Caldwell, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Caldwell is a borough located in northwestern Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about Template:Convert west of New York City and Template:Convert north-west of Newark, the state's most populous city. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 9,027,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 1,205 (+15.4%) from the 2010 census count of 7,822,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 238 (+3.1%) from the 7,584 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>

Caldwell was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 10, 1892, from portions of Caldwell Township (now Fairfield Township), based on the results of a referendum held on the previous day.<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. 75. Accessed July 6, 2012.</ref> In 1981, the borough's name was changed to the "Township of the Borough of Caldwell", as one of seven Essex County municipalities to pass a referendum to become a township, joining four municipalities that had already made the change, of what would ultimately be more than a dozen Essex County municipalities to reclassify themselves as townships in order take advantage of federal revenue sharing policies that allocated townships a greater share of government aid to municipalities on a per capita basis.<ref>"Chapter VI: Municipal Names and Municipal Classification", 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 January 26, 1995, it again became a borough.<ref>1990s boundary changes: New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2011.</ref>

Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, the first president to serve two non-consecutive terms, and the only elected Democratic Party President to serve between 1861 and 1913, was born in Caldwell on March 18, 1837. His father, Rev. Richard Falley Cleveland, was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. The Grover Cleveland birthplace—the church's former manse—is now a museum and is open to the public.<ref>Grover Cleveland Birthplace, New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Grover Cleveland's birthplace was built in 1832 as the Manse, or Pastor's residence, for the first Presbyterian Church at Caldwell."</ref>

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

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Caldwell as its third-best place to live in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.<ref>"Best Places To Live – The Complete Top Towns List 1-100", New Jersey Monthly, February 11, 2010. Accessed February 24, 2010.</ref>

History

In 1702, settlers purchased a Template:Convert Horseneck Tract from the Lenape Native American tribe for goods equal to $325 (equivalent to $Template:Inflation in Template:Inflation/year). This purchase encompassed much of western Essex County, from the First Mountain to the Passaic River at Pine Brook. Caldwell is located in the center of the Horseneck Tract. Settlement began about 1740 by Thomas Gould and Saunders Sanders.

The Horseneck Tract consisted of present-day Caldwell, West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Fairfield, Verona, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Roseland, and portions of Livingston and West Orange. This land was part of the larger purchase and had been referred to as the Horse Neck Tract until February 17, 1787, when the town congregation voted to change the name to Caldwell, in honor of the Reverend James Caldwell who pushed for their organization's creation.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.</ref><ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 63. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 28, 2015.</ref>

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

This left only the most rural farmland south of Caldwell Borough and Essex Fells to become its own township, Roseland. At this point, all that remained of the original Caldwell Township was 6,600 acres of rural farmland and meadows in the northwesternmost part of Essex County. In 1963, Caldwell Township changed its name to Fairfield in order to avoid being confused with Caldwell Borough.<ref>Wright, George Cable. "Jersey Aroused by Referendums; Some Ballots on Tuesday to List Nine Questions", The New York Times, November 3, 1963. Accessed July 5, 2012. "The voters of Caldwell Township wilt be asked to substitute the name of Fairfield, which the township bore 100 years ago when it stretched east to Newark. The name change was recommended because of confusion of mail distribution in Caldwell, West Caldwell and North Caldwell. There is presently a Fairfield Township in Cumberland County."</ref>

Immediately following the separation of the original Caldwell, the western part of Caldwell Borough generally remained less developed than downtown Caldwell Borough and contained several farms and a large area of undeveloped swampland known as Hatfield Swamp. However, two individual settlements, known as Franklin and Westville, soon formed in the western part of Caldwell Borough. As development increased and population grew in the western part of Caldwell, the town's more rural western population and more urban east often could not reconcile their differences. This led to the areas of Franklin and Westville consolidating into their own township known as West Caldwell in 1904, leaving only the one square mile of original downtown Horseneck development as the borough of Caldwell. Lewis G. Lockward was elected the first mayor of Caldwell.<ref name=NYT1979>"Old Caldwell Branch at End of the Line", The New York Times, June 10, 1979. Accessed November 3, 2019.</ref> In 1929, an attempt to consolidate the three Caldwells into a single municipality was rejected by voters.Template:Citation needed

