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, an increase of 582 from the 2010 census count of 8,573, which in turn reflected an increase of 827 from the 7,746 counted in the 2000 census. This town got its name from "Cress", referring to the watercress that grew in its streams, and "Kill", referring to the stream passing through.
WWW cresskillboro.com

History

Cresskill was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 8, 1894, from portions of Palisades Township. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone. 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. Railroad access established the former Camp Merritt as a major debarkation point for more than a million American troops being sent abroad to fight in World War I. To commemorate the fact, a large obelisk memorial, 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. 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:

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.07 square miles, including 2.07 square miles of land and 0.01 square miles of water.
It rests on land originally inhabited by the Munsee-Delaware.
The borough, a suburb of New York City, borders the Bergen County municipalities of Alpine, Bergenfield, Demarest, Dumont and Tenafly.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 8,573 people, 3,002 households, and 2,318 families in the borough. The population density was. There were 3,114 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 68.95% White, 0.73% Black or African American, 0.03% Native American, 27.64% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.26% of the population. Korean Americans accounted for 17.8% of the population.
Of the 3,002 households, 40.5% had children under the age of 18; 66.2% were married couples living together; 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.8% were non-families. Of all households, 21.1% were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.32. Same-sex couples headed 7 households in 2010, an increase from the 5 counted in 2000.
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.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $105,625 and the median family income was $128,382. Males had a median income of $95,795 versus $72,188 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $56,485. About 2.4% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,746 people, 2,630 households, and 2,161 families residing in the borough. The population density was. There were 2,702 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the borough was 78.05% White, 0.92% African American, 0.04% Native American, 18.64% Asian, 0.65% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.99% of the population.
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.
In the borough the age distribution of the population shows 26.3% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $84,692, and the median income for a family was $96,245. Males had a median income of $61,194 versus $38,990 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,573. About 1.7% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Cresskill is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. 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, Cheryl Furio, Arthur J. McLaughlin, Hector Olmo, Kathleen Savas, and Kathy M. Schultz-Rummel.
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.

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 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

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: