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*[http://www.caldwellnjonline.com/community/index.shtml Caldwell Community Center]
*[http://www.caldwellnjonline.com/community/index.shtml Caldwell Community Center]
*[http://www.caldwell.edu Caldwell College]
*[http://www.caldwell.edu Caldwell College]
*[http://caldwells.patch.com/ Caldwells Patch]


{{Essex County, New Jersey}}
{{Essex County, New Jersey}}

Revision as of 22:26, 21 January 2011

Caldwell, New Jersey
Borough
Map of Caldwell in Essex County. Inset: Location of Essex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Map of Caldwell in Essex County. Inset: Location of Essex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Caldwell, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Caldwell, New Jersey
CountryUnited States
StateNew Jersey
CountyEssex
IncorporatedFebruary 10, 1892
Government
[1]
 • TypeBorough
 • MayorSusan H. Gartland
Area
 • Total1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2)
 • Land1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
[2]
407 ft (124 m)
Population
 (2006)[3]
 • Total22,732
 • Density6,396.4/sq mi (2,469.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
07006-07007
Area code973
FIPS code34-09220Template:GR[4]
GNIS feature ID0875084Template:GR
Websitehttp://www.caldwell-nj.com/

Caldwell is a borough located in northwestern Essex County, New Jersey, about sixteen miles outside of New York. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 22,732.

Caldwell was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 10, 1892, from portions of Caldwell Township (now Fairfield Township), based on the results of a referendum held on the previous day.[5] In 1981, the name was changed to the "Township of the Borough of Caldwell" to take advantage of federal revenue sharing policies.[6] Effective January 26, 1995, it again became a borough.[7]

Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, and the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms, was born in Caldwell on March 18, 1837. His father, Rev. Richard Cleveland, was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. The Grover Cleveland birthplace — the church's former rectory — is now a museum and is open to the public.

Though today the Caldwell area is considered to be a suburb of both Newark and New York City, the area originally developed as its own individual, self-contained town and economy rather than as urban sprawl from a larger city. When it was formed, a few miles of woods separated downtown Caldwell from Newark or any of its developing suburbs.

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Caldwell as its 3rd best place to live in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[8]

Geography

Caldwell is located at 40°50′20″N 74°16′37″W / 40.83889°N 74.27694°W / 40.83889; -74.27694Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (40.838932, -74.277033)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.

Caldwell is part of "The Caldwells", the group of three Essex County municipalities which all have the word Caldwell in their name, together with North Caldwell and West Caldwell. All of these communities are named after the Reverend James Caldwell, a Patriot who played an active role supporting the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, most notably his actions at the Battle of Springfield, where he gave the soldiers pages from hymn books to use as wadding for their rifle bullets.[9] While each community has its own independent government, and the three municipalities have no shared governance (other than Essex County), the term is often used to refer to the area, including on highway exit signs. Signage for Exit 47B and 52 on Interstate 80 refer to "The Caldwells" as a destination.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19305,144—
19404,932−4.1%
19506,27027.1%
19606,94210.7%
19708,67725.0%
19807,624−12.1%
19907,549−1.0%
20007,5840.5%
2006 (est.)7,373[3]
Population 1930 - 1990.[10]

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 22,732 people, 3,311 households, and 1,814 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,396.4 people per square mile (2,460.7/km²). There were 3,396 housing units at an average density of 2,864.2/sq mi (1,101.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.22% White, 2.27% African American, 0.11% Native American, 4.06% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.64% of the population.

There were 3,311 households out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.2% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the borough the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $61,250, and the median income for a family was $81,989. Males had a median income of $53,548 versus $40,543 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,630. About 2.5% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Caldwell 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. 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.[1]

The Mayor of Caldwell is Ann Dassing. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Peter Murray, Joseph Norton, Richard Hauser, Douglas Piazza, John Coyle, and Thomas O' DOnnell.[11]

Caldwell and West Caldwell share a great deal of services, including the Recreation Department and the school system. The Board of Recreation Commissioners of the Boroughs of Caldwell and West Caldwell was established in 1947.

