Oakland, New Jersey

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For other places with the same name, see Oakland (disambiguation).
Oakland, New Jersey
—  Borough  —
Map highlighting Oakland's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Oakland, New Jersey
Coordinates: 41°1′48″N 74°14′38″W / 41.03°N 74.24389°W / 41.03; -74.24389Coordinates: 41°1′48″N 74°14′38″W / 41.03°N 74.24389°W / 41.03; -74.24389
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Bergen
Incorporated April 8, 1902
Government
 • Type Borough
 • Mayor John Szabo (term ends 2011)[1]
 • Administrator Richard Kunze[2]
Area[3]
 • Total 8.728 sq mi (22.605 km2)
 • Land 8.454 sq mi (21.897 km2)
 • Water 0.274 sq mi (0.709 km2)  3.13%
Elevation[4] 550 ft (72 m)
Population (2010 Census)[5][6][7]
 • Total 12,754
 • Density 4,583.2/sq mi (1,769.6/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07436[8]
Area code(s) 201
FIPS code 34-53850[9][10]
GNIS feature ID 0885330[11]
Website http://oakland-nj.org

Oakland is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,754.[5]

Oakland was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1902, from portions of Franklin Township.[12]

Contents

[edit] History

The Van Allen House was built in 1748 and was a stop for George Washington and his troops in 1777.[13]

From the 1940s through the end of the 1960s a summer bungalow colony was developed in a valley in West Oakland on the Ramapo River. This was a refuge for a close-knit group of several score families from the summer heat of New York City and urban New Jersey. During the summer months the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad maintained a “West Oakland” passenger station. This colony was located on the road between Oakland and Pompton Lakes, near a training camp for boxers. In the early morning, it was not unusual to see Joe Louis or Sugar Ray Robinson, among others, running past the summer homes.[citation needed]

Most street names in Oakland are those of Native American tribes and Native American first names. Now considered politically incorrect, the borough had a wooden sign posted downtown that read "Once there was [sic] Indians all over this place" which had been donated by a resident who insisted on the wording of the sign as having been a quotation from an author.[14]

[edit] Muller's Park shootout

On August 4, 1985, a gun shootout occurred at the FRG Sports Complex[15] — formerly known as Muller's Park — directly next to Oakland's former swimming park located along the Ramapo River called Pleasureland.[16] Some time around 4:30 p.m. gunfire between rival Jamaican gangs, who were bused-in from out of town, broke out resulting in two deaths and a number of injuries.[17] Before the incident, Pleasureland and Muller's Park were popular summer destinations that had since the 1950s and earlier (Muller's was built in 1935) attracted families from across the Tri-state area. Pleasureland remained open for a brief period after the shooting incident at FRG, but FRG/Muller's Park never reopened after that day.[18] While the shootout did not occur at Pleasureland, due to the park's popularity the events remain to this day known as the "Pleasureland Shootout" and "Pleasureland Massacre" among townies. Both properties currently remain abandoned,the pools and buildings having since been demolished and filled in. The properties still remain vacant.

[edit] Geography

Oakland is located at 41°01′48″N 74°14′38″W / 41.02998°N 74.243842°W / 41.02998; -74.243842 (41.02998,-74.243842). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 8.728 square miles (22.605 km2), of which, 8.454 square miles (21.897 km2) of it is land and 0.274 square miles (0.709 km2) of it (3.13%) is water.[19][3]

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1900 479
—
1910 568 18.6%
1920 497 −12.5%
1930 735 47.9%
1940 932 26.8%
1950 1,817 95.0%
1960 9,446 419.9%
1970 14,420 52.7%
1980 13,443 −6.8%
1990 11,997 −10.8%
2000 12,466 3.9%
2010 12,754 2.3%
Population sources:1910-1930[20]
1900-1990[21][22] 2000[23][24] 2010[5][6][7]

[edit] 2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,128 people, 2,756 households, and 1,924 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,583.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,769.6 /km2). There were 2,861 housing units at an average density of 1,839.6 per square mile (710.3 /km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.82% (6,616) White, 0.84% (60) African American, 0.13% (9) Native American, 2.69% (192) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.88% (134) from other races, and 1.64% (117) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.65% (474) of the population.[5]

There were 2,756 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.17.[5]

