Westwood, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Westwood, New Jersey
Borough
Westwood Gazebo in 2014
Seal
Motto(s):  "Hub of the Pascack Valley"
Location of Westwood in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Census Bureau map of Westwood, New Jersey
Westwood, New Jersey Location in Bergen County, New Jersey Show map of Bergen County, New Jersey Westwood, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Westwood, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Bergen
Incorporated	May 8, 1894
Government
• Type	Borough
• Body	Borough Council
Area
• Total	2.30 sq mi (5.95 km2)
• Land	2.26 sq mi (5.85 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)  1.74%
Area rank	388th of 565 in state 43rd of 70 in county
Elevation	66 ft (20 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,282
• Estimate  (2023)	11,210
• Rank	221st of 565 in state 33rd of 70 in county
• Density	4,994.2/sq mi (1,928.3/km2)
• Density rank	112th of 565 in state 29th of 70 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes	07675, 07677
Area code(s)	201
FIPS code	3400380270
GNIS feature ID	0885442

Westwood (known as "The Hub of the Pascack Valley") is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Westwood is part of the New York metropolitan area. Many of its residents regularly commute to New York City for work and leisure, many using public transportation. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 11,282, an increase of 374 (+3.4%) from the 2010 census count of 10,908, which in turn reflected a decline of 91 (−0.8%) from the 10,999 counted in the 2000 census.

Westwood was officially incorporated as a borough on May 8, 1894, from portions of Washington Township, early during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone. Isaac D. Bogert served as the first mayor of the borough. In April 1909, Westwood was enlarged through the annexation of the "Old Hook" section of the borough of Emerson, and on September 24, 1957, portions of the borough were exchanged with Emerson.

History

The Lenni-Lenape Native Americans inhabited this part of the state and shared it with the transient hunters and trappers until the permanent settlers began to enter in mid-18th century. In the early 19th century, the area that would later become Westwood was within the larger political boundaries of Harrington Township, which had been established by royal charter in 1775. In 1840, the western half of Harrington Township became Washington Township, with the Hackensack River as the dividing line. Washington Township was an agrarian region with isolated farmsteads. Early families, including the Hoppers and Ackermans, are buried at the Old Hook Cemetery. An 18th-century mill was situated at the dammed stream near the intersection of today's Mill Street and First Avenue. This mill was on an important east west pathway and was the first on Musquapsink Brook. The mill was largely destroyed after a fire set by an arsonist and was dismantled in 1910.

2 1st Ave Westwood NJ Built in 1773. Owned by the Bogert family till 1910. currently owned by the Sandt Family.

A brief description of Washington Township written in 1844 described it as a township with six stores, four schools for 135 students, six grist mills, and 14 saw mills.

The first wave of concentrated development took place as the result of the coming of the Hackensack and New York Railroad in 1870, which followed the route of today's Pascack Valley Line. On March 5, 1870, service began between Westwood and New York City (via Jersey City and a ferry ride). Several small hotels were built near the depot, and in 1872 several houses in the latest European-influenced styles began to be built along Centre Avenue. Old maps show that growth occurred simultaneously on the land both to the east and west of the tracks. The commercial buildings included lumber and coal sheds, stores, and a bakery. There was a chapel on the corner of Third and Park Avenues. The triangular park that has played an important role as a place of community gatherings is also shown on the 1876 map.

By the 1880s, Westwood had four factories, several distilleries, a new school, a laundry and grocery store, and a new Reformed Church. In 1890, following a meeting of interested residents, those favoring the incorporation of Westwood as an independent borough conducted a petition drive. In 1894, Westwood separated from Washington Township and became an independent borough. Elected as the borough's first mayor was Isaac D. Bogert.

In 1899, a water plant constructed by Cornelius S. DeBraun provided service to the houses that had been built along the borough's newly laid streets. By the time of the 1905 New Jersey Census, there were 234 dwellings housing a population of 1,044.

Westwood Park Place decorated for the holidays. Notice that the Fire Bell is covered with a Christmas Wreath

Lincoln High School was constructed around the turn of the 20th century, which also saw the introduction of electricity, telephones, and automobiles to the town. Underwood & Underwood Stereoscope Company opened a plant during the first decades of the 20th century, and many congregations established their first chapels, which were replaced in later years as the congregations grew in numbers and wealth. Following a typical pattern of development throughout the 20th century, the results are a mature railroad suburb almost covered with housing units, commercial, municipal and ecclesiastical buildings. The borough still retains the open space of the triangular park at its center.

Geography

Panoramic map of Westwood from 1924 with list of landmarks and images of several inset

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.30 square miles (5.95 km²), including 2.26 square miles (5.85 km²) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) of water (1.74%).

The borough borders the Bergen County municipalities of Emerson, Hillsdale, River Vale And Washington Township.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 10,908 people, 4,438 households, and 2,858 families in the borough. The population density was 4,814.5 per square mile (1,858.9/km²). There were 4,636 housing units at an average density of 2,046.2 per square mile (790.0/km²). The racial makeup was 82.98% (9,052) White, 4.62% (504) Black or African American, 0.31% (34) Native American, 7.38% (805) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 2.77% (302) from other races, and 1.93% (211) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.58% (1,263) of the population.