Federal, state and county representation

Caldwell is in the Eleventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 27th Legislative District.[12]

For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 11th congressional district is represented by Mikie Sherrill (D, Montclair).[13] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)[14] and Bob Menendez (Englewood Cliffs, term ends 2025).[15][16]

For the 2024-2025 session, the 27th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by John F. McKeon (D, West Orange) and in the General Assembly by Rosy Bagolie (D, Livingston) and Alixon Collazos-Gill (D, Montclair).[17] Template:NJ Governor

Essex County is governed by a directly elected county executive, with legislative functions performed by the Board of County Commissioners. As of 2024, the County Executive is Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. (D, Roseland), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[18] The county's Board of County Commissioners is composed of nine members, five of whom are elected from districts and four of whom are elected on an at-large basis. They are elected for three-year concurrent terms and may be re-elected to successive terms at the annual election in November.[19] Essex County's Commissioners are:

Robert Mercado (D, District 1 – Newark's North and East Wards, parts of Central and West Wards; Newark, 2026),[20] A'Dorian Murray-Thomas (D, District 2 – Irvington, Maplewood and parts of Newark's South and West Wards; Newark, 2026),[21] Vice President Tyshammie L. Cooper (D, District 3 - Newark: West and Central Wards; East Orange, Orange and South Orange; East Orange, 2026),[22] Leonard M. Luciano (D, District 4 – Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Millburn, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange; West Caldwell, 2026),[23] President Carlos M. Pomares (D, District 5 – Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Nutley; Bloomfield, 2026),[24] Brendan W. Gill (D, at large; Montclair, 2026),[25] Romaine Graham (D, at large; Irvington, 2026),[26] Wayne Richardson (D, at large; Newark, 2026),[27] Patricia Sebold (D, at-large; Livingston, 2026).[28][29][30][31][32]

Constitutional officers elected countywide are: Clerk Christopher J. Durkin (D, West Caldwell, 2025),[33][34] Register of Deeds Juan M. Rivera Jr. (D, Newark, 2025),[35][36] Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura (D, Fairfield, 2024),[37][38] and Surrogate Alturrick Kenney (D, Newark, 2028).[39][40]

Politics

On the national level, Caldwell leans slightly toward the Democratic Party. In 2008, Democrat Barack Obama received 48% of the vote here, defeating Republican John McCain, who received around 47%.[41]

Education

The Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools system, which was consolidated in 1872, serves students from Caldwell and West Caldwell. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[42] are four elementary schools, all of which are named after American presidents: Jefferson School (273 students), Lincoln School (231), Washington School (415) and Wilson School (257); All students attend Grover Cleveland Middle School in Caldwell from grade six to eight (617) and move on to James Caldwell High School in West Caldwell from grades nine to twelve (845).

There are a number of alternatives for students living in the Caldwell-West Caldwell school district. Private schools in Caldwell include Trinity Academy for kindergarten through eighth grade and Mount Saint Dominic Academy for grades 9-12. Additionally, the Essex County Vocational High School is available for regional students who do not wish to attend their public high schools or who wish to learn a trade.

The area is home to Caldwell College, located on 9 Ryerson Avenue in Caldwell, and the West Essex Campus of Essex County College, located nearby in West Caldwell.

Historical information

In 1702, settlers purchased the 14,000 acre (57 km²) Horseneck Tract from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans for goods equal to $325. This purchase encompassed much of western Essex County, from the First Mountain to the Passaic River. Caldwell is located in the center of the Horse Neck Tract. Settlement began about 1740 by Thomas Gould and Saunders Sanders.

The Horse Neck Tract consisted of modern day Caldwell, West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Fairfield, Verona, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Roseland, and portions of Livingston and West Orange. This land was part of the larger purchase and referred to as the Horse Neck Tract until February 17, 1787, when the town congregation voted to change the name to Caldwell, in honor of the Reverend James Caldwell who pushed for their organization’s creation.

