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Glen Ridge, New Jersey

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Glen Ridge is a borough in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,802,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 275 (+3.7%) from the 2010 census count of 7,527,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 256 (+3.5%) from the 7,271 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> The borough is notable for being one of a few in New Jersey preserving the use of gas lamps for street lighting.

History

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In 1666, 64 Connecticut families led by Robert Treat bought land from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans and named it New Ark to reflect a covenant to worship freely without persecution. The territory included the future towns of Bloomfield, Montclair, Belleville and Nutley. When Bloomfield was established in 1812, Glen Ridge was a section "on the hill" composed mostly of farms and woodlands with the exception of a thriving industrial area along Toney's Brook in the glen.<ref>Herman, Jennifer New Jersey Encyclopedia, p. 280. State History Publications, 2008. Template:ISBN. Accessed August 31, 2015.</ref> For most of the nineteenth century, three water-powered mills produced lumber, calico, pasteboard boxes and brass fittings. A copper mine and a sandstone quarry were located on the north side of the brook.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1856, the Newark and Bloomfield Railroad arrived, with the construction of the Glen Ridge station. In 1872, the New York and Greenwood Lake Railway arrived, with the construction of the station at today's Benson Street. Glen Ridge began its transition to a suburban residential community. Stately homes slowly replaced orchards and wooded fields.Template:Citation needed

In 1891, Mountainside Hospital, a local hospital with more than 300 beds now known as HackensackUMC Mountainside, was founded.<ref>About Us, HackensackUMC Mountainside. Accessed July 22, 2014. "HackensackUMC Mountainside has been serving Montclair and its surrounding New Jersey communities since 1891."</ref> The Glen Ridge Country Club was founded in 1894, making it one of the state's oldest clubs.<ref>Mazzola, Jessica. "One of N.J.'s oldest country clubs getting $11M makeover", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 28, 2015. Accessed November 29, 2015. "The Glen Ridge Country Club's 40,000 square foot clubhouse still retains some of the original structure from when it was built in 1894, according to Jim Kirkos, the club's president."</ref>

Residents "on the hill" became unhappy with their representation on the Bloomfield Council. In spite of repeated requests to Bloomfield officials, roads remained unpaved, water and sewer systems were nonexistent, and schools were miles away. Area residents marked out the boundaries of a Template:Convert area to secede from the adjoining town. At the election held on February 12, 1895, the decision to secede passed by only 23 votes. Robert Rudd was elected the first mayor of Glen Ridge.<ref>Staff. "Glen Ridge Excited: The Borough Question Warmly Discussed Last Evening", Newark Sunday Call, February 3, 1895. Accessed April 21, 2012.</ref>

On February 13, 1895, Glen Ridge was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature from portions of Bloomfield Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 128. Accessed March 1, 2012.</ref>

After becoming a borough, architects suggested buying gas lamps, they became a characteristic of the borough.<ref name="glenridgehistory-gaslights"/><ref name="nj.com-greatest-town-part-1">Template:Cite news</ref> Circa World War II, gas lamps were discarded, many by the City of New York, later salvaged, repaired, and brought to Glen Ridge.<ref name="glenridgehistory-gaslights">Template:Cite web</ref> With only 3,000 gaslights remaining in operation in the entire United States, the 2,500 managed by Public Service Enterprise Group, succeeding the Welsbach Company,<ref name="glenridgehistory-gaslights"/><ref name="starledger-cardone-obit"/> include 1,400 lamps in South Orange, 667 in Glen Ridge, some in Trenton and dozens of other towns, lighting their streets.<ref name="nj_gas_lamp_tenders">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Read, Phillip. "In Glen Ridge, the future has a Manhattan flair and a French twist; Work begins on a big ratable: Luxury condos with the fancy name", The Star-Ledger, March 30, 2005.</ref><ref name="starledger-cardone-obit">Template:Cite web</ref> The Gaslamp is the Glen Ridge Historical Society's quarterly newsletter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Along streets with gas lamps, utility poles for electric lines are not permitted along the street, and are instead are routed behind homes. The borough also features extensive use of slate sidewalks.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

