NEW MILFORD, NJ

New Milford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 16,341, reflecting a decline of 59 (-0.4%) from the 16,400 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 410 (+2.6%) from the 15,990 counted in the 1990 Census.

New Milford was authorized to be incorporated as a borough on March 11, 1922, from what remained of Palisades Township, subject to approval in a referendum (which took place on April 18, 1922). With the creation of New Milford, Palisades Township (which had been created in 1871) was dissolved. The borough is believed to have been named for Milford, Pennsylvania.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.32 square miles (6.02 km²), including 2.28 square miles (5.91 km²) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km²) of water (1.77%).

The borough borders the Bergen County municipalities of Bergenfield, Dumont, Oradell, River Edge and Teaneck.

New Milford—together with River Edge and Teaneck—is home to historic New Bridge Landing.

New Bridge, Old Bridge and Peetzburgh are unincorporated communities located within New Milford.

During Hurricane Irene on August 28, 2011, the Hackensack River crested at , the second-highest recorded height and almost above flood stage, forcing flooding homes to be evacuated. The record height at the New Milford flood gauge is set during a storm on April 16, 2007, and the previous second-highest level of had been set during Hurricane Floyd on September 16, 1999.

Demographic

2010 Census

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $75,075 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,822) and the median family income was $96,885 (+/- $5,032). Males had a median income of $62,817 (+/- $4,265) versus $51,630 (+/- $2,640) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,491 (+/- $2,896). About 2.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.3% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 37 households in 2010, more than double the 16 counted in 2000.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 16,400 people, 6,346 households, and 4,277 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,099.0 people per square mile (2,741.2/km²). There were 6,437 housing units at an average density of 2,786.4 per square mile (1,075.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 78.59% White, 2.62% African American, 0.12% Native American, 14.76% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.09% of the population.

There were 6,346 households, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18, 55.9% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $59,118, and the median income for a family was $77,216. Males had a median income of $46,463 versus $36,987 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,064. About 1.7% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

New Milford is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 565) 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 is comprised of six members, who are elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in November. The Borough form of government used by New Milford 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 New Milford is Democratic Michael J. Putrino, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022. The borough council is comprised of Council President Frances Randi Duffie (D, 2022), Hedy Grant (D, 2024), Ira S. Grotsky (D, 2023), Lisa Repasky-Sandhusen (D, 2022), Matthew S. Seymour (D, 2023) and Thea Sirocchi-Hurley (D, 2024).

In January 2019, Matthew Seymour was selected from three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipalcommittee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated earlier that month when he took office as mayor.

Democrats took control of the council in the November 2012 general election, as incumbent Austin Ashley won reelection while running mate and former council member Michael Putrino was elected again after having served two previous terms of office. Incumbent Republican Howard Berner and running mate Peter Rebsch, a former council member, fell short.

Celeste Scavetta had been appointed by the Borough Council on January 11, 2011, to fill the vacant seat of Ann Subrizi that expired at the end of 2011 when Subrizi was elected as mayor. Peter Rebsch was appointed in June 2011 to fill the vacant seat of Council President Keith Bachmann, who had resigned from office; Rebsch served until November 2011, when voters chose a candidate to fill the balance of Bachmann's term that expired in 2012.

In the November 2011 general election, Democratic incumbent Randi Duffie and newcomers Austin Ashley and Hedy Grant won seats on the Council, unseating incumbent Republicans Peter Rebsch and Celeste Scavetta. After counting absentee ballots, Duffie and Grant won the two three-year council seats, edging Republican Scavetta by 10 votes, and started their terms in January 2012. Ashley defeated Darren Drake by 39 votes for the remaining year on the unexpired term of Ann Subrizzi that had been filled on an interim basis by Peter Rebsch, and took office after the election.

The results of the election held November 2, 2010, were a Republican sweep. Republican challenger Ann Subrizi (2,433 votes) ousted 14-year Democratic incumbent, Frank DeBari (2,120). The Republican challengers for Council defeated both incumbents, with Dominic Colucci (2,328 votes) and Diego Robalino (2,285) unseating Democrats Michael J. Putrino (2,210) and Arthur E. Zeilner (2,115). These result gave the Republicans a 4-1 margin, with Ann Subrizi's seat on the Council left vacant.

Federal, state and county representation

New Milford is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 38th state Legislative District. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, New Milford had been in the 39th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, New Milford had been split between the 5th Congressional District and the , a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 9,355 registered voters in New Milford, of which 2,787 (29.8% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,636 (17.5% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 4,928 (52.7% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 57.2% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 72.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 3,975 votes (51.4% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 3,463 votes (44.8% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 299 votes (3.9% vs. 4.6%), among the 7,812 ballots cast by the borough's 10,556 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.0% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 3,780 votes (54.5% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 3,036 votes (43.8% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 61 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 6,932 ballots cast by the borough's 9,892 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.1% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,152 votes (53.6% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 3,448 votes (44.5% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 68 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 7,746 ballots cast by the borough's 9,881 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.4% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 3,838 votes (51.1% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 3,574 votes (47.6% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 50 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 7,506 ballots cast by the borough's 9,596 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.4% of the vote (2,601 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.3% (1,578 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (57 votes), among the 4,348 ballots cast by the borough's 9,506 registered voters (112 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.7%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 2,306 ballots cast (47.7% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 2,223 votes (45.9% vs. 45.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 227 votes (4.7% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 31 votes (0.6% vs. 0.5%), among the 4,838 ballots cast by the borough's 9,615 registered voters, yielding a 50.3% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

The New Milford School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 2,026 students and 157.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.9:1. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are

Berkley Street School with 436 students in grades K-5,

Bertram F. Gibbs Elementary School with 484 students in grades K-5,

David E. Owens Middle School with 510 students in grades 6-8 and

New Milford High School with 601 students in grades 9-12.

In the 2011–12 school year, the high school introduced an academies program to the school, similar to the structure at the Bergen Academies. There are now sub-academies within the high school such as the school of sciences and the school of history.

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.

The Hovnanian School, founded in 1976 and dedicated to helping foster knowledge of Armenian culture and the Armenian language, serves students in preschool through eighth grade in the former Steuben School.

New Milford is the home of The Art Center of Northern New Jersey, a fine arts school and gallery offering classes for adults and children that was originally established in 1957 in Englewood, New Jersey.

Transportation

Roads and highways

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

Main roads in New Milford include River Road, Madison Avenue, Milford Avenue, and Boulevard.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus route 167 offers service between the borough and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, with local service offered on the 753, 756, 762, and 772 bus routes through New Milford. Coach USA's Rockland Coaches offers service on the 21T route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Saddle River Tours / Ameribus provides service to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on route 11C.

Commuter rail service is provided by NJ Transit's Pascack Valley Line, with service at River Edge and New Bridge Landing stations, which are available across the Hackensack River in River Edge. The Pascack Valley Line offers two-way weekday and weekend service to and from Hoboken Terminal, and connecting service to Penn Station via Secaucus Junction.

Notable people

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