Washington Township, formally the Township of Washington, is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 9,102, reflecting an increase of 164 (+1.8%) from the 8,938 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 307 (-3.3%) from the 9,245 counted in the 1990 Census.
History
The Lenape Native Americans first inhabited the town and many names throughout the general area were passed down from the Lenape. Pascack and Kinderkamack are just two of these names. However, after Dutch and other European settlers began arriving in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Lenape population was decimated. It is estimated that by 1750, 90% of the Lenape population in and around present-day New Jersey was killed by European settlement through war and European diseases.
The Township of Washington was created by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 13, 1840, from the territories between the Hackensack River and Saddle River that had been part of Harrington Township. At the time of its creation, the township encompassed an area of 19,525 acres (79.01Â km2), more than 30 square miles (78Â km2). The township was named for George Washington, one of more than ten communities statewide named for the first president. It is one of five municipalities in the state of New Jersey with the name "Washington Township". Another municipality, Washington Borough, is completely surrounded by Washington Township, Warren County.
Growth in the area exploded after the Civil War with the completion of the New Jersey and New York Railway through the Pascack Valley, as communities were established near the railroad's stations.
Orvil Township was created on January 1, 1886, from the western portion of The Township of Washington and the southern portion of Hohokus Township.
The Borough Act resulted in a flurry of new boroughs created from portions of the township in 1894 as the "Boroughitis" phenomenon swept through the Township of Washington, with Westwood (May 8, 1894), Park Ridge (May 14, 1894), Eastwood (part; created June 6, 1894, borough lasted until 1896), Montvale (part; created August 31, 1894) and Woodcliff (part; created August 31, 1894, name changed to Woodcliff Lake in 1910) formed among the 26 boroughs created that year in the county. Hillsdale Township (now a borough) was created on March 25, 1898. Etna Borough, which ultimately became Emerson, was formed on April 8, 1903. River Vale (part) was the last to leave when it was created on April 30, 1906. The departures have taken the township from over 30 square miles (78Â km2) to its current 3-square-mile (7.8Â km2) size.
Seven Chimneys is a house with the described seven chimneys, located on Ridgewood Road atop a small hill. George Washington is said to have stayed at the house during the Revolutionary War. Seven Chimneys, the oldest house in the township, is an impressive example of eighteenth-century, regional, domestic architecture and is an important remnant of the community's early settlement period. The house is listed on the State Register and National Register of Historic Places. On November 3, 1968, the Bergen County Historical Society placed a historic-site marker on the property.
During the mid-1950s, the completion of the 173-mile (278Â km) Garden State Parkway split the township in two. The Parkway created two access routes with Exit 166 on the southern border closest to Paramus and Exit 168 on Washington Avenue. The northernmost toll plaza was built off of East Glen. During the decade after the Parkway was completed, the township dramatically increased in population.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 2.959 square miles (7.665Â km2), including 2.909 square miles (7.534Â km2) of land and 0.050 square miles (0.130Â km2) of water (1.70%).
The township is located in the northern portion of Bergen County, which in turn is in the far northeastern corner of New Jersey, 15 miles (24Â km) northwest of New York City. It is within the Hackensack River watershed, which comprises Musquapsink Brook, Schlegel Lake, Pascack Brook, Oradell Reservoir, Woodcliff Lake Reservoir, and Lake Tappan. The township borders Emerson, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Paramus, Ridgewood, Saddle River and Westwood.
Located within the Pascack Valley of north-central Bergen County, elevations rise gradually in an east to west/south to north trajectory, and range anywhere from 50 feet (15Â m) or less in the wooded swamplands behind Westwood Regional High School to approximately 360 feet (110Â m) just west of Van Emburgh Avenue. Three hills are in the township: at the border of Westwood, west of Pascack Road, and another located west of Van Emburgh Avenue. Being higher in elevation, it is slightly cooler and less prone to flooding then the rest of the valley and other parts of northwestern Bergen County.
The southern end of the township bordering Emerson and Paramus is wooded wetlands at the convergence of Musquapsink Brook and three cemeteries, and has consistently the densest overnight and morning fog in the area.
Demographics
2010 Census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 9,102 people, 3,261 households, and 2,632 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,128.8 per square mile (1,208.0/km2). There were 3,341 housing units at an average density of 1,148.5 per square mile (443.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 90.50% (8,237) White, 1.08% (98) Black or African American, 0.01% (1) Native American, 6.47% (589) Asian, 0.02% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.62% (56) from other races, and 1.31% (119) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.44% (495) of the population.
There were 3,261 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.0% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the township, the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.1 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 90.7 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $117,394 (with a margin of error of +/- $14,960) and the median family income was $133,191 (+/- $10,285). Males had a median income of $91,038 (+/- $11,435) versus $56,599 (+/- $4,609) for females. The per capita income for the township was $48,415 (+/- $4,855). About 1.6% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 0.6% of those age 65 or over.
Same-sex couples headed 27 households in 2010, an increase from the 10 counted in 2000.
