Mountainside, New Jersey


Mountainside is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 6,685, reflecting an increase of 83 from the 6,602 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 55 from the 6,657 counted in the 1990 Census.
Mountainside was incorporated as a borough on September 25, 1895, from portions of Westfield Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Mountainside as its 16th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey, as well as eighth in the 2010 list.

History

In 1958, part of a Nike missile battery was installed, with the missile launchers themselves in Mountainside while the radar station was installed in Berkeley Heights. It remained in operation until 1963 and remnants of the site are located adjacent to Governor Livingston High School.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 4.0497 square miles, including 4.008 square miles of land and 0.041 square miles of water.
Mountainside is bordered by the Union County municipalities of Summit to the north, by Springfield Township to the east, by Westfield to the south and by Berkeley Heights and Scotch Plains to the west.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $116,210 and the median family income was $135,086. Males had a median income of $95,030 versus $58,818 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $52,844. About 1.5% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 6,602 people, 2,434 households, and 1,925 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,640.8 people per square mile. There were 2,478 housing units at an average density of 615.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.09% White, 0.94% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.80% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.01% of the population.
There were 2,434 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.9% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $97,195, and the median income for a family was $105,773. Males had a median income of $78,595 versus $52,667 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $47,474. About 2.0% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Mountainside is governed by a Mayor-Council form of government as authorized through the Option Municipal Charter Law. Under this form of local government, a Mayor is elected for a term of four years and there is a Borough Council consisting of six members, each elected for three-year terms, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. Both the Mayor and Borough Council are elected at-large, that is, to represent the entire community. Elections for all officials in Mountainside Borough are conducted on a partisan basis during the November General Election.
, the mayor of Mountainside is Republican Paul N. Mirabelli, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Keith C. Turner, Deanna Andre, René Dierkes, Robert W. Messler, Donna Pacifico and Rachel Pater.

Federal, state and county representation

Mountainside is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 21st state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 4,744 registered voters in Mountainside, of which 1,201 were registered as Democrats, 1,568 were registered as Republicans and 1,974 were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 71.0% were registered to vote, including 92.5% of those ages 18 and over.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,100 votes, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,401 votes and other candidates with 30 votes, among the 3,548 ballots cast by the borough's 4,940 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.8%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,331 votes, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,500 votes and other candidates with 33 votes, among the 3,888 ballots cast by the borough's 4,911 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,215 votes, ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,561 votes and other candidates with 31 votes, among the 3,822 ballots cast by the borough's 4,796 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.7%.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.9% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.0%, and other candidates with 1.1%, among the 2,320 ballots cast by the borough's 4,860 registered voters, for a turnout of 47.7%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,754 votes, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 842 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 204 votes and other candidates with 17 votes, among the 2,840 ballots cast by the borough's 4,827 registered voters, yielding a 58.8% turnout.

Education

The Mountainside School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising two schools, had an enrollment of 736 students and 66.1 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1. Schools in the district are
Beechwood School with 239 students in grades PreK-2 and
Deerfield School with 490 students in grades 3–8.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Berkeley Heights Public Schools that is covered by an agreement that runs through the end of 2021–22 school year. As of the 2017–18 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,024 students and 90.7 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.
Students also have the choice to attend the programs of the Union County Vocational Technical Schools, which serve students from across Union County.

Emergency medical services

Emergency Medical Services for the borough of Mountainside is provided by the Mountainside Rescue Squad during nights and weekends. Weekday daytime coverage is provided by Atlantic Ambulance EMS. Atlantic Ambulance also has a paramedic unit stationed in Mountainside.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Union County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
U.S. Route 22 is the main highway running through Mountainside.

Public transportation

provide service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan in New York City while routes 65 and 66 travel to Downtown Newark, all making local stops at points in proximate communities. An early use of bus rapid transit in New Jersey, a BBS has been in operation for many years. Unlike most municipalities along Route 22, zoning in Mountainside does not allow for much commercial development adjacent to the freeway. For a one-mile stretch in the town, the eastbound shoulder on the arterial road can be used for peak hour buses. In 2012, the New Jersey Department of Transportation regulated the BBS as an exclusive bus lane from 6 to 7:30am. In 2009, NJDOT funded construction of two bus turnouts along the road in nearby Union.
Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately east of Mountainside.
NJ Transit rail service is accessible via Summit station, and it has frequent direct service to New York Penn Station. The station is located around from the center of Mountainside, and Westfield station, which is about away, is also nearby.

Notable people

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