Glen Rock, New Jersey

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Borough of Glen Rock, New Jersey
Map highlighting Glen Rock's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Map highlighting Glen Rock's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Glen Rock, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Glen Rock, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°57′40″N 74°7′33″W / 40.96111, -74.12583
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Bergen
Incorporated September 14, 1894
Government
 - Type Borough
 - Mayor John van Keuren (R, 2007)
 - Administrator Lenora Benjamin[1]
Area
 - Total 2.7 sq mi (7.1 km²)
 - Land 2.7 sq mi (7.0 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Elevation [2] 128 ft (39 m)
Population (2006)[3]
 - Total 11,396
 - Density 4,246.1/sq mi (1,638.9/km²)
Time zone U.S. EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) U.S. EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07452
Area code(s) 201
FIPS code 34-26640[4]
GNIS feature ID 0876628[5]
Website: http://www.glenrocknj.net/

Glen Rock is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 11,546. Glen Rock is ranked in 49th place among the Highest-income places in the United States with a population of at least 10,000.

Glen Rock was formed on September 14, 1894 from portions of both Ridgewood Township and Saddle River Township, "that being the year the county went crazy on boroughs."[6][7]

Contents

[edit] Geography

Glen Rock is located at 40°57′40″N, 74°7′33″W (40.961109, -74.125766)[8].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.1 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) of it is land and 0.37% is water.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1900 613
1910 1,055 72.1%
1920 2,181 106.7%
1930 4,369 100.3%
1940 5,177 18.5%
1950 7,145 38%
1960 12,896 80.5%
1970 13,011 0.9%
1980 11,497 −11.6%
1990 10,883 −5.3%
2000 11,546 6.1%
Est. 2006 11,396 [3] −1.3%
Population 1900 - 1990.[9][10]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 11,546 people, 3,977 households, and 3,320 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,246.1 people per square mile (1,638.9/km²). There were 4,024 housing units at an average density of 1,479.9/sq mi (571.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 90.07% White, 1.81% African American, 0.16% Native American, 6.48% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72% of the population.

There were 3,977 households out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.1% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.5% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the borough the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $104,192, and the median income for a family was $111,280. Males had a median income of $84,614 versus $52,430 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $45,091. About 2.1% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Glen Rock 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 and only votes to break a tie. 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.[11] The council appoints a professional borough administrator who is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Borough, responsible to the Mayor and Council.

The Mayor of Glen Rock is John van Keuren (R, term ends December 31, 2007). Borough Council Members are Council President Michael O'Hagan (R, 2007), Byron Arnao (D, 2009), Carol Knapp (R, 2008), Mark McCullough (D, 2007), Joan Orseck (D, 2009) and Art Pazan (R, 2008).[1][12]

In elections held on November 6, 2007, voters filled an open mayoral seat and two seats on the borough council. Incumbent Republican John van Keuren (2,090 votes) ran unopposed. Republican newcomer Mary Jane Surrago (1,748) and her running mate, incumbent Michael O'Hagan (1,733), both won seats on the council, unseating Democratic incumbent Mark McCullough (1,685). Council control will shift from a 3-3 split in 2007 to a 4-2 Republican majority when the new council is seated in January 2008.[13][14]

On Election Day, November 7, 2006, voters filled two open seats on the borough council that was at the time occupied with five Republicans and a single Democrat, with the two seats up for election held by Republicans not running for re-election. Key issues in the election were leadership, sharing services with the Board of Education and other municipalities, taxes and communication with residents. Newcomers Joan Orseck (2,536 votes) and Byron Arnao (2,392), both Democrats, defeated Republicans Jon Osborn (2,230) and Douglas Arpert (2,108), leaving a 3-3 split on the Borough Council for 2007.[15][16][17]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Glen Rock is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 35th Legislative District.[18]

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 35th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by John Girgenti (D, Hawthorne) and in the Assembly by Elease Evans (D, Paterson) and Nellie Pou (D, North Haledon).[19] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[20]

Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D).[21] 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).[22]

Other countywide elected officials are Sheriff Leo McGuire (D), Surrogate Court Judge Mike Dressler (D, Cresskill) County Clerk Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford).[23]

[edit] Politics

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 11,525, Glen Rock has 7,682 registered voters (66.7% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,405 (18.3% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,673 (21.8% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 4,603 (59.9% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There was one voter registered to another party.[24]

On the national level, Glen Rock is almost evenly split. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 51% of the vote here, edging Republican George W. Bush, who received around 48%.[25]

Recently, an issue has been made of underage drinking occurring in the town. The Glen Rock Police Department, along with the high school administration and the local media have brought to the attention of parents an event known as the "keg race," a competitive beer drinking competition between graduating classes. In recent years, the police have broken up several parties in which teens were consuming alcohol.[26]

[edit] Education

The Glen Rock Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district consists of six schools (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[27]) which include four K-5 elementary schools — Richard E. Byrd School (223 students), Central Elementary School (310), Clara E. Coleman School (332) and Alexander Hamilton Elementary School (276) — Glen Rock Middle School for grades 6-8 (617) and Glen Rock High School for grades 9-12 (714). In the Glen Rock High School graduating classes of 2004 through 2006, over 95% of students indicated that they would move on to a two-year or four-year college.[28]

There is one parochial school, Academy of Our Lady which is affiliated with St. Catharine's Roman Catholic church located in Glen Rock and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in neighboring Ridgewood.

