WESTWOOD, NEW JERSEY

'Westwood' (nicknamed "The Hub of the Pascack Valley"^[1]) is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 10,999.
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."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 88. Isaac D. Bogert served as the first mayor of the Borough. In April 1909, the area of 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.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Politics

Education

Transportation

Public Transportation

Roads

Corporate residents

Notable residents

References

External links

Geography

Westwood is located at (40.988548, -74.030747).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 6.0 km² (2.3 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,999 people, 4,485 households, and 2,879 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,830.5/km² (4,745.0/mi²). There were 4,610 housing units at an average density of 767.2/km² (1,988.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.60% White, 5.72% African American, 0.14% Native American, 4.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.00% of the population. Significant pockets of Croatian, Bosnian, Irish, Ghanaian, German, Greek, Colombian, and Syrian communities are present in Westwood.
There were 4,485 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $59,868, and the median income for a family was $77,105. Males had a median income of $50,800 versus $42,459 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,083. About 1.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Westwood is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a mayor directly elected by the voters and a six-member Borough Council. The Mayor serves a four-year term of office, and the Borough Council members serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
The Mayor of Westwood is Thomas D. Wanner. Members of the Westwood Borough Council are John J. Sciara (2008), Cynthia L. Waneck (2008)2006 Reorganization Meeting, held January 3, 2006., Gail Frasco (2007), Gary Conkling (2007)2005 Reorganization Meeting, held January 4, 2005., Peter A. Grefrath (2009) and William C. Phayre (2009).
On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Westwood voters filled two seats on the Borough Council. As of Election Day, the council was comprised of four Republicans and two Democrats, in a community in which registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by a 3-2 margin. Republican incumbent Peter A. Grefrath (with 1,866 votes) and newcomer William C. Phayre (who led the pack with 2,084 votes) won election, defeating Democrats Russell Miller (1,757) and Erick Martinez (1,205). The Republican sweep will maintain the 4-2 Republican edge and gave Grefrath his fourth full term on the Council. Republican Mayor Thomas Wanner had publicly supported the Democratic candidates, blaming Grefrath for overspending on a firehouse project among other criticism.^[2][3][4]

Federal, state and county representation

Westwood Borough is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th Legislative District.^[5]

Politics

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 11,051 in Westwood, there were 6,513 registered voters (58.9% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,101 (16.9% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,683 (25.8% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 3,728 (57.2% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There was one voter registered to another party.^[6]
On the national level, Westwood leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 51% of the vote here, edging Democrat John Kerry, who received around 48%.^[7]

Education

Students in grades Kindergarten through 12 attend the Westwood Regional School District, a comprehensive regional school district serving both Washington Township and Westwood. Schools in the district are four K-4 lower elementary schools (
Berkeley Avenue Elementary School,
Jessie F. George Elementary School, Ketler Elementary School and
Washington Elementary School), Brookside Upper Elementary School for grades 5 and 6,
Westwood Regional Junior High School for grades 7 and 8, and
Westwood Regional High School for grades 9-12.

Transportation

Public Transportation

Westwood is served by New Jersey Transit on the Pascack Valley Line at the Westwood train station. The station is located at Broadway and Westwood Avenue.
This line runs north-south to Hoboken Terminal with connections via the Secaucus Junction transfer station to New Jersey Transit one-stop service to New York Penn Station and to other NJ Transit rail service. Connections are available at the Hoboken Terminal to other New Jersey 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.
The Pascack Valley Line is a single-track line providing service towards Hoboken during the morning rush hour and service from Hoboken in the evening rush hour.
New Jersey Transit bus route 165 serves Westwood with service to New York. Westwood is the terminus for bus route 165.^[8]

Roads

County Route 503 passes through Westwood.

Corporate residents

Rockland Coaches is a commuter coach company based in Westwood, that operates local and commuter bus service between New York City and points in Bergen County and Rockland County, New York to points where New Jersey Transit does not already provide local service, utilizing a fleet of MCI D4000s and MCI D4500s owned by New Jersey Transit.

Notable residents

Some noted current and former residents:

★ James Gandolfini (1961-), actor known for playing Tony Soprano on HBO's ''The Sopranos''.^[9]

★ Doug Henwood (1952-), journalist

★ Robert Sean Leonard (1969-), actor best known for his roles in ''House'' and ''Dead Poets Society''.^[10]

★ Kevin Sampson (1981-), tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs.^[11]

References

1. Brief History of Westwood, Borough of Westwood. Accessed March 28, 2007.
2. Westwood Election Guide, ''The Record (Bergen County)'', November 1, 2006.
3. Westwood election results, ''The Record (Bergen County)'', November 8, 2006.
4. Bergen County 2006 General Election Results, accessed February 1, 2007.
5. 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 63. 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. New Jersey Transit Bus Schedules. Accessed August 30, 2007.
9. James Gandolfini cast profile from ''The Sopranos'', accessed December 21, 2006.
10. Filichia, Peter. "Class actors: Meet New Jersey's Tony-nominated performers", ''The Star-Ledger'', June 3, 2001. Accessed August 2, 2007. "Robert Sean Leonard... Jersey roots: 1969-1986 in Westwood, Ridgewood and Paramus."
11. Kevin Sampson player profile from the Kansas City Chiefs. Accessed December 21, 2006.

External links

★ Borough of Westwood official website

★ Westwood Regional School District

★

★ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Westwood Regional School District

★ Westwood Chamber of Commerce website

★ Westwood Town Center HANDYGUIDE

★ Westwood Area Overivew HANDYGUIDE

★ Westwood Heritage Society