Westwood, New Jersey

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Westwood, New Jersey
Map highlighting Westwood's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Westwood, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°59′19″N 74°1′51″W / 40.98861, -74.03083
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Bergen
Incorporated	May 8, 1894
Government
- Type	Borough
- Mayor	John Birkner Jr. (D, 2011)
Area
- Total	2.3 sq mi (6.0 km˛)
- Land	2.3 sq mi (6.0 km˛)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km˛)
Elevation	69 ft (21 m)
Population (2006)
- Total	10,934
- Density	4,745.0/sq mi (1,832.1/km˛)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	07675, 07677
Area code(s)	201
FIPS code	34-80270
GNIS feature ID	0885442
Website: http://www.westwoodnj.gov/

Westwood (nicknamed "The Hub of the Pascack Valley") is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 10,999.

Westwood was officially incorporated as a borough on May 8, 1894, from portions of Washington Township, early during the Boroughitis phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County. Isaac D. Bogert served as the first mayor of the Borough. In April 1909, the area of Westwood was enlarged through the annexation of the 'Old Hook' section of the borough of Emerson, and on September 24, 1957, portions of the borough were exchanged with Emerson.

Geography

Westwood is located at 40°59′19″N, 74°1′51″W (40.988548, -74.030747).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km˛), all of it land.

History

In the early 19th century, the area that would later become Westwood Borough was within the larger political boundaries of Harrington Township, which had been established by royal charter in 1775. In 1840, the western half of Harrington Township became Washington Township.^[8] The Hackensack River was the dividing line. Washington Township was an agrarian region with isolated farmsteads. Early families, including the Hoppers and Ackermans are buried at the Old Hook Cemetery. An 18th century mill was situated at the dammed stream near the intersection of today’s Mill Street and First Avenue. This mill was on an important east west pathway and was the first on the Musquapsink. After operating for close to two centuries, it was almost completely ruined by an arsonist’s fire and had to be dismantled in 1910.

A brief description of Washington Township written in 1844 described it as a township "with six stores, four schools for 135 students, six grist mills, and 14 saw mills."

The first wave of concentrated development took place as the result of the coming of the Hackensack and New York Railroad in 1870, which followed the route of today's Pascack Valley Line. On March 5, 1870, service began between Westwood and New York City (via Jersey City and a ferry ride). Several small hotels were built near the depot and in 1872, several houses in the latest European influenced styles began to be built along Centre Avenue. Old maps show that growth occurred simultaneously on the land both to the east and west of the tracks. The commercial buildings included lumber and coal sheds, stores, and a bakery. There was a chapel on the corner of Third and Park Avenues. The triangular park that has played an important role as a place of community gatherings is also shown on the 1876 map.

By the 1880s, Westwood had four factories, several distilleries, a new school, a laundry and grocery store, and a new Reformed Church. In 1890, following a meeting of interested residents, those favoring the incorporation of Westwood as an independent borough conducted a petition drive. By 1894, Washington Township lost one of its villages as Westwood established itself as an independent borough. Isaac D. Bogert, from a long established Bogert family, was elected mayor.

One aspect of any town's development is the availability of water. By 1899, a water plant built by Cornelius S. DeBraun provided service to an expanding number of houses that were constructed along newly laid streets.

Lincoln High School was constructed around the turn of the 20th century, which also saw the introduction of electricity, telephones, and automobiles to the town. Underwood & Underwood Stereoscope Company opened a plant during the first decades of the 20th century and many congregations established their first chapels, which were replaced in later years as the congregations grew in numbers and wealth. Following a typical pattern of development throughout the 20th century, the results are a mature railroad suburb almost covered with housing units, commercial, municipal, and ecclesiastical buildings. Nevertheless, the town still retains the open space of the triangular park at its heart.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,999 people, 4,485 households, and 2,879 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,745.0 people per square mile (1,830.5/km˛). There were 4,610 housing units at an average density of 1,988.8/sq mi (767.2/km˛). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.60% White, 5.72% African American, 0.14% Native American, 4.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.00% of the population. Significant pockets of Croatian, Bosnian, Irish, Ghanaian, German, Greek, Colombian, and Syrian communities are present in Westwood.

There were 4,485 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $59,868, and the median income for a family was $77,105. Males had a median income of $50,800 versus $42,459 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,083. About 1.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Westwood is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a mayor directly elected by the voters and a six-member Borough Council. The Mayor serves a four-year term of office, and the Borough Council members serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.

