Belleville, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belleville, New Jersey
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Township
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Wesley United Methodist Church
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| Nickname(s):
Cherry Blossom Capital of America
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 Belleville, New Jersey
Location in Essex County, New Jersey
Belleville, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Belleville, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | Essex | |
| Incorporated | April 8, 1839 | |
| Named for | French language for "beautiful city" | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (council–manager) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.37 sq mi (8.71 km2) | |
| • Land | 3.30 sq mi (8.54 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2) 2.05% | |
| Area rank | 319th of 565 in state 14th of 22 in county |
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| Elevation | 161 ft (49 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 38,222 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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37,453 | |
| • Rank | 62nd of 565 in state 7th of 22 in county |
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| • Density | 11,597.1/sq mi (4,477.7/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 29th of 565 in state 5th of 22 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07109
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| Area codes | 862/973 | |
| FIPS code | 3401304695 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1729713 | |
Belleville is a township in Essex County, New Jersey. Its name comes from French, meaning "beautiful town." In 2020, about 38,222 people lived here. This was an increase of over 2,000 people since 2010.
Contents
A Look Back: Belleville's History
Belleville was first called "Second River" or "Washington." In 1797, people decided to rename it "Belleville." It officially became a township on April 8, 1839. This happened when it separated from parts of Bloomfield.
The First Chinatown
In 1870, Belleville became very special. It was the first place on the East Coast of the United States to have a Chinatown. Many Chinese workers came here from the West Coast. They had helped build the Central Pacific Railroad. Even though many parts of the country were not welcoming, Belleville was. These workers later helped start Chinatowns in Newark and New York City.
Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution
In 1994, the U.S. Congress made an important statement. They recognized Belleville as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in the United States. This means that important changes in how things were made began right here.
Famous Music Connections
Belleville is also known for its music history. The famous singer Frankie Valli and his band, The Four Seasons, started here. Another girl group from the late 1950s, The Delicates, also formed in Belleville.
Exploring Belleville's Geography
Belleville covers about 3.37 square miles (8.71 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a small part is water.
Cherry Blossom Capital
Belleville has a special nickname: the Cherry Blossom Capital of America. It has a yearly display of cherry blossoms. This display is even bigger than the famous one in Washington, D.C. It's a beautiful sight to see!
Rivers and Neighbors
The Second River forms part of Belleville's border with Newark. It flows through Branch Brook Park. Belleville shares borders with several other towns. These include Bloomfield, Newark, and Nutley in Essex County. It also borders Lyndhurst and North Arlington in Bergen County, and Kearny in Hudson County.
Who Lives in Belleville?
Belleville is a diverse community. In 2020, the population was 38,222 people. About half of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. The community also includes people who identify as White, Black or African American, Asian, and other races.
Learning in Belleville
The Belleville School District serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. There are 11 schools in the district. In the 2020-21 school year, about 4,548 students attended these schools.
Some of the schools include:
- Hornblower Early Childhood Center (for young children)
- Schools 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 (for elementary grades)
- Belleville Middle School (for grades 6-8)
- Belleville High School (for grades 9-12)
The Belleville Public Library and Information Center has many books and resources. It has over 98,000 books for everyone to enjoy.
Getting Around Belleville
Roads and Bridges
Belleville has many roads for cars and trucks. Major routes like Route 7 and Route 21 pass through the township. The Belleville Turnpike Bridge connects Belleville to North Arlington. In 2013, this bridge was renamed. It is now called the "Lance Corporal Osbrany Montes de Oca Memorial Bridge." This honors a soldier who died while serving in Afghanistan.
Public Transport Options
Public transportation is available in Belleville. The Silver Lake station offers service on the Newark Light Rail. This light rail can take you to Newark Penn Station. NJ Transit also provides bus service to and from Newark on several bus lines.
Cool Places to Visit
- Clara Maass Medical Center: This is a hospital named after Clara Maass. She was a nurse who bravely volunteered for medical experiments.
- Reformed Dutch Church of Second River: This church has a long history. Its first building was built in 1697. More than 60 soldiers from the Continental Army are buried in its cemetery.
- Christ Church Cemetery & Mausoleum: This cemetery started in 1746. It was originally the first Episcopal Church in the area.
Belleville in The Sopranos
Belleville was a filming location for the TV show The Sopranos.
- In one episode, a scene was filmed on the pier by the Passaic River. This pier is used by Belleville High School's crew team.
- Another scene showed a funeral at the Irvine-Cozzarelli Memorial Home. This building is across from Belleville Middle School.
- Even though a character's house was said to be in Nutley, it was actually filmed in Belleville.
Olympic Torch Relay
On June 18, 1996, a special event happened in Belleville. The Olympic Torch Relay passed through the town. The torch was on its way to Atlanta, Georgia, for the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Famous Faces from Belleville
Many talented people have connections to Belleville. Here are a few:
- Russell Baker (1925–2019): A writer who won a Pulitzer Prize.
- Connie Francis (born 1938): A very popular singer.
- Bob Gaudio (born 1942): A singer, songwriter, and producer, known for his work with The Four Seasons.
- Frank Iero (born 1981): A musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist for the band My Chemical Romance.
- Joe Pesci (born 1943): A famous actor.
- Fred Schneider (born 1951): The frontman of the rock band the B-52's.
- Frankie Valli (born 1934): The lead singer of the musical group The Four Seasons.
- Gerard Way (born 1977): A musician and comic book writer, also known as the lead singer of My Chemical Romance.
- Mikey Way (born 1980): A musician, best known as the bassist for My Chemical Romance.
