Montvale, New Jersey

Montvale is a borough in Bergen County of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States census, the borough's population was 7,844,DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Montvale borough, Bergen County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 10, 2013.Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Montvale borough
, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 10, 2013. reflecting an increase of 810 (+11.5%) from the 7,034 counted in the 2000 census, which had in turn increased by 88 (+1.3%) from the 6,946 counted in the 1990 census.

History

Montvale was incorporated as a borough on August 31, 1894, from portions of Orvil Township and Washington Township.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 81. Accessed October 29, 2012. 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. On February 15, 1896, Montvale acquired part of Orvil Township. In 1906, Montvale added further land from Orvil and Washington townships, and in 1912, Montvale added territory from Upper Saddle River. On May 20, 1959, portions of Montvale were passed to River Vale, and on December 9 and 14, 1965, territories were exchanged between Montvale and Upper Saddle River. The borough's name is derived from its topography.

Montvale is nicknamed "The Pride of the Pascack Valley".

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.03 square miles (10.45 km²), including 4.02 square miles (10.42 km²) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) of water (0.25%).

The borough borders six neighboring municipalities: Park Ridge, River Vale, Upper Saddle River and Woodcliff Lake in Bergen County; and both Pearl River (in the Town of Orangetown) and Chestnut Ridge (in the Town of Ramapo) in Rockland County, New York.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Chestnut Ridge.

Montvale is served by the Garden State Parkway at exits 171 and 172, as well as the New York State Thruway in Chestnut Ridge.

Demographics

2010 Census

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $111,633 (with a margin of error of +/− $13,448) and the median family income was $140,026 (+/− $14,508). Males had a median income of $100,000 (+/− $13,987) versus $55,000 (+/− $4,957) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $53,974 (+/− $7,262). About 3.6% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Same-sex couples headed 10 households in 2010, an increase from the 8 counted in 2010.

2000 Census

As of the 2020 U.S. census, there were 7,034 people, 2,509 households, and 1,999 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,769.8 people per square mile (684.1/km²). There were 2,590 housing units at an average density of 651.7 per square mile (251.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.79% White, 0.44% African American, 0.09% Native American, 5.36% Asian, 0.63% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.09% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Montvale borough, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 10, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Montvale borough, Bergen County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 10, 2013.

There were 2,509 households, out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.4% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $93,031, and the median income for a family was $104,047. Males had a median income of $80,355 versus $37,440 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $45,448. About 0.9% of families and 0.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.4% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Montvale is home to the corporate headquarters of numerous major companies including the former Japanese firm, Sharp Corporation (Sharp US Headquarters) and Benjamin Moore. In January 2015, Mercedes-Benz USA announced that they would be moving their headquarters from New Jersey to the Atlanta area later that year. The company had been based in North Jersey since 1972 and had 1,000 employees on a campus in Montvale. Despite incentive offers from the State of New Jersey to remain in Bergen County, Mercedes-Benz cited proximity to manufacturing facilities and a growing customer base in the southeast in addition to as much as $50 million in tax incentives from Georgia governmental agencies. The borough was the world headquarters for The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (parent company of supermarket chains including A&P Markets, Pathmark and Waldbaum's) from the 1970s until its bankruptcy in 2015.

Montvale is home to the operational headquarters of Ingersoll Rand, Pentax and KPMG have a large local presence. The international marketing and commercial services headquarters of Western Union are located in Montvale.

The Shoppes at DePiero's Farm is a strip mall located on the former site of DePiero's Farm that opened on September 24, 2017. It is located just off exit 172 of the Garden State Parkway, directly across from the former Mercedes-Benz headquarters office. Notable tenants include the first location of Wegmans in Bergen County. Due to state blue laws in effect in Bergen County, most retail stores in the strip mall are closed on Sundays except for grocery stores and restaurants.

Government

Local government

Montvale is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a Mayor and a 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 elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 165. The Borough form of government used by Montvale 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 and Council meet every second Tuesday of the month for formal public meetings and on the last Tuesday of the month for informal work sessions. Meetings are open to the public and residents are given the opportunity to speak on proposed ordinances and other matters of concern at the formal meetings. Government-access television (GATV) usually televises the first meeting of each month on the local Public-access television cable TV channel.

The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the Borough, and as such presides over all public meetings, provides leadership in the development of community projects and makes appointments to various boards. The Borough Council exercises all legislative powers including adoption of the municipal budget, bond ordinances and the general business of the community.

The council's powers include adoption of ordinances; reviewing, revising and adopting the budget; making appropriations; levying taxes; authorizing bond issues; providing for the internal structure of local government; providing by ordinance for the creation and abolition of jobs; fixing salaries and establishing general municipal policy.

, the Mayor of Montvale Borough is Republican Michael Ghassali, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. The Montvale Borough Council is comprised of Council President Timothy E. Lane (R, 2022), Douglas M. Arendacs (R, 2023), Theresa Sileo Cudequest (R, 2023; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Dieter Koelling (R, 2024), Christopher A. Roche (R, 2022) and Annmarie Russo-Vogelsang (R, 2024).Mayor & Council
Borough of Montvale. Accessed May 8, 2022.''2021 County and Municipal Directory''
Bergen County, New Jersey