Wallington, New Jersey
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Wallington is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 11,868,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 533 (+4.7%) from the 2010 census count of 11,335,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 248 (−2.1%) from the 11,583 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>
Wallington was created as a borough on January 2, 1895, based on a referendum held on December 31, 1894, from area taken from Bergen Township and Saddle River Township.<ref name=Story/> The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through New Jersey, in which 26 boroughs were formed in Bergen County alone in 1894, with Wallington the last of the 26 to be formed by an 1894 referendum.<ref>Harvey, Cornelius Burnham. Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, p. 11, New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed September 15, 2013. "For a period of sixteen years following the passage of this act few boroughs were organized in the State, only three of them being in Bergen County.... As it was twenty-six boroughs were created in the county from January 23, 1894, to December 18, of the same year."</ref> Sections of Wallington were ceded to Garfield in 1898.<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. 98. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref><ref>Dutch Door Genealogy: Bergen County New Jersey Municipalities. Accessed June 6, 2006.</ref><ref>Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 311. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 20, 2015.</ref> The borough is said to have been named for Walling Van Winkle (1650–1725), who built a home in the future borough.<ref name=History>History, Borough of Wallington. Accessed July 27, 2022. "In 1894 much happened. The building of the Market Street Bridge caused tremendous growth in the area, and a trolley was constructed by the Passaic, Rutherford and Carlstadt Railway company.... A third bridge, the Eighth Street Bridge, promoted further growth of the community with its construction in 1915.</ref><ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 31. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed October 20, 2015.</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 20, 2015. The name is spelled as Walling Jackobs.</ref> In the early 1900s Wallington was advertised as a "Slovak colony" for Slovak migrants living in urban areas to find suburban real estate.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.05 square miles (2.71 km2), including 0.99 square miles (2.57 km2) of land and 0.05 square miles (0.14 km2) of water (5.05%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
The borough borders Carlstadt, East Rutherford, Garfield, South Hackensack and Wood-Ridge in Bergen County, and the city of Passaic in Passaic County across the Passaic River.<ref>Areas touching Wallington, MapIt. Accessed March 15, 2020.</ref><ref>Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 15, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
The borough is located approximately Template:Convert northwest of Midtown Manhattan.
Demographics
[edit]Template:US Census population The borough is one of 41 municipalities statewide where a majority of residents do not speak English as their primary language. Based on data from the United States Census Bureau's 2012–2016 American Community Survey data, Wallington had 62.8% of residents not speaking English as their dominant language, the 13th highest perecentage in the state.<ref>Astudillo, Carla. "The 41 N.J. towns where English is not the dominant language", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 10, 2017, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed March 15, 2020.</ref>
2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 11,335 people, 4,637 households, and 2,991 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,946 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 85.48% (9,689) White, 3.23% (366) Black or African American, 0.16% (18) Native American, 5.57% (631) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.86% (438) from other races, and 1.70% (193) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.81% (1,225) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 4,637 households, 25.4% had children under the age of 18; 48.0% were married couples living together; 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.5% were non-families. Of all households, 29.1% were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.03.<ref name=Census2010/>
18.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.6 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $58,724 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,808) and the median family income was $66,414 (+/− $7,756). Males had a median income of $46,632 (+/− $3,029) versus $40,968 (+/− $2,962) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,350 (+/− $1,947). About 7.0% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Wallington borough, Bergen County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 11, 2012.</ref>
Same-sex couples headed 25 households in 2010, a decrease from the 30 counted in 2000.<ref>Lipman, Harvy; and Sheingold, Dave. "North Jersey sees 30% growth in same-sex couples", The Record, August 14, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 3, 2013. Accessed December 1, 2014.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]| Languages (2000) <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Percent |
|---|---|
| Spoke English at home | 47.64% |
| Spoke Polish at home | 40.79% |
| Spoke Spanish at home | 4.68% |
| Spoke Italian at home | 2.51% |
| Spoke Arabic at home | 1.64% |
| Spoke Gujarati at home | 1.49% |
| Spoke Korean at home | 0.58% |
| Spoke Hindi at home | 0.53% |
| Spoke German at home | 0.14% |
As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 11,583 people, 4,752 households, and 3,041 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,906 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 87.60% White, 2.67% African American, 0.09% Native American, 4.98% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.32% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.70% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Wallington borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 3, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Wallington borough, Bergen County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 3, 2013.</ref>
There were 4,752 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.05.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the borough the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the borough was $45,656, and the median income for a family was $55,291. Males had a median income of $40,077 versus $30,503 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,431. About 4.8% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The most common ancestries were Polish (51.5%), Italian (15.0%), Irish (7.1%) and German.<ref name=Census2000/><ref>Wallington, New Jersey ancestry info from City-Data Template:Webarchive, City-Data. Accessed June 11, 2012.</ref>
