The borough's history has featured the founding of the first colony in Bergen County, contribution to the Revolutionary War, a period as a "sleepy, pastoral little town"[24] with resort hotels in the 19th century,[25] industrialization in the early 20th century, and a transition to a rapidly growing residential community in the late 20th century.[26]
Edgewater was incorporated as a municipality on December 7, 1894, from portions of Ridgefield Township as the Borough of Undercliff, based on the results of a referendum that passed two days earlier.[27] The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.[28] The borough's name was changed to Edgewater on November 8, 1899.[27][29] The borough was named for its location on the Hudson River.[30]
History
Algonquian people, primarily Lenape, lived in the area prior to Dutch colonisation in the 17th century. David Pietersz Devries (also transliterated as David Pietersen de Vries), the first European settler, bought 500 acres (202 ha) of land from the Tappan tribe and established the settlement of Vriessendael in what is now Edgewater.[31] A historical plaque placed in Veteran's Field by the Bergen County Historical Society names Vriessendael as the first known colony in Bergen County with a founding date of 1640. Parts of Vriessendael were destroyed in 1643 during Kieft's War in reprisal for the massacres of Lenape people taking refuge at Pavonia and Corlears Hook.[32][33] In pioneer days, River Road was known as the Hackensack Turnpike,[34] and Ox [sic] Hill Road was an important route to the top of the Palisades Cliff.[35] While Oxen Hill Road still exists as a thoroughfare, another Colonial hallmark and major local industry[35] has only recently disappeared: shad fishing. The Undercliff section in the northern section of Edgewater was originally a colony of fishermen.[36] In the 1980s there were still about 100 commercial fishermen in New Jersey harvesting shad from their annual spring run from the Atlantic Ocean up the Hudson River to spawn. Now there are none.[37]
Etienne Burdett began ferry service between north Edgewater and the island of Manhattan in 1758. His gambrel-roofed house in what is now the Edgewater Colony stood until 1899.[38] The ferry service at Burdett's Landing, which was located at the southern base of the bluff of Fort Lee, proved valuable to the American cause during the Revolutionary War. The ferry functioned as the link for supplies, information and transportation between Fort Lee on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River and Fort Washington on the New York side.[39] In the century following the Revolutionary war, north Edgewater developed into a resort area with large hotels built in the mid- and late 19th century.[25] It was in the 19th century that Burdett's Landing became known as "Old Stone Dock", as cobblestones quarried from the Palisades Cliffs by Russell & Read were shipped across the Hudson to fill the demand for paving Manhattan streets.[40] Concern over the destruction caused by quarrying operations led to the formation of the Palisades Interstate Park in 1900, which was effective in preserving the cliffs.[41] Although the first chemical plant was founded in 1843 in the south section of the borough,[42] throughout the 19th century the town retained a bucolic character.[40] Early in the 20th century the addition of landfill to the Hudson River changed the borough's appearance. Until that time, the Hudson River lay closer to River Road from just above Veteran's field southward to what is now the Binghamton Ferry Plaza.[43]
The 20th century brought great change to Edgewater with industrialization, which overwhelmed the borough[44] and filled 3 miles (4.8 km) of the shoreline with its operations. Transportation of factory goods was facilitated when the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway cut the Edgewater Tunnel through the Palisades in 1894 to connect the borough to its main line.[45] Edgewater was also well situated for shipping, with deep water piers on the Hudson River and access to abundant labor from Manhattan.[42] Generally, industrial development occurred in the southern end of the borough, while the northern end remained residential.[35] As industrialization increased in the borough, picnic grounds lost their appeal and resort hotels faded.