Dumont is a borough in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 17,863, an increase of 384 (+2.2%) from the 2010 census count of 17,479, which in turn reflected a decrease of 24 (−0.1%) from the 17,503 counted in the 2000 census. The borough was originally formed on July 20, 1891, as the Borough of Schraalenburgh from portions of Harrington Township and Palisades Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone. On March 7, 1898, portions of the borough were annexed to Palisades Township. On June 13, 1898, the borough's name was changed to Dumont in honor of Dumont Clarke, the borough's first mayor.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.95 square miles (5.06 km2), including 1.95 square miles (5.05 km2) of land and <0.01 square miles (0.01 km2) of water (0.15%). Municipalities bordering the borough include the Bergen County communities of Bergenfield, Cresskill, Demarest, Haworth, New Milford and Oradell.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 17,479 people, 6,364 households, and 4,678 families in the borough. The population density was 8814.7 /sqmi. There were 6,542 housing units at an average density of 3299.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 75.91% (13,268) White, 2.55% (445) Black or African American, 0.18% (32) Native American, 14.99% (2,620) Asian, 0.02% (3) Pacific Islander, 4.06% (709) from other races, and 2.30% (402) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.76% (2,580) of the population. Of the 6,364 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18; 58.2% were married couples living together; 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.5% were non-families. Of all households, 23.4% were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.27. 22.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.1 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $82,286 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,515) and the median family income was $93,125 (+/− $6,828). Males had a median income of $62,065 (+/− $8,065) versus $45,965 (+/− $4,364) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,518 (+/− $1,909). About 2.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over. Same-sex couples headed 25 households in 2010, an increase from the 20 counted in 2000.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 17,503 people, 6,370 households, and 4,758 families residing in the borough. The population density was 8,812.6 PD/sqmi. There were 6,465 housing units at an average density of 3,255.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 83.77% White, 1.49% African American, 0.10% Native American, 10.96% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.94% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.36% of the population. There were 6,370 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.24. In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males. The median income for a household in the borough was $65,490, and the median income for a family was $73,880. Males had a median income of $47,402 versus $35,331 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,489. About 2.0% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Dumont has four major parks in the borough. Memorial Park is located on the east side of Dumont. It is made up of five ballparks, one tennis court, a basketball court, and a pavilion. The park is used throughout the year mostly for Little League and Dumont High School Baseball. During the summer Memorial Park is used for the Dumont Summer Recreation Program. Another park in Dumont is Twin Boro Field, located on the opposite side of the borough. Twin Boro is a huge field that is used for recreational football and soccer. There is also a softball field that is used for the Dumont Men's Softball League. Right next to Twin Boro is Gina's Field which consists of two girls' softball fields and a playground. To the right of Twin Boro Field is the Dumont Swim Club. The Swim Club's parking lot doubles as a roller hockey rink for Dumont's Hockey League and also applies for free ice cream. Memorial Park and Twin Boro Fields are two of the largest parks in Dumont. Near the center of the town is Fred Triplett Park, it has a playground and is dedicated to Frederick Triplett, a soldier killed in 1944 during World War II. Across the street is the fourth major park, Dawn M. Totten Memorial Field, which has a small playground and a softball field used by Dumont Girls Softball. Dumont recreational sports programs include Dumont Little League, Dumont Girls Softball, Dumont Football, Dumont Soccer, Dumont Basketball, Dumont Roller Hockey, and the Dumont Swim Team. Some annual events conducted in the borough include Dumont Day, held in early September, Octoberfest, held in early October, The Dumont Winter Festival, held in December and an annual Memorial Day Parade and celebration held in May.

Government

Local government

Dumont is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 (of the 564) municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The borough form of government used by Dumont is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council. , the mayor of the Borough of Dumont is Republican John W. Russell III, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Dumont Borough Council are Doreen Aponte (R, 2025), Tom Kelly (R, 2024), Christopher Kourelakos (R, 2026), Daniel L. Labarbera (R, 2026), Donald Morrell (R, 2025) and Carole Stewart (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term). In January 2020, the borough council appointed Carl Manna to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated by Andrew LaBruno when he took office as mayor. In March 2018, the borough council appointed Lisa Rossillo to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that was vacated by Barbara Correa following her resignation. Rossillo served on an interim basis until the November 2018 general election, when she won election to serve the balance of the term of office. In February 2017, the borough council selected Jared Geist from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that had been vacated by Matthew Hayes, who resigned from office the previous month, due to illness. In May 2014, Carl Manna was selected by the borough council to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Matthew M. Carrick until he resigned from office a month earlier.

