Tenafly, New Jersey
Tenafly (pronounced /ˈtɛnəˌflaj/) is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the borough population was 13,806.
The first to settle in Tenafly were the Dutch in the late 1600's. The name "Tenafly" is derived from the Dutch words "Tiene Vly" or "Ten Swamps" which was given by Dutch settlers in 1688 [1]. It is sometimes thought to mean "ten holes" from a legend describing Dutch settlers digging ten wells in the town.[citation needed]
Tenafly was incorporated as a borough on January 24, 1894 under an act of the New Jersey Legislature. It was created from portions of the now-defunct Palisades Township[2].
Geography
Tenafly is located at 40°55′20″N 73°57′50″W / 40.92222°N 73.96389°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (40.922139, -73.963772)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 13.5 km² (5.2 mi²). 11.9 km² (4.6 mi²) of it is land and 1.5 km² (0.6 mi²) of it (11.15%) is water.
The eastern half of the town is known as the "East Hill" for its higher elevation in relation to the rest of the borough. The terrain rises rapidly to the east of the downtown area, ending at the spectacular New Jersey Palisades, overlooking the Hudson River. From atop the cliffs, Tenafly residents have a wide-ranging view of New York City.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 13,806 people, 4,774 households, and 3,866 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,156.3/km² (2,993.4/mi²). There were 4,897 housing units at an average density of 410.1/km² (1,061.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 76.79% White, 0.96% African American, 0.09% Native American, 19.08% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.40% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.65% of the population.
There were 4,774 households out of which 43.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the borough the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $90,931, and the median income for a family was $111,029. Males had a median income of $79,641 versus $50,617 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $53,170. About 3.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Since it became a Borough, Tenafly has been governed by a Mayor and Council who are chosen through partisan elections held in November annually. The Mayor is the chief executive officer and the six Council members handle legislative functions. A full-time Administrator assists the Mayor and Council and coordinates the operations of government departments.
The Mayor is elected to a four-year term and is eligible for re-election. The Mayor presides over all meetings of the Council but may vote only in case of a tie. The Mayor has veto power, which may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the Council.
The Council consists of six members. Two are elected at large each year for three-year terms. As the legislative body, the Council adopts ordinances and resolutions, decides on appropriations, approves appointments made by the Mayor, determines policy, and establishes the functions of the various departments of the local government. Each Council member is chairperson of one of the six standing committees.
The Mayor of Tenafly is Peter Rustin. Members of the Tenafly Borough Council are[3]:
- Michael Lattif - Chairman, Administration & Personnel Committee (Term expires December 31, 2008)
- Charles Lipson - Chairman, Finance Committee (2006)
- Patrick J. Rouse - President, Police Commission (2007)
- Joseph Salvatore - Chairman, Building & Grounds Committee (2006)
- Robert Thompson - Chairman, Fire Commission (2007)
- Jon Warms - Chairman, Streets, Sanitation, Drainage & Parks Committee (2006)
In November 2005, Councilman Jeffery Romano was arrested in Newark following a drug bust that uncovered forty bags of heroin in his car[4]. Romano resigned from the council in June 2006 after pleading guilty to heroin possession and was replaced by Jon Warms. Warms will serve until the next municipal election in November 2006[5].
Federal, state and county representation
Tenafly is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 37th Legislative District[6].
For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 5th congressional district is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff).[7][8] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)[9] and George Helmy (Mountain Lakes, term ends 2024).[10][11]
For the 2024-2025 session, the 37th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Gordon M. Johnson (D, Englewood) and in the General Assembly by Shama Haider (D, Tenafly) and Ellen Park (D, Englewood Cliffs).[12] Template:NJ Governor
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.[13]
Bergen County's Commissioners are: Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. (D, Montvale, 2025),[14] Chair Germaine M. Ortiz (D, Emerson, 2025),[15] Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee, 2026),[16] Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso (D, Mahwah, 2025),[17] Rafael Marte (D, Bergenfield, 2026),[18] Steven A. Tanelli (D, North Arlington, 2024)[19] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, Franklin Lakes, 2024).[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]
Bergen County's constitutional officials are: Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale, 2026),[28][29] Sheriff Anthony Cureton (D, Englewood, 2024)[30][31] and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill, 2026).[32][33][23][34]
Politics
Out of a 2004 Census estimated population of 14,214 in Tenafly, there were 8,633 registered voters (60.7% of the population, vs. 55.4% in all of Bergen County). Of registered voters, 1,769 (20.5% vs. 20.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,407 (16.3% vs. 19.2% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 5,454 (63.2% vs. 60.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were three voters registered to other parties[35].
On the national level, Tenafly leans towards the Democratic Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 61% of the vote here, defeating Republican George W. Bush, who received around 38%[36].
Education
The Tenafly Public Schools serve students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are four K-5 elementary schools (Mackay School, Maugham School, Smith School and Stillman School), Tenafly Middle School for grades 6-8 and Tenafly High School for grades 9-12.
Tenafly High School was ranked the 2nd best public school in the state of New Jersey and received the Blue Ribbon School Award during the 2005-2006 school year, making it the only public high school in the state to earn the award for that year. Students from Alpine, New Jersey attend Tenafly High School.
Noted residents
Noted residents of Tenafly and those of note who were born in the borough include:
- Hiroaki Aoki, founder of Benihana Japanese Steakhouses
- Paul Anka, singer
- Jesse Barfield, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees Outfielder, lived in Tenafly during part of his career as a Yankee.
- Gregg Berhalter, member of the United States men's national soccer team
- Yogi Berra, New York Yankees
- Alon Cohen and Lior Haramaty, inventors of VoIP technology
- Hope Davis, actor
- Jimmy Dean, singer turned breakfast meat entrepreneur
- Tate Donovan, actor
- Reuven Frank, former NBC News president and pioneer of Vietnam War-era news coverage
- Alexander Gemignani, Broadway performer
- Lesley Gore, singer
- Rusty Hamer, actor
- Ed Harris, actor
- Jon-Erik Hexum, actor
- Ron Insana, CNBC anchor and senior analyst
- Sarah Lewitinn alias Ultragrrrl, Spin writer, blogger, downtown socialite
- Don Mattingly, New York Yankees
- Tino Martinez, New York Yankees
- Gil McDougald, American League Rookie of the Year winner in 1951, who played his entire career with the New York Yankees, appearing in 53 World Series games
- Mira Sorvino, actor
- Paul Sorvino, actor
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton, social activist
- Lori Stokes, WABC anchorwoman
- Carol Potter, actress
Popular culture
Several movies and TV shows have been filmed in Tenafly including:
- Running on Empty (1988)
- Garden State
- 13 Going on 30 (the town in the movie, Tamerak, is based off of and made to resemble Tenafly)
- The Sopranos
- NJ Classroom CloseUp, episode focusing on the Tenafly Middle School Music Program.
- MTV: TRL (Total Request Live), episode regarding high schools around the country; focused on Tenafly's Technological Department.
References
- ^ If You're Thinking of Living in: Tenafly, accessed September 7, 2006
- ^ About Tenafly, accessed September 7, 2006
- ^ Borough of Tenafly Mayor and Council, accessed September 7, 2006
- ^ Tenafly Councilman Arrested, The New York Times, accessed September 7, 2005
- ^ Bergen County Briefs, The Record (Bergen County), accessed September 7, 2006
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 65, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ Directory of Representatives: New Jersey, United States House of Representatives. Accessed January 3, 2019.
- ^ 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."
- ^ U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/23/nyregion/george-helmy-bob-menendez-murphy.html
- ^ Tully, Tracey (August 23, 2024). "Menendez's Senate Replacement Has Been a Democrat for Just 5 Months". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Legislative Roster for District 37, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 20, 2024.
- ^ County Executive, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Vice Chairman Commissioner Chairman Thomas J. Sullivan, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Commissioner Vice Chairwoman Germaine M. Ortiz, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Commissioner Chair Pro Tempore Dr. Joan M. Voss, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Commissioner Mary J. Amoroso, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ 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."
- ^ Commissioner Steven A. Tanelli, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Commissioner Tracy Silna Zur, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Board of County Commissioners, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ 2022 County Data Sheet, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ a b 2022 County and Municipal Directory, Bergen County, New Jersey, March 2022. Accessed January 30, 2023.
- ^ Bergen County November 8, 2022 General Election Statement of Vote, Bergen County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
- ^ Bergen County Statement of Vote November 2, 2021 Official results, Bergen County, New Jersey, updated November 17, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
- ^ Precinct Summary Results Report - Combined 2020 Bergen County General Election - November 3, 2020 Official Results, Bergen County, New Jersey, December 3, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
- ^ Bergen County November 5, 2019 General Election Statement of Vote, Bergen County, New Jersey Clerk, updated December 10, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.
- ^ About the Clerk, Bergen County Clerk. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Sheriff Anthony Cureton, Bergen County Sheriff's Office. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Michael R. Dressler, Bergen County Surrogate's Court. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ Constitutional Officers, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2023.
- ^ "County of Bergen: Voter Statistics by Municipality, Ward & District," dated April 1, 2006
- ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Bergen County New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety: Division of Elections, dated September 7, 2006
External links
- Tenafly official website
- Tenafly Public Schools
- MuniNet Guide
- School Performance Reports for the Tenafly Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Tenafly Public Schools
- History of Englewood, NJ's attempted school district regionalization with Tenafly, NJ