This borough was one of the filming locations for the Columbia Pictures 1994 comedy film North.Template:Citation needed

Historical facts

• George Washington and his staff made their way through the community during the Revolutionary War. They stopped for lunch at the old stone house of Saunders Sanders, located near present-day Brookside Avenue, one of the two original settlers of Caldwell.<ref name=Minutes2014/>
• Marquis de Lafayette visited in 1824, featuring a celebration party at the Crane Tavern.<ref name="Minutes2014">Council Business Meeting April 15, 2014, Borough of Caldwell. Accessed November 3, 2019. "Whereas, General George Washington and his staff stopped for lunch at Saunders Sanders stone tavern during the Revolution, and the militia met and drilled at the Green to set off from the green for the battles of Connecticut Farms, Springfield, and Monmouth under the leadership of Captain William Gould, and... Whereas, the Marquis de Lafayette visited Caldwell on a triumphal tour, celebrated at the Crane Tavern, and Caldwell was given the brass cannon on the green by Colonel Peter Decatur during that visit in 1824, and"</ref>
• About 1816, Elias B. Caldwell and family, Presbyterians, helped found Liberia, a nation for free blacks, and the town of Caldwell, Liberia.<ref>The African Repository, p. 5. January 1868. Accessed February 12, 2022.</ref>
• During the 1928 Presidential campaign, Herbert Hoover visited the Grover Cleveland Birthplace with his wife.<ref>Staff. "Hoover In Appeal To Labor Warns Against Tariff Cut; Acclaimed In Jersey Tour; 10,000 In Newark Hear Him Tells Workers They Owe Welfare to Policies of the Republicans. Stresses Immigration Bar Products and Wages Protected by Curb on Influx of Low-Paid Labor, Says Nominee. Hailed In Tour Of Towns Edisons Greet Candidate and His Wife in Essex County Ride --75,000 Cheer Them.", The New York Times, September 18, 1928. Accessed July 31, 2013. "Another bright spot in the motor trip was a visit paid by Mr. and Mrs. Hoover to the birthplace of Grover Cleveland at Caldwell."</ref>
• Grover Cleveland lived the first four years of his life in Caldwell.
• In October 1897, a severe fire ripped through a large portion of Bloomfield Avenue, destroying buildings in its wake. These buildings were replaced, in part, by the Hasler Building, opposite the Presbyterian Church. This became Caldwell's first brick building.<ref name=Remembering />
• In, 1908 the Caldwell Public Library opened. It is one of 20 remaining Carnegie libraries in New Jersey. In 2022, Preservation New Jersey listed the library on its list of the state's ten most endangered historic properties.<ref>Caldwell Public Library, Preservation New Jersey. Accessed June 27, 2022. "From 1900 to 1923, Carnegie funded 36 libraries in New Jersey; 29 are still standing, including 20 still functioning as public libraries."</ref>
• In 1914, during a Fourth of July fireworks celebration, a bomb fell, injuring 20 people. Local churches raised funds to defray the medical bills of the injured.
• In 1968, Caldwell's ornate historic bronze dolphin handle cannon was stolen off the town green. The cannon had been given to the borough by Marquis de Lafayette, who was a friend of Caldwell. A poorly cast rusting iron replica cannon was constructed and was placed at the site.<ref name=Remembering>Collins, John J. Remembering the Caldwells, p. 120. Arcadia Publishing, 1998. Template:ISBN. Accessed July 31, 2013. "The cannon on the green is a replica of the original cannon presented to Caldwell by Gen. Marquis de Lafayette. The original mounted cannon was stolen in 1968."</ref>
• On July 14, 1974, the landmark Park Theatre was destroyed by fire.<ref>The Park Theater Fire, The Caldwell Green — an online exhibit of items from the Gene Collerd Local History Collection at the Caldwell Public Library, December 23, 2013. Accessed August 20, 2014.</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.18 square miles (3.05 km²), including 1.18 square miles (3.05 km²) of land and <0.01 square miles (<0.01 km²) of water (0.08%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Caldwell is part of "The Caldwells", the group of three Essex County municipalities which all have the word Caldwell in their name. Together with North Caldwell and West Caldwell, these communities are named after the Reverend James Caldwell, a Patriot who played an active role supporting the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, most notably his actions at the Battle of Springfield, where he gave the soldiers pages from hymn books to use as wadding for their rifle bullets.<ref>NJ Community Prepares to Honor Fighting Spirit of Reverend James Caldwell Template:Webarchive, accessed August 6, 2006.</ref> While each community has its own independent government, and the three municipalities have no shared governance (other than Essex County), the term is often used to refer to the area, including on highway exit signs. Signage for Exit 47B and 52 on Interstate 80 refer to "The Caldwells" as a destination. Fairfield Township was known as Caldwell Township until it abandoned its original name in 1963 in an effort to avoid confusion of mail distribution in the various Caldwells.<ref>Wright, George Cable. "Jersey Aroused By Referendums; Some Ballots on Tuesday to List Nine Questions Junior College Vote Name Change in Brick", The New York Times, November 3, 1963. Accessed October 2, 2011. "The voters of Caldwell Township will be asked to substitute the name of Fairfield, which the township bore 100 years ago when it stretched east to Newark. The name change was recommended because of confusion of mail distribution in Caldwell, West Caldwell and North Caldwell."</ref>

