River Vale, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
River Vale is a township
in Bergen County
, New Jersey
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 9,659. The community was ranked #29 on the 100 Best Places to Live 2007 survey published by CNN
/Money
magazine.
River Vale was formed as a township on April 30, 1906, from portions of Hillsdale Township (now the Borough of Hillsdale
) and Washington Township.
On January 5, 1904, the temperature in River Vale fell to -34 °F, the lowest temperature
ever recorded in New Jersey.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the township has a total area of 4.31 square miles (11.2 km²), of which 4.08 square miles (10.6 km²) is land and 0.23 square mile (0.5956972653 km²), or 5.34%, is water.
River Vale is bordered by Montvale
to the northwest, Park Ridge
, Woodcliff Lake
(a very small section) and Hillsdale
to the west, Westwood
to the southwest, a small section bordering Emerson
to the south, Harrington Park
to the southeast, Old Tappan
to the east, and Pearl River, New York
to the north.
Its borders are defined by the Hackensack River
to the east, which was dammed to form Lake Tappan
, and Pascack Brook
to the south. The northern border is defined by the New York
-New Jersey
state border. The western border has several sections, including a section defined by an unnamed creek and a section defined by Cedar Lane.
The southern portion of the township lies between the Hackensack River and Pascack Brook, and is relatively flat. The northern portion slopes down from rolling hills in the west into Lake Tappan to the east. Much of the land is developed as suburb
an single-family residences, but there remain some undeveloped areas. The undeveloped areas are mostly wooded and are south and west of Lake Tappan, following the Hackensack River watershed. In 1996, plans to develop watershed land received resistance from the community. In the southwest of the township, the Pascack Brook County Park
also preserves a wooded area. There are three golf course
s in the township, two 18-hole public courses, and one private 27-hole course.
There is a small commercial district surrounding the intersection of Rivervale Road and Westwood Avenue in the southern portion of the township.
(Hackensack River
) from Tappan
. Its southern part, known as Eastwood
(named in contrast to Westwood
), became an independent borough from 1894 to 1896, but was later re-absorbed into Washington Township.
River Vale was incorporated as a Bergen County township in 1906. It was formed from portions of both Hillsdale
and Washington Township. On July 15, 1929, part of River Vale was ceded to Park Ridge
. On May 20, 1959, territory was acquired from Montvale
.
A River Vale resident, Henry Hoffman, directed the scrapping of the USS Enterprise
in Kearny
from 1958 to 1960. Following Hoffman's death in 1965, the stern plate of the Enterprise was placed on a Little League
baseball field
as a memorial. The field was later named Hoffman Field. On October 2, 2000, the stern plate was moved to the township's Veterans' Memorial Park.
In 1967, a mass grave site was discovered in River Vale from an event in 1778 during the American Revolutionary War
, the Baylor Massacre
. This became widely known due to a February 1968 report to the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders
, "1778 - The Massacre of Baylor's Dragoons". The burial site was made into a county park that was dedicated on October 15, 1972.
On July 28, 1994, the residents of River Vale voted to recall
Mayor Walter Jones, Councilwoman Patricia Geier, and Councilman Bernard Salmon. The recall election followed a battle between residents and the mayor and some council members over the mayor's plan to merge River Vale's 9-1-1
center to a regional dispatch location in Park Ridge.
In March 2004, the township became the first municipality in the state to be placed on probation by the Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund, a fund that covers legal expenses of member municipalities and government agencies. The issue was due to the number and scope of legal cases against the township, its employees and its governance, plus what David Grub, chief executive of the fund, called "a general environment of personal attack". The fund urged the township to update employment practices and better train managers to avoid liabilities. As a result of these issues, The New York Times
called the township "small but litigious".
of 2000, there were 9,449 people, 3,275 households, and 2,675 families residing in the township. The population density
was 2,317.7 people per square mile (894.2/km2). There were 3,312 housing units at an average density of 812.4 per square mile (313.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 92.33% White, 0.58% African American, 5.89% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races
, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.22% of the population.
