Clifton was incorporated as a city by an act of theNew Jersey Legislature on April 26, 1917, replacingAcquackanonk Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.[28] Clifton is listed under five different ZIP codes. 07011, 07012, 07013, 07014, and 07015.[29] Clifton has been named as one of the best cities to live in the United States.[30]
The city of Clifton turned 100 years old in April 2017, but documented European settlements in the area date back to 1679, when a leader of theLenapeNative Americans gave a deed for 11,000 acres (4,500 ha) along the shores of the Passaic River to Hans Frederick.[31] The modern name of "Clifton" was derived from the cliffs of Garrett Mountain, which borders the Albion Place neighborhood in the western part of the city.[31] Clifton was once an agricultural hub, and home to theU.S. Animal Quarantine Station, which was operated in Clifton by theUnited States Department of Agriculture, starting in 1903. It was served by the Newark Branch of the Erie–Lackawanna Railroad. It was the primary location on theEast Coast where animals from poultry, horses, and cattle, to zoo animals, were held inquarantine after being brought into the United States, to ensure that the animals were not infected with diseases that could be spread in the U.S. The federal station operated in Clifton until the late 1970s, when the facility was relocated toStewart International Airport.[32]
Although Clifton has long converted from farmlands to suburban neighborhoods, given its close proximity to Manhattan, the city still has three small working farms that sell fresh and organic vegetables in-season:
Ploch's Farm is a family-run 15-acre (6.1 ha) farm since 1867. The farm is still in operation as Clifton's last remaining farm. Ploch's Farm is open seasonally selling fruits and vegetables during the months of August and September.[33]
City Green Farm Eco Center is an organic farm and 501(c)3 non-profit focused on promoting urban farming and education since 2011. The 5-acre (2.0 ha) property, which was the site of the Schultheis Farm, was acquired by the city in 2005 for permanent preservation as open space.[34]
Richfield Farms is a family-run 5-acre (2.0 ha) farm and garden center since 1917, which had escaped redevelopment efforts in 2018.[35]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 11.43 square miles (29.60 km2), including 11.27 square miles (29.19 km2) of land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) of water (1.37%).[2][3]
ThePassaic River provides part of the boundary of Clifton at its northeastern edge.Weasel Brook is a tributary of the Passaic, which links from Plog Brook, passing through its namesake Weasel Brook Park, before turning south and joining the Passaic River close to Route 21.
Albion Place – mostly residential, and adjacent toGarret Mountain Reservation in the northwestern corner of the city;
Allwood – the other main "business district" in the city, along its main highway, State Route 3;
Athenia – one of the more centrally located neighborhoods in the city, as well as home to one of the city's two train stations, and adjacent to the 3rd Ward Park neighborhood inPassaic;
Botany Village – the northernmost neighborhood in the city, historically containing European ethnic groups, but mostly populated by Hispanic/Latino immigrants in recent years;
Delawanna – home to one of the two train stations locally, in the southeastern corner of the city, and adjacent toNutley/the 3rd Ward Park neighborhood in Passaic;
Dutch Hill – mostly residential, and largely situated near downtown and one of the two local train stations;
Lakeview – shares its name with the adjacent neighborhood inPaterson, along the western edge of the city, and mostly populated by Arabic and Hispanic/Latino residents;
Main Mall – largely considered the main "downtown" section of the city;
Montclair Heights – one of the wealthiest neighborhoods locally, adjacent to bothMontclair State University, as well asUpper Montclair, in the southwestern corner of the city;
Richfield – another of the more centrally located neighborhoods in the city, along with Athenia;
Rosemawr – largely residential and wealthier, falling partially within Allwood, and home to anOrthodox Jewish community associated with a neighboring one in the city of Passaic, with which it shares the Passaic/CliftonEruv[37]
Styertowne – home to the main namesake shopping plaza in the city;
This sectionneeds expansion with: examples with reliable citations. You can help byadding to it.(September 2021)
Clifton, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
The2010 United States census counted 84,136 people, 30,661 households, and 21,125 families in the city. Thepopulation density was 7,472.0 per square mile (2,885.0/km2). There were 31,946 housing units at an average density of 2,837.1 per square mile (1,095.4/km2). The racial makeup was 69.63% (58,588)White, 4.92% (4,137)Black or African American, 0.50% (419)Native American, 8.90% (7,488)Asian, 0.03% (22)Pacific Islander, 12.44% (10,464) fromother races, and 3.59% (3,018) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.92% (26,854) of the population.[24]
Of the 30,661 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18; 50.3% were married couples living together; 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.1% were non-families. Of all households, 26.0% were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.33.[24]
22.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.4 males.[24]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $62,271 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,208) and the median family income was $76,070 (+/− $2,883). Males had a median income of $49,780 (+/− $2,391) versus $40,149 (+/− $2,057) for females. Theper capita income for the city was $29,812 (+/− $1,255). About 7.2% of families and 9.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.[49]
As of the2000 United States census[19] there were 78,672 people, 30,244 households, and 20,354 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,965.2 inhabitants per square mile (2,689.3/km2). There were 31,060 housing units at an average density of 2,749.9 per square mile (1,061.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 66.22%White, 2.89%African American, 0.24%Native American, 6.44%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 9.60% fromother races, and 4.57% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 19.84% of the population.[26][44]
There were 30,244 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.20.[26][44]
In the city the population was 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.[26][44]
The median income for a household in the city was $50,619, and the median income for a family was $60,688. Males had a median income of $40,143 versus $32,090 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $23,638. About 4.3% of families and 6.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.[26][44]
Clifton is a diverse suburb of New York City, just over 10 miles to the West of the city. It boasts numerous national and local shopping options and countless specialty grocers and retailers. Notable local businesses in Clifton include:
The world headquarters ofComodo, a leading cybersecurity company, is in Clifton.
