Westwood, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Westwood is a borough
in Bergen County
, New Jersey
, United States
. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,908.
Westwood was officially incorporated as a borough on May 8, 1894, from portions of Washington Township, early during the "Boroughitis
" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County. Isaac D. Bogert served as the first mayor of the Borough. In April 1909, the area of Westwood was enlarged through the annexation of the "Old Hook" section of the borough of Emerson
, and on September 24, 1957, portions of the borough were exchanged with Emerson.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²), all of it land.
. The Lenni-Lenape inhabited this part of the state and shared it with the transient hunters and trappers until the permanent settlers began to enter in mid-18th century. In the early 19th century, the area that would later become Westwood was within the larger political boundaries of Harrington Township, which had been established by royal charter in 1775. In 1840, the western half of Harrington Township became Washington Township. The Hackensack River
was the dividing line. Washington Township was an agrarian region with isolated farmsteads. Early families, including the Hoppers and Ackermans, are buried at the Old Hook Cemetery. An 18th century mill was situated at the dammed stream near the intersection of today’s Mill Street and First Avenue. This mill was on an important east west pathway and was the first on Musquapsink Brook
. After operating for close to two centuries, it was almost completely ruined by an arsonist’s fire and had to be dismantled in 1910.
A brief description of Washington Township written in 1844 described it as a township "with six stores, four schools for 135 students, six grist mills, and 14 saw mills."
The first wave of concentrated development took place as the result of the coming of the Hackensack and New York Railroad in 1870, which followed the route of today's Pascack Valley Line
. On March 5, 1870, service began between Westwood and New York City (via Jersey City
and a ferry ride). Several small hotels were built near the depot, and in 1872 several houses in the latest European-influenced styles began to be built along Centre Avenue. Old maps show that growth occurred simultaneously on the land both to the east and west of the tracks. The commercial buildings included lumber and coal sheds, stores, and a bakery. There was a chapel on the corner of Third and Park avenues. The triangular park that has played an important role as a place of community gatherings is also shown on the 1876 map.
By the 1880s, Westwood had four factories, several distilleries, a new school, a laundry and grocery store, and a new Reformed Church. In 1890, following a meeting of interested residents, those favoring the incorporation of Westwood as an independent borough conducted a petition drive. By 1894, Washington Township lost one of its villages as Westwood established itself as an independent borough. Isaac D. Bogert, from a long established Bogert family, was elected mayor.
One aspect of any town's development is the availability of water. By 1899, a water plant built by Cornelius S. DeBraun provided service to an expanding number of houses that were constructed along newly laid streets. By the time of the 1905 New Jersey Census, there were 234 dwellings housing a population of 1,044.
Lincoln High School was constructed around the turn of the 20th century, which also saw the introduction of electricity, telephones, and automobiles to the town. Underwood & Underwood
Stereoscope Company opened a plant during the first decades of the 20th century, and many congregations established their first chapels, which were replaced in later years as the congregations grew in numbers and wealth. Following a typical pattern of development throughout the 20th century, the results are a mature railroad suburb almost covered with housing units, commercial, municipal, and ecclesiastical buildings. Nevertheless, the town still retains the open space of the triangular park at its heart.
of 2000, there were 10,999 people, 4,485 households, and 2,879 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 4,745.0 people per square mile (1,830.5/km2). There were 4,610 housing units at an average density of 1,988.8 per square mile (767.2/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.60% White, 5.72% African American, 0.14% Native American, 4.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races
, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.00% of the population. Significant pockets of Croatia
n, Bosnian
, Irish
, Ghana
ian, German
, Greek
, Colombia
n, and Syria
n communities are present in Westwood.
There were 4,485 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $59,868, and the median income for a family was $77,105. Males had a median income of $50,800 versus $42,459 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $32,083. About 1.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a mayor directly elected by the voters and a six-member Borough Council. The Mayor serves a four-year term of office, and the Borough Council members serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
The Mayor
of Westwood is John Birkner, Jr. (D
, term ends December 31, 2011). Members of the Westwood Borough Council are Council President Cynthia L. Waneck (R
, 2008), Peter A. Grefrath (R, 2009), John J. Sciara (R, 2008), Ingrid H. Quinn (R, 2010), Robert W. Miller (R, 2010) and William C. Phayre (R, 2009).
