| Oakland, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Borough — | |
| Map highlighting Oakland's location within Bergen County. Inset: Bergen County's location within New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Oakland, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: 41°01′48″N 74°14′38″W / 41.02998°N 74.243842°WCoordinates: 41°01′48″N 74°14′38″W / 41.02998°N 74.243842°W[1][2] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Bergen |
| Incorporated | April 8, 1902 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough |
| • Mayor | Linda H. Schwager (term ends December 31, 2015)[3] |
| • Administrator | Richard Kunze[4] |
| • Clerk | Lisa Duncan[4] |
| Area[2] | |
| • Total | 8.728 sq mi (22.605 km2) |
| • Land | 8.454 sq mi (21.897 km2) |
| • Water | 0.274 sq mi (0.709 km2) 3.13% |
| Area rank | 222nd of 566 in state 5th of 70 in county[2] |
| Elevation[5] | 233 ft (71 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[6][7][8] | |
| • Total | 12,754 |
| • Rank | 190th of 566 in state 25th of 70 in county[9] |
| • Density | 1,508.6/sq mi (582.5/km2) |
| • Density rank | 335th of 566 in state 64th of 70 in county[9] |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07436[10] |
| Area code(s) | 201/551 |
| FIPS code | 3400353850[11][2][12] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885330[13][2] |
| Website | http://oakland-nj.org |
Oakland is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 12,754,[6][7][8] reflecting an increase of 288 (+2.3%) from the 12,466 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 469 (+3.9%) from the 11,997 counted in the 1990 Census.[14]
Oakland was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1902, from portions of Franklin Township.[15]
Contents |
The Van Allen House was built in 1748 and was a stop for George Washington and his troops in 1777.[16]
From the 1940s through the end of the 1960s a summer bungalow colony was developed in a valley in West Oakland on the Ramapo River. This was a refuge for a close-knit group of several score families from the summer heat of New York City and urban New Jersey. During the summer months the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad provided service at a West Oakland passenger station. This colony was located on the road between Oakland and Pompton Lakes, near a training camp for boxers. In the early morning, it was not unusual to see Joe Louis or Sugar Ray Robinson, among others, running past the summer homes.[citation needed]
Most street names in Oakland are those of Native American tribes and Native American first names. Now considered politically incorrect, the borough had a wooden sign posted downtown that read "Once there was [sic] Indians all over this place" which had been donated by a resident who insisted on the wording of the sign as having been a quotation from an author.[17]
On August 4, 1985, a gun shootout occurred at the FRG Sports Complex[18] — formerly known as Muller's Park — directly next to Oakland's former swimming park located along the Ramapo River called Pleasureland.[19] Some time around 4:30 p.m. gunfire between rival Jamaican gangs, who were bused-in from out of town, broke out resulting in two deaths and a number of injuries.[20] Before the incident, Pleasureland and Muller's Park were popular summer destinations that had since the 1950s and earlier (Muller's was built in 1935) attracted families from across the Tri-state area. Pleasureland remained open for a brief period after the shooting incident at FRG, but FRG/Muller's Park never reopened after that day.[21] While the shootout did not occur at Pleasureland, due to the park's popularity the events remain to this day known as the "Pleasureland Shootout" and "Pleasureland Massacre" among townies. Both properties currently remain abandoned,the pools and buildings having since been demolished and filled in. The properties still remain vacant.
