West Allendale Avenue, Park Avenue, Myrtle Avenue and Franklin Turnpike form the borough's walkable commercial and civic center around the NJ Transit station.
Bergen County · Rail Village, Wetlands & Crestwood Lake
Allendale, New Jersey
Allendale is a compact northwest Bergen County borough where a traditional downtown and commuter-rail station sit just minutes from The Celery Farm, Crestwood Park, historic homes and established residential neighborhoods.
The borough grew around transportation: Franklin Turnpike shaped its early settlement, the railroad arrived in 1848, and the station helped establish the name Allendale. Today, Allendale combines a walkable local business district, direct NJ Transit rail service, two highly visible open-space destinations and an active calendar of community events.
CountyBergen County
GovernmentMayor & six-member Council
2026 MayorAmy Wilczynski
Borough Hall500 West Crescent Avenue
Population7,116 · 2025 estimate
K–8 DistrictAllendale School District
High SchoolNorthern Highlands Regional
RailNJ Transit Main-Bergen County Line
Explore Allendale
Allendale has enough distinct commercial, dining, housing, visitor and employment activity to support a complete seven-page NJTGO town set.
Business & ShoppingDowntown Allendale, Franklin Turnpike, West Crescent Avenue, local services, retail and professional businesses.
Food & DrinkRestaurants, cafés, bakeries, pizza, takeout and neighborhood dining around the borough.
Real EstateEstablished neighborhoods, housing, taxes, utilities, flood review, schools and property resources.
Visiting & LodgingThe Celery Farm, Crestwood Park, John Fell House, downtown, events, rail and nearby lodging.
ClassifiedsCommunity marketplace, yard sales, local notices, lost and found, lessons, pets and resident submissions.
JobsBorough, schools, local businesses and nearby Bergen County employment resources.
A rail-centered borough with major open space
Allendale's character comes from the unusual combination of a traditional commuter village and substantial protected or recreational land inside a relatively small municipality.
Tree-lined streets extend outward from the center toward Crestwood Park, Brookside Avenue, Hillside Avenue and the borough's quieter northern and western neighborhoods.
The Celery Farm and Crestwood Park together give Allendale an outdoor identity far larger than its three-square-mile footprint might suggest.
Current populationThe U.S. Census Bureau estimates 7,116 residents as of July 1, 2025, up about 4.0% from the 2020 estimates base. The borough covers 3.10 square miles of land.
How Allendale developed
Allendale's modern form grew from early farms, Franklin Turnpike and the arrival of the railroad.
1760sJohn Fell's house was built in its earliest form on Franklin Turnpike. Fell later served as a Continental Congressman and was imprisoned by Loyalists during the Revolution.
1806Franklin Turnpike was chartered as a toll road and became one of the settlement's defining transportation routes.
1848The first train ran through the area. Railroad engineer Joseph Warner Allen helped survey the route, and his name became associated with the new depot and community.
1894Residents voted to form the Borough of Allendale from portions of Franklin, Ho-Ho-Kus and Orvil townships during Bergen County's “Boroughitis” era.
Before suburban development, Allendale was known for agriculture, including apples, peaches and large quantities of strawberries shipped to regional markets.
Rail service accelerated the opening of stores and helped transform Allendale from a farming area into a commuter-oriented borough.
The house at 475 Franklin Turnpike is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places and remains a major community history resource.
The Celery Farm
The Celery Farm is a 107-acre freshwater wetland preserve on Franklin Turnpike and one of Allendale's most distinctive public spaces. It is open during daylight hours every day of the year.
Freshwater wetland, ponds, woods and wildlife habitat within the borough.
More than 240 bird species have been recorded, with more than 50 known to breed there.
Volunteer-maintained footpaths and three observation platforms support birdwatching and nature study.
Main access is from Franklin Turnpike, with an alternate entrance from Green Way.
A preserve, not a recreation field.The Celery Farm is best suited to walking, birdwatching, photography and quiet nature observation. Visitors should stay on established paths and respect wildlife and wetland habitat.
Crestwood Park & Crestwood Lake
Crestwood Park is a 71-acre municipal recreation facility on West Crescent Avenue with a lake, three beaches, multiple athletic fields, tennis courts and the Red Barn pavilion.
The lake is the centerpiece of the park and operates seasonally for swimming and beach use.
Fields, courts and recreation facilities support borough sports and community programs throughout the year.
A recognizable Crestwood Park gathering space used for borough and private resident events under current facility rules.
Crestwood Lake is not a public day-use beach.The Borough identifies it as a private membership lake with no general public day passes. Allendale residents may join, and current rules also provide membership pathways for Northern Highlands sending-district residents and sponsored families.
Parks, fields & recreation
Allendale's recreation system extends beyond Crestwood and the Celery Farm.
Neighborhood park at Franklin Turnpike and West Orchard Street.
Community green space at Brookside Avenue and Park Avenue near the center of town.
Multi-field athletic complex with Fields 1–3, Grand Stand Field and concession facilities.
Allendale's largest municipal recreation complex, combining lake, beaches, athletic fields, courts and the Red Barn.
107-acre nature preserve for wildlife observation and low-impact walking.
Indoor gathering and recreation space used for meetings, open gyms, basketball, pickleball and community programs.
Education
Allendale operates a two-school local district for Pre-K through grade 8. High-school students attend Northern Highlands Regional High School, which is also located in Allendale.
Pre-K through grade 3 at 89 Hillside Avenue.
Allendale School District · 201-327-2020Grades 4 through 8 at 100 Brookside Avenue.
Allendale School District · 201-327-2020Regional grades 9–12 school at 298 Hillside Avenue serving Allendale and its sending-district communities.
201-327-8700Current grade configurationHillside is Pre-K–3 and Brookside is grades 4–8. This is the current district structure and should be used for future NJTGO Allendale school references.
Lee Memorial Library
Lee Memorial Library shares the municipal complex at 500 West Crescent Avenue and serves as a lending library, workspace, program venue and archive of local historical materials.
The library circulates more than 150,000 print and digital items annually according to the Borough.
Year-round educational and cultural programming is offered for children, teens and adults along with technology resources.
Allendale residents age 5 and older are eligible for a free library card, including access to digital resources and museum-pass programs.
Allendale Station & commuting
Unlike many suburban boroughs, Allendale has its own NJ Transit rail station in the heart of the community.
NJ Transit rail service connects Allendale with other Bergen County communities, Secaucus Junction and Hoboken/New York connections.
NJ Transit currently lists three municipal or joint-use parking lots around the station with approximately 251 standard spaces combined.
Lot 3 offers daily and permit parking; other lots are primarily permit-based. Current rules differ for residents and non-residents.
The station sits at West Allendale and Orchard Streets, about one block from Franklin Turnpike and the borough's commercial center.
Parking rules matter.NJ Transit currently notes no parking from 3 AM to 5 AM in the station lots, while evenings and weekends are generally free. Always follow posted signs and current Borough permit rules.
Allendale community events · September 2026
The borough has an especially active September calendar in 2026, combining its regular community traditions with America 250 programming.
September 5
Holiday Observers' Water FestivalSeasonal community event listed on the Borough's September calendar.
September 8
Ice Cream with the Mayor & PoliceCommunity meet-and-greet event with local officials and police.
September 11
9/11 Candlelight CeremonyAnnual remembrance ceremony held as part of Allendale's civic calendar.
September 19
Allendale Salutes 250th ParadeAmerica 250 parade leading into the Holiday Observers USA 250th Anniversary celebration at Crestwood.
September 26
Allendale Day / Fall FestivalMajor community-day and fall-festival activity supporting downtown businesses and local organizations.
September 26
Holiday Observer FireworksThe borough's rescheduled 2026 fireworks are currently planned for the same Saturday.
Event schedules can change.September 26 has multiple community activities on the current Borough calendar. Confirm final times, locations, parking, ticket requirements and rain-date information before attending.
Borough government
Allendale uses the Borough form of government with a mayor and six-member council. As of September 2026, Amy Wilczynski is Mayor and Susanne Lovisolo is Council President.
500 West Crescent Avenue
Allendale, NJ 07401
201-818-4400
Amy Wilczynski
Susanne Lovisolo
Joseph Daloisio · Liz Homan · Edward O'Connell · Matthew O'Toole · Tyler Yaccarino.
Emergency: 911. Current Borough police information and non-emergency contacts are available through the municipal site.
Borough Hall provides access to clerk, tax, construction, health, recreation, permits and other municipal services.
Nearby communities
Allendale sits among several of northwest Bergen County's best-known boroughs and suburban communities.
North and northwest connections for larger commercial areas, rail access, parks and regional services.
Residential communities immediately east and northeast of Allendale's local service area.
Southern and southeastern neighbors with additional shopping, dining and Bergen County connections.
Promote an Allendale Business or Organization on NJTGO
NJTGO offers enhanced paid placements for businesses, restaurants, real-estate professionals, visitor services, employers and community organizations seeking stronger visibility within the Allendale guide.
Advertising & Enhanced ListingsCommunity, park, school, transit and event information was reviewed in September 2026. Seasonal hours, event schedules, facility access and transit/parking rules can change; verify time-sensitive details with the responsible public agency before traveling.