In elections held on November 6, 2007, 42% of registered voters turned out to fill a four-year term for mayor and two three-year seats on the Borough Council. The results were split, with a Democrat replacing a Republican as Mayor, and two Republicans elected to fill seats on the Borough Council that had been held by Democrats. Democratic candidate John Birkner Jr. (1,264 votes) won election as mayor, defeating both Republican candidate John J. Sciara (1,219) and incumbent Republican Mayor Thomas Wanner (169); who was defeated in the Republican primary having not run a reelection campaign and yet then ran a write-in campaign to highlight issues and assert a two party governing body. Mayor Wanner had stated in 2004 he would be a one term Mayor. Republicans Ingrid H. Quinn (1,363) and Robert W. Miller (1,362), won seats on the council, defeating Democrats Thomas M. Constantine (1,293) and Wilhem D. Auer (1,192). The 2008 Council consists entirely of Republicans, with a Democrat as Mayor.
On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Westwood voters filled two seats on the Borough Council. As of Election Day, the council was composed of four Republicans and two Democrats, in a community in which registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by a 3-2 margin. Republican incumbent Peter A. Grefrath (with 1,866 votes) and newcomer William C. Phayre (who led the pack with 2,084 votes) won election, defeating Democrats Russell Miller (1,757) and Erick Martinez (1,205). The Republican sweep maintained the 4-2 Republican edge and gave Grefrath his fourth full term on the Council. Republican Mayor Thomas Wanner had publicly supported the Democratic candidates, blaming Grefrath for overspending on a firehouse project among other criticism.
Westwood is in the
, 1,683 (25.8% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans
and 3,728 (57.2% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared
. There was one voter registered to another party.
On the national level, Westwood leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election
, Republican George W. Bush
received 51% of the vote here, edging Democrat John Kerry
, who received around 48%.
, a comprehensive regional school district serving both Washington Township and Westwood. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are four K-4 lower elementary schools —
Berkeley Avenue Elementary School (207 students),
Jessie F. George Elementary School (292 students), Ketler Elementary School (318 students) and
Washington Elementary School (297 students) — Brookside Upper Elementary School for grades 5 and 6 (424 students),
Westwood Regional Junior High School for grades 7 and 8, and
Westwood Regional High School
for grades 9-12 (1,100 students in grades 7-12). Westwood is also home to The Healing Hands Institute for Massage Therapy.
on the Pascack Valley Line
at the Westwood
train station. The station is located at Broadway and Westwood Avenue.
This line runs north-south to Hoboken Terminal
with connections via the Secaucus Junction
transfer station to New Jersey Transit one-stop service to New York Penn Station
and to other NJ Transit rail service. Connections are available at the Hoboken Terminal
to other New Jersey Transit rail lines, the PATH
train at the Hoboken PATH station, New York Waterways ferry service to the World Financial Center
and other destinations and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
service.
New Jersey Transit bus route 165 serves Westwood with service to New York
. Westwood is the terminus for bus route 165.
County Route 503
and County Route 502
pass through Westwood.
Borough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
in Bergen County
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,908.
Westwood was officially incorporated as a borough on May 8, 1894, from portions of Washington Township, early during the "Boroughitis
Boroughitis
Boroughitis was a political phenomenon that spread throughout the U.S. state of New Jersey in the late 19th century, which led groups of residents to unite to form boroughs from within and among the many townships that were the prevalent form of local government at the time. This phenomenon was...
" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County. Isaac D. Bogert served as the first mayor of the Borough. In April 1909, the area of Westwood was enlarged through the annexation of the "Old Hook" section of the borough of Emerson
Emerson, New Jersey
Emerson is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,401....
, and on September 24, 1957, portions of the borough were exchanged with Emerson.
Geography
Westwood is located at 40.988548°N 74.030747°W (40.988548, -74.030747).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²), all of it land.
History
The earliest history of Westwood begins with the Lenni-Lenape IndiansLenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
. The Lenni-Lenape inhabited this part of the state and shared it with the transient hunters and trappers until the permanent settlers began to enter in mid-18th century. In the early 19th century, the area that would later become Westwood was within the larger political boundaries of Harrington Township, which had been established by royal charter in 1775. In 1840, the western half of Harrington Township became Washington Township. The Hackensack River
Hackensack River
The Hackensack River is a river, approximately 45 miles long, in the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, emptying into Newark Bay, a back chamber of New York Harbor. The watershed of the river includes part of the suburban area outside New York City just west of the lower Hudson River,...
was the dividing line. Washington Township was an agrarian region with isolated farmsteads. Early families, including the Hoppers and Ackermans, are buried at the Old Hook Cemetery. An 18th century mill was situated at the dammed stream near the intersection of today’s Mill Street and First Avenue. This mill was on an important east west pathway and was the first on Musquapsink Brook
Musquapsink Brook
Musquapsink Brook is a tributary of Pascack Brook in Bergen County, New Jersey in the United States.The headwater lies within Woodcliff Lake and runs south through Hillsdale and into Washington Township. There it runs into Schlegel Lake before continuing south and east into Westwood...
