's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Map highlighting Bergenfield's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Bergenfield, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Bergenfield, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°55′25″N 73°59′56″W / 40.92361, -73.99889
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Bergen
Incorporated June 25, 1894
Government
 - Type Borough
 - Mayor Timothy J. Driscoll (2011)
 - Administrator Catherine Navarro-Steinel[1]
Area
 - Total 2.9 sq mi (7.5 km²)
 - Land 2.9 sq mi (7.5 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation [2] 66 ft (20 m)
Population (2006)[3]
 - Total 26,194
 - Density 9,065.4/sq mi (3,494.5/km²)
Time zone U.S. EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) U.S. EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07621
Area code(s) 201
FIPS code 34-05170[4]
GNIS feature ID 0874686[5]
Website: http://www.bergenfieldboro.com

Bergenfield is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 26,247.

Bergenfield was formed on the basis of a referendum held on June 25, 1894, from portions of Englewood Township and Palisades Township at the height of the "boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County.[6][7][8]

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Bergenfield as its 231st best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[9]

Contents

[edit] Geography

Bergenfield is located at 40°55′25″N, 73°59′56″W (40.923748, -73.998795)[10].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1900 729
—
1910 1,991 173.1%
1920 3,667 84.2%
1930 8,816 140.4%
1940 10,275 16.5%
1950 17,647 71.7%
1960 27,203 54.2%
1970 29,000 6.6%
1980 25,568 −11.8%
1990 24,458 −4.3%
2000 26,247 7.3%
Est. 2006 26,194 [3] −0.2%
Population 1930 - 1990[11][12]
Cooper's Pond, Bergenfield
Cooper's Pond, Bergenfield
Bergenfield's main road, Washington Avenue
Bergenfield's main road, Washington Avenue

Bergenfield is informally known as the Little Manila of Bergen County.[13] Of the 14,224 Filipino population in the county as a whole, 3,133 (22% of the county total) live in Bergenfield.[14][15]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 26,247 people, 8,981 households, and 6,753 families residing in the borough. The population density was 9,065.4 people per square mile (3,494.5/km²). There were 9,147 housing units at an average density of 3,159.3/sq mi (1,217.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 62.90% White (16,509 Whites), 6.90% African American (1,811 African Americans), 0.24% Native American (63 Native Americans), 20.41% Asian (5,357 Asian), 0.02% Pacific Islander (5 Pacific Islander), 6.47% from other races (1,696 others), and 3.06% from two or more races (803 multiple races). Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.05% of the population.(4,475 Hispanic or Latino). (NOTE: Some races overlap.)

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 the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 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.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Bergenfield is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[16]

The Mayor of Bergenfield is Timothy J. Driscoll (D, term ends December 31, 2011). Members of the Borough Council are Council President Bruce Carlson (D, 2010), Barry Doll (D, 2010), Robert Gilman (D, 2009), Thomas A. Lodato (D, 2009), Dennis Mulligan (D, 2008) and Elaine Rabbitt (D, 2008).[17][1]

In elections held on November 6, 2007, voters filled a four-year term for mayor and two three-year seats on the Borough Council. Democrat Timothy J. Driscoll (2,600 votes), outran Republican Patricia Walsh Di Rienzo (1,116), and write-in campaigns for Republican Mayor Richard Bohan (289) and Democratic Councilman Dennis Mulligan (167). Incumbent Democratic Councilmember Bruce Carlson (2,749) and newcomer running mate Barry Doll (2,623) won council seats, outpolling Republicans Costas Constantinou (1,361) and James P. Kneisler (1,297). With these election wins, the Democrats retained complete control in the 2008 Council.[18][19]

On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Democrats Thomas A. Lodato (3,294 votes) and Robert Gillman (3,161) swept the two open seats on the Borough Council, defeating Republicans Matthew G. Capizzi (2,952) and Mary S. Kirsch (2,823) and Independent Laurie Shestack (655). When the two took office on January 1, 2007, the council was all Democrats. Two ballot initiatives — one increasing salary ranges for borough officials and the other seeking a new reassessment of properties in the borough — both failed, by margins of 4,263-612 and 2,928-1,973 resepectively.[20][21]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Bergenfield is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 37th Legislative District.[22]

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).

