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List of Hudson County, New Jersey placename etymologies facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This article explores the interesting stories behind the names of places in Hudson County, New Jersey. You'll learn where towns, rivers, and streets got their names, from ancient Native American words to names honoring important people and historical events.

Towns and Cities

Hudson County is home to many towns and cities, called municipalities. Each one has a unique name, and some even have nicknames!

Hudson County, New Jersey Municipalities
Map showing the different towns and cities in Hudson County, New Jersey.

Native American Names

The Lenape people were the first inhabitants of this region. They spoke an Algonquian language. Many of the names we use today come from their words, often changed a bit by the Dutch and English settlers who came later.

Place Name Location Meaning What it refers to Examples Today
Caven Point JC peninsula A piece of land surrounded by water on three sides. Road
Communipaw JC big landing-place from the other side of the river This area was a major landing spot on the Upper New York Bay before land was filled in. Terminal, Station, Avenue
Hackensack JC, Sec, Whkn place of stony ground Named after the Hackensack (Native Americans) tribe and the rocky land they lived on. River, Plank Road
Harsimus JC sea marsh or sea grass This was a salty marsh area along the Hudson River before it was filled in. Cove
Hoboken Hob place of stone for pipes Named for a type of rock found here, used to make smoking pipes. Terminal, Cemetery
Manhattan UC island of many hills This name was recorded in 1609 by Henry Hudson's crew.
Pamrapo JC, Bay rock Refers to a natural break in Bergen Hill where a canal was later built. Station, Avenue
Passaic water that flows through the valley
Secaucus Sec black snakes This name comes from the Lenape words for "black" and "snake." Road
Weehawken Whkn at the end of Refers to where the Hudson Palisades (cliffs) end at King's Bluff. Cove, Cemetery

Dutch Influence on Names

The New Netherlanders, who were Dutch settlers, arrived in the early 1600s. They set up trading posts and villages, leaving their mark on many place names.

Place Name Location Meaning What it refers to Examples Today
Bergen County-wide hills or mountain ridge Describes the hilly land of Bergen Hill. It could also mean a safe, walled village. Square, Point, Bergenline
Constable Hook Bynne constable's cape Named after Jacob Jacobsen Roy, a chief gunner (constable) at Fort Amsterdam. A "hoek" is a cape or peninsula.
Cromakill Creek Sec, NB crooked creek This creek forms a border between Secaucus and North Bergen.
Paulus Hook JC Paulus's cape Named after Micheal Paulus, who ran a ferry and trading post here.
Pavonia JC, Bynne peacock (in Latin) Named after Michael Reyniersz Pauw, a Dutch landowner. It was common for educated men to use Latin names. PATH Station, HBLR Station
Kill van Kull Bynne channel from the ridge A "kill" is a water channel, and "col" means a mountain pass or ridge.
North River This is the name for the Hudson River between Hudson County and Manhattan. It was called "North" because it flowed north from the main harbor. Tunnels
Robbins Reef Bynne seal's reef Seals used to rest on this reef at low tide.
Suydam JC south dam This area was once part of the village of Communipaw. Street

Names Honoring People and Events

Many places in Hudson County are named after important people, families, or historical events. These names help us remember the past.