Caldwell Township contained what is today the towns of West Caldwell and Caldwell. Soon after, the area of Caldwell Township just to the east of Caldwell Borough between Caldwell Borough and Montclair (present-day Verona and Cedar Grove) decided to follow Caldwell's lead and incorporated itself as its own borough, Verona. Some of the already-developed eastern neighborhoods of Caldwell Township chose to become part of Montclair, as it was a rapidly-developing suburb of Newark and Paterson. At around the same time, the area north of Caldwell Borough became its own town, North Caldwell. The wooded area directly to the south of downtown Caldwell Borough became Essex Fells. Meanwhile, the farmland to the south of the western portion of Caldwell township attempted to become its own municipality known as South Caldwell. This failed, as much of developed sections of that area lied on its southernmost and easternmost borders, along the expanding Newark suburbs of Livingston and West Orange respectively. Those areas were engulfed by those two towns once they became incorporated municipalities of several small villages and developments.

This left only the most rural farmland south of Caldwell Borough and Essex Fells to become its own township, Roseland. At this point, all that remained of the original Caldwell Township was a large piece of undeveloped land in the northwestern-most part of Essex County; eventually, in the early 1950s, Caldwell Township changed its name to Fairfield in order to avoid being confused with Caldwell Borough.

Immediately following the separation of the original Caldwell, the western part of Caldwell Borough generally remained less developed than downtown Caldwell Borough and contained several farms and a large area of undeveloped swampland known as Hatfield Swamp. However, two individual settlements, known as Franklin and Westville, soon formed in the western part of Caldwell Borough. As development increased and population grew in the western part of Caldwell, the town's more rural western population and more urban east often could not reconcile their differences. This led to the areas of Franklin and Westville consolidating into their own township known as West Caldwell in 1904, leaving only the one square mile of original downtown Horseneck development as the borough of Caldwell. Lewis G. Lockward was elected the first mayor of Caldwell. In 1929, a failed attempt to consolidate the three Caldwells was rejected by voters.

Trivia

  • George Washington and his staff made their way through the town during the Revolution. They stopped at the old stone house of Saunders Sanders, one of the two people to settle the original area, for lunch.
  • Marquis de Lafayette visited in 1824. The town held a celebration party at the Crane Tavern.
  • During the 1928 Presidential campaign, Herbert Hoover visited the Grover Cleveland Birthplace with his wife.
  • Grover Cleveland lived the first four years of his life in Caldwell.
  • In October 1897, a severe fire ripped through a large portion of Bloomfield Avenue, destroying buildings in its wake. These buildings were replaced, in part, by the Hasler Building, opposite the Presbyterian Church. This became the town’s first brick building.
  • In 1914, during a Fourth of July fireworks celebration, a bomb fell, injuring twenty people. The town's Churches raised funds to supplement the medical bills of the injured.
  • In 1968, the town’s historic cannon was stolen off the town green. The cannon had been given to the town by Colonial Peter Decatur in 1824.
  • On July 14, 1974, the landmark Park Theatre was destroyed in a fire.
  • John P. O'Connor, Korean War veteran, originally of Gloversville, NY is a former council member of Caldwell.

Notable residents

Cleveland's birthplace, in Caldwell, New Jersey

Notable current and former residents of Caldwell include:

