[23] Originally inhabited during the pre-Columbian era by the Lenape Native American tribe, the region surrounding Waldwick was first explored by Europeans when a Dutch trading expedition landed near there in 1610.

With the creation of the Nieuw Amsterdam colony in 1624, the present site of the borough became a Dutch possession along with the rest of northeastern New Jersey.

With the annexation of Nieuw Amsterdam by the English in 1664 came a nearly instant increase in immigration to the region and the development of several settlements in and around the present borders of the borough.

The area's population grew significantly after the Erie Railroad established a train station.

[24] The "Boroughitis" phenomenon that swept through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone, hit Orvil Township particularly hard, resulting in the formation of five new boroughs created from the nascent township, including Montvale and Woodcliff (now Woodcliff Lake) on August 31, 1894, Allendale on November 10, 1894, Saddle River on November 20, 1894, and Upper Saddle River formed on November 22, 1894.

[25] On April 7, 1919, a council of citizens voted to incorporate as the borough of "Waldwick", from the remaining portions of Orvil Township.

[26] Various derivations of the borough's name have been offered, including one that "Waldwick" is Old English, from "wald" (forest) and "wick" (settlement or place).

[2][3] The borough is surrounded by the Bergen County municipalities of Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Midland Park, Ridgewood, Saddle River and Wyckoff.

[citation needed] The 2010 United States census counted 9,625 people, 3,420 households, and 2,681 families in the borough.

The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council.

[43][44][45] As of 2023[update], the mayor of Waldwick is Republican Thomas A. Giordano, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.

Members of the borough council (with party affiliation and term-end year listed in parentheses) are Council President Paul Schatz (R, 2023), Kathleen E. Cericola (R, 2024), Michael F. Ritchie Jr. (R, 2024), Don Sciolaro (R, 2025), Theresa Sherman (R, 2023) and Michele S. Weber (R, 2025).

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

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

[58] Bergen County's Commissioners are: Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. (D, Montvale, 2025),[59] Chair Germaine M. Ortiz (D, Emerson, 2025),[60] Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee, 2026),[61] Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso (D, Mahwah, 2025),[62] Rafael Marte (D, Bergenfield, 2026),[63] Steven A. Tanelli (D, North Arlington, 2027)[64] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, Franklin Lakes, 2027).

[65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72] Bergen County's constitutional officials are: Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale, 2026),[73][74] Sheriff Anthony Cureton (D, Englewood, 2027)[75][76] and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill, 2026).

[80] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 65.2% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 87.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

[96] Students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade are educated in the Waldwick Public School District.

Connections are available at the Hoboken Terminal to other NJ Transit rail lines, the PATH train at the Hoboken PATH station, New York Waterways ferry service to the World Financial Center and other destinations along with Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service.