There were 3,275 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.1% were married couples
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $95,129, and the median income for a family was $105,919. Males had a median income of $77,794 versus $39,732 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $40,709. 2.8% of the population and 2.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.1% of those under the age of 18 and 5.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
system of municipal government under the Faulkner Act
. The Mayor-Council plan consists of two separate and coequal power centers, each directly elected by the people: the Mayor as Chief Executive, and the Council as the municipal legislature.
, the Mayor
of River Vale is Joseph Blundo (D
, term ends December 31, 2014). The Township Council consists of five members elected at large to four-year staggered terms on a partisan basis, with either two (plus the mayor) or three seats coming up for election in even years. The members of the Township Council are Council President Glen Jasionowski, Mark Bromberg, Dwight de Stefan, Noel Matos and Denise Sieg.
River Vale is in the
, 1,726 (26.3% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans
and 3,881 (59.0% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared
. There were no voters registered to other parties.
On the national level, River Vale leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election
5,414 votes were cast. Republican George W. Bush
received 54.4% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry
, who received 44.8%. Ralph Nader
received 22 votes, 0.4% of those cast. Other minor candidates received seven votes, 0.13% of those cast.
, one Captain
, one Lieutenant, five Sergeants, 14 Officers, and two Dispatchers. The RVPD is a full-time department funded by taxes.
The force is responsible for all aspects of policing in the township, 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
.
The River Vale Police Department serves as the 9-1-1
call center for River Vale as well as neighboring Old Tappan
. The department has Enhanced 911
service, and is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Two certified dispatchers are on duty from 8:00am to 11:00pm Monday through Friday, and dispatching duties are handled by patrol officers on weekends and overnights.
Officers of the River Vale Police Department are members of Pascack Valley Local 206 of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association
.
. Started in the 1920s, the department consists of one Chief
, one Assistant/Deputy Chief, two Captains, and five Lieutenants (one for each apparatus). In addition, there is also a Fire Official
who is in charge of the River Vale Bureau of Fire Prevention. The department is staffed by fully trained firefighter
s, junior firefighter
s, and Fire Police
. The RVVFD is a municipal-run public volunteer fire department that is funded by taxes and it is also a member of the Pascack Valley mutual aid.
As of 2010, the department has two stations. The North Firehouse is located at 620 Rivervale Road, and houses one pumper, Engine 56. The South Firehouse is located at 334 Rivervale Road, and houses two pumpers, Engine 57 (first due) and 58, one tower ladder, Ladder 59, and one rescue unit, Rescue 54, and one rescue boat, Marine 5. There is also a vehicle
for the Chief, a vehicle for the Assistant Chief, both Ford Expeditions and known as 55 and 551 respectively, and two vehicles for the Fire Official
. Dispatching is provided by the River Vale Police Department's 9-1-1 center.
The corps provides basic life support
, and is staffed primarily by certified Emergency Medical Technician
s. CPR-trained drivers are also sometimes on duty. They have two Type III ambulances, Ambulance 50 and Ambulance 60, and three first responder vehicles that on-duty members use to respond to emergency calls. Dispatching is provided by the River Vale Police Department's 9-1-1 center.
The primary jurisdiction of the RVVAC is the Township of River Vale, but the corps also regularly responds to requests for mutual-aid from the neighboring First Aid Squads of Old Tappan
, Emerson
, Washington Township, Westwood
, Hillsdale
, and Tri-Boro (Park Ridge
, Woodcliff Lake
, and Montvale
).
The RVVAC is a member of the New Jersey State First Aid Council, the Pascack Valley Volunteer Ambulance Association, and the Pascack Valley Mutual Aid Group.
serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are both
Roberge Elementary School (463 students) and
Woodside Elementary School (468) for grades Kindergarten to 5 and
Holdrum Middle School (465) for grades 6 - 8.