[46] By 1918, there were 8,044 workers employed by Edgewater's manufacturing facilities, producing primarily chemicals, dyes, and confectionery products such as oils and sugars. Prominent industries of Edgewater included a Ford assembly plant, Alcoa, Valvoline, and the American Can Company.[42][47] Railroad trains served various factories, traversing tracks laid in River Road.[44] During the first 30 years of the century, Edgewater's population quadrupled, and the transient workforce increased tenfold.[46] Eventually the factories closed. The reasons were varied, but they included the globalization of industry, obsolete facilities[42] and the replacement of railroad shipping by trucking,[37] which could not run its large tractor trailer trucks on Edgewater's narrow streets.[45]
Joseph Mitchell's essay The Rivermen, which was published in The New Yorker and is included in his book The Bottom of the Harbor, provides an evocative portrait of life in Edgewater in the early 20th century.[48]
The late 20th century history of Edgewater was one of change from an industrialized town to a residential one. With the closing of the factories, development initially came to Edgewater in the 1960s[49] and grew exponentially in the early 1980s, as developers began projects to convert the industrial sites that had historically led to Edgewater not being considered as an option for development.[50] As condominiums were built along the Hudson where industry had formerly operated,[51] the population of Edgewater grew rapidly. The population had been mostly in the 4,000 to 5,000 range from 1930 to 1990, then increased by 50% to 7,677 in 2000 and again by 50% to 11,513 in the 2010 Census.[21] Borough council members and residents acknowledge that population growth has exacerbated the problem of increased traffic.[26][45] With the transition from industrial to residential, crime statistics were down, with the police chief describing how bar fights between factory workers were commonplace in the early 1970s,[45] while real estate values are up. Because of the expense of buying property, some currently refer to Edgewater as part of the Gold Coast.[42] A photographic history of Edgewater describes the population and demographics change and its possible consequence this way:
Now a good number of residents live on the river in condominiums and rental apartments and town houses on land that was once the province of heavy industry. Some see this as the creation of a town divided, with the newcomers living on the east side of River Road by the Hudson River and the old-timers living on the west side of River Road.[51]
Although the borough is unrecognizable as the industrial town it once was, growing pains have left marks. When the old Alcoa plant site from 1916 began to be converted to condominiums, construction was forced to halt for cleanup of industrial contaminants, including excessively high concentrations of PCBs.[45] In another case, construction of a condominium/shopping center in south Edgewater was interrupted for six months by safety measures to protect workers from chemical exposure in the lead- and arsenic-riddled soil.[26] Next to this structure, behind a chain link fence lies a Superfund site.[42] Operational Hess Oil tanks, beside the derelict Alcoa rolling mill, once the second-largest in the world, are a reminder of the borough's industrial phase. The building, occupying 1,100,000 square feet (100,000 m2) of space, was designed in 1914 and was used to roll ingots of aluminum into sheets that were used to create everything from toothpaste tubes to aircraft frames, before the facility was abandoned in 1967 due to lack of space needed to expand the facility.[52][53][54]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.46 square miles (6.36 km2), including 0.97 square miles (2.52 km2) of land and 1.48 square miles (3.84 km2) of water (60.33%).[1][2]
The borough is a narrow strip of land along the Hudson River, with 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of waterfront.[55] The Palisades Cliff rises dramatically and forms a natural border on its western side, running roughly parallel to the Hudson, with Fort Lee and Cliffside Park atop the cliff, north and south, respectively. Edgewater abuts Fort Lee Historic Park in the borough of Fort Lee on the north.