The borough borders the Essex County municipalities of Essex Fells, North Caldwell and West Caldwell, New Jersey.<ref>Areas touching Caldwell, MapIt. Accessed March 22, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities, Essex County, New Jersey Register of Deeds and Mortgages. Accessed March 22, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

Template:US Census population In a report performed by the United Way of Northern New Jersey based on 2012 data, around 34% of Caldwell households were classified as "Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed" households (below a threshold of $50,000 for households below 65, below $35,000 for those over 65), struggling with basic necessities, such as housing, childcare, food, health care, and transportation, compared to 38% statewide and 47% in Essex County.<ref>"ALICE Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed: Study of Financial Hardship", United Way of Northern New Jersey, September 2014. Accessed September 18, 2014. "In total, 1.2 million households in New Jersey – fully 38 percent – struggled to support themselves in 2012."</ref>

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 7,822 people, 3,359 households, and 1,797 families in the borough. The population density was 6,710.3 per square mile (2,590.9/km²). There were 3,510 housing units at an average density of 3,011.1 per square mile (1,162.6/km²). The racial makeup was 86.78% (6,788) White, 3.32% (260) Black or African American, 0.10% (8) Native American, 4.72% (369) Asian, 0.04% (3) Pacific Islander, 3.14% (246) from other races, and 1.89% (148) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.05% (786) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 3,359 households, 23.0% had children under the age of 18; 40.3% were married couples living together; 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 46.5% were non-families. Of all households, 39.7% were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 3.01.<ref name=Census2010/>

18.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 87.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.5 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $76,354 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,683) and the median family income was $99,898 (+/− $10,668). Males had a median income of $75,026 (+/− $12,328) versus $61,667 (+/− $20,342) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $45,693 (+/− $4,350). About 1.1% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Caldwell borough, Essex County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 21, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 7,584 people, 3,311 households, and 1,814 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,396 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 91.22% White, 2.27% African American, 0.11% Native American, 4.06% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.64% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Caldwell borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Caldwell borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref>

There were 3,311 households, out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.2% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.93.<ref name=Census2000 /><ref name=Census2000SF1 />

In the borough the population was spread out, with 18.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.6 males.<ref name=Census2000 /><ref name=Census2000SF1 />

The median income for a household in the borough was $61,250, and the median income for a family was $81,989. Males had a median income of $53,548 versus $40,543 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,630. About 2.5% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000 /><ref name=Census2000SF1 />

