Bogota, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Other uses Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Bogota 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 8,778,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 591 (+7.2%) from the 2010 census count of 8,187,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 62 (−0.8%) from the 8,249 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

Bogota was formed on November 14, 1894, from portions of Ridgefield Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 76. Accessed May 16, 2012.</ref> The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed during 1894 alone.<ref>Harvey, Cornelius Burnham. Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, p. 11, New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed September 4, 2013. "For a period of sixteen years following the passage of this act few boroughs were organized in the State, only three of them being in Bergen County.... As it was twenty-six boroughs were created in the county from January 23, 1894, to December 18, of the same year."</ref> Portions of Bogota were taken in 1895 to form part of the newly created Township of Teaneck. Bogota was named in honor of the Bogert family, which had been the first European settlers to occupy the area,<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref> and may also be a blend of Bogert and Banta, another early family, with an "O" added to ease pronunciation.<ref>History of Bergen County p. 339</ref><ref name=Record2005/><ref>History of Bogota, Borough of Bogota. Accessed July 27, 2017.</ref>

The borough's name is pronounced Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell, unlike Bogotá, capital city of Colombia, which is accented on the final syllable.<ref name=Record2005>Page, Jeffrey. "Our towns challenge our tongues", The Record, June 17, 2005, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 12, 2016. Accessed September 7, 2017. "The reason Bogota is called buh-GO-ta – and not the South American sounding bo-go-TA – is that the word has nothing to do with Colombia or its capital, Bogota. The 'Bog' recalls the Bogarts and the 'ta' is for the Bantas, two families that used to own all of what is now Bogota. 'Or so the story goes,' Henry Komorowski, the borough historian, said dryly. In any case, the story explains the first syllable and the last. But what about that 'O' in the middle? It might have come about as a means of making pronunciation easier, Komorowski said."</ref><ref>Melisurgo, Len. "Here's the right way to pronounce 25 N.J. town names everyone botches", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 25, 2017. Accessed July 27, 2017. "Bogota (Bergen County) – Is it BO-ga-tah, like the capital of Colombia? Nope. It's actually pronounced buh-GO-ta."</ref><ref>Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review; This Girl's Sweet 16 Is Bitter Old Age", The New York Times, February 5, 2003. Accessed August 27, 2013. "Buddy stays drunk and away from the family's Bogota (pronounced buh-GO-ta), N.J., home as much as possible, while Pattie, who is pregnant with her second child, has convinced herself that she's the one who's dying."</ref>

Geography

Bogota is located on the east shore of the Hackensack River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.80 square miles (2.06 km²), including 0.76 square miles (1.95 km²) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km²) of water (5.25%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The borough borders Hackensack to the west, Ridgefield Park to the south and Teaneck on the north and east.<ref>Areas touching Bogota, MapIt. Accessed March 19, 2020.</ref><ref>Bergen County Map of Municipalities, Bergen County, New Jersey. Accessed March 19, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Bogota is bisected by the CSX River Line, which divides the borough into an eastern and western portion. The eastern half is highly industrial, with more busy roads. The western half is mainly suburban, with the exception of storefronts on West Main Street, River Road, and a development on West Fort Lee Road.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 8,187 people, 2,773 households, and 2,080 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,888 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 61.00% (4,994) White, 9.42% (771) Black or African American, 0.78% (64) Native American, 9.81% (803) Asian, 0.09% (7) Pacific Islander, 14.80% (1,212) from other races, and 4.10% (336) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.71% (3,169) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 2,773 households, 36.4% had children under the age of 18; 54.9% were married couples living together; 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.0% were non-families. Of all households, 20.7% were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.43.<ref name=Census2010/>

23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.9 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $77,375 (with a margin of error of +/− $13,132) and the median family income was $96,563 (+/− $12,361). Males had a median income of $53,460 (+/− $5,549) versus $46,350 (+/− $9,142) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,844 (+/− $2,819). About 8.2% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Bogota borough, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 16, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 8,249 people, 2,874 households, and 2,126 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,915 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 75.72% White, 5.73% African American, 0.15% Native American, 7.75% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 6.76% from other races, and 3.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.32% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Bogota borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 4, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Bogota borough, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 4, 2013.</ref>

There were 2,874 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.38.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $59,813, and the median income for a family was $69,841. Males had a median income of $49,347 versus $36,406 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,505. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Bogota is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 157.</ref> The borough form of government used by Bogota is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body, with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref name=ElectedOfficials/><ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed November 29, 2022.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of the Borough of Bogota is Republican Daniele Fede, serving a term of office that expires on December 31, 2027. Members of the Bogota Borough Council are Council President Consuelo M. Carpenter (D, 2024), Lisa Kohles (D, 2026), Patrick H. McHale (D, 2025), John G. Mitchell (D, 2025), Mary Ellen Murphy (D, 2023), Robert Robbins (D, 2024) and Diana Vergara (D, 2026).<ref name=ElectedOfficials>Mayor and Council, Borough of Bogota. Accessed February 21, 2024. "The Borough of Bogota is governed by a Mayor and Council who are elected by the voters. The mayoral term is a four-year term, while each council member is elected to serve for a three-year term"</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet. Borough of Bogota. Accessed February 21, 2024.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>2024 County and Municipal Directory, Bergen County, New Jersey, April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.</ref><ref name=Bergen2023>Official Statement of Vote 2023 General Election - November 7, 2023 Official Results, Bergen County, New Jersey, November 27, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Bergen2022>Bergen County November 8, 2022 General Election Statement of Vote, Bergen County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Bergen2021>Bergen County Statement of Vote November 2, 2021 Official results, Bergen County, New Jersey, updated November 17, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

Kathryn Gates-Ferris was appointed in late 2015 to fill the seat vacated by Lisa Kohles.<ref>Diduch, Mary. "Bogota approves tentative deal with ousted police officer Regina Tasca", The Record, December 18, 2015, backed up by the Internet Archive as of April 24, 2016. Accessed September 7, 2017. "Councilwoman Kathryn Gates-Ferris, who recently was appointed to fill a seat vacated by former Councilwoman Lisa Kohles, abstained, and Councilman Thomas Napolitano left the meeting early."</ref>

The council seat expiring in 2015 held by Chris Kelemen was vacated when he took office as mayor in January 2015. Citing the bitter political differences in the governing body and the loss of two council seats to Republican challengers in the general election that month, Mayor Patrick McHale resigned from office in November 2013 and was replaced on an acting basis by Council President Tito Jackson, who served in that role until the November 2014 election.<ref>Morrison, Aaron. "New mayor seated in Bogota amid simmering conflict among majority Democrats", The Record, November 14, 2013, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 10, 2015. Accessed September 7, 2017. "Council President Antero 'Tito' Jackson became acting mayor at Thursday's council meeting, following the abrupt resignation of two-term Mayor Patrick McHale.... McHale, who would have been up for reelection in 2015, stepped down saying he'd had enough of divisive politics on the council. The unexpected announcement came one week after a surprising election that unseated Democratic incumbents with victories by two Republican challengers."</ref> In September 2011, the borough council appointed Wanda Uceta to fill the vacant seat of Joseph Nooto who had died earlier that month.<ref>Aggarwal, Karthik. "Uceta appointed to open Bogota council seat", Bogota Bulletin, September 22, 2011, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 7, 2016. Accessed September 7, 2017. "At its Sept. 15 meeting, the council voted unanimously to appoint Democrat Wanda Uceta to fill Councilman Joe Noto's seat. Noto, a fellow Democrat, passed away Sept. 7. Uceta was sworn in after her appointment."</ref> In December 2013, Lisa Kohles was chosen to fill Jackson's vacant council seat for a term ending in December 2014.<ref>Morrison, Aaron. "Bogota council votes 4–0 to appoint Kohles to vacant seat", The Record, December 5, 2013, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 6, 2016. Accessed September 7, 2017. "The Borough Council on Thursday chose medical professional Lisa Kohles to fill a council vacancy created by the appointment of Tito Jackson as mayor, following last month's sudden resignation of Patrick McHale."</ref>

