Location of Englewood Cliffs in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
The borough was formed in 1895, having seceded from Englewood Township, with William Outis Allison serving as the new municipality's first mayor,[24][25][26] as part of the "Boroughitis" then sweeping Bergen County, with 26 boroughs formed in the county in 1894 alone.[27]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 3.37 square miles (8.73 km2), including 2.13 square miles (5.51 km2) of land and 1.24 square miles (3.22 km2) of water (36.91%).[1][2]
In 2012, Englewood Cliffs was ranked 129th in the nation, and fifth in New Jersey, on the list of most expensive ZIP Codes in the United States by Forbes magazine, with a median home price of $1,439,115.[38] In 2006, the borough was ranked sixth in New Jersey and 78th in the nation in the magazine's rankings, with a median house price of $1,112,500.[39]
The 2010 United States census counted 5,281 people, 1,824 households, and 1,527 families in the borough. The population density was 2,528.1 per square mile (976.1/km2). There were 1,924 housing units at an average density of 921.0 per square mile (355.6/km2). The racial makeup was 56.35% (2,976) White, 2.08% (110) Black or African American, 0.08% (4) Native American, 38.52% (2,034) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.78% (41) from other races, and 2.20% (116) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 5.98% (316) of the population.[19]
Of the 1,824 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18; 73.1% were married couples living together; 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 16.3% were non-families. Of all households, 14.3% were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.17.[19]
21.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.7 males.[19]
Korean Americans accounted for 20.3% of the borough's population.[19] Englewood Cliffs has witnessed expansion of this demographic from the adjoining Fort Lee Koreatown, as well as from the borough's status as the North American headquarters of the LG Corporation, based in Seoul.[40] The Korean language is spoken at home by more than half of the residents of Englewood Cliffs, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in 2017.[41]
Same-sex couples headed 10 households in 2010, an increase from the three counted in 2000.[42]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $101,964 (with a margin of error of +/− $32,516) and the median family income was $126,985 (+/− $37,177). Males had a median income of $88,438 (+/− $9,456) versus $52,950 (+/− $7,757) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $53,260 (+/− $12,101). About 8.0% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 32.7% of those age 65 or over.[43]
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 5,322 people, 1,818 households, and 1,559 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,544.3 inhabitants per square mile (982.4/km2). There were 1,889 housing units at an average density of 903.1 per square mile (348.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 66.84% White, 1.37% African American, 0.04% Native American, 29.69% Asian, 0.71% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.89% of the population.[36][37]
There were 1,818 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.0% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.2% were non-families. 12.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% 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 3.16.[36][37]
In the borough the age distribution of the population shows 20.7% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.[36][37]
The median income for a household in the borough was $106,478, and the median income for a family was $113,187 in 2000. In 2008, the estimated median income had risen to $134,419. Males had a median income of $79,501 versus $42,019 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $57,399. About 1.4% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.[36][37]
As of the 2000 Census, 11.76% of Englewood Cliffs' residents identified themselves as being of Korean ancestry, which was the tenth highest in the United States and eighth highest of any municipality in New Jersey, for all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[44] The 2000 census found that 3.4% of Englewood Cliffs residents identified themselves as being of Armenian-American ancestry, the eighth highest percentage of Armenian American people in any place in the United States.[45] In the 2000 census, 8.42% of Englewood Cliffs' residents identified themselves as being of Chinese ancestry. This was the third highest percentage of people with Chinese ancestry in any place in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[46] In this same census, 2.91% of Englewood Cliffs' residents identified themselves as being of Japanese ancestry, which was the fifth highest of any municipality in New Jersey—behind Fort Lee (6.09%), Demarest (3.72%), Edgewater (3.22%) and Leonia (3.07%)—for all places with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[47] As of the 2010 Census, 20.3% of the population (1,072) reported as being of Korean ancestry, 8.9% (472) Chinese and 5.7% (300) Asian Indian.[19]
LG Electronics held a groundbreaking ceremony on November 14, 2013, to build an environmentally friendly North American headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, having received a favorable legal decision subsequently being appealed based upon building height issues. Protesters have sharply criticized the proposal, arguing that the 143-foot (44 m) height of the building exceeds the borough's 35-foot (11 m) limit and that the height of the building above the tree line will disrupt views of the Palisades.[51]
Englewood Cliffs 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.[53] 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 includes 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.[6][54] The borough form of government used by Englewood Cliffs 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.[55][56][57]
As of 2024[update], the mayor is Republican Mark K. Park, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Englewood Cliffs Borough Council are Rivka Biegacz (R, 2026), David Di Gregorio (D, 2024), Kris Kim (D, 2025), Zhi Liang (R, 2026), Glen Luciano (D, 2024) and Melanie Simon (D, 2025).[3][58][59][60][61][62]
Bergen County is governed by a directly elected County Executive, with legislative functions performed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at-large to three-year terms in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each November; a Chairman and Vice Chairman are selected from among its seven members at a reorganization meeting held every January. As of 2024[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.[77]
Historically, Englewood Cliffs has generally supported Republican candidates for president, although the borough has been rather split in recent decades. Since 1992, no presidential candidate of any political party has carried the borough with over 60% of the vote.
