Today, Ridgewood is a leafy village of almost six square miles with a population of over 24,000. The borough has a self-sufficient downtown with a thriving business district, a hospital, 20 houses of worship, excellent recreation facilities and arts programs, and Mass Transit connections. In addition to its many fine restaurants, the downtown Ridgewood shopping district has a variety of gourmet specialty shops, boutiques, gift shops, coffee bars and cafes.

Character and charm characterize the neighborhoods of traditional homes in this suburban community. The majority of Ridgewood's blocks are lined with elegant Victorian homes - Queen Annes with wraparound porches and Second Empires with mansard roofs. Ridgewood is one of the few North Jersey towns to have maintained its quaint, small-town appearance and an atmosphere remarkably unchanged from decades past.

The department of recreation sponsors a variety of programs for Ridgewood citizens including a summer day camp for children and H.I.L.T. (Highlights in Leisure Time) activities for residents over age 60. In addition to Graydon pool, municipal facilities include Citizens Park, Kings Pond Park, Grove Park, Van Neste Square, Maple Park, Leuning Park, Twinney Pond Park, Pleasant Park, and Veterans Field. There is also an open gym, arts and crafts, roller hockey, soccer camp, and women's volleyball. Athletic activities such as basketball, baseball, football, lacrosse, wrestling, and softball programs are also available.
Annual events include the fishing derby, art exhibits, children's shows and a performing arts series hosted by the Kassachau Memorial Shell Committee in the summer. Ridgewood also sponsors a 4th of July celebration that includes
2-21⁄2 hour parade with floats, bands, and antique cars from all of the surrounding communities in New Jersey and New York. The Ridgewood Parade Committee organizes and makes possible the entire day's agenda - a breakfast, a flag raising ceremony, the parade itself, and an evening concert complemented with a fireworks extravaganza.

Ridgewood's nationally recognized school system serves approximately 5,000 students and is composed of six elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and Ridgewood High School. Ridgewood High School enjoys the prestigious recognition by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools for an outstanding advanced placement program.

Conveniently located 15 miles from New York City, Ridgewood provides direct bus service to the Port Authority in Manhattan. New Jersey Transit trains are linked to the PATH system in Hoboken with connections to New York City, Newark and Jersey City. By car, it is an estimated 60-minute commute to midtown Manhattan.

For more information on the town, visit their web site,
http://www.village.ridgewood.nj.us
(Ref. - Excerpts from the Township of Ridgewood web site, reprinted here with permission.) Information deemed to be correct but subject to errors and omissions.