Celebrating 100 Years of Clifton

11/27/2020 (Permalink)

When your basement is flooded, time is of the essence. Contact our certified team today for effective water removal efforts.

The Clifton area has steadily grown since its founding in 1917 as a suitable alternative to living in nearby New York City.

In 2017, Clifton celebrated 100 years as a city. This event not only showcased the longevity of the municipality but all of the obstacles and hurdles that officials had to overcome to reach this point. From the earliest co-existence with inhabitants of the Passaic region to the industrial boom that would still see steady growth in population from one decade to the next, there is a lot that even long-time residents of Clifton do not know about the city.

The Growth and Evolution of Clifton

While the city itself was chartered in 1917, documents go back as far as 1679 when settlers were gifted a deed for 11,000 acres of land where Clifton now sits on the Passaic River. White settlers found their way to the region from Holland, Sweden, and other European countries. This foundation for the area's demographic continues to be prevalent in those that have lived in the region for multiple generations.

When the city itself was founded, New Jersey had long since been a state. While no one knows for sure, it is believed that the name Clifton comes from the visible cliffs of Garret Mountain, which sits behind many of the homes constructed along Valley Road. After 50 years, rezoning efforts made it possible for the city to accommodate as much as 130,000 residents in the decades to come. While this has not yet been achieved, the city's dynamic and population continue to change, and the landscape of businesses, manufacturing facilities, and commercial properties also change the same. 

Climate and Conditions for the City

Because of the proximity to significant bodies of water like the Passaic River and even the Hudson River some 12 miles away, there are many weather events and circumstances that can continually impact Clifton homes and businesses. Flooding is one of these situations and can result from post-snowmelt circumstances or hurricane-grade torrential rainfall. Our SERVPRO professionals stay prepared for storm damage emergencies as a large loss recovery team.

The region's climate has always made the soil and area favorable for growing during certain seasons of the year. Unlike tropical climates you might see in the south, Clifton's winters can be bitter cold and ruinous to crops and plant life. While often average temperatures do not fall beneath 24 degrees, cold snaps can potentially damage properties through unexpected effects like freezing pipes.

Shopping and Attractions for Passaic County

Apart from attracting potential homebuyers with a closer commute than many other popular New York City metropolitan area cities and towns, several other attractions and shopping experiences can draw in travelers passing through and tourism to the area. One such location is the Clifton Commons Shopping Center with countless stores, shops, and restaurants for all tastes. Upscale retail locations can also be found at the Promenade Shops.

While much of the region has become less and less the rural countryside that it used to be back when the original 11,000 acres were gifted for settling by the indigenous people, Clifton has two functional farms that continue to produce fresh products. The City Green Farm Eco Center focuses on educated urban communities on the advantages of growing your food and healthy lifestyles. The family-run Ploch's Farm has been operating since 1867, offering fresh products for consumption and fun activities for visitors like picking your own pumpkins from the patch and corn mazes in the appropriate season.

The Allure of NYC and Newark

Much of the attractiveness of Clifton for potential residents is the proximity to New York City. As one of the world's largest cities, New York City has a metropolitan area spanning multiple miles from the heart of boroughs like Manhattan. Only being 12 miles from Midtown, our municipality in Passaic County has become a more affordable and quieter alternative to seeking an apartment, condo, or house within New York City limits. Through state routes 3 and 46, travelers can reach one of the multiple bridges across the Hudson to Manhattan.

In the same sense, those living in Clifton have a short 20-minute commute to Newark to the south. Though, through the manufacturing facilities that Clifton has grown known for, including metals and plastics, less are having to make the commute into the bigger city for work and able to find gainful employment within Passaic County.

Flood Removal Services by Competent SERVPRO Professionals

Flooding is an unfortunate circumstance that many Clifton homeowners must contend with at different points of the year. Whether it is ice damming on the roofs of houses or rising creeks and streams after snow melts or torrential rainfall, the immediate impact of water on a property cannot get ignored. We have a fast and reliable response to begin mitigation services for flood water removal as soon as possible.

Natural flooding often requires specific recovery tools to resolve, many of which must remove both water and any solids or debris that could be contained within it. Flood removal in the basement of Clifton homes is often where natural floodwater can collect. Self-priming trash pumps are typically the suitable choice, as they can have a higher head and discharge capability than many of the truck-mount extractors despite their lessened output.

One of the advantages of choosing our SERVPRO professionals to help with post-flooding recovery in your home is our in-house general contractor knowledge. These professionals on our roster can help in multiple ways to begin repairing and restoring your home alongside vital mitigation efforts like extraction and debris removal. Our technicians can help with various emergency services, including:

• Structural repairs
• Tarping
• Board-up
• Content inventory and relocation
• Controlled demolition

Despite how devastating flood losses can be, having dedicated and experienced professionals that can help you through the restoration process is valuable. Our goal is to keep your out of pocket expenses as minimal as possible, and that begins with our fast response after you call our SERVPRO of Clifton team at (973) 928-3705.