Your Guide to Buying a Home in Waldwick, NJ

Buying a Home in Waldwick, New Jersey

Waldwick is located in Bergen County

Waldwick is a small town located in a hilly area in northwest Bergen County in northeastern New Jersey. It is surrounded by the boroughs of Allendale, Saddle River, and Ho-Ho-Kus, by the village of Ridgewood, and by the townships of Midland Park and Wyckoff.

In the past, until about 1600, this very wooded and fertile area was inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape Indians. They had established their camps along the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and the Saddle River, and they lived on hunting, fishing and farming grains. They also collected maple syrup. With the arrival of the Europeans in the beginning of the 17th century, their habitat became fatally threatened, and as European farmers were settling in and farming on a broad scale, the Lenni-Lenape Indians moved farther to the West. Two hundred years later they were practically gone from the region. Nevertheless, their memory remains in the numerous artifacts that they have left behind them.

The history of Waldwick has been associated with transportation, since Franklin Turnpike, the main road that crosses Waldwick from north to south, was originally a Lenni-Lenape trail skirting the foothills east of the Ramapos Mountains. During the last century, Franklin Turnpike was a toll road hence its 'turnpike' name. Also in the 1840s, a railroad line was built that connected the towns of Jersey City to Suffern. In 1852, the Erie Railroad Company took it over. This line passed through the Waldwick area and was practically parallel to Franklin Turnpike. At this time Waldwick was a hamlet called New Prospect, but it was not a train stop yet.

In the 1880s, the local population petitioned Erie to use New Prospect as the site of the new depot that Erie wanted to establish in northwest Bergen County. Following this request, Erie built the depot in 1886. Architect A. Mordecai designed it in the Stick style with some detailing derived from the Queen Anne style. It was at this time that a citizen committee decided to call the depot by the name of Waldwick. As some suggested that the name Waldwick meant 'light in the forest', the image of a light in the forest has been symbolized on the seal of the town.

The Waldwick depot brought jobs to the local population, and at the same time it allowed them to go more easily to work in the town of Paterson. It did not take long for trades and industries to grow along the tracks, and the small hamlet of New Prospect with 500 residents soared to a population of 1300 to become the Borough of Waldwick in 1919.

Currently, the Waldwick depot is no longer active, and its old 1886 building is waiting for a good soul to restore it and preserve this piece of Waldwick history. The new Waldwick station is a glass shelter and a park and ride facility on the line that connects the town of Hoboken in New Jersey to Port Jervis in New York State. This line known as the Bergen County Line is now managed by the New Jersey Transit Company.

Today, with a population of 10,000, Waldwick is a very pleasant small town with a family character, in which many nationalities and different faiths are represented. Almost ninety percent of the housing is detached single-family homes. Waldwicks has many fine stores and shops within walking distance. Restaurants range from fast food to elegant dining. Waldwick is also minutes away from major shopping malls on Route 17 and Route 4.

Waldwick school system is praised, and its pupils place among the best in the New Jersey school tests. Waldwick has two neighborhood elementary schools: Julia A. Traphagen and Crescent School. Both schools are K-6 and emphasize individual attention and a comprehensive curriculum. The Junior/Senior High School completes the Waldwick public education experience. In addition, Waldwick is home of the Waldwick Seventh Day Adventist School, Berkeley College, and The Forum School - a renowned facility for developmentally disabled youngsters. Pre-school experiences are also offered at Rainbow Corners day school, at the Methodist Church, and at Saddle Acres School.

Waldwick residents protection and law enforcement is provided by dedicated and efficient police, fire and ambulance department people. Safety, security and prevention are among their prime concern.

Waldwick enjoys a very attractive library with a very congenial staff. The Waldwick's Public Library has over 40,000 volumes available on-site, and, as a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS), has access to virtually everything in print. What's more, a PC facility is available to Waldwick residents giving them access to the World Wide Web through a BCCLS Internet Connection. The Waldwick Library also offers numerous cultural activities for both children and adults. Classes are available to teach very young children to read. Let's not forget the magnificient model railroad exhibit (size: 38k) held each year at Thanksgiving, in which new high speed trains and ancient locomotives crisscross and move in all directions to everyone's enjoyment.

For those who like to be outdoors, Waldwick has four neighborhood parks - Borough Park, Emmet Park, Ted Bell Park and Veterans Park - with playgrounds and recreational activities for everybody. Borough Park, the largest park, welcomes everyone along the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and White's Pond. The very young can swing or slide, and enthusiastic fishermen can try out their newest tackle on the fish. But if you prefer, you can jog on a fitness trail or you can simply stroll on foot or bicycle or have a picnic. And, in the winter, if weather permits, you can ice skate on White's Pond. Not far from the park, a beautiful open-air community pool is also available for cool swims during the hot summer months.

From the state road, Route 17 which passes through the east of Waldwick, you can see in the southeast the skyscrapers of midtown and lower Manhattan. In a straight line, they are only 19 miles away. But by road, it is about 25 miles as you have to cross the Hudson River either over the George Washington Bridge or through the Lincoln or Holland Tunnels.

Thanks to public transportation, it is easy to get to New York City by train or by bus which is operated by Short Line Transit, and many Waldwick residents work in the 'Big Apple' as it is nicknamed. And of course, at the end of a busy day, it is quite relaxing to be back in Waldwick and enjoy nature and tranquility again.