In 1924, Glen Ridge became the first municipality in New Jersey to establish a zoning ordinance.<ref>Peterson, Mary Jo; and Gebeloff, Mark. "Where Houses Defy The Decades; It's no accident that most Glen Ridge homes are old: The town sees red if you defy the blueprints.", The Star-Ledger, December 27, 2002.</ref>

In 1982, the borough's official name was changed to "Township of Glen Ridge Borough". Glen Ridge was one of more than a dozen Essex County municipalities to reclassify themselves as townships to take advantage of federal revenue sharing policies that allocated townships a greater share of government aid on a per capita basis.<ref>Template:Usurped, p. 73. New Jersey State Commission on County and Municipal Government, 1992. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref><ref>"Removing Tiering From The Revenue Sharing Formula Would Eliminate Payment Inequities To Local Governments", Government Accountability Office, April 15, 1982. Accessed September 24, 2015. "In 1978, South Orange Village was the first municipality to change its name to the 'township' of South Orange Village effective beginning in entitlement period 10 (October 1978 to September 1979). The Borough of Fairfield in 1978 changed its designation by a majority vote of the electorate and became the 'Township of Fairfield' effective beginning entitlement period 11 (October 1979 to September 1980).... However, the Revenue Sharing Act was not changed and the actions taken by South Orange and Fairfield prompted the Town of Montclair and West Orange to change their designation by referendum in the November 4, 1980, election. The municipalities of Belleville, Verona, Bloomfield, Nutley, Essex Fells, Caldwell, and West Caldwell have since changed their classification from municipality to a township."</ref><ref>Narvaez, Alfonso A. "New Jersey Journal", The New York Times, December 27, 1981. Accessed September 24, 2015. "Under the Federal system, New Jersey's portion of the revenue sharing funds is disbursed among the 21 counties to create three 'money pools.' One is for county governments, one for 'places' and a third for townships. By making the change, a community can use the 'township advantage' to get away from the category containing areas with low per capita incomes."</ref><ref>Karcher, Alan J. New Jersey's Multiple Municipal Madness, pp. 119-120. Rutgers University Press, 1998. Template:ISBN. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref> Effective May 1993, the borough's original name of "Glen Ridge Borough" was restored.<ref>Geographic Change Notes: New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 2012. "Glen Ridge borough, Essex County: new incorporation from all Glen Ridge Borough township, effective May, 1993 (Census place: 1960; FIPS: 26610)"</ref> The borough's name comes from the ridge formed by Toney's Brook.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.</ref>Template:Dubious

In 2010, Glen Ridge was ranked as the 38th Best Place to live by New Jersey Monthly magazine.<ref>Roll, Erin. "NJ Monthly: Glen Ridge 38th best place to live", Glen Ridge Voice, February 24, 2010. Accessed November 27, 2011.</ref>

In 1989, athletes from the high school were involved in the sexual assault of a mentally handicapped student. Three teenagers were found guilty of first-degree aggravated sexual assault; a fourth was convicted of third-degree conspiracy.<ref>Hanley, Robert. "4 Are Convicted in Sexual Abuse Of Retarded New Jersey Woman", The New York Times, March 17, 1993. Accessed August 30, 2011.</ref> Author Bernard Lefkowitz wrote about the incident in the 1997 book Our Guys: The Glen Ridge Rape and the Secret Life of the Perfect Suburb.<ref>Banks, Russell. "A Whole Lot of Poor Judgment", The New York Times, August 3, 1997. Accessed August 30, 2011.</ref> Lefkowitz's book was adapted into the 1999 TV movie Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge.<ref>Template:Usurped, The New York Times. Accessed August 30, 2011.</ref>

