In 2012, Forbes.com listed Allendale as 481st in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $579,081.[22]
History
In 1888, Henry J. Appert, a Swiss immigrant, drained a bog for the cultivation of onions and celery. The business—Allendale Produce Gardens, or the "celery farm" to locals—supplied wholesale markets and Campbell Soup Company. Allendale was formed on November 8, 1894, from portions of Franklin Township (remainder now Wyckoff), Hohokus Township (remainder now Mahwah) and Orvil Township (remainder now Waldwick).[23][24]
The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.[25] The borough was named for Joseph Warner Allen, a surveyor for the Erie Railroad.[26]
Babe Ruth would frequently vacation at the Allendale Hotel, which remains in use as a rooming house.[27][28]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 3.12 square miles (8.08 km2), including 3.10 square miles (8.02 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (0.67%).[1][2]
Of the 2,236 households, 42.8% had children under the age of 18; 70.8% were married couples living together; 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.6% were non-families. Of all households, 17.5% were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.25.[19]
28.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 32.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.0 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $131,563 (with a margin of error of +/− $22,630) and the median family income was $150,268 (+/− $26,670). Males had a median income of $121,089 (+/− $19,180) versus $71,534 (+/− $36,833) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $60,466 (+/− $8,969). About 1.0% of families and 1.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.[39]
Same-sex couples headed 17 households in 2010, an increase from the 1 counted in 2000.[40]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 6,699 people, 2,110 households, and 1,795 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,143.9 inhabitants per square mile (827.8/km2). There were 2,143 housing units at an average density of 685.8 per square mile (264.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.48% White, 0.39% African American, 0.06% Native American, 6.09% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.[37][38]
There were 2,110 households, out of which 47.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.5% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 13.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.33.[37][38]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 30.4% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.[37][38]
The median income for a household in the borough was $105,704, and the median income for a family was $113,390. Males had a median income of $88,210 versus $50,781 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $47,772. About 1.6% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[37][38]
Culture
Building In Allendale covered with artwork by local artists
Allendale is home to the Celery Farm, a nature preserve that is home to hundreds of animals, including fox, deer, rabbits, frogs, turtles, rodents, and most notably exotic birds. Many rare birds have been observed by ornithologists including bald eagles, common ravens, and pileated woodpeckers. A full list of birds and their frequency of appearance can be found online.[41]
There is a variety of recreation opportunities throughout the borough, including Crestwood Park, which covers 71 acres (29 ha) and includes a man-made lake with three diving boards, three beaches, and six swim lanes. Included in the Park is a recreational barn, three baseball / softball fields, two soccer / football fields, a lacrosse field, and four tennis courts.[42]
Several episodes of the television show Ed were filmed in Allendale, including a Thanksgiving Day Parade episode. Scenes from the movie Presumed Innocent, starring Harrison Ford and Bonnie Bedelia, were filmed in Allendale.[43]
Government
Local government
Allendale municipal building
Allendale is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[44] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[6] The borough form of government used by Allendale is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[45][46] The mayor and borough council conduct all of their business during monthly meetings open to the public. All Legislative powers of the borough are exercised by the mayor and council. These powers can take the form of a resolution, ordinance or proclamation. The mayor presides at all meetings of the council. At Workshop meetings, the governing body discusses and debates proposed resolutions, ordinances and other policy matters. These meetings are open to the public, and members of the public may participate at an appropriate time at the meeting.[47]
As of 2024[update], the mayor of Allendale is Republican Amy E. Wilczynski, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Matthew J. O'Toole (R, 2025), Joseph Daloisio (R, 2026), Elizabeth C. "Liz" Homan (R, 2024), Susanne C. Lovisolo (R, 2024), Edward O'Connell (R, 2026) and Tyler Yaccarino (R, 2025).[3][48][49][50][51][52]
In January 2019, the borough council appointed Matthew O'Toole to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that had been held by Ari Bernstein until he resigned to take office as mayor.[53]
In January 2015, the borough council selected Liz Homan to fill Liz White's vacant council seat on an interim basis until the November 2015 general election.[54]
Federal, state and county representation
Allendale is located in the 5th Congressional District[55] and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.[56]
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[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[62]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,537 registered voters in Allendale, of which 860 (19.0% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,690 (37.2% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,983 (43.7% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[84] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 69.7% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 97.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[84][85]
In the 2020 presidential election, Democrat Joseph Biden received 2,458 votes (54.7%), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 1,945 votes (43.3%), and other candidates with 89 votes (2.0%), among the 4,492 ballots cast.[86]
