[24] The Lenape Native Americans tilled the soil, hunted in the woods, and fished in the rivers and streams before the Dutch arrived in the early 18th Century.

Early records show that after the English takeover of New Netherland, English Governor Philip Carteret in 1669 granted a real estate speculator named Balthaser De Hart a strip of property which extended east and west from the Hudson River to the Tiena Kill, and north and south from today's Cresskill into Palisades, New York.

The name Closter is of Dutch origin and first appears in a November 18, 1721 deed between the surviving Tappan Patentees and Peter Haring (who owned land in Harrington Park/Norwood east of Tappan Road and between Harrington and Blanche Avenues)—the meets and bounds of the deed begin “Beginning at the bridge which comes out of the Clooster by the Dwars Kill..."[29] (At that time, Closter was considered part of New York State).

In the Dutch language, Klooster or "clooster" means "a quiet place, a monastery or cloister.

"[citation needed] Later, just before the American Revolution, these isolated settlers began to feel the impact of the British Crown in their lives—not only in governmental affairs but also by the influx of English culture on their own language and practices.

[31][32][33] Reminders of Closter's early Dutch history abound - with local streets named after some of the early families (Bogert, Demarest, Durie, Naugle, Parsells, Vervalen, Auryansen, Haring, and Westervelt), and a rich collection of unique Jersey Dutch houses.

[37] Closter was formed as an incorporated municipality by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 1, 1904, from portions of Harrington Township.

[38][39] After the turn of the 20th century, Closter changed from being sprawling estates and farms into an upper middle class suburban town.

[1][2] Closter has a humid subtropical climate similar to the rest of the Middle Atlantic region of the United States.

Closter borders the Bergen County municipalities of Alpine, Demarest, Emerson, Harrington Park, Haworth and Norwood.

[7] The borough form of government used by Closter 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.

[60][61] As of 2024[update], the mayor of Closter Borough is Republican John C. Glidden Jr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[3][62][63][64][65][66] In January 2015, the borough council selected former councilmember Tom Hennessey from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat that had been held by John C. Glidden Jr., expiring in 2016 that became vacant when Glidden took office as mayor.

[67] In 2017, former borough council president Robert Di Dio was appointed to the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy by Governor Chris Christie.

[71] Led by Chief James Buccola, the department includes a captain, three lieutenants, five sergeants, and eleven patrol officers.

[74][75][76] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 5th congressional district is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff).

[79] 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.

[81] Bergen County's Commissioners are: Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. (D, Montvale, 2025),[82] Chair Germaine M. Ortiz (D, Emerson, 2025),[83] Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee, 2026),[84] Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso (D, Mahwah, 2025),[85] Rafael Marte (D, Bergenfield, 2026),[86] Steven A. Tanelli (D, North Arlington, 2027)[87] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, Franklin Lakes, 2027).

[88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95] Bergen County's constitutional officials are: Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale, 2026),[96][97] Sheriff Anthony Cureton (D, Englewood, 2027)[98][99] and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill, 2026).

[103] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 58.9% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 80.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

[138] Temple Emanu-El is a Conservative synagogue that offers weekly services in addition to a Hebrew school for children beginning at age 3.

Closter can also be reached via the Palisades Interstate Parkway and U.S. Route 9W, which pass through adjacent municipalities.