In March 2011, there were a total of 3,505 registered voters in Englewood Cliffs, of which 1,069 (30.5% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 761 (21.7% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,675 (47.8% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[118] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 66.4% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 84.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[118][119]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.2% of the vote (1,182 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.9% (397 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (14 votes), among the 1,669 ballots cast by the borough's 3,528 registered voters (76 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.3%.[120][121] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,059 votes (51.5% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 879 votes (42.7% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 54 votes (2.6% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 12 votes (0.6% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,057 ballots cast by the borough's 3,588 registered voters, yielding a 57.3% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).[122]
Emergency medical services (EMS) are provided to the borough of Englewood Cliffs by Englewood Hospital and Medical Center under the terms of an agreement between the borough and the hospital.
The borough had been served by the Englewood Cliffs Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which was staffed by trained and certified Emergency Medical Technicians who were on call from 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM on weekdays and 24/7 on weekends. ECVAC maintained three vehicles, two Ford Type-III ambulances and a Chevy Tahoe SUV and responded to an average of over 300 medical emergencies each year. The ECVAC was disbanded in August 2012 by the mayor and council of Englewood Cliffs, citing delays in providing prompt emergency response to borough residents due to the lack of volunteers, and replaced by a contract with Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.[123]
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.[133][134]
The borough does not have its own public library. After a 47-year-long relationship with the Englewood Public Library under which the borough paid $225,000 to allow borough residents to use the city's library, Englewood Cliffs started negotiations in 2016 with other municipalities to pay for privileges elsewhere.[136]
US 9W[138] and the Palisades Parkway[139] both run alongside each other for about 2.8 miles (4.5 km) along the Hudson River from Fort Lee in the south to Tenafly in the north. CR 505 (Hudson Terrace / East Palisades Avenue) travels through the borough from Fort Lee in the south to Englewood in the west.[140] Motorists can also take a scenic drive along Henry Hudson Drive at the Palisades Interstate Park, which is accessible via Dyckman Hill Road.[141]
Rockland Coaches provides service along Route 9W to the Port Authority Bus Terminal on the 9T / 9AT routes and to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal on the 9 and 9A routes.[144][145]
Mario Jascalevich (1927–1984), physician tried and acquitted for the murder of five of his patients with curare, in a case often referred to as the "Dr X" killings[158]
^ abLG's Sustainable Flagship, HOK, backed up by the Internet Archive as of October 17, 2012. Accessed June 16, 2015. "LG Electronics North American Headquarters; Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA"
^Harvey, Cornelius Burnham. Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, p. 11, New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed September 15, 2013. "For a period of sixteen years following the passage of this act few boroughs were organized in the State, only three of them being in Bergen County.... As it was twenty-six boroughs were created in the county from January 23, 1894, to December 18, of the same year."
^Quartuccio, Alana. "Study Predicts Englewood Cliffs LG Project Will Bring Huge Revenue Boost", Englewood-EnglewoodCliffs Patch, September 3, 2013. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Both near and long-term benefits are expected said County Executive Kathleen Donovan in a statement Tuesday which reports that the study shows more than $500 million in direct, indirect and induced revenues will come to the state, region and county and borough over the next 20-years."
^About CNBC U.S., CNBC. Accessed December 24, 2016. "The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide."
