Cresskill, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Cresskill 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 9,155,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 582 (+6.8%) from the 2010 census count of 8,573,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 827 (+10.7%) from the 7,746 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> This town got its name from "Cress", referring to the watercress that grew in its streams, and "Kill", referring to the stream passing through.<ref name=Thinking>Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Cresskill; High-Cost Housing, Quality Services", The New York Times, October 16, 1994. Accessed January 15, 2012. "Named for the watercress that grows along its Tenakill Brook, the two-square-mile Borough of Cresskill is known for its well-maintained, maple-lined streets, low crime rate, quality municipal services and high-priced real estate."</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.</ref>

History

Cresskill was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 8, 1894, from portions of Palisades Township.<ref name=Story/> The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.<ref>Harvey, Cornelius Burnham. Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, p. 11, New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed September 1, 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> A portion of the borough was annexed by Alpine in 1904.<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. 80. Accessed October 25, 2012.</ref><ref>History of Bergen County, Vol. 1, p. 347.</ref>

Railroads provided access from Cresskill to customers in New York City, including a chicken hatchery that was the world's largest by 1897.<ref name=Thinking/> Railroad access established the former Camp Merritt as a major debarkation point for more than a million American troops being sent abroad to fight in World War I. To commemorate the fact, a large obelisk memorial (referred to by locals as "The Monument"<ref>The Monument in Cresskill, Borough of Cresskill, backed up by the Internet Archive as of August 23, 2009. Accessed September 12, 2017.</ref>), or "The Circle Monument" was dedicated in 1924, set in the center of the Camp Merritt Memorial Circle at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Knickerbocker Road (CR 505).<ref>Rondinaro, Gene. "Start-Up Buyer Oasis in Affluent Bergen", The New York Times, January 19, 1997. Accessed September 8, 2008. "Utilizing the newly built railroad connections to New York, more than one million American soldiers passed through the camp before it was disbanded in 1920. In 1924, the Camp Merritt Memorial Obelisk at the traffic circle connecting Knickerbocker Road and Madison Avenue -- better known to residents as the Monument -- was dedicated to those troops by Gen. John J. Pershing."</ref>

Historic sites

Sites in the borough listed on the National Register of Historic Places include:<ref>New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office, last updated August 17, 2017. Accessed September 12, 2017.</ref>

• Blackledge-Gair House (at 111 Madison Avenue; added January 9, 1983)<ref>Blackledge-Gair House, National Park Service. Accessed September 12, 2017.</ref>
• Demarest-Atwood House (at 84 Jefferson Avenue; added July 24, 1984)<ref>Demarest-Atwood House, National Park Service. Accessed September 12, 2017.</ref>
• Peter Huyler House (50 County Road; added January 9, 1983)<ref>Peter Huyler House, National Park Service. Accessed September 12, 2017.</ref>
• Benjamin P. Westervelt House (at 235 County Road; added January 9, 1983)<ref>Benjamin P. Westervelt House, National Park Service. Accessed September 12, 2017.</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.07 square miles (5.36 km²), including 2.07 square miles (5.35 km²) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.01 km²) of water (0.24%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

It rests on land originally inhabited by the Munsee-Delaware.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The borough, a suburb of New York City, borders the Bergen County municipalities of Alpine, Bergenfield, Demarest, Dumont and Tenafly.<ref>Areas touching Cresskill, MapIt. Accessed March 24, 2020.</ref><ref>Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 24, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 8,573 people, 3,002 households, and 2,318 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,114 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 68.95% (5,911) White, 0.73% (63) Black or African American, 0.03% (3) Native American, 27.64% (2,370) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.07% (92) from other races, and 1.55% (133) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.26% (537) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/> Korean Americans accounted for 17.8% of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 3,002 households, 40.5% had children under the age of 18; 66.2% were married couples living together; 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.8% were non-families. Of all households, 21.1% 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 2.84 and the average family size was 3.32.<ref name=Census2010/> Same-sex couples headed 7 households in 2010, an increase from the 5 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>