Rutt's Hut, ahot dog restaurant, is located at the east end of Delawana Avenue. Established in 1928, it was described byPeter Applebome ofThe New York Times as being "on the long shortlist of the state's esteemed hot dog palaces".[52]
Clifton Commons, a shopping center located near Route 3, features numerous stores, restaurants and a 16-screenAMC movie theater, with agross leasable area of 448,848 square feet (41,699.3 m2).[53]
Promenade Shops at Clifton is an upscale mall located on Route 3 West.
Many low-rise office buildings, containing professional tenants such as law and accounting firms and medical practices, are found on the stretch of Clifton Avenue between City Hall (at Van Houten) and Allwood Road.[citation needed]
The now defunctLinens 'n Things, a bedding and home furnishings retailer, was headquartered in Clifton before its 2009 bankruptcy.[54]
The city of Clifton is governed under the1923 Municipal Manager Law. The city is one of seven municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form.[57] The governing body is the City Council, which is comprised of seven council members, with all positions electedat-large on anon-partisan basis to concurrent four-terms of office as part of the November general election. The mayor is chosen by the City Council, with the position traditionally given to the top vote getter in the previous election.[8][58] Clifton's municipal elections had been held in May, as required for municipalities conducting non-partisan elections. Following the passage of a state law in 2010 allowing non-partisan elections to be shifted to November, Clifton voters were overwhelmingly in favor of the move in a non-binding referendum held in November 2013. On December 13, 2013, the Clifton City Council voted 6–0, with one abstention, to make the move to November local elections binding, which had the effect of extending the terms of all sitting council members by six months, from June 30 to December 31. Officials cited increased voter participation and reduced costs as the justifications behind supporting the shift.[59]
As of 2023, Clifton's mayor is Raymond Grabowski, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. He replaced James Anzaldi, who had been one of the members of the City Council since 1978, and was first selected to be mayor in 1990, succeeding two-term mayor Gloria Kolodziej. Anzaldi was the first mayor in Clifton's history to be elected to six terms.[60] The other current members of the City Council are Chris D'Amato, William "Bill" Gibson, Antonio Latona, Joseph Kolodziej, Rosemary Pino, Mary Sadrakula, all of whom are serving concurrent terms of office that end on December 31, 2026.[4][61][62][63][64][65]
Grabowski's election and Council nomination as mayor ended up being considered the most contentious local political event since 1966, when the then-top vote getter, Bill Bate, the only Democrat on the Council at that time, ended up getting passed over in favor of Joseph Vanecek, as, this time around, Grabowski would only get four of the seven possible votes on the Council, as opposed to Anzaldi, who won most, if not all, of those votes unanimously, in each of his terms, with the other three votes going to newcomer Antonio Latona (Grabowski/Kolodziej/Murphy/Sadrakula voting for Grabowski; Gibson/Latona/Pino, surprisingly, voting for Latona, all despite Gibson reportedly privately considering taking enough of those votes away from Grabowski to become mayor himself as of January 2023, even though Grabowski won at the polls in November 2022 by the final margin of roughly 9,400–8,200).[66]
If at any time a seat becomes vacant on the council, it is filled by special election unless the vacancy occurs during a council election year. If the vacancy comes before a council election year, the council must decide whether or not to appoint someone to serve as an interim councilperson within thirty days of the creation of the vacancy; if they choose to appoint someone, that person serves until the special election can be held and is eligible to run for the remainder of the term if he/she so desires.[67] The appointee will usually be the first runner up in the previous council election.
