Local landowners have occupied portions of Ramsey since about 1740. In the mid 1780's Abraham Dater opened a gristmill in town which gave recognition to the area. In 1848 the rail station was established in Ramsey and many homes surrounding the station were built developing the area. Main Street was established around the Rail Station and immedialtely served as the hub of commerce as it is today. Ramsey was known as the nations strawberry capital until the late 1880's. Farming was the dominant industry for many decades.
Ramsey was incorporated in 1908 and sits at the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains. It is approximately 6 square miles in size and almost 14,500 residents call Ramsey home.
The Borough of Ramsey is conveniently located 20 miles from the George Washington Bridge. It is a fast commute to New York City and a central location for its residents working in northern New Jersey and Rockland County New York.
Ramsey is a community that cares for its residents ... provides quality services including playgrounds, athletic fields, tennis courts and a swimming pool, an excellent school system, a senior center, extensive volunteer services, 3 parks, with Finch Park the largest which was expanded in the late 1980's for its residents to enjoy and numerous recreational programs making it truly an ideal community to live in.
The Borough of Ramsey is almost fully developed today. There is a mix of colonials, capes and ranch style homes built between 1930 through the present always maintaining a rural feeling and quiet ambience. The neighborhoods of Ramsey include modest size homes to large manor homes. The Ramsey Golf and Country Club is located in the eastern end of town and has over 300 homes within its boundaries offering a private 18 hole golf course, swimming pool, paddle tennis, restaurant and catering facility. Ramsey has mostly single family homes but does offer a few apartment complexes and condominium communities notably the gated community of Cambridge Heights.
The "Main Street" or downtown area of Ramsey sets the tone for this community with its many fine shops and restaurants. Conveniently, Ramsey is on the main Bergen rail line of the New Jersey Transit which serves its many commuters to and from New York City each day via Hoboken or Secaucus. Shortline Buses also serve Ramsey along Route 17 into The Port Authority Terminal in New York City.
The Borough of Ramsy supports 3 elementary schools, Tisdale and Hubbard Schools, grades k-3, Dater School, grades 4-5, Eric Smith Middle School grades 6-8 and Ramsey High School and is known for its superior school system throughout Bergen County.
Ramsey is celebrating their Centennial Birthday in 2008 ... an important milestone. The Borough is celebrating throughout the year with many events that honor their past, celebrate their present and imagine their future. The citizens of Ramsey want you to know how proud they are of their town that continues to grow and flourish and they invite you to come and see for yourselves.