River Vale's high school students for public school attend Pascack Valley High School
in Hillsdale
, together with students from Hillsdale, as part of the Pascack Valley Regional High School District
.
Lily Pond Country Day school offers child care in an educationally stimulating learning environment. The school offers specialized programs such as chess, Chinese, swimming, and special guests related to the monthly themes.
Daily bus
service is provided by Rockland Coaches (Red and Tan Lines) on routes 84 and 14 to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal
and the Port Authority Bus Terminal
in New York City
.
There is no rail transport in River Vale, but the New Jersey Transit
Pascack Valley Line
is available in adjacent communities to the west. Daily service is available to Hoboken
from the Montvale
, Park Ridge
, Woodcliff Lake
, Hillsdale
, and Westwood
stations.
Township (New Jersey)
A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...
in Bergen County
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 9,659. The community was ranked #29 on the 100 Best Places to Live 2007 survey published by CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
/Money
Money (magazine)
Money is published by Time Inc. Its first issue was published in October 1972. Its articles cover the gamut of personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues like paying for college, credit, career and home improvement...
magazine.
River Vale was formed as a township on April 30, 1906, from portions of Hillsdale Township (now the Borough of Hillsdale
Hillsdale, New Jersey
Hillsdale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 10,219.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...
) and Washington Township.
On January 5, 1904, the temperature in River Vale fell to -34 °F, the lowest temperature
U.S. state temperature extremes
The following table lists the highest and lowest temperatures recorded in each state in the United States, in both Fahrenheit and Celsius.The following table lists the highest and lowest temperatures recorded in each state in the United States, in both Fahrenheit and Celsius.The following table...
ever recorded in New Jersey.
Geography
River Vale is located at 41.015284°N 74.010324°W (41.015284, -74.010324).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 4.31 square miles (11.2 km²), of which 4.08 square miles (10.6 km²) is land and 0.23 square mile (0.5956972653 km²), or 5.34%, is water.
River Vale is bordered by Montvale
Montvale, New Jersey
Montvale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,844.Montvale was incorporated as a borough on August 31, 1894, from portions of Orvil Township and Washington Township, at the height of the "Boroughitis" craze then...
to the northwest, Park Ridge
Park Ridge, New Jersey
Park Ridge is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Park Ridge had a population of 8,645 as of the 2010 United States Census....
, Woodcliff Lake
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey
Woodcliff Lake is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the borough population was 5,730.Woodcliff Lake is also the name of the reservoir that lies primarily within the borough, with a small part of it located in neighboring Hillsdale.The borough is an...
(a very small section) and Hillsdale
Hillsdale, New Jersey
Hillsdale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 10,219.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...
to the west, Westwood
Westwood, New Jersey
Westwood is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,908....
to the southwest, a small section bordering Emerson
Emerson, New Jersey
Emerson is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,401....
to the south, Harrington Park
Harrington Park, New Jersey
Harrington Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,664....
to the southeast, Old Tappan
Old Tappan, New Jersey
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,750 people. The population density was 1,725.7 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 74.8% Caucasian, 22.2% Asian, 0.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanics...
to the east, and Pearl River, New York
Pearl River, New York
Pearl River is a hamlet , in the Town of Orangetown Rockland County, New York, United States located east of Nauraushaun; north of the state of New Jersey; south of Nanuet and west of Blauvelt...
to the north.
Its borders are defined by the Hackensack River
Hackensack River
The Hackensack River is a river, approximately 45 miles long, in the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, emptying into Newark Bay, a back chamber of New York Harbor. The watershed of the river includes part of the suburban area outside New York City just west of the lower Hudson River,...
to the east, which was dammed to form Lake Tappan
Lake Tappan
Lake Tappan is a reservoir that was formed by the Tappan Dam placed on the Hackensack River in 1967. It straddles the border between River Vale and Old Tappan, New Jersey...
