Washington Township, Bergen County, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Township of Washington
settlement_type = Township
nickname = Washington Township
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map highlighting Washington Township's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey.


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Washington Township, Bergen County, New Jersey

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Bergen
government_footnotes =
government_type = Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Rudolph J. Wenzel (R, 2009)
leader_title1 = Administrator
leader_name1 = Agnes Smith [ [http://www.twpofwashington.us/directory_new.htm Township Directory] , Township of Washington. Accessed December 26, 2007.]
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = April 13, 1840

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 7.7
area_land_km2 = 7.5
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 3.0
area_land_sq_mi = 2.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 9581
population_density_km2 = 1185.8
population_density_sq_mi = 3071.1

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882311|Township of Washington, Geographic Names Information System, accessed December 26, 2007.]
elevation_m = 24
elevation_ft = 79
latd = 40 |latm = 59 |lats = 29 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 3 |longs = 35 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07676
area_code = 201
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-77135GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0882311GR|3
website = http://www.twpofwashington.us/
footnotes =

Washington Township is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 8,938.

Geography

Washington Township is located at coor dms|40|59|28|N|74|3|35|W|city (40.991253, -74.059843)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.7 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.69%) is water.

The Township is located in the northern portion of Bergen County, which in turn is in the far northeastern corner of New Jersey, convert|15|mi|km northwest of New York City.

It is within the Hackensack River Watershed, which comprises the Musquapsink Brook, Schlegel Lake, Pascack Brook, Oradell Reservoir, Woodcliff Lake Reservoir, and Lake Tappan.

Washington Township is located within the Pascack Valley of North Central Bergen County. Elevations rise gradually in an east to west/south to north trajectory, and range anywhere from convert|50|ft|m or less in the wooded swamplands behind Westwood Regional High School to approximately convert|360|ft|m just west of Van Emburgh Avenue. Three hills are in Washington Township: at the border of Westwood, west of Pascack Road, and again west of Van Emburgh Avenue. Being higher in elevation, it is slightly cooler and less prone to flooding then the rest of the valley and other parts of Northwestern Bergen County.

The southern end of the Township bordering Paramus and Emerson is wooded wetlands at the convergence of the Musquapsink Brook and three cemeteries, and has consistently the densest overnight and morning fog in the area.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1850 = 1807
1860 = 2273
1870 = 2514
1880 = 2853
1890 = 2942
1890n=*
1900 = 782
1900n=*
1910= 100
1910n=*
1920= 194
1930= 402
1940= 491
1950= 1208
1960= 6654
1970= 10577
1980= 9550
1990= 9245
2000= 8938
estimate=9581
estyear=2007
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US3400377135&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3476490&_street=&_county=washington&_cityTown=washington&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Washington Township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 31, 2007.]
footnote= * lost territory Sources [cite web
url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1870a.zip
format=ZIP
title=Ninth Census Volume I. The Statistics of the Population of the United States; Table III. Population of Civil Divisions Less Than Counties
publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
date=1872
accessdate=2008-08-18
author=Francis A. Walker, Superintendent of Census] [cite web
url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1890d9.zip
format=ZIP
title=Population of The United States by Minor Civil Divisions
publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
date=1891
accessdate=2008-08-18
author=Robert P. Porter, Superintendent] [cite web
url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41084506no553.zip
format=ZIP
title=Fourteenth Census of The United States: 1920; Population: New Jersey; Number of inhabitants, by counties and minor civil divisions
publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
accessdate=2007-03-21
author=Wm. C. Hunt, Chief Statistician for Population] [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] [ [http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/planning/data/HistoricalPop.pdf Historical Population Trends in Bergen County (1900 - 2000)] , Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed December 23, 2007.] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 8,938 people, 3,219 households, and 2,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,071.1 people per square mile (1,185.9/km²). There were 3,245 housing units at an average density of 1,115.0/sq mi (430.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.07% White, 0.98% African American, 0.04% Native American, 5.57% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.35% of the population.

There were 3,219 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.2% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.5% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the township the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $83,694, and the median income for a family was $88,017. Males had a median income of $67,090 versus $41,699 for females. The per capita income for the township was $39,248. About 1.5% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Washington Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government by a mayor and a five-member Township Council. ["2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 165.]

The Mayor of Washington Township is Rudolph J. Wenzel (R, term ends December 31, 2009). Members of the Township Council are Council President Robert Schroeder (R, 2010), Council Vice President Richard Hrbek (R, 2010), Charles V. Devine (R, 2009), Joseph Giardina (R, 2009) and Janet Sobkowicz (R, 2010). [ [http://www.twpofwashington.us/directory_new.htm Township Directory: Mayor and Council] , accessed August 31, 2007.] ["County of Bergen: 2007 County and Municipal Directory", Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 67.]

In elections held on November 6, 2007, voters filled three seats on the township council. Republican incumbents ran unopposed, with Robert Schroeder (1,428), Janet Sobkowicz (1,339) and Richard Hrbek (1,304) reelected to four-year terms on the council. [Ax, Joseph. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MjE0ODgx "Washington Township municipal elections"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", October 30, 2007. Accessed December 26, 2007.] [ [http://www.northjersey.com/dngmedia/media_server/tr/2007/11/06election/bergencounty2007.html Bergen County election results] , "The Record (Bergen County)", November 7, 2007. Accessed November 10, 2007.]

Federal, state and county representation

Washington Township is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 65. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Politics

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 9,623 in Washington Township, there were 6,376 registered voters (66.3% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 910 (14.3% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,141 (33.6% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 3,322 (52.1% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were 3 voters registered to other parties. ["County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," Bergen County, New Jersey, dated April 1, 2006.]

On the national level, Washington Township leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 60% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received around 40%. [ [http://www.nj.gov/lps/elections/2004results/04_Municipality_pdf%27s/presidential_bergen_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County] , New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety: Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004.]

Education

Public school students in grades Kindergarten through 12 attend the Westwood Regional School District, a comprehensive regional school district serving students from both Washington Township and Westwood Borough. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/03/5755/03-5755-000.html Westwood regional School District 2007 Report Card Narrative] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 1, 2008. "The Westwood Regional School District, the only K-12 regional school district in Bergen County, serves approximately 2,700 students from the Borough of Westwood and the Township of Washington."] Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417820 Data for the Westwood Regional School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 6, 2008.] ) are four K-4 elementary schools — [http://www.westwood.k12.nj.us/berkeleyaes/site/default.asp Berkeley Avenue Elemntary School] (207 students), [http://www.westwood.k12.nj.us/jessieges/site/default.asp Jessie F. George Elementary School] (292), [http://www.westwood.k12.nj.us/ketleres/site/default.asp Ketler Elementary School] (318) and [http://www.westwood.k12.nj.us/washingtones/site/default.asp Washington Elementary School] (297) — [http://www.westwood.k12.nj.us/brooksidees/site/default.asp Brookside Upper Elementary School] (424) for grades 5 and 6, and
Westwood High School (1,110) for grades 7-12.

Immaculate Heart Academy is a parochial, college preparatory, all-girls Catholic high school located on Van Emburgh Avenue.

Transportation

New Jersey Transit bus route 165 serves nearby Westwood with easy access from Washington Township to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. [ [http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=BusRoutesBergenCountyTo Routes by County: Bergen County] , New Jersey Transit. Accessed August 8, 2008.] Westwood train station can also be easily access from Washington Township. Rockland Coaches provides express service from Pascack Road and Washington Avenue via Garden State Parkway Exit 168. Weekday rush-hour service is provided to the Port Authority Bus Termianl, going to New York in the morning and returning to the Township weekday evenings.

Located within the New York metropolitan area's arterial network, Washington Township is easily accessible by car. The Garden State Parkway and County Route 502 travel through Washington Township, and Route 17 is nearby.

Community

The Township of Washington offers various sports activities - baseball, softball, football, cheerleading and soccer - which are played at the numerous parks and fields throughout the town. Clark Field includes a little league baseball field with two large dugouts and electronic scoreboard, a basketball court, a playground, sandbox, and a concession stand. The playground has many slides, monkey bars, games, gliders, fire poles, regular swings, baby swings, and a tire swing. Memorial Field is in the center of the township and provides facilities for multiple use: baseball, softball, soccer and youth football. Adjacent to the Washington Elementary School, it also includes a recreation building with concession stand and a covered picnic pavilion.

As the township does not provide for any recreational pool service, the Washington Township Recreation Club (WTRC) fills this void. Membership at the Washington Township Recreation Club, more commonly known as the 'swim club' or 'pool', is not limited to township residents and is open to any individual or family who wishes to join. In addition to the olympic sized outdoor pool, the Washington Township Recreation Club also offers a game room and picnic area. Additional recreational facilities include the Bergen County YM/YWHA offering fitness programs, indoor swimming and a variety of classes for all denominations. The town also has a privately-owned Racquet and Health Club.

Schlegel Lake, once referred to as Schlegel's Pond and commonly referred to as Washington Lake, is a 28-acre artificial body of water privately owned and managed by the Washington Lake Association (WLA) since 1947, whose members have exclusive rights to use of the pond and surrounding property. WLA members may enjoy fishing, boating, picnicking, nature observation, etc.

Washington Town Center is a shopping mall located in the center of town, on Pascack Road. Stores include A & P, Rite Aid, PNC Bank, Dunkin' Donuts, a Post Office and more than 25 other restaurants and shops along with a movie theater which offers a variety of theatrical films. The privately held Washington Town Center is the township's single largest tax payer. Through a quirk in the town's tax code, the not for profit Washington Township Recreation Club remains the township's second largest taxpayer.