References

  1. ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 125.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Borough of Caldwell, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 16, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Census data for Caldwell Borough township. Accessed October 16, 2007.
  4. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  5. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 75.
  6. ^ New Jersey State Commission on County and Municipal Government, Modern Forms of Municipal Government, 1992, Chapter VI: Municipal Names and Municipal Classification
  7. ^ U.S. Census Bureau, 1990s boundary changes: New Jersey, accessed June 2008
  8. ^ "Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100", New Jersey Monthly, February 11, 2010. Accessed February 24, 2010.
  9. ^ NJ Community Prepares to Honor Fighting Spirit of Reverend James Caldwell, accessed August 6, 2006.
  10. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  11. ^ Mayor and Council, Borough of Caldwell. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  12. ^ 2008 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed September 30, 2009.
  13. ^ Directory of Representatives: New Jersey, United States House of Representatives. Accessed January 3, 2019.
  14. ^ U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
  15. ^ Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
  16. ^ Home, sweet home: Bob Menendez back in Hudson County. nj.com. Accessed April 30, 2021. "Booker, Cory A. - (D - NJ) Class II; Menendez, Robert - (D - NJ) Class I"
  17. ^ Legislative Roster for District 27, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 9, 2024.
  18. ^ Essex County Executive, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  19. ^ General Information, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020. "The County Executive, elected from the County at-large, for a four-year term, is the chief political and administrative officer of the County.... The Board of Chosen Freeholders consists of nine members, five of whom are elected from districts and four of whom are elected at-large. They are elected for three-year concurrent terms and may be re-elected to successive terms at the annual election in November. There is no limit to the number of terms they may serve."
  20. ^ Robert Mercado, Commissioner, District 1, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  21. ^ Wayne L. Richardson, Commissioner President, District 2, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  22. ^ Tyshammie L. Cooper, Commissioner, District 3, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  23. ^ Leonard M. Luciano, Commissioner, District 4, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  24. ^ Carlos M. Pomares, Commissioner Vice President, District 5, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  25. ^ Brendan W. Gill, Commissioner At-large, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  26. ^ Romaine Graham, Commissioner At-large, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  27. ^ Newark Native Elected As County Commissioner: A'Dorian Murray-Thomas, Patch. Accessed January 10, 2024.
  28. ^ Patricia Sebold, Commissioner At-large, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  29. ^ Members of the Essex County Board of County Commissioners, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  30. ^ Breakdown of County Commissioners Districts, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  31. ^ 2021 County Data Sheet, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2022.
  32. ^ County Directory, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2022.
  33. ^ About The Clerk, Essex County Clerk. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  34. ^ Members List: Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  35. ^ About the Register, Essex County Register of Deeds and Mortgages. Accessed July 20, 2022.
  36. ^ Members List: Registers, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  37. ^ Armando B. Fontura, Essex County Sheriff's Office. Accessed June 10, 2018.
  38. ^ Members List: Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  39. ^ The Essex County Surrogate's Office, Essex County Surrogate. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  40. ^ Members List: Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed July 20, 2020.
  41. ^ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/results_2009_doe.html
  42. ^ Data for the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 4, 2008.
  43. ^ About the Founder of A.M. Best, A.M. Best. Accessed October 16, 2007. "Alfred M. Best was born in Caldwell, NJ, in 1876."
  44. ^ "Historical Sites in New Jersey", The New York Times, September 30, 2007. Accessed October 16, 2007. "GROVER CLEVELAND BIRTHPLACE Caldwell. Grover Cleveland was born in this house in 1837 while his father, the Rev. Richard Falley Cleveland, was the minister to the First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell."
  45. ^ BIOGRAPHY for Frank Handlen, AskART. Accessed October 24, 2007. "Born September 27, 1916 in Caldwell, New Jersey, he lived and painted in Biddeford Pool, Maine from 1940-1970. "
  46. ^ [1]. Accessed September 20, 2009. "Caldwell Resident has Big Beatles Connection"
  47. ^ Kareem McKenzie player profile, National Football League Players Association. Accessed July 23, 2007. "Despite playing only 2 years of football at Willingboro High School in New Jersey, he earned USA Today and Schutt All-America honors…Was rated the nation’s best offensive lineman by SuperPrep…Resides in Caldwell, N.J"
  48. ^ Corzine Nominates Stuart Rabner to Serve as Attorney General, press release dated August 24, 2006,
  49. ^ Thomas, Robert McG., Jr. "Johnny Sylvester, the Inspiration For Babe Ruth Heroics, Is Dead", The New York Times, January 11, 1990. Accessed June 28, 2009.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caldwell,_New_Jersey&oldid=409246020"