Oakland is located at 41°01′48″N 74°14′38″W / 41.02998°N 74.243842°W (41.02998,-74.243842). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 8.728 square miles (22.605 km2), of which, 8.454 square miles (21.897 km2) of it is land and 0.274 square miles (0.709 km2) of it (3.13%) is water.[2][1]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 479 |
|
|
| 1910 | 568 | 18.6% | |
| 1920 | 497 | −12.5% | |
| 1930 | 735 | 47.9% | |
| 1940 | 932 | 26.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,817 | 95.0% | |
| 1960 | 9,446 | 419.9% | |
| 1970 | 14,420 | 52.7% | |
| 1980 | 13,443 | −6.8% | |
| 1990 | 11,997 | −10.8% | |
| 2000 | 12,466 | 3.9% | |
| 2010 | 12,754 | 2.3% | |
| Est. 2011 | 12,836 | [22] | 0.6% |
| Population sources:1910-1930[23] 1900-1990[24][25] 2000[26][27] 2010[6][7][8] |
|||
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 12,754 people, 4,335 households, and 3,568 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,508.6 inhabitants per square mile (582.5 /km2). There were 4,470 housing units at an average density of 528.7 per square mile (204.1 /km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.71% (11,824) White, 0.89% (113) Black or African American, 0.19% (24) Native American, 4.17% (532) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.49% (62) from other races, and 1.55% (198) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% (681) of the population.[6]
There were 4,335 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.3% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.22.[6]
In the borough the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.[6]
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $111,390 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,160) and the median family income was $114,973 (+/- $7,378). Males had a median income of $82,750 (+/- $6,931) versus $59,349 (+/- $7,903) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $43,651 (+/- $3,082). About 0.7% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.[28]
Same-sex couples headed 21 households in 2010.[29]
As of the 2000 United States Census[11] there were 12,466 people, 4,255 households, and 3,565 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,448.9 people per square mile (559.7/km2). There were 4,345 housing units at an average density of 505.0 per square mile (195.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.76% White, 0.78% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.70% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.87% of the population.[26][27]
There were 4,255 households out of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.4% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.2% were non-families. 12.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.15.[26][27]
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.[26][27]
The median income for a household in the borough was $86,629, and the median income for a family was $93,695. Males had a median income of $62,336 versus $41,092 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,252. About 0.9% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.[26][27]
Oakland is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office and only votes to break a tie. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[30]
As of 2012[update], the Mayor of the Borough of Oakland is Linda Schwager. The members of the Oakland Borough Council are Council President Chris Visconti, Timothy Jensen, Karen Marcalus, Pat Pignatelli, Elizabeth Stagg and Sandra Coira.[31]
There are three firehouses located in Oakland. The central station is located on Yawpo Avenue just off Ramapo Valley Road in downtown Oakland. There is one police station and it is located on Ramapo Valley Road across from the intersection with Walnut Street.
Oakland is located in the 5th Congressional District[32] and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.[7][33][34] Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Oakland had been in the 40th state legislative district.[35]
New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township).[36] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 39th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Gerald Cardinale (R, Demarest) and in the General Assembly by Holly Schepisi (R, River Vale) and Bob Schroeder (R, Washington Township, Bergen County).[37] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township).[38] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[39]
Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders.[40] The County Executive is Kathleen Donovan (R, Rutherford; term ends December 31, 2014).[41] The seven freeholders are elected at-large in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year, with a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Chairman Pro Tempore selected from among its members at a reorganization meeting held each January.[42] As of 2013[update], Bergen County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chairman David L. Ganz (D, 2014; Fair Lawn),[43] Vice Chairwoman Joan Voss (D, 2014; Fort Lee),[44] Chairman Pro Tempore John A. Felice (R, 2013; River Edge),[45] Maura R. DeNicola (R, 2013; Franklin Lakes),[46] John D. Mitchell (R, 2013; Cliffside Park),[47] Steve Tanelli (D, 2015; North Arlington)[48] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, 2015; Franklin Lakes).[48][49] Countywide constitutional officials are Sheriff Michael Saudino (R), Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill) and County Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale).[50]
As of Election Day, November 4, 2008, there were 8,267 registered voters. Of registered voters, 1,708 (20.7% of all registered voters) were registered as Democrats, 2,677 (32.4%) were registered as Republicans and 3,877 (46.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were five voters registered to other parties.[51]
In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 55.8% of the vote here (3,640 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 43.1% of the vote (2,842 ballots), with 79.3% of registered voters participating.[51] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57.3% of the vote in Oakland (3,938 cast), ahead of Democrat John Kerry, who received around 41.7% (2,864 votes), with 6,867 ballots cast among the borough's 8,588 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.0%.[52]
In 2004, the New Jersey Legislature passed the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, which regulates the New Jersey Highlands region. Oakland was included in the highlands preservation area and is subject to the rules of the act and the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council, a division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.[53] Some of the territory in the protected region is classified as being in the highlands preservation area, and thus subject to additional rules.[54]
Students in grades K through 8 attend the Oakland Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[55]) are three K-5 elementary schools — Dogwood Hill Elementary School (317 students), Heights Elementary School (459 students) and Manito Elementary School (349 students) — and Valley Middle School which serves grades 6 - 8 (572 students).
