Riverdale was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1923, from portions of Pequannock Township, subject to the results of a referendum passed on April 17, 1923.[21][22] Riverdale is situated in the northeasternmost part of Morris County bordering Passaic County along the Pequannock and Pompton rivers.
Geography and climate
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.07 square miles (5.35 km2), including 2.03 square miles (5.25 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km2) of water (1.98%).[1][2]
Of the 1,547 households, 22.7% had children under the age of 18; 48.7% were married couples living together; 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 40.7% were non-families. Of all households, 33.2% were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 3.01.[18]
18.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.7 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $86,328 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,294) and the median family income was $97,900 (+/− $13,684). Males had a median income of $63,750 (+/− $13,660) versus $52,083 (+/− $4,896) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,675 (+/− $3,548). About 2.1% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.[31]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 2,498 people, 919 households, and 671 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,215.2 inhabitants per square mile (469.2/km2). There were 940 housing units at an average density of 457.3 per square mile (176.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.39% White, 1.08% African American, 0.04% Native American, 2.72% Asian, 1.60% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.40% of the population.[29][30]
Riverdale has a substantial Italian population, with 25.1% of residents reporting that they were of Italian ancestry in the 2000 Census.[32]
There were 919 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.14.[29][30]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.[29][30]
The median income for a household in the borough was $71,083, and the median income for a family was $79,557. Males had a median income of $50,457 versus $41,420 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,187. About 3.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.[29][30]
Government
Local government
Riverdale Municipal Building
Riverdale 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.[33] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The 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.[6] The borough form of government used by Riverdale 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.[5][34][35]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of Riverdale is Republican Paul M. Carelli, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Vincent L. Pellegrini (R, 2023), Dave Desai (R, 2024), Michael Kheyfets (R, 2023), Matt Oswald (R, 2024), Paul A. Purcell (R, 2025) and Stephen W. Revis (R, 2026).[3][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]
Federal, state and county representation
Riverdale is located in the 11th Congressional District[43] and is part of New Jersey's 26th state legislative district.[44]
Morris County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised of seven members who are elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with either one or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election.[48] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.[49]
The county's constitutional officers are
County Clerk Ann F. Grossi (R, Parsippany–Troy Hills, 2028),[64][65]
Sheriff James M. Gannon (R, Boonton Township, 2025)[66][67] and
Surrogate Heather Darling (R, Roxbury, 2029).[68][69]
Politics
United States presidential election results for Riverdale 2024[70] 2020[71] 2016[72] 2012[73] 2008[74] 2004[75]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,378 registered voters in Riverdale, of which 419 (17.6%) were registered as Democrats, 803 (33.8%) were registered as Republicans and 1,155 (48.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[76]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 56.5% of the vote (1,085 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.5% (816 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (19 votes), among the 1,932 ballots cast by the borough's 2,659 registered voters (12 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 72.7%.[77][78] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 56.8% of the vote (1,044 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.7% (766 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (19 votes), among the 1,837 ballots cast by the borough's 2,347 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.3%.[79] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 61.7% of the vote (916 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 36.9% (548 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (13 votes), among the 1,485 ballots cast by the borough's 1,973 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.3.[80]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70.0% of the vote (795 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.0% (329 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (12 votes), among the 1,159 ballots cast by the borough's 2,717 registered voters (23 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.7%.[81][82] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.3% of the vote (691 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 29.4% (337 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.6% (75 votes) and other candidates with 2.7% (31 votes), among the 1,145 ballots cast by the borough's 2,294 registered voters, yielding a 49.9% turnout.[83]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 16.20 miles (26.07 km) of roadways, of which 10.16 miles (16.35 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.79 miles (4.49 km) by Morris County and 3.25 miles (5.23 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation[91]
^ abAdministration / Clerk's Department, Borough of Riverdale. Accessed April 27, 2023. "The Borough of Riverdale is governed by a Mayor and six Borough Council members. The Mayor is elected to a 4-year term; the Council members are elected to 3-year terms. The Mayor votes only in the event of a tie."
^Board of County Commissioners, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025. "Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners, who serve three-year terms."
^"Morris County Appoints Deena Leary Acting Administrator", Morris County, New Jersey, August 1, 2022. Accessed January 19, 2025. "Assistant Morris County Administrator Deena Leary has been appointed Acting Administrator by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, placing her at the helm of county operations and ready to assume the post when long-time Administrator John Bonanni officially retires at year’s end."
^Tayfun Selen, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^Stephen H. Shaw, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^Douglas R. Cabana, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^John Krickus, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 19, 2025.
^Riverdale Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Riverdale School District. Accessed November 29, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through Eight in the Riverdale School District. Composition: The Riverdale School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Riverdale."
^Superintendent's Welcome, Pompton Lakes School District. Accessed June 1, 2016. "Pompton Lakes enjoys a sending-receiving relationship with the borough of Riverdale; these students attend Pompton Lakes High School."
^Rouse, Karen. "N.J. Transit bus No. 75, running from Passaic County to Newark, will no longer operate", The Record, August 29, 2012. Accessed August 5, 2015. "Starting Saturday, the NJ Transit No. 75 bus — which runs from Butler through Pompton Lakes, Pequannock, Wayne and Little Falls on its way to Newark — will no longer operate as NJ Transit's plan to save $2.5 million in operating costs takes effect."
^Miller, Glenn. "Riverdale's Foster finally gets `big' shot", The News-Press, August 2, 2001. Accessed November 3, 2013. "For nine seasons, Foster traveled the minors, pitching in the Gulf Coast League, the Northwest League and the Florida State League.... Tuesday, the Riverdale High School graduate was pitching for the Las Vegas 51s of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League."
