Bergen County’s History

Bergen was one of the four original counties in New Jersey. Its early borders reached into what are now Passaic and Hudson counties. Bergen County today is a 239-square mile parcel of land in the northeast corner of the state, with a population of over 858,000 people.

Although Bergen was designated a "judicial district" in 1675, it was not until 1683 that the Provincial Assembly passed an act creating the counties of Bergen, Essex, Middlesex and Monmouth.

In 1710, Hackensack was designated as the county seat. The oldest records of Bergen County Board of Freeholders and Justices are dated May 19, 1715. At that meeting, it was decided to build a combined courthouse and jail which was erected on Hackensack’s historic Green in 1716.

Bergen County observed the 300^th anniversary of its founding on March 7, 1983. In 1985, the voters approved a governmental change which had been recommended by the Bergen County Charter Study Commission, elected a year earlier to assess the freeholder form of government.

In November 1986, Bergen’s form of government changed. Instead of nine freeholders, voters chose a County Executive and seven freeholders.

The County Executive is elected to a four-year term and the seven members of the Board of Freeholders are elected at large to three year staggered terms. All take office in January following their election in November.

Bergen’s Government Today

Bergen’s first County Executive, William D. McDowell, served from January, 1987 through January, 1991.

The present County Executive, William "Pat" Schuber, was elected in 1990 and was reelected in 1998 to his third term.

The County Executive handles the day-to-day operations of the county government, appointing the department heads and overseeing the activities of all the departments and divisions.

The Board of Freeholders acts as a legislative body giving advise and consent to the actions of the County Executive. Its staff consists of the Clerk and counsel to the Board, freeholder aides, and secretarial and clerical personnel.

Members of the Board are appointed by the Chairman to oversight committees and three are named to each County Board of School Estimate.

The Administrative Structure

On April 3, 1987, the Board of Freeholders adopted an Administrative Code reorganizing Bergen’s then 304-year-old "freeholder" form of government.

The county’s 58 departments, which were operating prior to the charter change, ere reduced to eight, without eliminating any services to county residents.

For example, the Department of Administration and Finance encompasses the divisions of Data Processing, Fiscal Operations, Personnel, Public Information, Purchasing and Treasurer.

The Department of Health Services is responsible for Alcohol and addiction programs, the Animal Center, Consumer and Dental Health, Environmental programs, Intermediate and Senior Care facilities, Health Education, Mental Health, Pastoral Care and Public Health.

The Department of Human Services consists of the following divisions, offices and agencies; Alternatives to Domestic Violence, Children, Disability Services, Family Guidance, Planning and Contract Administration, Senior Services, Special Transportation, which schedules rides for the elderly and disabled persons, and Veterans Services.

The Department of Law is headed by the County Counsel, who represents the County Executive and the county’s constitutional officers, the County Clerk, County Sheriff and County Surrogate, in all legal matters. The Counsel has a staff of assistants handling legal matters for the county departments and divisions. The County Adjuster’s office is also part of the Department.

The Department of Public Safety Education has these divisions; Consumer Affairs, County Police, Emergency Management, Medical Examiner, Highway Safety, Weights and Measures, and the Law of Public Safety Institute.

The Department of Public Works encompasses the divisions of Administration, Engineering, General Services, which is responsible for the maintenance of all county buildings, Mosquito Control and Operations.

The Department of Parks replaces the former Bergen County Park Commission and is responsible for the divisions of Cultural and Historic Affairs, Parks and Recreation, and the Extensive Service.

The Department of Planning and Economic Development has four divisions: Community Development, Construction Board of Appeals, Planning and economic Development, and Transportation Planning.

Bergen County’s Services

The county provides services through the county Police Department; the Law and Public Safety Institute; Bergen Community College; the County Vocational-Technical High School, its academies and satellite vocational schools which work in conjunction with local school districts; Special Services Schools, and the Constitutional Offices of the County Sheriff, Clerk, and Surrogate.

The Department of Human Services is responsible for important programs for persons of all ages who have difficulty coping with day-to-day problems. Those programs deal with young persons in trouble, domestic violence, veteran’s needs, child care and the special needs of the elderly. Through the Division of Senior Services, the county provides for 12 senior citizen activity centers for older residents.

The Department of Health Services, through its divisions, provides educational and preventive programs and projects dealing with alcoholism, mental health, adult day care, intermediate care for the frail elderly and respite for the caregivers of the elderly.

The Sheriff is responsible for court security and the operation of the jails. The Clerk’s responsibilities cover record keeping through the Court and Registry divisions and the operation of the Election Division. The Surrogate admits wills to probate, appoints guardians, and issues certificates of authority to executors of estates.

Bergen County boasts an excellent park system where residents can ski, skate, jog, cycle, play golf, picnic, camp overnight, tour the Bergen County Zoological Park, visit Revolutionary War battle site, take a guided nature hike, swim, and play softball and tennis.

All in all, Bergen County’s government provides services for its residents which municipal governments are too small to provide and, in addition, acts as a liaison to the state and federal governments.

Bergen County Citizen Services ADV: Alternatives to Domestic Violence Animal Shelter Web Site, Bergen County Bergen County Health Care Center Board of Taxation Web Site, Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS), Bergen County Discount Prescription Drug Program, Bergen County Environmental Council, Bergen Countyl Utilities Authority, Bergen County Workforce Investment Board, Bergen County Government Records Request Form Let us know what you think about our web site View the Online Version of the State of the County Report Volunteer Center of Bergen County Job Database Voter/Election Services   To view these files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (a free application). Click image to download.         County Executive     Freeholders     County Resources     Constitutional Officers     County's Municipalities     County Press Releases     Departments & Services     State of the County Report             Contact Us     New Jersey Links     Directions     Search Our Site     Bergen County Facts

County of Bergen

Cultural and Historical Affairs of Bergen County

The Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs, established in 1979, promotes the growth and vitality of Bergen County’s cultural life by serving as a centralized coordinating agency for cultural organizations.

Through its arts and heritage/preservation components, the Division offers programs services, support and access to meet the needs of the general public, organizations, artists, students, people with disabilities, the under-served and culturally diverse populations in all 70 municipalities of Bergen County.

In addition, Division staff reviews community development grants and planning board site plans for their impact on historic resources. The staff is also available to help cultural organizations and residents to assess their needs, and will provide guidance for meeting their goals.

For additional information, please call the Division at 201-646-2780

Bergen County Offices / Numbers

Animal Center
100 United Lane, Teterboro, 07608   201-646-3200
Administrator: Mary Ellen Stout 201-646-2710

Consumer Protection
Administration Building Court Plaza S
Room 101E 21 Main St. Hackensack, 07601-7000
Director: John Wassberg   201-646-2650

Cultural and Historic Affairs
Admin. Bld Court Plaza S
Room 203W 21 Main St. Hackensack, 07601-7000
Director: Ann E Romano   201-646-2780

Emergency Management
327 E Ridgewood Ave.
Paramus, 07652    201-599-6210
Coordinator: John Schmidig
Deputy Coordinators: Sgt. Paul Einreinhofer
Sgt. Dwane Razzetti
Fire Marshall: Thomas Bischoff

Employee Assistance Program
15 Prospect St.
Paramus, 07652        201-342-1338
Program Coordinator: William Thomas, PhD

Health Services
327 E. Ridgewood Ave
Paramus, 07652
Director: Mark A. Guarino
Administrative Coordinator: Donna Szot 201-599-6216

• Addiction Recovery Program:    201-646-3336
• Alcohol Program   201-599-6211
• Animal Center   201-646-3200
• Consumer Health   201-599-6102
• Dental Health Education Coordinator    201-599-6159
• Environmental Program Administrator    201-599-6171
• Environmental Program Coordinator    201-599-6327
• Health Care Center   201-784-9550
• Health Promotion Program Administrator    201-599-6110
• IDRC   201-646-2571
• Mental Health Division   201-599-6216
• Nursing Supervisor   201-599-6184
• Partnership for Community Health    201-599-8919
• Pastoral Care   201-967-4177
• Public Health Division Coordinator    201-599-6175
• Senior Health Care   201-599-6177

Parks and Recreation
Administration Building, Court Plaza S
Room 206W 21Main St. Hackensack, 07601

• Parks and Recreation   201-646-2680
• Bergen County Zoological Park    201-262-3771
• Campgaw Mountain Reservation    201-327-7800
• Darlington County Park   201-327-3500
• Darlington Golf Course   201-327-8770
• Environmental Center   201-891-5571
• Golf Tee Time Reservations   201-343-4441
• Orchard Hills Golf Course   201-447-3778
• Overpeck Golf Course   201-837-3020
• Overpeck Riding Area   201-242-0022
• Rockleigh Golf Course   201-768-6353/54
• Saddle Ridge Riding Area   201-848-0844
• Van Saun County Park   201-262-2627

Public Information
(Department of Administration & Finance)
Administration Building Court Plaza S
Room 306W 21 Main St.   201-646-2553
Hackensack, 07601

Senior Services
(Department of Human Services)
Administration Building Court Plaza S
Room 306W 21 Main St   201-646-2625
Hackensack, 07601

Board of Social Services
216 Route 17 North
Building A
Rochelle Park, 07662   201-368-4200

Technical Schools of Bergen County
327 E. Ridgewood Ave
Paramus, 07652   201-225-1760

Veterans Services
(Department of Human Services)
25 E. Salem St.
Room 603
Hackensack, 07601   201-646-3487

Bergen County has some of best places to visit in all of New Jersey. 
Below are just a sampling of what Bergen County has to offer.

• Bergen County Resource Page
• Meadowlands Sports Complex

Golf Anyone?

Bergen County is also host to some of the most exciting sports in the country!