Government

Local government

Caldwell 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 comprises 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, March 2013, p. 125.</ref> The borough form of government used by Caldwell 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 19, 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 Caldwell is Republican Garrett Jones, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.<ref name=Mayor>Mayor Garrett Jones, Borough of Caldwell. Accessed January 14, 2023.</ref> Members of the Borough Council are Council President Darren Daniolowicz (R, 2025), Kris Brown (R, 2025), Barbara Z. Buechner (R, 2027), Dana Hunkele (R, 2027), Kenneth R. Jurgensen (D, 2026) and Vivian L. Rodeffer (D, 2026).<ref name=MayorCouncil>Meet Our Mayor and Council, Borough of Caldwell. Accessed January 19, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Caldwell. Accessed January 19, 2025.</ref><ref name=EssexDirectory>County Directory, Essex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 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>General Election November 8, 2022 Unofficial Results, Essex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2022. Accessed January 14, 2023.</ref>

Caldwell and West Caldwell share services including the Recreation Department and the school system. The Board of Recreation Commissioners of the Boroughs of Caldwell and West Caldwell was established in 1947.Template:Citation needed

Federal, state, and county representation

Caldwell is located in the 10th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,035 registered voters in Caldwell, of which 1,585 (31.5%) were registered as Democrats, 1,118 (22.2%) were registered as Republicans and 2,331 (46.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.<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 49.8% of the vote (1,814 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 49.4% (1,799 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (31 votes), among the 3,672 ballots cast by the borough's 5,281 registered voters (28 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.5%.<ref name="2012Elections">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="2012VoterReg">Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 48.4% of the vote (1,823 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 47.0% (1,770 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (41 votes), among the 3,769 ballots cast by the borough's 4,973 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.8%.<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, Republican George W. Bush received 52.2% of the vote (1,981 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 46.6% (1,767 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (33 votes), among the 3,794 ballots cast by the borough's 4,852 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.2.<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 62.7% of the vote (1,485 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.2% (857 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (25 votes), among the 2,417 ballots cast by the borough's 5,263 registered voters (50 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.9%.<ref name="2013Elections">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="2013VoterReg">Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 50.5% of the vote (1,353 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 37.7% (1,008 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 9.4% (251 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (24 votes), among the 2,677 ballots cast by the borough's 4,974 registered voters, yielding a 53.8% 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

The Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools is a public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Caldwell and West Caldwell.<ref>Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. Accessed December 15, 2022. "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 Caldwell-West Caldwell School District. Composition: The Caldwell-West Caldwell School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Caldwell-West Caldwell."</ref> The roots of the district date back to 1872, though formal consolidation of the districts was established in 1904.<ref>A Brief History, Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. Accessed December 15, 2022. "The Borough of Caldwell and the Township of West Caldwell have played a prominent role in the development of the Caldwell-West Caldwell school system and the quality of education it provides. Cooperation of the two communities began in 1872 when state laws governing school districts permitted the villages of Caldwell, Franklin and Westville to consolidate into a 'School Borough.' ... West Caldwell became a borough February 24, 1904. On March 30, 1904, a special school meeting was held to vote on the consolidation of Caldwell and West Caldwell into one school district. The vote was in favor of consolidation."</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of seven schools, had an enrollment of 2,669 students and 226.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Caldwell-West School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>) are Harrison School<ref>Harrison School, Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. Accessed December 15, 2022.</ref> (West Caldwell; 23 students; grades K-PreK), Jefferson Elementary School<ref>Jefferson Elementary School, Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. Accessed December 15, 2022.</ref> (West Caldwell; 266; K-5), Lincoln Elementary School<ref>Lincoln Elementary School, Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. Accessed December 15, 2022.</ref> (Caldwell; 260; K-5), Washington Elementary School<ref>Washington Elementary School, Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. Accessed December 15, 2022.</ref> (West Caldwell; 374; K-5), Wilson Elementary School<ref>Wilson Elementary School, Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. Accessed December 15, 2022.</ref> (West Caldwell; 252; K-5), Grover Cleveland Middle School<ref>Grover Cleveland Middle School, Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. Accessed December 15, 2022.</ref> (Caldwell; 626; 6-8), and James Caldwell High School<ref>James Caldwell High School, Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. Accessed December 15, 2022.</ref> (West Caldwell; 829; 9-12).<ref>School Performance Reports for the Caldwell-West School School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