Emergency services

The Dumont Police Department, comprised of 31 officers, operates out of the Borough Hall and protects and serves the community around the clock. The police department also includes volunteer reserve officers. The department's Chief of Police is Brian M. Joyce. The fire department is manned by approximately 80 volunteer firefighters located at four different fire houses throughout the borough. Mark Abdulla of Independent Hose Company is Chief of the Department (Car 1), Terance Baierwalter of Engine/Rescue Company 3 is Deputy Chief (Deputy 1), and Nick Medina of Truck Company 2 is Battalion Chief (Battalion 1). The Dumont Fire Department responds to between 400 & 500 calls per year, including mutual aid to neighboring municipalities including Tenafly, Bergenfield, Cresskill, New Milford, Oradell, River Edge, and the Northern Valley towns when needed. The Dumont Fire Department is equipped with eight pieces of apparatus (four engines, one ladder, one rescue, one squad, and a utility truck) at the following locations: The Dumont Volunteer Ambulance Corps, established in 1937, is located at 108 Brook Street. The corps has approximately 40 active members and approximately 10 more auxiliary and reserve members. Dumont VAC renders aid with two Type III ambulances; Units 28 and 29, as well as two support vehicles unit 281 (Ford Explorer) and 291 (Dodge Durango). DVAC responds to roughly 1,400 requests for aid per year.

Federal, state and county representation

Dumont is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 39th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 10,526 registered voters in Dumont, of which 2,997 (28.5% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,862 (17.7% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 5,659 (53.8% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 8 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 60.2% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 77.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide). In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 4,423 votes (50.3% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 3,928 votes (44.7% vs. 41.1% countywide) and other candidates with 298 votes (3.4% vs. 3.0% countywide), among the 8,787 ballots cast by the borough's 11,712 registered voters for a turnout of 75% (vs. 73% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,407 votes (54.7% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 3,465 votes (43.0% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 112 votes (1.4% vs. 0.9%), among the 8,050 ballots cast by the borough's 11,108 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.5% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,497 votes (52.3% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 3,948 votes (46.0% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 72 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 8,591 ballots cast by the borough's 10,871 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.0% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 4,122 votes (49.7% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 4,077 votes (49.2% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 58 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 8,286 ballots cast by the borough's 10,345 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.1% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county). In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.0% of the vote (2,857 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.8% (1,771 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (57 votes), among the 4,766 ballots cast by the borough's 10,745 registered voters (81 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,518 votes (47.9% vs. 45.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 2,343 votes (44.6% vs. 48.0%), Independent Chris Daggett with 320 votes (6.1% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 24 votes (0.5% vs. 0.5%), among the 5,256 ballots cast by the borough's 10,589 registered voters, yielding a 49.6% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Education

The Dumont Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 2,540 students and 208.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.2:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Grant School with 390 students in grades K-5 (opened 1911), Honiss School with 632 students in grades K-8 (opened 1955), Lincoln School with 156 students in grades K-5 (opened 1911), Selzer School with 500 students in grades PreK-8 (opened 1960) and Dumont High School with 788 students in grades 9-12 (opened 1932). Public school students from the borough, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Paramus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district. Newbury Academy is a private alternative high school for students in grades 9–12 that was founded in Teaneck in 2001 and moved to Dumont in 2003. As of September 2008, Newbury Academy has become a virtual school with all classes being conducted online, with teachers making weekly visits to students' homes.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of 47.96 mi of roadways, of which 43.38 mi were maintained by the municipality and 4.58 mi by Bergen County. The most significant road directly serving Dumont is County Route 505, which follows Knickerbocker Road along the east border of the borough. Other main roads in Dumont include Madison Avenue and Washington Avenue.

Public transportation

The NJ Transit 166 and 167 bus routes provides service between the borough and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan; the 186 serves the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal; and local service is available on the 753 and 772 routes.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Dumont include:

Sources