Greenville, Jersey City facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greenville, Jersey City
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Greenville is located between the Newark Bay and Upper New York Bay
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 Greenville, Jersey City
Location in Hudson County, New Jersey
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Hudson |
| City | Jersey City |
| Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Area code(s) | 201 |
| GNIS feature ID | 876803 |
Greenville is a cool neighborhood located in the southern part of Jersey City, New Jersey. It's found in Hudson County, which is in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Contents
Exploring Greenville's Location
Greenville is a large area. It stretches from the West Side Branch of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail in the north. It goes all the way south to the city line with Bayonne.
This area sits between two bays: the Upper New York Bay and the Newark Bay. If you use the postal code 07305, you are in Greenville.
What is Greenville Like?
The main part of Greenville is mostly homes. You'll see many one- and two-family houses. There are also some smaller apartment buildings.
Important streets here include MLK Drive, Old Bergen Road, and Danforth Avenue.
Parks and Green Spaces
Greenville has many parks where you can relax and play. Some of these parks include Bayside Park and Audubon Park. There's also Fulton Avenue Park and McGovern Park. Columbia Park and Mercer Park are also in the area.
Cochrane Athletic Field is a great spot for sports. In 2020, work began on a new park called Mary McLeod Bethune Park.
Important Places in Greenville
You can find the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Society Museum here. It's located at the Greenville Branch of the Jersey City Free Public Library.
Henry Snyder High School and New Jersey City University are also on Kennedy Boulevard. This is a main road in the district.
Greenville was once home to Greenville Hospital. It closed in 2008 but was later renovated. Now, it's part of Barnabas Health. This group also runs the Jersey City Medical Center.
You can also visit the historic Bayview – New York Bay Cemetery. This cemetery has a special grave for a World War I sailor. It also has the grave of a famous opera singer from the 1800s, Lillian Nordica.
A Look Back in Time: Greenville's History
Greenville has a rich history that dates back centuries.
Early Native American Life
Long ago, the land that became Greenville was home to Native American tribes. These included the Hackensack and Raritan Indians.
They called the area Minkakwa, which meant "a place of good crossing." This was probably because it was an easy path between the two bays. It was a good spot to carry boats or goods across the land.
The first European settlers arrived in 1647. They were from the Netherlands. The area was part of a larger settlement called Pavonia. In 1661, this settlement became known as Bergen.
How Greenville Became a Town
During the time of British rule and early American history, Greenville was part of Bergen Township. In the 1800s, a road called the Jersey City and Bergen Point Plank Road ran through Greenville. Today, this road is called Garfield Avenue.
Greenville became part of Hudson County in 1840. The town grew as a popular suburb for people from New York City.
On April 14, 1863, Greenville Township officially became its own township. This happened by a special law from the New Jersey Legislature. However, it didn't stay independent for long. On February 4, 1873, Greenville joined Jersey City. This made it part of the larger city.
Greenville in the 20th Century
In the 20th century, many working-class families moved to Greenville. These included Irish Catholic families and other groups.
However, the area changed a lot starting in the 1950s. Many factories closed, and independent railroad lines stopped running. This led to big changes in the neighborhood.
Over time, the area east of Kennedy Boulevard became home to many African American families. The area west of Kennedy Boulevard became more diverse. It has a large Filipino population. Greenville also has many Hispanic and Egyptian residents. Some of the older Irish residents still live in the neighborhood too.
Greenville Today: The 21st Century
In 2005, Jersey City put a curfew on businesses in some parts of Greenville. This included areas like Martin Luther King Drive.
New Jersey City University has big plans for the West Side of Greenville. They plan a large expansion. This will include a building for performing arts with two theaters. There will also be shops, a restaurant, and student housing.
During the 2010s, Greenville started to improve. Many long-term residents and businesses returned. The area around Jackson Hill has received a lot of money for new roads and buildings.
Greenville is seen as an affordable place to live. Especially when compared to places like Manhattan or Brooklyn. Many families have moved here. This includes Ultra-Orthodox Jews and young Jewish and Hispanic families. They have bought homes and built a growing community.
Since the mid-2010s, more Hasidic Orthodox Jews have moved to Greenville. They come from Williamsburg, Brooklyn. They are attracted by the lower housing prices.
Greenville continues to become more multicultural.
Getting Around: Public Transportation
Greenville has good public transportation. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has stations here. You can find the Richard Street and Danforth Avenue stations on the east side.
Other light rail stations are on the northern edge of Greenville. These include the MLK Station.
Several New Jersey Transit bus routes also serve this area. The Greenville Bus Garage is on Old Bergen Road. It's one of the biggest in Hudson County. It holds over 120 buses for many New Jersey Transit routes.
Famous People from Greenville
- George McAneny (1869–1953), who was a leader in New York City government. He served as Manhattan Borough President.
