History of the Borough of Ridgefield
History of the Borough of Ridgefield
Ridgefield History
By Diane M. Pollock
Stand Proud With Ridgefield
In 1992, the Borough of Ridgefield celebrated its 100th anniversary of incorporation. Among the many activities held during the year-long Centennial celebration was a contest to select a Centennial Logo and Slogan.
The Centennial Logo, created by Matthew Genaro, then a senior at Ridgefield Memorial High School, depicted a tree in full bloom, symbolizing growth and the continuance of life.
The Centennial Slogan, created by Christa Finneran, also a student at Ridgefield Memorial High School, was:
“Stand Proud With Ridgefield”
The slogan reflected the pride residents felt in Ridgefield's history and the pride taken in what could be accomplished in the present and future.
Early History
The history of Ridgefield reaches back long before European explorers arrived in the area.
The first residents were members of the Eastern Algonquian Confederacy. The Lenni Lenape, or the Original People, were part of that Confederacy and called this area home for generations.
Ridgefield Township, from which the Borough of Ridgefield originated, was created from the southern portion of the former Hackensack Township approximately 270 years after the arrival of the first European settlers.
English immigrants reportedly settled in what is now the Borough of Ridgefield as early as 1603. Within several years, East Bergen became known as the English Neighborhood, with Ridgefield as its center.
The earliest known English settler was Robert Earle, who in 1650 purchased land between the Hackensack and Hudson Rivers. Other early settlers included Lubbert Lubbertson, William Van Westervelt, and Epke Jacob Banta.
Colonial & Revolutionary Period
By 1675, families with Dutch names—including Zimmerman, Banta, Blauvelt, Westervelt, and Paulison—had settled in the area.
During the Revolutionary War, both British and Washington's troops passed through the English Neighborhood.
By 1800, Ridgefield's population was approximately 221. Forty years later, twelve families lived in Ridgefield, primarily working as farmers and merchants.
Growth & Development
The Railroad Comes to Ridgefield
A major turning point in Ridgefield's development came in 1859 with the arrival of the Northern Railroad of New Jersey.
The railroad helped open the area to increased transportation, commerce, and suburban development.
In 1871, Ridgefield Township was formed from Hackensack Township.
By 1876, the village contained approximately 40 buildings, including churches, a school, a railroad depot, and a post office.
According to the 1875 census, Ridgefield Township had a population of 3,516.
The Borough of Ridgefield Is Incorporated
May 25, 1892
On May 25, 1892, a special election resulted in the incorporation of the Borough of Ridgefield.
Judge Van Valen issued the certificate of incorporation, officially creating the Borough.
The first Mayor and Council meeting was held on July 12, 1892.
Among the Borough's early ordinances were measures addressing:
- Street lighting
- Sidewalks
- Roadway construction
- Other improvements associated with the growing community
The incorporation of the Borough marked the beginning of a new chapter in Ridgefield's municipal history.
Ridgefield in the 20th Century
By the early 1900s, Ridgefield had developed many of the services and institutions associated with a growing community, including:
- Churches
- Schools
- Water and sewer systems
- Street lighting
The population had reached approximately 584, and development continued steadily, fueled by real estate investment and improved transportation access.
Historically, Ridgefield was divided into four sections:
Ridgefield Proper
Morsemere Park
Ridgefield Heights
The Valley
Each section developed in connection with Ridgefield's distinctive geography and topography.
The Morse Estate
Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph and Morse Code, owned large tracts of land in Ridgefield.
The eventual subdivision of the Morse Estate played an important role in the Borough's residential development and helped shape portions of the community that residents know today.
Ridgefield's Movie Industry
Grantwood Studio
Ridgefield once played a role in the early American motion-picture industry.
The Grantwood Movie Studio, owned by E. K. Lincoln, was located at Ray Avenue and Bergen Boulevard.
Many silent films were produced at the studio before much of the American film industry moved west to Hollywood.
Following World War I, the studio also produced foreign-language films. It eventually closed during the Great Depression.
The former studio was destroyed by fire during the 1960s.
Hendricks Causeway
Remembering “Uncle Sam” Hendricks
Hendricks Causeway was named after Samuel E. “Uncle Sam” Hendricks, a longtime Ridgefield resident.
Hendricks was a Civil War veteran, bank president, and civic leader who served on numerous boards and contributed to the development of the community.
He also helped in the effort to erect Ridgefield's doughboy statue, commemorating local service and sacrifice.
The Leaf Hog
A Ridgefield Innovation
Ridgefield was the birthplace of the Leaf Hog, an invention that became an important part of modern leaf collection.
In 1945, Ridgefield Superintendent of Public Works James N. Marshall designed the machine to improve the collection of leaves.
The Leaf Hog revolutionized municipal leaf collection and influenced the development of modern street-cleaning and collection equipment.
Ridgefield Today
More than a century after its incorporation, Ridgefield continues to grow while preserving the history and traditions that helped shape the Borough.
From its early Native American history and colonial roots to the arrival of the railroad, the incorporation of the Borough, the development of its neighborhoods, and its contributions to American innovation and culture, Ridgefield's past remains an important part of its identity.
The Borough continues to take pride in the people, places, and accomplishments that have shaped Ridgefield throughout its history.
Stand Proud With Ridgefield
1892 – 2026
More than a century of community, history, and pride.