Of the 4,438 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18; 52.0% were married couples living together; 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.6% were non-families. Of all households, 31.2% were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.11.

21.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $79,133 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,195) and the median family income was $107,966 (+/− $10,189). Males had a median income of $70,598 (+/− $14,566) versus $52,721 (+/− $10,753) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,839 (+/− $2,990). About 1.8% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 21 households in 2010, an increase from the 19 counted in 2000.

Emergency services

Westwood has a police department founded in September 1894, months after the borough was established, with the appointment by Mayor Bogert of two marshals; The first permanent officer was hired in 1921. The department is located in the municipal building.

Westwood has its own volunteer fire department. It was established in 1894. The station is home to Engine 12, Engine 1, Truck 1, Rescue 1, Utility 1, and Marine 1. The department responds to over 300 calls a year. It is located at 93 Center Ave. There is a chief, deputy chief, 2 captains and 4 lieutenants, approx. 60 regular firefighters, 10 probationary firemen, and 10 cadets led by a cadet captain.

Westwood also has a separate volunteer ambulance corps that was formed in 1935, located at borough hall.

Education

Students in public school for kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the Westwood Regional School District, a comprehensive regional school district serving both Westwood and Washington Township. The district is the county's only regional district serving grades K–12. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 2,796 students and 256.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Berkeley Avenue Elementary School with 289 students in grades K–5, Brookside Elementary School with 398 students in grades K–5, Jessie F. George Elementary School with 274 students in grades K–5, Washington Elementary School with 316 students in grades K–5, Westwood Regional Middle School with 640 students in grades 6–8 and Westwood Regional High School with 843 students in grades 9–12.

For the 2010–2011 school year, Ketler Elementary School, which had served K–4, was shifted to become Westwood Regional Middle School for grades 6 and 7, while the other elementary schools would all serve K through 5, and the high school was shifted to grades 8–12 (from 7–12).

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.

Zion Lutheran School, adjacent the eponymous church founded in 1905, is a private school for students in Kindergarten through eighth grade.

Infrastructure

Transportation

View east along County Route 502 in central Westwood

Roads and highways

As of May 2010^[update], the borough had a total of 39.29 miles (63.23 km) of roadways, of which 31.23 miles (50.26 km) were maintained by the municipality and 8.06 miles (12.97 km) by Bergen County.

The most significant roads passing directly through Westwood are County Route 503 (Kinderkamack Road) and County Route 502. The closest limited-access highway is the Garden State Parkway in neighboring Washington Township, where Exit 168 links CR 502 to the borough.

Public transportation

Westwood is served by NJ Transit at the Westwood train station, located at Broadway and Westwood Avenue. The Pascack Valley Line runs north–south to Hoboken Terminal with connections via the Secaucus Junction transfer station to New York Penn Station and to other NJ Transit rail service. Connections are available at Hoboken Terminal to other NJ Transit rail lines, the PATH train at the Hoboken PATH station, New York Waterways ferry service to the World Financial Center and other destinations and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service.

NJ Transit bus route 165 serves Westwood with service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Westwood is the terminus for bus route 165.

Rockland Coaches offers service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal on routes 11 and 47.

Healthcare

Pascack Valley Hospital (PVH), a 291-bed hospital located at 250 Old Hook Road, filed for bankruptcy on September 24, 2007, and shut down on November 21, 2007. On October 1, 2008, Hackensack University Medical Center opened Hackensack University Medical Center at Pascack Valley as a satellite emergency department. As of 2013, the facility has been expanded to include 128 patient beds, all in single rooms.

Shopping and entertainment

Originally opened in 1928 as the 1,275-seat Pascack Theater, the Westwood Cinema now has nine screens showing first-run movies.

Downtown Westwood is a regional hub that offers many options for shopping and dining. The Westwood Plaza is an outdoor shopping mall that had a Kmart and other stores and restaurants. The Westwood location was one of the last three operating Kmart stores in the United States and was the last location in the state until it closed in 2023. Westwood has a movie theater located on Center Avenue that is open seven days a week until midnight.

The Fritz Deitl Ice Rink, which opened in 1958, is home to AM3 Hockey Academy and offers open ice sessions, figure skating lessons, skating school, birthday party rentals, and Stick Time open hockey.

Every Saturday, from May through November, there is a Farmer's Market held in the parking lot of the Knights of Columbus on Crest Street.

In the summer, there are multiple concerts in the park where anyone can bring chairs or blankets, and watch the movie projected on the back of the train station.

Westwood also has a Community Center that is home to the Recreation Department where children and adults can get participate in sports and other activities.

Annual events

Each December, Westwood holds its own holiday parade called "Home for the Holidays". Participants of the parade include The Westwood Regional High School Marching Band, The Park Ridge High School marching band, The Emerson High School marching band, and many more. The parade ends with Santa Claus riding on top of one of the fire trucks. Afterwards, there is a tree and candle lighting with hot foods included.

Downtown Westwood has a sidewalk sale held every summer. People can shop indoors or outdoors during this event. There are also fun activities and games included.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Westwood include:

See also

In Spanish: Westwood (Nueva Jersey) para niños