[edit] Transportation

Main Line railroad station in downtown Glen Rock
Main Line railroad station in downtown Glen Rock

Glen Rock is served by two separate train stations, at Glen Rock (Main Line) on the Main Line and the Glen Rock (Boro Hall) on the Bergen County Line.

New Jersey Transit provides bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 148, 164 and 196 routes, service to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal on the 175, and local service on the 722 and 746 bus lines.[29]

Route 208 travels through Glen Rock.

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] Popular culture

  • The TV show Ed filmed some scenes in Glen Rock.
  • In October 2005, many scenes of prominent locations in town were shot for the film World Trade Center, starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Oliver Stone
  • This town is probably famous among video gamers, mainly because it is the headquarters of the game developer Imagineering, once a developer of console games. In every game they had produced, the following message always appears in the title screen and in the instruction booklet: "Developed by Imagineering Inc., Glen Rock N.J.". This blatant advertising practice of displaying their hometown in their games is considered a very rare practice among game developers and is probably why Glen Rock became famous among video gamers.
  • Absolute Entertainment was a video game developer and publisher founded in Glen Rock that produced titles for the Amiga, Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Sega Game Gear, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System, and Super Nintendo Entertainment System video game consoles, as well as for the PC. The company was formed in 1986 by former Activision employees, and lasted until the founding fathers finally pulled the plug in 1995.
  • Unlike most suburban towns whose names have little or nothing to do with reality, Glen Rock was actually settled around an enormous rock left by retreating glaciers in a small valley (glen). From a 1985 The New York Times article, "Glen Rock is named for a 570-ton boulder, believed to have been deposited by a glacier, that stands at the northern end of Rock Road, the town's main street. Called Pamackapuka, or Stone from Heaven, by the Delaware (Lenape) Indians, it served as a base for Indian signal fires and later as a trail marker for colonists."[33] Notwithstanding this article, Rock Road runs almost due East/West, so there is no "northern end"—nor is the rock at the end of Rock Road, which runs nearly another half mile to its western end. Also, while the Rock lies at the intersection of Rock Road and Doremus Avenue, the Rock is actually on Doremus, not Rock.[1]

[edit] Places of interest

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Glen Rock Borough Government, Borough of Glen Rock. Accessed January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ USGS GNIS: Glen Rock, Geographic Names Information System, accessed September 18, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Census data for Glen Rock, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 23, 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. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 78.
  7. ^ "History of Bergen County" Vol. 1, p. 366. Source shows September 12, 1894 as date of formation.
  8. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  9. ^ Historical Population Trends in Bergen County (1900 - 2000), Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed December 23, 2007.
  10. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  11. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 165.
  12. ^ "County of Bergen: 2007 County and Municipal Directory", Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 45.
  13. ^ "Glen Rock election results", The Record (Bergen County), November 6, 2007. Accessed November 19, 2007.
  14. ^ Bergen County election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 7, 2007. Accessed November 10, 2007.
  15. ^ Glen Rock Election Guide, The Record (Bergen County), November 1, 2006.
  16. ^ Glen Rock Election Results, The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2006.
  17. ^ Bergen County 2006 General Election Results, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2007.
  18. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 57. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  19. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  20. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  21. ^ Bergen County Executive, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  22. ^ Freeholder Home Page, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  23. ^ Constitutional Officers, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  24. ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," Bergen County, New Jersey, dated April 1, 2006.
  25. ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004.
  26. ^ Glen Rock parents get eye-opener about teens, The Record (Bergen County), January 31, 2006. Accessed December 9, 2007.
  27. ^ Data for the Glen Rock Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 14, 2008.
  28. ^ GLEN ROCK HIGH 2005-06 SCHOOL REPORT CARD, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 9, 2007.
  29. ^ New Jersey Transit Bus Schedules, New Jersey Transit. Accessed August 30, 2007.
  30. ^ McKay, Martha. "Tech whiz cracks code tying it to AT&T network", The Record (Bergen County), August 24, 2007. Accessed August 27, 2007. "The 17-year-old Glen Rock resident posted the complicated steps on his blog Thursday.... 'I've lived and breathed that phone for the last two months,' said Hotz, a Bergen County Academies grad who won a prestigious $20,000 Intel science fair prize this year for a device that projects a 3-D image.
  31. ^ St. John, Warren. "Sound Bites Man (Don't Touch the Dial)", The New York Times, April 7, 2002. Accessed October 23, 2007. "Mr. Montone, 48, lives his life on what colleagues call John Montone time. He wakes up each day at 3:20 a.m. in Glen Rock, N.J."
  32. ^ Jimmy Vivino: Biography, accessed December 19, 2006.
  33. ^ Elder, Janet. "If You're Thinking of Living in Glen Rock", New York Times, 1985-05-05. 
  34. ^ NEW JERSEY - Bergen County, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed November 7, 2007.

[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