Bergen Section, Jersey City facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bergen Section
Restored Victorian mansions on Bergen Avenue
Bergen Section Location in Hudson County, New Jersey
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Hudson
City	Jersey City
Elevation	85 ft (26 m)
Area code(s)	201
GNIS feature ID	882003

The Bergen Section is a cool neighborhood in Jersey City, New Jersey. It's located around Kennedy Boulevard. This area stretches between Saint Peter's College and Communipaw Avenue. It's part of the larger Bergen-Lafayette area.

The name "Bergen" is used a lot in Hudson County. It comes from the very first settlement here, called Bergen. That original settlement was founded way back in 1661.

Building on what was then Hudson Boulevard during residence of Mayor Hague

Kennedy Boulevard, a main road, opened in 1896. It became a busy part of the route of the Lincoln Highway for early cars. Bergen Avenue is another important street. It runs south from Journal Square along a hill called Bergen Hill. Monticello Avenue is a shopping street. It has many old buildings with shops. The West Bergen neighborhood is also nearby.

This area still has a lot of its old charm. It was once a top residential spot in the 1900s.

Exploring Bergen Section's Architecture

You can find many different building styles here. Look for 19th-century rowhouses on the main streets. There are also beautiful Victorian and Edwardian mansions. Many apartment buildings were built before World War II. They went up during a time of big growth in the 1920s and 1930s. Some even have a cool Art Deco style.

One famous building is The Hague. This was the home of Frank Hague, a well-known mayor of Jersey City. Other important places include the Fairmount Apartments. You can also see Temple Beth-El and the old Jersey City YMCA.

Lincoln Park and Its Famous Statue

At the entrance to Lincoln Park, you'll find a statue called Lincoln the Mystic. It shows a seated Abraham Lincoln. The famous artist James Earle Fraser created it. Lincoln Park is one of the biggest green spaces in Hudson County. It's a great place to relax and play.

West Bergen Historic District

Edmund Miller Library, formerly Bergen Branch

In 1997, a part of this neighborhood was recognized as special. The New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office listed it as the West Bergen Historic District. This means it's important for its history.

In 2011, the New Jersey Historic Trust gave money to study the area. They wanted to see if it could become a federal historic district. This would give it even more protection. The area has about 300 to 400 important buildings. Many are large homes, different from other historic areas in Downtown Jersey City. In 2014, a larger area was suggested. It was called the West Bergen-East Lincoln Park Historic District. The city approved this in June 2015.

Getting Around: Transportation in Bergen Section

Jersey City and Bergen horse-drawn tram, 1887

The Bergen Section has many ways to get around. Buses run along the main streets, connecting you to other parts of Jersey City and beyond.

• Monticello Avenue:
  • NJT 87 buses go south to Greenville and north to Journal Square and Hudson Place (Hoboken).
• Bergen Avenue:
  • Bergen Avenue local buses travel south to Greenville and north to Journal Square.
• Kennedy Boulevard:
  • NJT 10 buses go south to Greenville/Bayonne and north to Journal Square.
  • NJT 119 buses go south to Bayonne and north to Journal Square. Some continue to Jersey City Heights and Port Authority Bus Terminal.
• West Side Avenue:
  • NJT 80 buses go south to Greenville/Bayonne and north to Journal Square and Exchange Place.
  • West Side Avenue local buses go south to Droyer's Point and Hudson Mall. They go north to Journal Square.
  • Crosstown service buses run along West Side Avenue and Montgomery Street. They connect to McGinley Square and Exchange Place.