An Abridged History of North Bergen, NJ

The car accident attorneys in North Bergen, NJ at NJ Injury Guys offer the following details of the history and highlights of the community for your reading enjoyment.

North Bergen

The township of North Bergen is situated in the northern section of Hudson County in the state of New Jersey. The 3,564.8-acre township includes the neighborhoods of Racetrack Section, Bergenwood, New Durham, Woodcliff, Babbit, Bulls Ferry, and Meadowview. The main roadways in the area are Tonnelle Avenue, John F. Kennedy Boulevard, West Side Avenue, and the New Jersey Turnpike. The township includes 281.6 acres of water that consists of Cromakill Creek, Paunpeck Creek, and Woodcliff Lake, in addition to its waterfront property on the Hudson River. 

History

The Lenape Native American Indian tribes were the first to inhabit the area, followed by the Dutch settlers. The area was repurchased by the Director-General of New Netherland, Peter Stuyvesant, in 1658. He permitted the colony of Bergen to be established in 1660. However, just four years later, the British would take control of Fort Amsterdam along with the colony. They would form the state's first four counties that included Bergen and Hudson, in 1682. 

The region was known as North Hudson as it experienced a surge of immigration and urbanization during the late 19th century. Many new towns were formed, and borders were moved several times. Seven cemeteries were established along the Hudson Palisades. This was more than any other community in the county. Despite being named and designated for other towns, they were all positioned in North Bergen due to the lack of land in the other areas. Among these include: 

• Weehawken Cemetery
• Hoboken Cemetery
• Macphelah Cemetery
• Flower Hill Cemetery
• Grove Church Cemetery
• Palisades Cemetery

Neighborhood

The area is home to James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park. The park, formerly the North Hudson Park, was renamed in honor of the local boxing hero James J. Braddock. Braddock won the world heavyweight championship in1935 while a resident of the neighborhood. It was said to be one of the most remarkable upsets in boxing history. The movie Cinderella Man, starring Russell Crowe, portrays the life of Braddock. 

Notable People

The area has many notable people that have either been residents or were born within the township, including: 

• Odell Beckham Jr. - wide receiver for the New York Giants
• Coco Austin - actress, dancer, model, and wife of rapper/actor Ice-T
• Ice-T - rap music pioneer and actor
• James L. Brooks - television and film director, best known for his work with The Simpsons and Terms of Endearment

Demographics

In 2010 the township's population was 60,773, which consisted of 22,062 households and 14,539 families. This was an increase of 4.6% from 2000 following an outstanding increase of 20.0% from 1990 to 2000. The racial makeup of the community was the following: 

• 66.98% white 
• 4.04% African American
• 68.40% Hispanic or Latino
• 0.88% Native American
• 6.55% Asian
• 0.08% Pacific Islander
• 16.63% other races
• 4.84% two or more races

The income per capita for the neighborhood was $20,058, with men averaging a median income of $35,626 versus $29,067 for the women. The breakdown of occupations held by the working townspeople was the following:

• 13.71% office and administrative support roles
• 11.60% sales and service jobs
• 6.31% food industry positions

Continue reading along: A Quick History of Racetrack Section, NJ

Our Local Office

If you have been involved in a motorcycle or car accident, let our experienced North Bergen, NJ car accident attorneys at NJ Injury Guys explain your legal options. Contact our legal firm for a free case evaluation today.

NJ Injury Guys
2811 Bergenline Ave, 2nd Fl,
Union City, NJ 07087
(551) 273-4865