The Essex County Vocational Technical Schools offers magnet school and vocational programs to students in eighth through twelfth grades from Caldwell and all of Essex County.<ref>Admissions, Essex County Schools of Technology. Accessed September 12, 2019. "Any eighth, ninth, tenth or eleventh grade student who is a resident of Essex County, who expects to be promoted by their local district to the grade they seek to enter, is eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year subject to the availability of openings."</ref>

Mount Saint Dominic Academy for grades 9–12 operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.<ref>Mission and History, Mount Saint Dominic Academy. Accessed February 19, 2023.</ref><ref>Essex County Catholic Secondary Schools, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed February 19, 2023.</ref> Private schools in Caldwell include Trinity Academy for grades PreK–8 which was founded in 1991 and which was closed by the Newark Archdiocese in the wake of falling enrollment.<ref>Our History, Trinity Academy. Accessed November 14, 2016. "Instituted in September 1991, Trinity Academy is a Catholic elementary school, grades pre-kindergarten through eight, which was created and supported by the parishes of St. Aloysius in Caldwell, Notre Dame in North Caldwell, and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Roseland."</ref><ref>"Update: Archdiocese to close Trinity Academy in Caldwell", The Progress, May 11, 2020. Accessed February 15, 2023. "Previously, it was St. Aloysius School, a single parish school, for more than 120 years.... St. Aloysius School later became Trinity Academy. By 2020, enrollment at Trinity, a Catholic school in Caldwell, had fallen from 154 students in 2015 to 111, and the Archdiocese decided to close it."</ref> In 2015, Trinity Academy was one of 15 schools in New Jersey, and one of six private schools, recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in the exemplary high performing category by the United States Department of Education.<ref>2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed November 14, 2016.</ref><ref>Mueller, Mark. "Which N.J. schools were named National Blue Ribbon schools?", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 29, 2015. Accessed November 14, 2016. "Fifteen New Jersey schools have been recognized by the federal government as National Blue Ribbon Schools, a designation that celebrates excellence in academics or progress in closing the achievement gap among groups of students.... Each of the 15 New Jersey schools was chosen for the 'exemplary high performing' category, which weighs state or national tests, high school graduation rates and the performance of subgroups of students, such as those who are economically disadvantaged."</ref>

The borough is home to Caldwell University, a catholic liberal arts college with 2,200 students.<ref>About Caldwell, Caldwell University. Accessed September 12, 2019. "Located in the picturesque town of Caldwell, New Jersey. Recently, Caldwell was voted the third best place to live in all of New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly Magazine.... Caldwell University enrolls approximately 2,200 full-time, part-time, and graduate students."</ref> The West Essex Campus of Essex County College is located in West Caldwell.

Transportation

File:2018-07-18 16 45 17 View east along Essex County Route 506 (Bloomfield Avenue) at Essex County Route 631 (Central Avenue) in Caldwell, Essex County, New Jersey.jpg

County Route 506 in Caldwell

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 Essex County.<ref>Essex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

County Route 506 is the most significant roadway in Caldwell.<ref>County Route 506 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2012. Accessed February 5, 2023.</ref><ref>Essex County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 15, 2023.</ref>

Public transportation

NJ Transit offers bus service to and from Caldwell on the 29 and 71 routes.<ref>Essex County bus/train connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed June 30, 2011.</ref><ref>Essex County System Map, NJ Transit. Accessed November 2, 2019.</ref>

Commuter train service was offered historically at Caldwell station on the Caldwell Branch, which ran from Great Notch to Essex Fells, with service offered starting in 1891. The borough of Caldwell bought the station in 1965 from the Erie Lackawanna Railway and demolished it later that year.<ref>Schweiterman, Joseph P. When the Railroad Leaves Town: American Communities in the Age of Rail Line Abandonment, Volume 1, p. 185. Truman State University Press, 2001. Template:ISBN. Accessed November 3, 2019. "During the summer of 1965 demolition crews razed the community's passenger depot. In the autumn of 1966 commuter trains operated by Erie Lackawanna made their last runs, ending passenger service."</ref> Service at Caldwell station ended in October 1966, when Erie Lackawanna discontinued several commuter lines, in the face of unsuccessful legal action in the courts to keep the service operating.<ref>"Commuters Lose Bid to Keep Erie Trains", The New York Times, October 3, 1966. Accessed November 3, 2019.</ref> In 1979, the tracks on the Caldwell Branch were torn up.<ref name=NYT1979/>

Notable people

File:Grover Cleveland birthplace01.jpg

The birthplace of former U.S. president Grover Cleveland in Caldwell

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Caldwell include:

• Madeline Cox Arleo (born 1963), United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey<ref>Gaudiano, Nicole. "N.J. judge testifies at confirmation hearing", Asbury Park Press, July 30, 2014. Accessed November 12, 2016. "'(Those), to me, are the most important qualities of a judge,' Arleo, of Caldwell, told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee."</ref>
• Alfred M. Best (1876–1958), actuary who founded AM Best Company, Inc. in 1899<ref>About the Founder of A.M. Best, A.M. Best. Accessed October 16, 2007. "Alfred M. Best was born in Caldwell, NJ, in 1876."</ref>
• Whitey Campbell (1926–2015), head baseball coach at the University of Miami in 1958 and from 1960 to 1962<ref>Degnan, Susan Miller. "UM all-around great athlete, coach Whitey Campbell dies at 89", Miami Herald, November 5, 2015. Accessed November 4, 2018. "Campbell was born in New York City and grew up in Caldwell, New Jersey."</ref>
• Grover Cleveland (1837–1908), 22nd and 24th President of the United States<ref>"Historical Sites in New Jersey", The New York Times, September 30, 2007. Accessed October 16, 2007. "Grover Cleveland Birthplace Caldwell. Grover Cleveland was born in this house in 1837 while his father, the Rev. Richard Falley Cleveland, was the minister to the First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell."</ref>
• Janine di Giovanni (born 1961), war correspondent<ref>Kachka, Boris. "War Born: Growing up in New Jersey, Janine di Giovanni had to get out. So she went to Chechnya and the Balkans.", New York, December 8, 2003. Accessed October 2, 2011. "But the Times of London correspondent plans to continue her travels—baby in tow—giving her child an upbringing worlds away from her own in Caldwell, New Jersey."</ref>
• Herbert O. Fisher (1909–1990), test pilot for Curtiss-Wright, executive at Port Authority of New York and New Jersey<ref>Staff. "Herbert O. Fisher, 81, Test Pilot and Official." The New York Times, August 3, 1990. Accessed June 14, 2013. "Mr. Fisher was also a councilman and police commissioner in Caldwell, N.J., and was on the New Jersey Civil Air Defense Advisory Council."</ref>
• Frank Handlen (1916–2023), artist<ref>Biography for Frank Handlen, AskART. Accessed October 24, 2007. "Born September 27, 1916 in Caldwell, New Jersey, he lived and painted in Biddeford Pool, Maine from 1940–1970."</ref>
• J. Henry Harrison (1878–1943), lawyer and politician who represented Essex County in the New Jersey Senate<ref>Nelson, William, ed. Nelson's Biographical Cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume 2, p. 147. Eastern Historical Publishing Society, 1913. Accessed February 12, 2022. "The boyhood and early youth of Mr. Harrison were passed in Caldwell. He attended the local high school and Montclair High School, where he prepared for admission to the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, and he was graduated from Princeton University in 1899."</ref>
