Location of Ridgefield Park inBergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County inNew Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Ridgefield Park was formed as a village on June 15, 1892, withinRidgefield Township, based on the results of a referendum passed on June 6, 1892.Overpeck Township was formed on March 23, 1897, to be coextensive with Ridgefield Park village, and was created within Ridgefield Township for the purpose of administering a Board of Education. Portions of the village gained in both 1921 and 1926 were taken fromBogota andTeaneck. On May 31, 1938, Overpeck Township became Ridgefield Park Township.[21] The village was named for the area's terrain.[22]
The village's Fourth of July Parade, first established in 1894, is said to be the longest continuously celebrated such event in New Jersey and one of the oldest in the country.[23] The village eliminated its July 4 fireworks in 2009, citing the $50,000 cost amid a difficult economy, but has restored the tradition since then.[24][25]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the village had a total area of 1.91 square miles (4.9 km2), including 1.71 square miles (4.4 km2) of land and 0.21 square miles (0.54 km2) of water (10.84%).[1][2]
The2020 United States census counted 13,235 people and 4,795 households in the village. The population density was 7,756.0 per square mile (2,994.6/km2). The racial makeup was 37.2% (4,887) White, 4.2% (552) Black or African American, 0.2% (26) Native American, 10.1% (1,327) Asian, 0.1% (13) Pacific Islander, and 11.5% (1,511) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 46.9% (6,160) of the population.[7]
Of the 4,795 households, 89.1% were living in the same housing unit as the year before. The average household size was 2.69.[7]
23.0% of the population were under the age of 18, and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older. 3.14% of the population were veterans. 37.1% of the population were foreign-born persons. 91.3% of those over age 25 had a high school degree, and 38.5% of those over age 25 had a bachelor's degree or higher. The mean travel time to work was 31.3 minutes.[7]
The2010 United States census counted 12,729 people, 4,851 households, and 3,274 families in the village. Thepopulation density was 7,385.6 people per square mile (2,851.6 people/km2). There were 5,164 housing units at an average density of 2,996.2 units per square mile (1,156.8 units/km2). The racial makeup was 66.09% (8,413)White, 6.40% (815)Black or African American, 0.35% (44)Native American, 11.48% (1,461)Asian, 0.01% (1)Pacific Islander, 11.93% (1,519) fromother races, and 3.74% (476) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.18% (4,605) of the population.[17]
Of the 4,851 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18; 48.5% were married couples living together; 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.5% were non-families. Of all households, 27.7% were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.25.[17]
21.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.6 males.[17]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $60,656 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,846) and the median family income was $83,189 (+/− $13,092). Males had a median income of $51,781 (+/− $2,949) versus $47,714 (+/− $8,394) for females. Theper capita income for the village was $30,893 (+/− $2,038). About 3.1% of families and 5.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.[37]
Same-sex couples headed 34 households in 2010, an increase from the 21 counted in 2000.[38]
There were 5,012 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% weremarried couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.24.[35][36]
In the village, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.[35][36]
The median income for a household in the village was $51,825, and the median income for a family was $62,414. Males had a median income of $44,507 versus $35,217 for females. Theper capita income for the village was $24,290. About 4.7% of families and 6.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.[35][36]
Overpeck Corporate Office Park is located on Challenger Road on the east side of the village (east of I-95), to the south of Bergen County's Overpeck Park. The office park contains approximately 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2) of Class-A office space which has undergone substantial renovations and upgrades. The Office Park also contains an AMC Movie Theater and Hilton Garden Inn Hotel. Corporate residents of Overpeck Corporate Park include the headquarters of American Stock Transfer andSamsung Electronics America, the latter of which announced plans to move to Englewood Cliffs in 2024.[39][40]
Municipal building in Ridgefield Park on Main Street
Ridgefield Park has been governed under theWalsh Act since 1912.[41][42] The village is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide to use thecommission form of government,[43] down from a peak of 60 early in the 20th century; Ridgefield Park is one of six Walsh Act municipalities inNorth Jersey and most are in shore communities.[44] The Board of Commissioners is comprised of five members, who are electedat-large on anon-partisan basis to serve four-year terms on a concurrent basis. The commissioners elect one commissioner as mayor, however the mayor is only responsible for his or her departments and serves as the chair of the commission.[4]
As of 2024[update], the members of the Ridgefield Park Board of Commissioners are Mayor Adam A. MacNeill (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), William G. Gerken (Commissioner of Public Affairs), John H. Anlian (Commissioner of Public Safety),Wanda C. Portorreal (Commissioner of Public Works) and Askar H. Mirza (Commissioner of Parks and Public Property), all serving concurrent terms of office ending on May 23, 2028.[45][46]