For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 37th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Loretta Weinberg (D, Teaneck) and in the Assembly by Valerie Huttle (D, Englewood) and Gordon M. Johnson (D, Englewood).[23] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[24]

Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D).[25] The executive, along with the seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. As of 2008, Bergen County's Freeholders are Chairman Tomas J. Padilla (D, Park Ridge), Vice-Chairman Elizabeth Calabrese (D, Wallington), James M. Carroll (D, Demarest), David L. Ganz (D, Fair Lawn), Bernadette P. McPherson (D, Rutherford), Julie O'Brien (D, Ramsey) and Vernon Walton (D, Englewood).[26]

Other countywide elected officials are Sheriff Leo McGuire (D), Surrogate Court Judge Mike Dressler (D, Cresskill) County Clerk Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford).[27]

[edit] Politics

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 26,210 in Bergenfield, there were 13,261 registered voters (50.6% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 3,023 (22.8% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,118 (16.0% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 8,115 (61.2% vs. 60.1% countywide) are registered as Undeclared. There were five voters registered to other parties.[28]

On the national level, Bergenfield leans towards the Democratic Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 55% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 45%.[29]

[edit] Education

Student's in grades Kindergarten through 12 are educated by the Bergenfield Public Schools which serve a total of 3,900 students. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[30]) are five elementary schools serving Kindergarten - 5th grade — Franklin School with 454 students, Hoover School with 239 students, Jefferson School with 280 students, Lincoln School with 417 students, Washington School with 280 students — Roy W. Brown Middle School with 907 students in grades 6 - 8 and Bergenfield High School with 1,287 students.

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Bergenfield High School as its 192nd best New Jersey high school in its 2006 ranking of the "Top High Schools" in New Jersey.[31]

[edit] Transportation

New Jersey Transit bus service is available from Bergenfield to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 166, 167 routes and the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on the 186 route; and to other New Jersey communities served on the 753, 756 and 772 routes.[32]

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

[edit] Community

On December 13, 2005, a gas main was nicked and started a leak at an apartment building under construction. The fire department responded and when they got there, the fire chief elected not to evacuate the building as there was no smell of gas. Moments later, the building exploded, killing three people and injuring around a dozen or so more.[33]. Local fire departments and local EMS services were dispatched to put out the fire and give emergency care to the injured. A National Transportation Safety Board report issued on May 1, 2007, blamed PSE&G for failing to properly supervise excavation that led to damage of the gas main, and the Bergenfield Fire Department for its failure to evacuate the building, even after the smell of gas had been reported.[34]

On May 4, 2006, the hit show on ABC, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came to Bergenfield to build a home for the Llanes family. The episode aired as the pre-season two-hour special originally broadcast on September 17, 2006.[35]