Place Name Location Named After Why it was named
Barrow Street JC Dr William Barrow An important resident of the area in the early 1800s.
Bartholdi Avenue JC Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi The French artist who designed the Statue of Liberty.
Bedloe's Island JC Issac Bedloo The original name of Liberty Island.
Bentley Avenue JC Peter Bentley, Sr. The fifth Mayor of Jersey City.
Bloomfield Avenue Hbkn Joseph Bloomfield He served twice as Governor of New Jersey.
Bonn Place Whkn John H. Bonn He founded the North Hudson County Railway.
Boyle Plaza JC John F. Boyle A director of the commission that built the Holland Tunnel.
James J. Braddock Park NB James J. Braddock A World heavyweight boxing champion.
Burr Place Whkn Aaron Burr The third Vice President of the United States.
Bulls Ferry NB, WNY Bull family A family who operated a ferry service in the 1700s.
Clinton Street Hbkn De Witt Clinton
Colden Street JC Cadwallader D. Colden A Mayor of New York and president of the Morris Canal Company.
Coles Street JC John B. Coles A New York State Senator who helped plan a public park in Jersey City.
Colgate Street JC William Colgate His company, Colgate-Palmolive, had a factory in the area for a long time.
Celia Cruz Plaza UC Celia Cruz A famous singer and performer.
Curries Woods JC, Bynne James Currie An early settler and important citizen of Greenville.
Pietro di Donato Square UC Pietro di Donato An Italian-American writer.
Dixon Mills JC Joseph Dixon An inventor and manufacturer.
Ellis Island JC Samuel Ellis A merchant who once owned the island.
Fulton Whkn, JC Robert Fulton He started the world's first steamboat ferry service in 1812.
Gangemi Drive JC Thomas Gangemi The 35th Mayor of Jersey City.
Garfield Avenue Station JC James A. Garfield The 20th President of the United States.
Gates Avenue JC Horatio Gates A British soldier who became an American general in the American Revolutionary War.
Greene Street JC Nathanael Greene A major general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
J. Owen Grundy Park JC J. Owen Grundy A city historian and writer.
Hamilton Whkn, JC Alexander Hamilton A Founding Father and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury.
Harrison William Henry Harrison The ninth President of the United States.
Holland Tunnel JC Clifford Milburn Holland The first chief engineer for the tunnel project, who passed away before it was finished.
Hudson County-wide Hudson River for Henry Hudson A sea-captain and explorer who explored the river in 1609.
Arthur Imperatore Drive NB Arthur Edward Imperatore, Sr. A trucking business owner who founded the New York Waterway.
Journal Square JC Jersey Journal A newspaper that has its main office in the square.
Jeanette Street UC Joe Jeanette An African-American heavyweight boxer.
Johnston Bynne, JC John Taylor Johnston President of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
Town of Kearny Kearny Philip Kearny A general during the American Civil War.
Kennedy Boulevard Bynne, JC, North Hudson John F. Kennedy The 35th President of the United States.
King Avenue Whkn James Gore King A Congressman from New Jersey.
Lafayette Park JC Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette A French general who helped the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
McAdoo Avenue JC William McAdoo A Congressman and New York City Police Commissioner.
Manischewitz Plaza JC Manischewitz A company that built its factory at this location in 1932.
Martin Luther King Drive JC Martin Luther King Jr. A clergyman, activist, and important leader in the Civil Rights Movement.
Marin Boulevard JC, Hbkn Luis Muñoz Marín A Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician.
Mercer Street JC Hugh Mercer A Brigadier General in the Continental Army.
Merseles Street JC Jacob M. Merseles He founded the Bergen Point Plank Road Company.
Monastery Place UC Monastery and Church of Saint Michael the Archangel
Montgomery Street JC Richard Montgomery A Brigadier General in the Continental Army.
Nungessers NB Family Nungesser The Nungesser family owned a racetrack in the area.
Ogden Avenue JC Aaron Ogden The fifth Governor of New Jersey.
Paulus Hook JC Micheal Paulez An agent for the Dutch landowner Micheal Pauw.
Pavonia JC, Bynne Micheal Pauw The landowner of the first European settlement in the area.
Pershing Whkn, JC John J. Pershing A General of the Armies during World War I.
Peter Street UC William Peter He founded Peter's Brewery.
Prior Street JC John Prior He owned Prior's Mill in Jersey City in the 1700s.
Pulaski Skyway JC, Kearny Kazimierz Pułaski A Polish general who fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Ristaino Drive JC John Ristaino A candle and furniture-maker, champion speed-skater, and Korean War veteran.
Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. Har'sn Frank E. Rodgers He was the Mayor of Harrison for 48 years!
Roosevelt JC, UC Franklin D. Roosevelt The 32nd President of the United States.
Schuyler Avenue Kearny Arent Schuyler An early settler who developed mines in the region.
Shippen Street Whkn William W. Shippen President of the Hoboken Land and Improvement Company.
Sinatra Drive Hbkn Frank Sinatra A famous actor and entertainer from Hoboken.
Steuben Street JC Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben A Prussian officer who served as an inspector general for the Continental Army.
Sterling Avenue Whkn Lord Stirling William Alexander, an American general in the Revolutionary War.
Tonnelle Avenue JC, NB John Tonnele An early settler to Hudson City.
Teurs Avenue JC Jane Teurs She helped stop Benedict Arnold's plan to sell West Point to the British during the American Revolution.
Van Vorst Park JC Van Vorst family Early settlers to Pavonia, New Netherland, including Cornelius Van Vorst, the 12th Mayor of Jersey City.
Van Wagenen Avenue JC Van Wagenen family Early settlers to Bergen, New Netherland.
Varick Street JC Richard Varick A Mayor of New York City and one of the founders of Jersey City.
Warren Street JC Joseph Warren A member of the Sons of Liberty and a major general in the Continental Army.
Wayne Street JC Anthony Wayne A Revolutionary War brigadier general.
Westervelt JC Westervelt family Early settlers to Bergen, New Netherland, including Jacob Aaron Westervelt, a ship builder and Mayor of New York City.
Wittpenn Bridge JC, Kearny H. Otto Wittpenn The 28th Mayor of Jersey City.
Wright Street JC Edwin R. V. Wright A Congressman and Mayor of Hudson City.
Audrey Zapp Drive JC Audrey Zapp An environmentalist who helped develop Liberty State Park.

See Also

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Influential African-American Artists:
James Van Der Zee
Alma Thomas
Ellis Wilson
Margaret Taylor-Burroughs
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List of Hudson County, New Jersey placename etymologies Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.