Hackensack, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hackensack, New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
City
|
||
The Bergen County Court House, designed in the American Renaissance style
|
||
|
||
| Motto(s):
A City in Motion
|
||
Location of Hackensack in Bergen County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
<mapframe text="Interactive map of Hackensack, New Jersey" zoom="8" width="250" height="250"> { "type": "ExternalData", "service": "geoshape", "ids": "Q138458" } </mapframe> |
||
 Hackensack, New Jersey
Location in Bergen County, New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  New Jersey |
|
| County | Bergen | |
| Settled | 1665 (as New Barbadoes) | |
| Incorporated | October 31, 1693 (as New Barbadoes Township) | |
| Reincorporated | November 21, 1921 (as a city under current name) | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | 1923 Municipal Manager Law | |
| • Body | City Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.35 sq mi (11.27 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.19 sq mi (10.86 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.16 sq mi (0.41 km2) 3.63% | |
| Area rank | 287th of 565 in state 16th of 70 in county |
|
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 46,030 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
45,736 | |
| • Rank | 45th of 565 in state 1st of 70 in county |
|
| • Density | 10,983.1/sq mi (4,240.6/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 33rd of 565 in state 10th of 70 in county |
|
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07601
|
|
| Area code(s) | 201 | |
| FIPS code | 3400328680 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 885236 | |
| Website | hackensack.org | |
Hackensack is a lively city in Bergen County, New Jersey. It's the most populated town and the main government center for the county. For a long time, it was known as New Barbadoes Township. But people started calling it Hackensack way back in the 1700s.
In 2020, about 46,030 people lived here. This was the highest number of people ever recorded in Hackensack! The city is like a close neighbor to New York City. It's only about 12 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan. You can even see the New York City skyline from some parts of Hackensack.
Hackensack is home to the Metropolitan Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University. This campus sits right on the Hackensack River. The city also used to have the New Jersey Naval Museum. It was famous for its World War II submarine, the USS Ling. A famous astronaut, Wally Schirra, was born in Hackensack.
The city has many different kinds of areas. You'll find a big hospital, tall apartment buildings, and quiet neighborhoods with family homes. There are also older, grand houses and large apartment complexes. Hackensack has industrial areas, parks, and even a nature preserve. It's a busy place with office buildings, a college, and a lively downtown area.
Contents
Discovering Hackensack's Past
Early Days of Hackensack
The first people to live in this area were the Lenape Native Americans. They were also called 'the Delaware Indians'. They lived along a river they called Achinigeu-hach. This name meant "stony ground." Today, we call it the Hackensack River. The city's official seal even shows a picture of Chief Oratam of the Hackensack tribe. Most people believe the city got its name from this Native American tribe.
In the 1630s, people from the Dutch West India Company started settling here. This was part of a larger area called New Netherland. The English later took over in 1667. But they kept the Dutch name for the area. In 1665, Chief Oratam gave land along the Hackensack River to the Dutch.
Becoming a City
In 1675, the area was divided into different districts. Bergen County was one of these. In 1683, Bergen County became an official county. The county's seal shows an agreement between the European settlers and the Native Americans.
New Barbadoes Township was officially created in 1693. In 1700, the village of Hackensack was just a small area. It was around Main Street, near the Courthouse. The township was much larger back then. It included parts of what are now Maywood and Paramus.
In 1710, Hackensack was chosen as the main government center for Bergen County. This was because it was easy for most people in the county to reach. The first courthouse and jail were finished in 1716.
During the American Revolutionary War, George Washington stayed in Hackensack in November 1776. British forces attacked Hackensack in 1780. They burned down the original courthouse.
Over the years, parts of New Barbadoes Township became separate towns. Finally, on November 21, 1921, New Barbadoes Township officially became the city of Hackensack. It took on the name from its original Native American inhabitants.
In 1933, Hackensack started using a "Manager" form of government. This means the city has a council of five people. They choose a mayor from among themselves.
What is Hackensack Like?
Hackensack covers about 4.35 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small part being water. The city shares borders with many other towns in Bergen County. These include Bogota, Maywood, and Teaneck.
Hackensack has many historic homes. These homes were noted in a city plan from 1990. However, there are no special rules to protect their historic look. About one-third of the city is made up of suburban neighborhoods. These areas have single-family houses.
Some smaller communities within Hackensack include Fairmount and North Hackensack.