The Mayor of Westwood is John Birkner, Jr. (D, term ends December 31, 2011). Members of the Westwood Borough Council are Council President Cynthia L. Waneck (R, 2008), Peter A. Grefrath (R, 2009), John J. Sciara (R, 2008), Gail Frasco (D, 2007), Gary Conkling (D, 2007) and William C. Phayre (R, 2009).

In elections held on November 6, 2007, 42% of registered voters turned out to fill a four-year term for mayor and two three-year seats on the Borough Council. The results were split, with a Democrat replacing a Republican as Mayor, and two Republicans elected to fill seats on the Borough Council that had been held by Democrats. Democratic candidate John Birkner Jr. (1,264 votes) won election as mayor, defeating both Republican candidate John J. Sciara (1,219) and incumbent Republican Mayor Thomas Wanner (169), who was defeated in the Republican primary and ran a write-in campaign. Republicans Ingrid H. Quinn (1,363) and Robert W. Miller (1,362), won seats on the council, defeating Democrats Thomas M. Constantine (1,293) and Wilhem D. Auer (1,192). The 2008 Council will consist entirely of Republicans, with a Democrat as Mayor.

On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Westwood voters filled two seats on the Borough Council. As of Election Day, the council was comprised of four Republicans and two Democrats, in a community in which registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by a 3-2 margin. Republican incumbent Peter A. Grefrath (with 1,866 votes) and newcomer William C. Phayre (who led the pack with 2,084 votes) won election, defeating Democrats Russell Miller (1,757) and Erick Martinez (1,205). The Republican sweep will maintain the 4-2 Republican edge and gave Grefrath his fourth full term on the Council. Republican Mayor Thomas Wanner had publicly supported the Democratic candidates, blaming Grefrath for overspending on a firehouse project among other criticism.

Federal, state and county representation

Westwood Borough is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th Legislative District.

New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District, covering the northern portions of Bergen County, Passaic County and Sussex County and all of Warren County, is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 39th district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Demarest) and in the Assembly by John E. Rooney (R, Northvale) and Charlotte Vandervalk (R, Hillsdale). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).

Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D). The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. Bergen County's Freeholders are Chairman Tomas J. Padilla (D, Park Ridge), Vice-Chairman Elizabeth Calabrese (D, Wallington), David L. Ganz (D, Fair Lawn), James M. Carroll (D, Demarest), Bernadette P. McPherson (D, Rutherford), Julie O'Brien (D) and Connie Wagner (D).

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

Politics

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 11,051 in Westwood, there were 6,513 registered voters (58.9% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,101 (16.9% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,683 (25.8% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 3,728 (57.2% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There was one voter registered to another party.

On the national level, Westwood leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 51% of the vote here, edging Democrat John Kerry, who received around 48%.

Education

Students in public school for grades Kindergarten through 12 attend the Westwood Regional School District, a comprehensive regional school district serving both Washington Township and Westwood. Schools in the district are four K-4 lower elementary schools ( Berkeley Avenue Elementary School, Jessie F. George Elementary School, Ketler Elementary School and Washington Elementary School), Brookside Upper Elementary School for grades 5 and 6, Westwood Regional Junior High School for grades 7 and 8, and Westwood Regional High School for grades 9-12.

Transportation

Westwood is served by New Jersey Transit on the Pascack Valley Line at the Westwood train station. The station is located at Broadway and Westwood Avenue.

This line runs north-south to Hoboken Terminal with connections via the Secaucus Junction transfer station to New Jersey Transit one-stop service to New York Penn Station and to other NJ Transit rail service. Connections are available at the Hoboken Terminal to other New Jersey Transit rail lines, the PATH train at the Hoboken PATH station, New York Waterways ferry service to the World Financial Center and other destinations and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service.

The Pascack Valley Line is a single-track line providing service towards Hoboken during the morning rush hour and service from Hoboken in the evening rush hour.

New Jersey Transit bus route 165 serves Westwood with service to New York. Westwood is the terminus for bus route 165.

County Route 503 passes through Westwood.

Corporate residents

Rockland Coaches is a commuter coach company based in Westwood, that operates local and commuter bus service between New York City and points in Bergen County and Rockland County, New York to points where New Jersey Transit does not already provide local service, utilizing a fleet of MCI D4000s and MCI D4500s owned by New Jersey Transit.

Notable residents

Some noted current and former residents:

Points of interest

• Pascack Valley Hospital (PVH) is a 291 bed hospital, located at 250 Old Hook Road filed for bankruptcy on September 24, 2007, and plans to shut down in December, 2007.