26.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 88.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.7 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $105,625 (with a margin of error of +/− $14,945) and the median family income was $128,382 (+/− $16,732). Males had a median income of $95,795 (+/− $24,665) versus $72,188 (+/− $16,155) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $56,485 (+/− $6,202). About 2.4% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Cresskill borough, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 15, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 7,746 people, 2,630 households, and 2,161 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,702 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 78.05% White, 0.92% African American, 0.04% Native American, 18.64% Asian, 0.65% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.99% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Cresskill borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 5, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Cresskill borough, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 5, 2013.</ref>

There were 2,630 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.1% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.26.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the age distribution of the population shows 26.3% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $84,692, and the median income for a family was $96,245. Males had a median income of $61,194 versus $38,990 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,573. About 1.7% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

File:Cresskill, NJ municipal building, Feb. 2023.jpg

Cresskill Municipal Building

File:Post Office, Cresskill, New Jersey.png

The post office in Cresskill, Template:Circa

Cresskill 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. 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, March 2013, p. 165.</ref> The borough form of government used by Cresskill 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 position of the mayor of the Borough of Cresskill was filled by John Morgan, who previously held the position of President the Board of Health; Morgan will serve on an interim basis until the November 2025 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the remainder of the term of office.<ref>Blackburn, Zach. "Morgan sworn in as Cresskill mayor; Longtime mayor Benedict Romeo died last month", New Jersey Globe, April 4, 2025. Accessed April 9, 2025. "John Morgan was sworn in as mayor of the Borough of Cresskill on Wednesday. Longtime mayor Benedict Romeo died last month at the age of 77."</ref> This position was filled following the death in February 2025 of Republican Benedict Romeo, who was serving a term of office ending December 31, 2027; he had been serving his sixth term as mayor, having first been elected to the position in 1999.<ref>Myers, Gene. "Cresskill mourns loss of Mayor Benedict Romeo, its long-serving mayor", The Record, February 24, 2025. Accessed February 24, 2025. "Cresskill Mayor Benedict Romeo, who had been in the post since 1999, died Saturday, said two people who knew him.... First elected in 1999, Romeo was serving his sixth term as mayor."</ref> Members of the Cresskill Borough Council are Leslie Kaplan (D, 2025), Arthur J. McLaughlin (D, 2026), Hector Olmo (R, 2026), Kathleen Savas (D, 2027), Kathy M. Schultz-Rummel (R, 2027) and Mark Spina (R, 2025).<ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor and Council, Borough of Cresskill. Accessed April 9, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Cresskill. Accessed February 24, 2025.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>2024 County and Municipal Directory, Bergen County, New Jersey, April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.</ref><ref name=Bergen2024>2024 General Election Official Results, Bergen County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Bergen2023>Official Statement of Vote 2023 General Election - November 7, 2023 Official Results, Bergen County, New Jersey, November 27, 2023. Accessed January 1, 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>

Emergency services

The Cresskill Fire Department is a combination career and volunteer fire department that serves Cresskill and neighboring municipalities. The Fire Department is led by a Career Chief of Department and a Volunteer Deputy Chief, that lead the career and volunteer firefighters. The CFD is comprised of a squad truck, two engines, one ladder truck, and a rescue vehicle. Since Cresskill's EMS service closed down in 2015, Emergency Medical Services are provided to residents under the umbrella of the Cresskill Fire Department, providing 24/7 EMS service with paid per-diem staff.<ref>Fire Department, Borough of Cresskill. Accessed April 21, 2024. "The personnel of department consist of one (1) Chief of Department, one (1) Assistant Chief, one (1) Captain, two (2) Lieutenants, and approximately 16 Firefighters.... In 2015, Cresskill E.M.S. was disbanded and then became a Division of the Cresskill Fire Department. The Fire Department EMS is a fire-based New Jersey State Department of Health licensed ambulance service that provides the highest level of patient care. We are the only licensed paid ambulance in the Northern Valley area."</ref>

