Closter, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Borough of Closter, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Bergen |
| Incorporated | January 1, 1904 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Borough (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Sophie Heymann (R, 2010) |
| - Administrator | John DiStefano (Acting)[1] |
| Area | |
| - Total | 3.3 sq mi (8.5 km²) |
| - Land | 3.2 sq mi (8.2 km²) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²) |
| Elevation [2] | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Population (2006)[3] | |
| - Total | 8,730 |
| - Density | 2,644.3/sq mi (1,021.0/km²) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07624 |
| Area code(s) | 201 |
| FIPS code | 34-13810[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0875515[5] |
| Website: http://www.closterboro.com | |
Closter is a Borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 8,383.
Closter, settled in 1704, was formed by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 1, 1904, from portions of Harrington Township. On March 29, 1904, Harrington Park was created from portions of Closter, Harrington Township and Washington Township.[6][7]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Closter is located at (40.971896, -73.964368)[8].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), of which, 3.2 square miles (8.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (3.65%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 1,057 |
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| 1910 | 1,483 | 40.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,840 | 24.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,502 | 36% | |
| 1940 | 2,603 | 4% | |
| 1950 | 3,376 | 29.7% | |
| 1960 | 7,767 | 130.1% | |
| 1970 | 8,604 | 10.8% | |
| 1980 | 8,164 | −5.1% | |
| 1990 | 8,094 | −0.9% | |
| 2000 | 8,383 | 3.6% | |
| Est. 2006 | 8,730 | [3] | 4.1% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[9][10] | |||
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 8,383 people, 2,789 households, and 2,320 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,644.3 people per square mile (1,021.0/km²). There were 2,865 housing units at an average density of 903.7/sq mi (349.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 75.32% White, 0.93% African American, 0.10% Native American, 21.56% Asian, 0.81% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.09% of the population.
As of the 2000 census, 12.75% of Closter's residents identified themselves as being of Korean ancestry, which was the seventh highest in the United States and fifth highest of any municipality in New Jersey, for all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[11]
There were 2,789 households out of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.9% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.8% were non-families. 14.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the borough the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $83,918, and the median income for a family was $94,543. Males had a median income of $65,848 versus $39,125 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,065. About 1.7% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Closter 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.[12]
The Mayor of Closter Borough is Sophie Heymann (Republican Party, term ends December 31, 2010). Members of the Closter Borough Council are John C. Glidden, Jr. (R, 2010), Victoria Amitai (R, 2010), David Barad (R, 2008), Thomas Hennessey (R, 2009), Council President John Kashwick (R, 2008) and Cynthia L. Tutoli (R, 2009).[13][14]
In elections held on November 6, 2007, voters filled two seats on the Borough Council. Incumbent Republicans Victoria R. Amitai (915 votes) and John C. Glidden, Jr. (910) were easily re-elected to second terms defeating former mayor Fred Pitofsky (650) and newcomer Raj Rane (613).[15][16]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Closter is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th Legislative District.[17]
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 39th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Demarest) and in the Assembly by John E. Rooney (R, Northvale) and Charlotte Vandervalk (R, Hillsdale).[18] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[19]
Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D).[20] 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).[21]
Other countywide elected officials are Sheriff Leo McGuire (D), Surrogate Court Judge Mike Dressler (D, Cresskill) County Clerk Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford).[22]
[edit] Politics
As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 8,623 in Closter, there were 4,855 registered voters (56.3% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 799 (16.5% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,031 (21.2% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 3,024 (62.3% vs. 60.1% countywide) are registered as Undeclared. There was one voter registered to another party.[23]
On the national level, Closter leans slightly toward the Democratic Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 53% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 46%.[24]
[edit] Education
The Closter Public Schools serve students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[25]) are Hillside Elementary School, located on 340 Homans Avenue (with 619 students in grades K-4) and Tenakill Middle School located on 275 High Street (with 589 students in grades 5-8).
Public school students in grades 9-12 attend Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest in Demarest, together with students from Demarest and Haworth. The high school is part of the Northern Valley Regional High School District, which also serves students from Harrington Park, Northvale, Norwood and Old Tappan.
[edit] Transportation
County Route 501, County Route 502 and County Route 505 travel through Closter.
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Closter include:
- Abram Belskie (1907-1988), artist.[26]
- Emme, plus-size model.[27]
- Helen Jepson (1904-1997), lyric soprano.[citation needed]
- Richard Hunt (1951-1992) puppeteer best known for his association with The Muppets.[28]
- Robert Lipsyte (1938-) sports journalist and author.[29]
[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] References
- ^ Contact Directory, accessed May 8, 2007.
- ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Closter, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 16, 2007.
- ^ a b Census data for Closter, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 16, 2007.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 76.
- ^ "History of Bergen County" p. 343 has the date as April 13, 1903 for the formation of Closter.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Historical Population Trends in Bergen County (1900 - 2000), Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed December 23, 2007.
- ^ Korean Communities, Epodunk. Accessed December 10, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 165.
- ^ Mayor & Council, Borough of Closter. Accessed March 6, 2008.
- ^ "County of Bergen: 2007 County and Municipal Directory", Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 37.
- ^ "Closter municipal elections", The Record (Bergen County), November 3, 2007. Accessed December 4, 2007.
- ^ Bergen County election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 7, 2007. Accessed November 10, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ Bergen County Executive, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
- ^ Freeholder Home Page, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
- ^ Constitutional Officers, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
- ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," Bergen County, New Jersey, 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.
- ^ Data for the Closter Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 6, 2008.
- ^ Abram Belskie, Belskie Museum of Art and Science. Accessed August 16, 2007. "In 1931, Abram Belskie moved to Closter, where he would remain for the next fifty-seven years. Here he worked at the studio of the master-carver Robert Alexander Baillie."
- ^ Pedota, Chris. "One couple's climb to hope Supermodel and husband tell their sides of coming back from his depression", The Kansas City Star, April 2, 2002. Accessed June 2, 2007. "Emme and Phillip Aronson at home in Closter, New Jersey."
- ^ Alex, Patricia. "RICHARD H. HUNT, AT 40; BROUGHT MUPPETS TO LIFE", The Record (New Jersey), January 8, 1992. Accessed March 6, 2008. "Richard H. Hunt, a puppeteer who created several Muppets characters including Kermit the Frog's zealous sidekick 'Scooter,' died Tuesday. The Closter resident was 40."
- ^ Horner, Shirley. "ABOUT BOOKS", The New York Times, October 3, 1993. Accessed December 19, 2007. "The other inductees are... Robert Lipsyte of Closter, a sports columnist for The New York Times and the author of "The Contender," a young-adult novel published by Harper in 1967 and still in print..."
[edit] External links
- Closter official website
- Closter Public Schools
- Closter Public Schools's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Closter Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- Northern Valley Regional High School District
- Closter, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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