The city has done this five times since 1990:
In 1992, Councilman George Bayeux died in office. His seat was left vacant and in the special election held in November 1992, Richard Stockinger was elected to take his place.[68]
In March 1996, a vacancy was created when Stockinger, who had been elected to a full term when the council stood for election in 1994, died from lung cancer. His seat remained vacant, and the special election to fill his seat was held in November 1996 and won by Edward Welsh.[69]
After the newly elected council had been sworn in in 2006, Antonio Latona was forced to vacate his seat as it was determined that, as a city employee (at the time, Latona was a working member of the city fire department), serving on the council would be a conflict of interest. Matt Ward, who had finished eighth in the election, was appointed to fill the vacancy in November of that year.[70] The city held a special election in November 2007 to fill the remainder of the term; Ward defeated three other candidates to win.[71]
In February 2015, just after he was sworn into office for his second term, Councilman Matt Grabowski died from cancer. The council appointed Joseph Cupoli, the highest vote-getter among the previous losing candidates, to fill the seat until the November election. Raymond Grabowski, the councilman's brother, won the special election to serve out the remainder of the term.[72][73][74]
On January 13, 2024, Councilwoman Lauren Murphy died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The council chose Chris D’Amato, who finished eighth in the previous council election, to fill the vacancy on February 3; D'Amato won the special election to fill the remainder of the term in November 2024.[75]
As of the state legislative elections in November 2023, Clifton will be part of the27th Legislative District, with both Clifton and Montclair leaving the 34th, and joiningLivingston,Millburn,Roseland, andWest Orange in Essex County, in that Legislative District;[81] that reapportionment decision represented compromise between state legislators in both parties - the initial Democratic plan would have kept the existing 34th District entirely intact, while the initial Republican plan would have added it to the40th Legislative District, placing it with some of the longtime Republican-leaning municipalities in that district.[82]
Passaic County is governed byBoard of County Commissioners, composed of seven members who are electedat-large to staggered three-year terms office on a partisan basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At a reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects a Director and Deputy Director from among its members to serve for a one-year term.[83] As of 2025[update], Passaic County's Commissioners are:
Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis are:Clerk Danielle Ireland-Imhof (D,Hawthorne, 2028),[96][97]Sheriff Thomas Adamo (D, Wayne, 2027)[98][99] and Surrogate Zoila S. Cassanova (D, Wayne, 2026).[100][101][92]
As of January 2021, there were a total of 53,555 registered voters in Clifton, of which 22,940 (42.8% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registeredDemocrats, 9,562 (18% vs. 18.7%) were registeredRepublicans, and 20,150 (37.5% vs. 50.3%) were registeredUnaffiliated. There were 19 voters registered to 3rd parties.[102] Among the city's 2020 Census population, 52.9% (vs. 53.2% inPassaic County) were registered to vote, including 67.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).[102][103]
United States Gubernatorial election results for Clifton[104]
In the 2021gubernatorial election, theincumbentgovernor,DemocratPhil Murphy, received 10,240 votes cast (54%), ahead ofRepublicanJack Ciattarelli with 8,485 votes cast (45%), and all 3rd party candidates with 200 combined votes (1%), among the 18,925 ballots cast by the city's 53,555 registered voters (35.3%);[114] despiteMurphy winning by noticeably closer margins both locally and statewide compared to 2017, there were many more in-person votes cast once again, in contrast with 2020.[115] In the2017 gubernatorial election,DemocratPhil Murphy received 9,465 votes cast (61.3%), ahead ofRepublicanKim Guadagno with 5,655 votes cast (36.7%), and all 3rd party candidates with 315 combined votes (2%), among the 15,435 ballots cast by the city's 52,065 registered voters (30%).[116] In the2013 gubernatorial election,RepublicanChris Christie received 56.0% of the vote (9,300 cast), ahead ofDemocratBarbara Buono with 42.8% (7,100 votes), and 3rd party candidates with 1.2% (200 votes), among the 16,600 ballots cast by the city's 49,230 registered voters (361 ballots were spoiled), for turnout of 34.5%.[117][118]
United States Senate election results for Clifton1[119]
TheClifton Public Schools serve students inpre-kindergarten throughtwelfth grade.[121] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of 18 schools, had an enrollment of 10,514 students and 870.5 classroom teachers (on anFTE basis), for astudent–teacher ratio of 12.1:1.[122] Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from theNational Center for Education Statistics[123]) are Clifton Early Learner Academy[124] (377 students; in grades Pre-K), School One[125] (245; K–5), School Two[126] (385; K–5), School Three[127] (282; K–5), School Four[128] (141; K–5), School Five[129] (373; K–5), School Eight[130] (169; Pre-K–5), School Nine[131] (285; K–5), School Eleven[132] (415; K–5), School Twelve[133] (616; Pre-K–5), School Thirteen[134] (447; K–5), School Fourteen[135] (356; K–5), School Fifteen[136] (310; Pre-K–5), School Sixteen[137] (195; K–5), School Seventeen[138] (476; Pre-K–5), Christopher Columbus Middle School[139] (1,172; 6–8), Woodrow Wilson Middle School[140] (1,276; 6–8) andClifton High School[141] (2,891; 9–12).[142][143][144]
With more than 3,300 students enrolled in 2006, Clifton High School was the largest single-facility high school in New Jersey;Elizabeth High School had more students, but they were spread over multiple campuses before the school was split into separate academies.[145] An additional overflow site, the Clifton High School Annex, was constructed at a cost of $17 million and opened in September 2009 to accommodate 540 of the school year's 850 incoming ninth graders to alleviate overcrowding.[146]