• Gerald Henderson Jr. (born 1987), NBA basketball player for the Charlotte Bobcats<ref>Shaughnessy, Dan. "Son is in forecast: Duke's Henderson has bright future", The Boston Globe, March 26, 2009. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Young Gerald was born in December 1987 in Caldwell, N.J., while his dad was playing for the 76ers."</ref>
• Mary G. Hill (1803-1884), first of president the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Newark<ref name="Life1892">Template:Cite book Template:Source-attribution</ref>
• Ka Kwong Hui (1922–2003), potter, ceramist and educator<ref>Malarcher, Patricia. "Crafts; Director's Choice' At Hunterdon Center Contrasts Work Of 3 Ceramic Sculptors", The New York Times, 'October 19, 1986. Accessed December 24, 2021. "The artists represented are three Jerseyans - Hui Ka Kwong of Caldwell, Bennett Bean of Johnsonburg and Robert Cooke of New Brunswick."</ref>
• The Amazing Kreskin (1935–2024), mentalist<ref>Fortin, Jacey. "The Amazing Kreskin, Mentalist and 1970s Television Star, Dies at 89", The New York Times, December 11, 2024. Accessed December 11, 2024. "Ryan Galway, his former road manager and close friend, said that Mr. Kreskin had died in his home in Caldwell, N.J."</ref>
• James Lordi (1910–1985), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1970 to 1972<ref>"James P. Lordi, 75, Democratic leader", The Star-Ledger, June 17, 1985. Accessed March 3, 2025, via Newspapers.com. " James P. Lordi, 75, of Caldwell, a Newark attorney for the past 50 years who was active in Democratic politics, died yesterday at his residence."</ref>
• John B. MacChesney (1929–2021), scientist who was pioneer in optical communication at Bell Labs<ref>"Janice Hoyt Becomes Bride Of Sgt. John B. MacChesney", Evening Express, March 24, 1952. Accessed November 20, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Sergeant MacChesney, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Burnette MacChesney of Caldwell, N. J., is a graduate of Grover Cleveland High School, Caldwell, N. J., was graduated at Bowdoin College in 1951 where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity."</ref>
• Camryn Manheim (born 1961), actress<ref>Thomas, Bob via Associated Press. "Camryn Mannheim plays 'fairest one of all'", Ocala Star-Banner, February 27, 2000. Accessed July 2, 2011. "Born in Caldwell, N.J., Manheim spent her early years in New Jersey, Illinois and Michigan as her math-professor father changed universities."</ref>
• Kareem McKenzie (born 1979), offensive tackle for the NFL's New York Giants<ref>Kareem McKenzie player profile, National Football League Players Association. Accessed July 23, 2007. "Despite playing only 2 years of football at Willingboro High School in New Jersey, he earned USA Today and Schutt All-America honors... Was rated the nation's best offensive lineman by SuperPrep... Resides in Caldwell, N.J"</ref>
• George DeGraw Moore (1822–1891), Wisconsin State Senator and New Jersey jurist, was born in Caldwell<ref>George DeGraw Moore, Marathon County, Wisconsin Historical Society. Accessed November 3, 2019.</ref>
• Elizaveta Pletneva (born 2002), rhythmic gymnast who represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics<ref>Elizaveta Pletneva, Team USA. Accessed July 22, 2021. "Hometown: Caldwell, N.J."</ref>
• Stuart Rabner (born 1960), Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court<ref>Corzine Nominates Stuart Rabner to Serve as Attorney General, Governor of New Jersey press release dated August 24, 2006, backed up the Internet Archive as of December 14, 2006. Accessed July 1, 2011. "The Passaic County native graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University and cum laude from Harvard Law School. He currently lives in Caldwell with his wife and three children."</ref>
• Steve Schindler (born 1954), guard who played in the NFL for the Denver Broncos<ref>Steve Schindler, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed November 12, 2016.</ref>
