Residential character
Large-lot single-family neighborhoods, mature trees and low-density development define much of Upper Saddle River. The borough has retained a quieter suburban feel despite its location in densely developed Bergen County.
Bergen County • Northern New Jersey
Upper Saddle River
Quiet roads, deep roots, strong schools and a distinctly residential character. Upper Saddle River sits along New Jersey’s northern border, combining large-lot neighborhoods and mature landscapes with a remarkable collection of early Bergen County history.
The borough is known for the Saddle River valley, historic stone houses, community recreation, strong public schools and easy access to Route 17 and nearby rail stations.
ZIP 07458
Bergen County
Borough government
Route 17 corridor
8,3532020 Census population
8,6502025 Census estimate
5.25 sq. mi.Land area
1894Borough incorporated
Explore Upper Saddle River
A borough shaped by the Saddle River valley
Upper Saddle River is primarily residential, with winding roads, wooded neighborhoods and a historic landscape that still reflects the borough’s agricultural and milling past. Commercial activity is concentrated largely along and near Route 17, while civic, school and recreational facilities form a strong community core around West Saddle River Road and Lake Street.
Historic landscape
Early Dutch-American stone houses, the Hopper-Goetschius House Museum, the Old Stone Church area and surviving mill sites connect today’s borough directly to its pre-Revolutionary and 19th-century past.
Regional access
Route 17 provides convenient north-south automobile access. Rail commuters typically use nearby NJ TRANSIT stations in Ramsey, Ramsey Route 17, Allendale or Mahwah.
History
Upper Saddle River’s history reaches far beyond its suburban development. The valley was home to Lenape people before European settlement, followed by Dutch and other settlers who established farms, mills and stone houses along the river and its tributaries.
From farms and mills to a borough
European settlement took hold in the early 1700s. Agriculture and water-powered mills became central to local life, and several early buildings still survive. Upper Saddle River incorporated as a borough in 1894 from portions of Hohokus Township and Orvil Township.
The community remained largely agricultural into the 20th century and was once known for apples and strawberries. Much of its population growth came after World War II as farms gave way to suburban neighborhoods.
A fuller view of local history
Upper Saddle River’s historical record also includes the labor of enslaved African Americans in Bergen County. The Upper Saddle River Historical Society preserves this history, including stewardship of the Hopper Slave Cemetery and interpretation at the Hopper-Goetschius House Museum.
Government & civic services
Upper Saddle River operates under New Jersey’s borough form of government. Borough Hall is the central point for administration, taxes, permits, public meetings and many local services.
Borough Hall
Borough of Upper Saddle River
376 West Saddle River Road
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
201-327-2196
Mayor: Arman Fardanesh
The Borough Council consists of six members. Current council information, agendas and meeting materials are maintained by the borough.
Essential local services
- Police / Fire / EMS emergency: 911
- Upper Saddle River Police non-emergency: 201-327-2700
- Upper Saddle River Library: 245 Lake Street, 201-327-2583
- Recreation: borough programs, parks and athletic facilities
- Code / zoning / permits: Borough Hall departments
Schools
Upper Saddle River maintains its own elementary and middle-school district and is a constituent community of Northern Highlands Regional High School District.
Reynolds & Bogert
2026–27 transition: the district announced a combined Pre-K–5 model across the connected Reynolds and Bogert facilities, led through a unified administrative structure.
391 West Saddle River Road area
Upper Saddle River, NJ
Emil A. Cavallini Middle School
Grades 6–8
392 West Saddle River Road
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
201-961-6400
Northern Highlands Regional High School
Grades 9–12 for Upper Saddle River students.
298 Hillside Avenue
Allendale, NJ 07401
201-327-8700
School-district update: The Upper Saddle River district announced Dave Kaplan as superintendent effective July 1, 2026, as part of a broader leadership and Pre-K–5 organizational transition.
Parks, recreation & outdoor life
Recreation is woven into community life. The borough maintains parks, playgrounds and school athletic fields and coordinates sports, tennis, pickleball, soccer and seasonal programs.
Lions Park
A central community recreation area on Lake Drive/West Saddle River Road, with playground and park facilities. The borough pursued 2026 grant funding for playground and safety-surface improvements.
Hess Park
One of the borough-maintained neighborhood parks, supporting local outdoor recreation.
Liberty Pond Park
A community green space centered around Liberty Pond, used for passive recreation and seasonal local activities.
School athletic fields
The borough recreation program also uses fields at Bogert, Reynolds and Cavallini for organized youth and community sports.
Historic places & cultural heritage
Upper Saddle River has one of the richer collections of early residential history in northern Bergen County. Several sites are visible from public roads, while others are private residences and should be respected as such.
Hopper-Goetschius House Museum
At the corner of Lake Street and East Saddle River Road, the house dates to about 1739 and is described by the Upper Saddle River Historical Society as the borough’s oldest remaining home. The museum complex also includes moved and restored outbuildings that interpret early local life.
Old Stone Church
The historic Saddle River Reformed Church on East Saddle River Road was completed in 1819, replacing an earlier 1787 church. It remains one of Upper Saddle River’s most recognizable historic landmarks.
Historic houses & mills
Surviving private properties include early stone houses and former mill sites along the Saddle River valley. These buildings help preserve the borough’s pre-Revolutionary and agricultural-era streetscape.
Upper Saddle River Historical Society
The society preserves artifacts, oral histories, historic buildings and local records, and operates the Hopper-Goetschius House Museum complex.
Community life
Upper Saddle River Library
245 Lake Street serves as a community hub for books, technology, children’s and adult programs, meetings and local events.
Volunteer tradition
Local civic life includes volunteer fire and ambulance organizations, recreation volunteers, historical preservation groups, library supporters and other borough commissions and clubs.
Route 17 & local commerce
Most retail, services and commercial activity is concentrated near the Route 17 corridor, while the interior of the borough remains predominantly residential.
Getting around
Upper Saddle River is primarily automobile-oriented, with Route 17 providing the main regional connection and nearby rail stations serving New York-bound commuters.
Road access
- NJ Route 17 runs along the borough’s western side and connects to Mahwah, Ramsey and points south.
- Local roads connect Upper Saddle River with Saddle River, Montvale, Ramsey and the New York State line.
- Interstate 287 and the New York State Thruway are accessible to the north via the Mahwah area.
Rail & regional transit
Upper Saddle River does not have its own passenger rail station. Residents commonly use nearby NJ TRANSIT stations such as Ramsey Route 17, Ramsey Main Street, Allendale or Mahwah depending on destination and parking needs.
Always check current schedules, parking rules and service changes before travel.
Nearby communities
Upper Saddle River sits at Bergen County’s northern edge near both New Jersey and Rockland County, New York communities.
MahwahNorthwest • Route 17 and regional transportation connections
MontvaleEast • Pascack Valley community and shopping/employment center
RamseyWest/southwest • Downtown, rail stations and Route 17 services
Saddle RiverSouth • Residential borough sharing the Saddle River valley and ZIP 07458
Woodcliff LakeSoutheast • Pascack Valley community
Rockland County, NYThe New York State line forms Upper Saddle River’s northern edge.
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Community facts and public-resource information reviewed September 2026. Public programs, contacts and schedules can change; verify time-sensitive details with the relevant agency.