Linden, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Linden, New Jersey
City
Magnaplate building
Seal
Motto(s):  "Big enough to lead, small enough to care"
Location of Linden in Union County highlighted in yellow (left). Inset map: Location of Union County in New Jersey highlighted in black (right).
Census Bureau map of Linden, New Jersey
Linden, New Jersey Location in Union County, New Jersey Show map of Union County, New Jersey Linden, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Linden, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Union
Incorporated	January 1, 1925
Government
• Type	City
• Body	City Council
Area
• Total	11.35 sq mi (29.39 km2)
• Land	10.69 sq mi (27.68 km2)
• Water	0.66 sq mi (1.71 km2)  6.37%
Area rank	199th of 565 in state 2nd of 21 in county
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	43,738
• Estimate  (2023)	43,950
• Rank	52nd of 565 in state 4th of 21 in county
• Density	4,092.3/sq mi (1,580.0/km2)
• Density rank	153rd of 565 in state 13th of 21 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	07036
Area code(s)	908
FIPS code	3403940350
GNIS feature ID	0885278

Linden is a city in southeastern Union County, New Jersey. It is part of the larger New York metropolitan area. Linden is about 13 miles southwest of Manhattan. It also borders Staten Island, a part of New York City, across the Arthur Kill.

In 2020, Linden had a population of 43,738 people. This was an increase of over 3,200 people since 2010.

Linden's History

Linden started as a township on March 4, 1861. It was formed from parts of nearby towns like Elizabeth and Rahway. Over the years, some areas left Linden to form new towns. These included Cranford and Roselle.

Linden officially became a city on January 1, 1925. This happened after people voted for it in 1923. The city's name comes from linden trees. These trees were brought from Germany.

Exploring Linden's Geography

Linden lies west of the Arthur Kill and north of the Rahway River

Linden covers about 11.4 square miles (29.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Several smaller communities are located within Linden. These include Bayway, Grasselli, and Tremley.

Linden shares borders with many other towns. In Union County, it borders Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Rahway, Roselle, and Winfield Township. It also borders Carteret and Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County. Across the Arthur Kill, it borders Staten Island in New York City.

Polish and Polish-American Culture

Linden is known for its Polish cuisine like pierogis

Linden is a center for Polish immigrants. Many businesses in Linden offer Polish food and culture. About 13% of residents have Polish roots. Also, about 15% of people in the city center speak Polish at home.

You can find a large Polish-American grocery store called Pulaski Meats. Two Roman Catholic churches hold services in Polish. One of these is St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church.

Linden hosts an annual Polish Heritage Day Festival. This event showcases Polish food, pottery, dance, and fashion. In 2021, Poland's president, Andrzej Duda, visited Linden's Polish community.

In old Slavic mythology, the linden tree was considered a sacred tree.

Linden's Population and People

Linden is a diverse city with people from many different backgrounds. In 2020, the population was 43,738.

The city has a mix of different racial and ethnic groups. Many residents identify as White, Black or African American, Asian, or Hispanic/Latino. The Hispanic or Latino population has grown significantly over the years.

In 2010, the largest ancestry groups in Linden were Polish, Italian, and Irish. The average household size was about 2.7 people. About 21.8% of the population was under 18 years old.

Linden's Economy

The eastern part of Linden is next to the Arthur Kill. This is a waterway important for moving large amounts of goods in the Port of New York and New Jersey.

Linden is home to the Bayway Refinery, a large oil refining facility. It helps supply gasoline and other products to the New York/New Jersey area. It is one of the biggest refineries on the East Coast.

From 1937 to 2005, Linden had a General Motors car manufacturing plant. This plant made cars like Oldsmobile and Pontiac. During World War II, it also produced airplanes. Most of the plant has now been taken down for new development.

Linden is also home to Merck & Co., a major pharmaceutical company. They have been in the area for over 100 years.

Sunnyside and the Jewish Community

Linden station offers direct trains to Manhattan

The western part of Linden is called Sunnyside. It was named after a former golf club. Sunnyside is a diverse area with people from many backgrounds.