^Corporate Profile, LG Electronics. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., LG Electronics USA, Inc., (LGEUS) is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $48.5-billion global force in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. "
^"Unilever to Move Chicago Office To North America Headquarters in New Jersey", Unilever press release dated November 10, 2009, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 16, 2010. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Unilever, one of the world's largest consumer goods companies, [NYSE: UN, UL] announced today that it is combining its Chicago-based antiperspirants, deodorant and hair care group with its skin care business, to create a Personal Care (PC) business unit based at the company's North America headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. As a result of the integration, Unilever will close the Chicago offices by July 2010."
^Baker, Rebecca. "Dozens of protestors show up at LG groundbreaking in Englewood Cliffs", The Record, November 14, 2013, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 19, 2016. Accessed September 15, 2017. "LG Electronics broke ground Thursday on its $300 million North American headquarters in grand style, with a string quartet, catered food and congratulatory speeches, all under a sprawling heated outdoor tent in Englewood Cliffs.... The protest was organized by Protect the Palisades, a coalition of preservation and cultural groups, some of which are suing Englewood Cliffs for allowing LG to exceed the borough's 35-foot height limit on buildings. The 143-foot-high headquarters the company is building would be visible above the tree line along the Hudson River cliffs and the first high-rise north of Fort Lee."
^Snavely, Brent. "Maserati is headed to Auburn Hills offices", Detroit Free Press, April 12, 2017. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Maserati is planning to move its North American headquarters from New Jersey to the former Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills this year so it can be closer to its parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.... Shanley declined to say how many people will be making the move but made it clear that only a few positions would remain in Englewood Cliffs, N.J."
^Government, Borough of Englewood Cliffs. Accessed May 27, 2022. "Since it became a Borough, Englewood Cliffs has been governed by a Mayor and Council who are chosen through partisan elections held in November annually. The Mayor, elected for a 4 year term, is the chief executive officer and the six Council members, elected for a 3 year term, handle legislative functions. ... The Reorganization Meeting of the governing body is held during the first week in January. At this meeting, the newly-elected Council members take the oath of office, and a Council President, who serves as Acting Mayor when the Mayor is absent, is elected by the Council."
^Lueddeke, Kim. "Englewood Cliffs to be governed by Republican mayor for first time in 40 years", The Record, November 5, 2015, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 1, 2016. Accessed September 15, 2017. "For the first time in 40 years, the borough will be governed by a Republican mayor. Mario Kranjac defeated Democrat Joseph Favaro on Tuesday by a vote of 989 to 804, according to unofficial results.... Kranjac's ticket mates, Carrol McMorrow and Mark Park, won election to the Borough Council."
^ abBaskind, Amanda. "Parisi and running mates win; shifts council majority to Democrats", Northern Valley Suburbanite, November 8, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 17, 2016. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Parisi has been mayor for six years and will continue serving for the next four. Edward Aversa and Gloria Oh each won three-year terms and Joseph Favaro was elected to a one-year unexpired term."
^Lamb, William. "Thomas E. Stagnitti, 3-term Englewood Cliffs mayor", The Record, September 9, 2006, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 11, 2016. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Thomas E. Stagnitti, a former bank president who served three terms as the Republican mayor of Englewood Cliffs, died Aug. 23 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where he had lived for 14 years.... Mr. Stagnitti was elected mayor in 1963 and served until 1976."
^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."
^Cattafi, Kristie. "Democrats pick Bergenfield councilman to fill vacancy on Bergen County commissioners board", The Record, March 13, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. "A Democratic councilman from Bergenfield will be sworn in as a Bergen County commissioner Wednesday night, filling a vacancy on the governing body for almost 1 million residents. Rafael Marte will serve until Dec. 31, taking on the unexpired term left by former Commissioner Ramon Hache, a Democrat who resigned last week to lead the Ridgewood YMCA as its chief executive officer."
^Albrizio, Lianna. "Englewood Cliffs contracts with hospital for ambulance services", Northern Valley Suburbanite, August 16, 2012, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 7, 2016. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Disgruntled and blindsided by the council's recent decision to contract Englewood Hospital and Medical Center for the borough's ambulance service, members of the Englewood Cliffs Volunteer Ambulance Corps came to the Aug. 8 council meeting to vent their disfavor.
^Englewood Cliffs Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Englewood Cliffs Public Schools. Accessed May 27, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-K through eight in the Englewood Cliffs School District. Composition: The Department Chairperson [sic] School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Englewood Cliffs."
