Ever wonder how a small borough could be home to so much sports history? We are standing in East Rutherford. This borough in Bergen County has a fascinating story to tell.
East Rutherford is an inner-ring suburb of New York City. It sits just 7 miles west of Midtown Manhattan. East Rutherford has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century.
Let’s jump back to April 17, 1889. A portion of Union Township became Boiling Springs Township. The new township got its name from a local spring. Then, on March 28, 1894, something special happened. The Borough of East Rutherford was created. This happened after a referendum the day before. Boiling Springs Township was dissolved. The borders stayed the same but the name and government changed. East Rutherford was the second borough formed during the “Boroughitis” phenomenon. 26 boroughs formed in Bergen County in 1894 alone.
East Rutherford is more than just history. It’s a place of constant growth. The 2020 United States census recorded a population of 10,022. That’s an increase of 1,109 from 2010. The borough continues to evolve.
East Rutherford is known for the Meadowlands Sports Complex. This complex includes MetLife Stadium and the Meadowlands Arena. Giants Stadium used to be here too. The arena once hosted the New Jersey Devils and the New Jersey Nets. It also hosted college basketball games and concerts.
MetLife Stadium is home to the New York Giants and New York Jets. East Rutherford hosted Super Bowl XLVIII. This made it the smallest city to ever host a Super Bowl. East Rutherford will host games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This includes the final at MetLife Stadium. It will be called New York New Jersey Stadium for the event.
Did you know that East Rutherford was once home to five professional sports teams at the same time? It is the only municipality with fewer than 10,000 residents to achieve this. It is also the smallest city to host any professional sports team within its limits.
East Rutherford is also home to American Dream Meadowlands. This is a large shopping and entertainment complex. It opened on October 25, 2019. It was originally named “Xanadu”.
East Rutherford offers a blend of community. The East Rutherford School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. High school students attend Becton Regional High School.
East Rutherford provides essential services to its residents. The East Rutherford Police Department offers emergency and protective services. The East Rutherford Fire Department is an all-volunteer fire department.
East Rutherford connects to the wider world through various transportation options. State Routes 17, 120, and 3 all pass through here. Interstate 95, also known as the New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur, also serves East Rutherford.
East Rutherford has a station on NJ Transit’s Bergen County Line. The Meadowlands station provides service to the Meadowlands Sports Complex.
East Rutherford has been home to many notable people. This includes actress Carol Arthur and sports broadcaster Dick Vitale.
East Rutherford has evolved from Boiling Springs Township to a dynamic borough. It’s a place of sports, entertainment, and community. It stands as a testament to the “Boroughitis” phenomenon of the late 19th century. East Rutherford continues to make its mark on New Jersey.