The Cresskill Police Department is made up of 22 police officers, complemented by Class I Special Police Officer's. The Police Department is open 24/7, and is located at 67 Union Avenue, in the rear of Borough Hall.<ref>Police Department, Borough of Cresskill. Accessed March 24, 2020.</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Cresskill is located in the 5th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

Politics

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |} As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,904 registered voters in Cresskill, of which 1,263 (25.8% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,234 (25.2% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,403 (49.0% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Bergen, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 4, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 57.2% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 78.1% 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, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 4, 2013.</ref>

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 2,086 votes (52.8% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 1,689 votes (42.7% vs. 41.1% countywide) and other candidates with 127 votes (3.2% vs 3.0% countywide), among the 3,953 ballots cast by the borough's 5,467 registered voters for a turnout of 72.3% (vs. 73% in Bergen County).<ref>Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results Bergen County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2016. Accessed September 11, 2017.</ref> In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,805 votes (49.7% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,777 votes (48.9% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 22 votes (0.6% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,634 ballots cast by the borough's 5,163 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.4% (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 4, 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 4, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,989 votes (50.4% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,913 votes (48.5% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 23 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,944 ballots cast by the borough's 5,074 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.7% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 5, 2013.</ref><ref name=Results2008>2008 General Election Results for Cresskill Template:Webarchive, The Record. Accessed November 7, 2008.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,886 votes (50.5% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,813 votes (48.5% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 27 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,738 ballots cast by the borough's 4,748 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.7% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 5, 2013.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.3% of the vote (1,412 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 34.9% (766 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (19 votes), among the 2,259 ballots cast by the borough's 4,949 registered voters (62 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.6%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,213 votes (49.5% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,106 votes (45.2% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 99 votes (4.0% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 8 votes (0.3% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,449 ballots cast by the borough's 4,975 registered voters, yielding a 49.2% 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 4, 2013.</ref>

Education

The Cresskill Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade<ref>Cresskill School District Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Cresskill Public Schools. Accessed April 10, 2024. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through twelve in the Cresskill School District. Composition The Cresskill School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Cresskill."</ref> The district is governed by a board of education and administered by a superintendent of schools, a school business administrator / board secretary, and principals, as part of the district's staff of more than 320 employees.<ref>Board of Education Overview, Cresskill Public Schools. Accessed April 10, 2024. "The district is governed by a Board of Education and administered by a Superintendent of Schools, a School Business Administrator, and three principals. The staff, comprised of teachers, child study team specialists, area supervisors, nurses, secretaries, aides and custodians, totals 327."</ref> Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Cresskill Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>) are Edward H. Bryan School<ref>Edward H. Bryan School, Cresskill Public Schools. Accessed April 10, 2024.</ref> with 531 students grades PreK-5, Merritt Memorial School<ref>Merritt Memorial School, Cresskill Public Schools. Accessed April 10, 2024.</ref> with 276 students in grades PreK-5 and Cresskill Middle School / Cresskill High School<ref>Cresskill Middle / High School, Cresskill Public Schools. Accessed April 10, 2024.</ref> with 398 students in middle school for grades 6-8 and 474 in high school for grades 9-12.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Cresskill Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Cresskill 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 Template:Webarchive, Bergen County Technical Schools. Accessed December 4, 2013.</ref><ref>Admissions Template:Webarchive, Bergen County Technical Schools. Accessed November 16, 2016.</ref>

