[22] In 1888, Henry J. Appert, a Swiss immigrant, drained a bog for the cultivation of onions and celery.

The business—Allendale Produce Gardens, or the "celery farm" to locals—supplied wholesale markets and Campbell Soup Company.

[26] Babe Ruth would frequently vacation at the Allendale Hotel, which remains in use as a rooming house.

[1][2] The borough borders the Bergen County municipalities of Mahwah, Ramsey, Saddle River, Waldwick and Wyckoff.

[29][30][31] The 2010 United States census counted 6,505 people, 2,236 households, and 1,798 families in the borough.

[40] As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 6,699 people, 2,110 households, and 1,795 families residing in the borough.

Many rare birds have been observed by ornithologists including bald eagles, common ravens, and pileated woodpeckers.

Scenes from the movie Presumed Innocent, starring Harrison Ford and Bonnie Bedelia, were filmed in Allendale.

[6] The borough form of government used by Allendale 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.

[45][46] The mayor and borough council conduct all of their business during monthly meetings open to the public.

At Workshop meetings, the governing body discusses and debates proposed resolutions, ordinances and other policy matters.

[47] As of 2024[update], the mayor of Allendale is Republican Amy E. Wilczynski, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[3][48][49][50][51][52] In January 2019, the borough council appointed Matthew O'Toole to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that had been held by Ari Bernstein until he resigned to take office as mayor.

[56] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 5th congressional district is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff).

[59] For the 2024–2025 session, the 39th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Holly Schepisi (R, River Vale) and in the General Assembly by Robert Auth (R, Old Tappan) and John V. Azzariti (R, Saddle River).

As of 2025[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[61] Bergen County's Commissioners are: Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. (D, Montvale, 2025),[62] Chair Germaine M. Ortiz (D, Emerson, 2025),[63] Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee, 2026),[64] Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso (D, Mahwah, 2025),[65] Rafael Marte (D, Bergenfield, 2026),[66] Steven A. Tanelli (D, North Arlington, 2027)[67] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, Franklin Lakes, 2027).

[68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75] Bergen County's constitutional officials are: Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale, 2026),[76][77] Sheriff Anthony Cureton (D, Englewood, 2027)[78][79] and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill, 2026).

[83] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 69.7% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 97.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

[108][109] Public school students in Allendale for ninth through twelfth grades attend Northern Highlands Regional High School, which also serves students from Ho-Ho-Kus, Upper Saddle River and some of Saddle River's students (who have the option of attending either Northern Highlands or Ramsey High School, as part of sending/receiving relationships with the two districts).