^Dwight Morrow High School/Academies@Englewood 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 6, 2016. "Dwight Morrow High School is a community of learners and teachers consisting of approximately 1055 students and 125 faculty members. Our school serves Englewood and Englewood Cliffs, and our campus is the home of the largest Interdistrict Public School Choice program in New Jersey, the Academies@Englewood."
^Staff. "St. Peter's Opening Englewood Branch", The New York Times, April 27, 1975. Accessed September 15, 2017. "St. Peter's College of Jersey City will open a Bergen County campus this summer on the site of the former Englewood Cliffs College, which closed last year."
^McGrath, Matthew. "Englewood library seeks payment from borough neighbor", The Record, June 18, 2016, backed up by the Internet Archive as of November 7, 2016. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Englewood Cliffs residents have borrowed books from the city library for the past 47 years. So, when the $225,000 a year contract between the city and the borough ended at the end of 2015, the library board continued to lend books to Englewood Cliffs residents on good faith while officials from either side hashed out a new contract."
^Henry Hudson Drive, Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Accessed November 9, 2013. "Dyckman Hill Road, about 0.75 mi. long, connects Henry Hudson Drive with the Englewood Cliffs park entrance, at Parkway Exit 1 (Palisade Avenue, Englewood Cliffs)."
^Baskind, Amanda. "Englewood Cliffs and Edgewater consider sharing construction code official", The Record, June 29, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 8, 2016. Accessed September 15, 2017. "On June 24, Englewood Cliffs Council President Robert Agresta, who is the chairman of the finance committee said he was strongly opposed to merging with other towns because he knows Englewood Cliffs does not want to give up its identity."
^Erlewine, Michael. "A Short Biography of Artist Lee Conklin", Astro Talk, December 19, 2009. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Lee Conklin was born in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on July 24, 1941."
^Attrino, Anthony G. "28 celebrities who were born in Bergen County", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 5, 2016, updated May 16, 2019. Accessed May 26, 2020. "Born in Englewood Cliffs on Nov. 16, 1982, Tobias Daniels is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker who has been featured on Indiewire and AFROPUNK."
^Tsai, Jason. Ewing takes stand - barely, The Record, October 27, 2006, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 6, 2016. Accessed September 15, 2017. "Former NBA star Patrick Ewing told jurors Thursday that he felt 'violated' and frightened for his family's safety after his Englewood Cliffs home was ransacked seven years ago of more than $300,000 in property."
^Saxon, Wolfgang. "Dr. Sadek Hilal, 70, Pioneer In Detecting Brain Diseases", The New York Times, January 8, 2001. Accessed March 18, 2018. "Dr. Sadek K. Hilal, a Columbia University radiologist who helped advance the science of imaging technology, died Dec. 24 at his home in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. He was 70."
^AboutArchived November 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Anjli Jain. Accessed November 9, 2013. "Anjli lived in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey until 2003 when she moved to Cleveland, Ohio after being recruited to become the Executive Director for the CampusEAI Consortium."
^Truscott, Alan. "Bridge", The New York Times, May 1, 1993. Accessed May 27, 2020. "East and West were Bill and Rozanne Pollack of Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and they produced a brilliant defense against three spades."
^Colman, David. "Flat-Panel TVs Sure Look Cool, But They Pose Design Dilemmas", The Wall Street Journal, August 27, 1999. Accessed September 15, 2017. "The rapper Q-Tip has been at the cutting edge of the music world for the past decade. So it was only natural that he'd want the latest for his Englewood Cliffs, N.J., living room: a sleek, flat-panel TV set."
^Staff. "Emily Remler Dies On Australia Tour; Guitarist Was 32", The New York Times, May 8, 1990. Accessed November 25, 2017. "Emily Remler, a jazz guitarist in the be-bop tradition, died of a heart attack on Friday while on tour in Sydney, Australia, the Associated Press reported yesterday. She was 32 years old. Ms. Remler was born in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and started playing folk and then rock guitar."
^"2 Mob Drug Dealers Convicted", The New York Times, July 26, 1988. Accessed March 1, 2012. "Mr. Squitieri and Mr. Sisca, both from Englewood Cliffs, N.J., were described by Federal authorities as close associates of John Gotti, whom the authorities identified as the leader of the Gambino family."
^LuKanic, Steven A. Film Actors Guide, p. 402. Lone Eagle, 1991. Accessed September 11, 2013. "Trish Van Devere (Patricia Dressel) b. March 9, 1945 - Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey"
Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties) prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.