Cresskill, New Jersey

Cresskill is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 9,155, This town got its name from "Cress", referring to the watercress that grew in its streams, and "Kill", referring to the stream passing through.

History

Cresskill was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 8, 1894, from portions of Palisades Township. A portion of the borough was annexed by Alpine in 1904.

Railroads provided access from Cresskill to customers in New York City, including a chicken hatchery that was the world's largest by 1897.), or "The Circle Monument" was dedicated in 1924, set in the center of the Camp Merritt Memorial Circle at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Knickerbocker Road (CR 505). The northwest quarter of the Camp Merritt Memorial Circle intersection is located in Dumont, New Jersey, making it a locally-known boundary of the two boroughs.

Historic sites

Sites in the borough listed on the National Register of Historic Places include:

Blackledge-Gair House (at 111 Madison Avenue; added January 9, 1983)
Demarest-Atwood House (at 84 Jefferson Avenue; added July 24, 1984)
Peter Huyler House (50 County Road; added January 9, 1983)
Benjamin P. Westervelt House (at 235 County Road; added January 9, 1983)

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.07 square miles (5.36 km2), including 2.07 square miles (5.35 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.01 km2) of water (0.24%).

The borough, a suburb of New York City, borders the Bergen County municipalities of Alpine, Bergenfield, Demarest, Dumont and Tenafly.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Cresskill borough, Bergen County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |Pop 2020

!% 2000

!% 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020

|White alone (NH)

|5,801

|5,500

|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,305

|74.89%

|64.15%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |57.95%

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|70

|57

|style='background: #ffffe6; |90

|0.90%

|0.66%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.98%

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3

|0.04%

|0.02%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%

|Asian alone (NH)

|1,441

|2,367

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,865

|18.60%

|27.61%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |31.29%

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1

|0.00%

|0.01%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01%

|Other race alone (NH)

|15

|style='background: #ffffe6; |37

|0.19%

|0.08%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40%

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|107

|102

|style='background: #ffffe6; |224

|1.38%

|1.19%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.45%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|309

|537

|style='background: #ffffe6; |630

|3.99%

|6.26%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.88%

|Total

|7,746

|8,573

|style='background: #ffffe6; |9,155

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Cresskill had a population of 9,155. The median age was 44.5 years. 26.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.7 males age 18 and over.

There were 3,015 households, of which 42.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 68.4% were married-couple households, 8.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

26.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 88.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.7 males.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census

There were 2,630 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.1% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.26. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the 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. The borough form of government used by Cresskill 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.

As of 2026, the mayor of the Borough of Cresskill is Republican John Morgan, who was appointed to serve a term of office ending on December 31, 2027. Members of the Cresskill Borough Council are Saverio Costa (R, 2028), Cheryl Furio (R, 2028), Arthur J. McLaughlin (D, 2026), Hector Olmo (R, 2026), Kathleen Savas (D, 2027), and Kathy M. Schultz-Rummel (R, 2027).

In February 2025, following the death of long time mayor Republican Benedict Romeo, the position of the mayor of the Borough of Cresskill was filled by John Morgan. Morgan who previously held the position of President the Board of Health, served on an interim basis until the November 2025, and then was elected in the November 2025 elections. Long time mayor Benedict Romeo served six terms as mayor, having first been elected to the position in 1999 died at the age of 77.

Emergency services

The Cresskill Fire Department is a combination career and volunteer fire department that serves Cresskill and neighboring municipalities. The Fire Department is led by a Career Chief of Department and a Volunteer Deputy Chief, that lead the career and volunteer firefighters. The CFD is comprised of a squad truck, two engines, one ladder truck, and a rescue vehicle. Since Cresskill's EMS service closed down in 2015, Emergency Medical Services are provided to residents under the umbrella of the Cresskill Fire Department, providing 24/7 EMS service with paid per-diem staff.

The Cresskill Police Department is made up of 22 police officers, complemented by Class I Special Police Officer's. The Police Department is open 24/7, and is located at 67 Union Avenue, in the rear of Borough Hall.

