Lyndhurst, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lyndhurst, New Jersey
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Township
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Lyndhurst portion of New Jersey Meadowlands
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| Nickname(s):
"Bear Country"
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Location of Lyndhurst in Bergen County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Bergen County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
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Census Bureau map of Lyndhurst, New Jersey
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 Lyndhurst, New Jersey
Location in Bergen County, New Jersey
Lyndhurst, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Lyndhurst, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | Bergen | |
| Incorporated | February 19, 1852 (as Union Township) | |
| Renamed | May 15, 1917 (as Lyndhurst) | |
| Named for | Lord Lyndhurst | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Walsh Act | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.96 sq mi (12.86 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.58 sq mi (11.87 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.38 sq mi (0.99 km2) 7.66% | |
| Area rank | 276th of 565 in state 13th of 70 in county |
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| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,519 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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22,276 | |
| • Rank | 121st of 565 in state 13th of 70 in county |
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| • Density | 4,912.5/sq mi (1,896.7/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 117th of 565 in state 31st of 70 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07071
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| Area code(s) | 201 | |
| FIPS code | 3400342090 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882225 | |
Lyndhurst is a township located in Bergen County, New Jersey. It's a busy place with a population of 22,519 people, according to the 2020 United States census. This number has grown quite a bit over the years, showing that more and more people are choosing to live here!
Contents
- Lyndhurst's Past: A Look at Its History
- Lyndhurst's Location and Natural Features
- Who Lives in Lyndhurst: Population and Diversity
- Lyndhurst's Economy and Businesses
- Arts, Culture, and Sports in Lyndhurst
- Parks and Fun Places
- Learning in Lyndhurst: Schools and Colleges
- Keeping Lyndhurst Safe: Emergency Services
- Getting Around Lyndhurst: Transportation
- Famous People from Lyndhurst
- Historic Places to See
- Sister Cities
- Lyndhurst on TV
- See also
Lyndhurst's Past: A Look at Its History
Lyndhurst has an interesting history, starting long before it got its current name.
How Lyndhurst Became a Township
In 1840, a new area called Hudson County was created. It took land from older townships like Bergen Township and Lodi Township. Part of Lodi Township became Harrison Township in the new Hudson County.
However, some people living in Harrison Township wanted to be back in Bergen County. So, in 1852, this area returned to Bergen County and was named Union Township.
Changes Over Time: New Towns and a New Name
Over the years, parts of Union Township became new towns.
- In 1881, Rutherford became a separate borough.
- In 1889, Boiling Springs Township was formed, which later became East Rutherford in 1894.
- North Arlington was created in 1896.
Finally, in 1917, the people of the remaining Union Township voted to change its name to Lyndhurst Township. This new name became official on May 15, 1917. The township was named after Lord Lyndhurst.
Kingsland: A Village with a Railroad Connection
Kingsland was once a small village within the township. The Kingsland family owned a large area of land here. In 1872, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad built a railway through the township. They even built a train station in Kingsland, named after the family. This led to a railroad shop and homes for employees, making it a busy little community.
The Kingsland Explosion of 1917
On January 11, 1917, a huge fire broke out at the Canadian Car and Foundry Company in what is now Lyndhurst. This factory was making bombs for the United Kingdom and Russian Empire during World War I.
A fire started when a flammable liquid spilled. About 500,000 explosive shells went off over four hours, destroying the whole factory! It was a massive event.
A brave switchboard operator named Tessie McNamara is a hero from this event. She quickly called every building in the factory, shouting, "Get out or go up!" Thanks to her quick thinking, no one died in the fire. The Lyndhurst Historical Society has even created a small park dedicated to Tessie McNamara on Clay Avenue.
Lyndhurst's Location and Natural Features
Lyndhurst covers about 4.96 square miles (12.86 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Neighboring Towns and Natural Borders
Lyndhurst shares its borders with several other towns:
- North Arlington and Rutherford in Bergen County.
- Belleville and Nutley in Essex County.
- Kearny and Secaucus in Hudson County.
- Clifton in Passaic County.
The Passaic River forms the western border of Lyndhurst, separating it from other counties. The eastern part of Lyndhurst is made up of wetlands, which are part of the New Jersey Meadowlands.
Who Lives in Lyndhurst: Population and Diversity
Lyndhurst is home to a diverse group of people.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 957 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,057 | 114.9% | |
| 1880 | 3,164 | 53.8% | |
| 1890 | 1,560 | * | −50.7% |
| 1900 | 1,590 | * | 1.9% |
| 1910 | 4,076 | 156.4% | |
| 1920 | 9,515 | 133.4% | |
| 1930 | 17,362 | 82.5% | |
| 1940 | 17,454 | 0.5% | |
| 1950 | 19,980 | 14.5% | |
| 1960 | 21,867 | 9.4% | |
| 1970 | 22,729 | 3.9% | |
| 1980 | 20,326 | −10.6% | |
| 1990 | 18,262 | −10.2% | |
| 2000 | 19,383 | 6.1% | |
| 2010 | 20,554 | 6.0% | |
| 2020 | 22,519 | 9.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 22,276 | 8.4% | |
| Population sources: 1860–1920 1860–1870 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1900–2020 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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Population Trends
In 2020, Lyndhurst had 22,519 residents. This was an increase from 20,554 people in 2010. The population density was about 4,912 people per square mile.
The community is becoming more diverse. In 2010, about 71.56% of residents were White (not Hispanic). By 2020, this percentage was 59.45%. The number of people identifying as Hispanic or Latino grew from 18.34% in 2010 to 27.00% in 2020. The Asian population also increased from 6.49% to 7.05% during the same period.
Lyndhurst's Economy and Businesses
Historically, Lyndhurst was known for making machinery and metal products.
