Hillsdale is a borough in the northern portion of Bergen County, New Jersey, in the Pascack Valley of the New York City metropolitan area. It sits along the Pascack Brook, which gave the surrounding valley its name, and is bordered by neighboring communities including Westwood and Woodcliff Lake. The borough's history is inseparable from the railroad: the first train entered Hillsdale on Christmas Day 1869, and the arrival of the New Jersey and New York Railroad the following year transformed a scattering of farms and country stores into a proper commuter town. The 1870 station house, built as the railroad's terminus and headquarters, remains standing and is listed on both the state and federal registers of historic places. For much of the early twentieth century, Hillsdale retained a rural character, with farming as a principal occupation alongside commuting to jobs in New York City, Jersey City, and Paterson. Over the decades it matured into a residential Bergen County suburb, valued for its train access, its local schools, and its tree-lined, single-family-home streets. Today Hillsdale is a stable, family-oriented borough of about 10,000 residents. Its school system operates two elementary schools and a middle school, with students continuing on to Pascack Valley High School, part of the regional district that bears the valley's name. The Broadway corridor serves as the town's commercial spine, lined with shops, markets, and a varied local restaurant scene. Hillsdale suits households seeking a classic North Jersey suburban lifestyle—good schools, a walkable center, county parks, and a direct rail commute—within the broader New York City orbit. Wood Dale County Park, within the borough, provides athletic fields, a dog park, and fishing, while nearby Pascack Brook and Saddle River county parks extend the outdoor options along the valley's waterways. The borough's recreation department and community programs round out a close-knit, family-friendly environment.