Private schools in Clifton include Saint Philip Preparatory School, a K–8 elementary school that operates under the auspices of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.[149] St. Andrew the Apostle School was closed after the 2017–2018 school year due to financial challenges and a decline in the number of students registering for the new school year.[150] St. Brendan Catholic School, which opened in 1946, was closed after the 2018–2019 school year and merged with the Academy of St. James inTotowa, with the merged school to be called The Academy of St. James and St. Brendan.[151]
The Clifton Police Department is a full-service department, and employs 159 sworn officers, 20 public safety telecommunicators, 12 civilian officers, and 25 part-time special officers.[152] The department is led by Chief Thomas Rinaldi, who was named to the position in February 2020, and made full-time June 1, 2020.[153]
The Clifton Fire Department has 143 full-time firefighters. The department operates a fleet of five engines, two ladders, and three basic life support ambulances 24/7, along with three marine rescue boats, a foam pumper and tender, light rescue truck, and haz-mat unit, which are cross staffed. The department is led by Chief Frank S. Prezioso.[154]
Hatzolah of Passaic/Clifton EMS is a volunteer service that primarily covers the Passaic Park neighborhood ofPassaic, and parts of Clifton. Hatzolah operates two ambulances strategically parked throughout the community, with a third on standby, available to assist neighboring chapters such asUnion City andElizabeth.[155]
As of May 2010[update], the city had a total of 199.94 miles (321.77 km) of roadways, of which 145.43 miles (234.05 km) were maintained by the municipality, 35.95 miles (57.86 km) by Passaic County, 14.06 miles (22.63 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation and 4.50 miles (7.24 km) by theNew Jersey Turnpike Authority.[156]
Major roadways in the city includeRoute 3 (which crosses fromeast to west along the southern portion of the city),Route 21 (along the Passaic River),Route 19 in the city's northwest andU.S. Route 46. TheGarden State Parkway crosses the city, connectingBloomfield inEssex County to the south toElmwood Park inBergen County in the north.[157] Parkway interchanges 153 (signed for Route 3 and Route 46 West) / 153A (for Route 3 East) / 153B (for Route 3 and Route 46 West), 154 (for Route 46), 155 (for Clifton) / 155P (for Passaic) and 156 (to Route 46).[158]
Many scenes fromThe Sopranos were filmed in the town, including the Main Memorial Park and Clifton High School. The golf scenes were filmed at the Upper Montclair Country Club.[citation needed]
New York Yankee Hall of FamersYogi Berra andPhil Rizzuto owned a bowling alley in Clifton called "Rizzuto-Berra Bowling Lanes."[168] The alley, later known as Astro Bowl, was located in the Styertowne Shopping Center in the Allwood section of town and remained open until 1999.
The Upper Montclair Country Club was home to the NFL Golf Classic and the Thunderbird Classic. The Sybase Classic golf tournament was held there annually until 2009.[169]
Baseball Hall of FamerHonus Wagner played his last two seasons (1896–1897) of minor league baseball for the Paterson Silk Sox.[170] While the team was named Paterson, the team played their games at Doherty Field, located off of Main Avenue behind the Doherty Silk Mill.
Clifton has an oldsewerage system, accessible to intrepid urban explorers and evidently not actively maintained by any municipal authority or utility, known to some as the "Gates Of Hell." The walls are full ofgraffiti. The Clifton "Gates of Hell" are featured in the 2003 bookWeird N.J.: Your Travel Guide to New Jersey's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets, published byWeird New Jersey.[171]
Chris Opperman (born 1978), modern composer; performed onSteve Vai's Grammy-nominated composition "Lotus Feet"; grew up in Clifton and attended CHS[210]
^abGicas, Tony."Clifton celebrates 100 years of history, change"Archived October 17, 2020, at theWayback Machine,The Record, April 26, 2017. Accessed December 27, 2022. "City historical documents show that a community has lived on land comprising present-day Clifton since 1679 when an Indian sachem named Captahem gifted Hans Frederick a deed for 11,000 acres on the shores of the Passaic River. Inspired by the Native American word Haquequenunk, the area was known as Acquackanonk Township from 1693 until 1917. During its early days, portions of what is now Paterson, Woodland Park, Little Falls and the entirety of Passaic fell within Acquackanonk borders."
^Prial, Frank J."U. S. Animal Center to Move From Clifton"Archived September 24, 2021, at theWayback Machine,The New York Times, August 9, 1975. Accessed September 16, 2019. "The United States Department of Agriculture's quarantine station for imported animals, in Clifton; N.J., since 1903, will be relocated at Stewart Airport, near Newburgh. ... The center, scheduled to be completed in 1978, will occupy a 74‐acre site, and will be equipped to handle 1,800 head of cattle, 800 horses, 300 lions and tigers and other zoo animals, and 4,000 chickens and other poultry."
^Fagan, Matt."What's going there? In Clifton, former Ploch's Garden Center is becoming a storage center"Archived March 24, 2023, at theWayback Machine,The Record, November 22, 2020. Accessed May 24, 2023. "The former Ploch's Garden Center, which for decades sold items such as garden soil and fresh eggs, is growing girder by girder into a multistory storage facility. ... The plan to replace the garden center with a 5,496-square-foot mini-mart and eight-pump gas station was denied because city zoning doesn't allow more than one use on any property. In the summer of 2018, the city's zoning board approved the new plan for the self-storage facility."
^The Farm Eco-Center Clifton, NJArchived May 24, 2023, at theWayback Machine, City Green. Accessed May 4, 2023. "The City Green Farm Eco-Center is a five-acre site located on Grove Street in Clifton, New Jersey. In 2005, with the additional support of Passaic County Open Space funding and New Jersey Green Acres funding, the city of Clifton permanently preserved this land, formerly known as Schultheis Farm, to remain as green, open space forever. City Green leased the property in 2011 and has since transformed it into a hub of agricultural and environmental education and recreation."
