Rockleigh (pronounced ROCK-lee[19]) is a borough in northeastern Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 407,[9][10] a decrease of 124 (−23.4%) from the 2010 census count of 531,[20][21] which in turn reflected an increase of 140 (+35.8%) from the 391 counted in the 2000 census.[22] Bordering Alpine, a community ranked America's most expensive ZIP Code by Forbes, Rockleigh has a similar residential character, with large single-family homes on large plots of land.
Rockleigh was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1923 (based on the results of a referendum held on April 10, 1923) from portions of Northvale.[23][24] The borough was named for a property in Virginia that had been owned by the borough's first mayor.[25]
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Rockleigh as its 13th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[26]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.01 square miles (2.62 km2), including 1.00 square miles (2.60 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.69%).[1][2] Rockleigh is about 25 miles (40 km) from Manhattan in New York City.
Of the 75 households, 32.0% had children under the age of 18; 70.7% were married couples living together; 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.7% were non-families. Of all households, 13.3% were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.28.[20]
16.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 2.8% from 18 to 24, 8.9% from 25 to 44, 15.1% from 45 to 64, and 57.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 73.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 58.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 47.4 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $137,778 (with a margin of error of +/− $87,096) and the median family income was $139,861 (+/− $77,779). Males had a median income of $76,719 (+/− $48,274) versus $70,3136 (+/− $43,416) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,771 (+/− $23,965). About none of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[35]
Same-sex couples headed none of the borough's households in either 2000 or 2010.[36]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 391 people, 74 households, and 58 families residing in the borough. The population density was 402.2 inhabitants per square mile (155.3/km2). There were 80 housing units at an average density of 82.3 per square mile (31.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 89.77% White, 3.32% African American, 0.26% Native American, 3.84% Asian, 1.02% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.86% of the population.[33][34]
There were 74 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.40.[33][34]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 15.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 32.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.4 males.[33][34]
The median income for a household in the borough was $152,262, and the median income for a family was $157,816. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $66,250 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $48,935. None of the families and 23.1% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no one under eighteen and none of those over 64.[33][34]
Volvo Car USA, LLC., a Swedish company that manufactures safety-oriented luxury automobiles, maintains an American headquarters in Rockleigh.[38][39]
Government
Local government
Rockleigh 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.[40] The governing body is comprised of 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.[6] The borough form of government used by Rockleigh 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.[41][42]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of Rockleigh is Republican James G. Pontone, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Rockleigh Borough Council are Ilana H. Altman (R, 2025), Rosanne Antine (R, 2024), Marilyn A. Bresnak (R, 2024), Frank S. Cumiskey (R, 2023), David C. Hansen (R, 2025) and John Ivan Mender (R, 2024).[3][43][44][45][46][47]
In elections held in November 2010, Robert R. Schaffer ran a successful write-in campaign and defeated incumbent mayor Nick Langella by a 2–1 margin. Councilmembers Shirl Ewald and James Pontone were re-elected.[48]
Law enforcement services in Rockleigh are provided under contract by the Northvale Police Department.[49] The borough paid Northvale $325,000 per year for police coverage in 2017.[50]
Federal, state and county representation
Rockleigh is located in the 5th Congressional District[51] and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.[52]
Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at-large to three-year terms in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each November; a Chairman and Vice Chairman are selected from among its seven members at a reorganization meeting held every January. As of 2024[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[58]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 229 registered voters in Rockleigh, of which 59 (25.8% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 70 (30.6% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 99 (43.2% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[80] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 43.1% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 51.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[80][81]
In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 89 votes (53.3% vs. 41.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 68 votes (40.7% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 5 votes (3.0% vs. 3.0%), among the 167 ballots cast by the borough's 256 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.2% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County).[82] In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 89 votes (53.6% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 76 votes (45.8% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with one vote (0.6% vs. 0.9%), among the 166 ballots cast by the borough's 260 registered voters, for a turnout of 63.8% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).[83][84] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 97 votes (49.2% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 95 votes (48.2% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with votes (0.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 197 ballots cast by the borough's 281 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.1% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).[85][86] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 100 votes (50.5% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 96 votes (48.5% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with one vote (0.5% vs. 0.7%), among the 198 ballots cast by the borough's 272 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.8% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).[87]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.0% of the vote (75 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 12.4% (15 votes), and other candidates with 25.6% (31 votes), among the 92 ballots cast by the borough's 238 registered voters for a turnout of 38.7%.[88][89] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70 votes (55.6% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 51 votes (40.5% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 5 votes (4.0% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with no votes (0.0% vs. 0.5%), among the 126 ballots cast by the borough's 258 registered voters, yielding a 48.8% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[90]
Education
Students from Rockleigh, a non-operating school district, attend the Northvale Public Schools in the Borough of Northvale as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[91][92][93][94] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 545 students and 48.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.2:1.[95] The Rockleigh Borough Board of Education is a five-member board with the members appointed by the mayor since 2005. The district's last elected term expired in 2007 at which time the board consisted entirely of mayoral appointees.[96]
Public school students from the borough, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Paramus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.[102][103]
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 4.56 miles (7.34 km) of roadways, of which 2.74 miles (4.41 km) were maintained by the municipality and 1.82 miles (2.93 km) by Bergen County.[104]
Will Elder (1921–2008), illustrator and comic book artist who worked in numerous areas of commercial art but is best known for a zany cartoon style that helped launch Harvey Kurtzman's Mad comic book in 1952[109]
Daniel Leo (born 1941), acting boss of the Genovese crime family who was sentenced in 2008 to five years in prison for racketeering and loansharking[110]
^Lightdale, Marc. "In stunner, write-in candidate knocks off Rockleigh mayor", Northern Valley Suburbanite, November 3, 2010. Accessed April 8, 2011. "Write-in candidate Robert R. Schaffer was elected mayor on Tuesday night, defeating the Republican incumbent Nick Langella.... Schaffer received 74 votes, according to Borough Administrator William McGuire, and Langella had 37, including absentee ballots.... Two council members, both Republicans, ran unopposed. James Pontone, who has been on the council since 2003, got 64 votes; Shirl Ewald, who has been on the council since 1995, received 65."