Federal, state, and county representation

Cresskill is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,904 registered voters in Cresskill, of which 1,263 (25.8% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,234 (25.2% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,403 (49.0% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 57.2% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 78.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 2,086 votes (52.8% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 1,689 votes (42.7% vs. 41.1% countywide) and other candidates with 127 votes (3.2% vs 3.0% countywide), among the 3,953 ballots cast by the borough's 5,467 registered voters for a turnout of 72.3% (vs. 73% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,805 votes (49.7% vs. 43.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,777 votes (48.9% vs. 54.8%) and other candidates with 22 votes (0.6% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,634 ballots cast by the borough's 5,163 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.4% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,989 votes (50.4% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,913 votes (48.5% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 23 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,944 ballots cast by the borough's 5,074 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.7% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,886 votes (50.5% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,813 votes (48.5% vs. 51.7%) and other candidates with 27 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,738 ballots cast by the borough's 4,748 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.7% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.3% of the vote (1,412 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 34.9% (766 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (19 votes), among the 2,259 ballots cast by the borough's 4,949 registered voters (62 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,213 votes (49.5% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,106 votes (45.2% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 99 votes (4.0% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 8 votes (0.3% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,449 ballots cast by the borough's 4,975 registered voters, yielding a 49.2% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

The Cresskill Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade The district is governed by a board of education and administered by a superintendent of schools, a school business administrator / board secretary, and principals, as part of the district's staff of more than 320 employees. Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are

Edward H. Bryan School with 531 students grades PreK-5,

Merritt Memorial School with 276 students in grades PreK-5 and

Cresskill Middle School / Cresskill High School with 398 students in middle school for grades 6-8 and 474 in high school for grades 9-12.

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.

Despite efforts by parents, the Academy of Saint Therese of Lisieux, which opened in 1957, was shuttered by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark at the end of the 2019–20 school year, in the wake of declining enrollment and an unsustainable subsidy from the diocese of more than $300,000 per year.

Transportation

thumb|right|[[County Route 501 (New Jersey)|County Route 501 northbound in Cresskill]]

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Bergen County.

County Route 505 and County Route 501 travel through Cresskill.

Public transportation

The NJ Transit 166 bus route provides service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, and local service is available on the 753 route.

Bus service to Rockland County and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC is also provided by Rockland Coaches route 20/20T.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Cresskill include:

Roger Ailes (1940–2017), television executive who was the chairman and CEO of Fox News and Fox Television Stations
Joe Azelby (born 1962), professional football player who played for the Buffalo Bills, businessman and author
Mary J. Blige (born 1971), R&B singer
David Broza (born 1955), Israeli singer-songwriter
Rick Cerone (born 1954), former catcher for the New York Yankees
Lynn Chen (born 1976), actress, who has appeared on All My Children
Halim El-Dabh (1921–2017), Egyptian-born composer who made Cresskill his home in the early 1960s
Stephen Dadaian (born 1987), electric and classical guitarist
Johnny Damon (born 1973), former left fielder for the New York Yankees
Bobby Hebb (1938–2010), R&B and soul singer, musician, songwriter, recording artist, and performer known for his 1966 hit "Sunny"
Marvin Kaplan, lawyer and government official who serves as the chairman of the National Labor Relations Board
Michael Kempner (born 1958), founder, president, and CEO of the public relations firm MWW
Andrew M. Luger (born 1959), attorney who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota from 2014 to 2017
Betsy Markey (born 1956), member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado
Harold Martin (1918–2010), member of the New Jersey General Assembly
Reuben (1912–1994) and Rose (1916–2006) Mattus, entrepreneurs and philanthropists who founded the Häagen-Dazs ice cream business
Pierre McGuire (born 1961), ice hockey analyst and former NHL coach and scout
May McNeer (1902–1994), journalist and author
Robert Bruce Merrifield (1921–2006), biochemist and winner of 1984 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Sherrill Milnes (born 1935), operatic baritone
Tracy Morgan (born 1968), actor and comedian best known for his eight seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for his role as Tracy Jordan on the TV series 30 Rock
Nicholas Oresko (1917–2013), United States Army veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 23, 1945, during World War II
Mike Piazza (born 1968), former catcher for the New York Mets
John Ricco (born ), assistant general manager of the New York Mets
Tom Rinaldi, reporter for ESPN and ABC
Ani Sarkisian (born 1995), footballer who plays as a forward for the Armenia women's national team
Tommy Savas (born 1984), actor and producer
Richard H. Tedford (–2011), paleontologist
Lynd Ward (1905–1985), artist and storyteller, known for his series of wordless novels using wood engraving
Robert Zoellner (1932–2014), investor and stamp collector who was the second person to have assembled a complete collection of United States postage stamps

References

Sources

Clayton, W. Woodford; and Nelson, William. History of Bergen and Passaic Counties, New Jersey, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men., Philadelphia: Everts and Peck, 1882.
Harvey, Cornelius Burnham (ed.), Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Co., 1900.
Van Valen, James M. History of Bergen County, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900.
Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858–1942, History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630–1923, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1923.
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.

External links

Cresskill official website