, and Pascack Brook
Pascack Brook
The Pascack Brook is a tributary of the Hackensack River in Bergen County, New Jersey in the United States. It forms a region known as the Pascack Valley. The brook is dammed to form the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir in the town of Woodcliff Lake...
to the south. The northern border is defined by the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
state border. The western border has several sections, including a section defined by an unnamed creek and a section defined by Cedar Lane.
The southern portion of the township lies between the Hackensack River and Pascack Brook, and is relatively flat. The northern portion slopes down from rolling hills in the west into Lake Tappan to the east. Much of the land is developed as suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an single-family residences, but there remain some undeveloped areas. The undeveloped areas are mostly wooded and are south and west of Lake Tappan, following the Hackensack River watershed. In 1996, plans to develop watershed land received resistance from the community. In the southwest of the township, the Pascack Brook County Park
Pascack Brook County Park
Pascack Brook County Park, 137 acre county park, is located on Emerson Road in Westwood, New Jersey, about a mile east of Westwood and half a mile upstream from the mouth of Pascack Brook...
also preserves a wooded area. There are three golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
s in the township, two 18-hole public courses, and one private 27-hole course.
There is a small commercial district surrounding the intersection of Rivervale Road and Westwood Avenue in the southern portion of the township.
History
Before 1841, the area comprising River Vale was part of Harrington Township. It used to be known as the "Over Kill Neighborhood" or just "Over Kill" — it being over the killKill (body of water)
As a body of water, a kill is a creek. The word comes from the Middle Dutch kille, meaning "riverbed" or "water channel." The modern Dutch term is kil....
(Hackensack River
Hackensack River
The Hackensack River is a river, approximately 45 miles long, in the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, emptying into Newark Bay, a back chamber of New York Harbor. The watershed of the river includes part of the suburban area outside New York City just west of the lower Hudson River,...
) from Tappan
Old Tappan, New Jersey
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,750 people. The population density was 1,725.7 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 74.8% Caucasian, 22.2% Asian, 0.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanics...
. Its southern part, known as Eastwood
Eastwood, New Jersey
Eastwood was a Borough that existed for a brief period of time in Bergen County, New Jersey at the height of the "Boroughitis" fever that engendered the creation of 26 new municipalities in the county during 1894...
(named in contrast to Westwood
Westwood, New Jersey
Westwood is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,908....
), became an independent borough from 1894 to 1896, but was later re-absorbed into Washington Township.
River Vale was incorporated as a Bergen County township in 1906. It was formed from portions of both Hillsdale
Hillsdale, New Jersey
Hillsdale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 10,219.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...
and Washington Township. On July 15, 1929, part of River Vale was ceded to Park Ridge
Park Ridge, New Jersey
Park Ridge is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Park Ridge had a population of 8,645 as of the 2010 United States Census....
. On May 20, 1959, territory was acquired from Montvale
Montvale, New Jersey
Montvale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,844.Montvale was incorporated as a borough on August 31, 1894, from portions of Orvil Township and Washington Township, at the height of the "Boroughitis" craze then...
.
A River Vale resident, Henry Hoffman, directed the scrapping of the USS Enterprise
USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Enterprise , colloquially referred to as the "Big E," was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Launched in 1936, she was a ship of the Yorktown class, and one of only three American carriers commissioned prior to World War II to...
in Kearny
Kearny, New Jersey
Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. It was named after Civil War general Philip Kearny. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
from 1958 to 1960. Following Hoffman's death in 1965, the stern plate of the Enterprise was placed on a Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
baseball field
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
as a memorial. The field was later named Hoffman Field. On October 2, 2000, the stern plate was moved to the township's Veterans' Memorial Park.
In 1967, a mass grave site was discovered in River Vale from an event in 1778 during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, the Baylor Massacre
Baylor Massacre
A raid, widely known as the "Baylor Massacre" or the "Tappan Massacre", was a surprise attack on September 27, 1778, against the 3rd Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons under the command of Colonel George Baylor during the American Revolutionary War. It occurred in the present-day town of River...
. This became widely known due to a February 1968 report to the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
, "1778 - The Massacre of Baylor's Dragoons". The burial site was made into a county park that was dedicated on October 15, 1972.