In the election held on May 14, 2024, 19-year-old college student Askar Mirza defeated incumbent commissioner Mark Olson by a 2-vote margin, becoming the youngest commissioner ever elected in the village.[47][48]
In June 2017, Theresa Kohles was appointed to fill the commissioner seat that became vacant following the resignation of Maggie Boyd.[49] In the 2017 November general election, Kohles was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[50]
Bergen County is governed by a directly electedCounty Executive, with legislative functions performed by aBoard of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are electedat-large to three-year terms in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each November; a Chairman and Vice Chairman are selected from among its seven members at a reorganization meeting held every January. As of 2025[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D,Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[56]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 6,593 registered voters in Ridgefield Park, of which 2,249 (34.1% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered asDemocrats, 957 (14.5% vs. 21.1%) were registered asRepublicans and 3,382 (51.3% vs. 47.1%) were registered asUnaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered asLibertarians orGreens.[84] Among the village's 2010 Census population, 51.8% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 66.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[84][85]
In the2012 presidential election, DemocratBarack Obama received 3,162 votes here (66.3% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of RepublicanMitt Romney with 1,508 votes (31.6% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 45 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,768 ballots cast by the village's 7,035 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.8% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[86][87] In the2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 3,256 votes here (61.6% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of RepublicanJohn McCain with 1,932 votes (36.5% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 47 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,288 ballots cast by the village's 6,980 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.8% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[88][89] In the2004 presidential election, DemocratJohn Kerry received 2,681 votes here (55.4% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of RepublicanGeorge W. Bush with 2,104 votes (43.5% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 31 votes (0.6% vs. 0.7%), among the 4,835 ballots cast by the village's 6,575 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.5% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[90]
United States Gubernatorial election results for Ridgefield Park[91]
In the2013 gubernatorial election, RepublicanChris Christie received 55.6% of the vote (1,473 cast), ahead of DemocratBarbara Buono with 43.0% (1,138 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (36 votes), among the 2,686 ballots cast by the village's 6,694 registered voters (39 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.1%.[92][93] In the2009 gubernatorial election, DemocratJon Corzine received 1,657 ballots cast (53.7% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,223 votes (39.6% vs. 45.8%), IndependentChris Daggett with 166 votes (5.4% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 11 votes (0.4% vs. 0.5%), among the 3,085 ballots cast by the village's 6,753 registered voters, yielding a 45.7% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[94]
United States Senate election results for Ridgefield Park1[95]
The district is one of the small number in the state with schools recognized by theNational Blue Ribbon Schools Program in consecutive years, with Grant Elementary School earning the designation in 2010 and Lincoln Elementary School being honored in 2011.[108]
Public school students from the borough, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by theBergen County Technical Schools, which include theBergen County Academies inHackensack, and theBergen Tech campus in Teterboro orParamus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.[109][110]
As of 2014[update], the village had a total of 29.04 miles (46.74 km) of roadways, of which 21.64 miles (34.83 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.38 miles (7.05 km) by Bergen County and 1.36 miles (2.19 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation and 1.66 miles (2.67 km) by theNew Jersey Turnpike Authority.[111]
The historicWinant Avenue Bridge, also known as the Route 46 Hackensack River Bridge, crosses the river toLittle Ferry. The double-leafbascule bridge was constructed in 1934 and extends for 1,549 feet (472 m), with the draw bridge at the center of the span.[116]
James Gordon Irving (1913–2012), commercial illustrator and painter, best known for illustrating the earlyGolden Guide series of nature books[130]
Jim Keogh (born 1948), author of nearly 100 books sold worldwide introduced PC programming nationally in hisPopular Electronics magazine column in 1982[131]
Gregory Olsen (born 1945), entrepreneur, engineer and scientist who, in October 2005, became the third private citizen to make a self-funded trip to theInternational Space Station[141]
^Klein, Alvin; and Emblen, Mary L.New Jersey Guide,The New York Times, July 3, 1994. Accessed July 12, 2011. "Ridgefield Park will strike up the band with extra gusto at this year's Fourth of July parade tomorrow because it is the 100th and, the sponsors assert, the longest consecutively produced one in the nation. Residents of the village took seriously the suggestion made years before by John Adams that the nation's citizenry to celebrate independence with parades, fireworks and joyous gatherings. Volunteer committees have put together an observance every year since 1894 in spite of two World Wars, the Great Depression and other distractions."
