Ridgewood is a village in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Ridgewood is a suburban bedroom community of New York City, located approximately northwest of Midtown Manhattan.Capuzzo, Jill P."Living In Ridgewood, N.J.: A Historic Suburb With a View of the City", The New York Times, June 30, 2022. Accessed August 1, 2022. As of the 2020 United States census, the village's population was 25,979, an increase of 1,021 (+4.1%) from the 2010 census count of 24,958, which in turn reflected an increase of 22 (+0.1%) from 24,936 in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
It has been one of the state's highest-income communities. In 2000, its per capita income of $51,658 was ranked the 35th-highest in the state."Money Income (1989 and 1999) and Poverty (1999) New Jersey, Counties and Municipalities", New Jersey Department of Labor Division of Labor Market and Demographic Research, New Jersey State Data Center. April 2003. Accessed May 15, 2020. Based on data from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey, it had a per-capita income of $67,560, 31st in the state.Median Household, Family, Per-Capita Income: State, County, Municipality and Census Designated Place (CDP) With Municipalities Ranked by Per Capita Income; 2010 5-year ACS estimates (Excel Format) , New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed May 15, 2020. Based on data from the American Community Survey for 2013–2017, it had a median household income of $162,011, ranked 7th in the state among municipalities with more than 10,000 residents, more than double the statewide median of $76,475.Raychaudhuri, Disha. "The wealthiest towns in N.J., ranked", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 7, 2019. Accessed November 4, 2019. "The median household income in N.J. is $76,475, recent Census data shows.... A note about the data: The data comes from 2013-2017 American Community Survey conducted by U.S. Census Bureau. Smaller towns with less than 10,000 residents were excluded from the list.... 7. Ridgewood, Bergen County Median income: $162,011"
Ridgewood was ranked 26th in Money magazine's "Best Places to Live" in 2011.Staff. "Best Places to Live 2011: #26 Ridgewood, NJ", CNNMoney, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 28, 2011. Accessed April 3, 2017.
History In 1700, Johannes Van Emburgh built the first home in Ridgewood, having purchased a property in 1698.History of the Village of Ridgewood, Ridgewood Public Library. Accessed July 27, 2011.
The Village of Ridgewood was created on November 20, 1894, with the same boundaries as Ridgewood Township, also in Bergen County. The Village became the municipal government while the Township remained a school district.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 85. Accessed May 30, 2024. In 1902, the village added portions of Orvil Township,Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 210. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 22, 2015. which were returned to Orvil Township in 1915. In 1925, Ridgewood Village acquired area from Franklin Township (remainder now dissolved as Wyckoff). On February 9, 1971, Ridgewood acquired area from Washington Township. On May 28, 1974, it acquired area from Ho-Ho-Kus.Bergen County New Jersey Municipalities, Dutch Door Genealogy. Accessed March 14, 2006. The name of the village derives from the characteristics of its terrain.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 22, 2015.
In 2014, former Ridgewood Public Works Inspector Thomas Rica was convicted of stealing over $460,000 in coins collected from the village's parking meters. Rica was ordered to pay the entire amount back to the village and was permanently barred from seeking public employment in the state of New Jersey.Kleimann, James; and Ma, Myles. "Ex-Ridgewood worker who stole $460,000 in quarters avoids jail time", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 19, 2014. Accessed March 23, 2023. "A former Ridgewood employee admitted Wednesday that he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in parking meter quarters. Thomas Rica, the former Ridgewood Public Works Inspector, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft in Bergen Superior Court. He will avoid jail time as part of his plea agreement, but must pay a total of $460,600 to the Village of Ridgewood and serve five years probation."
Historic sites Ridgewood is home to the following locations on the National Register of Historic Places:New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office, updated December 20, 2022. Accessed March 23, 2023. Ackerman House – 222 Doremus Avenue (added 1983) was constructed by Johannes and Jemima Ackerman on their property and remained in the Ackerman family until the 1920s.Parrillo, Vincent; Parrillo, Beth; and Vrubel, Arthur. Ridgewood, p. 18. Arcadia Publishing, 1999. . Accessed June 18, 2015. Ackerman House – 252 Lincoln Avenue (added 1983) is a stone house constructed and named for either David or John Ackerman. David Ackerman House – 415 East Saddle River Road (added 1983). Ackerman–Van Emburgh House – 789 East Glen Avenue (added 1983) was built by John Ackerman and purchased by the Van Embergh family in 1816. Archibald–Vroom House – 160 East Ridgewood Avenue (added 1984).What is the Archibald Vroom House?, Archibald Vroom House, May 29, 2012. Accessed September 22, 2015.Fusco, Mary Ann Castronovo. "Our Favorite Downtowns: Ridgewood; With elegant architecture and high-end restaurants all within walking distance, Ridgewood is both urbane and sophisticated.", New Jersey Monthly, September 1, 2015. Accessed September 22, 2015. "Here you'll find architectural treasures like the late-18th century Archibald-Vroom House (160 E. Ridgewood). The oldest building in the district, it houses the Tea Tree Spa and Tina's Nails, among other establishments." Beech Street School – 49 Cottage Place (added 1998). Paramus Reformed Church Historic District – Bounded by Franklin Turnpike, Route 17, Saddle River, south side of cemetery and Glen Avenue (added 1975). The Old Paramus Reformed Church was established in 1725, though the current building dates to 1800. During the Revolutionary War, the church was used for several years by the Continental Army, and in 1778 it was the site of the court-martial of General Charles Lee.History, Old Paramus Reformed Church. Accessed September 22, 2015. "The congregation was formed in the year 1725. During the American Revolution, the Paramus Church was the site of a Continental Army military post for four years during which clashes between American and British forces took place. It was also in the original church building that General George Washington held a session of the court-martial of General Charles Lee who disobeyed orders at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778." Rathbone–Zabriskie House – 570 North Maple Avenue (added 1983). Ridgewood Station – Garber Square (added 1984). Van Dien House – 627 Grove Street (added 1983). Vanderbeck House – 249 Prospect Street (added 1983). Westervelt–Cameron House – 26 East Glen Avenue (added 1983), constructed by John R. Westervelt.Durie, Howard I. "History of the Westervelt-Cameron House At 26 East Glen Avenue Ridgewood, New Jersey", Westervelt-CameronHome.com, 1967. Accessed June 16, 2015. "John R. Westervelt is believed to have built his homestead on the Kingsland tract in or about the year 1767."
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the village had a total area of 5.80 square miles (15.03 km2), including 5.74 square miles (14.87 km2) of land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2) of water (1.07%).
Ridgewood is adjacent to nine municipalities, eight in Bergen County − Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Ho-Ho-Kus, Midland Park, Wyckoff, Paramus, Waldwick and Washington Township − and Hawthorne in Passaic County.Areas touching Ridgewood, MapIt. Accessed March 3, 2020.Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 3, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Neighborhoods Ridgewood's neighborhoods include:Ridgewood Neighborhoods, Ridgewood Public Library. Accessed March 23, 2026. Downtown – The central business district of Ridgewood, "Town" is centered on East Ridgewood Avenue. This area is home to the most iconic buildings in Ridgewood, such as the Wilsey building and the Moore Building. Scrabbletown – Located between East Glen Avenue, Franklin Turnpike, and the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook. The Old Country Club – Located between Goffle Road, Rock Road, Lincoln Avenue and Godwin Avenue. It is near the border with Midland Park. The View – Area on and to the west of Ridgewood's highest point, an unnamed ridge on Crest Road known for its skyline views of New York City. Upper Ridgewood – Located north of West Glen Avenue and west of the NJ Transit Main Line tracks. Salem Ridge – Located East of Route 17. Floral Park – Located between Grove Street, South Pleasant, East Ridgewood Avenue and South Van Dien Street. Brookside The Lawns – A loosely defined area in southern Ridgewood surrounding Hawes Elementary School. The Heights - developed between the 1890s and 1930 between West Ridgewood and West Glen avenues
Climate Ridgewood has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and the hardiness zone is 7a bordering on 6b.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Ridgewood village, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)21,16419,56117,78684.87%78.38%68.46%Black or African American alone (NH)3953733531.58%1.49%1.36%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)61070.02%0.04%0.03%Asian alone (NH)2,1553,2374,5568.64%12.97%17.54%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)0300.00%0.01%0.00%Other race alone (NH)34341110.14%0.14%0.43%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)2404241,0970.96%1.70%4.22%Hispanic or Latino (any race)9421,3162,0693.78%5.27%7.96%Total24,93624,95825,979 100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Ridgewood had a population of 25,979, an increase of 1,021 from 24,958 in 2010. The median age was 41.0 years. 29.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.5% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.2 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 8,490 households in Ridgewood, of which 46.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 70.3% were married-couple households, 9.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 18.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 8,814 housing units, of which 3.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.
Demographic estimates Based on data from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey, the average number of persons per household was 3.01. 96.8% of households owned a computer. 96.5% of the population (age 25+) graduated high school and 76.0% had a bachelor's degree.
2010 census