kids encyclopedia robot

Wood-Ridge, New Jersey facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
Borough
Wood-Ridge municipal building
Wood-Ridge municipal building
Official seal of Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
Seal
Location of Wood-Ridge in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Location of Wood-Ridge in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Census Bureau map of Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey is located in Bergen County, New Jersey
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
Location in Bergen County, New Jersey
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey is located in the United States
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Bergen
Incorporated December 6, 1894
Government
 • Type Borough
 • Body Borough Council
Area
 • Total 1.11 sq mi (2.89 km2)
 • Land 1.11 sq mi (2.88 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0.09%
Area rank 492nd of 565 in state
62nd of 70 in county
Elevation
167 ft (51 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 10,137
 • Estimate 
(2023)
10,197
 • Rank 241st of 565 in state
37th of 70 in county
 • Density 9,099.6/sq mi (3,513.4/km2)
 • Density rank 42nd of 565 in state
13th of 70 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
07075
Area code(s) 201
FIPS code 3400382570
GNIS feature ID 0885451

Wood-Ridge is a small town, called a borough, located in Bergen County, in the state of New Jersey. In 2020, about 10,137 people lived here. This was a big jump in population from 2010.

Wood-Ridge officially became a borough on December 6, 1894. This happened after people voted for it. Many towns in Bergen County became boroughs around this time. This period was even nicknamed "Boroughitis" because so many new boroughs were formed.

Discover Wood-Ridge: Location and Size

Wood-Ridge is a small place, covering about 1.12 square miles (2.89 square kilometers). Most of this area is land.

Where is Wood-Ridge Located?

Wood-Ridge is surrounded by several other towns in Bergen County. To the north, you'll find Hasbrouck Heights and Lodi. To the west is Wallington. South of Wood-Ridge is Carlstadt, and to the east is Moonachie. South Hackensack is also nearby.

People and Population in Wood-Ridge

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 348
1890 575 65.2%
1900 582 1.2%
1910 1,043 79.2%
1920 1,923 84.4%
1930 5,159 168.3%
1940 5,739 11.2%
1950 6,283 9.5%
1960 7,964 26.8%
1970 8,311 4.4%
1980 7,929 −4.6%
1990 7,506 −5.3%
2000 7,644 1.8%
2010 7,626 −0.2%
2020 10,137 32.9%
2023 (est.) 10,197 33.7%
Population sources: 1880–1890
1880–1920 1890–1910
1910–1930 1900–2020
2000 2010 2020

Wood-Ridge Population Details

In 2010, there were 7,626 people living in Wood-Ridge. Most residents, about 87%, were White. About 7% were Asian, and 13% were of Hispanic or Latino background.

The average age of people in Wood-Ridge in 2010 was about 42 years old. Around 21.5% of the population was under 18. About 14.7% were 65 or older. The average household had about 2.59 people.

Education in Wood-Ridge

Wood-Ridge High School 2019
Wood-Ridge High School in February, 2019.

Students in Wood-Ridge attend public schools from pre-kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. These schools are part of the Wood-Ridge School District. In the 2018–19 school year, the district had about 1,282 students. There were about 98 teachers, meaning there were about 13 students for every teacher.

Schools in the District

The Wood-Ridge School District has three schools:

  • Catherine E. Doyle Elementary School: For students in Pre-K through 3rd grade.
  • Wood-Ridge Intermediate School: For students in grades 4–6. This school opened in 2013.
  • Wood-Ridge High School: For students in grades 7–12.

Students from the nearby town of Moonachie also attend Wood-Ridge High School. This is part of a special agreement between the two school districts.

Special Programs for High Schoolers

Students in Wood-Ridge and all of Bergen County can also apply to special high school programs. These are offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools. These include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack and the Bergen Tech campuses in Teterboro or Paramus. These programs are for students who want to focus on technical skills.

Emergency Services in Wood-Ridge

Wood-Ridge has dedicated teams to keep everyone safe.

Police Department

The Wood-Ridge Police Department (WRPD) helps keep the borough safe. It has 24 officers and is led by Chief John Korin.

Fire Department

The Wood-Ridge Fire Department (WRFD) is made up entirely of volunteers. It started in 1897. The department has a Chief, two assistant chiefs, and 40 trained firefighters. They use three fire engines, a ladder truck, and a special rescue vehicle.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

The Wood-Ridge Emergency Squad helps people who need medical attention. It became its own independent group in April 2021, after being part of the Fire Department.

Getting Around Wood-Ridge: Transportation

2021-07-31 09 10 31 View north along New Jersey State Route 17 from the overpass for Bergen County Route 32 (Moonachie Avenue) in Wood-Ridge, Bergen County, New Jersey
Route 17 northbound in Wood-Ridge

Roads and Highways

Wood-Ridge has about 19.20 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the town itself. Route 17, a major highway, goes right through Wood-Ridge.

Public Transportation: Trains and Buses

Wood-Ridge Station panorama
The New Jersey Transit Wood-Ridge station, facing southbound from the lone platform

Wood-Ridge has two train stations, making it easy to travel.

  • Wood-Ridge Station: This station is on the Pascack Valley Line. Trains run seven days a week. You can travel north or south to Hoboken Terminal. From Hoboken, you can connect to other trains, the PATH train to New York City, or ferry services. You can also get to New York Penn Station with one transfer at Secaucus Junction.
  • Wesmont Station: This station is on the Bergen County Line. It opened in May 2016 and serves a new housing area in Wood-Ridge.

Several NJ Transit bus routes also serve Wood-Ridge. These buses can take you to places like Hackensack, Newark Penn Station, or the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

Famous People from Wood-Ridge

Wood-Ridge library
The Wood-Ridge Public Library is in the Brinkerhoff House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
See also (related category): People from Wood-Ridge, New Jersey

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Wood-Ridge:

  • Emanuel Ayvas (born 1983): A musician known as the lead singer of the band Emanuel and the Fear.
  • Alex Boniello (born 1990): An actor who has performed on Broadway.
  • David Brock (born 1962): An author and political commentator.
  • Matt Brown: A college ice hockey player.
  • Guy W. Calissi (1909–1980): A judge who also served as mayor of Wood-Ridge.
  • Dennis Diken (born 1957): The drummer and co-founder of the rock band The Smithereens.
  • John Delaney (born 1963): A former U.S. Representative from Maryland.
  • Bob DeMarco (born 1938): A professional football player.
  • Frankie Muniz (born 1985): A famous actor and racer who spent part of his childhood in Wood-Ridge and attended local schools.
  • Paul Sarlo (born 1968): A State Senator and the current Mayor of Wood-Ridge.
  • Bob Sullivan (born 1968): A financial journalist and author.

Images for kids

See also

In Spanish: Wood-Ridge para niños

kids search engine
Wood-Ridge, New Jersey Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.