Park Ridge is a borough in the Pascack Valley region of Bergen County, New Jersey, situated about 25 miles northwest of Manhattan and less than two miles from the New York state line. At the 2020 census its population was 8,883, the highest decennial count in the borough's history, within a land area of roughly 2.6 square miles. The community's identity is rooted in education and an independent spirit. Park Ridge built its first schoolhouse in 1808, and for much of the twentieth century Park Ridge High School operated as a regional school serving students from neighboring Hillsdale, Montvale, and Woodcliff Lake until the Pascack Valley Regional High School opened in 1955. When the regional district was later formed, Park Ridge chose to maintain its own K–12 system, and today the borough's public schools — anchored by a highly ranked Park Ridge High School — remain a central source of civic pride. Commuting is convenient. NJ Transit's Pascack Valley Line stops at the Park Ridge station with service toward Hoboken and connections to New York, and Coach USA and Rockland buses provide additional service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Major highways, including the Garden State Parkway and Route 17, are nearby. Recreation is another defining feature. The borough's recreation department runs an active slate of programs and events, from summer concerts and fireworks to a car show and seasonal parades, while parks such as Atkins Glen and the nearby Pascack Brook County Park offer wooded trails and green space. With its strong schools, parkland, walkable downtown along Kinderkamack Road, and easy access to New York, Park Ridge remains a popular choice for families and professionals in Bergen County.