Haledon was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1908, replacing the now-defunct Manchester Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 21, 1908.[24]
History
Haledon developed along the northern side of the industrial city of Paterson. It was settled by farmers with colonial Dutch heritage including the Van Riper, Berdan, Banta, Post and Zabriskie families. Prior to the Civil War they were joined by the Roe, Leonhard and Stansfield families, who helped establish St. Mary's Episcopal Church and leading businesses including a general store and the Leonhard Wax Company.
The area became a streetcar suburb of Paterson in the years following the Civil War, with the central area known as Haledon, while the area surrounding the large pond along High Mountain Road was called Oldham. The Paterson and Haledon Horse Rail Road Company, formed in 1871, laid trolley tracks from Paterson along the current-day Belmont Avenue, which were electrified by 1888. Many of the trolley company's owners were among the founders of the Cedar Cliff Land Company, which bought up large portions of the area, and the street names in the borough reflect these industrialists and businessmen: Morrissee, Hoxey, Van Dyke, John Ryle and Barbour. The flat, lower part of the community was laid out in city-sized lots of 25 by 100 feet (7.6 by 30.5 m), while the hillsides were plated as sites for larger Victorian "villas" for such individuals as Vice President Garret A. Hobart (now the location of William Paterson University) and the Barbour family of linen flax manufacturers. Haledon's villa development was rather limited and throughout much of the 20th century Haledon was a typical blue-collar community set by the small property sizes planned by the Cedar Cliff Land Company. A never-constructed grand hotel was planned for the highest point of the community above the intersection of the current day Central and West Haledon Avenues. The Cedar Cliff Land Company ran newspaper advertisements targeted at upwardly mobile immigrants who worked in Paterson's silk industry, offering the city-sized lots for sale at auctions (with free lunches and brass bands) held at St. Mary's Parish Hall, and also opened the Cedar Cliff Silk Mill, which became one of several silk mills in the community. The residential appeal of Haledon was to escape the crowded industrial city and still have access to the textile mills by using the trolley. As a result of the land sales of Cedar Cliff Land Company and of independent landowner William Buschmann, the town was settled by immigrants who came as skilled workers from textile centers in Europe.[25]
Haledon was incorporated in 1908, having been the Oldham district of the former Passaic County municipality of Manchester Township.[24]
Socialist William Bruekmann was elected mayor in 1912 by the borough's immigrant resident base of skilled silk workers.[26] During the 1913 Paterson silk strike, Haledon's mayor offered the strikers the opportunity to hold meetings in Haledon, as worker meetings were prohibited in Paterson. The Pietro and Maria Botto House, located on the side of a hill surrounded by open spaces, provided a natural amphitheater for labor leaders of the day to address thousands of people who gathered to hear Big Bill Haywood, Carlo Tresca, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and John Reed. The Botto House is now a National Historic Landmark and the home of the American Labor Museum.[27]
In 2008, Councilman Alan Souto, at the time an officer with the Passaic County Sheriff's Department, was arrested for stealing heroin and cocaine from the evidence room from the sheriff's department in order to distribute narcotics, amounting to over $250,000. After being found guilty, he was sentenced to 85 months in federal prison in May 2009.[28] Souto was replaced in April 2008 by Marc Battle, a commercial litigator and former civil rights attorney.[29]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.22 square miles (3.15 km2), including 1.22 square miles (3.15 km2) of land and <0.01 square miles (<0.01 km2) of water (0.08%).[1][2] The borough is home of a Passaic River inlet known as Molly Ann Brook.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bridges Pond and Valley View.[30]
The 2010 United States census counted 8,318 people, 2,778 households, and 2,028 families in the borough. The population density was 7,203.9 per square mile (2,781.4/km2). There were 2,932 housing units at an average density of 2,539.3 per square mile (980.4/km2). The racial makeup was 62.38% (5,189) White, 11.77% (979) Black or African American, 0.53% (44) Native American, 6.35% (528) Asian, 0.10% (8) Pacific Islander, 14.72% (1,224) from other races, and 4.16% (346) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41.60% (3,460) of the population.[21]
Of the 2,778 households, 39.0% had children under the age of 18; 44.1% were married couples living together; 22.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.0% were non-families. Of all households, 21.2% were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.48.[21]
26.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.3 males.[21]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $58,049 (with a margin of error of +/− $11,220) and the median family income was $65,833 (+/− $15,887). Males had a median income of $36,204 (+/− $9,406) versus $45,211 (+/− $6,778) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,317 (+/− $4,090). About 3.3% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.[39]
Same-sex couples headed 20 households in 2010, an increase from the 13 counted in 2000.[40]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 8,252 people, 2,820 households, and 1,974 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,111.4 inhabitants per square mile (2,745.7/km2). There were 2,906 housing units at an average density of 2,504.3 per square mile (966.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 73.59% White, 7.09% African American, 0.17% Native American, 4.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.09% from other races, and 4.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.60% of the population.[37][38]
In the 2000 Census, 2.6% of Haledon's residents identified themselves as being of Arab American ancestry. This was the 11th-highest percentage of Arab American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.[41]
There were 2,820 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.41.[37][38]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.[37][38]
The median income for a household in the borough was $45,599, and the median income for a family was $49,014. Males had a median income of $37,143 versus $29,830 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,099. About 6.2% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over.[37][38]
Government
Local government
Haledon 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.[42] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The 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.[6] The borough form of government used by Haledon 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.[43][44]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of the Borough of Haledon is Democrat Michael Johnson the first African American to be elected to the office of mayor, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2026, and who first came to office when he defeated 16-year incumbent Domenick Stampone in November 2022.[45] Members of the Haledon Borough Council are Carlos Aymat (D, 2024), Nereyda Curiel (D, 2025), James Iza (D, 2025; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Junior A. Morris (D, 2023), Mohammad M. Ramadan (D, 2023) and Aleksandra Tasic (D, 2024).[3][46][47][48][49][50]
In January 2023, the council selected Mounir Almaita, who had just been re-elected to serve a three-year term on council, to fill the position as administrator / clerk for the borough. James Iza was appointed to fill the vacant council seat expiring in December 2025 that had been held by Almaita; Iza will serve on an interim basis until the November 2023 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.