In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 1,759 votes (47.4% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 1,756 votes (47.3% vs. 41.1% countywide) and other candidates with 194 votes (5.2% vs 2.9% countywide), among the 3,773 ballots cast by the borough's 5,162 registered voters for a turnout of 73.1% (vs. 73% in Bergen County).[92] In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,057 votes (60.3% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,322 votes (38.7% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 25 votes (0.7% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,413 ballots cast by the borough's 4,834 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.6% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[93][94] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,033 votes (56.4% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,537 votes (42.7% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 16 votes (0.4% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,602 ballots cast by the borough's 4,613 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.1% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[95][96] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,108 votes (59.5% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,398 votes (39.4% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 32 votes (0.9% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,545 ballots cast by the borough's 4,458 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.5% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[97]
In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 53.9% of the vote (1,232 cast), ahead of Democrat Phil Murphy with 44.3% (1,013 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (40 votes), among the 2,321 ballots cast by the borough's 4,892 registered voters (36 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.4%.[98][99] In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.4% of the vote (1,524 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.9% (517 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (34 votes), among the 2,104 ballots cast by the borough's 4,648 registered voters (29 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.3%.[100][101] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,415 votes (59.5% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 795 votes (33.4% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 137 votes (5.8% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.4% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,378 ballots cast by the borough's 4,557 registered voters, yielding a 52.2% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[102]
Public school students in Allendale for ninth through twelfth grades attend Northern Highlands Regional High School, which also serves students from Ho-Ho-Kus, Upper Saddle River and some of Saddle River's students (who have the option of attending either Northern Highlands or Ramsey High School, as part of sending/receiving relationships with the two districts).[110][111] As of the 2020–21 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,364 students and 106.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1.[112]New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked the high school as the 22nd-best of 328 ranked schools in New Jersey in its 2012 rankings of the "Top Public High Schools" after being ranked 6th of 322 schools in 2010.[113] The ten voting seats on the high school district's board of education are allocated based on a percentage of the enrollment coming from each constituent municipality, with four seats allocated to Allendale.[114]
Public school students from the borough, 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 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.[115][116]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 33.47 miles (53.86 km) of roadways, of which 24.99 miles (40.22 km) were maintained by the municipality, 8.10 miles (13.04 km) by Bergen County and 0.38 miles (0.61 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[117]
A small section of Route 17 passes through the far eastern edge of Allendale. The main roads in Allendale are Franklin Turnpike, Allendale Avenue, Brookside Avenue, and Crescent Avenue.
Interstate 287 is accessible in Franklin Lakes and the neighboring town of Mahwah.
NJ Transit provides train service at the Allendale station located at Allendale Avenue, Myrtle Avenue and Park Avenue. There are two ticket vending machines and a shelter at the southbound platform, with an underpass to transfer between the northbound and southbound platforms.[118] The station provides service on both Main Line and Bergen County Line trains. The lines offer service to Hoboken Terminal, with transfers available at Secaucus Junction to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan and to most of New Jersey Transit's other train lines.[119]
Marion Clyde McCarroll (1891–1977), writer and journalist who was the first woman issued a press pass by the New York Stock Exchange and also penned "Advice for the Lovelorn," the nationally syndicated column she inherited from Dorothy Dix[130]
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.
^Harvey, Cornelius Burnham. Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, p. 11, New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed September 3, 2013. "For a period of sixteen years following the passage of this act few boroughs were organized in the State, only three of them being in Bergen County.... As it was twenty-six boroughs were created in the county from January 23, 1894, to December 18, of the same year."
^Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Allendale; A Tower Symbolizes Its Aspirations", The New York Times, June 4, 1995. Accessed May 16, 2012. "One of those hotels, the Allendale House, still exists as a rooming house. 'Babe Ruth used to come to vacation at the Allendale Hotel,' recalled Stiles Thomas, 71, who has lived his entire life in Allendale. 'He was always chasing women in town, including my mother.'"
^Resolution 19-72, Borough of Allendale, January 31, 2019. Accessed September 26, 2019. "Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Allendale that Matthew O'Toole be and hereby is nominated, appointed and confirmed as a Member of the Allendale Borough Council effective immediately to fill the vacancy of the office vacated by Ari Bernstein"
^Pries, Allison. "Allendale reorganization celebrates continued emergence of women in office", The Record, January 6, 2015, backed up by the Internet Archive as of August 10, 2016. Accessed September 4, 2017. "Three councilwomen and the borough's first-ever woman mayor were sworn in during a roughly hourlong municipal reorganization ceremony that had New Jersey's Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno delivering the oath of office to new Mayor Liz White, incumbent councilwomen Amy Wilczynski and Jackie McSwiggan and newly appointed Councilwoman Liz Homan, who will fill White's vacancy."
