Ridgefield Township, New Jersey, Historical township in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Ridgefield Township is a township in Bergen County that extends from the Hudson River to the Hackensack River, occupying the southernmost portion of what was once Hackensack Township. The land is bounded by these natural waterways and features a terrain shaped by a ridge running between Overpeck Creek and the Hackensack River.
The New Jersey Legislature established Ridgefield Township in 1871 when Hackensack Township was divided into three separate municipalities: Palisades Township, Englewood Township, and Ridgefield Township. This division reflected the administrative changes occurring in Bergen County as the state expanded and developed.
The area was home to early Dutch and English settlers, and family names like Westervelt, Zimmerman, Banta and Blauvelt remain visible in local records and place names. These names reflect the original inhabitants who built the first communities in the English Neighborhood region.
Multiple railway lines historically served the township, including the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad, Jersey City and Albany Railroad, and Northern Railway of New Jersey. These connections linked the area to larger urban centers and facilitated movement through the region.
The name comes from a long ridge that extends northward between Overpeck Creek and the Hackensack River, creating a distinct geographical feature. This natural formation shaped the township's landscape and was the reason for its naming during the 1871 establishment.
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