The Borough of Ringwood was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1918, from a "portion of the Township of Pompton", as one of three boroughs formed from Pompton Township, joining Bloomingdale and Wanaque, based on the results of a referendum held on March 22, 1918.

Colonists called the local band the Ramapough, and named the Ramapo River and other regional features after them.

Their descendants and Afro-Dutch migrants from New York were among the people who formed the multiracial group known as the Ramapough Mountain Indians, recognized in 1980 as the "Ramapough Lenape Nation" Native American tribe by the state of New Jersey, though the federal government has denied their application for formal recognition.

By 1765, Peter Hasenclever used Ringwood as the center of his ironmaking operations, which included 150,000 acres (610 km2) in New Jersey, New York and Nova Scotia.

[25] A number of well-known ironmasters owned and lived at Ringwood Manor from the 1740s to the late 19th century.

During the American Revolutionary War, Robert Erskine managed ironmaking operations from Ringwood, and became George Washington's first geographer and Surveyor-General, producing maps for the Continental Army.

Ringwood iron was used in the famous Hudson River Chain, and for tools and hardware for the army.

[27][28][29] The town is split by the Wanaque Reservoir, which provides water to urban areas in Northeastern New Jersey.

The 2010 United States census counted 12,228 people, 4,182 households, and 3,413 families in the borough.

[38] As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 12,396 people, 4,108 households, and 3,446 families residing in the borough.

[43] The Highlands Natural Pool is an Olympic size, stream-fed freshwater pool that was carved and founded in 1935 by The Nature Friends, a group of residents who enjoyed working on recreational projects for the local community.

[44] Ringwood operates within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Council-Manager form of municipal government Plan E, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1979.

Forest (R, 2025), Michelle Kerr (R, 2023; elected to serve an unexpired term), Linda M. Schaefer (R, 2023), and John M. Speer (R, 2023).

[3][50][51][52][53][54] In January 2022, the borough council appointed Michelle Kerr to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Michael McCracken until he resigned from office.

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

[64] For the 2024-2025 session, the 26th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Joseph Pennacchio (R, Rockaway Township) and in the General Assembly by Brian Bergen (R, Denville Township) and Jay Webber (R, Morris Plains).

[66] As of 2025[update], Passaic County's Commissioners are: Bruce James (D, Clifton, 2026),[67] Deputy Director Cassandra "Sandi" Lazzara (D, Little Falls, 2027),[68] Director John W. Bartlett (D, Wayne, 2027),[69] Orlando Cruz (D, Paterson, 2026),[70] Terry Duffy (D, West Milford, 2025),[71] Rodney DeVore (D, Paterson, 2027)[72] and Pasquale "Pat" Lepore (D, Woodland Park, 2025).

[84] All of the territory in the protected region is classified as being in the highlands preservation area, and thus subject to additional rules.

[86] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 71.0% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 94.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).

[100] Students in kindergarten through eighth grade are served by the Ringwood Public School District.

[114] St. Catherine of Bologna School, a regional Roman Catholic parochial school operating under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson that served kindergarten through eighth grade, closed in 2018 due to falling enrollment.

These chosen outstanding citizens of the community are honored at a Unity Breakfast that precedes the parade.

The parade ends at the St. Catherine of Bologna Church Parish Center, where the celebration continues with live music and entertainment.

[123] Ringwood had no traffic lights until June 2013, when the town's first one was installed at the intersection of Skyline Drive and Erskine Road.

The 196 offers express bus service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, while the 197 route offers local service, including to the Willowbrook Mall and Willowbrook Park and Ride.