Guttenberg, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guttenberg, New Jersey
Town
The Galaxy Towers from the Hudson River
Seal
Guttenberg, New Jersey Location in Hudson County, New Jersey Show map of Hudson County, New Jersey Guttenberg, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Guttenberg, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Hudson
Incorporated	March 9, 1859
Named for	Johannes Gutenberg
Government
• Type	Town
• Body	Town Council
Area
• Total	0.24 sq mi (0.62 km2)
• Land	0.19 sq mi (0.50 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)  20.00%
Area rank	557th of 565 in state 11th of 12 in county
Elevation	194 ft (59 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,017
• Estimate  (2023)	11,365
• Rank	211th of 565 in state 11th of 12 in county
• Density	62,264.2/sq mi (24,040.3/km2)
• Density rank	1st of 565 in state 1st of 12 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	07093
Area code(s)	201
FIPS code	3401728650
GNIS feature ID	0885235

Guttenberg (/ˈɡʌtənbɜːrɡ/ gut-ƏN-burg) is a town in the northern part of Hudson County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In the 2020 Census, it was the most densely populated incorporated municipality in the United States, as well as one of the most densely populated municipalities worldwide, with 57,116 inhabitants per square mile (22,053/km²) of land area. Only four blocks wide, Guttenberg has been variously ranked as the ninth-smallest municipality in the state (based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau) or as the state's seventh-smallest municipality (based on data from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection).

As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 12,017, an increase of 841 (+7.5%) from the 2010 census count of 11,176, which in turn reflected an increase of 369 (+3.4%) from the 10,807 counted in the 2000 census. As of the 2010 Census, almost one-fifth of the town's population resided in the Galaxy Towers, a trio of residential skyscrapers overlooking the Hudson River.

The current population growth and density in Guttenberg represents a significant change since 1983, when it was described by The New York Times, as "an old community of two-story row houses, small stores and light industry." Based on data from the 2017 Population Estimates Program showing that the town had a population density of 58,800 inhabitants per square mile (22,700/km²), the highest in the state, Dave Sheingold of Northjersey.com described Guttenberg as "America's most crowded place".

History

A 2009 sign on Boulevard East advertising the town's 150th anniversary. In the background is one of the three towers of the Galaxy apartments.

Guttenberg was formerly a farm owned by William Cooper, sold in 1853 to a group of New Yorkers, who had formed the Weehawken Land and Ferry Association. Like nearby Union Hill, it was subdivided and lots were sold mostly to Germans. The company ran two ferries, the Hultz and the Flora, which crossed the Hudson from the landings at the foot of Bulls Ferry Road, Pleasant Valley, Fort Lee, and Spring Street in Manhattan.

Guttenberg was formed as a town on March 9, 1859, from portions of North Bergen Township, but remained as a part of the township that was not fully independent. Guttenberg became part of Union Township when it was formed on February 28, 1861, and became fully independent as of April 1, 1878. The municipality takes its name from Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the European version of the printing press, though other sources indicate that the name derives from "good village" in German.

Galaxy Towers, developed by Prudential Insurance Company, were built in the late 1970s on Boulevard East. The three octagonal skyscrapers rise 415 feet (126 m) and contain 1,075 apartments.

Geography

Guttenberg is located atop the Hudson Palisades, south of Woodcliff and the Racetrack Section in North Bergen and north of West New York. To the east the town shares a border the New York City borough of Manhattan (Upper West Side) in the Hudson River. Its western border is Kennedy Boulevard. Bergenline Avenue, the commercial corridor of North Hudson, runs north and south through the town, and is the heart of "Havana on the Hudson".

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 0.24 square miles (0.62 km²), including 0.19 square miles (0.50 km²) of land and 0.05 square miles (0.12 km²) of water (20.00%). The town is four blocks long, and takes less than a minute to drive through.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 11,176 people, 4,473 households, and 2,684 families in the town. The population density was 57,116.0 per square mile (22,052.6/km²). There were 4,839 housing units at an average density of 24,730.2 per square mile (9,548.4/km²). The racial makeup was 67.44% (7,537) White, 4.80% (537) Black or African American, 0.91% (102) Native American, 7.32% (818) Asian, 0.04% (4) Pacific Islander, 14.25% (1,593) from other races, and 5.23% (585) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 64.83% (7,245) of the population.

Of the 4,473 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18; 37.6% were married couples living together; 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 40.0% were non-families. Of all households, 32.5% were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.12.

20.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $49,981 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,219) and the median family income was $53,945 (+/− $9,457). Males had a median income of $50,227 (+/− $8,459) versus $32,089 (+/− $6,483) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,239 (+/− $8,416). About 14.8% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Portions of the town are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. Guttenberg was selected in 1996 as one of a group of seven zones added to participate in the program. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the UEZ, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the 6+5⁄8% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants. Established in May 1996, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in May 2027. Areas included in the Guttenberg UEZ are:

• Bergenline Avenue – 68th Street to 71st Street
• Park Avenue – 68th Street to 71st Street
• 70th Street – Park Avenue to Bergenline Avenue
• 69th Street – Park Avenue to Boulevard East
• 69th Street to 71st Street – Boulevard East
• 70th Street to 71st Street – Broadway

Education

Anna L. Klein School of the Guttenberg Public School District

For pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, public school students from Guttenberg attend the Anna L. Klein School as part of the Guttenberg Public School District. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 920 students and 92.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.9:1. The principal of Anna L. Klein School is Keith Petry.

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend North Bergen High School in North Bergen, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the North Bergen School District. As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 2,316 students and 164.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

Transportation

Roads and highways

County Route 505 in Guttenberg

As of May 2010^[update], the town had a total of 4.39 miles (7.07 km) of roadways, of which 3.95 miles (6.36 km) were maintained by the municipality and 0.44 miles (0.71 km) by Hudson County.

The only significant roads directly serving Guttenberg are county highways. County Route 501 follows Kennedy Boulevard along the town's western border. County Route 505 follows River Road on the east side of town. Both roads are oriented north–south. Boulevard East passes through the town atop the Palisades.

Interstate 95 (the New Jersey Turnpike), U.S. Route 1/9 and New Jersey Route 495 are major highways located in adjacent North Bergen.

Public transportation

NJ Transit (NJT) bus service is available to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and Bergen County destinations on the 128, 154, 156, 158, 159, 165, 166, 168 routes. Service north to Fort Lee and the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal is available via the 181 and 188 routes. Hudson County local service is provided on the 22, 23, 84/86, 88 and 89 routes. NJT bus lines are augmented by privately run jitney service.

Ferry service to West Midtown Ferry Terminal in Manhattan is provided by NY Waterway. To the south, at Weehawken Port Imperial. To the north, Edgewater Landing is located on River Road at the intersection of Route 5.

Notable people

People who were born in or residents of Guttenberg include:

• Troy Archer (1955–1979), defensive tackle who played three seasons in the National Football League for the New York Giants
• Steve Carell (born 1962), film and television actor, lived in Guttenberg during his time on The Daily Show
• Melissa Fumero (born 1982), actress and director known for portraying Amy Santiago on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Adriana Cramer on One Life to Live
• Joseph Rudolph Grimes (1923–2007), politician in Liberia who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1960 to 1972
• Stephen Ledogar (1929–2010), ambassador and diplomat
• William Oberhardt (1882–1958), artist, portrait painter, illustrator and sculptor
• John Scarne (1903–1985), magician and book author who was particularly adept at playing card manipulation
• Jane C. Wright (1919–2013), pioneering cancer researcher and surgeon noted for her contributions to chemotherapy

See also

In Spanish: Guttenberg (Nueva Jersey) para niños