2000 Census
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 8,938 people, 3,219 households, and 2,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,071.1 people per square mile (1,185.9/km2). There were 3,245 housing units at an average density of 1,115.0 per square mile (430.6/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 92.07% White, 0.98% African American, 0.04% Native American, 5.57% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.35% of the population.
There were 3,219 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.2% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.5% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $83,694, and the median income for a family was $88,017. Males had a median income of $67,090 versus $41,699 for females. The per capita income for the township was $39,248. About 1.5% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Washington Town Center is a shopping mall located in the center of the township on Pascack Road. Stores include Rite Aid, PNC Bank, a Post Office and several restaurants and shops. It has a movie theater which offers a variety of theatrical films. It was formerly a Bowtie Cinemas chain, but the name branding was dropped in 2016 and became Washington Township Cinemas. The privately held Washington Town Center is the township's single largest tax payer. Through a quirk in the town's tax code, the not-for-profit Washington Township Recreation Club remains the township's second-largest taxpayer.
Parks and recreation
The Township of Washington offers various sports activities - baseball, softball, football, cheerleading, and soccer - which are played at the numerous parks and fields throughout the town. Clark Field includes a little league baseball field with two large dugouts and electronic scoreboard, a basketball court, a playground, sandbox, and a concession stand. The playground has many slides, monkey bars, games, gliders, fire poles, regular swings, baby swings, and a tire swing. Memorial Field is in the major recreation site in the township and provides facilities for multiple uses: baseball, softball, soccer and youth football. Adjacent to the Washington Elementary School, it also includes a recreation building with concession stand and a covered picnic pavilion. There are Other fields too, such as Sherry Field which is close to the border of Westwood and township where it is a baseball field with two playing areas. The other field is Gardener field which is a baseball field and also a playground. Both of these fields include a concession stand.
As the township does not provide for any recreational pool service, the Washington Township Recreation Club (WTRC) fills this void. Membership at the Washington Township Recreation Club, more commonly known as the 'swim club' or 'pool', is not limited to township residents and is open to any individual or family who wishes to join. In addition to the Olympic sized outdoor pool, the WTRC also offers a game room and picnic area. Additional recreational facilities include the Bergen County YJCC, offering fitness programs, indoor swimming and a variety of classes for all denominations. The town also has a privately owned Racquet and Health Club.
Schlegel Lake, once referred to as Schlegel's Pond and commonly referred to as Washington Lake, is a 28-acre (110,000Â m2) artificial body of water privately owned and managed by the Washington Lake Association (WLA) since 1947, whose members have exclusive rights to use of the pond and surrounding property. WLA members may enjoy fishing, boating, picnicking, nature observation and other outdoor activities.
Government
Local government
The Township of Washington is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government (Plan E), implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1970. The governing body consists of a mayor and a five-member Township Council, all of whom are elected at-large on a partisan basis to four-year terms of office, as part of the November general election. Members of the Township Council are elected to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election together and the other two seats (along with the mayor) up for election two years later in odd-numbered years.
As of 2017, the Mayor of the Township of Washington is Republican Janet Sobkowicz, whose term of office ends December 31, 2017; she had been a councilwoman for 28 years before being elected as mayor in November 2009. Members of the Township Council are Council President Robert A. Bruno (I, 2019), Council Vice President Michael Ullman (I, 2019), Peter Calamari (R, 2017), Dr. Steven Cascio (I, 2019) and Thomas Sears (R, 2017).
Federal, state and county representation
The Township of Washington is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.
New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (Paramus, 2019).
For the 2016â€"2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 39th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Demarest) and in the General Assembly by Holly Schepisi (R, River Vale) and Robert Auth (R, Old Tappan). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).
Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of 2015, the County Executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus; term ends December 31, 2018). The seven freeholders are elected at-large in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year, with a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Chairman Pro Tempore selected from among its members at a reorganization meeting held each January. Bergen County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chairwoman Joan Voss (D, 2017; Fort Lee), Vice Chairman Steve Tanelli (D, 2015; North Arlington) Chairman Pro Tempore John A. Felice (R, 2016; River Edge), David L. Ganz (D, 2017; Fair Lawn), Maura R. DeNicola (R, 2016; Franklin Lakes) Thomas J. Sullivan Jr., (D, Montvale, 2015; serving the unexpired term of office that had been occupied by James Tedesco before he was sworn in as County Executive) and Tracy Silna Zur (D, 2015; Franklin Lakes). Countywide constitutional officials are County Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale), Sheriff Michael Saudino (R) and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill).