. After operating for close to two centuries, it was almost completely ruined by an arsonist’s fire and had to be dismantled in 1910.
A brief description of Washington Township written in 1844 described it as a township "with six stores, four schools for 135 students, six grist mills, and 14 saw mills."
The first wave of concentrated development took place as the result of the coming of the Hackensack and New York Railroad in 1870, which followed the route of today's Pascack Valley Line
Pascack Valley Line
The Pascack Valley Line is a commuter rail line operated by the Hoboken Division of New Jersey Transit. The line runs north from Hoboken, New Jersey through Bergen County and into Rockland County, New York, terminating at Spring Valley. Service within New York is operated under contract with...
. On March 5, 1870, service began between Westwood and New York City (via Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
and a ferry ride). Several small hotels were built near the depot, and in 1872 several houses in the latest European-influenced styles began to be built along Centre Avenue. Old maps show that growth occurred simultaneously on the land both to the east and west of the tracks. The commercial buildings included lumber and coal sheds, stores, and a bakery. There was a chapel on the corner of Third and Park avenues. The triangular park that has played an important role as a place of community gatherings is also shown on the 1876 map.
By the 1880s, Westwood had four factories, several distilleries, a new school, a laundry and grocery store, and a new Reformed Church. In 1890, following a meeting of interested residents, those favoring the incorporation of Westwood as an independent borough conducted a petition drive. By 1894, Washington Township lost one of its villages as Westwood established itself as an independent borough. Isaac D. Bogert, from a long established Bogert family, was elected mayor.
One aspect of any town's development is the availability of water. By 1899, a water plant built by Cornelius S. DeBraun provided service to an expanding number of houses that were constructed along newly laid streets. By the time of the 1905 New Jersey Census, there were 234 dwellings housing a population of 1,044.
Lincoln High School was constructed around the turn of the 20th century, which also saw the introduction of electricity, telephones, and automobiles to the town. Underwood & Underwood
Underwood & Underwood
Underwood & Underwood was an early producer and distributor of stereoscopic and other photographic images, and later was a pioneer in the field of news-bureau photography....
Stereoscope Company opened a plant during the first decades of the 20th century, and many congregations established their first chapels, which were replaced in later years as the congregations grew in numbers and wealth. Following a typical pattern of development throughout the 20th century, the results are a mature railroad suburb almost covered with housing units, commercial, municipal, and ecclesiastical buildings. Nevertheless, the town still retains the open space of the triangular park at its heart.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 10,999 people, 4,485 households, and 2,879 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,745.0 people per square mile (1,830.5/km2). There were 4,610 housing units at an average density of 1,988.8 per square mile (767.2/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.60% White, 5.72% African American, 0.14% Native American, 4.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.00% of the population. Significant pockets of Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n, Bosnian
Bosnians
Bosnians are people who reside in, or come from, Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the modern state definition a Bosnian can be anyone who holds citizenship of the state. This includes, but is not limited to, members of the constituent ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs and...
, Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian, German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n, and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n communities are present in Westwood.
There were 4,485 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $59,868, and the median income for a family was $77,105. Males had a median income of $50,800 versus $42,459 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $32,083. About 1.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Westwood is governed under the BoroughBorough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a mayor directly elected by the voters and a six-member Borough Council. The Mayor serves a four-year term of office, and the Borough Council members serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
The Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Westwood is John Birkner, Jr. (D
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, term ends December 31, 2011). Members of the Westwood Borough Council are Council President Cynthia L. Waneck (R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, 2008), Peter A. Grefrath (R, 2009), John J. Sciara (R, 2008), Ingrid H. Quinn (R, 2010), Robert W. Miller (R, 2010) and William C. Phayre (R, 2009).
