Riverdale, New Jersey


Riverdale is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 3,559, reflecting an increase of 1,061 from the 2,498 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 128 from the 2,370 counted in the 1990 Census.
Riverdale was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1923, from portions of Pequannock Township, subject to the results of a referendum passed on April 17, 1923.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.087 square miles, including 2.015 square miles of land and 0.072 square miles of water.
The borough is bordered by the municipalities of Butler and Kinnelon to the west and by Pequannock Township to the south, all in Morris County; and by Bloomingdale to the north and Pompton Lakes to the east in Passaic County.

Climate

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $86,328 and the median family income was $97,900. Males had a median income of $63,750 versus $52,083 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,675. About 2.1% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,498 people, 919 households, and 671 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,215.2 people per square mile. There were 940 housing units at an average density of 457.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 93.39% White, 1.08% African American, 0.04% Native American, 2.72% Asian, 1.60% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.40% of the population.
Riverdale has a substantial Italian population, with 25.1% of residents reporting that they were of Italian ancestry in the 2000 Census.
There were 919 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $71,083, and the median income for a family was $79,557. Males had a median income of $50,457 versus $41,420 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,187. About 3.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Riverdale is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 of 565 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the 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 is comprised of 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. The Borough form of government used by Riverdale 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.
, the Mayor of Riverdale is Republican Paul M. Carelli, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Vincent L. Pellegrini, Dave Desai, Michael Kheyfets, Matt Oswald, Paul A. Purcell and Stephen W. Revis.<

Federal, state and county representation

Riverdale is located in the 11th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Riverdale had been in the 26th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 2,378 registered voters in Riverdale, of which 419 were registered as Democrats, 803 were registered as Republicans and 1,155 were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 56.5% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.5%, and other candidates with 1.0%, among the 1,932 ballots cast by the borough's 2,659 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.7%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 56.8% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.7% and other candidates with 1.0%, among the 1,837 ballots cast by the borough's 2,347 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.3%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 61.7% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 36.9% and other candidates with 0.7%, among the 1,485 ballots cast by the borough's 1,973 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.3.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.0%, and other candidates with 1.1%, among the 1,159 ballots cast by the borough's 2,717 registered voters, for a turnout of 42.7%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.3% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 29.4%, Independent Chris Daggett with 6.6% and other candidates with 2.7%, among the 1,145 ballots cast by the borough's 2,294 registered voters, yielding a 49.9% turnout.

Education

The Riverdale School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Riverdale Public School. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 338 students and 30.8 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.0:1.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Pompton Lakes High School in Pompton Lakes, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Pompton Lakes School District. As of the 2017–18 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 626 students and 53.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Morris County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation
Route 23 is the main east–west road while Interstate 287 is the major north–south thoroughfare. County Route 511 Alternate also passes through Riverdale.

Public transportation

offers bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 194 route. In September 2012, as part of budget cuts, NJ Transit suspended service to Newark on the 75 line.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Riverdale include: