Ramsey, New Jersey

Ramsey is a borough in Bergen County, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located northwest of Midtown Manhattan. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 14,473,DP-1 – Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Ramsey borough, Bergen County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 27, 2011.Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Ramsey borough
, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 27, 2011. reflecting an increase of 122 (+0.9%) from the 14,351 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,123 (+8.5%) from the 13,228 counted in the 1990 Census.

Ramsey was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 10, 1908, from portions of Hohokus Township (whose remnants are now Mahwah Township). Additional territory was annexed from Waldwick in 1921, and portions of the borough were ceded to Saddle River in 1925.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 84. Accessed January 30, 2012.

History

The most noteworthy local historical site is the Old Stone House, which is, as its name describes, both old and constructed of stone, though its construction materials in the early 1700s also included hog's hair. It was originally a Dutch farmhouse and served as a tavern during the Revolutionary War. Legend has it that Aaron Burr slaked his thirst at this site, on his way to courting the woman who would become his wife in Ho-Ho-Kus."Jerseyans Save Colonial House; Once-Doomed Building Will Open Today as Historical Museum in Ramsey"
''The New York Times'', April 3, 1960. Accessed October 6, 2019. The structure opened as a historic site in 1960 with a riveting display of old pitchers.

Ramsey is named after Peter J. Ramsey, a 19th-century landowner who died , who had sold the land that became the site of a railroad station called "Ramsey's" in 1848.Cheslow, Jerry
"If You're Thinking of Living in: Ramsey"
''The New York Times'', May 19, 1991. Accessed September 21, 2015. "The roots of the northern New Jersey borough date to 1848, when the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad opened a line to connect Paterson with ferries crossing the Hudson River to New York. One stop along the way was named Ramsey's, after Peter J. Ramsey, a farmer who sold the land for the station to the railroad."

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 5.57 square miles (14.43 km²), including 5.50 square miles (14.25 km²) of land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km²) of water (1.24%).

The borough is bordered by the Bergen County municipalities of Allendale on the southeast, Mahwah on the north, west, and southwest and by Saddle River and Upper Saddle River on the east.

Demographics

2010 Census

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $111,549 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,131) and the median family income was $136,475 (+/− $2,642). Males had a median income of $90,326 (+/− $5,483) versus $63,234 (+/− $6,177) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $52,491 (+/− $36,084). About 1.9% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 20 households in 2010, unchanged from 2000.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 14,351 people, 5,313 households, and 3,947 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,583.2 people per square mile (996.6/km²). There were 5,400 housing units at an average density of 972.0 per square mile (375.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.62% White, 0.78% African American, 0.10% Native American, 5.85% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.93% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Ramsey borough, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Ramsey borough, Bergen County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2012.

There were 5,313 households, out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% 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 3.18.

In the borough, the age distribution of the population shows 27.0% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $88,187, and the median income for a family was $104,512. Males had a median income of $75,017 versus $43,205 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,964. About 1.4% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The Ramsey Farmers Market includes vendors offering locally sourced produce, foods, beverages and flowers at the Ramsey NJ Transit Station on Main Street every Sunday throughout the year.

Corporate residents of Ramsey have included:
* Flight Centre, parent company of Liberty Travel and GOGO Worldwide Vacations, was located at 69 Spring Street. The company announced in February 2016 that they were relocating to Montvale.
* Konica Minolta's U.S. offices are in Ramsey.
* Okonite, based in Ramsey.

The most common industries for females in Ramsey, according to City-data.com, from 2008 to 2012:Ramsey, New Jersey
City-Data. Accessed August 31, 2015.
*Health care and social assistance (22%)
*Educational services (16%)
*Finance and insurance (11%)
*Manufacturing (10%)
*Professional, scientific, and technical services (8%)
*Retail trade (8%)
*Other services, except public administration (5%)

The most common industries for males in Ramsey, according to City-Data.com, from 2008 to 2012:
*Finance and insurance (17%)
*Manufacturing (13%)
*Professional, scientific, and technical services (10%)
*Construction (9%)
*Retail trade (8%)
*Wholesale trade (7%)
*Educational services (7%)

Arts and culture

Ramsey had an old-style downtown cinema with two screens. It closed in 2013, but reopened in 2014 after a successful Kickstarter campaign raised the funds needed for updated projection systems. However, it closed for good in 2020 due to hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ramsey has six houses of worship. These include: First Presbyterian Church, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, St. Paul's Ukrainian Catholic Church, St. John's Episcopal Church, and Grace Baptist Church.

Parks and recreation

Ramsey has about of Green Acres land, which is land that is permanently preserved as open space in the borough. This is one of the reasons that the borough, while about 98.5% developed, has retained a "rural ambience".

Ramsey Golf and Country Club, located on Lakeside Drive, has an 18-hole golf course, the Lakeside Grille restaurant, swimming pool, picnic area, playground, tennis courts and a banquet room.

Finch Park, located on Church Street, Gertzen Plaza, and Island Avenue, has a playground, picnic areas, eight baseball and softball fields, a street hockey rink, and basketball courts. There is a memorial for the attacks on September 11, 2001, with its own parking area located on Gertzen Plaza. The park is headquarters of the Ramsey Recreation Commission, and home fields of the Ramsey Baseball and Softball Association. In the summer months, the Rec Commission has a summer camp in Finch Park for Ramsey students in kindergarten to 7th grade.

The Ramsey Municipal Pool, located on East Oak Street, has a newly renovated pool and waterslides, a recreational field and pavilion, and beach volleyball and basketball courts.

Behind Ramsey High School, there are five tennis courts and a running track that are open to public use. The RHS football field and the newly built Creamer Field are two of the four fields with night lights in Ramsey, the other two are located at the MacFarran Field complex on Williams Drive, overlooking Route 17.

Behind Tisdale Elementary School, there are two softball fields that are open to the community.

Suraci Pond, located on Woodland Avenue, is a small lake with areas to fish, picnic benches, and hiking trails. A similar recreational area exists at Garrison Pond on Lake Street. An Eagle Scout Project from Ramsey's Troop 31 installed picnic tables and restored the flower bed.

Government

Local government

Ramsey 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. 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 is comprised of 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.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 165. The Borough form of government used in Ramsey 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.

, the Mayor of the Borough of Ramsey is Republican Deirdre A. Dillon, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022. Members of the Ramsey Borough Council are Council President Peter Kilman (R, 2024), Michael W. Gutwetter (R, 2023), Judith Cusick (R, 2023), Sara Poppe (R, 2024), Harry J. Weber (R, 2022) and Jane M. Woods (R, 2022).Mayor and Council
Borough of Ramsey. Accessed May 9, 2022.''2021 County and Municipal Directory''
Bergen County, New Jersey