Bergen County, New Jersey
Encyclopedia : B : BE : BER : Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population is 884,118. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack6. Bergen County ranks as the 21st among the highest-income counties in the United States with a per capita income of $33,638.
History
Bergen County was established in 1683 while the territory was called East Jersey, a proprietary colony (as opposed to a royal colony). At the time, Bergen was one of only four counties in East Jersey. Its territory also included the current territory of Hudson County (formed in 1840), and portions of Passaic County (formed in 1837).
Bergen saw several battles and troop movements during the American Revolutionary War. Fort Lee's location atop the New Jersey Palisades, opposite Fort Washington in Manhattan, made it a strategic position during the war in the November 1776 Battle of Fort Lee, as part of the Continental Army's futile attempts to keep British forces from sailing up the Hudson River. After these defensive positions were hastily abandoned, the American forces staged a ragged retreat through present-day Englewood and Teaneck, and across the Hackensack River at New Bridge Landing, one of the few sites where the river was crossed by a bridge. This ignominious retreat allowed American forces to escape capture and regroup for subsequent successes against the British elsewhere in New Jersey later that fateful winter. The Baylor Massacre took place in 1778 in River Vale, resulting in severe losses for the Americans.
Camp Merritt was created in eastern Bergen County for troop staging in World War I.
Bergen County is one of the last remaining areas of the country in which blue laws are still in effect. This means that nearly all businesses in the county are closed on Sundays.
In 2005, Bergen County, along with neighboring Passaic County, was listed by [Forbes.com] as the sixth most overpriced place in the nation. In 2004, the two counties were ranked second.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 639 km² (247 mi²). 606 km² (234 mi²) of it is land and 33 km² (13 mi²) of it (5.12%) is water.
The highest elevation is Bald Mountain near the New York state line in Mahwah, at 1,164 feet (355 m) above sea level. The lowest point is sea level, along the Hudson River.
The sharp cliffs of the New Jersey Palisades lift much the county up from the river along the eastern boundary with the Hudson River, but then relief remains relatively minimal across the county as much of it is in the Hackensack River valley. Only in the northwestern portion of the county are any serious hills found, leading to the Ramapo Mountains. The damming of the Hackensack River (and tributaries) produced three reservoirs in the county, Woodcliff Lake Reservoir, Lake Tappan and Oradell Reservoir, which provide drinking water to much of northern New Jersey.
Bergen County is bordered by Rockland County, New York to the north, by Westchester County, the Bronx, and Manhattan in New York, across the Hudson River to the east, Hudson County to the south, a small border with Essex County also to the south and Passaic County to the west.
Law and government
County Government
Bergen has had a County Executive form of government since 1986. The current County Executive is Dennis McNerney. The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. Bergen County's Freeholders (reflecting the results of the [2006 Regorganization meeting] on January 4, 2006) are:
- Freeholder Chairwoman Bernadette P. McPherson of Rutherford
- Freeholder Vice-Chairman David L. Ganz of Fair Lawn
- Elizabeth Calabrese of Wallington
- James M. Carroll of Demarest
- Tomas J. Padilla of Park Ridge
- Elizabeth Randall of Westwood
- Valerie Vainieri Huttle of Englewood
State representatives
The seventy municipalities of Bergen County are represented by seven separate legislative districts. Three of these districts (the 37th, 38th and 39th) are situated entirely within the county, the others cross county boundaries.
Congressional representatives
Two federal Congressional Districts cover the county, with the northern portion of the county in New Jersey's 5th district, represented by Scott Garrett (R) and the southern portion of the county in New Jersey's 9th district, represented by Steve Rothman (D).Transportation
Bergen county has a well-developed road network, including the northern termini of the New Jersey Turnpike (a portion of Interstate 95) and the Garden State Parkway, the eastern terminus of Interstate 80 and a portion of Interstate 287. US Highways 46, 202, 9, 9W, and New Jersey state highways 4, 17, 3, 120, 208, and the Palisades Interstate Parkway also serve the region.
Access to New York City is primarily available for motorists through the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee and the Lincoln Tunnel in Hudson County. Train service is available on three lines from New Jersey Transit: the Bergen County Line, the Erie Main Line and the Pascack Valley Line. They run north-south to Hoboken Terminal with connections to the PATH train. New Jersey Transit also offers connecting one-stop service to New York Penn Station via the Secaucus Junction transfer station. Connections are also available at the Hoboken Terminal to New York Waterways ferry service to the World Financial Center and other destinations. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will connect the county with Hudson County in the near future. There is also bus service, available from New Jersey Transit and private companies such as Red and Tan Lines and DeCamp Bus Lines, offering transport within Bergen County, elsewhere in New Jersey and to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal in New York City.
The only airport in the county is Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, which is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Most commercial air traffic is handled by nearby Newark Liberty International Airport in Essex County.
Demographics
| Census Year | Total Population | Population Change | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 36,786 |
|
|
| 1890 | 47,226 | 10,440 | 28.4% |
| 1900 | 78,441 | 31,215 | 66.1% |
| 1910 | 138,002 | 59,561 | 52.6% |
| 1920 | 210,643 | 72,641 | 52.6% |
| 1930 | 364,977 | 154,334 | 73.3% |
| 1940 | 409,646 | 44,669 | 12.2% |
| 1950 | 539,139 | 129,493 | 31.6% |
| 1960 | 780,255 | 241,116 | 44.7% |
| 1970 | 897,148 | 116,893 | 15.0% |
| 1980 | 845,385 | -51,763 | -5.8% |
| 1990 | 825,380 | -20,005 | -2.4% |
| 884,118 | 58,738 | 7.1% |
There were 330,817 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.00% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $65,241, and the median income for a family was $78,079. Males had a median income of $51,346 versus $37,295 for females. The per capita income for the county was $33,638. About 3.40% of families and 5.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.90% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.
