MAHWAH, NEW JERSEY

'Mahwah' is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 24,062. The name Mahwah is derived from the Lenni Lenape word "''mawewi''" which means "Meeting Place" or "Place Where Paths Meet".^[1][2]
The area that is now Mahwah was originally formed as Hohokus Township on April 9, 1849, from portions of Franklin Township. On November 7, 1944, the area was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature as the Township of Mahwah, based on the results of a referendum held that day, replacing Hohokus Township. "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 81.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Politics

Education

Public schools

Private school

Higher education

Vocational schools

Corporate residents

Transportation

History

Notable residents

References

External links

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 67.9 km² (26.2 mi²). 67.2 km² (25.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (1.03%) is water. It is the largest municipality in Bergen County by area.
Mahwah is near the Ramapo Mountains and the Ramapo River. Interstate 287 passes through Mahwah, but the only point of access is at the New Jersey-New York border where 287 meets Route 17. Historic U.S. Route 202 also runs through Mahwah from Oakland, New Jersey, to Suffern, New York.
Mahwah is bordered by the towns of Upper Saddle River, Ramsey, Allendale, Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, and Oakland in Bergen County, New Jersey; Ringwood in Passaic County, New Jersey; and Ramapo in Rockland County, New York.
Several state and county parks are located in Mahwah, due to its large size and scenic terrain. They include Campgaw Mountain Reservation, Darlington County Park, Ramapo Mountain Reservation, and Ramapo Mountain State Forest. The Ramapo River runs through the western section of Mahwah.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 24,062 people, 9,340 households, and 6,285 families residing in the township. The population density was 358.3/km² (927.9/mi²). There were 9,577 housing units at an average density of 142.6/km² (369.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 87.93% White, 2.16% African American, 0.70% Native American, 6.31% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.50% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.27% of the population.
There were 9,340 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $79,500, and the median income for a family was $94,484. Males had a median income of $62,326 versus $42,527 for females. The per capita income for the township was $44,709. About 1.2% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Mahwah is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.
The Mayor of Mahwah is Richard J. Martel.^[3]
The legislative power of the municipality is exercised by a seven member Township Council. Officials are elected at non-partisan elections, held every other May, for four-year terms. Members of the Mahwah Township Council are Council President H. Lisa DiGiulio, Council Vice President John Roth, Samuel Alderisio, John DaPuzzo, Robert Hermansen, Allan R. Kidd and Roy Larson.^[4]

Federal, state and county representation

Mahwah is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 40th Legislative District.^[5]

Politics

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 24,682 in Mahwah, there were 14,204 registered voters (57.5% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,736 (12.2% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 3,443 (24.2% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 9,019 (63.5% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were six voters registered to other parties.^[6]
On the national level, Mahwah leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 58% of the vote, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received around 41%.^[7]

Education

Public schools

The Mahwah Township Public Schools provides public education in Mahwah. Schools include:
'Elementary Schools'

★ Betsy Ross (K-3)

★ George Washington School (K-3)

★ Joyce Kilmer School (4-5)

★ Lenape Meadows (PreK-3)
'Middle School'

★ Ramapo Ridge Middle School (6-8)
'High School'

★ Mahwah High School (9-12)

Private school

★ Young World Day School (K-5)

Higher education

★ Ramapo College

Vocational schools

★ Lincoln Technical Institute

★ Tax Training School

★ O'Brien's Professional Travel School

Corporate residents

★ Inserra Supermarkets, a member of the ShopRite retail cooperative, operating approximately 22 stores. It is a family owned business and is one of the 500 largest private companies in the United States.

★ Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, book publisher.

★ Stryker Corp.'s orthopedic business is based in Mahwah.

★ Radware Inc. American headquarters is based in Mahwah.

Transportation

Interstate 287 and Route 17 merge in Mahwah, and U.S. Route 202 also passes through. The interchange for Exit 66 is unique, since all traffic wishing to use Route 17 south must merge onto 287 south, and then keep left before the split for NJ 17 and I-287. The northern terminus of County Route 507 is also in Mahwah.
New Jersey Transit rail service to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan, Hoboken Terminal, and Newark is available from the Mahwah station on the Main Line and Bergen County Line. Shortline bus service to NYC and points between is available from several locations.

History

For 25 years Mahwah hosted the A&P Tennis Classic, a tune up for the U.S. Open tennis tournament held at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens.
In August 1997, due to personal debt, then-Mayor David J. Dwork shot and killed himself in the town's mayoral offices. There were also unverified allegations of corruption.^[8] Dwork was memorialized with a tree dedicated to him at the site of the Mahwah Public Library.
The definitive history book of Mahwah is "From Pioneer Settlement to Suburb, A History of Mahwah, New Jersey, 1700-1976" by Henry Bischoff and Mitchell Kahn L.C 78-55451ISBN0-498-02218-8. Originally published by A.S. Barnes and Company, a re-print was issued in 2005 by the Mahwah Historical Society. The book is 469 pages long.
Ford Motor Company operated an assembly plant in Mahwah from 1955 to 1982. At the time of it's completion, it was the largest motor vehicle assembly plant in the United States. The Ford plant, along with other businesses such as American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company, helped contribute to the economic development of the town and its reputation for low home property taxes. The Mahwah town sports teams remain named Thunderbirds in honor of the Ford plant.
Mahwah is also mentioned briefly in the Bruce Springsteen song "Johnny 99."

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Mahwah include:

★ Frank Chamberlin (1978-), NFL linebacker.^[9]

★ Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918) and his family lived in Mahwah until his service and death in World War I.^[10]

★ Les Paul (1915-), guitarist and inventor.^[11]

★ Jane Wyatt (1910-2006), actress known for her role in ''Father Knows Best''.^[12]

References

1. If You're Thinking of Living in: Mahwah, ''The New York Times'', June 2, 1991.
2. Mahwah High School Mission Statement], accessed October 9, 2006.
3. Mayor, Township of Mahwah. Accessed July 21, 2006.
4. Township Council, Township of Mahwah. Accessed August 1, 2007.
5. 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 60. Accessed August 30, 2006.
6. "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," dated April 1, 2006.
7. 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004.
8. Debt Drove A Mayor To Suicide, Widow Says, ''The New York Times'', August 26, 1997.
9. Frank Chamberlin player profile, accessed April 5, 2007.
10. Joyce Kilmer (1886 - 1918) - Author of Trees and Other Poems, accessed April 5, 2007.
11. Fredrix, Emily. "Guitarist Les Paul plays for hometown", Yahoo! News via Associated Press, May 10, 2007. Accessed May 11, 2007. "Paul, who lives in Mahwah, N.J., has donated many artifacts and memorabilia for the planned exhibit, a million project expected to open in 2010."
12. 'Father Knows Best' Actress Jane Wyatt Dies, NewsMax.com. October 23, 2007. Accessed September 2, 2007. "Wyatt was born in Campgaw, N.J., into a wealthy family in 1910, according to McDonald, her publicist."

External links

★ Mahwah Township official website

★ Mahwah Township Public Schools

★

★ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Mahwah Township Public Schools

★ Guide to Mahwah in Bergen County, NJ