Public school students in grades 9 - 12 attend the schools of the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District, a regional district consisting of two four-year public high schools serving students from Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff. Students in eighth grade have the option to choose to attend either Indian Hills High School in Oakland or Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes.[56][57]
Private schools include Barnstable Academy, located in a business and industrial park off Long Hill Road; The New Jersey Japanese School, located next to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church; and The Gerrard Berman Day School (Solomon Schechter of North Jersey) located on Spruce Street.
Oakland was ranked by Business Week as #43 on its list of "Great Places to Raise Kids -- for Less", with only two places deemed better than Oakland: Matawan (12th) and Echelon near Philadelphia (4th). The criteria were test scores in math and reading, number of schools, cost of living, recreational and cultural activities, and risk of crime.[58]
Major roads through Oakland include Interstate 287, Route 208 and U.S. Route 202. There is no commuter rail service in Oakland, though commuter bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City is available from Coach USA. New Jersey Transit bus service is also available on a limited basis via the 752 line (Oakland to Hackensack via Ridgewood).[59] A freight rail line, the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway, does run through Oakland.
Newark Liberty International Airport provides scheduled air service.
Radio station WVNJ is licensed to Oakland.[60]
The Oakland Journal is an online hyper-local news source that covers local political, civic and social events.[61]
Oakland's downtown shopping area is along Ramapo Valley Road (U.S. Route 202), with the Copper Tree Mall being the borough's largest single retail establishment.[62]
There are a few industrial parks in Oakland, the biggest of which is off Long Hill Road near the Franklin Lakes border.[63] The Oakland-McBride Center is the home of Royle Systems Group and of Topcon Medical Systems's United States operations.[64]
Russ Berrie and Company, Inc., once headquartered in Oakland, is a major manufacturer of teddy bears and other gift products, including stuffed animals, baby gifts, soft baby toys and development toys as well as picture, candles, figurines and home fragrance products. Russ Berrie and Company, since renamed to Kid Brands, has since moved to Wayne and from there to East Rutherford.[65]
There are a number of municipal recreational facilities in Oakland. The largest is a recreational area located off Oak Street, known to residents simply as the "Rec Field," which is home to nine baseball and softball fields, six tennis courts, a roller hockey rink, basketball courts, and other facilities. New Jersey's Ramapo Mountain State Forest is located in Oakland and can be accessed from Skyline Drive just north of its interchange with I-287. Camp Tamarack, which was a year round camp operated by the Boy Scouts of America from the late 1920s until the mid-1980s, sits abandoned off of Skyline Drive. The camp ceased all activities and was taken over by the Bergen County park system in the 1990s. Many of the structures in the camp have been torn down, but some remain standing. Oakland is the current location of the headquarters of the Northern New Jersey Council.
The Rec Field is home to the annual carnival and fireworks that take place during the summer.
Oakland also offers a summer camp which runs for six weeks.[66]
Notable current and former residents of Oakland include:
|section= ignored (help)Here you can share your comments or contribute with more information, content, resources or links about this topic.