River Edge’s post office opened in 1870, and 16% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 59% of U.S. towns · #255 of 468 in New Jersey. What drives it
6 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 3 buildings. Below: 3 old photos and papers, maps from 1888 on, and the census since 1900.
The River Edge post office opened in 1870, the earliest record of the town by name. Wikidata gives 1894. Two smaller post offices, Cherry Hill (1890) and North Hackensack (1906), opened inside today’s town and later closed.
First census: 561 in 19002020 census: 12,049156 years
How historic is River Edge?
B
More historic than 59% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
Founding year: the first River Edge post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Wikidata: 1894.
History grade
What drives River Edge’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, River Edge is more historic than 59% of U.S. towns, #255 of 468 in New Jersey. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
B
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of River Edge’s overall grade.
New Jersey towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New Jersey town has 3.7 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so River Edge’s 6.6 sits near the middle of its state (62% of New Jersey towns have fewer) while its 8 historic buildings outnumber those of 74% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C+ to B+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.3 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date; Wikidata’s 1894 falls in the same era, so the grade doesn’t depend on which one is used.
Founding year: the first post office (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about River Edge’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of River Edge. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1888Paterson sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of River Edge.
Places that used to be
Lost post offices and old corners
River Edge’s post office has been open since 1870. Two other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.
River Edge
1870–today
Cherry Hill
1890–1906
North Hackensack
1906–1954
18701950today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Cherry HillNorth Hackensack
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
The story so far
River Edge, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of River Edge yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
River Edge 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 12,049, an increase of 709 (+6.3%) from the 2010 census count of 11,340, which in turn reflected an increase of 394 (+3.6%) from the 10,946 counted in the 2000 census. The community was originally incorporated as the borough of Riverside by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 30, 1894, from portions of Midland Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. On December 1, 1930, the borough's name was changed to River Edge. The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in w…
Its first post office opened in 1870. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 11,340 to 12,049 (+6%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
From the old history books
What they wrote about River Edge in 1900
Passages that mention River Edge, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Bergen county, New Jersey1900 · page 651Read the page →
Read the text
movements of the enemy, and that he had ordered a retreat of his troops to English Neighborhood, now in Ridgeiield township, and to River Edge, now in Palisade township. Washington met General Greene at River Edge (then called New Bridge). After reaching this point in safety, General Greene returned to Fort Lee and brought up some, who, in the rush, had straggled behind. By his quick movements three thousand Americans were saved from capture. Huyler's Landing was formerly known as Lower Closter. Among the earlv settlers of this
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Bergen county, New Jersey1900 · page 320Read the page →
Read the text
Cherry Hill lies on the Hackensack River less than two miles below River Edge on the New Jersey and New York Railroad. It was early settled by the French, none of whom now remain. It has a post office, a hotel, a church and one or two small stores. The historic building of the place is the Baron Von Steuben Mansion erected in 1757, and now owned by Captain Zabriskie. David A. Zabriskie moved into this house in 1812. There was a mill on the river here which burned down years ago. Formerly the chair making industry was carried on here
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
River Edge, 1774 to 1974
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
The River Edge post office opened in 1870, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 1894.
How does River Edge rank for history?
River Edge is more historic than 59% of U.S. towns, #255 of 468 in New Jersey. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in River Edge?
6 listings: 5 buildings, among them the Steuben House (listed 1970, the first), and 1 historic district, the Steuben Estate Complex, with 3 contributing buildings. 8 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in River Edge?
16% of River Edge’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.3 points), against a typical 15% for a New Jersey town; the median home was built in 1954.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (4), the Library of Congress (2), Wikidata (3), the National Register of Historic Places (6), Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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