In elections held on November 6, 2007, 42% of registered voters turned out to fill a four-year term for mayor and two three-year seats on the Borough Council. The results were split, with a Democrat replacing a Republican as Mayor, and two Republicans elected to fill seats on the Borough Council that had been held by Democrats. Democratic candidate John Birkner Jr. (1,264 votes) won election as mayor, defeating both Republican candidate John J. Sciara (1,219) and incumbent Republican Mayor Thomas Wanner (169); who was defeated in the Republican primary having not run a reelection campaign and yet then ran a write-in campaign to highlight issues and assert a two party governing body. Mayor Wanner had stated in 2004 he would be a one term Mayor. Republicans Ingrid H. Quinn (1,363) and Robert W. Miller (1,362), won seats on the council, defeating Democrats Thomas M. Constantine (1,293) and Wilhem D. Auer (1,192). The 2008 Council consists entirely of Republicans, with a Democrat as Mayor.
On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Westwood voters filled two seats on the Borough Council. As of Election Day, the council was composed of four Republicans and two Democrats, in a community in which registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by a 3-2 margin. Republican incumbent Peter A. Grefrath (with 1,866 votes) and newcomer William C. Phayre (who led the pack with 2,084 votes) won election, defeating Democrats Russell Miller (1,757) and Erick Martinez (1,205). The Republican sweep maintained the 4-2 Republican edge and gave Grefrath his fourth full term on the Council. Republican Mayor Thomas Wanner had publicly supported the Democratic candidates, blaming Grefrath for overspending on a firehouse project among other criticism.
Federal, state and county representation
Westwood Borough is in the 5th Congressional district.Westwood is in the
Politics
As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 11,051 in Westwood, there were 6,513 registered voters (58.9% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,101 (16.9% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as DemocratsDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, 1,683 (25.8% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and 3,728 (57.2% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared
Undeclared (New Jersey)
Unaffiliated is a status for registered voters in New Jersey. Those voters who do not specify a political party affiliation when they register to vote are listed as unaffiliated....
. There was one voter registered to another party.
On the national level, Westwood leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, Republican George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
received 51% of the vote here, edging Democrat John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
, who received around 48%.
Education
Students in public school for grades Kindergarten through 12 attend the Westwood Regional School DistrictWestwood Regional School District
The Westwood Regional School District is a comprehensive regional public school district serving the communities of the Borough of Westwood and the Township of Washington in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. These two communities are located approximately 15 miles northwest of Midtown...
, a comprehensive regional school district serving both Washington Township and Westwood. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are four K-4 lower elementary schools —
Berkeley Avenue Elementary School (207 students),
Jessie F. George Elementary School (292 students), Ketler Elementary School (318 students) and
Washington Elementary School (297 students) — Brookside Upper Elementary School for grades 5 and 6 (424 students),
Westwood Regional Junior High School for grades 7 and 8, and
Westwood Regional High School
Westwood Regional High School
Westwood Regional Jr./Sr. High School is a five-year comprehensive regional public high school that serves students in eighth through twelfth grade from Borough of Westwood and the Township of Washington, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Westwood Regional School...
for grades 9-12 (1,100 students in grades 7-12). Westwood is also home to The Healing Hands Institute for Massage Therapy.
Transportation
Westwood is served by New Jersey TransitNew Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
on the Pascack Valley Line
Pascack Valley Line
The Pascack Valley Line is a commuter rail line operated by the Hoboken Division of New Jersey Transit. The line runs north from Hoboken, New Jersey through Bergen County and into Rockland County, New York, terminating at Spring Valley. Service within New York is operated under contract with...
at the Westwood
Westwood (NJT station)
Westwood Station is a New Jersey Transit rail station on the Pascack Valley Line. The station is in Westwood, New Jersey at Broadway and Westwood Avenue....
train station. The station is located at Broadway and Westwood Avenue.
This line runs north-south to Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
with connections via the Secaucus Junction
Secaucus Junction
The Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station is a major commuter rail hub in Secaucus, New Jersey...
transfer station to New Jersey Transit one-stop service to New York Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
and to other NJ Transit rail service. Connections are available at the Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
to other New Jersey Transit rail lines, the PATH
Port Authority Trans-Hudson
PATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey...
train at the Hoboken PATH station, New York Waterways ferry service to the World Financial Center
World Financial Center
The World Financial Center is a complex of buildings across West Street from the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan in New York City, overlooking the Hudson River. This complex is home to offices of companies including Merrill Lynch, RBC Capital Markets, Nomura Group, the Wall Street...
and other destinations and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
The Hudson–Bergen Light Rail is a light rail system in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Owned by New Jersey Transit and operated by the 21st Century Rail Corporation, it connects the communities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City , and North Bergen.The system began...
service.
