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Cliffside Park, New Jersey

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Borough of Cliffside Park, New Jersey
Borough
Map highlighting Cliffside Park's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Map highlighting Cliffside Park's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Cliffside Park, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Cliffside Park, New Jersey
CountryUnited States
StateNew Jersey
CountyBergen
IncorporatedJanuary 15, 1895
Government
 • TypeBorough (New Jersey)
 • MayorGerald A. Calabrese (2011)
 • AdministratorBruce Bonaventuro
Area
 • Total
1.0 sq mi (2.5 km2)
 • Land1.0 sq mi (2.5 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
[1]
249 ft (76 m)
Population
 (2007)[2]
 • Total
22,830
 • Density23,847.7/sq mi (9,253.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
07010
Area code201
FIPS code34-13570Template:GR[3]
GNIS feature ID0885187Template:GR
Websitehttp://www.cliffsideparknj.gov
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900968—
19103,394250.6%
19205,70968.2%
193015,267167.4%
194016,89210.6%
195017,1161.3%
196017,6423.1%
197018,8917.1%
198021,46413.6%
199020,393−5.0%
200023,00712.8%
2009 (est.)22,994[2]
Population 1930 - 1990.[4][5]

Cliffside Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 23,007.

Cliffside Park was formed based on the results of a referendum held on January 15, 1895, from portions of Ridgefield Township at the start of the second year of the Boroughitis phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County.[6][7]

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg currently resides in the borough. Cliffside Park was also home to the former Palisades Amusement Park.

Geography

Cliffside Park is located at 40°49′19.47″N 73°59′16.28″W / 40.8220750°N 73.9878556°W / 40.8220750; -73.9878556 (40.822075, -73.987856).Template:GR According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.5 km2), all of it land, locate atop the Hudson Palisades. Anderson Avenue and Palisade Avenue are the town's major north south thoroughfares, the latter offering views of the Hudson River and New York City skyline. Grantwood is a name used for an a part of town, taken from Grant's Tomb, located on the opposite shore of the river.[8] Gorge Road runs along the face of the cliff to the Edgewater waterfront.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 23,007 people, 10,027 households, and 6,036 families residing in the borough. The population density was 23,847.7 people per square mile (9,253.2/km2). There were 10,375 housing units at an average density of 10,754.1/sq mi (4,172.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.85% White, 1.83% African American, 0.25% Native American, 12.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.97% from other races, and 3.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.16% of the population.


As of the 2000 census, 3.6% of Cliffside Park's residents identified themselves as being of Armenian-American ancestry. This was the highest percentage in New Jersey, and the seventh highest percentage of Armenian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[9]


There were 10,027 households out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.


In the borough the population was spread out with 16.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.


The median income for a household in the borough was $46,288, and the median income for a family was $54,915. Males had a median income of $40,114 versus $36,100 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,516. About 8.5% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Cliffside Park is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising of six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[10]


As of 2010, the Mayor of Cliffside Park is Gerald A. Calabrese (D, term ends December 31, 2011). Calabrese has been mayor of Cliffside Park since 1965. Members of the Borough Council are Larry Bongard (D, 2011), Thomas Calabrese (D, 2010), Kenneth Corcoran (D, 2010), Bernard J. Fontana (D, 2012), Dana Martinotti (D, 2011) and Donna M. Spoto (D, 2012).[11][12]


In the 2009 General Election, Democratic incumbents Bernard J. Fontana (2,943 votes) and Donna M. Spoto (2,983 votes) where challenged by Republican Party candidate Eric Soto(2,004 votes) and John Mitchell (2,040 votes). Spoto and Fontana being re-elected to a new three-year term of office.[13]


In the 2008 General Election, Democrats ran unopposed with incumbents Dana M. Martinotti (5,209 votes) and Lawrence J. Bongard (5,032) re-elected to new three-year terms of office.[14]


In elections held on November 6, 2007, voters filled an open mayoral seat and two seats on the borough council. Incumbent Democrats ran unopposed for all three seats, with Mayor Gerald A. Calabrese (2,350 votes) and Councilmembers Thomas Calabrese (2,275) and Kenneth Corcoran (2,251) all winning re-election.[15][16]