On July 28, 1994, the residents of River Vale voted to recall
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
Mayor Walter Jones, Councilwoman Patricia Geier, and Councilman Bernard Salmon. The recall election followed a battle between residents and the mayor and some council members over the mayor's plan to merge River Vale's 9-1-1
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
center to a regional dispatch location in Park Ridge.
In March 2004, the township became the first municipality in the state to be placed on probation by the Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund, a fund that covers legal expenses of member municipalities and government agencies. The issue was due to the number and scope of legal cases against the township, its employees and its governance, plus what David Grub, chief executive of the fund, called "a general environment of personal attack". The fund urged the township to update employment practices and better train managers to avoid liabilities. As a result of these issues, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
called the township "small but litigious".
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,449 people, 3,275 households, and 2,675 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,317.7 people per square mile (894.2/km2). There were 3,312 housing units at an average density of 812.4 per square mile (313.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 92.33% White, 0.58% African American, 5.89% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.22% of the population.
There were 3,275 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $95,129, and the median income for a family was $105,919. Males had a median income of $77,794 versus $39,732 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $40,709. 2.8% of the population and 2.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.1% of those under the age of 18 and 5.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Local government
River Vale is governed by a Mayor-CouncilFaulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
The Faulkner Act, or Optional Municipal Charter Law, provides for New Jersey municipalities to adopt a Mayor-Council government.This form of government provides for election of a mayor and five, seven, or nine council members...
system of municipal government under the Faulkner Act
Faulkner Act (New Jersey)
The Optional Municipal Charter Law or Faulkner Act provides New Jersey municipalities with a variety of models of local government. This legislation is called the Faulkner Act in honor of the late Bayard H...
. The Mayor-Council plan consists of two separate and coequal power centers, each directly elected by the people: the Mayor as Chief Executive, and the Council as the municipal legislature.
, the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of River Vale is Joseph Blundo (D
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, term ends December 31, 2014). The Township Council consists of five members elected at large to four-year staggered terms on a partisan basis, with either two (plus the mayor) or three seats coming up for election in even years. The members of the Township Council are Council President Glen Jasionowski, Mark Bromberg, Dwight de Stefan, Noel Matos and Denise Sieg.
Federal, state and county representation
River Vale is in the 5th Congressional district.River Vale is in the
Politics
As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 9,812 in River Vale, there were 6,575 registered voters (67.0% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 968 (14.7% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as DemocratsDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, 1,726 (26.3% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and 3,881 (59.0% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared
Undeclared (New Jersey)
Unaffiliated is a status for registered voters in New Jersey. Those voters who do not specify a political party affiliation when they register to vote are listed as unaffiliated....
. There were no voters registered to other parties.
On the national level, River Vale leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
5,414 votes were cast. Republican George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
received 54.4% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
, who received 44.8%. Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
received 22 votes, 0.4% of those cast. Other minor candidates received seven votes, 0.13% of those cast.
Police
The River Vale Police Department has provided police services to the Township of River Vale since 1930. As of 2008, there are a total of 24 members of the department: one ChiefChief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
, one Captain
Police captain
- France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant....
, one Lieutenant, five Sergeants, 14 Officers, and two Dispatchers. The RVPD is a full-time department funded by taxes.
The force is responsible for all aspects of policing in the township, including responding to fire and medical emergency calls. Each patrol car is equipped with a first aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
kit, oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
tank, and an Automated external defibrillator
Automated external defibrillator
An automated external defibrillator or AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient, and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of...
.
The River Vale Police Department serves as the 9-1-1
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
call center for River Vale as well as neighboring Old Tappan
Old Tappan, New Jersey
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,750 people. The population density was 1,725.7 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 74.8% Caucasian, 22.2% Asian, 0.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanics...
