Bloomingdale is a small borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, in the state's northwestern corner. With roughly 7,800 residents, it is one of several communities formed in 1918 when Pompton Township was divided into three new towns, the other two being Wanaque and Ringwood. The borough sits along the Pequannock River, which has shaped its geography and its history. The area's story begins with the Minisink Trail, a long-traveled Native American path that followed the river and later became the route of the borough's main street. European settlement and industry grew along the Pequannock River beginning about the middle of the 19th century, and a business district developed along its banks. Like most of northeastern New Jersey, Bloomingdale is today a suburb of New York City, though it retains links to its past through historic churches, schools, and a small-town civic identity. Bloomingdale's residential character is modest and suburban, with older homes near the river and the borough's commercial spine, surrounded by the wooded hills and lake country of northern Passaic County. Its location near Wanaque, Ringwood, and the Ramapo Mountains places it at the edge of the New York metro's more rural landscape. Public education is provided by the Bloomingdale School District, and landmarks such as the Samuel R. Donald School recall the borough's earlier years. The community's two historic churches, one Methodist and one Baptist, also speak to its 19th-century roots. Bloomingdale suits residents seeking a quiet, small borough with river-valley character and access to the outdoor recreation of northern New Jersey, while remaining within the orbit of New York City.