[51]
In December 2015, the borough council appointed Nereyda Curiel to fill the term expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Maha Kandis until her resignation in October after serving three terms on the council; Curiel served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[52]
In the 2014 general election, 22-year-old Tahsina Ahmed was elected to the borough council, making her the first Bangladeshi-American woman elected into office in the United States.[53]
Federal, state and county representation
Haledon is located in the 9th Congressional District[54] and is part of New Jersey's 35th state legislative district.[55]
Passaic County is governed by Board of County Commissioners, comprised 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.[62] As of 2024[update], Passaic County's Commissioners are:
Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Danielle Ireland-Imhof (D, Hawthorne, 2028),[75][76]
Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik (D, Clifton, 2025)[77][78] and
Surrogate Zoila S. Cassanova (D, Wayne, 2026).[79][80][71]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,289 registered voters in Haledon, of which 1,763 (41.1% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 692 (16.1% vs. 18.7%) were registered as Republicans and 1,834 (42.8% vs. 50.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[81] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 51.6% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 70.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).[81][82]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 73.7% of the vote (2,142 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 25.3% (735 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (29 votes), among the 2,935 ballots cast by the borough's 4,689 registered voters (29 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 62.6%.[83][84] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,973 votes (66.8% vs. 58.8% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 858 votes (29.0% vs. 37.7%) and other candidates with 31 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,955 ballots cast by the borough's 4,364 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.7% (vs. 70.4% in Passaic County).[85] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,666 votes (59.0% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,047 votes (37.1% vs. 42.7%) and other candidates with 26 votes (0.9% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,825 ballots cast by the borough's 3,982 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.9% (vs. 69.3% in the whole county).[86]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 54.9% of the vote (858 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 43.8% (684 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (20 votes), among the 1,609 ballots cast by the borough's 4,783 registered voters (47 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 33.6%.[87][88] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 957 ballots cast (57.9% vs. 50.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 598 votes (36.2% vs. 43.2%), Independent Chris Daggett with 63 votes (3.8% vs. 3.8%) and other candidates with 16 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 1,653 ballots cast by the borough's 4,235 registered voters, yielding a 39.0% turnout (vs. 42.7% in the county).[89]
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Manchester Regional High School, which serves students from Haledon, North Haledon, and Prospect Park.[93][94][95] The school is located in Haledon. The Manchester district participates in the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, which allows non-resident students to attend the district's schools without cost to their parents, with tuition paid by the state. Available slots are announced annually by grade.[96] As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 748 students and 65.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.4:1.[97] Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent districts, with three seats assigned to Haledon.[98]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 17.73 miles (28.53 km) of roadways, of which 11.71 miles (18.85 km) were maintained by the municipality and 6.02 miles (9.69 km) by Passaic County.[99]
The only significant road passing through Haledon is County Route 504, which enters from Wayne, follows Pompton Road and Haledon Avenue eastward through the borough, then exits into Prospect Park and Paterson.[100]
^Herbst, John A.; and Keene, Catherine, et al. Life and Times in Silk City, A Photographic History of Paterson, NJ. Published American Labor Museum, 1986.
^Shea, Georgia, Spoiled Silk: The Red Mayor and the Great Paterson Textile Strike (2001)
^Herbst, John A. A Slice of the Earth, published by the American Labor Museum, 1981 (first published in New Jersey History by the New Jersey Historical Society).
^Cowen, Richard. "Ex-Passaic Sheriff's officer sentenced to 85 months", The Record, May 18, 2009. Accessed August 13, 2015. "Souto, a former Haledon councilman and trustee on the Board of Education, was immediately led from the courtroom to begin his sentence, after Linares rejected a request that he be allowed a few weeks to gather his belongings and say goodbye to his wife and four children."
