Bergen City, New Jersey facts for kids
Bergen was a city that existed in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, from 1855 to 1870. It was an important part of the area's history before it became part of Jersey City.
Contents
A Brief History of Bergen City
How Bergen Became a Town
Bergen started out as a town. The New Jersey Legislature (which is like the state's government) made a law on March 24, 1855, that officially created the town of Bergen. It was formed from parts of an older area called Bergen Township.
A few years later, in 1862, the town of Bergen grew even bigger. It took over the remaining parts of Bergen Township. This meant that the original township no longer existed, and all its land became part of the town of Bergen.
From Town to City
Then, on April 14, 1863, some parts of the town of Bergen were used to create a new area called Greenville Township. This shows how towns and cities often changed their shapes and sizes back then.
Bergen became even more important on March 11, 1868, when it was officially changed from a town into the City of Bergen. This change meant it had new boundaries and a different kind of government. The city's borders stretched from the Hackensack River all the way to New York Bay, following important landmarks like the New Jersey railroad tracks.
Becoming Part of Jersey City
The City of Bergen didn't last for very long as a separate city. On May 2, 1870, both Bergen City and another nearby city called Hudson City were joined with Jersey City. This process is called "annexation," which means one city officially becomes part of another, usually larger, city. After this, Bergen City was no longer a separate city but became a neighborhood within Jersey City.
Where Was Bergen City?
Today, if you look at a map of Jersey City, the area that used to be Bergen City is roughly where you'd find the southern part of Journal Square and the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhoods. Even though it's not a separate city anymore, its name lives on in these areas.
