
from the Bergen County Historical Society
New Bridge Landing NJ, Bergen County, New Jersey’s most populous county, is home to 70 municipalities and 79 school districts within 247 square miles. How did Bergen become America’s most “boroughized” county?
The ancient system of rural townships was serviceable for centuries. Taxes were light; expectations were low and government services few and far between. When railroads created the first “bedroom communities,” however, suburban commuters did not adopt country manners. In 1893, The Hackensack Republican observed how “these new-comers want everything ‘up to date,’ and so far as the environment will admit, they create in their suburban homes the comforts and convenience essential to city dwellings.”
– By Kevin Wright.
A new publishing format has been added to the updated BCHS website “Bergen County Historical Society Anthology.” As time permits, I will be adding articles, many written by my late husband, historian Kevin Wright. Besides the two articles on “Boroughitis” I have also added a video of a lecture on the subject that Kevin gave in 2007 to the Ridgewood Historical Society.
Kevin is extensively referenced on Wikipedia on the subject.