| Borough of Emerson, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Bergen |
| Incorporated | April 8, 1903 (as Borough of Etna)[1] |
| Name changed | March 9, 1909 (to Borough of Emerson)[1] |
| Government | |
| - Type | Borough (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Louis J. Lamatina (R; 2010) |
| - Administrator | Joseph Scarpa[2] |
| Area | |
| - Total | 2.4 sq mi (6.3 km²) |
| - Land | 2.2 sq mi (5.8 km²) |
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²) |
| Elevation [3] | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Population (2006)[4] | |
| - Total | 7,318 |
| - Density | 3,216.3/sq mi (1,240.5/km²) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07630 |
| Area code(s) | 201 |
| FIPS code | 34-21450GR2 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0876186GR3 |
| Website: http://www.emersonnj.org/ | |
Emerson is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 7,197. What is now Emerson was originally formed on April 8, 1903 from portions of Washington Township as the Borough of Etna, the name of a railroad station in the community. The name was changed to Emerson as of March 9, 1909.[1][5]
Contents |
Geography
Emerson is located at (40.975140, -74.027258)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.3 km²), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (7.44%) is water.
Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 456 |
|
|
| 1910 | 767 | 68.2% | |
| 1920 | 973 | 26.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,394 | 43.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,487 | 6.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,744 | 17.3% | |
| 1960 | 6,849 | 292.7% | |
| 1970 | 8,428 | 23.1% | |
| 1980 | 7,793 | -7.5% | |
| 1990 | 6,930 | -11.1% | |
| 2000 | 7,197 | 3.9% | |
| Est. 2006 | 7,318 | [4] | 1.7% |
| Population 1900 - 1990.[6][7] | |||
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 7,197 people, 2,373 households, and 1,964 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,216.3 people per square mile (1,240.5/km²). There were 2,398 housing units at an average density of 1,071.7/sq mi (413.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 89.62% White, 0.85% African American, 0.06% Native American, 7.89% Asian, 0.88% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population. As of the 2000 census, 2.2% of Emerson's residents identified themselves as being of Armenian-American ancestry. This was the 20th highest percentage of Armenian American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[8] There were 2,373 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.5% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.2% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.23. In the borough the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males. The median income for a household in the borough was $74,556, and the median income for a family was $80,468. Males had a median income of $52,450 versus $36,818 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,506. About 1.3% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Emerson is governed using the Borough form of government, with a Mayor and a six-member Borough Council. The mayor is directly elected and serves a four-year term. The Mayor can only vote to break a tie. Borough Council members serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[9] The Mayor of Emerson Borough is Louis J. Lamatina (D) term ends December 31, 2010). Members of the Emerson Borough Council are Council President Anthony Loffredo Jr. (R, term ends December 31, 2009), Marcia DeSalvo (2008), Chris Heyer (R, 2009), Kenneth Hoffman (D, 2007), Dr. Frank Milone (R, 2008) and Brian Todd (R, 2007).[10][2] In elections held on November 6, 2007, voters turned out to fill two seats on the borough council. Republican Steven L. Bair (787 votes) and incumbent Democrat Kenneth C. Hoffman (661) ran unopposed and won three-year terms in office.[11][12] On Election Day, November 7, 2006, voters filled open seats for Mayor, two three-year terms and an unexpired two-year term on the borough council. As of Election Day, the council had a 5-1 Republican majority, in a community in which registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by a more than 3-1 margin. Democratic newcomer Louis J. Lamatina (1,474 votes) defeated incumbent Steven Setteducati (1,379) to win a seat as mayor. Newcomer Republican Marcia DeSalvo (1,378) narrowly edged Democrat Jeffrey Bischoff (1,347) in the race for the unexpired two-year seat. Republican incumbent Christopher Heyer (1,806) and newcomer Anthony Loffredo Jr. (1,828) ran unopposed and won full three-year terms in office. The results mean the Republicans maintained their 5-1 edge on the 2007 council.[13][14][15] Day to day operation of the Borough is handled by Joseph Scarpa, who has served as Borough Administrator since 2000. The Borough Clerk is Carol Dray, the Treasurer is Ann (Nancy) Burns.[16]
Federal, state and county representation
Emerson is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th Legislative District.[17] New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District, covering the northern portions of Bergen County, Passaic County and Sussex County and all of Warren County, is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken). The 39th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Cresskill) and in the Assembly by John E. Rooney (R, Emerson) and Charlotte Vandervalk (R, Westwood). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken). Bergen County's County Executive is Dennis McNerney (D). The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. Bergen County's Freeholders are Chairman Tomas J. Padilla (D, Park Ridge), Vice-Chairman Elizabeth Calabrese (D, Wallington), David L. Ganz (D, Fair Lawn), James M. Carroll (D, Demarest), Bernadette P. McPherson (D, Rutherford), Julie O'Brien (D) and Connie Wagner (D). Other countywide elected officials are Sheriff Leo McGuire (D), Surrogate Court Judge Mike Dressler (D, Cresskill) County Clerk Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford).
Politics
As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 7,339 in Emerson, there were 4,627 registered voters (63.0% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 612 (13.2% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,898 (41.0% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 2,116 (45.7% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There was one voter registered to another party.[18] On the national level, Emerson leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 58% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received around 41%. 78% of registered voters voted in the 2004 presidential race (vs. 77% countywide).[19]
Education
The Emerson School District serves public school students in Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Emerson Memorial School with 328 students in PreK-2, Patrick M. Villano Elementary School with 369 students in grades 3-6 and Emerson Jr./Sr. High School with 458 students in grades 7-12.[20]
Transportation
Emerson is served by New Jersey Transit on the Pascack Valley Line at the Emerson train station. The station is located at the intersection of Linwood Avenue and Kinderkamack Road. 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 ten other NJ Transit rail lines. 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. New Jersey Transit provides bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Coach USA also provides service to both Port Authority bus terminals in New York city. Emerson has a single traffic light located at the intersection of Linwood Avenue and Kinderkamack Road, adjacent to the train station.
