Hillsdale

Borough of Hillsdale, New Jersey
—  Borough  —
Map highlighting Hillsdale's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Hillsdale, New Jersey
Coordinates: 41°0′27″N 74°2′33″W / 41.0075°N 74.0425°W / 41.0075; -74.0425Coordinates: 41°0′27″N 74°2′33″W / 41.0075°N 74.0425°W / 41.0075; -74.0425
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Bergen
Incorporated	March 25, 1898 as Township April 24, 1923 as Borough
Government [1]
- Type	Borough
- Mayor	John Sapanara (R, 2011)
- Administrator	Harold Karns[2]
Area
- Total	3.0 sq mi (7.7 km2)
- Land	3.0 sq mi (7.7 km2)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation [3]	69 ft (21 m)
Population (2007)[4]
- Total	9,908
- Density	3,383.2/sq mi (1,306.9/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	07642
Area code(s)	201
FIPS code	34-31920[5][page needed][6]
GNIS feature ID	0877122[7][page needed]
Website	http://www.hillsdalenj.org

Hillsdale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 10,087.

The populated area today known as Hillsdale took form in the mid-to-late 19th century as land speculators, led by David P. Patterson, developed subdivisons to profit from the coming of the Hackensack and New York Connecting Railroad (later New Jersey and New York Railroad). The area was incorporated as Hillsdale Township on March 25, 1898, from portions of Washington Township, which had, in turn, been set off from Harrington Township in 1840. Portions of the township were taken on April 30, 1906, to create River Vale. Hillsdale was reincorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 2, 1923, based on the results of a referendum held on April 24, 1923.^[8]

Geography

Hillsdale is located at 41°00′27″N 74°02′33″W / 41.007389°N 74.042472°W / 41.007389; -74.042472 (41.007389, -74.042472).^{[9][page needed]}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.7 km²), all of it land. Apparently this analysis ignores the many streams that flow through and the small portion of Woodcliff Lake that lies inside the borough.

Demographics

As of the census^{[5][page needed]} of 2000, there were 10,087 people, 3,502 households, and 2,850 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,383.2 people per square mile (1,306.9/km²). There were 3,547 housing units at an average density of 1,189.7/sq mi (459.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.41% White, 0.85% African American, 0.07% Native American, 5.08% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.25% of the population.

There were 3,502 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.8% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.6% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the borough the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $82,904, and the median income for a family was $90,861. Males had a median income of $65,052 versus $43,558 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,651. About 2.5% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

This article may need to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information, and remove this template when finished. Please see the talk page for more information. (September 2009)

Hillsdale is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office and only votes to break a tie. 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.^[1]

The Mayor of Hillsdale Borough is John Sapanara (R, term of office ends December 31, 2011). Members of the Hillsdale Borough Council are Council President Donna Schiavone (R, 2009), Max Arnowitz (D, 2008), Jonathan DeJoseph (R, 2010), Marie Hanlon (R, 2008), John Sapanara (R, 2009) and Andrew Weinstein (R, 2008).^[12][13] William Kirk, elected in 2007, died in February 2008 and was replaced by former Councilmember Marie Hanlon.^[14]

In elections held on November 6, 2007, voters filled the position of mayor and two seats on the borough council. Republican Councilmember John Sapanara (1,791 votes) was elected as mayor, unseating the Democratic incumbent Dennis S. Deutsch (1,278). On the borough council, Republican challengers Jonathan M. De Joseph (1,604) and William V. Kirk (1,523) knocked off sitting Democrats Frank Prospero (1,475) and Council President Kenneth Rush (1,444). Council control will shift from a 3-3 split with a Democratic mayor as tiebreaker in 2007 to a 5-1 Republican majority when the new council was seated in January 2008.^[15][16]

On Election Day, November 7, 2006, voters re-elected Republicans John Sapanara (2,038 votes) and Donna Schiavone (1,905) to their second three-year terms in office. Democrats Frank Garra (1,653) and Peter Philip (1,497) came in third and fourth respectively. The Republican sweep maintains the 3-3 split between Democrats and Republicans on the Council.^[17][18][19]

Federal, state and county representation

Hillsdale is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th Legislative District.^[20]

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).^[21] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).^[22]

Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D).^[23] The executive, along with the seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. As of 2008^[update], Bergen County's Freeholders are Chairman James M. Carroll (D, Demarest), Vice-Chairwoman Julie O'Brien (D, Ramsey), Elizabeth Calabrese (D, Wallington), David L. Ganz (D, Fair Lawn), Bernadette P. McPherson (D, Rutherford), Tomas J. Padilla (D, Park Ridge) and Vernon Walton (D, Englewood).^[24]

Other countywide elected officials are Sheriff Leo McGuire (D), Surrogate Court Judge Mike Dressler (D, Cresskill) and County Clerk Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford).^[25]

Politics

This article may need to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information, and remove this template when finished. Please see the talk page for more information.

