Ridgefield Park, New Jersey

Ridgefield Park, New Jersey
Village
Ridgefield Park municipal building
Ridgefield Park municipal building
Location of Ridgefield Park in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Location of Ridgefield Park in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Census Bureau map of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey
Ridgefield Park is located in Bergen County, New Jersey
Ridgefield Park
Ridgefield Park
Location in Bergen County
Ridgefield Park is located in New Jersey
Ridgefield Park
Ridgefield Park
Location in New Jersey
Ridgefield Park is located in the United States
Ridgefield Park
Ridgefield Park
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°51′17″N 74°01′12″W / 40.854705°N 74.019926°W / 40.854705; -74.019926[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountyBergen
Earliest European settlement1685
IncorporatedJune 15, 1892
Government
[4]
 • TypeWalsh Act
 • BodyBoard of Commissioners
 • MayorAdam A. MacNeill (term ends May 23, 2028)
 • Municipal clerkTara O'Grady[3]
Area
[5]
 • Total1.91 sq mi (4.95 km2)
 • Land1.71 sq mi (4.42 km2)
 • Water0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2)  10.84%
 • Rank420th of 565 in state
51st of 70 in county[1]
Elevation
[6]
56 ft (17 m)
Population
 (2020)[7][8]
 • Total13,224
 • Estimate 
(2023)[7][9]
13,135
 • Rank195th of 565 in state
26th of 70 in county[10]
 • Density7,756.0/sq mi (2,994.6/km2)
  • Rank55th of 565 in state
17th of 70 in county[10]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
07660[11][12]
Area code(s)201[13]
FIPS code3400362940[1][14][15]
GNIS feature ID0885368[1][16]
Websitewww.ridgefieldpark.org

Ridgefield Park is a village in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the village's population was 13,224,[7][8] an increase of 495 (+3.9%) from the 2010 census count of 12,729,[17][18] which in turn reflected a decline of 144 (−1.1%) from the 12,873 counted in the 2000 census.[19] Of the 564 municipalities in the state, Ridgefield Park is one of only four with a village type of government, though it operates a Walsh Act (city commission) form of government. Of the four New Jersey villages, Loch Arbour also uses the commission form of government, while Ridgewood operates under the council-manager form, and the Township of South Orange Village operates under a special charter form with many characteristics of village government.[20]

Ridgefield Park was formed as a village on June 15, 1892, within Ridgefield Township, based on the results of a referendum passed on June 6, 1892. Overpeck Township was formed on March 23, 1897, to be coextensive with Ridgefield Park village, and was created within Ridgefield Township for the purpose of administering a Board of Education. Portions of the village gained in both 1921 and 1926 were taken from Bogota and Teaneck. On May 31, 1938, Overpeck Township became Ridgefield Park Township.[21] The village was named for the area's terrain.[22]

The village's Fourth of July Parade, first established in 1894, is said to be the longest continuously celebrated such event in New Jersey and one of the oldest in the country.[23] The village eliminated its July 4 fireworks in 2009, citing the $50,000 cost amid a difficult economy, but has restored the tradition since then.[24][25]

  1. ^ a b c d 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Village Clerk's Office, Village of Ridgefield Park. Accessed March 15, 2023.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference DataBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  6. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Village of Ridgefield Park, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 11, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 1, 2023.
  11. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Ridgefield Park, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed January 29, 2012.
  12. ^ Zip Codes, State of New Jersey. Accessed August 19, 2013.
  13. ^ Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Ridgefield Park, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed October 21, 2013.
  14. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  15. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  16. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference LWD2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  20. ^ Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government" Archived 2014-09-24 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Municipalities (publication of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities), March 2007. Accessed August 5, 2008.
  21. ^ Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 85. Accessed May 30, 2024.
  22. ^ Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 26. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 21, 2015.
  23. ^ Klein, Alvin; and Emblen, Mary L. New Jersey Guide, The New York Times, July 3, 1994. Accessed July 12, 2011. "Ridgefield Park will strike up the band with extra gusto at this year's Fourth of July parade tomorrow because it is the 100th and, the sponsors assert, the longest consecutively produced one in the nation. Residents of the village took seriously the suggestion made years before by John Adams that the nation's citizenry to celebrate independence with parades, fireworks and joyous gatherings. Volunteer committees have put together an observance every year since 1894 in spite of two World Wars, the Great Depression and other distractions."
  24. ^ Kocieniewski, David. "Bad Economy Dampens Celebrations for July 4th", The New York Times, June 21, 2009. Accessed July 12, 2011. "But in Ridgefield Park, N.J., home of the state's oldest Fourth of July celebration, village leaders decided this year that because of the exceptionally bleak economic outlook, they could not afford to put on their traditional show, which costs about $50,000. "'I'm not going to say it's a luxury, because fireworks are a very important tradition, and Fourth of July is a very important day,' said Ridgefield Park's mayor, George D. Fosdick. 'But if you're confronting a situation where you're afraid you may have to lay people off and cost a family its livelihood, then it's a decision that you have to make.' Mr. Fosdick said the village would hold the rest of its Independence Day celebration, including its home- and business-decorating contest and two parades."
  25. ^ "Fourth of July Celebration | Village of Ridgefield Park NJ". www.ridgefieldpark.org. Retrieved October 5, 2024.