On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Democratic Party incumbents Bernard J. Fontana (3,904 votes) and Donna M. Spoto (3,909) won reelection unopposed to three-year terms on the Borough Council. Kenneth Corcoran (3,829), who had been appointed to the unexpired term of the late Richard Spadaccini, also ran unopposed, winning his bid to serve the one year remaining on the seat.[17][18][19]

Federal, state, and county representation

Cliffside Park is in the Ninth Congressional District is part of New Jersey's 38th Legislative District.[20]

For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 9th congressional district was represented by Bill Pascrell (D, Paterson) until his death in August 2024.[21][22] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).[23][24]

For the 2024-2025 session, the 38th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph Lagana (D, Paramus) and in the General Assembly by Lisa Swain (D, Fair Lawn) and Chris Tully (D, Bergenfield).[25] Template:NJ Governor

Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at-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 2024, the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[26]

Bergen County's Commissioners are: Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. (D, Montvale, 2025),[27] Chair Germaine M. Ortiz (D, Emerson, 2025),[28] Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee, 2026),[29] Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso (D, Mahwah, 2025),[30] Rafael Marte (D, Bergenfield, 2026),[31] Steven A. Tanelli (D, North Arlington, 2024)[32] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, Franklin Lakes, 2024).[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]

Bergen County's constitutional officials are: Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale, 2026),[41][42] Sheriff Anthony Cureton (D, Englewood, 2024)[43][44] and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill, 2026).[45][46][36][47]

Politics

As of Election Day, November 3, 2009, there were 19,280 registered voters. Of registered voters, 9,284 (48.1% of all registered voters) were registered as Democrats, 2,108 (10.9%) were registered as Republicans and 7,888 (40.9%) were registered as Undeclared. There were three voters registered to other parties.

On the national level, Cliffside Park leans strongly toward the Democratic Party. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 62.5% of the vote here, defeating Republican John McCain, who received 36.1% of the vote, with 81.3% of registered voters participating.[48] In the 2004 election, Democrat John Kerry received 60% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 39%.[49] Over 46.5 percent of students are above their average age in their grade.

Education

The Cliffside Park School District serves public school students in Kindergarten through Twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[50]) are the Early Learning Center with 149 students in prekindergarten, Number 3 School with 252 students in grades K-6, Number 4 School with 354 students in grades K-6, Number 5 School with 151 students in grades K-6, Number 6 School with 670 students in grades K-8 and Cliffside Park High School with 1,076 students in grades 9-12. Students from Fairview, New Jersey attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Fairview Public Schools.[51]

Roman Catholic Church of the Epiphany

Religion

As of 2007, slightly over 75% of the citizens of Cliffside Park view themselves as being affiliated with a formal religious body. A majority of the borough is Roman Catholic (54.15%), many of whom attend the Roman Catholic Church of the Epiphany on Knox Avenue. 9.47% Jewish; 6% are mainline Protestant; 1.47% Lutheran; 1.20% Episcopalian; 1.14% Methodist; 0.73% Muslim; 0.64% Baptist; 0.50% Pentecostal; and 0.02% Eastern Orthodox Christian. The remaining 24.68% are Atheists.

Transportation

New Jersey Transit bus lines 156, 159 and 181 offer service to the Port Authority Bus Terminals in Manhattan; the 22 route serves Jersey City; and the 751, and 755 offer local service.[52]

Palisade Avenue and Anderson Avenue are the main north-south roads of Cliffside Park.

Scenes from Cop Land were filmed in Cliffside Park. Directed by James Mangold. With Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta

Scenes from the 1988 film Big, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Penny Marshall, were filmed in Cliffside Park.[53][54]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Cliffside Park include:

Sources

  • "History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630-1923;" by "Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858-1942."
  • "Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties)" prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.