At 51.5%, Wallington has one of the highest per capita levels of Polish ancestry in the area.<ref name=Census2000/> Wallington was ranked seventh nationwide and first in New Jersey among municipalities in the United States by percentage of population with Polish ancestry as of the 2000 Census.<ref>Polish Ancestry Template:Webarchive, EPodunk. Accessed June 6, 2006.</ref>
Arts and culture
[edit]Each December, Wallington holds a holiday parade. Fire departments and ambulances from the surrounding area (including the Wallington Fire Department) put Christmas lights on their trucks. There is a contest to determine which department's apparatus has the best Christmas lights. The winning department gets a trophy.<ref>Home Page, Wallington Holiday Parade Information. Accessed June 17, 2016.</ref>
Parks and recreation
[edit]Samuel Nelkin County Park is located on Parkview Drive, covering Template:Convert. It has a playground, tennis courts, athletic fields, a dog park, picnic areas, and a shallow, artificial pond for fishing.<ref>Samuel Nelkin County Park, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed October 10, 2019.</ref>
Borough parks and green spaces include:<ref>Map, Borough of Wallington. Accessed November 6, 2023.</ref>
- Dul Field, which is home to a baseball/softball field and a playground.
- Spring Street Soccer Field, which has baseball/softball and soccer facilities as well as a concession stand.
- Little League Field/Park, which is a little league baseball field and also features a playground, basketball courts, and a concession stand.
- Crescent Park, which is a green space with a playground.
- Hathaway Street Skate Park, which has a roller hockey rink and playground.
- Washington Crossing Park, which features a green space, gazebo, and monument on the banks of the Passaic River.
- Wallington High School Athletic Field, which is between Wallington High School and Frank W. Gavlak Elementary School, has football, soccer, and baseball/softball fields.
Bowlero Wallington is a bowling alley that has 48 lanes, an arcade, restaurant and bar.<ref>Bowlero Wallington, Bowlero. Accessed October 10, 2019.</ref>
Government
[edit]Local government
[edit]Wallington 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 a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council 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, p. 155. March 2013.</ref> The borough form of government used by Wallington 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" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014.</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 Wallington Borough is Republican Melissa Dabal, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Wallington Borough Council are Council President WendySu Ivanicki (R, 2023), Khaldoun Androwis (R, 2024), Beata Balik (R, 2025), Susanne Preinfalk (R, 2025), Eugeniusz Rachelski (R, 2024) and Tomasz Sadecki (R, 2023).<ref name=Government>Mayor & Council, Borough of Wallington. Accessed March 16, 2023.</ref><ref>2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Wallington. Accessed March 16, 2023.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>2024 County and Municipal Directory, Bergen County, New Jersey, April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.</ref><ref name=Bergen2022>Bergen County November 8, 2022 General Election Statement of Vote, Bergen County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Bergen2021>Bergen County Statement of Vote November 2, 2021 Official results, Bergen County, New Jersey, updated November 17, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Bergen2020>Precinct Summary Results Report - Combined 2020 Bergen County General Election - November 3, 2020 Official Results, Bergen County, New Jersey, December 3, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Bergen2019>Bergen County November 5, 2019 General Election Statement of Vote, Bergen County, New Jersey Clerk, updated December 10, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>
In December 2021, the borough council selected Beata Balik from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that became vacant following the resignation of Tomasz Orzechowski.<ref>Borough Council Meeting Minutes for December 16, 2021, Borough of Wallington. Accessed July 27, 2022. "Borough attorney Richard Allen provided legal advice on what needs to happen regarding a letter that was received from the Republican Municipal Committee Chair, Delores Rebecky. Three names were given in response to the resignation letter from Councilman Orzechowski.... Mayor Dabal administered Oath of Office to Councilwoman Beata Balik"</ref>
Federal, state and county representation
[edit]Wallington is located in the 9th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>
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Template:NJ Bergen County Freeholders
Politics
[edit]As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,964 registered voters in Wallington, of which 1,428 (28.8% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 681 (13.7% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,852 (57.5% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Bergen Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 21, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 43.8% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 53.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 21, 2013.</ref>
In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 2,222 votes (55.7% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 1,643 votes (41.2% vs. 54.2%) and other candidates with 126 votes (3.2% vs. 4.6%), among the 4,039 ballots cast by the borough's 5,869 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.8% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County).<ref>Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results - Bergen County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, November 8, 2016. Accessed June 6, 2018.</ref> In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,967 votes (54.4% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,548 votes (42.8% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 59 votes (1.6% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,615 ballots cast by the borough's 5,384 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.1% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Bergen County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 21, 2013.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Bergen County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 21, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,912 votes (50.4% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,783 votes (47.0% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 54 votes (1.4% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,793 ballots cast by the borough's 5,370 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.6% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Bergen County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 21, 2013.</ref><ref name=Results2008>2008 General Election Results for Wallington Template:Webarchive, The Record. Accessed June 11, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,963 votes (53.2% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,668 votes (45.2% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 18 votes (0.5% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,690 ballots cast by the borough's 5,187 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.1% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Bergen County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 21, 2013.</ref>