Despite efforts by parents, the Academy of Saint Therese of Lisieux, which opened in 1957, was shuttered by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark at the end of the 2019–20 school year, in the wake of declining enrollment and an unsustainable subsidy from the diocese of more than $300,000 per year.<ref>Kaulessar, Ricardo. "Parents' bid to keep Cresskill Catholic school open falls short", The Record, May 29, 2020. Accessed March 30, 2023. "Despite the efforts of parents and a $250,000 fundraising drive, the Academy of St. Therese of Lisieux school appears headed for closure next month.... The Archdiocese of Newark announced earlier this month that St. Therese, on Jefferson Avenue, was one of 10 New Jersey Catholic schools closing at the end of the academic year due to declining enrollment and other issues.... It calls for the pre-k through 8 school, which opened in September 1957, to stay open for one more year and allow time to create a financial plan to continue operating without the $326,000 subsidy that the archdiocese provides."</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-07-22 15 03 00 View north along Bergen County Route 501 (County Road) at Linwood Avenue in Cresskill, Bergen County, New Jersey.jpg

County Route 501 northbound in Cresskill

Roads and highways

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, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed December 4, 2013.</ref>

County Route 505 and County Route 501 travel through Cresskill.

Public transportation

The NJ Transit 166 bus route provides service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, and local service is available on the 753 route.<ref>Routes by County: Bergen County, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed July 8, 2011.</ref><ref>Bergen County System Map Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed September 14, 2016.</ref>

Bus service to Rockland County and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC is also provided by Rockland Coaches route 20/20T.<ref>Services operating from Cresskill, NJ to New York, NY, Rockland Coaches. Accessed September 12, 2017.</ref>