Washington Township has its own TV station, [http://www.wctv.us WCTV] , Washington Community Television, composed entirely of all volunteers. The non-profit, community access group provides a 24/7 electronic bulletin board telecast over two cable systems in surrounding towns and provides live programming and coverage of local events and activities. WCTV provides coverage of a variety of high school sporting events and its volunteers have been honored for their efforts.

As Washington Township does not provide residential trash pickup service, residents must pay for trash pickup services though a choice of several private garbage companies.

History

The Lenape Native Americans were said to inhabit the town first and many names throughout the general area were passed down from the Lenape. Pascack and Kinderkamack are just two of the names which have been passed down. After they left, the Dutch were the first settlers turning the landscape into a tapestry of gardens, apple orchards and truck farms.

Washington Township was created by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 13, 1840, from the territories between the Hackensack River and Saddle River that had been part of Harrington Township."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 88.] At the time of its creation, the township encompassed an area of convert|19525|acre|km2, more than convert|30|sqmi|km2. [http://washingtontwp.bccls.org/TwpWashington.htm Township History] , Washington Township Public Library. Accessed June 14, 2007.]

Growth in the area exploded after the Civil War with the completion of the New Jersey and New York Railway through the Pascack Valley, as communities were established near the railroad's stations.

Orvil Township was created on January 1, 1886 from the western portion of Washington Township and the southern portion of Hohokus Township.

The Borough Act resulted in a flurry of new Boroughs created from portions of the township in 1894 as the "Boroughitis" phenomenon swept through Washington Township: Westwood (May 8, 1894), Park Ridge (May 14, 1894), Eastwood (part; created June 6, 1894, borough lasted until 1896), Montvale (part; created August 31, 1894) and Woodcliff (part; created August 31, 1894, name changed to Woodcliff Lake in 1910). Hillsdale Township (now a Borough) was created on March 25, 1898. Etna Borough, which ultimately became Emerson, was formed on April 8, 1903. River Vale (part) was the last to leave when it was created on April 30, 1906. The departures have taken the township from over convert|30|sqmi|km2 to its current convert|3|sqmi|km2|sing=on size.

Seven Chimneys is located on Ridgewood Road atop a small hill and as the name says, it has seven chimneys. It has been said that George Washington had stayed at this house during the Revolutionary War. Seven Chimneys, the oldest house in the Township of Washington, is an impressive example of eighteenth-century, regional, domestic architecture and is an important remnant of the community's early settlement period. The house is listed on the State Register and National Register of Historic Places. On November 3, 1968, the Bergen County Historical Society placed a historic-site marker on the property. [ [http://www.twpofwashington.us/history.htm Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow] , Township of Washington. Accessed June 14, 2007. "We have a number of interesting places in our town, one of which is “Seven Chimneys” – a large 18th century stone house that stands high on a grassy knoll in the southern portion of the Township. Legend has it; George Washington stayed there a short period of time, which gives our community special history and pride."]

During the mid 1950s, the completion of the convert|173|mi|km|sing=on Garden State Parkway running north and south through 50 municipalities in 10 counties, split the township in two. The Parkway created two access routes with Exit 166 on the southern border next to Paramus and Exit 168 on Washington Avenue. The northernmost toll plaza was built off of East Glen. During the decade after the Parkway was completed, Washington Township dramatically increased in population.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Washington Township include:
*Mary Higgins Clark (born 1927), best-selling author of suspense novels.Fact|date=April 2008
*Jeffrey Nordling (born 1962), actor, appearing in the series "Dirt". [Rohan, Virginia. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxNjcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwNDcyMTQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3 "Bergen County native’s ‘Dirt’ character reaps what he sows"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", January 1, 2007. Accessed September 22, 2007. "Nordling was born convert|3000|mi|km from the craziness, at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, and grew up mostly in Washington Township (in the only house on the town's Times Square). When he was 15, the family moved to Saddle River, and Nordling transferred to Ramsey High School, where he became a soccer star."]

References

Sources

*"History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630-1923;" by "Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858-1942."
*"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.

External links

* [http://www.twpofwashington.us/ Washington Township web site]
* [http://www.westwood.k12.nj.us/westwoodrsd/site/default.asp Westwood Regional School District]
*NJReportCard|03|5755|0|Westwood Regional School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417820 Data for the Westwood Regional School District] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://washingtontwp.bccls.org/TwpWashington.htm Township History]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~njgsbc/gsbcArch01.html Bergen County Townships and Municipalities]
* [http://www.dutchdoorgenealogy.com/bergen_county_new_jersey_municipalities.html Dutch Door Genealogy: Bergen County New Jersey Municipalities]