^Cowen, Richard. "Haledon's first black council member resigns", The Record, October 3, 2009. Accessed August 13, 2015. "Marc Battle, the first African-American to serve on the Borough Council, resigned the post this week, citing time constraints brought on by a new job.... Battle, 38, was appointed to the council in April 2008 to fill the unexpired term of Alan Souto, a Passaic County sheriff's officer who was caught selling drugs."
^Greene, Rebecca. "Michael Johnson Sworn-In as First African American Mayor in Haledon", TAP into Hawthorne, January 5, 2023. Accessed February 1, 2023. "This week, Michael Johnson, a former law enforcement official and three-term councilman, was sworn-in to serve as the first African American mayor in the borough's 115-year history.... Johnson, who was elected to a four-year term in November, replaced Domenick Stampone, who first came to office when he defeated incumbent Ken Pengitore in November 2006."
^DeVencentis. "Haledon council hires one of its own to fill joint positions of administrator, clerk", The Record, January 14, 2023. Accessed February 1, 2023. "Mounir Almaita was a known quantity. Almaita, 63, a councilman for the past 12 years, was hired by his colleagues to assume the joint positions of borough administrator and borough clerk through the end of 2025. He was most recently the director of the county Division of Community Outreach & Family Services.... And on Thursday, James Iza was appointed to fill Almaita’s long-held council seat.
Iza, 51, a Democrat, was the chairman of the Planning Board.... He will serve through the end of the year, and Almaita’s unexpired term of two years will be on the ballot in the fall."
^Cattafi, Kristie. "New member of Haledon Council sworn in", The Gazette, December 17, 2015. Accessed July 28, 2016. "The Haledon Council swore in a new Democratic councilwoman to fill a one-year vacancy that was created by the early resignation of a councilwoman in October.The council approved Nereyda Curiel to fill the unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2016.... In October, Haledon Councilwoman Maha Kandis resigned from the council after three terms creating the vacancy. "
^Nobile, Tom. "New Haledon councilwoman makes history with victory", The Gazette (Hawthorne edition), November 26, 2014. Accessed January 18, 2015. "A 22-year-old Haledon grad student will become the first Bangladeshi-American woman in the country to hold an elected position when she joins the Haledon Council in January. Newly-elected Tahsina Ahmed, a Democrat, notched a historic victory on Nov. 4 alongside her running mates Councilman Michael Johnson and Mayor Domenick Stampone."
^Biography, Congressman Bill Pascrell. Accessed January 3, 2019. "A native son of Paterson, N.J., Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. has built a life of public service upon the principles he learned while growing up on the south side of the Silk City."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^ 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.
^Haledon Board of Education Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Haledon School District. Accessed December 28, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Haledon School District. Composition: The Haledon School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Haledon."
^Passaic County-Manchester Regional High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 30, 2016. "Manchester Regional High School (MRHS) serves 903 students from the Passaic County boroughs of Haledon, North Haledon and Prospect Park. It is also one of only two Interdistrict Public Choice Schools in the county providing a quality college preparatory curriculum to students outside the district who want to avail themselves of this program. One hundred four students from Essex, Bergen and Passaic Counties are enrolled at the school."
^Zaremba, Justin. "Judge recommends revisions to Manchester Regional High School funding formula", The Gazette (Hawthorne), March 29, 2011. Accessed January 13, 2013. "For the past two decades, North Haledon has sought to redress the taxation rate for the Manchester Regional School District, contending that residents pay a disproportionate amount per pupil compared to Haledon and Prospect Park. North Haledon has also attempted to withdraw from the district, which would drastically increase the tax rate on the two smaller municipalities."
^McCall, Tris. "The Feelies, legendary Haledon rockers, return with 'Here Before'", The Star-Ledger, April 10, 2011. Accessed May 1, 2011. "Those who'd followed the Haledon band from their early days, in the New York club scene of the late '70s, were used to lineup changes. The rhythm section that appeared on the group's 1980 debut was long gone by the time the Feelies released a follow-up six years later."
^Burstyn, Joan N. "Past and Promise: Lives of New Jersey Women", p. 153. Syracuse University Press, 1997. ISBN0-8156-0418-1. Accessed May 1, 2011. "She maintained a close relationship with her son and in later years, when her health was failing, lived with his family at Ailsa Farms in Haledon. She died there of bronchial pneumonia, at age 91, on January 8, 1941, and was buried at the Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Paterson."
^"Seahawks Add Veteran Guard Alex Morales", Wagner Seahawks men's basketball, April 19, 2019. Accessed May 19, 2021. "Head men's basketball coach Bashir Mason has announced the signing of athletic junior college guard Alex Morales of Haledon, NJ, who will begin his academic and athletic career at Wagner College in the 2019-20 season."
United States
New Jersey
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