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.[5]

[edit] 2000 Census

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 12,466 people, 4,255 households, and 3,565 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,448.9 people per square mile (559.7/km2). There were 4,345 housing units at an average density of 505.0 per square mile (195.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.76% White, 0.78% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.70% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.87% of the population.[23][24]

There were 4,255 households out of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.4% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.2% were non-families. 12.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.15.[23][24]

In the borough the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.[23][24]

The median income for a household in the borough was $86,629, and the median income for a family was $93,695. Males had a median income of $62,336 versus $41,092 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,252. About 0.9% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.[23][24]

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Oakland is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office and only votes to break a tie. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[25]

As of 2012, the Mayor of the Borough of Oakland is Linda Schwager. The members of the Oakland Borough Council are Council President Chris Visconti, Timothy Jensen, Karen Marcalus, Pat Pignatelli, Elizabeth Stagg and Sandra Coira.[26]

There are three firehouses located in Oakland. The central station is located on Yawpo Avenue just off Ramapo Valley Road in downtown Oakland. There is one police station and it is located on Ramapo Valley Road across from the intersection with Walnut Street.

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Oakland is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district.[27] The borough was relocated to the 39th state legislative district by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[6] The new district was in effect for the June 2011 primary and the November 2011 general election, with the state senator and assembly members elected in November 2011 taking office in the new district as of January 2012.[27]

New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 40th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Kevin J. O'Toole (R, Cedar Grove) and in the General Assembly by Scott Rumana (R, Wayne) and David C. Russo (R, Ridgewood).[28] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[29] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[30]

Bergen County's County Executive is Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford; term ends December 31, 2014).[31] The Board of Chosen Freeholders is the county's legislative body and its seven members are elected at-large in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.[32] As of 2012, Bergen County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chairman John D. Mitchell (R, 2013; Cliffside Park),[33] Freeholder Vice Chairman John A. Felice (R, 2013; River Edge),[34] Maura R. DeNicola (R, 2013; Franklin Lakes),[35] John Driscoll, Jr. (R, 2012; Paramus),[36] David L. Ganz (D, 2014; Fair Lawn),[37] Robert G. Hermansen (R, 2012; Mahwah)[38] and Joan Voss (D, 2014; Fort Lee).[39] Other countywide constitutional officials are Sheriff Michael Saudino (R), Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill) and County Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale).[40]

[edit] Politics

As of Election Day, November 4, 2008, there were 8,267 registered voters. Of registered voters, 1,708 (20.7% of all registered voters) were registered as Democrats, 2,677 (32.4%) were registered as Republicans and 3,877 (46.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were five voters registered to other parties.[41]

In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 55.8% of the vote here (3,640 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 43.1% of the vote (2,842 ballots), with 79.3% of registered voters participating.[41] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57.3% of the vote in Oakland (3,938 cast), ahead of Democrat John Kerry, who received around 41.7% (2,864 votes), with 6,867 ballots cast among the borough's 8,588 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.0%.[42]

[edit] Highlands protection

In 2004, the New Jersey Legislature passed the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, which regulates the New Jersey Highlands region. Oakland was included in the highlands preservation area and is subject to the rules of the act and the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, a division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.[43] Some of the territory in the protected region is classified as being in the highlands preservation area, and thus subject to additional rules.[44]

[edit] Education

Students in grades K through 8 attend the Oakland Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[45]) are three K-5 elementary schools — Dogwood Hill Elementary School (317 students), Heights Elementary School (459 students) and Manito Elementary School (349 students) — and Valley Middle School which serves grades 6 - 8 (572 students).

Public school students in grades 9 - 12 attend the schools of the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District, a regional district consisting of two four-year public high schools serving students from Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff. Students in eight grade have the option to choose attend either Indian Hills High School in Oakland or Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes.[46][47]

Private schools include Barnstable Academy, located in a business and industrial park off Long Hill Road; The New Jersey Japanese School, located next to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church; and The Gerrard Berman Day School (Solomon Schechter of North Jersey) located on Spruce Street.