Notable people

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

• Roger Ailes (1940–2017), television executive who was the chairman and CEO of Fox News and Fox Television Stations<ref>Trotter, J.K. "Fox News Boss Roger Ailes Treats Cops as His Personal Minions", Gawker, September 15, 2014. Accessed July 6, 2016. "He's also made very good friends with the local cops of Cresskill, New Jersey. According to police records obtained by Gawker, the Cresskill Police Department supplies 24/7 security to Ailes' residence there—apparently at no cost to Ailes himself—and otherwise delivers on-demand police services to his family, regardless of whether or not they are in any obvious danger."</ref>
• Joe Azelby (born 1962), professional football player who played for the Buffalo Bills, businessman and author<ref>Caldera, Pete. "Where are they now: Joe Azelby of Bergen Catholic", The Record, December 13, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 4, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2017. "These days Azelby, 49, regularly commutes to Manhattan from Cresskill, where he resides with his wife, Janet, and three daughters – though he must keep an up-to-date passport."</ref>
• Mary J. Blige (born 1971), R&B singer<ref>Venutolo, Anthony. "Exploring the valleys in peak form", The Star-Ledger, December 14, 2007. Accessed July 8, 2011. "Throughout her career, Blige, a 36-year-old Bronx native who now lives in Cresskill, has used her music as a kind of public therapy, reflecting on where she is, where she has been and where she wants to go."</ref><ref name=Royalty>Century, Douglas. "Alpine, N.J., Home of Hip-Hop Royalty", The New York Times, February 11, 2007. Accessed July 8, 2011.</ref>
• David Broza (born 1955), Israeli singer-songwriter<ref>Leichman, Joseph. "A Chava Alberstein and David Broza experience: Israeli Megastars head for Englewood", Jewish Standard, March 1, 2007. Accessed November 28, 2007. "Broza lived in Cresskill for 17 years, and he will return to New Jersey when he plays with Alberstein at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood tomorrow night."</ref>
• Rick Cerone (born 1954), former catcher for the New York Yankees<ref>Smith, Claire. "Cerone Is Happy to Join Mets After Weak Year With Yanks", The New York Times, January 22, 1991. Accessed January 15, 2012. "'I wanted to play for the Mets,' Cerone said by telephone from his Cresskill, N.J., home. 'I wanted to play for a contender. And I wanted to stay close to home.'</ref>
• Lynn Chen (born 1976), actress, who has appeared on All My Children<ref>Chang, Althea D. "Asian American and Female in American Television and Films: Lynn Chen from All My Children", Asian Life, October 30, 2003. Accessed December 23, 2013. "As a young student in Cresskill, NJ, she was defined by her acting, so she eventually wanted to try something new."</ref>
• Halim El-Dabh (1921–2017), Egyptian-born composer who made Cresskill his home in the early 1960s<ref>Seachrist, Denise A. "The Musical World of Halim El-Dabh", p. 95, Kent State University Press, 2003. Template:ISBN . Accessed July 8, 2011. "Mary and the girls were delighted to return to the United States, and when El-Dabh purchased a home in Cresskill, New Jersey, Mary was optimistic that her peripatetic husband was finally ready to settle down."</ref>
• Stephen Dadaian (born 1987), electric and classical guitarist<ref>Batipps, Mylin. "Dentist by Day, Musician by Night", TCNJ Journal, April 13, 2013. Accessed December 23, 2013. "Stephen Dadaian is an electric and classical guitarist from Cresskill, New Jersey."</ref>
• Johnny Damon (born 1973), former left fielder for the New York Yankees<ref>Staff. "The Rumble: Damons' open house", New York Post, September 27, 2009. Accessed December 23, 2013. "With a downstairs living section in their Cresskill home, Damon and his wife, Michelle, welcomed the Robertsons in."</ref>
• Bobby Hebb (1938–2010), R&B and soul singer, musician, songwriter, recording artist, and performer known for his 1966 hit "Sunny"<ref>Lehmann, Marilyn. "Religion and Music Shape Bobby Hebb's Life Style", Ridgewood Herald-News, September 30, 1971. Accessed December 27, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Bobby Hebb of Cresskill, although best known for his record, "Sunny", which he composed, wrote and sang, and which went over the elevn million mark, is a man with such a multitude of talents, and with so much energy to pursue them all that trying to follow his activities for just one day would leave the ordinary person far behind."</ref>
• Marvin Kaplan, lawyer and government official who serves as the chairman of the National Labor Relations Board<ref>"Nomination Hearing for Deputy Secretary of Labor and Members of the National Labor Relations Board - July 13, 2017", United States Senate. Accessed February 17, 2018. "Marvin Kaplan of Cresskill, NJ nominated to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board"</ref>