River Road, which overlooks the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline, runs into and out of the town from the north and south, lying just above the level of the Hudson. Three roads lead up the Palisades Cliff: Route 5, with one switchback, ascends to Palisades Avenue, which leads north into Fort Lee and south into Cliffside Park. Gorge Road and Edgewater Road, the latter still referred to by many local residents by its Colonial-era name as Oxen Hill Road, lead up the Palisades to Cliffside Park.[55]
As of March 2011[update] about 2,500 Japanese-Americans lived in Edgewater and Fort Lee; this is the largest concentration of Japanese-Americans in New Jersey.[66] In the 2013–2017 American Community Survey, 35.7% of residents were identified as Asian, including 2,205 (18.1%) who were Korean, 630 (5.2%) were Asian Indian and 574 (4.7%) were Japanese.[67]
Of the 5,637 households, 23.6% had children under the age of 18; 43.2% were married couples living together; 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 46.4% were non-families. Of all households, 39.3% were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.76.[21]Same-sex couples headed 38 households in 2010, an increase from the 32 counted in 2000.[68]
17.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 43.6% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.0 males.[21]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $83,602 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,791) and the median family income was $114,375 (+/− $19,887). Males had a median income of $82,248 (+/− $13,946) versus $57,971 (+/− $9,987) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $58,220 (+/− $5,463). About 7.7% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[69]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census,[18] there were 7,677 people, 3,836 households, and 1,971 families residing in the borough. The population density was 9,060.6 inhabitants per square mile (3,498.3/km2). There were 4,277 housing units at an average density of 5,047.8 per square mile (1,949.0/km2). As of the 2000 census, the racial makeup of the borough was 67.12% White, 10.45% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 3.52% African American, 0.21% Native American, 23.12% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.94% from other races, and 3.05% from two or more races.[64][65]
There were 3,836 households, out of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.70.[64][65]
In the borough the age distribution of the population shows 15.4% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 46.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.[64][65]
The median income for a household in the borough was $63,455, and the median income for a family was $72,692. Males had a median income of $50,795 versus $49,238 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $42,650. About 6.2% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.[64][65]
In the 2000 Census, 11.83% of Edgewater's residents identified themselves as being of Korean ancestry, which was the ninth highest in the United States and seventh highest of any municipality in New Jersey, for all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[70] 3.22% of residents identified themselves as being of Japanese ancestry, which was the third highest of any municipality in New Jersey, behind Fort Lee (6.09%) and Demarest (3.72%).[71] In the 2010 Census, those reporting Korean ancestry had increased to 19.6% of the population (2,258 residents), while the percentage of Japanese residents had risen to 4.9% (560 residents).[21]
Economy
Edgewater was the location of the Lever Brothers research center where chemist Vincent Lamberti, a holder of over 118 patents, spent most of his 40 years for the company, and where he invented Dove soap, the first soap not made with animal fat.[72][73]
Edgewater has five main shopping areas. From north to south they are Town Centre, the Binghamton Shopping Plaza, Mitsuwa Marketplace, Edgewater Commons and City Place. All are located on the river side of River Road and bordered by the River Walk. As recently as 1984 the town had no supermarket.[55] With development in subsequent years, by 2017, groceries couuld be purchased at Whole Foods Market in Town Centre, Trader Joe's at the Binghamton Plaza, Japanese-labeled groceries at Mitsuwa Marketplace[74] and at Acme Markets in Edgewater Commons.[75] Company-operated shuttle buses that ran on Wednesdays and Thursdays, bringing shoppers to Mitsuwa from Manhattan, were terminated in 2014.[76]
The Binghamton Ferry, permanently anchored at the Binghamton Shopping Plaza, was built in 1904–1905 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia.[37] The only double-ended steam-powered ferry boat still on the Hudson River, the Binghamton ferried passengers from New Jersey to Barclay Street in Manhattan for many years[81] and was retired in 1967.[45]
One of the remaining Carnegie libraries in New Jersey,[82] built with $15,000 in funds from the Carnegie Foundation,[83] the Edgewater Free Library was dedicated on February 8, 1916.[83][84] Edgewater opened its library in 1910, prior to the donation from the Carnegie Foundation, with 817 books on its shelves.[84]
In addition to these sites, the Eleanor Van Gelder School is listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.[77]
The River Walk
The promenade along the Hudson is part of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. In 1988, construction of a waterfront walkway was mandated by state law that would allow walkers a path along the Hudson River from Bayonne up to the George Washington Bridge.[85] Although property owners were required to build and maintain it, many gaps remain.[86] Of the 18.5 miles (29.8 km) called for, only 11 miles (18 km) are complete, and many of the gaps occur in Edgewater.[87] The completed stretches offer paths for walking along the Hudson River with views of Manhattan.