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 6,381 registered voters in the Township of Washington, of which 1,364 (21.4% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,412 (37.8% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,601 (40.8% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 70.1% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 91.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,883 votes (58.3% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,000 votes (40.5% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 33 votes (0.7% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,941 ballots cast by the township's 6,619 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.6% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 3,146 votes (58.1% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,159 votes (39.8% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 42 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,418 ballots cast by the township's 6,735 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.4% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 3,207 votes (59.6% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,137 votes (39.7% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 27 votes (0.5% vs. 0.7%), among the 5,379 ballots cast by the township's 6,582 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.7% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.3% of the vote (2,079 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.6% (889 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (31 votes), among the 3,067 ballots cast by the township's 6,527 registered voters (68 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.0%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,329 votes (56.7% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,475 votes (35.9% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 200 votes (4.9% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 20 votes (0.5% vs. 0.5%), among the 4,110 ballots cast by the township's 6,623 registered voters, yielding a 62.1% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).
Education
Public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the Westwood Regional School District, a comprehensive regional school district serving students from both the Township of Washington and Westwood Borough that is the county's only regional K-12 district. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's six schools had an enrollment of 2,717 students and 207.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 13.13:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are four K-5 elementary schools â€" Berkeley Avenue Elementary School (279 students; grades K-5), Brookside Elementary School (380), Jessie F. George Elementary School (288), Washington Elementary School (298) â€" Westwood Regional Middle School (450; 6-7, opened in Fall 2010) and Westwood Regional High School (1,022; 8-12).
Public school students from the township, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Bergen Tech campus in Paramus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.
Immaculate Heart Academy is a parochial, college preparatory, all-girls Catholic high school located on Van Emburgh Avenue, operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. The school was founded in 1960 as the first all-girls school operated by the Newark Archdiocese.
Emergency services
- The Township of Washington Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1934. The station is located at 656 Washington Avenue and is home to Rescue 40, Tower Ladder 41, Engine 43, and Engine 44.
- The Washington Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps was founded in 1957. The station is located at 354 Hudson Avenue and is home to Ambulance 4-6.
- The Township of Washington Police Department was founded in 1934. The station is located at 350 Hudson Avenue in the municipal complex.
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 43.48 miles (69.97Â km) of roadways, of which 34.76 miles (55.94Â km) were maintained by the municipality, 6.90 miles (11.10Â km) by Bergen County and 1.82 miles (2.93Â km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Located within the New York metropolitan area's arterial network, the township is easily accessible by car. The Garden State Parkway and County Route 502 travel through the township, and Route 17 is nearby.
Public transportation
NJ Transit bus route 165 serves nearby Westwood with access to and from the Township of Washington to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and local service on the 752 route. Westwood train station can also be easily accessed from the township.
Rockland Coaches provides express service from Pascack Road and Washington Avenue via Garden State Parkway Exit 168, with weekday rush-hour service provided to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, heading to New York in the morning and returning to the township weekday evenings on routes 46, 47 and 49.
Entertainment
The Township of Washington has a movie theater in the Washington Township Shopping Center, with three viewing screens. It closed in 2016 as Bowtie Cinemas, but reopened shortly thereafter as an independent cinema.</ref>
Community
The Township of Washington has its own TV station, Washington Community Television (WCTV), composed entirely of volunteers. The non-profit, community access group provides a 24/7 electronic bulletin board telecast over several cable systems in surrounding towns and provides live programming and coverage of local events and activities on the Public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable tv channels as well as the Internet. WCTV provides coverage of a variety of high school sporting events and its volunteers have been honored for their efforts. Town Meetings are also televised and uploaded to the WCTVNJ YouTube pages.
As the township does not provide residential trash pickup service, residents must pay for trash pickup services though a choice of two private garbage companies.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with the Township of Washington include:
- Beverly Bower (1925â€"2002), operatic soprano.
- Carol Higgins Clark (born 1956), mystery writer.
- Mary Higgins Clark (born 1927), best-selling author of suspense novels.
- Damon Harrison (born 1988), defensive tackle for the New York Giants.
- Raymond E. Johns Jr. (born 1955), General, Commander Air Mobility Command, United States Air Force.
- John Markert (c. 1930â€"2011), politician who served as Mayor of the Township of Washington before being elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, where he served three terms representing the 39th Legislative District.
- Jeffrey Nordling (born 1962), actor, appearing in the series Dirt.
- B. J. Raji (born 1986), NFL player for the Green Bay Packers.
- Corey Raji (born 1988), professional basketball player.
- Bob Schroeder (born 1960), member of the New Jersey General Assembly and former councilmember in the Township of Washington. In 2017, Schroeder was sentenced to eight years in state prison for deception, misconduct and passing bad checks.
References
Sources
- 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
- Clayton, W. Woodford; and Nelson, William. History of Bergen and Passaic Counties, New Jersey, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men., Philadelphia: Everts and Peck, 1882.
- Harvey, Cornelius Burnham (ed.), Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Co., 1900.
- Van Valen, James M. History of Bergen County, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900.
- Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858-1942, History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630-1923, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1923.
External links
- Township of Washington website
- Township History
- Washington Township Ambulance Corps. website
- Washington Township Fire Department website
- Washington Township Police Department website
- Westwood Regional School District
- Westwood Regional School District's 2015â€"16 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Westwood Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics
- Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce website
- Dutch Door Genealogy: Bergen County New Jersey Municipalities