Glen Ridge is a frequent location for film, television, and commercial shoots. Notable works include Winter Solstice and Mona Lisa Smile.<ref>Galant, Debra. "Jersey; Scene: The Big Screen Meets a Small Town", The New York Times, October 27, 2002. Accessed August 24, 2018. "Is there any town that doesn't melt like butter at the prospect of movie stars showing up? Apparently not. At least not Glen Ridge.... Mike Newell is in town directing a movie called Mona Lisa Smile."</ref><ref>Cahillane, Kevin. "Surround Sound Need Not Apply", The New York Times, May 8, 2005. Accessed August 24, 2018. "Winter Solstice, a new film starring Anthony LaPaglia as a grieving father raising two teenage sons in the New Jersey suburbs, is the strong and silent type of movie.... Here, in this case, is Glen Ridge, a pretty little film-friendly town next to Montclair and Bloomfield in Essex County, where Mr. Sternfeld found the lush suburban landscape and leisurely pace he sought for his 22-day shoot."</ref>

In the 1980s, it was discovered that a section of the borough near Carteret Park was built on top of hazardous waste. Waste contaminated with radium from the old U.S. Radium watch dial plant had been used to fill in low-lying areas of Glen Ridge covering Template:Convert, as well as portions of Montclair and West Orange.<ref>Galant, Debbie. "Living With A Radium Nightmare", The New York Times, September 29, 1996. Accessed May 4, 2023. "The Federal Environmental Protection Agency had just announced that an extensive area of radium contamination had been found in Essex County. The Allins, and their neighbors, were living atop radium waste discarded more than half a century earlier from a nearby watch-dial factory. The dirt in their yard was radioactive, with a half-life of 1,600 years.... A Superfund site is seldom hard to recognize: go to a place where hazardous materials were carelessly produced or stored or dumped, and there you are. But in Glen Ridge, you could spend all day walking around the 90-acre site -- this utterly typical neighborhood of 1930's houses on shady streets, of flower gardens and jungle gyms and dogs -- and never guess the source of the contamination."</ref> It was not until the year 2000 that the area was completely cleaned of any contamination.

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.28 square miles (3.31 km2), including 1.28 square miles (3.30 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.01 km2) of water (0.39%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 /> It is bounded by Bloomfield to its east, Montclair to its west, East Orange to its south, and shares a short border with Orange to its southwest.<ref>Areas touching Glen Ridge, MapIt. Accessed March 29, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities, Essex County, New Jersey Register of Deeds and Mortgages. Accessed March 29, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref> The borough's US mail ZIP code is 07028.

Glen Ridge is located on a ridge on the east side of the First Mountain of the Watchung Mountains. The town stretches Template:Convert from north to south and a maximum of six blocks wide from east to west, and it is only three or two blocks wide in "the Panhandle" north of Bay Avenue.<ref name=NYT1972>McLoughlin, Mary Lou. "Gaslights Remind Glen Ridge Of Past", The New York Times, November 5, 1972. Accessed April 21, 2012. "Large Victorian and turn-of-the-century homes predominate in the borough, only two miles long and a few blocks in width at its widest point."</ref>

Climate

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Glen Ridge has a temperate climate, with warm / hot humid summers and cool / cold winters, according to the Köppen climate classification humid subtropical climate. The town gets an average of Template:Convert of rain per year and Template:Convert of snowfall, compared to the US averages of Template:Convert and Template:Convert inches. Glen Ridge has 124 days of measurable precipitation a year. During the winter, it is highly recommended to wear warm clothing because it can get very cold, while the summers can get extremely hot and humid. The majority of February and a bit of March is when there are the most snowfall. Due to the town's elevation and the topography of its river banks, it is not prone to significant flooding.