References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cliffside Park, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 16, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Cliffside Park, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 24, 2010.
  3. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  4. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  5. ^ Historical Population Trends in Bergen County (1900 - 2000), Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed December 23, 2007.
  6. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 76.
  7. ^ "History of Bergen County" p. 342
  8. ^ http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.813333,-73.963056&spn=0.01,0.01&t=m&q=40.813333,-73.963056
  9. ^ Armenian Communities, Epodunk. Accessed June 28, 2006.
  10. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 160.
  11. ^ Mayor and Council, Borough of Cliffside Park. Accessed July 3, 2008.
  12. ^ "County of Bergen: 2008 County and Municipal Directory", Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 37. Accessed July 3, 2008.
  13. ^ Staff. "Elections 2009 Cliffside Park", Cliffside Park Citizen(Bergen County), November 3, 2009. Accessed June, 2 2010.
  14. ^ Staff. "County, town races across Bergen County", The Record (Bergen County), November 5, 2008. Accessed November 6, 2008.
  15. ^ "Cliffside Park municipal elections", The Record (Bergen County), November 3, 2007. Accessed November 22, 2007.
  16. ^ Bergen County election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 7, 2007. Accessed November 10, 2007.
  17. ^ "Election 2006: Municipal Results", The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2006.
  18. ^ Cliffside Park Election Guide, The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2006.
  19. ^ Bergen County 2006 General Election Results, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2007.
  20. ^ 2008 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 56. Accessed September 30, 2009.
  21. ^ Directory of Representatives: New Jersey, United States House of Representatives. Accessed January 3, 2019.
  22. ^ Biography, Congressman Bill Pascrell. Accessed January 3, 2019. "A native son of Paterson, N.J., Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. has built a life of public service upon the principles he learned while growing up on the south side of the Silk City."
  23. ^ U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
  24. ^ https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/andy-kim-new-jersey-senate/
  25. ^ Legislative Roster for District 38, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 20, 2024.
  26. ^ County Executive, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  27. ^ Vice Chairman Commissioner Chairman Thomas J. Sullivan, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  28. ^ Commissioner Vice Chairwoman Germaine M. Ortiz, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  29. ^ Commissioner Chair Pro Tempore Dr. Joan M. Voss, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  30. ^ Commissioner Mary J. Amoroso, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  31. ^ 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."
  32. ^ Commissioner Steven A. Tanelli, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  33. ^ Commissioner Tracy Silna Zur, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  34. ^ Board of County Commissioners, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  35. ^ 2022 County Data Sheet, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  36. ^ a b 2022 County and Municipal Directory, Bergen County, New Jersey, March 2022. Accessed January 30, 2023.
  37. ^ Bergen County November 8, 2022 General Election Statement of Vote, Bergen County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
  38. ^ Bergen County Statement of Vote November 2, 2021 Official results, Bergen County, New Jersey, updated November 17, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
  39. ^ Precinct Summary Results Report - Combined 2020 Bergen County General Election - November 3, 2020 Official Results, Bergen County, New Jersey, December 3, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
  40. ^ Bergen County November 5, 2019 General Election Statement of Vote, Bergen County, New Jersey Clerk, updated December 10, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.
  41. ^ About the Clerk, Bergen County Clerk. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  42. ^ Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  43. ^ Sheriff Anthony Cureton, Bergen County Sheriff's Office. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  44. ^ Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  45. ^ Michael R. Dressler, Bergen County Surrogate's Court. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  46. ^ Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  47. ^ Constitutional Officers, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
