River Vale Township’s post office opened in 1871, and 2 of its places are on the National Register
More historic than 36% of U.S. towns · #371 of 468 in New Jersey. What drives it
Most of River Vale Township was built recently: 4% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1971. Its Register listings are the Haring-Blauvelt-Demarest House and the William Holdrum House. Below: maps from 1934 on and the census since 1900.
The River Vale Township post office opened in 1871, the earliest record of the town by name. Wikidata gives 1906. Two smaller post offices, Greenwood (1870) and River Vale (1871), opened inside today’s town and later closed.
First census: 266 in 19002020 census: 9,909155 years
How historic is River Vale Township?
C+
More historic than 36% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
Founding year: the first River Vale Township post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Wikidata: 1906.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives River Vale Township’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, River Vale Township is more historic than 36% of U.S. towns, #371 of 468 in New Jersey. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
C+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of River Vale Township’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 Vale Township’s 4.0 sits near the middle of its state (51% of New Jersey towns have fewer) while its 4 historic buildings outnumber those of 68% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C− to C+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.2 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date; Wikidata gives 1906.
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 Vale Township’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The earliest settlers of what would become River Vale were the Lenape Native Americans.
Before 1841, present-day River Vale was part of Harrington Township. It used to be known as the "Over Kill Neighborhood" or just "Over Kill"—it being over the kill (Hackensack River) from Tappan. Its southern part, known as Eastwood (named in contrast to Westwood), became an independent borough in 1894, but was dissolved and re-absorbed into Washington Township in 1896.
River Vale was incorporated as a township in 1906, formed from portions of both Hillsdale and Washington Township. On July 15, 1929, part of River Vale was ceded to Park Ridge. On May 20, 1959, territory was acquired from Montvale.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of River Vale Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1934Park Ridge sheet · 1:24,000
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of River Vale Township.
On the National Register
2 historic places in River Vale Township
The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
The River Vale Township post office opened in 1871, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 1906.
How does River Vale Township rank for history?
River Vale Township is more historic than 36% of U.S. towns, #371 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 Vale Township?
Two places: the Haring-Blauvelt-Demarest House (listed 1983) and the William Holdrum House (1983).
How old are the homes in River Vale Township?
4% of River Vale Township’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.2 points), against a typical 15% for a New Jersey town; the median home was built in 1971.
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 (6), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, 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) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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