[edit] Notable people

[edit] Trivia

  • Singer Tom Russell wrote a song called Bergenfield, discussing the suicide via carbon monoxide of four teenagers in the borough in 1987.[47][48]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "County of Bergen: 2007 County and Municipal Directory", Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 36.
  2. ^ USGS GNIS: Bergenfield, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 16, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Census data for Bergenfield, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 8, 2007.
  4. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  6. ^ History of Bergenfield, accessed January 4, 2007, states "Incorporated June 25, 1894"
  7. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 75.
  8. ^ "History of Bergen County" p. 336 ff. shows an incorporation date of July 17, 1894.
  9. ^ "Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 201-300", New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  10. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  11. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  12. ^ Historical Population Trends in Bergen County (1900 - 2000), Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed December 23, 2007.
  13. ^ Stevens, Jean. " Popular roast pig finds a following in North Jersey", Herald News, September 12, 2007. Accessed December 8, 2007. "One might find more lechon in Passaic these days. The city may be North Jersey's next so-called Little Manila, following Bergenfield, Bloomfield and Belleville."
  14. ^ Filipino Population by County, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed April 10, 2006.
  15. ^ Bergenfield 2000 Census Data, areaconnect.com. Accessed April 10, 2006.
  16. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 157.
  17. ^ Bergenfield Officials, Borough of Bergenfield. Accessed September 11, 2007.
  18. ^ "Bergenfield election results", The Record (Bergen County), November 6, 2007. Accessed November 15, 2007.
  19. ^ Bergen County election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 7, 2007. Accessed November 10, 2007.
  20. ^ Bergenfield election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2006.
  21. ^ Bergen County 2006 General Election Results, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2007.
  22. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 54. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  23. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  24. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  25. ^ Bergen County Executive, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  26. ^ Freeholder Home Page, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  27. ^ Constitutional Officers, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  28. ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," dated April 1, 2006.
  29. ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004.
  30. ^ Data for the Bergenfield Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 16, 2008.
  31. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  32. ^ New Jersey Transit Bus Schedules, accessed March 15, 2007.
  33. ^ Powerful Explosion Rips Through an Apartment Building - Two Reported Dead And At Least Five Injured, WABC-TV, December 13, 2005.
  34. ^ Holl, John. "Utility Is Held Partly to Blame for Fatal Blast", The New York Times, May 2, 2007. Accessed May 2, 2007.
  35. ^ Extreme Makeover: Home Division - Llanes Family; Season 3, Ep. 28, accessed October 26, 2006.
  36. ^ Al Di Meola, Telarc International Corporation. Accessed September 20, 2007. "“In the ‘60s, if you didn’t play like Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page, you weren’t accepted,” he recalls of his high school years in Bergenfield, New Jersey."
  37. ^ Hertzel, Bob. "EUFEMIA PLAYING FOR PUREST MOTIVES", The Record (Bergen County), March 2, 1995. Accessed June 24, 2007. "Frank Eufemia once was a major league pitcher. Today the right-hander from Bergenfield becomes a replacement pitcher."
  38. ^ Loos, Ted. "Where Death Shall (or Shall Not) Have Dominion", The New York Times, May 10, 1998. Accessed April 5, 2008. "Mr. Fitzgerald grew up mostly in Bergenfield, N.J. He attended Cooper Union in Manhattan, but at the age of 19, he transferred to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax."
  39. ^ Hernandez, Cava. "GEORGE GATELY : Creador del gato Heathcliff", El Mundo (Spain), October 6, 2001. Accessed November 20, 2007. "George Gately Gallagher nació en Queens Village, Nueva York, en 1928, meses antes de que estallase la Gran Depresión. Pero, a todos los efectos, hay que considerarle un habitante de New Jersey, en cuya localidad de Bergenfield es donde transcurrieron su infancia y su adolescencia."
  40. ^ Park, Eunnie. "An original 'Jersey Boy' returns to Bergenfield", The Record (Bergen County), March 31, 2007. Accessed October 9, 2007. "Before "Jersey Boys" and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bob Gaudio was a 15-year-old musical whiz from Bergenfield who had to decide between staying in school and touring with Chuck Berry."
  41. ^ Rotella, Mark. "Straight Out of Newark", The New York Times, October 2, 2005. Accessed October 9, 2007. "Originally from the Bronx, Mr. Gaudio had, at age 15, written the hit "Who Wears Short Shorts," which he made up while driving with friends along the main drag in Bergenfield."
  42. ^ Bob Guccione (Producer), Penthouse (magazine) Caligula Cast and Crew. Accessed September 20, 2007. "Coming from a conventional background--he was born in Brooklyn, raised in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and educated at Blair Academy--Guccione became interested in less than conventional activities after he left school."
  43. ^ Mr. G, where might you be? Nary a peep on Penthouse publisher's eviction, Media Life August 11, 2003, "Guccione, who is originally from Bergenfield, N.J., bought his 45-room, 20,000-square-foot mansion back in Penthouse’s 1970s heyday. Located on East 67th Street between Central Park and Madison Avenue, its décor includes a swimming pool modeled on a Roman bath and a collection of paintings by the likes of Picasso and Matisse."
  44. ^ Martin, Douglas. "F. J. Thompson, 69, Longtime P.O.W., Dies", The New York Times, July 18, 2002. Accessed April 5, 2008. "Floyd James Thompson was born in Bergenfield, N.J., on July 8, 1933, the son of a bus driver. He worked in a grocery store and graduated from Bergenfield High School in 1951."
  45. ^ MARINERS TAKE EX-BERGENFIELD STAR -- VILLONE PICKED 14TH OVERALL. The Record (Bergen County), June 2, 1992. "The call came a little later than anticipated, but Ron Villone of Bergenfield got what he expected Monday afternoon."
  46. ^ Jacklyn Zeman: Bobbie Spencer on General Hospital, WCHS, accessed January 4, 2006.
  47. ^ Hanley, Robert. " 4 JERSEY TEEN-AGERS KILL THEMSELVES IN DEATH PACT", The New York Times, March 12, 1987. Accessed October 20, 2007. "All four, Mr. McClure said at a news conference, were very troubled. The older three had dropped out of Bergenfield High School before graduation, and Lisa Burress had recently been suspended from classes."
  48. ^ Schoemer, Karen. "Sounds Around Town", The New York Times, July 24, 1992. Accessed October 20, 2007. ""Bergenfield," from his album "Poor Man's Dream" (Philo/ Rounder), is a look at suburban teen-age suicide."

[edit] Sources

  • "History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630-1923;" by "Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858-1942."
  • "Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties)" prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.

[edit] External links

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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
Villages