^Fagan, Matt."Clifton's Richfield Farms developer withdraws plan"Archived October 1, 2023, at theWayback Machine,The Record, June 11, 2018. Accessed May 24, 2023. "Fans and neighbors of Richfield Farms can breathe a sigh of relief, as the beloved 100-plus-year-old farm stand and garden center appears to be keeping its farm intact, at least for now. ... Richfield Mews, the developer that applied to subdivide roughly half the 4.75-acre Richfield Farms site for town homes, has pulled the application before the city zoning board. ... The family's local history began in 1917, when Leenhardt Van Breeman emigrated from Holland. He opened a farm stand and sold produce, and for decades family members grew lettuce, corn and tomatoes to sell in Newark and New York's Hunts Point Market."
^Allora, Michael.Understanding the Relationship Between the Clifton FireArchived October 23, 2020, at theWayback Machine,Homeland Security Digital Library. Accessed June 1, 2023. "There is a large Orthodox Jewish community that borders the Cities of Clifton and Passaic, NJ. The Orthodox Jewish community in Clifton is concentrated in the Rosemawr Section. The Orthodox Jewish community is concentrated within an area surrounded by the Passaic/Clifton Eruv (See Appendix A)."
^Tangel, Andrew."Old Linens 'n Things HQ sold; Paramus group pays $6M in cash"Archived August 18, 2013, at theWayback Machine,The Record, August 21, 2010. Accessed June 14, 2012. "A real estate investment fund that has been snapping up distressed commercial properties at steep discounts has made another purchase: the former Clifton headquarters of bankrupt housewares company Linens 'n Things."
^"Weasel Brook Park". See Passaic County, New Jersey.Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. RetrievedJune 7, 2023.
^Gicas, Tony."Clifton elections officially changed to November",Clifton Journal, December 13, 2013. Accessed February 10, 2014. "After months of passionate debate and an overwhelming vote of confidence from City voters on a non-binding referendum last month, the municipal council officially moved its election date from May to November.... After months of passionate debate and an overwhelming vote of confidence from City voters on a non-binding referendum last month, the municipal council officially moved its election date from May to November."
^Greenberg, Adam."Anzaldi wins historic sixth term as mayor in Clifton"Archived August 18, 2013, at theWayback Machine,The Record, May 11, 2010. Accessed January 13, 2013. "James Anzaldi, the city's longest-serving mayor, finished strong in Tuesday's election, taking both a ninth City Council term and an unprecedented sixth term as mayor, as the election's top vote-getter."
^Tedeschi, Bruno."Richard Stockinger, Longtime Clifton Gop Stalwart",The Record, March 25, 1996. Accessed August 21, 2014. "Mr. Stockinger won his City Council seat in a special election in November 1992 after the death of Councilman George Bayeaux."
^McGrath, Mary."Municipal Elections At A Glance",The Record, November 6, 1996. Accessed August 21, 2014. "Democrat Edward Welsh, vice chairman of the Planning Board, won a landslide victory Tuesday in the race for the City Council seat left vacant after the death of Richard Stockinger in March."
^Kindergan, Ashley."Clifton Council fills vacant seat",The Record, November 14, 2006. Accessed August 21, 2014. "The City Council tapped Matthew Ward, the runner-up in May's municipal elections, to fill a vacant seat on Monday night."
^Keller, Karen."Clifton -- Election 2007: Municipal Results",The Record, November 7, 2007. Accessed August 21, 2014. "Incumbent Matthew Ward won a special election Tuesday to complete an unexpired term on the City Council, beating three challengers."
^Gicas, Tony."Joe Cupoli appointed to Clifton Council"Archived July 7, 2015, at theWayback Machine,Clifton Journal, March 27, 2015. Accessed August 13, 2015. "The City's municipal government unanimously voted to return a former Council member to the dais and fill the empty seat left after last month's death of Councilman Matt Grabowski. On Saturday, during a public budget meeting, officials voted 6-0 to appoint former Councilman Joe Cupoli, who finished eighth in last November's general election, to the Council. In the event of a Clifton Council member's death, the empty seat is traditionally filled by the eighth-place finisher of the previous election.
^Green, Jeff."New Clifton council member carries on for his late brother"Archived April 16, 2016, at theWayback Machine,The Record, November 13, 2015. Accessed March 29, 2016. "Newly elected Ray Grabowski was sworn into office after a decisive victory in last week's municipal election, carrying on in that seat in the wake of his brother Matt's death early this year. Grabowski takes over for Joe Cupoli, who was appointed to the seat in March following the former councilman's death."
^abBoard of County Commissioners, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 21, 2022. "Passaic County is governed by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners. Each County Commissioner is elected at large for a three-year term. The board is headed by a director, who is selected for a one-year term at the board's annual reorganization meeting (at the first meeting of the year in January)."
^Bruce James, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 21, 2022.
^"Governor - Passaic County"(PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. January 29, 2014.Archived(PDF) from the original on September 24, 2015. RetrievedDecember 24, 2014.
^Clifton Board of Education District Policy 0110 - IdentificationArchived April 4, 2023, at theWayback Machine, Clifton Public Schools. Accessed October 6, 2022. "Purpose: The Clifton Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through twelve in the Clifton Public Schools. Composition: The Clifton Public Schools is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the City of Clifton."