• Richard E. Stearns (born 1936), computer scientist<ref>Richard ("Dick") Edwin Stearns, Association for Computing Machinery. Accessed November 12, 2016. "Birth: July 5, 1936 in Caldwell, New Jersey"</ref>
• Peter Stewart, former mayor of Caldwell who served as an Essex County Freeholder and in the New Jersey General Assembly<ref>Mueller, Karin Price. "Bamboozled: Gym member has a workout trying to get refund for unauthorized charges", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 25, 2016. Accessed November 12, 2016. "Peter Stewart has been a member of New York Sports Club (NYSC) in West Caldwell for several years. The former Caldwell mayor and retired attorney said he was always happy with his membership."</ref>
• Johnny Sylvester (1915–1990), childhood home of boy promised by Babe Ruth that he would hit a home run in the 1926 World Series<ref>Staff. "Babe Ruth documentary wins award ", The Progress, April 19, 2013. Accessed July 31, 2013. "Sylvester was Lilley's great-uncle. He was born in 1915 in Caldwell where he lived before moving with his family to a large house in Essex Fells in 1921."</ref><ref>Poekel, Charlie. Babe and the Kid: The Legendary Story of Babe Ruth and Johnny Sylvester, p. 34. The History Press, 2011. Template:ISBN. Accessed July 31, 2013. "Home of Horace C. Sylvester Jr. and his family located between Roseland Avenue and Wootton Road in Essex Fells, New Jersey. The Sylvester family had moved to this home in 1921 from Caldwell, New Jersey, and on October 11, 1926, Babe Ruth came to the house to pay a visit to the recovering eleven-year-old Johnny Sylvester."</ref>
• Calvin Thomas (1885–1964), actor<ref>Staff. "Calvin L. Thomas, Actor, Dies at 79", The New York Times, September 27, 1964. Accessed November 3, 2019. "Caldwell, N J., Sept. 26—Calvin L. Thomas, a character actor in nearly a hundred Broadway productions during the last 50 years, died today in Essex General Hospital. He was 79 years old and lived at Linwood Terrace."</ref>
• Claude Thornhill (1908–1965), pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader in the big band era<ref>Staff. "Claude Thornhill Is Dead at 56; Pianist Led Band in 'Swing Era; Arranger for Judy Garland Films Set Up Group. in '39 -- Won 2 Billboard Polls", The New York Times, July 2, 1965. Accessed July 3, 2011. "Caldwell, N. J., July 1 – Claude Thornhill, whose big band was one of the most popular in the swing era, died today at his home here after having suffered two heart attacks. He was 56 years old."</ref>
• Gus Troxler (Template:Circa–1945), strong man, boxer, actor, sports promoter and physical-training expert<ref>Staff. "Gus Troxler: Boxing Promoter, Actor, Strong Man, Dies in Newark at 74", The New York Times, February 16, 1945. Accessed November 12, 2016.</ref>
• Martin Wenick (1939–2020), employee of the United States Department of State who served as head of the National Council for Soviet Jewry<ref>Kennedy, Charles Stuart. "Interview with Martin Wenick", Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project, October 25, 2010. Accessed January 6, 2022. "We lived for the first three months of my life in North Arlington, New Jersey, so I don’t remember that at all, and then we moved to a town called Caldwell, New Jersey, which was at the time at the edge of the commuting district to New York.... I grew up in Caldwell, and graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in 1957."</ref>
• Andy White (1930–2015), British session drummer who made three records with The Beatles, including Love Me Do<ref>Racioppi, Joseph. "Caldwell resident has big Beatles connection", The Progress, September 17, 2009. Accessed January 31, 2011.</ref>
• Thea White (1940–2021), voice actress best known for her work as Muriel Bagge in the animated TV show Courage the Cowardly Dog<ref>Staff. "Local resident puts aside shyness, finds 'Courage'", New Jersey Hills, April 12, 2002. Accessed May 9, 2022. "The couple eventually returned to Montclair, and then to Caldwell, where they share a two family home with White's father, Art Zitzner."</ref>

External links

• Borough of Caldwell