  48. ^ 2008 General Election Results for Cliffside Park, The Record (Bergen County). Accessed November 7, 2008.
  49. ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety: Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004.
  50. ^ Data for the Cliffside Park School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 6, 2008.
  51. ^ Cliffside Park High School Profile, Cliffside Park High School. "The neighboring town of Fairview is a K – 8 district and Cliffside Park is the receiving district for Fairview’s 9 – 12 students."
  52. ^ Routes by County: Bergen County, New Jersey Transit. Accessed September 9, 2008.
  53. ^ Turner, Rob. "6 Affordable Neighborhoods - Cliffside Park: Across the river and into the trees.", New York (magazine). Accessed July 11, 2007. "Remember the scene in Big where Tom Hanks morphs back into little Josh Baskin as he walks down the sun-speckled leafy streets on his return to kid-dom? That's Cliffside."
  54. ^ Ross, Michale E. "State Seeks Bigger Role In Making Of Movies", The New York Times, August 7, 1998. Accessed April 11, 2008. "Big, one of this summer's box-office comedy successes, starring Tom Hanks and Elizabeth Perkins. Parts of the 20th Century-Fox film were shot in Cliffside Park and Fort Lee."
  55. ^ Lipson, Karin. "For Oksana Baiul, a Role Close to Life", The New York Times, May 13, 2007. Accessed March 6, 2008. "Ms. Baiul, now 29 and living in Cliffside Park, N.J., was “competing” only in her starring role as Maya Propova, one of six fictional skaters jockeying for medals in “Cold as Ice,” a new musical about the sacrifices and rivalries of the sport."
  56. ^ Died. Joseph Dunninger, 82, magician and mentalist; of Parkinson's disease; in Cliffside Park, N.J., Time (magazine), March 24, 1975, accessed April 26, 2007.
  57. ^ a b c Hsu, Eric. "Cliffside Park, this is your life", The Record (Bergen County), March 22, 2007, accessed April 26, 2007. "One section includes a list of the town's famous residents, including telepathist Joseph Dunninger; boxer Gus Lesnevich;and Otto Messmer, an animator sometimes credited as the creator of Felix the Cat."
  58. ^ "DUNNINGER DIES; MAGICIAN WAS 82; Billed Himself as 'Master Mind of Mental Mystery'", The New York Times, March 10, 1975. "Joseph Dunninger, who mystified millions as a magician and mind-reader for more than half a century, died yesterday of Parkinson's disease at his home in Cliffside Park, N.J."
  59. ^ "Bruce Elia, Former Cliffside Park and NFL Linebacker", The Record (Bergen County), December 29, 1990. "It's not that Elia, 37, the former All-Bergen County football and basketball star from Cliffside Park, has aspirations of playing."
  60. ^ Dullea, Georgia. "Ebony and Ivory: 1 Keyboard, 2 Good Hands". New York Times, September 28, 1987. Accessed Feb. 16, 2010.
  61. ^ Gloria Gaynor: She Has Survived, Road & Travel, accessed March 9, 2007. "Gaynor, who won’t divulge her age (“Just as old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth,” is all she’ll say) and lives in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, with her manager/husband of 20 years, Linwood Simon, always knew she’d be a singer."
  62. ^ Jaeger, Barbara. "Solos at Home Lead to a Career in Rock", The Record (Bergen County), August 14, 1991. Accessed July 11, 2007. "Ray Gillen remembers those late-Seventies afternoons as if they were yesterday. 'I'd get home from school, turn on the stereo or radio, and sing along,' says the former Cliffside Park resident."
  63. ^ Heidi Groskreutz contestant profile from So You Think You Can Dance, accessed December 30, 2006.
  64. ^ Dems pick Lautenberg to replace Torricelli, CNN.com, October 2, 2002.
  65. ^ a b Randy Neumann profile, New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, accessed March 3, 2007.
  66. ^ Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. Speaker Profile, accessed March 3, 2007.
  67. ^ LG ELECTRONICS SALUTES PUBLIC EDUCATION EXCELLENCE, BRINGS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TO SCHOOLS, LG Electronics press release dated July 7, 2005.
  68. ^ Buckley, Cara. "After Shooting in Manhattan, a Rapper Is Arrested", The New York Times, July 15, 2007. Accessed March 17, 2008. "Ms. Smith, who lives in Cliffside Park, N.J., grew up in the Castle Hill Houses in the Bronx and used to perform as Remy Martin."
  69. ^ Franks, Tim. " Jerusalem Diary: Monday 7 July", BBC News, July 7, 2008. Accessed July 9, 2008.
  70. ^ Heydarpour, Roja. "The Comic Is Palestinian, the Jokes Bawdy", The New York Times, November 21, 2006. Accessed July 9, 2008. "Ms. Zayid, who has a home in Cliffside Park, N.J., recently returned from Hollywood, where she lived while working on developing her one-woman show."
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