A Modern Orthodox synagogue, Congregation Anshe Chesed, was founded here in 1914. Sunnyside Park is sometimes called the "Shabbos park." This is because families from the Modern Orthodox community meet there on Saturday afternoons.

An eruv connects Sunnyside to nearby towns like Roselle and Elizabeth. This allows members of the Jewish community to carry items on Shabbat. A mikveh, a special ritual bath, was built in 2015.

In recent years, other Hasidic Jewish communities have also grown in Linden. These include Bobov, Rachmastrivka, Pupa, and Satmar communities. In 2022, the chief rabbi of the Satmar community visited Linden for a new school opening.

Local Media and News

Linden has several ways for residents to get local news.

• Union News Daily covers news for Union County, including a special section for Linden.
• TAPInto Linden is a digital news site focused only on Linden news.
• Life in Linden is another local publication.
• LindenTV is the city's own TV channel, available to cable subscribers.
• The City of Linden also shares news and events on its official website.

Larger newspapers like the Courier News and The Star-Ledger also cover Linden. Linden is also the official home for WNJU (channel 47). This is a Spanish-language TV station for the New York area.

Parks and Recreation

Linden offers several parks and recreational spots for its residents.

• Hawk Rise Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary. It was created by the City of Linden and the New Jersey Audubon Society. It is located along the Rahway River.
• John Russell Wheeler Park has the Linden Skatepark for skateboarders. In 2019, a large spray park opened here, replacing an old swimming pool.
• Peach Orchard Park is located behind School #4. It is home to Peach Orchard Brook.
• Warinanco Park is a large county park that connects to Linden.

Education in Linden

Public Schools

The Linden Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The district has 11 schools. In the 2022–23 school year, about 6,125 students were enrolled.

The schools include:

• Eight elementary schools (School No. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) for grades PreK–5.
• Two middle schools (Myles J. McManus Middle School and Joseph E. Soehl Middle School) for grades 6–8.
• Linden High School for grades 9–12.

School No. 5 was recognized in 2020 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. This program honors schools for high student achievement.

Private Schools

Sinai Christian Academy is a private school in Linden. It serves students from Pre-K through 12th grade.

Saints Mary and Elizabeth Academy was a Catholic school that closed in 2014.

Getting Around Linden: Transportation

The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) northbound in Linden

Linden has many roads and highways. The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) runs through the eastern part of the city. Interstate 278 also starts in Linden. Other major roads include U.S. Route 1/9 and Route 27.

Public Transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service in Linden. Buses connect to nearby cities like Elizabeth, Perth Amboy, and Newark. Some routes also go to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

The Linden train station offers direct train rides to Manhattan. Trains go north to New York Penn Station and south towards Trenton.

Airport

Linden Airport is a small airport on the eastern side of the city. It was built in 1942 for the United States Navy. After World War II, the City of Linden took it over. In 1954, it even hosted a NASCAR race!

Newark Liberty International Airport is also very close, about 15 minutes away.

Arts and Culture in Linden

Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade hosts outdoor concerts and other performances. Linden has been home to R&B, funk, and jazz music. Linda Hayes, a famous R&B and jazz singer, was from Linden.

Artist Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt grew up in Linden. He was known for his unique art. The punk hip-hop group Ho99o9 has roots in Linden.

The band 1910 Fruitgum Company, known for bubblegum pop in the 1960s, was formed by five Linden residents. De Luxe Records, a record company known for R&B and early rock, was also formed in Linden.

The Linden Cultural and Heritage Committee organizes fun events. These include craft bazaars, street fairs, and concerts. The Linden Society for Historic Preservation works to protect the city's history.

Linden was a filming location for the movie The Wrestler (2008). Hal Linden, a famous actor from the TV show Barney Miller, chose his stage name after seeing "Linden" on a water tower.

Notable People from Linden

See also

In Spanish: Linden (Nueva Jersey) para niños