. The department has Enhanced 911
Enhanced 911
Enhanced 911, E-911 or E911 in North America is one example of the modern evolution of telecommunications based system meant as an easy way to link people experiencing an emergency with the public resources that can help. The dial-three-digits concept first originated in the United Kingdom in 1937....
service, and is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Two certified dispatchers are on duty from 8:00am to 11:00pm Monday through Friday, and dispatching duties are handled by patrol officers on weekends and overnights.
Officers of the River Vale Police Department are members of Pascack Valley Local 206 of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association
Patrolmen's Benevolent Association
Patrolmen's Benevolent Association or Policemen's Benevolent Association ' is the name of several labor unions representing police officers. One such union is the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York, which is the largest union representing members of the New York City Police...
.
Fire
The River Vale Volunteer Fire Department (RVFD) is an all-volunteer fire departmentVolunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
. Started in the 1920s, the department consists of one Chief
Fire chief
Fire Chief is a top executive rank or commanding officer in a fire department, either elected or appointed...
, one Assistant/Deputy Chief, two Captains, and five Lieutenants (one for each apparatus). In addition, there is also a Fire Official
Fire Marshal
A fire marshal, in the United States and Canada, is often a member of a fire department but may be part of a building department or a separate department altogether. Fire marshals' duties vary but usually include fire code enforcement and/or investigating fires for origin and cause...
who is in charge of the River Vale Bureau of Fire Prevention. The department is staffed by fully trained firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s, junior firefighter
Junior firefighter
Junior firefighting is a youth activity mostly organized by fire departments. It serves as a means of personal development for the youths, as well as a recruiting pool for the fire departments....
s, and Fire Police
Fire Police
Fire Police are Volunteer Fire Brigade/Company members who have sworn police powers. They receive special police training and are responsible for traffic control, crowd control, fire and incident scene security, apparatus security, and station security during calls for service.They also assist...
. The RVVFD is a municipal-run public volunteer fire department that is funded by taxes and it is also a member of the Pascack Valley mutual aid.
As of 2010, the department has two stations. The North Firehouse is located at 620 Rivervale Road, and houses one pumper, Engine 56. The South Firehouse is located at 334 Rivervale Road, and houses two pumpers, Engine 57 (first due) and 58, one tower ladder, Ladder 59, and one rescue unit, Rescue 54, and one rescue boat, Marine 5. There is also a vehicle
Fire chief's vehicle
A fire chief's vehicle, also called a "chief unit" or a "fire chief's car", "Fly Car", "Fly Vehicle", a "fire car", or sometimes even called a "Buggy" , is a car, truck, or SUV that is used by a fire chief at fire scenes...
for the Chief, a vehicle for the Assistant Chief, both Ford Expeditions and known as 55 and 551 respectively, and two vehicles for the Fire Official
Fire Marshal
A fire marshal, in the United States and Canada, is often a member of a fire department but may be part of a building department or a separate department altogether. Fire marshals' duties vary but usually include fire code enforcement and/or investigating fires for origin and cause...
. Dispatching is provided by the River Vale Police Department's 9-1-1 center.
Ambulance
Begun in 1956, and formally incorporated in 1957, the River Vale Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. (RVVAC) is located at 333 Rivervale Road. The corps is run by an executive board, consisting of the business officers and the line officers. The business officers are the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and the line officers are the Captain, 1st Lieutenant, and 2nd Lieutenant. The RVVAC 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 township. Funding is provided by donations and support from the township.The corps provides basic life support
Basic life support
Basic life support is the level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until the patient can be given full medical care at a hospital. It can be provided by trained medical personnel, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and by...
, and is staffed primarily by certified Emergency Medical Technician
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
s. CPR-trained drivers are also sometimes on duty. They have two Type III ambulances, Ambulance 50 and Ambulance 60, and three first responder vehicles that on-duty members use to respond to emergency calls. Dispatching is provided by the River Vale Police Department's 9-1-1 center.
The primary jurisdiction of the RVVAC is the Township of River Vale, but the corps also regularly responds to requests for mutual-aid from the neighboring First Aid Squads of Old Tappan
Old Tappan, New Jersey
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,750 people. The population density was 1,725.7 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 74.8% Caucasian, 22.2% Asian, 0.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanics...