Local Businesses and Entertainment
Lyndhurst has been home to local businesses like Mazur's Bakery, which closed in 2013.
Because of its location in the New Jersey Meadowlands, several radio stations have their transmitters and towers here. These include WINS-1010, WSNR-620, and WLIB-1190.
You can also find one of the nine Medieval Times dinner theaters in Lyndhurst Meadowlands. It's a fun place to watch knights and enjoy a meal!
Development Projects
Lyndhurst, along with North Arlington and Rutherford, was part of the EnCap project. This project aimed to clean up old landfills and build homes and golf courses on the cleaned land. However, the project faced challenges and the agreement was ended in 2008.
In the past, Lyndhurst was also home to LJN Toys, a toy company, and the BUR Barbell Company, a large producer of weight training equipment.
Arts, Culture, and Sports in Lyndhurst
Lyndhurst has a vibrant community with interests in music and sports.
Musical Groups
The township is home to musical groups like the funeral doom metal band Evoken and the alternative rock band Winter Hours.
Sports Teams and Mascots
The town's mascot is the Golden Bear. Local sports teams are often called the Lyndhurst Golden Bears, Lyndhurst Post 139, or Lyndhurst Cubs.
Lyndhurst Baseball
Lyndhurst has a strong Little League baseball tradition. In 2006, the Lyndhurst-American Little League team won the district championship after a 17-year wait. They hit 14 home runs during the playoffs and almost made it to the national finals!
Lyndhurst Youth Soccer
Lyndhurst Youth Soccer is very popular, with about 600 players aged 5 to 13. Many travel teams also represent the town.
Parks and Fun Places
Riverside County Park is a large park covering 85 acres. It's a great place for outdoor activities, with a playground, sports fields, tennis courts, and a fitness center.
Lyndhurst also has Lewandowski Park and Lewandowski Street, named in honor of three Lewandowski brothers who bravely served and died in World War II.
Learning in Lyndhurst: Schools and Colleges
The Lyndhurst School District serves students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. The district has nine schools.
Public Schools
- Elementary Schools (Grades K-2): Community School, Columbus School, Franklin School, Memorial Campus, and Washington School.
- Intermediate Schools (Grades 3-5): Jefferson School and Roosevelt School.
- Middle School (Grades 6-8): Lyndhurst Middle School.
- High School (Grades 9-12): Lyndhurst High School.
Students in Bergen County can also attend special programs at the Bergen County Technical Schools, like the Bergen County Academies or the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro. These schools offer advanced programs for students who apply and are accepted.
Private and Higher Education
Sacred Heart School is a Catholic elementary school in Lyndhurst, serving students from kindergarten to 8th grade.
For higher education, Bergen Community College has a campus in Lyndhurst. Other nearby colleges include Farleigh Dickinson University and Felician College.
Keeping Lyndhurst Safe: Emergency Services
Lyndhurst has dedicated teams to keep its residents safe.
Police Department
The Lyndhurst Police Department (LPD) provides emergency and protective services. It was started in 1907. The LPD has a Police Auxiliary Unit, made up of volunteers who help the police department during patrols and town events.
Fire Department
The Lyndhurst Fire Department (LFD) is an all-volunteer fire department. It was organized in 1886 and has about 70 trained firefighters who respond to hundreds of calls each year.
Ambulance Services
Lyndhurst has both volunteer and paid ambulance services. The Lyndhurst Police Emergency Squad provides emergency medical help. Volunteers cover nights and weekends, while paid staff work during the weekdays. Residents do not have to pay for these services.
Getting Around Lyndhurst: Transportation
Lyndhurst has several roads and public transportation options.
Roads and Highways
Major roads like Route 17 and County Route 507 run through Lyndhurst. Nearby, you can find Route 3 and Route 21. The New Jersey Turnpike Western Spur also passes through the area.
The Avondale-DeJessa Bridge connects Lyndhurst to Nutley over the Passaic River.
Public Transportation Options
NJ Transit has two train stations in Lyndhurst: Lyndhurst Station and Kingsland Station. Trains from these stations go to Hoboken Terminal. From Hoboken, you can transfer to other trains to places like New York Penn Station or Newark Airport, or take PATH trains and ferries.
The trains cross the Passaic River on the Lyndhurst Draw, a railroad bridge built in 1901.
NJ Transit also offers bus services from Lyndhurst to Newark and to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
Famous People from Lyndhurst
- Victor Cruz (born 1986), a wide receiver who played for the New York Giants.
- Melissa Fumero (born 1982), an actress known for her roles in One Life to Live and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
- Wayne Johnsen (born 1977), a professional boxer who appeared on the reality TV show The Contender 3.
- Lou Monte (1917–1989), a singer famous for his Italian-themed novelty songs.
- Donny Pritzlaff (born 1979), a freestyle wrestler who won bronze medals in international competitions.
- Chico Resch (born 1948), a hockey sportscaster and former NHL goalie.
- Robert A. Roe (1924–2014), a politician who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives.
- Jimmy Smagula (born 1976), an actor who has appeared in TV shows like The Sopranos and Grey's Anatomy.
- Johnny Weir (born 1984), a well-known figure skater.
Historic Places to See
Lyndhurst has several places listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
- River Road School – 400 Riverside Avenue (added 1977)
- Jacob W. Van Winkle House – 316 Riverside Avenue (added 1983)
- Jeremiah J. Yeareance House – 410 Riverside Avenue (added 1986)
Sister Cities
Lyndhurst has a sister city relationship with:
Lyndhurst on TV
Lyndhurst has been featured in several episodes of the popular TV series The Sopranos.
See also
In Spanish: Lyndhurst (Nueva Jersey) para niños