^Biography, Congressman Josh Gottheimer. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Josh now lives in Wyckoff, New Jersey with Marla, his wife who was a federal prosecutor, and their two young children, Ellie and Ben."
^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."
^Allendale Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Allendale SchoolDistrict. Accessed August 1, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades kindergarten through eight in the Allendale School District. Composition: The Allendale School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Allendale."
^Staff. "Tuition to rise $219 under new contract", Town Journal, November 19, 2009, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 4, 2016. Accessed September 4, 2017. "With no high school in the borough, Saddle River students have the option of enrolling in either Ramsey High School or Northern Highlands."
^About the Board of Education, Northern Highlands Regional High School, updated June 20, 2020. Accessed January 25, 2022. "The Northern Highlands Regional High School Board of Education is comprised of a ten board members who are elected by the constituents in the three municipalities (Upper Saddle River, Allendale, and Ho-Ho-Kus) whose students attend the Northern Highlands Regional High School district. As Saddle River has less than 10% of the entire districts population, they have a non-voting liaison on the Board who serves as the 11th member. Currently, five members are elected from the Borough of Upper Saddle River, four from the Borough of Allendale and one from the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus. The numeric breakdown of members is determined by total student population from each specific town, one member for each 10% of the entire schools population."
^Araton, Harvey. "Sports of The Times", The New York Times, December 13, 1998. Accessed August 21, 2011. "'They would say things like, "When we saw a macho guy like you do it..."' Burt said from his Allendale, N.J., home. 'I remember thinking, "I can't believe this." I couldn't believe men, fathers, could actually think that way. I always thought the macho thing to do was hug your kid.'"
^Marciniak, Bernadette. "Allendale's Chorba hits the big screen", Town Journal, January 11, 2013, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 27, 2017. Accessed September 4, 2017. "Chorba, an Allendale native and alumnus of St. Joseph's Regional High School in Montvale, fell into acting accidentally after breaking his ankle playing football for Union College in Schenectady, N.Y."
^McCaffrey, Shannon. "For new deputy attorney general, a department under fire", The Boston Globe, December 14, 2003. Accessed August 21, 2011. "As a teenager, he got a frightening taste of what it's like to be a crime victim when an intruder broke into his home in Allendale, N. J., while his parents were out and held his brother and him hostage at gunpoint. The captor fled and never was apprehended."
^History, The John Fell House. Accessed October 5, 2011. "John Fell Bergen County Patriot was a merchant who before the Revolution had vessels plying the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers. He lived in Allendale at his home called 'Peterfield,' known now as the Fell House, at 475 Franklin Turnpike, survives."
^Parisi, Albert J. "New Jersey Q & A: Richard Matheson; An Influential Writer Returns to Fantasy", The New York Times, April 10, 1994. Accessed May 16, 2012. "The author Stephen King has said that Richard Matheson is the one author 'who influenced me the most as a writer.' Such an accolade is humbly received by Mr. Matheson, a native of Allendale, but he adds that influencing people is what good writing is all about."
^"Marion C. McCarroll, Ex-Columnist", The New York Times, August 5, 1977. Accessed November 16, 2017. "Marion Clyde McCarroll, who for 21 years wrote the nationally syndicated King Features column 'Advice to the Lovelorn' under the name Beatrice Fairfax, died Monday in the Allendale Nursing Home, Allendale, N.J., where she had lived since 1970. She was 84 years old, and had formerly resided in Manhattan and in Ridgewood. N.J."
^Thiel, Art. "Ellis issued challenge, and M's got their leader", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 24, 2003. Accessed August 21, 2011. "By the time they returned to their Allendale, N.J., home, he was ready to say no -- perhaps because that was the word that Anita pounded into his ear on the flight. 'No, no, no, no, no,' Piniella recalled her saying. 'She said, 'You're not going to Seattle. Just get that totally out of your mind.' Her reasons were obvious: Too far from home, and spring training was in Arizona instead of Florida."
^Strauss, Robert. "In Person; Hide Those Children. A Jersey Guy's on TV.", The New York Times, July 22, 2001. Accessed May 16, 2012. "On Aug. 5 at 11:30 p.m., The Chris Wylde Show Starring Chris Wylde, a 24-year-old who grew up as Chris Noll in Belvedere, Verona and Allendale, will premiere as the first late-night show on the cable network Comedy Central."
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