There are typically about 205 sunny days per year in Glen Ridge. The temperature ranges from a high around 86 degrees in July and a low around 21 degrees in January. The comfort index for the town is 47 out of 100, compared to a national average of 44 (with higher numbers being more comfortable).<ref>Climate in Glen Ridge (zip 07028), New Jersey, Sperling's Best Places. Accessed October 14, 2013.</ref>

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2010 census

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The 2010 United States census counted 7,527 people, 2,476 households, and 2,033 families in the borough. The population density was 5,872.8 per square mile (2,267.5/km2). There were 2,541 housing units at an average density of 1,982.6 per square mile (765.5/km2). The racial makeup was 86.21% (6,489) White, 5.04% (379) Black or African American, 0.04% (3) Native American, 4.65% (350) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.37% (103) from other races, and 2.70% (203) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.01% (377) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 2,476 households, 49.9% had children under the age of 18; 70.9% were married couples living together; 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 17.9% were non-families. Of all households, 14.9% were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.39.<ref name=Census2010/>

32.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.0 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $160,511 (with a margin of error of ±$11,073) and the median family income was $173,466 (±$25,554). Males had a median income of $111,968 (±$11,975) versus $85,938 (±$24,626) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $64,222 (±$8,487). About 1.1% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Glen Ridge borough, Essex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 7,271 people, 2,458 households, and 1,978 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,490 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 89.18% White, 4.98% African American, 0.15% Native American, 3.34% Asian, 0.99% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.45% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Glen Ridge borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Glen Ridge borough, Essex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 7, 2012.</ref>

There were 2,458 households, out of which 46.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.33.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 30.7% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $105,638, and the median income for a family was $120,650. Males had a median income of $91,161 versus $51,444 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $48,456. About 1.9% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

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Local government

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Glen Ridge 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.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> 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. The 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 148.</ref> The borough form of government used by Glen Ridge 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.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Glen Ridge is Independent Deborah Mans, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the borough council are Peter A. Hughes (I, 2025), Richard P. Law (I, 2025), David Lefkovits (I, 2026), Rebecca Meyer (I, 2027), LoriJean Moody (I, 2026) and Steve Zimet (I, 2027).<ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor and Council, Borough of Glen Ridge. Accessed January 21, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Glen Ridge. Accessed January 21, 2025.</ref><ref name=EssexDirectory>County Directory, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 21, 2025.</ref><ref name=Essex2024>General Election November 5, 2024 Official Results, Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Essex2023>General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results, Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 27, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Essex2022>November 8, 2022, General Election Official Results, Essex County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 22, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>

In January 2016, the borough council chose former mayor Peter Hughes to fill the council seat expiring in December 2016 that was vacated by Stuart K. Patrick, who resigned from the council to take his seat as mayor.<ref>Roll, Erin. "Hughes appointed to fill Glen Ridge council seat", Glen Ridge Voice, January 12, 2016. Accessed July 3, 2016. "One week after stepping down as Glen Ridge mayor, Peter Hughes is stepping back up. Stuart Patrick's promotion to mayor left a one-year vacancy on the council - so Patrick and the council asked Hughes to fill that spot."</ref>

Murphy was selected by the borough council in November 2013 to serve the unexpired term of Elizabeth K. Baker.<ref>Staff. "Glen Ridge editorial: Goodbye Baker, hello Murphy", Glen Ridge Voice, November 14, 2013. Accessed July 22, 2014. "This week, the council welcomed a new member to take the place of Elizabeth Baker, who resigned from the governing body last month.... Daniel Murphy has been chosen to serve the remainder of Baker's term."</ref> Ann Marie Morrow was elected in November 2014 to fill a one-year unexpired term.<ref>Roll, Erin. "Glen Ridge council welcomes newest member ", Glen Ridge Voice, November 11, 2014. Accessed January 18, 2015. "Ann Marie Morrow joined the council as its newest member Monday night. Morrow, who was elected to a one-year term on Nov. 4, was sworn in during a ceremony at the beginning of the borough council meeting, with her husband Robert acting as witness."</ref>

The Glen Ridge Civic Conference Committee, established in 1913, is made up of delegates from the community and from local civic organizations, provides a non-partisan method of candidate selection for Borough elections. The CCC endorsement is very significant; in most elections, the CCC's candidates are unopposed. The eight organizations currently sending delegates to the CCC are: The Democratic Club, Freeman Gardens Association, Friends of the Glen Ridge Library, The Glen Ridge Historical Society, The Northside Association, The Republican Club, The Golden Circle, The South End Association and the Women's Club of Glen Ridge.<ref>The CCC Mission, Glen Ridge Civic Conference Committee. Accessed August 30, 2011.</ref>

