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Leonia is a Borough located in Bergen County , New Jersey . As of the United States 2000 Census , the borough had a total population of 8,914. It is located near the western approach to the George Washington Bridge . Leonia was formed as the result of a referendum passed on December 5 , 1894 , from portions of Ridgefield Township . "History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630-1923;" p. 371. GEOGRAPHY Leonia is located at 40°51'48" North, 73°59'18" West (40.863413, -73.988273). According to the United States Census Bureau , the borough has a total area of 4.2 Km&2 (1.6 Mi&2 ). 3.9 km&2 (1.5 mi&2) of it is land and 0.3 km&2 (0.1 mi&2) of it is water. The total area is 7.41% water. DEMOGRAPHICS As of the Census of 2000, there were 8,914 people, 3,271 households, and 2,436 families residing in the borough. The Population Density was 2,279.3/km&2 (5,921.3/mi&2). There were 3,343 housing units at an average density of 854.8/km&2 (2,220.6/mi&2). The racial makeup of the borough was 65.74% White , 2.27% African American , 0.09% Native American , 26.06% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 3.20% from Other Races , and 2.64% from two or more races. 12.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 3,271 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were Married Couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.20. In the borough the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males. The median income for a household in the borough was $72,440, and the median income for a family was $84,591. Males had a median income of $55,156 versus $38,125 for females. The Per Capita Income for the borough was $35,352. 6.5% of the population and 5.0% of families were below the Poverty Line . 9.0% of those under the age of 18 and 1.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. HISTORY GOVERNMENT Local government Leonia was incorporated in 1894 under the Borough form of government. Under this form of government, voters throughout the community elect the Mayor and six council members “at-large.” Council terms are three years, while the Mayor’s term is four years. Two council seats come up for election each year. By state statute, the Mayor is the head of the municipal government. He or she makes all appointments (most are subject to Council confirmation), and is an “ex officio” member of all Council Committees. In addition, the Mayor has the authority to veto all or part of a new ordinance if it is adopted by the Council. The Mayor presides at all meetings of the Council, but does not vote except in the event of a tie. The members of the Council serve as the legislative body of the municipality. They create and pass the annual operating and capital budgets, and have the authority to enact local ordinances that create or change laws within the Borough of Leonia. In addition to attending two Council meetings per month, each Councilperson serves on a number of Council committees and as liaison and / or Commissioner to various Borough organizations. Unlike the elected officials in most other municipalities, the Mayor and Council members in Leonia receive no compensation for their efforts in governing the town. The , 2006 Federal, state and county representation Leonia is in the Ninth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 37th Legislative District. EDUCATION The , 2006 The district has 175 classroom teachers and 23 educational support personnel. The cost per pupil in 2003-2004 was $10,730 as compared to a state average of $10,621. Average class size in all 3 schools is 21 students. The budget for 2005-2006 is $21,454,000. Schools in the district are:
RECREATION Leonia is home to the Players Guild of Leonia , which operates as the oldest continuing theatre troupe in the state of New Jersey, and is one of the oldest theatre guilds in the United States with continuous performances since 1919. Performances have included comedies, tragedies, classics, and musicals. The Guild's production of '' One Mad Night '' in 1940 was the first three act play performed on television, when it was broadcast on WPTZ , in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . In 1963 the Children's Show was instituted and continues each spring. Between 1968 and 1998, the Guild produced Theatre in the Park. Since 2002, the Players' Guild of Leonia has produced a Playwright's Showcase featuring original scripts. The Guild presently operates out of the historic Civil War Drill Hall Theatre on Grand Avenue which is leased from the borough. In addition to the Players Guild of Leonia, Leonia has five public recreational areas in its square-mile town. Of the five areas, only the Leonia Pool requires membership fee. The recreation areas include Wood Park, located on the corner of Broad Avenue and Fort Lee Road; Sylvan Park and the Leonia Pool, both are on Grand Avenue, near Sylvan Avenue; the Recreational Center on Broad Avenue that offers an indoor basketball court; and lastly, Overpeck Park, which is a Bergen County park that is located in Leonia, also home of the Bergen County 9/11 Memorial. NOTABLE LEONIANS During much of the 20th century Leonia's location, small size, and culture attracted a large number of academics and artists of all kinds. For this reason Leonia is sometimes referred to as "the Athens of New Jersey". In 1890, landowners began marketing plots in Leonia to professors at nearby Columbia University . Another example is the opening in 1915 of the Leonia School of Illustration by Harvey Dunn , and the artists' colony that subsequently emerged over the next decade. Some notable people who lived in Leonia during part or all of their career:
Some notable people who grew up in Leonia:
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