In 2012, Democrats retained full control of borough government, as incumbent Jorge Nunez won re-election along with his running mate Robert Robbins, who won his first term in office.<ref>Aggarwal, Karthik. "Democrats win Bogota Council Seats", Bogota Bulletin, November 6, 2012, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 7, 2016. Accessed September 7, 2017. "Democrats won the two borough council seats up for election Tuesday in Bogota. Councilman Jorge Nunez, an incumbent, and newcomer Robert Robbins were each elected to a three-year term on the governing body."</ref>

In the November 2011 general election, Democrats gained control of all of the borough's elected positions. Patrick McHale was re-elected to a four-year term as mayor. Incumbents Michael Brophy and Tito Jackson were elected to new three-year terms, while Wanda Uceta won a two-year unexpired term and Evaristo Burdiez Jr. won his first full three-year term, after both Burdiez and Uceta had been appointed to fill vacancies.<ref>Aggarwal, Karthik. "Democrats sweep Bogota elections", Bogota Bulletin, November 9, 2011. Accessed May 16, 2012. "Democratic incumbents Mayor Patrick McHale as well as councilmen Tito Jackson and Michael Brophy sought reelection to their respective seats. Jackson sought a three-year council seat, while Brophy sought a one-year unexpired council term. Fellow Democrats Evaristo Burdiez Jr. and Wanda Uceta, who were both appointed this summer to the council, sought a three-year council seat and a two-year unexpired council term, respectively."</ref>

In the 2010 General Election, Councilmen Joseph Noto and Michael Brophy won reelection, while first-time candidate Arthur Konigsberg also captured a seat. They defeated Councilwoman Anne Marie Mitchell and challengers Jared Geist and Guillermo Martinez. Brophy led the way with 1,235 votes, followed by Noto with 1,072 and Konigsberg with 1,060. Mitchell received 966 votes, while Geist and Martinez earned 847 and 775 votes, respectively. Noto and Konigsberg won three-year terms, while Brophy—who was appointed to fill a vacancy last year—will serve for an additional year to finish the uncompleted term.<ref name=Elections2010>Ax, Joseph. "Democrats close out Republicans on Bogota council", The Record, November 2, 2010. Accessed March 17, 2011.</ref>

In July 2006, then-Mayor Lonegan created a controversy when he engineered a borough council resolution requesting the removal of a Spanish-language billboard in the borough that was advertising McDonald's iced coffee. Lonegan said the billboard was "divisive." The story received national publicity, occurring concurrently with a national debate on illegal immigration.<ref>Aberback, Brian. "Bogota formally requests billboard removal – Calls McDonald's Spanish ad 'divisive'", The Record, July 14, 2006, backed up by the Internet Archive as of August 13, 2014. Accessed September 7, 2017. "The borough has formally requested that McDonald's remove its Spanish-language billboard and replace it with an English version. In a letter sent to McDonald's on borough letterhead, Mayor Steve Lonegan said the River Road advertisement for the company's new iced coffee drink sends a 'divisive' and 'unfair' message that immigrants and other Spanish speakers do not need to learn English or assimilate into the community."</ref> The 2003 mayoral election won by Lonegan was the subject of the documentary Anytown, USA.<ref name=AnytownUSA>O'Brien, Kathleen. "Lonegan forces fellow Republican gubernatorial candidates to take notice", The Star-Ledger, May 10, 2009. Accessed August 27, 2013. "'That's part of his power: There's no bull,' said Kristian Fraga, an independent filmmaker whose documentary, Anytown, USA, chronicled the 2003 Bogota mayor's race."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Bogota is located in the 5th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 37th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011–2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011–2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,345 registered voters in Bogota, of which 1,549 (35.7% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 735 (16.9% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,060 (47.4% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary – Bergen, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 3, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 53.1% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 69.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 – State – County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 3, 2013.</ref>

