Edgewater, New Jersey

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Edgewater, New Jersey is a small borough in Bergen County, located along the Hudson River across from Manhattan. It has about 14,300 residents and has grown significantly since 2010 as the waterfront has been developed into a residential community with shops and parks.

History and shape of the town
Edgewater began as Lenape land and later saw European settlement around 1640. The area grew as a ferry hub and, in the early 20th century, became a busy industrial town with factories and shipping along the river. From the 1960s to the 1980s, Edgewater shifted from industry to housing, with many condominiums built along the waterfront. The borough was incorporated in 1894 as Undercliff and renamed Edgewater in 1899, reflecting its riverfront location.

Geography
The borough covers about 2.4 square miles, with roughly 0.97 square miles of land and 1.46 square miles of water, giving Edgewater about 3 miles of shoreline. The Palisades cliffs form the western border, and Edgewater borders Fort Lee, Cliffside Park, North Bergen, and Manhattan.

Government
Edgewater uses a borough form of government with a mayor and six council members. The mayor, as of 2023, is Michael McPartland, with a term ending in 2027. The council passes ordinances and oversees town operations.

Education
Edgewater Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. For grades 7–12, students attend Leonia Public Schools in a sending/receiving arrangement. The community also has access to Bergen County Technical Schools and local libraries, including a Carnegie library.

Community and places of interest
Edgewater has five main shopping areas along River Road: Town Centre, Binghamton Shopping Plaza, Mitsuwa Marketplace, Edgewater Commons, and City Place. The waterfront promenade along the Hudson provides views of Manhattan, and Veterans’ Field offers sports facilities and space for community events. The town is known for a free-flying colony of monk parakeets that can be seen around Memorial Park.

Transportation
Major roads include County Route 505, with access to nearby interstates. Public transit includes several New Jersey Transit bus routes to Manhattan and a NY Waterway ferry service from Edgewater to West 39th Street in Manhattan, with a shuttle to the terminal. A bicycle-friendly River Road has been extended with new bike lanes.

Notable points
Edgewater has historic sites such as Borough Hall and the Edgewater Free Library, one of New Jersey’s Carnegie libraries. The town was a filming location for Cop Land. In 2020, Edgewater established a sister city relationship with Loma de Cabrera in the Dominican Republic.