^Gicas, Tony."Clifton High annex nearly ready",The Record, July 14, 2009. Accessed August 21, 2014. "The Clifton High School annex building, a lightning rod for controversy since its approval in 2004, is complete and almost ready to be occupied.... The $17 million school at 290 Brighton Road, in the renovated former Mayer Textile building, will hold about 540 of the total 850 freshmen expected to be enrolled for classes in September."
^Staff."Classical Academy makes mathematics count"Archived August 18, 2013, at theWayback Machine,Clifton Journal, March 18, 2011. Accessed July 13, 2012. "Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton, a 2008 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, participated for the first time in the Mathcounts regional school competition."
^Fagan, Matt."Clifton's St. Andrew School's closing is a betrayal, parents say"Archived August 15, 2020, at theWayback Machine,The Record, May 2, 2018. Accessed February 3, 2020. "Clifton — St. Andrew school parents are angry. Back in March, they say, the Diocese of Paterson told them they had a year to get the school's enrollment up. Then, on Monday, they were told via text message and email that the school would close its doors in June — for good.... On Monday afternoon, the bad news officially came in the form of a text and an email. It said, in part, 'After careful review of the financials of the church and school, as well as the low number of registrations, we cannot sustain the school.'"
^Fagan, Matt."St. Brendan Catholic School in Clifton to close, merge with St. James in Totowa"Archived September 13, 2019, at theWayback Machine,The Record, June 5, 2019. Accessed February 3, 2020. "Clifton — St. Brendan Catholic School in Clifton, which first opened its doors in 1946, will close them for good at the end of the academic year. The Paterson Diocese announced the school closing in a merger with the Academy of St. James in Totowa beginning in the fall. The closing school's students – 182 this year – will have the opportunity to join the 192 who attend St. James, which will be renamed The Academy of St. James and St. Brendan, said Mary Baier, superintendent of the diocese schools."
^Master Plan for the Township of Nutley, Essex County, NJArchived December 22, 2019, at theWayback Machine, Township of Nutley, December 19, 2012. Accessed August 26, 2018. "Freight rail service is provided along the former Erie-Lackawanna (Newark Branch) passenger line. The line is currently owned by and operated by the Norfolk Southern Corporation."
^Katzban, Nicholas."Public officials scramble to fill gaps in bus service left by DeCamp's impending departure"Archived March 27, 2023, at theWayback Machine,The Record, March 22, 2023. Accessed April 8, 2023. "Elected officials are scurrying following the announcement from DeCamp Bus Lines that the company will permanently halt its longtime commuter service into New York City on April 7, ending a faltering but still advantageous alternative for riders in remote neighborhoods underserved by NJ Transit.... Meanwhile, many more commuters in Clifton, Verona, the Caldwells, Roseland, Kearny, West Orange, Rutherford, Lyndhurst, Roseland, North Arlington and Harrison ― all of which are served by one state-run train stop (or none at all) ― could find themselves in newly abandoned transit deserts with long schleps to bus, rail or PATH stations."
^Pezzano, Chuck. "Rizzuto enjoyed a big role in bowling; Sport attractive to baseball figures.",The Record, August 20, 2007. "Rizzuto-Berra Bowling Lanes in Clifton, originally owned by Rizzuto and fellow icon Yogi Berra, was a favorite bowling spot for more than 40 years before giving way to a bank of shopping center stores."
^Gicas, Tony."Sybase golf classic is back on, it just won't be in Clifton"Archived August 18, 2013, at theWayback Machine,Clifton Journal, January 28, 2010. Accessed December 18, 2011. "The Sybase Classic, the premier women's professional golf tournament in the metropolitan area will return in time for the LPGA's 2010 season after it was pulled from the schedule in November, but not to Clifton where it was held the past three years. On Tuesday, Octagon and Sybase, Inc. announced the Sybase Match Play Championship will be held at Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, from May 20 to 23."
^Model, Eric."Paterson enjoys a rich baseball history"Archived January 29, 2013, atarchive.today, NewJerseyNewsroom.com, May 25, 2011. Accessed June 14, 2012. "In fact, baseball great Honus Wagner is said to have started his pro baseball career in Paterson before reaching big leagues. Proof can be found in a place no less significant than the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, where a Honus Wagner 'Paterson' uniform is on display."
^Spadora, Brian."Reporting from the Gates of Hell - ghostly claim to fame called bunk"Archived June 25, 2022, at theWayback Machine,The Record, October 23, 2017. Accessed May 24, 2023. "It is not clear how old the tunnels are or how long they have been a destination for daring (or bored) teens, said Rowan. But he said mischievous activity picked up around the Gates of Hell after a recent book recounted some of the lore surrounding the site. The book,Weird N.J.: Your Travel Guide to New Jersey's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets, was published in 2003 by the creators of a magazine of the same name."
^Bank, Irving A."Orange embraces Alford, its NY Giant"Archived June 5, 2011, at theWayback Machine,The Star-Ledger, February 10, 2008. Accessed February 4, 2011. "Hope now takes the form of turkey sandwiches and strawberry-frosted doughnuts -- and whenever Alford makes the quick drive down the Parkway from his home in Clifton for some of his grandmother's home cooking."