On the national level, Bogota leans strongly toward the Democratic Party. In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 2,454 votes (63.9% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 1,230 votes (32.1% vs. 41.1% countywide) and other candidates with 154 votes (4.0% vs. 3.0% countywide), among the 3,890 ballots cast by the borough's 5,244 registered voters for a turnout of 74.2% (vs. 73% in Bergen County).<ref>Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results - Bergen County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, November 8, 2016. Accessed May 24, 2020</ref> In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,308 votes (66.7% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,085 votes (31.4% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 30 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,458 ballots cast by the borough's 4,796 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.1% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results – Bergen County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 4, 2013.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results – Bergen County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 4, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,291 votes (63.3% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,270 votes (35.1% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 26 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,619 ballots cast by the borough's 4,759 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.0% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Bergen County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 4, 2013.</ref><ref name=Results2008>2008 General Election Results for Bogota Template:Webarchive, The Record. Accessed November 6, 2008.</ref>

In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Democrat Phil Murphy received 62.4% of the vote (1,289 cast), ahead of Republican Kim Guadagno with 35.2% (728 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (49 votes), among the 2,147 ballots cast by the borough's 5,053 registered voters (81 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.5%.<ref name=2017Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2017VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 55.2% of the vote (1,178 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 42.8% (913 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (42 votes), among the 2,243 ballots cast by the borough's 4,694 registered voters (110 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.8%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 1,151 ballots cast (53.1% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 856 votes (39.5% vs. 45.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 119 votes (5.5% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.4% vs. 0.5%), among the 2,168 ballots cast by the borough's 4,549 registered voters, yielding a 47.7% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Bergen County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 4, 2013.</ref>

Education

Students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade are educated in the Bogota Public Schools.<ref>Bogota Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Bogota Public Schools. Accessed February 22, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades K through 12 in the Bogota School District. Composition: The Bogota School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Bogota."</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,381 students and 103.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Bogota Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics.<ref>School Data for the Bogota Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>) are E. Roy Bixby School<ref>E. Roy Bixby School, Bogota Public Schools. Accessed February 22, 2024.</ref> with 293 students in grades PreK–5, Lillian M. Steen School<ref>Lillian M. Steen School, Bogota Public Schools. Accessed February 22, 2024.</ref> which served 326 students in grades PreK–5, Bogota Middle School<ref>Bogota Middle School, Bogota Public Schools. Accessed February 22, 2024.</ref> with an enrollment of 197 students in grades 6–7 and Bogota High School<ref>Bogota High School, Bogota Public Schools. Accessed February 22, 2024.</ref> with an enrollment of 442 students in grades 8–12.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Bogota Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed September 1, 2025.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Bogota Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Lillian M. Steen School was one of nine schools in New Jersey honored in 2020 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which recognizes high student achievement.<ref>2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Non-Public Schools, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed September 27, 2020.</ref><ref>Clark, Adam. "9 N.J. schools just won a huge national honor", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 24, 2020. Accessed September 27, 2020. "Nine New Jersey public schools have been awarded the national Blue Ribbon designation, one of the highest honors in education. The schools were recognized Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education for high student achievement."</ref>

Public school students from the borough, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Paramus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.<ref>About Us, Bergen County Technical Schools. Accessed November 29, 2022.</ref><ref>Admissions, Bergen County Technical Schools. Accessed November 29, 2022.</ref>

Saint Joseph Academy was a Catholic school serving students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.<ref>About Our School, Saint Joseph Academy. Accessed September 7, 2017.</ref><ref>Bergen County Catholic Elementary Schools Template:Webarchive, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref> In summer of 2020 the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark made the decision to close the Saint Joseph Academy "...due to increasing financial burdens, declining enrollment and Covid 19 pandemic" The former site of the Saint Joseph Academy was leased to the Bogota Board of Education for a five year period and is currently used for preschooland grades 6 and 7.<ref>Statement about the Leasing of St. Joseph Academy, St. Joseph Church, May 5, 2021. Accessed January 4, 2024."As you are all aware, due to increasing financial burdens, declining enrollment and Covid 19 pandemic, the Archdiocese of Newark closed St. Joseph Academy in the summer of 2020.... In the Fall of 2020, the Archdiocesan College of Consultors and Cardinal Tobin approved the lease of St. Joseph Academy to the Bogota Board of Education. We have now entered into a 5 year lease with the Board of Education which will commence on July 1st, 2021.... The Board of Education will use the building for Pre-K and 6th and 7th Grades."</ref>