^Kocieniewski, David."Bad Economy Dampens Celebrations for July 4th",The New York Times, June 21, 2009. Accessed July 12, 2011. "But in Ridgefield Park, N.J., home of the state's oldest Fourth of July celebration, village leaders decided this year that because of the exceptionally bleak economic outlook, they could not afford to put on their traditional show, which costs about $50,000. "'I'm not going to say it's a luxury, because fireworks are a very important tradition, and Fourth of July is a very important day,' said Ridgefield Park's mayor, George D. Fosdick. 'But if you're confronting a situation where you're afraid you may have to lay people off and cost a family its livelihood, then it's a decision that you have to make.' Mr. Fosdick said the village would hold the rest of its Independence Day celebration, including its home- and business-decorating contest and two parades."
^Proctor, Owen; and Sobko, Katie."Town commissions have become a New Jersey rarity",The Record, April 30, 2018, updated May 6, 2018. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Commissions rose in popularity, up to 60 statewide in the early part of the last century, from large cities and older suburbs to seaside resorts.... Today, only about 30 of New Jersey's 565 municipalities are commissions, including six in North Jersey. There are North Bergen, Union City and West New York in Hudson County, Lyndhurst and Ridgefield Park in Bergen County, and Nutley in Essex County."
^"Message from the Board of Commissioners"Archived October 6, 2019, at theWayback Machine,Village Newsletter, June 2017. Accessed October 6, 2019. "We welcome to the Board of Commissioners Theresa Kohles who was selected to fill the vacany created by the resignation of Commissioner Boyd.... An accountant in her own business, Commissioner Kohles brings a fresh voice to the Board and will serve as Commissioner of Parks, Property and Buildings and as liaison to the Rescue Squad."
^Cattafi, Kristie."Democrats pick Bergenfield councilman to fill vacancy on Bergen County commissioners board",The Record, March 13, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. "A Democratic councilman from Bergenfield will be sworn in as a Bergen County commissioner Wednesday night, filling a vacancy on the governing body for almost 1 million residents. Rafael Marte will serve until Dec. 31, taking on the unexpired term left by former Commissioner Ramon Hache, a Democrat who resigned last week to lead the Ridgewood YMCA as its chief executive officer."
^Our Schools, Ridgefield Park Public Schools. Accessed December 2, 2022. "They include Grant School, Lincoln School and Roosevelt School, our three Pre-K - 6 elementary schools, and Ridgefield Park Jr./Sr. High School which contains grades 7-12. Our PK - 8th grade students come from Ridgefield Park while our high school includes students from both The Village of Ridgefield Park and the borough of Little Ferry."
^About UsArchived February 2, 2020, at theWayback Machine, Little Ferry Public Schools. Accessed February 1, 2020. "The Little Ferry School District is a New Jersey Public School District located in Bergen County, New Jersey. Our Prek-8 district serves approximately 950 students in two schools located across the street from each other in the town of Little Ferry, New Jersey.... Little Ferry's 9–12 students attend Ridgefield Park High School in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey."
^James, George."School Districts' Battle On Tuition Goes to Court",The New York Times, December 16, 1989. Accessed August 19, 2013. "School officials in the borough, Little Ferry, which sends 202 students to the 546-student high school, say a partial audit several years ago raised suspicions that Ridgefield Park has overcharged them by hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years.... Little Ferry, a borough of 1.5 square miles and 9,900 people, has sent its high school students to this neighboring 1.92-square mile village of 12,000 people, since 1953."
^Decicco, Robin."Ridgefield Park's Lincoln School recognized as a Blue Ribbon School",Ridgefield Park Patriot, September 23, 2011. Accessed August 19, 2013. "Lincoln Elementary School was recently named a Blue Ribbon School by the New Jersey Department of Education, the most prestigious title in education, said Chris Onorato, superintendent of Ridgefield Park School District.... Ridgefield Park is one of the only districts in the country to receive two Blue Ribbon titles in back to back years. Last year, Grant Elementary School was named a Blue Ribbon School."
^http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/01/amazon_prime_video_sopranos_boardwalk_new_jersey.html "N.J. binge-watching guide: 36 Amazon Prime picks from the Garden State", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, January 14, 2016. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Rounders - This 1998 movie stars Matt Damon and Edward Norton (and John Malkovich!) as underground poker players. Some scenes were filmed at Rutgers School of Law in Newark and the Elks lodge in Ridgefield Park."
^Richard A. Easterlin,Population Association of America. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Richard Easterlin was born in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, in 1926 and studied engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology, where he earned an ME degree with distinction in 1945."
^Nowlin, Bill."Alex Gaston",Society for American Baseball Research. Accessed November 14, 2016. "His high school was Ridgefield Park in New Jersey, the community where Milt was born. At the time of the 1900 and 1910 censuses, the family lived in Overpeck, Bergen County, New Jersey."