New Jersey Transit bus route 165 serves Westwood with service to New York
Port Authority Bus Terminal
The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City...
. Westwood is the terminus for bus route 165.
County Route 503
County Route 503 (New Jersey)
County Route 503 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends 17.95 miles from Paterson Plank Road in Carlstadt to the New York state line at the Montvale NJ/Pearl River NY border, where it continues as New York State Route 304...
and County Route 502
County Route 502 (New Jersey)
County Route 502 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends 23.79 miles from Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne to Palisades Boulevard in Alpine....
pass through Westwood.
Notable residents
- James GandolfiniJames GandolfiniJames J. Gandolfini, Jr. is an Italian American actor. He is best known for his role as Tony Soprano in the HBO TV series The Sopranos, about a troubled crime boss struggling to balance his family life and career in the Mafia...
(born 1961), actor known for playing Tony SopranoTony SopranoAnthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
on HBO's The SopranosThe SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
. - Robert Sean LeonardRobert Sean LeonardRobert Sean Leonard is an American actor, who has regularly starred in Broadway and off-Broadway productions. Since 2004 he has played the role of Dr. James Wilson on the TV series House...
(born 1969), actor best known for his roles in HouseHouse (TV series)House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
and Dead Poets SocietyDead Poets SocietyDead Poets Society is a 1989 American drama film directed by Peter Weir and starring Robin Williams. Set at the conservative and aristocratic Welton Academy in Vermont in 1959, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students through his teaching of poetry.The script was written...
. - James O'KeefeJames O'KeefeJames E. O'Keefe III is a conservative American activist who has produced controversial audio and video recordings of public figures and workers in a variety of organizations...
(born 1984), activist-filmmaker who targeted ACORNAssociation of Community Organizations for Reform NowThe Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now was a collection of community-based organizations in the United States that advocated for low- and moderate-income families by working on neighborhood safety, voter registration, health care, affordable housing, and other social issues...
. - Elizabeth RandallElizabeth RandallElizabeth Randall is an American Republican Party politician who serves as a Commissioner of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and served on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 2003 to 2007...
, Bergen County Clerk. - Kevin SampsonKevin SampsonKevin M. Sampson is an American football tackle who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
(born 1981), tackle for the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
Points of interest
- Pascack Valley HospitalPascack Valley HospitalPascack Valley Hospital is a former 291 bed hospital, located at 250 Old Hook Road, Westwood, New Jersey.-History:Pascack Valley Hospital opened on June 1, 1959, as an 86-bed community hospital. It has undergone several expansions and grew to 291 beds.In 2005, the PVH completed construction on a...
(PVH), a 291-bed hospital located at 250 Old Hook Road, filed for bankruptcyBankruptcy in the United StatesBankruptcy in the United States is governed under the United States Constitution which authorizes Congress to enact "uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States." Congress has exercised this authority several times since 1801, most recently by adopting the Bankruptcy...
on September 24, 2007, and shut down on November 21, 2007. On October 1, 2008, Hackensack University Medical CenterHackensack University Medical CenterHackensack University Medical Center is a 775-bed non-profit, research and teaching hospital located seven miles west of New York City, in Hackensack, New Jersey, providing tertiary and healthcare needs for northern New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area...
opened Hackensack University Medical Center North at Pascack ValleyHackensack University Medical Center North at Pascack ValleyHackensack University Medical Center North at Pascack Valley is a satellite, free-standing emergency department located in Westwood, New Jersey, at the site of the former Pascack Valley Hospital...
as a satellite emergency departmentEmergency departmentAn emergency department , also known as accident & emergency , emergency room , emergency ward , or casualty department is a medical treatment facility specialising in acute care of patients who present without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance...
. As of November 2008, Hackensack University Medical CenterHackensack University Medical CenterHackensack University Medical Center is a 775-bed non-profit, research and teaching hospital located seven miles west of New York City, in Hackensack, New Jersey, providing tertiary and healthcare needs for northern New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area...
plans to re-open the entire facility as a for-profit full-service hospital with Legacy Hospital Partners of Texas.
External links
- Borough of Westwood official website
- Westwood Regional School District
- Data for the Westwood Regional School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Westwood Chamber of Commerce website
- Westwood NJ HandyGuide
- Westwood Heritage Society