, Emerson
Emerson, New Jersey
Emerson is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,401....
, Washington Township, Westwood
Westwood, New Jersey
Westwood is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,908....
, Hillsdale
Hillsdale, New Jersey
Hillsdale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 10,219.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...
, and Tri-Boro (Park Ridge
Park Ridge, New Jersey
Park Ridge is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Park Ridge had a population of 8,645 as of the 2010 United States Census....
, Woodcliff Lake
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey
Woodcliff Lake is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the borough population was 5,730.Woodcliff Lake is also the name of the reservoir that lies primarily within the borough, with a small part of it located in neighboring Hillsdale.The borough is an...
, and Montvale
Montvale, New Jersey
Montvale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,844.Montvale was incorporated as a borough on August 31, 1894, from portions of Orvil Township and Washington Township, at the height of the "Boroughitis" craze then...
).
The RVVAC 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 River Vale Public SchoolsRiver Vale Public Schools
The River Vale Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through eight grade in River Vale, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States....
serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are both
Roberge Elementary School (463 students) and
Woodside Elementary School (468) for grades Kindergarten to 5 and
Holdrum Middle School (465) for grades 6 - 8.
River Vale's high school students for public school attend Pascack Valley High School
Pascack Valley High School
Pascack Valley High School is a four-year regional public high school located in Hillsdale in Bergen County, New Jersey, one of two high schools in the Pascack Valley Regional High School District...
in Hillsdale
Hillsdale, New Jersey
Hillsdale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 10,219.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...
, together with students from Hillsdale, as part of the Pascack Valley Regional High School District
Pascack Valley Regional High School District
The Pascack Valley Regional High School District is a regional public high school district encompassing students from four communities in the Pascack Valley region of Bergen County, New Jersey serving students in grades 9 - 12...
.
Lily Pond Country Day school offers child care in an educationally stimulating learning environment. The school offers specialized programs such as chess, Chinese, swimming, and special guests related to the monthly themes.
Transportation
Main roads in River Vale include Westwood Avenue, Rivervale Road and Prospect Avenue.Daily bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
service is provided by Rockland Coaches (Red and Tan Lines) on routes 84 and 14 to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal
George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal
The George Washington Bridge Bus Station is a commuter bus terminal located at the east end of the George Washington Bridge in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan in New York City, New York....
and the Port Authority Bus Terminal
Port Authority Bus Terminal
The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
There is no rail transport in River Vale, but the New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
Pascack Valley Line
Pascack Valley Line
The Pascack Valley Line is a commuter rail line operated by the Hoboken Division of New Jersey Transit. The line runs north from Hoboken, New Jersey through Bergen County and into Rockland County, New York, terminating at Spring Valley. Service within New York is operated under contract with...
is available in adjacent communities to the west. Daily service is available to Hoboken
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
from the Montvale
Montvale (NJT station)
Montvale Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is in Montvale, New Jersey and is located at the intersection of Kinderkamack Road and Grand Avenue....
, Park Ridge
Park Ridge (NJT station)
Park Ridge Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is in Park Ridge, New Jersey and is located at Hawthorne and Park Avenues....
, Woodcliff Lake
Woodcliff Lake (NJT station)
Woodcliff Lake Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, United States, and is located at Broadway and Woodcliff Avenue, on the eastern shore of the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir....
, Hillsdale
Hillsdale (NJT station)
Hillsdale Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is in Hillsdale, New Jersey and is located at Broadway and Hillsdale Avenue....
, and Westwood
Westwood (NJT station)
Westwood Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is in Westwood, New Jersey at Broadway and Westwood Avenue....
stations.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of River Vale include:- Chris EliopoulosChris EliopoulosChris Eliopoulos is an American cartoonist and letterer of comic books.-Early life:Eliopolous attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, in New York City, from 1985–1989. He majored in graphic design and minored in illustration...
