Old Tappan, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Old Tappan, New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
Borough
|
||
Gerrit Haring House in 1937
|
||
|
||
Location of Old Tappan in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
|
||
Census Bureau map of Old Tappan, New Jersey
|
||
 Old Tappan, New Jersey
Location in Bergen County, New Jersey
Old Tappan, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Old Tappan, New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  New Jersey |
|
| County | Bergen | |
| Incorporated | October 18, 1894 | |
| Named for | Tappan tribe | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough | |
| • Body | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.16 sq mi (10.78 km2) | |
| • Land | 3.32 sq mi (8.59 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.85 sq mi (2.20 km2) 20.37% | |
| Area rank | 293rd of 565 in state 19th of 70 in county |
|
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 5,888 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
6,074 | |
| • Rank | 353rd of 565 in state 56th of 70 in county |
|
| • Density | 1,776.2/sq mi (685.8/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 310th of 565 in state 60th of 70 in county |
|
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07675
|
|
| Area code(s) | 201 | |
| FIPS code | 3400354870 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885336 | |
Old Tappan is a town, called a borough, in northern Bergen County, New Jersey. In 2020, about 5,888 people lived there. This was a small increase from 2010.
Old Tappan became a borough on October 18, 1894. This happened after people voted for it. The town was named after the Tappan tribe of Native Americans.
Contents
Geography of Old Tappan
Old Tappan covers about 4.16 square miles (10.78 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 20% is water.
A special spot where the 41°N and 74°W lines cross is located in Old Tappan. This is one of only four such spots in New Jersey.
The borough shares borders with several other towns. To the north are Pearl River and Tappan in New York. Lake Tappan and the Hackensack River are to the west, next to River Vale. To the south is Harrington Park. Northvale and Norwood are to the east.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 269 | — | |
| 1910 | 305 | 13.4% | |
| 1920 | 404 | 32.5% | |
| 1930 | 600 | 48.5% | |
| 1940 | 609 | 1.5% | |
| 1950 | 828 | 36.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,330 | 181.4% | |
| 1970 | 3,917 | 68.1% | |
| 1980 | 4,168 | 6.4% | |
| 1990 | 4,254 | 2.1% | |
| 2000 | 5,482 | 28.9% | |
| 2010 | 5,750 | 4.9% | |
| 2020 | 5,888 | 2.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 6,074 | 5.6% | |
| Population sources: 1900–1920 1900–1910 1910–1930 1900–2020 2000 2010 2020 |
|||
In 2010, Old Tappan had 5,750 people living in 1,931 homes. Most residents were White (74.78%). About 22.24% of the population was Asian, with many being Korean Americans.
Many families lived in Old Tappan. About 40% of homes had children under 18. Most families (73.1%) were married couples. The average family had about 3.35 people.
The median age in Old Tappan was 44.2 years. This means half the people were older and half were younger. About 27.4% of the population was under 18.
Parks and Fun Things to Do
Old Tappan has several places for sports and recreation.
- Old Tappan Golf Course: This is a nine-hole golf course. It is a private club but is open to the public.
- Stone Point Park: This park is a hub for community events. It has four baseball fields and two basketball courts. You can also find a playground and four soccer fields here. A seasonal skate park is available too.
- Oaks Park: This smaller park has a walking trail. It's where the town's annual Halloween Parade takes place.
- Gallagher Field: This little league baseball field was renamed in 2006. It honors Edward J. Gallagher, a former mayor.
- High School Facilities: The high school has a track and football field. There are also a dozen tennis courts. These are open for everyone to use.
Emergency Services
Old Tappan has dedicated teams to help keep everyone safe.
Police Department
The Old Tappan Police Department is a full-time team. As of 2016, it had 13 members. This includes a Chief, a Lieutenant, two Sergeants, and nine Officers.
Police officers respond to all kinds of calls. They also help with fire and medical emergencies. Their patrol cars carry first aid kits, oxygen, and defibrillators. The 9-1-1 calls are handled by the River Vale Police Department.
Volunteer Fire Department
The Old Tappan Volunteer Fire Department (OTVFD) started in 1932. It is made up of about 55 trained volunteers. They have one fire station on Old Tappan Road.
The station houses several fire trucks. These include a pumper (Engine 64), a squad truck, a tower ladder (Ladder 63), and a rescue unit (Rescue 61).
First Aid Corps
The Old Tappan First Aid Corps (OTFAC) began in 1939. It is an all-volunteer group. They provide basic life support services.
The corps does not charge for its services. They get funding from donations and the borough. They have two ambulances, Ambulance 66 and Ambulance 68. They also help nearby towns when needed.
Education in Old Tappan
Old Tappan has excellent schools for its students.
Local Schools
The Old Tappan Public Schools serve students from kindergarten through eighth grade. There are two schools in the district:
- T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School: For students in kindergarten through 4th grade.
- Charles DeWolf Middle School: For students in 5th through 8th grade.
High School Education
Students in grades nine through twelve attend Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan. Students from Harrington Park, Northvale, and Norwood also attend this high school. Rockleigh students also come here.
This high school is part of the Northern Valley Regional High School District. Another school in the district is in Demarest. In the mid-1990s, Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan received a special award for excellence.
County Technical Schools
Students in Bergen County can also apply to special technical programs. These are offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools. Programs are available at the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack. There are also campuses in Teterboro and Paramus. These programs offer unique learning experiences.
Transportation
_just_west_of_Bergen_County_Route_110_(Washington_Avenue)_in_Old_Tappan,_Bergen_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
As of 2015, Old Tappan had about 32.72 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the town itself. Some main roads include Old Tappan Road, Washington Avenue, Westwood Avenue, and Orangeburg Road.
Famous People from Old Tappan
Many notable people have lived in or are connected to Old Tappan.
- Robert Auth (born 1956), a politician.
- Joe Benigno (born 1953), a sports radio personality.
- David Berkowitz (born 1949), a professional bridge player.
- Lisa Berkowitz (born 1952), also a professional bridge player.
- P. J. Byrne (born 1974), an actor in movies and TV shows.
- Al Di Meola (born 1954), a jazz fusion guitarist.
- Sophia Eckerson (circa 1880–1954), a botanist and microchemist.
- Jon Hensley (born 1965) and Kelley Menighan Hensley (born 1967), actors who appeared on As the World Turns.
- Jack Langer (born 1948/49), a basketball player and investment banker.
- Robert A. Lewis (1918–1983), co-pilot of the Enola Gay.
- Jeffrey Maier (born 1984), known for deflecting a ball in a famous baseball game.
- Kenyon Martin (born 1977), a professional basketball player.
- Mike Milo (born 1965), an Emmy Award-winning animator and director.
- Rob Segedin (born 1988), a professional baseball player.
Historic Sites
Old Tappan is home to several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These sites are important parts of the town's history.
- Frederick Haring House – Old Tappan and De Wolf Roads (added 1983)
- Gerrit Haring House – 224 Old Tappan Road (added 1983)
- Teunis Haring House – 70 Old Tappan Road (added 1979)
- Haring-DeWolf House – 95 De Wolf Road (added 1983)
Images for kids
-
A robot image