^Police Department, Borough of Rockleigh. Accessed November 25, 2017. "Rockleigh Borough contracts with the Borough of Northvale, NJ, for a full range of security services and resources."
^Lightdale, Marc. "Northvale, police ink new contract", The Record, January 3, 2017. "Rockleigh, which gets its police coverage from Northvale, is expected to pay the borough approximately $325,000 for this year, officials said."
^Biography, Congressman Josh Gottheimer. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Josh now lives in Wyckoff, New Jersey with Marla, his wife who was a federal prosecutor, and their two young children, Ellie and Ben."
^Cattafi, Kristie. "Democrats pick Bergenfield councilman to fill vacancy on Bergen County commissioners board", The Record, March 13, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. "A Democratic councilman from Bergenfield will be sworn in as a Bergen County commissioner Wednesday night, filling a vacancy on the governing body for almost 1 million residents. Rafael Marte will serve until Dec. 31, taking on the unexpired term left by former Commissioner Ramon Hache, a Democrat who resigned last week to lead the Ridgewood YMCA as its chief executive officer."
^Northvale Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Northvale Public Schools. Accessed July 25, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through Grade 8 in the Northvale School District. Composition: The Northvale School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Northvale."
^Board of Education, Borough of Rockleigh. Accessed June 9, 2020. "Rockleigh Borough is a 'sending district' in that there is no public school within the Borough. The Borough of Northvale is the 'receiving district' for elementary and high school public school children who reside in Rockleigh."
^ abBoard of Education, Rockleigh, New Jersey. Accessed July 25, 2022."The Rockleigh Borough Board of Education is a five-member board with the members appointed by the mayor since 2005. Rockleigh Borough is a 'sending district" in that there is no public school within the Borough. The Borough of Northvale is the 'receiving district' for elementary and high school public school children who reside in Rockleigh."
^Home page, Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 4, 2011. Accessed November 22, 2011. "Welcome to Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, home of the Golden Knights. Although our students reside in four different towns; Harrington Park, Northvale, Norwood, and Old Tappan, once they arrive here they are treated as one."
^Northern Valley Regional High School District 2016 Report Card NarrativeArchived September 12, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 4, 2020. "Located in the upper North Eastern corner of the state, Northern Valley Regional is comprised of two high schools, Northern Valley at Demarest and Northern Valley at Old Tappan.... Our long standing successful and cost efficient Pre-K-12 consortium remains an exemplar model of shared services including seven local Pre-K-8 districts that send their students to the regional high schools: Closter, Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood and Old Tappan."
^Our Communities, Northern Valley Regional High School District. Accessed March 4, 2020. "The seven towns that make up the Northern Valley Regional High School District - Closter, Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood, and Old Tappan - are situated in the northeast corner of Bergen County, New Jersey."
^ abNutt, Bill. "NJ women on first US gymnastics team in spotlight at Centenary", Daily Record, January 30, 2018. Accessed January 3, 2024. "Bosco provided details about Ada’s life. Soon after the 1936 games, she married another Olympic gymnast from New Jersey, Frank Cumiskey. He had previously medaled in the 1932 Olympics and would later go on to compete in the 1948 games. The Cumiskeys lived in Rockleigh, where Ada gave birth to twin girls and a son."
^BiographyArchived December 12, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Brian-Daley.com. Accessed August 12, 2015. "Brian was born in Englewood Hospital in Englewood, New Jersey on Dec. 22, 1947.... He grew up in Rockleigh, NJ."
^Bautista, Justo. "Reputed acting crime boss pleads guilty to racketeering charges", The Record, January 27, 2010. Accessed November 4, 2013. "Daniel 'The Lion' Leo of Rockleigh, the reputed acting boss of the Genovese crime family, pleaded guilty to racketeering charges Wednesday in Manhattan federal court."
Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties) prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.