6 events in Passaic County with a date

Which NJ towns should be merged for unity?

Boroughitis rampant, especially in Bergen

By: Amanda Wallace
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... Did you know that Bergen County has 70 municipalities?
..... There are 56 broughs, three cities, two villages and nine townships, making for the most municipalities of any county in the state.
..... Who does one of New Jersey's 21 counties possess about 12% of the state's total municipalities? The short answer is that Bergen County and other parts of New Jersey suffer from boroughitis, a syndrome that primarily appeared during the 1890s and lasted until the 1029s. the spread of broughtitis led to the creation of dozens of tiny towns aorta the state.
..... A century later, many New Jersey residents are questioning the need for so many small municipality. Some have even taken to social media to pitch their ideas for consolidation.
..... One thread on Reddit has gathered a lot of suggestions.
..... Which municipalities would you merge?
..... Bergen's origin can be traced to 1683, when four official counties, Bergen Essex, Middlesex and Monmouth, were formed in New Jersey. At that time, Bergen County's boundaries encompassed moder-day Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties and a small part of Essex County.
..... In 1693, Bergen and Hackensack townships were the only two municipalities that existed in the county, according to the Generalogical Society of Bergen County (GSBC).
..... During the late 19th century, after decades of progress and settlement, a battle between the establish farming community, known as "Punkin Dusters," and a growing population of "Commuters," or Urban transplants, was brewing in Bergen County. As they fought over the way they wanted to urban their communities, now laws gave them the opportunity to break away from each other.
..... When the Borough Act of 1878 went into effect, landowners were able to secede from townships by referendum. The act allowed any township or part of a township, not to exceed 4 square miles and a population of 5,000 to become a borough, the GSBC said.
..... The borough of Rutherford and Ridgefield were formed as a result of this law.
..... In 1891, the GSBC said, the passage of another act allowed the formation of villages whose population were larger than 300 people per square mile. the village of Ridgefield Park was formed.
..... The municipality' boundaries became a bit strange in 1893, with passage of an act that said "a brought could only have a chosen freeholder if the borough contained a portion of two or more townships."
..... Beyond that point, most of the boroughs that were formed contained small piece of various towns within their boundaries.
..... Finally, in 1894, the New Jersey Legislature passed a school act. It got rid of the existing school districts and made a separate district in each township. Creating these districts meant taxpayers were to be held responsible for the existing debts of he old districts in addition to all future debts of the township for school purposes. "Boroughs, towns, Villages and cities" were exempt from this act.
..... Amid all these laws, the movement to create small towns grew into a frenzy that we now refer to as "bouroughitis."
..... According to the GSBC, between January 23 and December 18m 1894, 26 boroughs were cerated in Bergen County.
..... an amendment was passed soon after with the intent of slowing down the frenzy. The amendment said no borough could have a school separate from the township unless there were 400 kids within the borough's limits, the GSBC said. Boroughiits slowed but was not stopped.
..... The GSBC said the splitting of townships continued until 1924, when the number reached 70. However, a few boundary and name changes contained to take place until 1955.

Bergen consolidation candidates

..... Many New Jersey residents have questioned the need for the large number of tiny towns that exist in Bergen County. Some have even taken to social media to discuss the issue.
..... "Boroughitis is a problem for the future of the state," said a Reddit user on r/NewJersey. "Our taxers will never stabilize unless we remove some of the redundancies in government services."
..... "I know people will hang on to home rule with white knuclkies, but I think we can admit some of the one mile across towns could probably be consolidated, which would be the best candidates?" the Ridditor said.
..... Here are some of the responses.
..... "Hasbrouck Heights, Lodi, Moonachie, Little Ferry, Wood-Ridge, Carlstadt, and Teterboro could all just get absorbed into Hackensack," said one Redditor.
..... Another responded, "I live in Closter. You could combine everyone who goes to the shared high school district: Closter, Demarest, Haworth, Harrington Park, old Tappan, Rochliegh (more horse than people), Norwood, Norhtvale. That would be a large enough conglomeration to get some real savings in services to everyone living in the area."
..... Other respondents were a bit broader, simply recommending that nay municipalities that "already have a lot of shared services, specifically ones with combined school districts," could merge.
..... To see the origin of each town and borough in the county, check out the GSBC's Bergen County family tree at njsbc.org/files/bc-maps/bc-4.html .

Other counties

..... Although Bergen County is the poster child for boroughitis, there are plenty of other examples around the state.
..... One Redditor recommended the following Morris County mergers:
* Mendham Township and Menham Borough.
* Chester Township and Chester Borough.
* Chatham Township and Chatham Borough.
* Rockaway township and Rockaway Borough.
* Mine Hill and Wharton.
* Roxbury and Mount Arlington.
..... "Most towns hat share zip codes I would say would be merged," they said.
..... Another person recommended some Essex County mergers, such as the combination of the three Caldwells (North, West and the borough of Caldwell) into one, as well as the combinational of Essex Fells and Roseland.
..... A few people said they believe all of Hudson County should be merged int one city.
..... There were some naysayers, though. Comments pointed out the job loss that would occur from merging towns, as well as local tradition and history.

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