People Living in Hackensack
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 2,835 | — | |
| 1820 | 2,592 | −8.6% | |
| 1830 | 1,693 | * | −34.7% |
| 1840 | 2,104 | 24.3% | |
| 1850 | 2,265 | 7.7% | |
| 1860 | 3,558 | 57.1% | |
| 1870 | 4,929 | 38.5% | |
| 1880 | 4,248 | * | −13.8% |
| 1890 | 6,004 | 41.3% | |
| 1900 | 9,443 | * | 57.3% |
| 1910 | 14,050 | 48.8% | |
| 1920 | 17,667 | 25.7% | |
| 1930 | 24,568 | 39.1% | |
| 1940 | 26,279 | 7.0% | |
| 1950 | 29,219 | 11.2% | |
| 1960 | 30,521 | 4.5% | |
| 1970 | 36,008 | 18.0% | |
| 1980 | 36,039 | 0.1% | |
| 1990 | 37,049 | 2.8% | |
| 2000 | 42,677 | 15.2% | |
| 2010 | 43,010 | 0.8% | |
| 2020 | 46,030 | 7.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 45,736 | 6.3% | |
| Population sources: 1850–1920 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1880–1930 1900–2020 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
|||
Hackensack is a very diverse city. Many people from all over the world have moved here. In 2013, almost 39% of the people living in Hackensack were born in another country.
More than half of the people in Hackensack speak only English at home. But many also speak Spanish. The number of people from South Asia and East Asia has grown a lot. This includes people from India, the Philippines, and Korea. The number of Hispanic people has also increased.
Schools and Learning
Public Schools
The Hackensack Public Schools teach students from pre-kindergarten all the way to twelfth grade. In the 2021–22 school year, there were 5,483 students in six schools.
The schools include:
- Early Childhood Development Center (for preschool)
- Fairmount Elementary School (PreK-4)
- Fanny Meyer Hillers School (PreK-4)
- Jackson Avenue School (PreK-4)
- Nellie K. Parker School (PreK-4)
- Hackensack Middle School (grades 5-8)
- Hackensack High School (grades 9-12)
Hackensack High School also welcomes students from nearby towns. These include Maywood, Rochelle Park, and South Hackensack.
Students from Hackensack can also attend special high school programs. These are offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools. They have campuses in Hackensack, Teterboro, and Paramus.
Colleges and Universities
Fairleigh Dickinson University has its Metropolitan Campus in Hackensack. Part of it is also in Teaneck.
Bergen Community College has a learning center in Hackensack. It's called the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center. Eastwick College is also located in the city.
Healthcare in Hackensack
Hackensack University Medical Center is the main hospital in the city. It's a big hospital with different parts. These include a children's hospital and a heart hospital. The hospital's cancer center is also located in Hackensack.
Getting Around Hackensack
_from_the_overpass_for_northbound_New_Jersey_State_Route_17_in_Hackensack,_Bergen_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Roads and Bridges
Hackensack has many roads, totaling about 79.69 miles. Major highways like Interstate 80, Route 17, and Route 4 pass through the city. Several bridges cross the Hackensack River. These include the Court Street Bridge and the Anderson Street Bridge.
Trains and Buses
Hackensack has three train stations on NJ Transit's Pascack Valley Line. Two are in Hackensack: Anderson Street station and Essex Street station. These trains go to Hoboken Terminal. From there, you can connect to Penn Station New York.
Many NJ Transit buses also serve the city. They can take you to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Other routes go to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station or to Newark and Jersey City. The Hackensack Bus Terminal is a major stop for many bus routes.
Keeping Hackensack Safe
Firefighters in Hackensack
The Hackensack Fire Department (HFD) has 100 professional firefighters. It was started in 1871. The full-time department began in 1911. They respond to about 7,500 emergency calls every year.
The department has four fire stations across the city. They have many fire trucks and special units. One special unit is part of the Metro USAR Collapse Rescue Strike Team. This team helps with big rescue situations.
Sadly, ten Hackensack firefighters have died while on duty. A tragic fire at a Ford dealership in 1988 caused the deaths of five firefighters.
Ambulance Services
The Hackensack Volunteer Ambulance Corps provides emergency medical help. They work at night and all day on weekends. During the day, the Hackensack University Medical Center's ambulance service helps. Both services are called by MICCOM. This system gives instructions before help arrives.
Fun Places to Visit
The city historian, Albert Dib, leads walking tours. You can learn about historic places in downtown Hackensack.
- The First Dutch Reformed Church is very old. It was built in 1696. It's the oldest church in Bergen County. Many important people are buried there. This includes Enoch Poor, an officer for George Washington.
- The Record newspaper used to be based in Hackensack. It was the largest newspaper in Bergen County.