• Michael Kempner (born 1958), founder, president, and CEO of the public relations firm MWW<ref>Jackson, Herb. "Obama taps Cresskill man for federal panel", The Record, January 10, 2014, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 1, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2017. "President Obama nominated the Bergen County public relations executive Michael Kempner on Thursday to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the Voice of America service and other federally controlled outlets overseas."</ref>
• Andrew M. Luger (born 1959), attorney who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota from 2014 to 2017<ref>Furst, Randy. "Tenacious Andy Luger returns to public eye as top prosecutor; He brings a strong sense of justice to job as top federal prosecutor.", Star Tribune, February 13, 2014. Accessed May 9, 2017. "The youngest of three children from a middle-class family, Luger grew up in Cresskill, N.J."</ref>
• Betsy Markey (born 1956), member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado<ref>Betsy Markey, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed February 21, 2011.</ref>
• Harold Martin (1918–2010), member of the New Jersey General Assembly<ref>Levin, Jay. "Harold Martin, former Bergen County freeholder and state Assemblyman, dies", The Record, October 20, 2010. Accessed September 12, 2017. "Harold Martin, a Democrat from Cresskill who served one term as a Bergen County freeholder and three terms in the state Assembly, died Tuesday. He was 92. Mr. Martin, who worked at various times as a stockbroker, an electronic manufacturers sales representative and a research economist, used a seat on the Cresskill Planning Board and frequent attendance at Cresskill Council meetings as a springboard to higher office."</ref>
• Reuben (1912–1994) and Rose (1916–2006) Mattus, entrepreneurs and philanthropists who founded the Häagen-Dazs ice cream business<ref>Lyons, Richard D. "Reuben Mattus, 81, the Founder of Haagen-Dazs", The New York Times, January 29, 1994. Accessed December 4, 2013. "Reuben Mattus, the Polish immigrant who stuck an umlaut on a nonsensical name and parlayed the exotic result into the multimillion-dollar company that sold Haagen-Dazs ice cream, died on Thursday in the North Broward Medical Center in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Mr. Mattus, who lived in Cresskill, N.J., was 81."</ref><ref>Hevesi, Dennis. "Rose Mattus, 90, Co-Creator of Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream, Dies", The New York Times, December 1, 2006. Accessed December 4, 2013. "Rose Mattus, who with her husband, Reuben, turned a family-owned ice cream business in the Bronx into a national brand with the invented name Häagen-Dazs, died Tuesday in Westwood, N.J. She was 90 and lived in Cresskill, N.J."</ref>
• Pierre McGuire (born 1961), ice hockey analyst and former NHL coach and scout<ref>Czerwinski, Mark. "A Big Positive for Whalers", The Record, November 21, 1993, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 2, 2015. Accessed September 12, 2017. "Pierre McGuire knows hockey. The former Bergen Catholic standoutand Cresskill resident also has paid his dues as an assistant coach."</ref>
• May McNeer (1902–1994), journalist and author<ref name=McNeerWard>Halasz, Piri. "Ward Engravings on View", The New York Times, October 27, 1974. Accessed September 12, 2017. "Since then, Mr. Ward has illustrated more than 100 books for adults and children; they range from editions of Goethe's Faust and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to a number of children's books written by his wife, May McNeer Ward.... For the last 16 years, Mr. and Mrs. Ward have lived on Lambs Lane, in Cresskill, in a small house to which they have added a much larger studio."</ref>
• Robert Bruce Merrifield (1921–2006), biochemist and winner of 1984 Nobel Prize in Chemistry<ref>Chang, Kenneth. "R. Bruce Merrifield, Who Won Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Dies at 84", The New York Times, May 20, 2006. Accessed December 23, 2013. "R. Bruce Merrifield, who won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing a much quicker way to synthesize proteins, streamlining many medical and scientific experiments, died Sunday at his home in Cresskill, N.J."</ref><ref>Petkewich, Rachel. "Nobel Laureate R. Bruce Merrifield Dies At 84", Chemical & Engineering News, May 23, 2006. "Robert Bruce Merrifield, a biochemist who won the 1984 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for a method he named solid-phase peptide synthesis, died on May 14 at his home in Cresskill, N.J., after a long illness. He was 84."</ref>
• Sherrill Milnes (born 1935), operatic baritone<ref>Milnes, Sherrill; McGovern, Dennis. "American Aria: Encore", p. 33, Hal Leonard Corporation, 2007. Template:ISBN.</ref>
• Tracy Morgan (born 1968), actor and comedian best known for his eight seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for his role as Tracy Jordan on the TV series 30 Rock<ref>Siemaszko, Corky. "Tracy Morgan pictured still recovering from crash as he slowly makes his way around home", New York Daily News, October 2, 2014. Accessed November 30, 2014. "Earlier in the day, a News photographer captured shots of Morgan outside his Cresskill, N.J., home."</ref>