Edgewater parrots
Edgewater is the home of a free-flying colony of monk parakeets, also known as Quaker parrots, which are native to South America. These small, green parrots have lived in Edgewater since at least 1980 and were numbered at 200 to 230 in a 2008 article in The New York Times[88] and about 200 in 2019.[89] They are easily seen in Memorial Park and its vicinity at River Road and Route 5. The parrots build large nests of twigs and down which become permanent residences.[90] Nests four-feet long can be seen near the intersection. How the birds came to Edgewater is unknown, though a widely accepted story traces their origin to an escape from a damaged crate at John F. Kennedy Airport in the 1960s,[88] or alternatively they had been pets that escaped from their owners.[89]
The birds have built nests against transformers on utility poles. Citing the risk of fire, the utility PSE&G has destroyed such nests. This has brought the utility into conflict with parrot advocates. In 2008, PSE&G agreed not to take down nests during breeding season.[88][89]
Parks and recreation
22-acre (89,000 m2) Veterans' Field[26] offers residents recreational opportunities and provides space for a Community Center and American Legion Post 116. Veterans' Field is located on River Road (County Route 505) in the north section of Edgewater, lying along the Hudson River. It has indoor and outdoor basketball courts, three softball fields, a 1/3 mile-long track which accommodates runners, walkers and skaters; tennis courts, a Little League field and a playground. It is also the site of a large American flag which can easily be seen from across the river in Manhattan. A plaque commemorating the New Netherland plantation of David Pietersen de Vries, Vriessendael, is located at the entrance to the field on the west. Although the field extends well to the east, it did not exist in de Vries's day. In 1922, landfill was dumped into the Hudson River from the construction site of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, which gives Veteran's Field its current dimensions.[26] In September 2011, Veteran's Field was closed due to soil contamination in the fill brought to the site.[91]
Government
Local government
Edgewater is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[92] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[8][93] The borough form of government used by Edgewater is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[94][95]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of Edgewater is Democrat Michael McPartland, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.[3] Members of the Edgewater Borough Council are Anthony Bartolomeo (D, 2024), Rinaldy "Ray" Gutierrez (D, 2026), Dolores Lawlor (D, 2024), Donald A. Martin (D, 2025), Vincent J. Monte (D, 2025) and Jose Luis Vidal (D, 2026).[96][97][98][99][100][101]
In January 2015, Dolores Lawlor was selected from the borough council from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2015 of Kevin Doran, who resigned from office earlier that month after announcing that he was moving out of the borough.[102]
Democrat Agnes "Nancy" Merse, whose term as mayor was to expire on December 31, 2011, died due to complications from cancer on March 10, 2011.[103] Councilmember James Delaney was chosen in April 2011 to fill Merse's vacancy as mayor.[104] Michael H. Henwood was chosen to fill Delaney's vacant council seat, and served the remainder of that term until December 2011 before he was elected to serve a full term in office.[105]
The Edgewater administrative offices and police department moved from 916 River Road to the new Borough Hall, 55 River Road, in 2011, with a dedication ceremony on October 16. The new building includes 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2) of space, offering relief from cramped conditions with 150% more floor space, and expanded parking facilities.[106]
Federal, state and county representation
Edgewater is located in the 9th Congressional District[107] and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district.[108]
Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at-large to three-year terms in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each November; a Chairman and Vice Chairman are selected from among its seven members at a reorganization meeting held every January. As of 2024[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[115]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,120 registered voters in Edgewater, of which 2,250 (43.9% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 514 (10.0% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,352 (45.9% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[137] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 44.5% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 54.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[137][138]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,392 votes (68.1% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,031 votes (29.4% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 36 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,511 ballots cast by the borough's 5,877 registered voters, for a turnout of 59.7% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[139][140] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,694 votes (67.5% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,224 votes (30.7% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 23 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,989 ballots cast by the borough's 5,714 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.8% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[141][142] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 2,405 votes (65.1% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,237 votes (33.5% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 28 votes (0.8% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,696 ballots cast by the borough's 5,135 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.0% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[143]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 49.9% of the vote (704 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 48.7% (687 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (19 votes), among the 1,446 ballots cast by the borough's 5,148 registered voters (36 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 28.1%.[144][145] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 1,282 ballots cast (61.3% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 692 votes (33.1% vs. 45.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 82 votes (3.9% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 12 votes (0.6% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,092 ballots cast by the borough's 5,482 registered voters, yielding a 38.2% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[146]
On the local level, Edgewater has its own two-party system, split between the Democratic Party and the Independent Coalition for a Better Edgewater.[147] The Republican Party has minimal presence and doesn't always run a slate in local elections. The perennial local political issue is managing growth.