Bomb Threat
On Wednesday, September 19, 2007, there was a threat made to the Emerson School System. A letter addressed to Emerson Mayor Lou Lamatina, was received around 10:30 a.m., in a small envelope with what appeared to be a computer-printed address pasted on the front, authorities said. The note inside also appeared to be computer-generated, and was pasted on a blank piece of paper, saying this: "All three schools will be blown out on Thursday, Sept. 20th at 11:30 a.m., with two other schools in near by towns." This note was later sent to the Bergen County Sheriff's Office for forensic examination.[21] All three Emerson Schools were immediately evacuated (by a fire drill around 11:00), and students nor teachers were not allowed to collect any of their belonging including backpacks, cell phones, or purses until a time period between 8:00 and 9:30 that night. Members of the Bergen County bomb squad were sent to Emerson on Wednesday morning, but after searching the district's schools, nothing was found. They also searched Oradell and Washington Township schools and searched Assumption Academy on Thursday morning, and will continue searching numerous other schools in the area. 13 districts closed their schools for Thursday, September 20, 2007, those towns including: Emerson, Westwood, Washington Township, Oradell, River Edge, Closter, River Vale, Demarest, Haworth, Harrington Park, Northvale, Norwood and Old Tappan. Some selected Catholic grammar and high schools were closed. The bomb threat affected 12-14,000 students, 1,200 of those from Emerson alone. These schools were closed for two days until they were deemed safe.[22]
Points of interest
Noted residents
Notable current and former residents of Emerson include:
- Vincent Giacalone, former Off-Broadway actor, resides in Emerson. He is also the winner of The UPS Store's "Design Dale's New Ride" contest. He designed the #44 car for Dale Jarrett.
- Andy Papathanassiou, pit crew coordinator of NASCAR's Hendrick Motorsports, is a graduate of Emerson Jr./Sr. High School.[23]
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.
References
- ^ a b c "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 75.
- ^ a b "County of Bergen: 2007 County and Municipal Directory", Bergen County, New Jersey, p. 41. Source erroneously shows 2010 term-end dates for Heyer and Loffredo.
- ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Emerson, Geographic Names Information System, accessed July 9, 2007.
- ^ a b Census data for Emerson, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 11, 2007.
- ^ "History of Bergen County" Vol. 1, p. 354-355 shows March 16, 1909 for creation of Emerson.
- ^ Historical Population Trends in Bergen County (1900 - 2000), Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed December 23, 2007.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Armenian Communities, Epodunk. Accessed June 28, 2006.
- ^ Frequently Asked Questions - Borough Clerk: What form of government is Emerson organized under?, Borough of Emerson. Accessed June 4, 2006.
- ^ Emerson Council, Borough of Emerson. Accessed September 11, 2007.
- ^ "Emerson municipal elections", The Record (Bergen County), October 26, 2007. Accessed December 17, 2007.
- ^ Bergen County election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 7, 2007. Accessed November 10, 2007.
- ^ Emerson Election Guide, The Record (Bergen County), November 1, 2006.
- ^ Emerson election results, The Record (Bergen County), November 8, 2006.
- ^ Bergen County 2006 General Election Results, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2007.
- ^ Municipal Officials, Legislative District and PSE&G Service Area, PSE&G. Accessed November 3, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 57. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," Bergen County, New Jersey, dated April 1, 2006.
- ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety: Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004.
- ^ Data for the Emerson School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed October 17, 2007.
- ^ Kelley, Tina. "A Bomb Threat Closes Schools in Bergen County", The New York Times, September 20, 2007. Accessed September 22, 2007.
- ^ Bomb threat closes schools in northern N.J., USA Today, September 20, 2007. Accessed September 22, 2007.
- ^ Bernstein, Viv. "On Pit Row, It’s First and Tire Change", The New York Times, August 15, 2006. Accessed October 17, 2007. "Hendrick Motorsports was the first to hire a pit crew coordinator when Andy Papathanassiou of Emerson, N.J., a former Stanford football player, joined the team in 1993."
External links
- Emerson Borough website
- Emerson Public Schools
- Emerson School District's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Emerson School District, National Center for Education Statistics
- Emerson, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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Bergen County, New Jersey |
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|---|---|---|
| County seat: Hackensack | ||
| Boroughs |
Allendale | Alpine | Bergenfield | Bogota | Carlstadt | Cliffside Park | Closter | Cresskill | Demarest | Dumont | East Rutherford | Edgewater | Elmwood Park | Emerson | Englewood Cliffs | Fair Lawn | Fairview | Fort Lee | Franklin Lakes | Glen Rock | Harrington Park | Hasbrouck Heights | Haworth | Hillsdale | Ho-Ho-Kus | Leonia | Little Ferry | Lodi | Maywood | Midland Park | Montvale | Moonachie | New Milford | North Arlington | Northvale | Norwood | Oakland | Old Tappan | Oradell | Palisades Park | Paramus | Park Ridge | Ramsey | Ridgefield | River Edge | Rockleigh | Rutherford | Saddle River | Tenafly | Teterboro | Upper Saddle River | Waldwick | Wallington | Westwood | Wood-Ridge | Woodcliff Lake |
 |
| Cities | ||
| Townships | ||
| Villages | ||