[edit] Awards

Oakland was ranked by Business Week as #43 on its list of "Great Places to Raise Kids -- for Less", with only two places deemed better than Oakland: Matawan (12th) and Echelon near Philadelphia (4th). The criteria were test scores in math and reading, number of schools, cost of living, recreational and cultural activities, and risk of crime.[48]

[edit] Transportation

Railroad stations in Oakland, New Jersey

The patch of grass representing the former Oakland Station, which was demolished in 1999, as viewed in October 2011
The former West Oakland station site, as viewed in October 2011, 45 years after station service ended.

Major roads through Oakland include Interstate 287, Route 208 and U.S. Route 202. There is no commuter rail service in Oakland, though commuter bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City is available from Coach USA. New Jersey Transit bus service is also available on a limited basis via the 752 line (Oakland to Hackensack via Ridgewood).[49] A freight rail line, the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway, does run through Oakland.

Newark Liberty International Airport provides scheduled air service.

[edit] Media

Radio station WVNJ is licensed to Oakland.[50]

The Oakland Journal is an online hyper-local news source that covers local political, civic and social events.[51]

[edit] Business and Industry

Oakland's downtown shopping area is along Ramapo Valley Road (U.S. Route 202), with the Copper Tree Mall being the borough's largest single retail establishment.[52]

There are a few industrial parks in Oakland, the biggest of which is off Long Hill Road near the Franklin Lakes border.[53] The Oakland-McBride Center is the home of Royle Systems Group and of Topcon Medical Systems's United States operations.[54]

Russ Berrie and Company, Inc., once headquartered in Oakland, is a major manufacturer of teddy bears and other gift products, including stuffed animals, baby gifts, soft baby toys and development toys as well as picture, candles, figurines and home fragrance products. Russ Berrie and Company, since renamed to Kid Brands, has since moved to Wayne and from there to East Rutherford.[55]

[edit] Recreation

There are a number of municipal recreational facilities in Oakland. The largest is a recreational area located off Oak Street, known to residents simply as the "Rec Field," which is home to nine baseball and softball fields, six tennis courts, a roller hockey rink, basketball courts, and other facilities. New Jersey's Ramapo Mountain State Forest is located in Oakland and can be accessed from Skyline Drive just north of its interchange with I-287.

The "Rec Field" is home to the annual carnival and fireworks that take place during the summer.

Oakland also offers a summer camp which runs for six weeks.[56]

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Oakland include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed August 4, 2011.
  2. ^ Borough Hall, Borough of Oakland. Accessed May 24, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Borough of Oakland, Geographic Names Information System, accessed November 29, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d e f DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Oakland borough, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c 2011 Apportionment Redistricting: Municipalities sorted alphabetically, New Jersey Department of State, p. 8. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  7. ^ a b Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Oakland borough, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  8. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Oakland, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  10. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  11. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  12. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 82.
  13. ^ Yorio, Kara. "History calling: Bergen historical sites staging a special open house", The Record (Bergen County), May 18, 2011. Accessed May 24, 2011.
  14. ^ Staff. "New Jersey, a Guide to Its Present and Past", Federal Writers' Project, p. 441. Originally published by Viking Press, 1939, reprinted US History Publishers, 2007. ISBN 1603540296. Accessed May 24, 2011.
  15. ^ Via Associated Press. "Gang shootout leaves two dead at N.J. swim club", Gainesville Sun, August 5, 1985. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  16. ^ Pleasureland Past, Present,…, The Oakland Journal. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  17. ^ http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=381953905&blogId=503839328
  18. ^ "THE REGION; Complex Reopens Following Slayings". The New York Times. August 12, 1985. http://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/12/nyregion/the-region-complex-reopens-following-slayings.html. 
  19. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  20. ^ "Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I", United States Census Bureau, p. 714. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  21. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  22. ^ Bergen County Census Data, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  23. ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Oakland borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  24. ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Oakland borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  25. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 169.
  26. ^ Mayor & Council, Borough of Oakland. Accessed January 27, 2012.
  27. ^ a b 2010 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 62, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 17, 2010. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  28. ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
  29. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  30. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  31. ^ Bergen County Executive, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed January 10, 2012.
  32. ^ What Is a Freeholder?, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed January 10, 2012.
  33. ^ John D. Mitchell, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed January 10, 2012.
  34. ^ John A. Felice, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed January 10, 2012.
  35. ^ Maura R. DeNicola, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed January 10, 2012.
  36. ^ Freeholder John Driscoll, Jr., Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
  37. ^ Freeholder David L. Ganz, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed January 10, 2012.
  38. ^ Freeholder Robert G. Hermansen, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2012.
  39. ^ Freeholder Home Page, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed January 10, 2012.
  40. ^ Constitutional Officers, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed January 10, 2012.
  41. ^ a b 2008 General Election Results for Oakland, The Record (Bergen County). Accessed December 22, 2011.
  42. ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  43. ^ "Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly, No. 2635" (PDF). New Jersey Legislature. 2004-06-07. pp. 15–16. http://www.highlands.state.nj.us/njhighlands/actmaps/act/highlands_bill.pdf. Retrieved 2007-05-08. 
  44. ^ "Highlands Municipalities". NJDEP. August 23, 2005. http://www.nj.gov/dep/highlands/municipalities.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-08. 
  45. ^ Data for the Oakland Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  46. ^ Van Dusen, Matthew. "Ramapo-Indian Hills schools chief to retire.", The Record (Bergen County), October 24, 2007. "Later, parents of Oakland students protested their lack of choice, and students in Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes and Oakland can now attend either school."
  47. ^ Eight Grade School Choice, Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District. Accessed August 4, 2011.
  48. ^ MacMillan, Douglas. "Great Places to Raise Kids -- for Less", Business Week, November 16, 2007. Accessed May 23, 2008.
  49. ^ Bergen County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 11, 2010. Accessed August 4, 2011.
  50. ^ Coverage, WVNJ. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  51. ^ The Oakland Journal. Accessed May 23, 2008.
  52. ^ Spiewak, Anna. "Lots to offer at a reasonable cost", The Record (Bergen County), October 24, 2009. Accessed December 26, 2011. "Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202) is considered the main street in the borough, around which the downtown core is centered. The Copper Tree Mall, a strip mall with a small indoor section, is the dominant retail location."
  53. ^ Horsley, Carter B. "INDUSTRIAL ZONES GAIN NEW STATURE", The New York Times, September 20, 1981. Accessed December 26, 2011. "The company has another mixed-use development straddling the border between Oakland and Franklin Lakes in New Jersey where it is building 80 single-family homes on one-acre lots next to the 200-acre Oakland McBride Office and Technical Center."
  54. ^ Verostek, Michael. "Kwartler Associates Sell Oakland-McBride Center for $12M: BD Oakland Partners Purchases Oakland Flex", CoStar Group. May 4, 2011. Accessed December 26, 2011. "Kwartler Associates, Inc., the Wladwick-based asset management corporation, sold Oakland-McBride Center, a 121,000-square-foot flex building located at 11 Bauer Drive in Oakland, NJ to BD Oakland Partners, LP for about $12 million, or about $100 per square foot. Oakland-McBride Center, constructed in 1972, is the headquarters of fiber optics provider Royle Systems Group, and US headquarters of optical device manufacturer Topcon Medical Systems, a subsidiary of Topcon Corporation."
  55. ^ Verdon, Joan. "Kid Brands CEO resigns, board chair takes helm", The Record (Bergen County), September 12, 2011. Accessed December 26, 2011. "Crain was at the helm of the company as it changed its name for Russ Berrie and Co. to Kid Brands, and relocated its headquarters twice, first from Oakland to Wayne, and then to East Rutherford, where the newly streamlined company had 10 employees."
  56. ^ Oakland Recreation Summer Camp, Borough of Oakland. Accessed December 22, 2011.
  57. ^ (201) Magazine. [1] Accessed 2/24/2011.
  58. ^ Longsdorf, Amy. "N.J. writer puts her mark on Hollywood", The Record (Bergen County), July 20, 2009. Accessed August 4, 2011. "Screenwriter and former Oakland resident Karen McCullah Lutz is the first to admit she owes New Jersey a big debt of gratitude. Spending four years at Indian Hills High School sparked her love of Springsteen and the Paramus Park Mall, but Lutz is particularly grateful for an even more lasting Garden State gift."
  59. ^ Staff. "Oakland's Mike Teel cut by Seattle Seahawks", The Record (Bergen County), May 20, 2010. Accessed February 22, 2011. "Teel, an Oakland native, was a sixth-round draft choice of Seattle in 2009 after his record-setting career at Rutgers."

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