File:GRborohall.jpg
Glen Ridge Borough Hall in autumn

In recent years, the CCC has been weakened both by changing attitudes in the borough, the actions of a number of community residents, and internal conflicts within the CCC itself. Mayor Carl Bergmanson was the first mayor since the establishment of the CCC to be elected without seeking (or receiving) the Committee's endorsement. A member of the council for three terms, he ran for mayor in 1999, losing to the CCC candidate Steven Plate. When Plate was selected as the CCC candidate again in 2003 (contradicting the committee's precedent of one term per mayor), Bergmanson ran again, and won, gaining the majority in all but one of the town's districts. However, the CCC is still firmly in control of the town's political structure—all 16 of the elected officials currently serving Glen Ridge were nominated by the CCC. Generally, when non-CCC candidates run, they run as independents. The Democratic and Republican parties are not forces in local elections.

Federal, state, and county representation

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Glen Ridge is located in the 11th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 34th state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

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Template:NJ Legislative 34

Template:NJ Essex County Commissioners

Politics

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As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,169 registered voters in Glen Ridge, of which 2,135 (41.3%) were registered as Democrats, 993 (19.2%) were registered as Republicans and 2,037 (39.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary – Essex, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 5, 2012.</ref> Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |}

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 62.6% of the vote (2,415 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 36.2% (1,396 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (44 votes), among the 3,871 ballots cast by the borough's 5,380 registered voters (16 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 72.0%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 62.9% of the vote (2,583 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 35.2% (1,444 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (33 votes), among the 4,104 ballots cast by the borough's 5,185 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.2%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Essex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 5, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 59.1% of the vote (2,381 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 39.9% (1,608 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (35 votes), among the 4,031 ballots cast by the borough's 4,967 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 81.2.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Essex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 5, 2012.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 53.2% of the vote (1,450 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 45.5% (1,240 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (34 votes), among the 2,772 ballots cast by the borough's 5,429 registered voters (48 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 51.1%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 51.0% of the vote (1,388 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 39.3% (1,071 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.5% (231 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (19 votes), among the 2,722 ballots cast by the borough's 5,144 registered voters, yielding a 52.9% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Essex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 5, 2012.</ref>

Education

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File:Glen Ridge School.JPG
Ridgewood Avenue school

The Glen Ridge Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Glen Ridge Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Glen Ridge Public Schools. Accessed September 3, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Glen Ridge School District. Composition: The Glen Ridge School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Glen Ridge."</ref> As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,899 students and 148.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Glen Ridge Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Glen Ridge Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>) are Forest Avenue School<ref>Forest Avenue School, Glen Ridge Public Schools. Accessed September 3, 2020.</ref> with 223 students in grades Pre-K–2, Linden Avenue School<ref>Linden Avenue School, Glen Ridge Public Schools. Accessed September 3, 2020.</ref> with 242 students in grades Pre-K–2, Ridgewood Avenue School<ref>Ridgewood Avenue School, Glen Ridge Public Schools. Accessed September 3, 2020.</ref> with 575 students in grades 3–6 and Glen Ridge High School<ref>Glen Ridge High School, Glen Ridge Public Schools. Accessed September 3, 2020.</ref> with 837 students in grades 7–12.<ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Glen Ridge Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

The high school was the 12th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 328 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2012 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 4th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.<ref>Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 7, 2012. "The students attending the public schools at Glen Ridge High School are academically very competitive. Their work ethic is extremely strong, providing them with high test scores such as standardized tests."</ref>

Housing

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File:Christ Church (Episcopal), Bloomfield-Glen Ridge, NJ jeh.jpg
Christ Church Episcopal