Education
The Edgewater Public Schools serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.[148] As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 1,022 students and 70.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.5:1.[149] With district enrollment increasing rapidly, George Washington School opened in September 2012, having been constructed with a third floor to accommodate enrollment growth in the district that was anticipated to rise from 628 in 2011 to as much as 925 in 2015.[150] Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[151]) are
George Washington School[152] with 554 students in grades Pre-K–2 and
Eleanor Van Gelder School[153] with 447 students in grades 3–6.[154][155]
Public school students from the borough, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Paramus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.[163][164]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 11.19 miles (18.01 km) of roadways, of which 6.38 miles (10.27 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.03 miles (6.49 km) by Bergen County and 0.78 miles (1.26 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[167]
Ferry service to West Midtown Ferry Terminal in Manhattan is offered by NY Waterway at Edgewater Landing, located where Route 5 comes into River Road. Parking at the terminal is not available; however a shuttle bus operated by the borough is available to transport passengers to the landing.[173] In Manhattan there is free transfer to a network of buses operated by NY Waterways.[174]
Several ferries operated in Edgewater in the past,[175] with the old Edgewater Ferry Terminal historically located about 100 yards from the current ferry terminal. The last ferry in the 20th century crossed the river in 1950.[26] The borough was also the site of the trolley terminal for numerous electric lines in New Jersey.[35] Situated across River Road from the old Ferry Terminal, it met passengers arriving from Manhattan. Its service included transportation to the top of Palisades Cliff.[176] The trolley stopped running in 1938.[177]
Bike lanes on River Road were completed in July 2012, in connection with a road re-paving project.[178]
Natalie Anderson (born 1986), television personality who appeared on The Amazing Race with her identical twin sister Nadiya; both later appeared on Survivor: San Juan del Sur, where Natalie was crowned Sole Survivor, winning the show's $1 million prize[184]
Francis R. Tillou (c. 1795–1865), lawyer and politician; operated a ferry between Edgewater and New York City; lived on an estate he called "Tillietudlem", located on the present site of the Edgewater Public Library[204][205]
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.
Hall, Donald E.; Edgewater Cultural & Historical Committee (2005). Images of America: Edgewater. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 128. ISBN0-7385-3725-X.
^Clunn, Nick. "Edgewater on the move, literally", The Record, June 20, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 20, 2016. Accessed September 13, 2017. "The brick building, which is topped by a cupola and adorned with white columns, was built by developer i.Park for $12 million, Borough Administrator Gregory Franz said."
^Borough Clerk, Borough of Edgewater. Accessed April 21, 2024.
^Harvey, Cornelius Burnham. Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, p. 11, New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed September 15, 2013. "For a period of sixteen years following the passage of this act few boroughs were organized in the State, only three of them being in Bergen County.... As it was twenty-six boroughs were created in the county from January 23, 1894, to December 18, of the same year."
^History, Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Accessed December 4, 2013. "The two states had formed the Palisades Interstate Park Commission nine years earlier, in 1900, to preserve the famous Palisades cliffs from several large quarries that were blasting them for gravel and building material."
^ abcdefCheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In: Edgewater; Factory Town Is Now Bedroom Community", The New York Times, July 30, 1995. Accessed December 4, 2013. "'When I joined the Edgewater Police Department 24 years ago, our work was mainly breaking up bar fights between factory workers,' said Donald A. Martin, chief of the 22-person police force. 'There was a bar on every corner and it was really a wild place. Now, the factories and bars are gone and the crime rate has dropped to near zero.'"
