The Borough of Ringwood was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1918, from a "portion of the Township of Pompton", as one of three boroughs formed from Pompton Township, joining Bloomingdale and Wanaque, based on the results of a referendum held on March 22, 1918.[22] The first organizational meeting of the borough council took place in the existing Borough Hall on May 6, 1918. The borough was named for an iron mining company in the area.[23]
History
The Lenape, an Algonquian language-speaking tribe of Native Americans who occupied much of the mid-Atlantic coastal areas and the interior mountains including along the Delaware River resided in the area of present-day Ringwood when Europeans first entered the area. Some retreated to the mountains to escape colonial encroachment.
Colonists called the local band the Ramapough, and named the Ramapo River and other regional features after them. Their descendants and Afro-Dutch migrants from New York were among the people who formed the multiracial group known as the Ramapough Mountain Indians, recognized in 1980 as the "Ramapough Lenape Nation" Native American tribe by the state of New Jersey, though the federal government has denied their application for formal recognition.[24][25]
Early in the 18th century, colonists discovered iron in the area. The Ogden family built a blast furnace in Ringwood in 1742. By 1765, Peter Hasenclever used Ringwood as the center of his ironmaking operations, which included 150,000 acres (610 km2) in New Jersey, New York and Nova Scotia. Iron mining was prominent in the area from the 18th century until the Great Depression, and iron shafts and pits, landfills and other elements still exist. The London, Roomy, Peters and Hope mines were all originally opened by Peter Hasenclever's London Company.[26]
According to the United States Census Bureau, Ringwood had a total area of 28.49 square miles (73.8 km2), including 25.59 square miles (66.3 km2) of land and 2.91 square miles (7.5 km2) of water (10.20%).[1][2]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Brushwood Pond, Cupsaw Lake, Skyline Lake, Conklintown, Erskine, Harrison Mountain Lake, Lake Erskine, Monks, Negro Pond, Sheppard Pond, Stonetown, Upper Lake and Weyble Pond.[27]
Of the 4,182 households, 37.9% had children under the age of 18; 70.8% were married couples living together; 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 18.4% were non-families. Of all households, 14.5% were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.23.[19]
24.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.8 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $109,139 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,896) and the median family income was $117,793 (+/− $9,712). Males had a median income of $70,086 (+/− $9,303) versus $54,397 (+/− $6,682) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,931 (+/− $2,197). Estimates of families and population below the poverty line were not available.[38]
Same-sex couples headed 37 households in 2010, an increase from the 26 counted in 2000.[39]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 12,396 people, 4,108 households, and 3,446 families residing in the borough. The population density was 491.0 people per square mile (189.6 people/km2). There were 4,221 housing units at an average density of 167.2 per square mile (64.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.87% White, 1.61% African American, 1.44% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 4.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[36][37]
There were 4,108 households, out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.5% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.1% were non-families. 12.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.28.[36][37]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.[36][37]
The median income for a household in the borough was $81,636, and the median income for a family was $85,108. Males had a median income of $60,097 versus $36,005 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,341. 2.8% of the population and 2.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.9% of those under the age of 18 and 2.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.[36][37]
Parks and recreation
Ringwood State Park is a 4,444-acre (1,798 ha) state park located in the heart of the Ramapo Mountains.[40] The Park consists of four distinct areas: Ringwood Manor, Skylands Manor/NJ State Botanical Garden, Shepherd Lake, and Bear Swamp Lake.
Tranquility Ridge Park is a county park covering more than 2,000 acres (810 ha) of wooded land on the border of Ringwood and West Milford that was acquired by the county to preserve the property from development.[41]
The New Weis Center is an environmental education, arts and recreation center located at 150 Snake Den Road.[42]
Spring Lake Day Camp is an ACA-accredited summer day camp for children in Kindergarten through 10th grade.[43] The camp was founded in 1989 and has been family owned and operated since its opening.[44]
The Highlands Natural Pool is an Olympic size, stream-fed freshwater pool that was carved and founded in 1935 by The Nature Friends, a group of residents who enjoyed working on recreational projects for the local community.[45]
Ringwood operates within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Council-Manager form of municipal government Plan E, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1979.[46] The borough is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.[47] The borough's governing body is comprised of a seven-member borough council whose members are elected at-large in partisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either three or four seats coming up for election in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election.[6][48][49] At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the council selects a mayor and a deputy mayor from among its members.[50]
As of 2023[update], members of the Ringwood Borough Council are Mayor Sean T. Noonan (R, term on council ends December 31, 2025; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Jaime Matteo-Landis (R, term on council and as deputy mayor ends 2023), Stephanie N. Baumgartner (R, 2025), Stephanie A. Forest (R, 2025), Michelle Kerr (R, 2023; elected to serve an unexpired term), Linda M. Schaefer (R, 2023), and John M. Speer (R, 2023).[3][51][52][53][54][55]
In January 2022, the borough council appointed Michelle Kerr to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Michael McCracken until he resigned from office.[56] Kerr served on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[53]
Emergency services
Ringwood is serviced by a volunteer ambulance corps and three volunteer fire companies, with each fire company covering one section of the borough.[57] The Erskine Lakes Fire Company covers Erskine Lakes, and Cupsaw Lake.[58] Ringwood Volunteer Fire Company #1 (Stonetown) covers Stonetown.[59] and Skyline Lake Fire Department covers Skyline Lake area.[60]
Federal, state and county representation
Ringwood is located in the 5th Congressional District[61] and is part of New Jersey's 26th state legislative district.[62]
Passaic County is governed by Board of County Commissioners, composed of seven members who are elected at-large to staggered three-year terms office on a partisan basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At a reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects a Director and Deputy Director from among its members to serve for a one-year term.[68] As of 2025[update], Passaic County's Commissioners are:
Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Danielle Ireland-Imhof (D, Hawthorne, 2028),[80][81]
Sheriff Thomas Adamo (D, Wayne, 2027)[82][83] and
Surrogate Zoila S. Cassanova (D, Wayne, 2026).[84][85][77]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 8,676 registered voters in Ringwood, of which 1,733 (20.0% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,714 (31.3% vs. 18.7%) were registered as Republicans and 4,225 (48.7% vs. 50.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[88] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 71.0% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 94.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).[88][89]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 53.9% of the vote (3,411 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.0% (2,845 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (68 votes), among the 6,359 ballots cast by the borough's 8,936 registered voters (35 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 71.2%.[90][91] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 3,667 votes (52.5% vs. 37.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,146 votes (45.0% vs. 58.8%) and other candidates with 68 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 6,985 ballots cast by the borough's 8,922 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.3% (vs. 70.4% in Passaic County).[92] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 3,636 votes (54.7% vs. 42.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,897 votes (43.6% vs. 53.9%) and other candidates with 46 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 6,647 ballots cast by the borough's 8,372 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.4% (vs. 69.3% in the whole county).[93]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.8% of the vote (2,531 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.6% (1,313 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (61 votes), among the 3,957 ballots cast by the borough's 9,014 registered voters (52 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.9%.[94][95] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,573 votes (55.9% vs. 43.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,714 votes (37.2% vs. 50.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 236 votes (5.1% vs. 3.8%) and other candidates with 50 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,606 ballots cast by the borough's 8,696 registered voters, yielding a 53.0% turnout (vs. 42.7% in the county).[96]
Education
Students in kindergarten through eighth grade are served by the Ringwood Public School District.[97] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,045 students and 103.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.1:1.[98] Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[99]) are
Peter Cooper Elementary School[100] with 228 students in grades K–3 (built in 1963),
Robert Erskine Elementary School[101] with 185 students in grades K–3 (built in 1960),
Eleanor G. Hewitt Intermediate School[102] with 246 students in grades 4–5 (built in 1937 with an annex built in 1952 and trailers added in 1959) and
Martin J. Ryerson Middle School[103] with 389 students in grades 6–8 (built in 1970).[104][105][106]
Ringwood's public schools are supported in part with grants from the Ringwood Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit organization which sponsors, among other things, the annual Shepherd Lake 5K run.[107]
Private schools used to include Ringwood Christian School, which was founded in 1973 through the Ringwood Baptist Church, serves 80 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, with part-time sessions available for pre-schoolers.[110] St. Catherine of Bologna School, a regional Roman Catholic parochial school operating under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson that served kindergarten through eighth grade, closed in 2018 due to falling enrollment.[111]
Community
Ringwood residents may be eligible to join one of several private lake communities, based on where they live: assorted lakes in Stonetown, Cupsaw Lake,[112] Erskine Lakes[113] or Skyline Lakes,[114] each of which have annual fees and initiation fees.[115]
Each year on the third Saturday in March, Ringwood holds its annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, the only such parade in Passaic County.[116] Since 1990, the Parade Committee selects a grand marshal and a Citizen of the Year. These chosen outstanding citizens of the community are honored at a Unity Breakfast that precedes the parade. The parade includes bagpipe bands, floats, Irish step dancers, the county sheriff's department with their equestrian unit, local police, and fire and ambulance departments. Other marchers include Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, local school groups and other recreational teams. The parade ends at the St. Catherine of Bologna Church Parish Center, where the celebration continues with live music and entertainment.
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 87.52 miles (140.85 km) of roadways, of which 72.73 miles (117.05 km) were maintained by the municipality and 14.79 miles (23.80 km) by Passaic County.[117]
There are no state, U.S., or Interstate highways in Ringwood. The most prominent roads are County Route 511,[118] which follows the Greenwood Lake Turnpike, and County Route 692, which follows Skyline Drive. The nearest major highway is Interstate 287, and both CR 511 and CR 692 have interchanges with it in neighboring Wanaque and Oakland, respectively.[119] Ringwood had no traffic lights until June 2013, when the town's first one was installed at the intersection of Skyline Drive and Erskine Road. The borough still has no sidewalks or street lights.[120]
The mayor of the borough of Ringwood, New Jersey approached Ringwood Town Council in September 1976, advising that the borough had, in recognition of the 750th anniversary of the Ringwood, Hampshire's market carter, resolved that the Hampshire town would become their Sister City. A laminated copy of the resolution was sent and several visits were subsequently exchanged on an official basis.[134]
^Martin, Douglas. "Ronald Van Dunk, 68, Chief Red Bone of the Ramapough Mountain Indians, Is Dead", The New York Times, April 8, 2011. Accessed November 3, 2013. "Mr. Van Dunk, who was known as Chief Red Bone, held the title of grand chief of the 3,000 Ramapough Mountain Indians, who belong to three groups or clans living in Hillburn, in Rockland County, and across the state line in Mahwah and Ringwood in northeastern New Jersey. They were recognized as a tribe by New York and New Jersey in 1980, but the federal government has denied their application for tribal status, filed in 1979."
^LaGorce, Tammy. "Documentary Explores Struggle of New Jersey's Ramapough Tribe", The New York Times, August 8, 2015. Accessed December 20, 2016. "Theories about their multiracial ancestry have centered around freed black slaves, Dutch settlers and the Lenape Delaware Indians, who fled to the mountains in the late 17th century to escape Dutch and English settlers. New York and New Jersey recognized the tribe in 1980 as the Ramapough Lenape Nation."
^"Ringwood State Park". The Official Website for The State of New Jersey. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
^Tranquility Ridge, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed September 29, 2017. "The bucolic and aptly named Tranquility Ridge, is 2,110-acres of unspoiled woodlands located in the highlands communities of West Milford and Ringwood."
^About, The New Weis Center for Education, Arts, & Recreation. Accessed March 3, 2020.
^Government, Borough of Ringwood. Accessed January 15, 2013.
^Mayor & Council, Borough of Ringwood. Accessed July 1, 2022. "The Council Members are elected in partisan election as part of the November election to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis. The election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor by the Council is conducted during the Reorganization Meeting held within the first seven days of January each year."
^Zimmer, David M. "Ringwood council vacancy filled by 2021 school board candidate", The Record, January 9, 2022. Accessed July 1, 2022. "The Ringwood Borough Council bid farewell to Councilman Michael McCracken on Tuesday and shortly after that confirmed his replacement. McCracken, who retired from his job as a patrolman with the Bloomfield Police Department in late spring 2021, resigned amid a planned relocation. Elected in 2019, he left with slightly less than two years remaining in his term."
^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."
^ abBoard of County Commissioners, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 21, 2022. "Passaic County is governed by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners. Each County Commissioner is elected at large for a three-year term. The board is headed by a director, who is selected for a one-year term at the board's annual reorganization meeting (at the first meeting of the year in January)."
^Bruce James, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 21, 2022.
^Ringwood Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Ringwood Public School District. Accessed July 2, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through eight in the Ringwood School District. Composition: The Ringwood School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Ringwood."
^About Us, Ringwood Educational Foundation, Inc. Accessed March 14, 2012.
^Lakeland Regional High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 27, 2016. "There are three highlighted areas that the Board of Education feels are important to address this year: expanding educational opportunities for all students, maximizing facility utilization, and enhancing communication between Lakeland Regional and the two sending districts of Wanaque and Ringwood."
^Our History, Ringwood Christian School. Accessed March 14, 2012.
^Zimmer, David M. "St. Catherine in Ringwood closing is third school in Paterson Diocese this year", The Record, July 11, 2018. Accessed February 3, 2020. "Ringwood — A third Catholic school closure by Diocese of Paterson officials in recent months has local families scrambling to find new schools. St. Catherine of Bologna, the 70-year-old Catholic elementary school near the Wanaque Reservoir, announced it will not reopen in September.... As of May 15, the expected 2018 enrollment was down to 111 from 164 in 2017, according to a letter sent by Szurek to parents at that time. The school needed 122 students to stay afloat, a subsequent letter dated July 5 explained."
^About, Cupsaw Lake. Accessed November 3, 2013. "Cupsaw Lake is a 65-acre freshwater lake in Ringwood, New Jersey. As a home owner in the Cupsaw Lake area of Ringwood, you may join the Cupsaw Lake Improvement Association (CLIA) for all the benefits of lake community membership."
^Cheslow, Jerry. "Living In/Ringwood, N.J.; An Oasis Within Commuting Distance", The New York Times, August 1, 2004. Accessed November 3, 2013. "Much of the housing is concentrated around four private lakes – Cupsaw, Erskine, Skyline and Riconda – that were created by the Ringwood Company in the 1920s and 1930s to promote the borough as a hunting and fishing retreat and a summer resort. Today, each of those lakes is the core of a private beach club for the surrounding homes."
^Edmond, Teresa. "Ringwood's St. Patrick's Day Parade set for Saturday, March 26", Suburban Trends, March 23, 2011. Accessed May 17, 2011. "The Ringwood St. Patrick's Day Parade bears the distinction of being the only St. Patrick's Day Parade in Passaic County."
^Green, Jeff. "Nudge from a nun, rush-hour realities lead to Ringwood's first traffic light", The Record, April 18, 2013. Accessed November 3, 2013. "Several years ago, Sister Matthew Cola regularly showed up at Borough Council meetings with a clear, consistent message: Put up a traffic light at Skyline Drive and Erskine Road, or someone's eventually going to be killed there.... Passaic County is installing a traffic light, the borough's first, at the intersection that officials say will reduce safety concerns and painfully slow evening rush hour traffic."
^"That's all for Seton Hall", Herald News, May 24, 1987. Accessed May 9, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Trey Gainous had a two-run single in the frame, Kevin Henry' a two-run double, Frank Thomas a two-run double and Jeff Livesey a run-scoring double. Livesey formerly played at Lakeland High School and lived in Ringwood."
^Staff. "Ringwood's Wayne Mann to be recognized as a 'Hero'", The Record, June 18, 2010. Accessed July 17, 2012. "A leader of the Ramapough Mountain Indian community in Upper Ringwood, Mann led his neighbors in a fight to get Ford Motor Co. to clean up his neighborhood after it dumped industrial waste there 40 years ago."
^Sturken, Barbara. "Off the Field, Giants Call New Jersey Home", The New York Times, March 31, 1991. Accessed March 14, 2012. "George Martin is another Giants alumnus who calls New Jersey home. Mr. Martin, the former Giants team captain, is in an M.B.A. program at Fairleigh Dickinson, where he helped develop the degree program for the players. He also commutes from his Ringwood home to a job as vice president of Tana Graphics, a printing company in New York City."
^Louie, Tim. "North Jersey Notes: The Knack Mastering—Ringwood, NJ", The Aquarian Weekly, December 29, 2009. Accessed November 24, 2018. "Kim Rosen has since branched off on her own to make a name for herself with the help of Dave to open Knack Mastering. I recently had the opportunity to drive up to Dave and Kim’s house in Ringwood, NJ, to take a look at the studio and give some of her latest projects a listen."
^"Return yardage almost nil", The Record, August 28, 1983. Accessed May 9, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Fazio can rest easy when thinking about the Panthers' kicking game, however, as long as Eric Schubert and his right leg are around.... Schubert, 21, a physical education major, is from Ringwood."
^"Historical Sites in New Jersey", The New York Times, September 30, 2007. Accessed October 29, 2007. "Skylands Manor And State Botanical Garden Ringwood State Park, Ringwood.... The gardens were designed under the direction of Francis Lynde Stetson, owner of Skylands from 1891 to 1922."
^Ringwood Official Guide. Forward Publicity Ltd. n.d.
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