Transportation

Interstate 80 westbound in Bogota

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Bergen County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Bergen County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed December 3, 2013.</ref>

Interstate 80 passes through the southern tip of the borough, continuing from Ridgefield Park in the west onto its terminus in Teaneck to the east, and is accessible at Exit 67 in Ridgefield Park, just south of Bogota.<ref>Interstate 80 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, March 2001. Accessed December 6, 2013.</ref> Route 4 is accessible in Teaneck. These highways provide access to the George Washington Bridge, the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and other portions of the area's transportation network. There are several bridges, including the Court Street Bridge and the Midtown Bridge that span the Hackensack River to Hackensack. Bergen County CR 56-1, whose terminus is within the borough, CR 56-2, and CR 41 all pass through Bogota.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Public transportation

Former Bogota station, as seen in 2011, integrated into a larger building

Several NJ Transit bus lines travel through Bogota between Hackensack, Jersey City, Paramus and New York City. NJ Transit bus service is available to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 155 and 168 routes; to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on the 182 route; and to other New Jersey communities served on the 83 (to Jersey City), 751 and 755 routes.<ref>Bergen County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed September 11, 2011.</ref><ref>Bergen County System Map Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed September 14, 2016.</ref>

Passenger rail service to Bogota station ended in 1966, but the right of way for freight lines of New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad (NYSW) and the CSX River Subdivision (formerly the West Shore Railroad) run along the riverbank on the west side of town. The Passaic–Bergen–Hudson Transit Project is a NJ Transit proposal to restore passenger service along the rail corridor with potential stations at West Fort Lee Road and Central Avenue.

Popular culture

The 2005 documentary film Anytown, USA focused on the 2003 mayoral race between Republican Steve Lonegan, Democrat Fred Pesce and independent Dave Musikant.<ref name=AnytownUSA/> The film was screened at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival on April 9, 2005, where it won the award for Best Documentary.<ref>Sirk Productions. Accessed February 24, 2007.</ref>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Bogota include:

• Eddie Adams (1933–2004), photographer and photojournalist who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for his photo of police chief General Nguyễn Ngọc Loan executing a Vietcong prisoner, Nguyễn Văn Lém, on a Saigon street<ref>Kelly, Mike. "How this photographer took one of the Vietnam War's most famous photos", USA Today, September 30, 2017. Accessed October 1, 2017. "Eddie Adams, who lived then in Bogota, N.J., took that iconic photo Feb. 1, 1968, in Saigon. It came to be known as the 'street execution' of a captured Viet Cong operative by Gen. Nguyen Ngoc Loan, the chief of South Vietnam's National Police."</ref>
• Jimmy Gnecco (born 1973), musician from the Ours<ref>Spelling, Ian. "Ours lead singer Jimmy Gnecco will perform in Manhattan", The Record, May 20, 2010. Accessed August 15, 2012. "Gnecco – who was born in Teaneck, raised in Ridgefield Park and lives in Bogota – plays every instrument on the album, which includes such songs as 'Rest Your Soul,' 'Take a Chance,' 'Mystery' and the title track."</ref>
• Beth Hall (born 1958), actress best known for her portrayal of Wendy Harris on the CBS sitcom Mom<ref>Beth Hall, CBS. Accessed August 16, 2020. "Born and raised in Bogota, N.J., Hall attended Rutgers University."</ref>
• Richie Incognito (born 1983), guard for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League<ref>Pennington, Bill. "Prized for His Aggression, Incognito Struggled to Stay in Bounds", The New York Times, November 8, 2013. Accessed September 7, 2017. "The fight 'sent the right message to the town,' said Seth Bendian, who gave Richie private baseball instruction near his hometown, Bogota, N.J. 'And Richie remained a nice, quiet kid.'... Just as Richie was turning 12, the Incognitos moved to Glendale, Ariz. At Mountain Ridge High School, Incognito, once teased for his size, quickly became the school's featured athlete."</ref>
• Steve Lonegan (born 1956), politician who served for 12 years as Mayor of Bogota, was candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 2005 and 2009, and was the 2013 U.S. Senate candidate in the election following the death of Frank Lautenberg<ref>Ax, Joseph. "Democrats sweep Bogota Council", The Record, November 4, 2010, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 3, 2013. Accessed September 7, 2017. "Steve Lonegan was elected mayor in the mid-1990s, ushering in a fresh era of Republican leadership that lasted 11 years. In 2007, his final year before deciding not to seek reelection, he was the sole Republican in office, after the Democrats retook the council. They have not yielded power since."</ref>
• Norman Pittenger (1905–1997), Anglican theologian who was one of the first acknowledged Christian defenders for the open acceptance of homosexual relations among Christians<ref>Brown, Andrew. "Obituary: The Rev Dr Norman Pittenger", The Independent, June 27, 1997. Accessed March 16, 2018. "William Norman Pittenger, priest and theologian: born Bogota, New Jersey 23 July 1905"</ref>
• Stanley Foster Reed (1917–2007), entrepreneur<ref>Bernstein, Adam. "Stanley Reed, 90; Helped Create Niche Magazines", The Washington Post, October 30, 2007. Accessed October 31, 2007. "Mr. Reed, whose father was a Pricewaterhouse accountant, was born Sept. 28, 1917, in Bogota, N.J."</ref>
• Sid Schacht (1918–1991), pitcher who appeared in 19 games in the Major Leagues for the St. Louis Browns (1950–1951) and Boston Braves (1951)<ref>Sid Schacht, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed May 13, 2019.</ref>
• Pat Schuber (born 1947), politician who served for four years as Mayor of Bogota, represented the district in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1982 to 1990 and served 12 years as the County Executive of Bergen County.<ref>William "Pat" Schuber, Fairleigh Dickinson University. Accessed May 23, 2017.</ref>
• Vin Scully (1927-2022), sportscaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers<ref>Sandomir, Richard. "Daffy Days of Brooklyn Return for Vin Scully", The New York Times, October 5, 2006. Accessed May 21, 2007. "He called three Subway Series in his Brooklyn years, in 1953, 1955 and 1956. By then, he was living in Bogota, N.J., and his red-haired mother, Bridget, was listening to her son call Game 7 of the 1955 Series, the one in which the Dodgers, behind Johnny Podres, finally beat the Yankees."</ref>
• Harvey Silverglate (born 1942), attorney, journalist, writer, and co-founder of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education<ref>Mulshine, Paul. "Reaction to the Rutgers case goes too far", The Star-Ledger, March 20, 2012. Accessed July 3, 2023. "It shouldn’t, at least not according to Harvey Silverglate. The 69-year-old Silverglate grew up in the Bergen County town of Bogota."</ref>
• Pat Sullivan (born 1971), assistant coach for the New York Knicks<ref>Iseman, Chris. "The local basketball legend working on David Fizdale's New York Knicks coaching staff", The Record, October 25, 2018. Accessed December 3, 2019. "Jay Mahoney never thought Pat Sullivan would become a coach. Back when Sullivan was playing for the longtime Bogota boys basketball coach, Mahoney didn't see that career in Sullivan's future."</ref>
• Andy Unanue, businessman and investor<ref>Verdon, Joan. "Restaurateur sees N.J. as place to grow sales", The Record, January 25, 2011. Accessed June 24, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Name: Andy Unanue... Hometown: Born and raised in Bogota, he now lives in Manhattan"</ref>
• Al Yates (1945–2007), outfielder who played in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers<ref>Trimble, Joe. "Yanks Edge Brewers in 10th for 5 in Row, 4-3", New York Daily News, May 14, 1971. Accessed February 21, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Al Yates, who made his debut in majors today as Milwaukee rightfielder, was two-time loser with Mets. He went to spring training with them twice but no cigar. He is from Bogota, N.J."</ref>

Sources

• Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties) prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.
• Clayton, W. Woodford; and Nelson, Nelson. History of Bergen and Passaic Counties, New Jersey, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia: Everts and Peck, 1882.
• Harvey, Cornelius Burnham (ed.), Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Co., 1900.
• Van Valen, James M. History of Bergen County, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900.
• Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858–1942, History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630–1923, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1923.

External links

• Bogota official website
• Bogota News