Edgewater is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, set on the Hudson River directly across from Manhattan, beneath the dramatic cliffs of the Palisades. Incorporated in 1894, the borough was shaped first by industry and later by a sweeping residential transformation that turned its waterfront into one of New Jersey's most recognizable high-rise corridors. The population is about 14,800. For much of the twentieth century, Edgewater's riverfront was devoted to heavy industry. Beginning in the late twentieth century, that industrial land was redeveloped into condominiums, rental apartments, and townhouses, a change so pronounced that the borough is now widely grouped with the Hudson River "Gold Coast." The shift brought new residents, lower crime, and a distinctly urban-suburban character, with newer riverfront buildings on the east side of River Road and older single-family streets toward the Palisades on the west. The borough's geography is compact and linear: Edgewater runs along roughly 1.5 miles of waterfront, with River Road as its main artery and the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway threading along the shore. Views of the Manhattan skyline define the setting, and the Palisades rise immediately behind the town. Transportation is a central reason people choose Edgewater. The NY Waterway ferry landing at 989 River Road offers direct service to Midtown Manhattan, and NJ Transit bus routes provide additional commuter links. The commute across the river is among the shortest in Bergen County, and the borough's location also offers quick access to the George Washington Bridge and the Lincoln Tunnel approaches. Shopping and dining are concentrated along River Road and at landmark destinations such as Mitsuwa Marketplace, a large Japanese food hall and market that draws visitors from across the region. Local schools are part of the Edgewater School District, which operates George Washington School and Eleanor Van Gelder School for elementary grades, with older students continuing in the neighboring Leonia district. Recreation runs along the water. The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway provides walking and cycling with skyline views, and the Palisades Interstate Park — a 2,500-acre preserve with cliffs, trails, and shoreline — lies immediately north. Edgewater is a Tree City USA community, and its parks and riverfront promenades anchor the borough's outdoor life.