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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.6% of the vote (1,365 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.1% (754 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (28 votes), among the 2,264 ballots cast by the borough's 5,138 registered voters (117 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.1%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,131 votes (47.5% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,053 votes (44.2% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 129 votes (5.4% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 20 votes (0.8% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,383 ballots cast by the borough's 5,191 registered voters, yielding a 45.9% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Bergen County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 21, 2013.</ref>
Education
[edit]The Wallington Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Wallington Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Wallington Public Schools. Accessed May 25, 2023. "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 Wallington School District. Composition: The Wallington School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Wallington."</ref> As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,243 students and 91.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.7:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Wallington Boro School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Wallington Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>) are Jefferson Elementary School<ref>Jefferson Elementary School, Wallington Public Schools. Accessed May 25, 2023.</ref> with 243 students in grades K-2, Frank W. Gavlak Elementary School<ref>Frank W. Gavlak Elementary School, Wallington Public Schools. Accessed May 25, 2023.</ref> with 348 students in grades 3-6 and Wallington High School<ref>Wallington High School, Wallington Public Schools. Accessed May 25, 2023.</ref> with 590 students in grades 7-12.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Wallington Boro School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Wallington Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>
Public school students from the borough, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Paramus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.<ref>About Us, Bergen County Technical Schools. Accessed December 21, 2013.</ref><ref>Admissions, Bergen County Technical Schools. Accessed December 29, 2016.</ref>
Due to declining enrollment, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark closed Most Sacred Heart School after the 2013–2014 school year. The school district is in talks with the Archdiocese to temporarily lease Most Sacred Heart School starting during the 2014–2015 school year, so that Jefferson Elementary School can be closed for repair/rebuilding without straining the capacity of Frank W. Gavlak Elementary School.<ref>Milsop, Katherine. "Most Sacred Heart School in Wallington to close" Template:Webarchive, Community News, April 3, 2014. Accessed August 30, 2014. "James Goodness, director of Communications with the Archdiocese of Newark, confirmed in a conversation later in the week that Most Sacred Heart of Jesus School will be closing this year, due to steadily decreasing enrollment and despite the fact that the school has received millions in direct subsidies from the Archdiocese."</ref>
Emergency services
[edit]Police
[edit]The Wallington Police Department (WPD) provides emergency and protective services to the borough. The WPD consists of 20 sworn officers, as well as special officers and crossing guards, and is headed by a Chief of Police. The WPD responds to approximately 13,000 calls per year.<ref>Police, Borough of Wallington. Accessed October 10, 2019.</ref>
Fire / EMS
[edit]The Wallington Fire Department (WFD) is an all-volunteer fire department. The WFD was organized in October 1894 and consists of three fire companies operating out of three firehouses. The department is staffed by 85 fully trained firefighters. The Wallington Fire Department Emergency Squad provides emergency medical and rescue services.<ref>Fire Department, Borough of Wallington. Accessed October 10, 2019.</ref>
Transportation
[edit]_from_the_overpass_for_the_ramp_from_Passaic_County_Route_624_(River_Drive)_to_State_Street_in_Wallington,_Bergen_County,_New_Jersey.jpg){kind=link}
Roads and highways
[edit]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 Bergen County.<ref>Bergen County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed December 21, 2013.</ref>
A very short section of New Jersey Route 21 passes through Wallington. This section was built over a section of the Passaic River which was filled in to allow the highway to be constructed. However, the municipal boundary still follows the old river bed, resulting in a small section of Wallington on the west bank of the river which is mostly occupied by the highway.<ref name=NJMunicipalMap>Template:Cite web</ref>
County Route 507 is the most significant road directly serving Wallington.<ref>County Route 507 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2012. Accessed July 25, 2022.</ref> Three bridges, the Gregory Avenue Bridge (built in 1905), the Market Street Bridge (dating back to 1894) and the Eighth Street Bridge (originally constructed in 1915) cross the Passaic River from Wallington to the city of Passaic.<ref name=History/> After years of construction, a new Template:Convert Eighth Street Bridge was completed in 2019 with the assistance of $15 million in aid from the federal government, restoring service to a crossing that had handled more than 6,000 vehicles per day on a bridge that was more than 100 years old.<ref>Sobko, Katie. "After years of construction, Passaic bridge to Bergen County finally reopens", The Record, August 9, 2019. Accessed July 27, 2022. "Although replacing the century-old Eighth Street Bridge had been on the drawing board for decades, it wasn't until 2012 that the federal government allocated the $15 million to do the project.... The Eighth Street Bridge connects the heavily industrial lower Dundee section of Passaic with Wallington, which is more residential. Before it closed, about 6,300 vehicles a day crossed the bridge.... The plan calls for a 290-foot bridge with two lanes on both sides and a left-hand turning lane onto Main Avenue in Wallington."</ref>
The New Jersey Turnpike Western Roadway (Interstate 95) is accessible at Exit 16W in neighboring East Rutherford.