The median price for a house in Glen Ridge in 2014 was $580,000,<ref name="Glen Ridge Housing">"Glen Ridge Homes", Borough of Glen Ridge. Accessed January 17, 2014.</ref> which is double the national average. Out of the 2,549 houses in the borough, 84.7% of them were single units (detached) and had a median of 7.7 rooms. Glen Ridge is known for its old town charm, with 72.8% of its houses having been built before 1939.<ref name="wwwcensusgov">"FactFinder" Template:Webarchive accessed November 29, 2011</ref> In 1895, when the town was chartered, Glen Ridge became one of the first communities to hire a town planner which resulted in many late Victorian and Edwardian elements. The condition of the town has been maintained due to the building codes that were established, the creation of the Building Department which included a Building Inspector, and a zoning ordinance (the first in the state of New Jersey).<ref name="Glen Ridge Architecture">"Glen Ridge Architecture", Borough of Glen Ridge. Accessed November 29, 2011.</ref> Although the majority of Glen Ridge consists of houses, many residents live in apartment complexes. One apartment complex is behind the Glen Ridge Community Pool, while the other apartment complex is not far from that.

The architecture of the borough includes houses representing every major style from the mid-nineteenth century onward. Some of the architecture styles include the Carpenter Gothic, the Medieval, the High Victorian Period, the Queen Anne Cottage, American Georgian, Shingle Style, and the Prairie Home Style.<ref name="Prairie Home Style">"Glen Ridge Homes" Template:Webarchive, Frank Lloyd Wright Accessed January 17, 2014.</ref> Notable architects that have left their legacy in the town include Frank Lloyd Wright, Stanford White, and John Russell Pope. To maintain the historical feel of the town and protect the architectural features, the town has created a Historic Preservation Commission which reviews construction on houses in the historic district.<ref name="Glen Ridge Architecture" /> Many homes are included in the Glen Ridge Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1982 and later expanded in two boundary increases. It includes the Glen Ridge and the Benson Street train stations.<ref>New Jersey and National Register Listings in Essex County, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office, as of August 17, 2017. Accessed October 18, 2017.</ref><ref>Template:NRHP url, National Park Service, June 25, 1982. Accessed November 27, 2015.</ref>

Transportation

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File:2018-07-18 16 00 33 View west along Essex County Route 506 (Bloomfield Avenue) just west of Freeman Parkway-Highland Avenue in Glen Ridge, Essex County, New Jersey.jpg
View west along County Route 506 in Glen Ridge

Roads and highways

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Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality and Template:Convert by Essex County.<ref>Essex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

The primary roads directly serving Glen Ridge include County Route 506 (Bloomfield Avenue)<ref>County Route 506 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2012. Accessed February 16, 2023.</ref> and County Route 509. Major highways near the borough include the New Jersey Turnpike, Interstate 80, Interstate 280, the Garden State Parkway, U.S. Route 46, Route 3 and Route 21.<ref>Essex County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 16, 2023.</ref>

Public transportation

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Glen Ridge is a little over Template:Convert long, north to south, via Ridgewood Avenue, making it accessible for residents by walking or biking.<ref name=NYT1972/>

NJ Transit provides bus service to Newark on the 11, 28 and 29 via Bloomfield Avenue.<ref>Template:Usurped, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 22, 2010. Accessed March 1, 2012.</ref>

Commuters can also take trains from the Glen Ridge station<ref>Geln Ridge station, NJ Transit. Accessed October 14, 2013.</ref> (formerly named Ridgewood Avenue station), where NJ Transit provides service to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan and to Hoboken Terminal via the Montclair-Boonton Line.<ref>Montclair-Boonton Line Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed October 14, 2013.</ref> There are many other train stations near Glen Ridge.

The town has a jitney service which provides transportation to and from the Glen Ridge Station for commuters. This service has a fee and is only available between certain hours in the day.<ref>Jitney Bus Service, Borough of Glen Ridge. Accessed November 4, 2019.</ref> The Freeman Parkway Bridge, constructed in 1926, is a deck arch bridge that crosses over Toney's Brook and the Montclair-Boonton Line.

Notable people

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Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Glen Ridge include:

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References

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Further reading

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  • Lefkowitz, Bernard. Our Guys: The Glen Ridge Rape and the Secret Life of the Perfect Suburb. Template:ISBN
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Template:Essex County, New Jersey

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