^"Icon FC Will Host Stal Mielec of Poland This Saturday In Clifton, NJ"Archived September 18, 2018, at theWayback Machine,The Post-Eagle, June 13, 2016. Accessed September 17, 2018. "Bajek is a Clifton High School graduate who earned all-state honors for the Mustangs, and was a three-time All-American at Kean University before launching a long professional career in Poland and the U.S. 'Clifton will always be home. I was raised here, learned to play soccer here and now very proud to return with a professional team and the opportunity to showcase world-class soccer matches at Clifton High School Stadium.'"
^Cowen, Richard."Judge William Bate dies"Archived January 12, 2016, at theWayback Machine,The Record, January 30, 2011. Accessed September 16, 2015. "Mr. Bate, a lifelong Clifton resident who previously served in the state Legislature and on the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, was in the midst of his fifth term as surrogate."
^Cotter, Kelly-Jane."Jersey Girl has starring role inProject Almanac"Archived October 1, 2023, at theWayback Machine,Asbury Park Press, January 27, 2015. Accessed September 17, 2018. "Clifton's Sofia Black D'Elia stars in sci-fi thrillerProject Almanac.... A graduate of Clifton High School, D'Elia might be recognizable to soap opera fans through her breakthrough role as Bailey Wells onAll My Children."
^Americans Playing AbroadArchived October 30, 2013, at theWayback Machine,Soccer Times, as of September 15, 2013. Accessed November 1, 2013. "Jonathan Borrajo – defender-midfielder – Mjøndalen IF – Clifton, N.J"
^Kuperinsky, Amy."Nomadland is an Oscar contender. Meet the N.J. author behind the film ... and her van.", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, February 22, 2021. Accessed September 3, 2025. "Bruder, whose other books areSnowden’s Box: Trust in the Age of Surveillance (2020), with Dale Maharidge, andBurning Book: A Visual History of Burning Man (2007), spent her formative years in Montclair. After her parents moved from Clifton, she lived around the corner from Applegate Farm ice cream."
^"Lew Erber, coach, player, dies at 55"Archived February 15, 2021, at theWayback Machine,The Record, February 8, 1990. Accessed February 9, 2021, viaNewspapers.com. "Clifton native and Montclair State graduate Lew Erber, who served as offensive backfield coach for the Super Bowl XI and Super Bowl XV champion Oakland Raiders, died Tuesday in El Cajon, Calif., after a long illness."
^"New on DVD this week"Archived August 18, 2013, at theWayback Machine,The Record, January 13, 2012. Accessed March 30, 2012. "Clifton native and former Irvington resident Vera Farmiga makes an astonishingly assured directorial debut with this engrossing study of Corinne (first played by Vera's sister Taissa Farmiga, and then by Vera), a woman who turns to Christianity after she and her family nearly die in a car accident."
^"Detroit: U.S. District Judge John Feikens dies at 93"[permanent dead link].The News-Herald, May 21, 2011, updated November 3, 2016. Accessed August 22, 2020. "U.S. District Judge John Feikens, who championed the cause of clean water Downriver, died last Sunday. He was 93. A native of Clifton, N.J., Feikens graduated from Calvin College with a bachelor’s degree."
^Kearnan, Scott.DJ Profiles: Hector FonsecaArchived July 2, 2014, at theWayback Machine,Noizemag. Accessed March 16, 2012. "Well before he became one of the hottest (musically and physically) members of the global club scene, Fonseca grew up just eight miles west of New York City. He could see the Empire State Building from his window while growing up. Clifton, N.J., may be just across the Hudson River, but it's a world away from the Big City."
^Woolis, Chris."Clifton's Garrett leads Kean football to Division III postseason"Archived July 13, 2015, at theWayback Machine,Clifton Journal, November 25, 2011. Accessed July 9, 2015. "Kean University head coach Dan Garrett is a 1992 graduate of Clifton High School.... 'I felt much more comfortable at linebacker than on the line,' said Garrett who grew up in Clifton's Athenia Section and attended School #13."
^James, Barbara."'Let's Go Jay!' Interviewing Mets Maven Jay Horwitz",The Clifton Times, June 17, 2023. Accessed July 18, 2024. "Clifton resident Jay Horwitz is Vice President of Media Relations for the New York Mets, an organization he's been with since 1980.... The family moved to Clifton when Jay was a young child. He attended School One, Christopher Columbus Middle School, and Clifton High School, part of the first graduating class at the new building in 1963."
^Johnson, Mark (September 16, 2001). "Goodby and thank you".Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. p. 01A.
^Washburn, Lindy."Invincible Karin battles the odds"Archived July 13, 2020, at theWayback Machine,The Record, November 4, 1984. Accessed July 12, 2020. "This year's Clifton High School homecoming queen, a 17-year-old senior named Karin Korb, seems to have everything going for her everything, that is, except use of her legs.... Miss Korb lives with her parents, Hedwig and Robert, and her older sister, Simone, on Caroline Drive."
^"The Path of No Resistance with Garret Kramer"Archived December 4, 2017, at theWayback Machine, DrKevinPecca.com, October 30, 2017. Accessed December 3, 2017. "[Q] Garret, where are you from? [A] I was born in Paterson, New Jersey. I grew up in Clifton, New Jersey. I was into playing hockey, pretty much that’s what I was into."
^Daidone, Angela."Bringing women's stories to life"Archived December 1, 2020, at theWayback Machine,Clifton Journal, October 23, 2009. Accessed May 24, 2020. "'Nellie Bly was a gutsy woman who did not want to be stuck in a traditional woman's role of writing about the flower show for the society pages,' said Macy, a Clifton native who now lives in Englewood."
^Spiewak, Anna."Convenience, location make Clifton the right spot"Archived January 9, 2008, at theWayback Machine,The Record, January 6, 2008. Accessed May 28, 2008. "Several personalities also hail from Clifton, including psychologist and author of numerous works on cognitive behavior therapy Michael Adams, Italian-American soccer player Giuseppe Rossi, former New York Jets lineman Dave Szott, movie director Ronald F. Maxwell and David Chase, creator ofThe Sopranos."
^"The Whale's Own Jersey Girls"Archived January 26, 2022, at theWayback Machine, Cetacean Nation. Accessed December 29, 2020. "The Whale currently have two of them, winger Kayla Meneghin from Clifton, and center/defender Hanna Beattie from Whitehouse Station."
^Stanmyre, Matthew."NJ's Matt Miazga, Red Bulls rookie, living dream from mom and dad's at 19"Archived April 2, 2015, at theWayback Machine, NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, August 28, 2014. Accessed March 23, 2015. "Miazga, 19, is half-teenager, half-pro athlete. He lives at home in Clifton with his parents, surrounded by lifelong friends who are starting college, and he also juggles a budding pro career with the Red Bulls — one heaped with enormous responsibilities for the 6-3, 185-pound defensive back."
^Farrell, Sean."DePaul girls soccer repeats as Passaic County champion"Archived October 1, 2023, at theWayback Machine,The Record, October 26, 2019. Accessed February 15, 2020. "The senior made a pact with close friend and fellow Clifton native Jazlyn Oviedo to build the Spartans into a winner. DePaul had never gone past the semifinal round until last season."
^My Country, 'Tis of TheeArchived October 17, 2007, at theWayback Machine,ESPN, November 30, 2005. "Flying under the radar of most is 18-year-old Giuseppe Rossi, a striker born in New Jersey, whose parents are from Italy. Rossi was brought up in the soccer hotbed of Clifton, N.J., where his father coached soccer."
^Gold, David."Female Latin Pop Star To Frum Star – Miriam Sandler Left It All To Find It All"Archived August 20, 2016, at theWayback Machine,Vos Iz Neias?, June 29, 2009. Accessed August 19, 2016. "In 2001, the next major change occurred in Miriam's life when she met her husband and became Miriam Sandler, Jewish wife, homemaker and eventually, mother of three. The Sandlers settled down in Clifton, New Jersey, part of greater Passaic's Orthodox community, and Miriam threw herself into full-time Jewish life. Music was simply less important."
^Richardson, Kara L."NJ actor eager to share WWII hero's story"Archived July 24, 2012, at theWayback Machine,Daily Record, September 18, 2007. Accessed February 4, 2011. "Seda, who grew up in Clifton and now lives in the Los Angeles area with his family, is on a break from filmingThe Pacific, a 10-hour HBO miniseries.
^Jacobs, Julie."Harley birthday! 89-year-old N.J. woman still easy riding"Archived January 19, 2018, at theWayback Machine,Inside Jersey, March 16, 2015. Accessed January 18, 2018. "Struck stands just 5 feet tall, her long silver-gray hair in a ponytail, and on this Wednesday afternoon at her home in Clifton, she is bright-eyed and energetic, dressed comfortably in jeans and a light blue Motor Maids T-shirt."
^"Paul Troast, Led Jersey Turnpike"Archived December 28, 2017, at theWayback MachineThe New York Times, July 23, 1972. Accessed December 28, 2017. "Clifton, N.J., July 22—Paul L. Troast, the first chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and Republican candidate for Governor in 1953, died yesterday in his home 324 Dwasline Road, after an illness of three months. He was 77 years old."
^Aberback, Brian."Hackensack native Joe Lynn Turner credits Bergen upbringing for his international music career"Archived August 8, 2016, at theWayback Machine,The Record, February 24, 2016. Accessed May 17, 2016. "Hackensack native Joe Lynn Turner says his prolific career as a solo artist, singer with the legendary English rock bands Deep Purple and Rainbow, and backing vocalist on albums by high-profile artists like Billy Joel can be traced to his Bergen County upbringing.... ' was drawn to rock-and-roll by melody, by the Beatles and Elvis Presley,' said Turner, who now lives in Clifton."
^Gambuti, Steve."Award Winning Author is a North Jersey Teacher"Archived September 20, 2014, at theWayback Machine, North Jersey Teacher, August 4, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2014. "[Q] Were you educated in the Clifton school system? [A] Indeed. I grew up in Clifton and am happy to still be teaching in district."
^Pertkiewicz, T. Julian."Clifton's mayors speak"Archived September 17, 2016, at theWayback Machine,Clifton Journal, June 19, 2015. Accessed July 28, 2016. "The mayors are Gerald H. Zecker (1978–1982), Gloria Kolodziej (1982–1990) and current Mayor James Anzaldi, whose term of office ends Dec. 31, 2018.... Mayor Zecker, you became mayor of Clifton at the age of 36, what were your goals at that time?"
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