Public transportation
[edit]NJ Transit's Bergen County Line passes through, but does not stop in, Wallington. Wesmont station is located along the border between Wallington and Wood-Ridge, but it can only be accessed from the latter. NJ Transit bus routes 160 and 161 provide service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, and routes 703, 707, and 780 provide local service.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Wallington include:
- Elizabeth Calabrese, member of the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 2004 to 2010<ref>Freeholder Elizabeth Calabrese, Bergen County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 27, 2011. Accessed December 21, 2013. "Elizabeth served her community of Wallington as a borough councilwoman from 2000 to 2010."</ref>
- George Fischbeck (1922–2015), television weatherman<ref>Wilcox, Gregory J. "Dr. George Fischbeck, KABC-TV weatherman and Woodland Hills resident, dies at 92", Los Angeles Daily News, March 25, 2015. Accessed October 20, 2015. "Fischbeck was born July 1, 1922, in Wallington, N.J., the eldest of four children. He grew up on a farm in Farmingdale, N.J., and served in the Air Force in World War II and the Korean War."</ref>
- Steve Hamas (1907–1974), professional football player in the National Football League who turned to professional boxing, defeating former heavyweight champions Tommy Loughran and Max Schmelling<ref>Curley, Bob. "The Steve Hamas Story; Inferiority Complex Helped Wellington Athlete's Career; Dad His Guiding Light", Herald News, April 10, 1954. Accessed December 23, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "When he was a freshman at Passaic High School in 1922, Steve felt far from being a standout athlete.... 'When my dad moved to Wallington I transferred to East Rutherford High School.'"</ref>
- Henry Helstoski (1925–1999), U.S. Congressman from 1965 to 1977, representing Template:Ushr<ref>Henry Helstoski, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed February 15, 2011.</ref>
- Doris Mahalick (1924–2008), politician who served on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Mayor of Wallington and as the nation's first woman to serve as a county police commissioner<ref>Gartland, Michael. "Wallington ex-mayor Doris Mahalick, at 83 – Served as nation's first female police commissioner" Template:Webarchive, The Record, October 18, 2008. Accessed January 10, 2015. "Doris Mahalick, a former Bergen County freeholder and Wallington mayor, died Friday from Alzheimers disease and Parkinsons disease.... She was the first female county police commissioner in the United States and helped establish adult day-care and guardianship services throughout the state."</ref>
- Frankie Perez (born 1989), mixed martial artist who has competed in Ultimate Fighting Championship<ref>Manahan, Kevin. "N.J. UFC fighter Frankie Perez scores amazing knockout ... and immediately retires", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 24, 2015. Accessed November 21, 2017. "Perez, who is from Wallington and Howell, N.J., evened his UFC record at 1-1, and said that's how his career record likely will stand, because he's had enough of the fight game."</ref>
- Ed Sanicki (1923–1998), outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies<ref>Ed Sanicki Stats, Baseball Almanac. Accessed February 15, 2011.</ref>
- Walling Van Winkle (1650–1725), namesake of Wallington who built a home here<ref name=History/>
References
[edit]Sources
[edit]- 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.
- Clayton, W. Woodford; and Nelson, William. History of Bergen and Passaic Counties, New Jersey, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men., Philadelphia: Everts and Peck, 1882.
- Harvey, Cornelius Burnham (ed.), Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Co., 1900.
- Van Valen, James M. History of Bergen County, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900.
- Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858–1942, History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630–1923, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1923.
External links
[edit]- Borough of Wallington official website
- Wallington Public Schools
- Template:NJReportCard
- School Data for the Wallington Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics