Community Newspaper Special Sections Ridgewood Chamber Guide 2019 | Page 10

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Ridgewood Chamber Guide
Chamber
Continued from Page 6
and August; Jersey fresh produce, avail-
able at the Chamber-sponsored Farmers’
Market from June to November; Ridgewood’s
Restaurant Weeks and the Fall Car Show in
September. The Chamber is also well-known
for its special children’s events such as
Easter in Ridgewood. A Ridgewood tradition,
the annual “Downtown for the Holidays”
tree-lighting ceremony, and musical events
usher in the holiday season. The Chamber
membership sponsors a scholarship fund for
Ridgewood High School students.
In its role as a regional commercial center,
more than 350 members of the Chamber of
Commerce are located in Ridgewood and
its communities. Our website, www.experi-
enceridgewood.com, lists our current member-
ship and a calendar of upcoming events. In
recent years, the central business district has
gained acclaim for its diversity of restaurants
and its sidewalk cafes. In addition, a wide
spectrum of civic, cultural and religious orga-
nizations enriches our diverse community.
VILLAGE HISTORY
In 1662, Albert Zabriskie obtained 2,000
acres of land from the Indians, and in 1687
500 acres west of his tract were granted to
Samuel Kingland by Lord Carteret. The land
was farmed by the Dutch who settled in
and around the area we know as Paramus.
Ridgewood was once a part of these lands.
After the Revolutionary War, the area
was named Godwinville in honor of the war
hero, Abraham Godwin. In 1866, the name
was changed to Ridgewood, and the Village
was eventually incorporated as the Village of
Ridgewood in 1894. Development was sparse
until the mid-1800s but after rail service to
Paterson was initiated in 1848, the Village
began to grow rapidly. Three years later,
service was expanded to New York City. Rail
transportation was directly responsible for
the growth of Ridgewood, both as a residen-
tial community and as a business center.
Although the business district has
grown and changed over the years, the
Village’s small-town atmosphere remains.
The Ridgewood Historic Preservation
Commission actively researches and pro-
2019
motes the historical traditions of the Village.
In fact, a large portion of the Central
Business District is located within the
Historic District, which features the oldest
known building in town, and a number of
buildings constructed during the early 1900s.
Signs, awnings and storefront renovations in
the historic district are subject to review by
this seven-member commission.
Today, Ridgewood is recognized as an
exceptional residential community. For close
to a century it has been the business hub of
northwest Bergen County, one of the most
prestigious regions of the state. Ridgewood is
NJ/NY transit friendly by bus or train.
Visit Historic Downtown Ridgewood.
GOVERNMENT AND SERVICES
A five-member council, elected to four-
year terms, is the Village legislative body.
The council selects the mayor and deputy
mayor and the governing body employs a
village manager for day-to-day municipal
administration.
Ridgewood is a complete community with
a full range of services paid for by municipal
taxes. It boasts well-manned police and fire
departments, an ambulance corps, and its own
water supply. Backyard garbage collection,
curbside trash and leaf pickup, and an exten-
sive recycling program are also provided.
Focal points of community life are the
Municipal Building at 131 North Maple Ave.;
The Stable, the Village Parks and Recreation
headquarters at 259 North Maple Ave.; and
the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place. All
meetings of the Village Council, Board of
Education, and statutory boards,
regular and work sessions are open to
the public. Village Council and Board of
Education meetings can be seen on local
public access channels on cable TV. A town
calendar is mailed to residents annually. All
municipal meetings are listed. A United States
Post Office is located in the center of the
business district at 143 E. Ridgewood Ave.
POPULATION
Ridgewood’s population, as based
on the latest census, is approximately 25,000.
Specific demographics can be obtained from
the Bergen County Planning Board, 21 Main
St., Hackensack, N.J., 07601.
experienceridgewood.com