Bergen is the most populous of the counties in New Jersey, leading Essex County by approximately 90,000 people. It is also fairly diverse. Fort Lee, Palisades Park, and other communities along the Hudson River have high Korean-American and Chinese-American populations of varying affluence. The southern and central portions have a fast-growing Italian-American community, who are also growing quickly in the more affluent northern portions. Bergenfield has become a center for Filipino-American and Indian-American immigrants, and Filipino-Americans have settled across the suburbs of Bergen County, notably in Englewood where they lead Asian representation with about 2 percent of the population. Hackensack, Fairview, Cliffside Park, and Teaneck have large Hispanic, particularly Colombian and Cuban communities, and Cliffside Park and Teaneck have many Arab-American residents. Fair Lawn, Englewood, Tenafly, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Woodcliff Lake, and Franklin Lakes have substantial Jewish-American and Russian-American communities. Wallington and Garfield are particularly Polish-American. There are significant African American communities in Englewood, Teaneck and Hackensack. There are also significant Croatian and Indian populations in Westwood and Emerson.
Education
Bergen has several colleges and universities:
- Bergen Community College - Paramus
- Berkeley College - Paramus
- Dover Business College - Paramus
- Fairleigh Dickinson University - Teaneck, and Hackensack
- Felician College - Lodi and Rutherford
- Ramapo College - Mahwah
Cities and towns
Historical municipalities
Over the history of the county, there have been various municipality secessions, annexations, and renamings. The following is a partial list of former municipalities, ordered by year of incorporation.
- Bergen Township, 1693
- Hackensack Township, 1693
- New Barbadoes Township, 1710
- Saddle River Township, 1716
- Franklin Township, 1771
- Harrington Township, 1775
- Lodi Township, 1825
- Washington Township, 1840
- Hohokus Township, 1849
- Union Township, 1852
- Midland Township, 1871
- Englewood Township, 1871
- Palisades Township, 1871
- Ridgefield Township, 1871
- Ridgewood Township, 1876
- Orvil Township, 1885
- Boiling Springs Township, 1885
- Overpeck Township, 1892
- Bergen Township, 1893
- Eastwood Borough, 1894
Points of interest
Educational/Cultural
- New Jersey Naval Museum, Hackensack — There the USS Ling is moored in the Hackensack River and is available for tours as a museum ship.
Commercial/Entertainment
- Giants Stadium, East Rutherford
- Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford
- Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford
- Garden State Plaza, shopping mall, Paramus
County parks
- Belmont Hill County Park, Garfield
- Campgaw Mountain Reservation, Mahwah
- Dahnert's Lake County Park, Garfield
- Darlington County Park, Mahwah
- McFaul Environmental Center, Wyckoff
- Ramapo Mountain Reservation, Mahwah
- Overpeck County Park, Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park
- Riverside County Park, Lyndhurst, North Arlington
- Pascack Brook County Park, Westwood
- Saddle Ridge Riding Area, Franklin Lakes
- Saddle River County Park, Paramus, Glen Rock, Rochelle Park, Saddle Brook, Ridgewood
- Samuel Nelkin County Park, Wallington
- Van Saun County Park, Paramus
- Wood Dale County Park, Woodcliff Lake
- Bergen County Zoological Park, Paramus
County-owned historical sites
- Baylor Massacre site, River Vale
- Camp Merritt, Cresskill
- Campbell Christie House, River Edge
- Easton Tower, Paramus
- Garretson Farm, Fair Lawn
- Gethsemane Cemetery, Little Ferry
- Washington Spring Garden, Paramus
- Wortendyke Barn, Park Ridge
State parks
- Ramapo Mountain State Forest, Mahwah
- Palisades Interstate Park, Fort Lee, Englewood Cliffs, Tenafly, Alpine
State-owned historical sites
- New Bridge Landing, New Milford, River Edge and Teaneck
- Steuben House, River Edge (at New Bridge Landing)
- The Hermitage, Ho-Ho-Kus
External links
- [Bergen County official website]
- [History of Bergen County, NJ]
- [Meadowlands Liberty Convention & Visitors Bureau]
- [Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce]
- [Stay in the Meadowlands]
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| State of New Jersey
|
|---|---|
| Capital | Trenton |
| Regions | Central Jersey | Delaware Valley | Jersey Shore | Meadowlands | North Jersey | Pine Barrens | South Jersey | New York metro area | Tri-State Region |
| Major Cities | Atlantic City | Bayonne | Camden | Clifton | Dover Township (Toms River) | East Orange | Elizabeth | Hackensack | Hoboken | Jersey City | Linden | Long Branch | New Brunswick | Newark | Passaic | Paterson | Perth Amboy | Plainfield | Princeton | Union City | Vineland | In addition to the major cities listed, All Municipalities (by Population) |
| Counties | Atlantic | Bergen | Burlington | Camden | Cape May | Cumberland | Essex | Gloucester | Hudson | Hunterdon | Mercer | Middlesex | Monmouth | Morris | Ocean | Passaic | Salem | Somerset | Sussex | Union | Warren |
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