, cartoonist. - Peter EnnsPeter EnnsPeter Eric Enns is a Evangelical Christian and a biblical scholar.-Biography:Peter Enns was born in Passaic, New Jersey, to German American immigrant parents. He grew up in River Vale, New Jersey and graduated from Pascack Valley High School in 1978...
(born 1961), author, former professor of Old TestamentOld TestamentThe Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
and hermeneutics at Westminster Theological SeminaryWestminster Theological SeminaryWestminster Theological Seminary is a Presbyterian and Reformed Christian graduate educational institution located in Glenside, Pennsylvania, with a satellite location in London.-History:...
. - Arthur FeuersteinArthur FeuersteinArthur William Feuerstein is an American chess player and winner of the first U.S. Armed Forces Chess Championship. According to the U.S. Chess Federation, Feuerstein is the 8th highest ranked chess player over 65, regardless of country, residence or federation.At age 21, Arthur won the U.S...
(born 1935), national chess champion. - Dan FogelmanDan FogelmanDan Fogelman a River Vale, New Jersey native is a American screenwriter, producer, novelist and actor. He is best known for the writing of screenplay for the Disney animated movie Tangled and the Pixar movie Cars....
, Hollywood screenwriter. - Stewart KrentzmanStewart KrentzmanStewart Krentzman is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Oki Data Americas, Inc., headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Its parent company, $6.2B Oki Electric is based in Tokyo, Japan....
(born 1951), former President and Chief Executive Officer of Oki Data Americas, Inc.Oki Electric Industry, commonly referred to as OKI, OKI Electric or the OKI Group, is a Japanese company manufacturing and selling info-telecom and printer products. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, OKI operates in over 120 countries around the world.... - Florence LawrenceFlorence LawrenceFlorence Lawrence was a Canadian inventor and silent film actress. She is often referred to as "The First Movie Star." When she was popular, she was known as "The Biograph Girl," "The Imp Girl," and "The Girl of a Thousand Faces." Lawrence appeared in more than 270 films for various motion...
(1886–1938), the first ever "movie star" lived in River Vale from 1913 through 1916. - Bill MaherBill MaherWilliam "Bill" Maher, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor. Before his current role as the host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher hosted a similar late-night talk show called Politically Incorrect originally on Comedy Central and...
(born 1956), comedian and actor, was raised in River Vale and graduated from Pascack Hills High SchoolPascack Hills High SchoolPascack Hills High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school, one of two high schools that are part of the Pascack Valley Regional High School District in Bergen County, New Jersey. PHHS serves the residents of both Montvale, where the campus is located, and the neighboring community...
in neighboring MontvaleMontvale, New JerseyMontvale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,844.Montvale was incorporated as a borough on August 31, 1894, from portions of Orvil Township and Washington Township, at the height of the "Boroughitis" craze then...
. - Daniel S. NevinsDaniel S. NevinsDaniel S. Nevins is an American rabbi and an adherent of the Conservative Movement who was named the Dean of the Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America on January 29, 2007, succeeding Rabbi William Lebeau...
(born 1966), rabbi, Dean at Jewish Theological Seminary of AmericaJewish Theological Seminary of AmericaThe Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
. - Garrett Zablocki (born 1985), guitarist in band Senses FailSenses FailSenses Fail is an American post-hardcore band from Ridgewood, New Jersey. Formed in 2002, the line up initially consisted of vocalist Buddy Nielsen, drummer Dan Trapp, guitarists Dave Miller and Garrett Zablocki and being completed by bassist Mike Glita. The band quickly issued their debut EP, From...
.
Sources
- River Vale (Images of America series), Edmund Moderacki 2002, ISBN 0-7385-1080-7
External links
- River Vale official website
- River Vale Public Schools
- River Vale Schools, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Pascack Valley Regional High School District
- River Vale Police Department
- River Vale Volunteer Ambulance Corps
- Bob Secor's River Vale - As I Knew It (1929 - 1954)