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 10,138 in Hillsdale, there were 6,729 registered voters (66.4% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,133 (16.8% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,001 (29.7% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 3,592 (53.4% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were three voters registered to other parties.^[26]

On the national level, Hillsdale leans strongly toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 56% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received around 43%.^[27]

Emergency services

Police

The Hillsdale Police Department has provided police services to the Borough of Hillsdale since 1921.^[28] As of 2008, there are a total of 24 members of the department: one Chief, one Lieutenant, 18 Officers, and two Dispatchers.^[28] The HPD is a full-time department funded by taxes. The force is responsible for all aspects of policing in the borough, including responding to fire and medical emergency calls. Each patrol car is equipped with a first aid kit, oxygen tank, and an Automated external defibrillator.

Officers of the Hillsdale Police Department are members of Hillsdale PBA Local #207 New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, Inc.

Fire

The Hillsdale Fire Department (HFD) is an all-volunteer fire department. Started in 1902, the department consists of one Chief, one Deputy Chief, one Sr. Captain, one Captain, and four Lieutenants. The HFD Headquarters is located at 383 Hillsdale Avenue, and houses three pumpers, Engine 34, Engine 33, and Engine 32; one tower ladder, Tower 31, and one rescue unit, Rescue 36. There is also a vehicle for the Chief and a vehicle for the Assistant Chief.

Ambulance

The Hillsdale Volunteer Ambulance Service was started on January 5, 1954. The service is run by six officers: President, Vice President, Captain, Lieutenant, Secretary, and Treasurer.^[29] The HVAS is an all-volunteer independent public emergency medical service. As such, they do not bill for services, and their equipment is not directly paid for by the borough. Funding is provided by donations and support from the township. The service provides basic life support, and is staffed primarily by certified Emergency Medical Technicians. They have one Type III ambulance, Ambulance 36.

The primary jurisdiction of the HVAS is the Borough of Hillsdale, but the service also regularly responds to requests for mutual-aid from the neighboring First Aid Squads of Old Tappan, Emerson, Washington Township, Westwood, River Vale, and Tri-Boro (Park Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, and Montvale).

The HVAS is a member of the New Jersey State First Aid Council, the Pascack Valley Volunteer Ambulance Association, and the Pascack Valley Mutual Aid Group.

Education

The Hillsdale Public Schools system (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics^[30]) consists of Ann Blanche Smith School, with 388 students in Pre-K through 4th grade; Meadowbrook Elementary School with 418 students in grades K-4; and George G. White Middle School with 613 students in grades 5-8.

Public school students in grades 9 - 12 attend Pascack Valley High School along with students from neighboring River Vale, as part of the Pascack Valley Regional High School District.^[31]

St. John's Academy is a Catholic school serving children in prekindergarten through eighth grade which began as St. John the Baptist Parish School in 1955. In 1997 the name was changed to St. John’s Academy to better reflect its growth from a small parish school to an interparochial academic institution co-sponsored by five area parishes: St. John the Baptist, Hillsdale; St. Andrew’s Church, Westwood; Our Lady Mother of the Church, Woodcliff Lake; St. Gabriel the Archangel, Saddle River; and Our Lady of Good Counsel, Washington Township.

Transportation

Rail

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

The Pascack Valley Line is a single-track line with passing sidings providing service to and from 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 Hoboken Terminal to other New Jersey Transit rail lines, the PATH train, New York Waterways ferry service to the World Financial Center and other destinations and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service. The line formerly operated only during rush hour but as of October 2007, all day service is available in both directions.

Personal Automobile

County Route 503 (Kinderkamack Road) passes through Hillsdale. While the Garden State Parkway passes through Hillsdale, there is no interchange on the parkway within the borough. It is accessible via nearby interchange 168. The main east-west road in Hillsdale is Hillsdale Avenue, running nearly the length of the borough. Other main roads in Hillsdale include Pascack Road, Broadway, and Wierimus Road.

Bus

Bus service in Hillsdale is majorly provided by New Jersey Transit at the same location as the Hillsdale train station and along Kinderkamack Road. Coach USA and Red and Tan Lines also provide options at the same locations.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Hillsdale include:

• Mary Jane Clark, suspense novelist.^[32]
• Marion West Higgins (1915-1999), first female Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly.^[33]
• Jeff Hostetler, quarterback for the New York Giants' victory in Super Bowl XXV, lived in Hillsdale for his remaining seasons with the team.
• Eddie Lopat (1918-1992), pitcher for the New York Yankees.^[34]
• Kathleen Noone (born 1945) soap opera/television actress.^[35]
• Will Nowicki (born 1988),Track and Cross Country Athlete.^[36]
• Vic Raschi (1919-1988), pitcher for the New York Yankees.^{[citation needed]}
• David Remnick (born 1958), editor for The New Yorker.^[37]
• Moose Skowron (born 1930), first baseman for the New York Yankees.^[38]
• Mike Vaccaro, lead sports columnist for The New York Post since November 2002.^[39]

References

External links

• Hillsdale official website
• Hillsdale Public Schools
• Hillsdale Public Schools's 2007–08 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Data for the Hillsdale Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• Pascack Valley Regional High School District
• More data about Hillsdale

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