East Rutherford, New Jersey

East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 8,716. It is a suburb of New York City.

By an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 17, 1889, a portion of the old Union Township was incorporated under the name of Boiling Springs Township. The new township took its name from a spring in the community. On March 28, 1894, the Borough of East Rutherford was created, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day, and Boiling Springs Township was dissolved. While there was no change in its borders, the name and form of government were changed.

East Rutherford's claim to national fame is that it is the home of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, which includes Izod Center, where the NBA New Jersey Nets play their home games (and former home of the NHL New Jersey Devils); and Giants Stadium, home of the NFL New York Giants and New York Jets as well as Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer (until 2009, when the Red Bulls move to Harrison). This makes East Rutherford the only municipality with fewer than 10,000 residents to have been home to five professional sports teams simultaneously.

Geography

East Rutherford is located at (40.830158, -74.097079).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.7 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (8.19%) is water.

The Borough of East Rutherford is bounded on the north by the Boroughs of Carlstadt and Wallington and to the south by the Borough of Rutherford. The Passaic River is the western boundary and the Hackensack River is the eastern boundary. The area in which East Rutherford is located is the valley of the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,716 people, 3,644 households, and 2,157 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,289.1 people per square mile (883.3/km²). There were 3,771 housing units at an average density of 990.4/sq mi (382.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 79.68% White, 3.72% African American, 0.11% Native American, 10.69% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.21% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.65% of the population.

There were 3,644 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the borough the population was spread out with 19.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $50,163, and the median income for a family was $59,583. Males had a median income of $40,798 versus $36,047 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,072. About 7.4% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

East Rutherford 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.

East Rutherford's Mayor is James L. Cassella (R, term ends December 31, 2011). The Borough Council members are Joel Brizzi (R, 2010), Jeffrey J. Lahullier (R, 2009), George Perry (R, 2009), Edward Ravettine (R, 2010), Saverio "Sam" Stallone (R, 2008) and Gary M. Viccaro (D, 2008). Perry and Stallone, elected as Democrats, defected to the Republican Party in March 2008, giving the Republicans a 5-1 edge on a council that had been evenly split before the party changes.

In elections held on November 6, 2007, voters selected a mayor and filled two seats on the borough council. Incumbent Republican James L. Cassella (1,275 votes) won re-election to a fourth term as mayor over Democratic challenger Gary M. Viccaro (605). Republican Councilmembers Edward Ravettine (1,255) and Joel Brizzi (1,234) won reelection to a fourth and fifth term respectively, defeating Democrats Carol Coronato (619) and Rich DeLauro (598). Republicans retain narrow control on the 2008 council, with the Republican mayor breaking the 3-3 split.

On Election Day, November 7, 2006, the two parties split one seat each, on a council that at the time was evenly split with three Republicans and three Democrats. Jeffrey J. Lahullier (1,228 votes) was successful in his bid for a second term in office and Democratic incumbent George E. Perry, Jr. (1,156) won his third term on the Council, defeating challengers Republican Thomas A. Banca (1,084) and Democrat Richard De Lauro (1,053). Voters rejected a ballot initiative to add a tax of 5¢ per $100 in assessed value that would have gone to an Open Space Trust Fund by an 801-628 margin.

Federal, state and county representation

East Rutherford is in the Ninth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 36th Legislative District.

Politics

As of April 1, 2006, out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 8,754 in East Rutherford, there were 4,349 registered voters (49.7% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 750 (17.2% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,114 (25.6% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 2,484 (57.1% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There was one voter registered to another party.

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

Education

Public school students in grades K through 8 attend the East Rutherford School District. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Alfred S. Faust School (421 students) and McKenzie School (324 students), both of which serve students in Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade.

For grades 9 to 12, public school students attend the Henry P. Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford, which serves high school students from both Carlstadt and East Rutherford. The school is part of the Carlstadt-East Rutherford Regional School District.

Transportation

Public Transportation

New Jersey Transit's Bergen County Line serves Rutherford, but the Rutherford Station is right on the Rutherford - East Rutherford border. The Pascack Valley Line travels through East Rutherford, but does not make a stop in East Rutherford.

New Jersey Transit buses include the 160, 163, 164 and 322 routes serving the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan; the 76 to Newark; and local service on the 703 route.

Roads

Route 17, Route 120, Route 3 and the western spur of New Jersey Turnpike serves East Rutherford.

Corporate Residents

East Rutherford is home to the Hudson Group, a retailer which operates a chain of newsstands, bookstores, fast food restaurants, and other retail stores chiefly at airports and train stations.

Management Dynamics, a global trade management and supply chain management software company, is also headquartered in East Rutherford.

Notable Residents

Notable current and former residents include:

• Henry Helstoski (1925-1999), represented , served as councilman of East Rutherford in 1956 and as mayor from 1957-1965.
• Harold C. Hollenbeck (born 1938), U.S. Representative.
• Henry Hook (born 1955), crossword creator.
• Dick Vitale (born 1939), sports broadcaster who attended high school and coached at his alma mater, East Rutherford High School. Inducted into the East Rutherford Hall of Fame in 1985.

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

• East Rutherford official website
• East Rutherford School District
• Data for the East Rutherford School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• Carlstadt-East Rutherford Regional School District
• Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Meadowlands Liberty Convention & Visitors Bureau