^Daniels, Lee A. "Condominimum Rises Along Hudson in Edgewater, N.J.", The New York Times, June 11, 1982. Accessed December 4, 2013. "For years this small municipality (population: 4,600; size: three and a half miles by a quarter mile) seemed destined to be bypassed by the slow but steady march of high-rise office and residential development along the west bank of the Hudson River from West New York to Fort Lee."
^"A Look Back - Aluminum factory was Edgewater mainstay", NorthJersey.com, backed up by archive.is as of December 5, 2013. Accessed September 13, 2017. "Alcoa's huge aluminum plant was an Edgewater landmark and a centerpiece of its industrial era.... But with no room to expand, it closed in 1967 and sat vacant for three decades until it was demolished in the late 1990s in a project that included a cleanup of the PCBs that contaminated the site."
^Lasky, Julie. "Edgewater, N.J.: A Riverside Borough, With Quirks", The New York Times, June 7, 2017. Accessed December 18, 2023. "Their home is two minutes away (on foot) and also near major retailers like Whole Foods and Staples.... Mitsuwa Marketplace, a Japanese food hall and superstore, is part of a shopping complex on River Road that caters to the area’s large East Asian population. Slightly north, one finds not only a Trader Joe’s but also a docked ferryboat — or what is left of it — the Binghamton, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.... "
^Burch, Christopher. "Burlington to open another N.J. department store this spring", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 12, 2022. Accessed December 18, 2023. "Burlington, which used to be called Burlington Coat Factory, will occupy a 25,056-square-foot building next to Target in Edgewater Commons. The shopping center also houses businesses like ACME, Marshalls, McDonald’s, Old Navy, T.J. Maxx and Starbucks."
^NJ Transit InformationArchived 2015-09-02 at the Wayback Machine, Mitsuwa Marketplace. Accessed August 30, 2015. "Mitsuwa shuttle bus service terminated on December 31, 2014. Transportation from NY area to Mitsuwa Marketplace is available by NJ Transit."
^ abAlmenas, Maxim. "Edgewater plans restoration for its library as centennial nears", Edgewater View, December 17, 2010, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 6, 2016. Accessed September 13, 2017. "As the public library gets closer to its 100th anniversary on Jan 1, it has initiated an ambitious restoration project to return the building to its original luster.... Linda Corona, the library director, said the building is the only Carnegie library currently operating as such in Bergen County."
^Almenas, Maxim. "Meeting to discuss walkway project", Edgewater View, June 4, 2010, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 7, 2016. Accessed September 13, 2017. "Bergen County's Department of Planning and Economic Development, who hosted the meeting, presented a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the recommendations of local residents from the first meeting as to how the walkway, which would run from Fort Lee Historic Park to Bayonne in Hudson County, could benefit the entire community from an esthetic and economic point of view."
^ abcPries, Allison. "Wild parrots escaped into this N.J. town 30 years ago and they never left", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 1, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2019. "The Quaker, or Monk, parrots took up residence in Edgewater more 30 years ago. Just how they got there is up for debate. Some say it was through an accidental release in a New York City shipping yard. Others think they were escaped pets.... There are now about 200 Quaker parrots living in Edgewater and over the decades they have spread to Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield, Englewood and other nearby towns, Schotanus said."
^Almenas, Maxim. "Edgewater's Veterans Park closed for contaminants", Edgewater View, September 22, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 12, 2016. Accessed September 13, 2017. "Borough officials closed off Veterans Field Park indefinitely on Sept. 16 due to contaminants found at the 27.5 acre site."
^Edgewater Mayor & Council, Borough of Edgewater. Accessed May 10, 2022. "The Borough of Edgewater was chartered in 1894 as a Borough Council form of government in which the Mayor is elected to a 4-year term and 6 council members are elected at large to serve staggered 3-year terms."
^Shkolnikova, Svetlana. "Lawlor to finish term for Doran on Edgewater council", Edgewater View, January 16, 2015, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 11, 2016. Accessed September 13, 2017. "Dolores Lawlor, a member of the Edgewater Housing Authority and a former member of the Board of Health and the board of the Edgewater Colony residential complex, will complete the unexpired term of former councilman Kevin Doran, who resigned earlier this month with one year left in his three-year term.... Doran stepped down from his seat at the borough's reorganization meeting on Jan. 2 after purchasing a larger home for his growing family in Holmdel Township."