^Nowlin, Bill."Milt Gaston",Society for American Baseball Research. Accessed November 14, 2016. "Nathaniel Milton Gaston was born on January 27, 1896, in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.... The family lived in Overpeek, Bergen County, New Jersey. Milt attended a number of schools in New York City and New Jersey, and completed one year of high school at Ridgefield Park, but then left school and went to work."
^Spelling, Ian."Ours lead singer Jimmy Gnecco will perform in Manhattan",The Record, May 20, 2010. Accessed August 15, 2012. "Gnecco – who was born in Teaneck, raised in Ridgefield Park and lives in Bogota — plays every instrument on the album, which includes such songs as 'Rest Your Soul,' 'Take a Chance,' 'Mystery' and the title track."
^Calderone, Joe; and Zambito, Thomas."Farewell To FBI Bomb Expert And Father of 4",New York Daily News, October 1, 2001. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Son of a cop, Hatton starred as halfback on the Ridgefield Park football team, married his high school sweetheart and took the only job he'd ever wanted, as an agent with the FBI. His work took him to New Orleans for years, but, after being assigned to the Joint Bank Robbery Task Force in New York, he returned to Ridgefield Park.... On Saturday, as strains of an Elton John song filtered through the church, Hatton's Ridgefield Park class, members of the Class of '75, wiped away tears."
^Fandrich, Leslie."The Golden Nature of James Gordon Irving",Uppercase magazine, Issue 15, Fall 2012. Accessed May 14, 2016. "Gordon was born June 2, 1913, in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, just a few miles from the home he has lived in for the past 60 years."
^Louis Kosco Class of 1950, Ridgefield Park Junior-Senior High School Alumni Foundation. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Senator Louis Kosco attended Lincoln School and was a member of the class of 1950 at Ridgefield Park High School."
^abFosdick, George.History of Ridgefield Park High School, Ridgefield Park Jr. / Sr. High School Alumni Association. Accessed August 19, 2013. "Among those who rose to national prominence are Ozzie Nelson '23, a radio and television performer who often mentioned his RPHS experiences on his radio and television programs. Bud Lewis '37 was the co-pilot of the Enola Gay Aircraft which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, leading to the end of World War II, a war in which over 1,000 RPHS graduates served."
^Ross, Rob."Album Review: Bobby Messano,Welcome To Deltaville, popdose.com, July 31, 2014. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Ridgefield Park, New Jersey native (and current Nashville resident) Bobby Messano steps up to the front of the line with his newest release on Marty Scott's JEM Recordings, Welcome To Deltaville. 10 slices of heavy blues that definitely make their mark."
^Staff."Messner Into Army",Billboard, February 12, 1944. Accessed November 15, 2017. "Johnny Messner, the master of Ridgefield Park, N. J. and the maestro at McAlpin's Marine Grill for so many years, enters the army March 21."
^viaAssociated Press."Ozzie Nelson Honored By Town",The Robesonian, October 19, 1992. Accessed August 19, 2013. "The actor, whose TV family entertained millions during the 1950s grew up in Ridgefield Park and graduated in 1923 from the town's high school."
^George, Jason."From a C Student to a Celestial Traveler",The New York Times, May 16, 2004. Accessed December 14, 2013. "In 1962, with an F in trigonometry and a C average at Ridgefield Park High School in New Jersey, Gregory Olsen seemed destined for the final frontier of a steady job, evenings in front of the television and, if lucky, vacations on the Jersey Shore."
^"Mrs. Amelia Stone Quinton",The New York Times, June 25, 1926. Accessed November 17, 2017. "Mrs. Amelia Stone Quinton, 91, died on Wednesday at her home, 160 Preston Street, Ridgefield Park, N. J."
^Gavin, John A."Harrison 'Hatch' Rosdahl, ex-pro football player, at 62",The Record, June 18, 2004. Accessed July 31, 2014. "Ridgefield Park - Harrison 'Hatch' Rosdahl, a professional football player for seven years, died from injuries suffered in a fall at his home Tuesday."
^Beckerman, Jim."A play about ex-cons, played by themselves",The Record, July 6, 2008. Accessed January 21, 2022, viaNewspapers.com. "That's the combined prison time of the four ex-convicts who play themselves in this unique off-Broadway play, conceived and directed by Bergen County native David Rothenberg.... Rothenberg, who grew up in Ridgefield Park and Teaneck (Teaneck High School, class of 1951), began his career as a part-time sports writer forThe Record."
^Harold "Hal" Turner, Turner2000.org, backed up by theInternet Archive as of May 31, 2000. Accessed October 17, 2017. "At age 4, Hal's family moved from Union City to Ridgefield Park, in Bergen County. He attended Roosevelt School on Teaneck Road in Grades K - 8. Hal graduated from Ridgefield Park High School in 1980."
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.
United States
New Jersey
