Dumont is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The population was 17,503 at the 2000 census.

Dumont was formed on July 20, 1894, as the Borough of Schraalenburgh from portions of Harrington Township and Palisades Township, at the height of the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. On June 13, 1898, the borough's name was changed to Dumont in honor of Dumont Clarke, the borough's first mayor.

Geography

Dumont is located at (40.945173, -73.993425).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 17,503 people, 6,370 households, and 4,758 families residing in the borough. The population density was 8,812.6 people per square mile (3,396.0/km²). There were 6,465 housing units at an average density of 3,255.1/sq mi (1,254.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 83.77% White, 1.49% African American, 0.10% Native American, 10.96% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.94% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.36% of the population. There were 6,370 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $65,490, and the median income for a family was $73,880. Males had a median income of $47,402 versus $35,331 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,489. About 2.0% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Dumont 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. 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.

The Mayor of the Borough of Dumont is Matthew P. McHale (D, term ends December 31, 2011). Members of the Dumont Borough Council are Martin Caspare (D, 2008), Carl Manna (D, 2008), Robert McQuade (D, 2009), Rafael Riquelme (D, 2008), Harry Stylianou (D, 2010) and Ellen Zamechansky (D, 2010).

In elections held on November 6, 2007, incumbent mayor Matthew P. McHale ran unopposed, and won his first full term in office. Incumbent Democrats Harry Stylianou (winning his first full term in office with 2,345 votes) and Ellen Zamechansky (who won her second full term with 2,244 votes) were returned to office, outrunning Republican challenger Louis P. Sciarrino (1,277).

On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Democratic Party incumbents swept all four open council seats. Eric Abrahamsen (3,002 votes) and Robert McQuade (3,084) both won reelection to a second term in office, defeating Republicans Frank Polise (2,219) and Robert Zeitlinger (2,172). Two councilmembers appointed to their seats on an interim basis won election to serve the balance of the terms in office, with Harry Stylianou (3,039) elected to complete the balance of a term expiring in 2007, defeating Carl Van Tobel (2,173), and Martin Caspare (3,289) elected to finish a term completing in 2008, defeating Alan Worner (1,899).

Federal, state and county representation

Dumont is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th Legislative District.

Politics

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 17,571 in Dumont, there were 10,030 registered voters (57.1% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,792 (17.9% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,575 (15.7% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 6,661 (66.4% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were two voters registered to other parties.

On the national level, Dumont is almost evenly balanced. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 50% of the vote here, edging Republican George W. Bush, who received around 49%.

Education

The Dumont Public Schools serve students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Grant School (K-5) with 384 students (founded 1911), Honiss School (K-8) with 695 students (founded 1955), Lincoln School (K-5) with 202 students (founded 1911), Selzer School (K-8) with 552 students (founded 1960) and Dumont High School with 833 students (founded 1932).

Newbury Academy is a private alternative high school for students in grades 9-12. As of September 2008, Newbury Academy has become a virtual school with all classes being conducted online. Teachers make weekly visits to students' homes. It is still based in the Dumont area.

Transportation

The New Jersey Transit 166 and 167 bus route provides service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan; the 166 serves the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal; and local service is available on the 753 and 772 routes.

Main roads in Dumont include Madison Avenue and Washington Avenue.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Dumont include:

• Olivia Goldsmith (born Randy Goldfield, 1949-2004), author of the novel The First Wives Club.
• Michale Graves (born 1975), former singer of The Misfits.
• Richard Kuklinski (1935-2006), multiple murderer who claimed to have killed between 33 and 200 people.
• Bob Papa (born 1964), play-by-play voice for the New York Giants.
• Bob Price, former head coach of the Montreal Alouettes, now tight end Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Virginia Cavaliers.
• Geoff Rickly (born 1979), lead singer of the band Thursday.

Sources

• "History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630-1923;" by "Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858-1942."
• "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.

References

External links

• Dumont's Municipal Website
• Dumont Public Schools
• Data for the Dumont Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• Dumont Fire Department
• Dumont Volunteer Ambulance Corps
• Dumont Public Library
• Dumont Chamber of Commerce
• Midbergen Communities Website (unofficial)