^Almenas, Maxim. "Delaney selected as new mayor in Edgewater", Edgewater View, April 8, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 6, 2016. Accessed September 13, 2017. "After the Edgewater Democratic Committee presented three names of possible candidates to replace the late Mayor Nancy Merse, the governing body selected Councilman James Delaney to serve as mayor."
^Firschein, Merry. "Councilman appointed in Edgewater", The Record, April 26, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of April 4, 2014. Accessed September 13, 2017. "Michael H. Henwood has been appointed to a one-year position on the Borough Council. Henwood fills the unexpired term of James Delaney, a councilman who was chosen mayor earlier this month after Mayor Nancy Merse died. He was appointed last week."
^Biography, Congressman Bill Pascrell. Accessed January 3, 2019. "A native son of Paterson, N.J., Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. has built a life of public service upon the principles he learned while growing up on the south side of the Silk City."
^Cattafi, Kristie. "Democrats pick Bergenfield councilman to fill vacancy on Bergen County commissioners board", The Record, March 13, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. "A Democratic councilman from Bergenfield will be sworn in as a Bergen County commissioner Wednesday night, filling a vacancy on the governing body for almost 1 million residents. Rafael Marte will serve until Dec. 31, taking on the unexpired term left by former Commissioner Ramon Hache, a Democrat who resigned last week to lead the Ridgewood YMCA as its chief executive officer."
^Staff. "Paying tribute to a longtime leader in Edgewater", Edgewater View, March 18, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 6, 2016. Accessed September 13, 2017. "Political opinion in Edgewater is as varied as the borough's population is mixed. There was and certainly still is tension between the local Democrats, which Merse was a part of, and members of the Independent Coalition for a Better Edgewater."
^Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Edgewater School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2019. Accessed May 26, 2020. "The Edgewater Public School System, including the Eleanor Van Gelder Elementary School and the George Washington School, constitute the District's reporting entity.... The Edgewater Public School System is comprised of two elementary schools (Special Education Pre-K to Grade 6), serving approximately 982 students."
^Our DistrictArchived August 3, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Edgewater Public Schools. Accessed May 26, 2020. "The Edgewater School District, located in Edgewater, New Jersey, is governed by a five-member Board of Education. Members are elected to rotating three-year terms. The fastest growing school system in Bergen County, the district currently serves 1,000 students in Grades Pre-K to 6 in two schools. The George Washington School, built in 2012, houses our Pre-K to Grade 2 students, and the Eleanor Van Gelder School serves Grades 3 to 6. Edgewater students in Grades 7 to 12 attend the Leonia Public Schools in the nearby town of Leonia, New Jersey."
^Leonia High School OverviewArchived April 20, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Leonia Public Schools. Accessed May 26, 2020. "The high school continues to increase in numbers as approximately 780 students from both Edgewater and Leonia are enrolled in grades 9-12 at Leonia High School."
^"Home". Christ the Teacher School. January 3, 2006. Archived from the original on January 3, 2006. Retrieved June 22, 2020. Christ the Teacher Interparochial School is a co-sponsored school[...]Madonna School building. Also see: "CHRIST THE TEACHER SCHOOL Registration Form Grades K-8". Christ the Teacher School. Retrieved June 22, 2020. which lists the associated parishes.
^Gabriel, Trip. "Stallone Seeks a Serious Turn for the Better", The New York Times, August 10, 1997. Page 2 of 6. Accessed December 17, 2011. "He gained the weight with the aid of the Canadian Pancake House on Second Avenue in Manhattan, where he often had breakfast last fall before showing up on the set in Edgewater, N.J. His waist size ballooned to a 39."
^Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes for November 16, 2020, Borough of Edgewater. Accessed August 30, 2022. "Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Borough of Edgewater hereby recognizes the Town of Loma De Cabrera, Dominican Republic and its Mayor Manuel Rodriguez, as the “Sister City” to the Borough of Edgewater."
^Hot Stove. Season 5. Secaucus, New Jersey. January 14, 2013. ~110 minutes in. MLB Network.
^"Twin Killing! Natalie Wins Season Finale Of Survivor", KCAL-TV, December 17, 2014. Accessed February 13, 2020. "In the end, Natalie Anderson was named the ultimate “Survivor” in the show’s season finale and walked away with the $1 million prize.... Natalie, a crossfit coach, started the game with her twin sister Nadiya, the first person voted out of the game. The 28-year-old twins hail from Edgewater, N.J., and appeared on “Amazing Race” twice."
^Beckerman, Jim. "Pioneering pop and hip-hop violinist to visit Englewood's Elisabeth Morrow School", The Record, August 15, 2016, backed up by the Internet Archive as of October 6, 2016. Accessed September 13, 2017. "But Ben-Ari, who just moved to Fort Lee a few months ago — previously she had lived in Edgewater — will be stopping by Elisabeth Morrow in person Tuesday to teach a master class, give an in-school performance (not open to the public), and get the 200-plus students prepared for their big day Thursday."
^Dietsche, Erica. "Local 'Dancing' pro, Ali all about fancy footwork", The Record, March 19, 2007. "Fans of Dancing With the Stars on ABC, which begins its fourth season tonight, haven't seen much of Edgewater-based dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy."
^Green, Penelope. "The Real Estate 'Queen' in Her Hive", The New York Times, September 25, 2005. Accessed September 13, 2017. "'I never saw myself as a protected person,' said Ms. Corcoran, adding that she grew up in a two-room apartment in Edgewater, N.J., the second of 10 children."
^Cattafi, Kristie. "Edgewater developer indicted along with Menendez in corruption scheme. Who is Fred Daibes?",The Record, September 22, 2023. Accessed January 4, 2024. "Fred Daibes, an Edgewater developer largely responsible for the 'gold coast' boom of high-rises along the Hudson River in Bergen County and a bank founder with prior legal woes, was one of five people indicted Friday in an alleged corruption scheme involving Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife."
^Levin, Jay. "Peter Moraites, Assembly speaker derailed by prison", The Record, January 15, 2014, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 4, 2016. Accessed September 13, 2017. "Peter Moraites, a Bergen County Republican who rose to Assembly speaker. died Jan. 7.... Mr. Moraites and his wife, Helen, moved to Edgewater eight years ago, and then to Tappan, N.Y."
^Nick Prisco, The Pro Football Archivesl. Accessed September 13, 2017.
^"Geraldo Rivera sues over housing dispute", USA Today, September 13, 2004. Accessed September 13, 2017. "The Fox News senior correspondent owns two homes in the 26-acre Edgewater Colony, where residents own their homes but share ownership of the land.... 'I intend living here always, hopefully in peace and loving my neighbors.'"
^Staff. Died, The New York Times, July 12, 1865. Accessed December 4, 2013. "Tillou. -- At Tillietudlem N.J., on Monday, July 10. of paralysis, Francis R. Tillou, in the 70th year of his age."
^Kinkhabwala, Aditi. "Wang at ease in two worlds", The Record, May 31, 2007, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 5, 2016. Accessed September 13, 2017. "He likes walking around New York City ('nobody knows me') and he loves living in Edgewater ('everything there')."
^Hall. Douglas E. "Edgewater recalls Football Hero of WWII Era", Edgewater Residential, March 1, 2014. Accessed February 7, 2016. "With the fury and excitement of the 48th Super Bowl just a few miles away in Giant Stadium in East Rutherford, it brings to mind the superb athletic accomplishments of an Edgewater man who was born in Edgewater Feb. 8, 1920 and no doubt played football in Edgewater more than 80 years ago. He is James Joseph William White – Jim White, a popular athletically inclined teen whose interest and football skills won him a position on the legendary Fighting Irish football team at Notre Dame University in 1942."