• Nicholas Oresko (1917–2013), United States Army veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 23, 1945, during World War II<ref>Coutros, Evonne; and Koloff, Abbott. "Nicholas Oresko of Cresskill, World War II hero, dies at 96", The Record, October 4, 2013, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 7, 2013. Accessed September 12, 2017. "Nicholas Oresko of Cresskill, the nation's oldest Medal of Honor recipient, died Friday evening, having been watched over all week by veterans and military personnel who'd heard he was in a hospital with a broken leg. Oresko, 96, was a U.S. Army master sergeant during World War II, when, although badly wounded, he wiped out two enemy bunkers near Tettingen, Germany, during the Battle of the Bulge."</ref>
• Mike Piazza (born 1968), former catcher for the New York Mets<ref>Heyman, Jon. "NY Spring Training / East Is Eden / Piazza's found contentment after leaving the West Coast", Newsday, March 21, 1999. Accessed December 23, 2013. "Piazza looked long and hard in Brooklyn but eventually settled on a house in secluded Cresskill, in Bergen County, N.J., away from the action but closer to his mom and pop in Valley Forge, Pa."</ref>
• John Ricco (born Template:Circa), assistant general manager of the New York Mets<ref>Wagner, James. "The Mets Middleman Who's Always on Call", The New York Mets, November 18, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2017. "Ricco’s path to the Mets’ front office began in a newsroom. Growing up in Cresskill, N.J., Ricco was a Yankees fan — an allegiance that has long since fizzled."</ref>
• Tom Rinaldi, reporter for ESPN and ABC<ref>Kramer, Peter D. "9/11: Man in the red bandanna's finest hour", The Record, September 6, 2016, backed up by the Internet Archive as of October 11, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2017. "This week will find Tom Rinaldi pingponging from his home in Tenafly, New Jersey — less than a mile from the Cresskill home he grew up in — to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, to cover the U.S. Open."</ref>
• Ani Sarkisian (born 1995), footballer who plays as a forward for the Armenia women's national team<ref>Ani Sarkisian, Michigan Wolverines women's soccer. Accessed April 16, 2021. "Hometown: Cresskill, N.J.; High School Cresskill"</ref>
• Tommy Savas (born 1984), actor and producer<ref>Yorio, Kara. "Cresskill native Tommy Savas in TNT's The Last Ship", The Record, June 19, 2014, backed up by the Internet Archive as of August 12, 2014. Accessed September 12, 2017. "Savas, who grew up in Cresskill, is part of an ensemble cast that includes Eric Dane, Rhona Mitra and Adam Baldwin, and he promises something new for the television audience."</ref>
• Richard H. Tedford (Template:Circa–2011), paleontologist<ref>Levin, Jay. "Richard H. Tedford, 82; paleontologist and author", The Record, July 21, 2001, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 12, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2017. "Richard H. Tedford of Demarest, whose eminent, decades-long career as a vertebrate paleontologist took him on fossil explorations of Australia, China and the American West, died last Friday. He was 82.... Mr. Tedford, formerly of Cresskill, was predeceased by his first wife, Elizabeth."</ref>
• Lynd Ward (1905–1985), artist and storyteller, known for his series of wordless novels using wood engraving<ref name=McNeerWard/>
• Gary Wright (1943-2023), singer best known for his song "Dream Weaver"<ref>"Music Notes", The Star-Ledger, November 16, 2000, p. 71. "Wright returns. Singer-songwriter-keyboardist Gary Wright, who grew up in Cresskill and went to Tenafly High School, will perform in New York tonight for the first time in 20 years."</ref><ref>Voger, Mark. "Hippiefest: Gary Wright interview", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 29, 2011. Accessed May 26, 2015. "Born in Cresskill and a graduate of Tenafly High School, Wright is coming home to perform on Aug. 9 in Red Bank, Aug. 10 in Morristown and Aug. 12 in Englewood as part of the Hippiefest tour alongside Felix Cavaliere, Mark Farner, Dave Mason and Rick Derringer."</ref>
• Robert Zoellner (1932–2014), investor and stamp collector who was the second person to have assembled a complete collection of United States postage stamps<ref>Levin, Jay. "Robert E. Zoellner, investment firm founder and philanthropist from Alpine, dead at 82", The Record, December 30, 2014, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 31, 2014. Accessed September 12, 2017. "Upon moving to Alpine from Cresskill in the late 1980s, the Zoellners gave the latter borough a gift of tennis courts and an adjacent baseball field."</ref>

Sources

• 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.
• 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.

External links

• Cresskill official website