- The New Jersey Naval Museum was home to the World War II submarine USS Ling. However, the submarine was badly damaged in 2018.
- The Hackensack Cultural Arts Center is a great place for theater. Many local arts groups perform here. The Hudson Shakespeare Company also performs outdoors at Staib Park in the summer.
- The Shops at Riverside is a fancy shopping mall. It has many high-end stores and restaurants. It also has an AMC Theatres movie theater. The mall is known for its beautiful marble floors.
- Hackensack's Main Street is a popular shopping area. It has some famous buildings. The Sears store on Main Street closed in 2020. It had been open since the 1930s.
- The Bergen County Jail is a detention center. It holds prisoners.
- The Johnson Public Library is a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. It opened in 1901.
- Ice House is a big complex with four skating rinks. It opened in 1996. Many hockey teams train here. Olympic figure skaters have also trained at the Ice House.
- Other interesting places include the Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack River County Park, and the Bergen County Court House.
Local Media
Radio station WNYM at 970 AM is licensed to Hackensack. It plays conservative talk radio. The station used to play country music and Top 40 hits. In 1974, it switched to religious broadcasting.
Famous People from Hackensack
Many interesting people have connections to Hackensack. They were either born here, lived here, or spent time here.
- Enzo Amore (born 1986), a former professional wrestler.
- Carol Arthur (1935–2020), an actress in films by Mel Brooks.
- James Black (1800–1872), who created the famous Bowie knife.
- Debby Boone (born 1956), a well-known singer.
- Glenn Britt (1949–2014), a former CEO of Time Warner Cable.
- Hector Luis Bustamante (born 1972), a Colombian-American actor.
- Oleksii Bychenko (born 1988), an Olympic figure skater.
- Cody Calafiore (born 1990), a reality TV star from Big Brother 16.
- Philip Carey (1925–2009), an actor in One Life to Live.
- Vinny Ciurciu (born 1980), an NFL linebacker.
- Dave Davis (1942–2022), a professional bowler.
- Harold Dow (1947–2010), a correspondent on 48 Hours.
- John Fenn (1917–2010), a chemist who won a Nobel Prize.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, a famous author who went to school in Hackensack.
- Jim Finn (born 1976), a fullback for the New York Giants.
- Silvia Fontana (born 1976), an Olympic figure skater for Italy.
- Mike Fratello (born 1947), an NBA coach and TV commentator.
- Doug Glanville (born 1970), a Major League Baseball player.
- David Grisman (born 1945), a mandolin player.
- Bill Hands (1940–2017), a former Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Mark Ingram II (born 1989), a Heisman Trophy winning running back.
- Connor Jaeger (born 1991), an Olympic swimmer.
- Al Jochim (1902–1980), an Olympic gymnast who won two silver medals.
- Eric Karros (born 1967), a Major League Baseball player and TV commentator.
- Hailey Kops (born 2002), an Israeli pair skater.
- Marc Kudisch (born 1966), a stage actor.
- Lauren Lake (born 1969), a lawyer and TV judge.
- Coi Leray (born 1997), a rapper and songwriter.
- Hugh McCracken (1942–2013), a rock guitarist.
- E. Frederic Morrow (c. 1906–1994), the first African American in an executive role at the White House.
- Nellie Morrow Parker (1902–1998), the first African American school teacher in Bergen County.
- William A. Pailes (born 1952), a United States Air Force astronaut.
- Melissa Perello (born 1976), a chef.
- Alice Huyler Ramsey (1886–1983), the first woman to drive across the United States.
- David Remnick (born 1958), a journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize.
- Hezly Rivera (born 2008), an artistic gymnast.
- Wally Schirra (1923–2007), a NASA astronaut and one of the original seven Mercury astronauts.
- Chris Smalls (born 1988), a labor organizer.
- Adel Tankova (born 2000), an Olympic figure skater.
- Joe Lynn Turner (born 1951), a singer.
- Rudy Van Gelder (1924–2016), a famous jazz recording engineer.
- Richard Varick (1753–1831), a lawyer and politician.
- Teresa Weatherspoon (born 1965), a professional basketball player.
- Leslie West (1945–2020), a rock guitarist and singer.
- William B. Widnall (1906–1983), a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 24 years.
- Anna Wessels Williams (1863–1954), a physician and bacteriologist.
- Bill Willoughby (born 1957), one of the first high school players drafted by the NBA.
- Chris Wragge (born 1970), a news anchor for WCBS-TV.
- Ronald Zilberberg (born 1996), an Olympic figure skater.
See also
In Spanish: Hackensack (Nueva Jersey) para niños
