Marion Section facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marion Section
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Aerial view of the warehouse district in the Marion Section of Jersey City, between the PATH train tracks and the Pulaski Skyway
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 Marion Section
Location in Hudson County, New Jersey
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Hudson |
| City | Jersey City |
| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
| Area code(s) | 201 |
| GNIS feature ID | 878120 |
Marion is a neighborhood in Jersey City, New Jersey. It's part of Hudson County. Marion is a community within this larger city.
Contents
A Look Back at Marion's History
The Marion neighborhood started to take shape in the 1870s. It grew a lot in the early 1900s. People think its name might come from an old hotel. Another idea is that it was named after the founders of a watch company. A very important train crossing, Marion Junction, is also nearby.
Marion was first home to many families of Italian background. It was planned as a place for working-class families. They often worked in factories like the Lorillard Tobacco Company. Many also worked at the American Can Company or in nearby railroad yards.
Exploring the Marion Neighborhood
Marion is located west of Journal Square. It is north of Holy Name Cemetery. The neighborhood has two main parts. These parts are separated by the PATH train tracks.
Marion shares borders with other areas of Jersey City. These include Riverbend, Croxton, and the West Side. Sometimes, the area near the Hackensack Riverfront is also considered part of Marion. This includes Tonnelle Circle and parts of India Square.
Most buildings in Marion are not very tall. It's mainly a place where people live. You can find new homes being built here. There are also small factories and many restaurants. The neighborhood has LaPointe Park and the Marion Branch Public Library. Major streets include Broadway, U.S. Route 1/9, Sip Avenue, and West Side Avenue. The Marion Gardens housing project, built in 1940, marks the western edge of the living areas.
Old Buildings and New Uses
North of the train tracks, near Newark Avenue, you'll find many old factory and warehouse buildings. Some of these buildings are very old and important. They are listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.
Some old factories have been changed into new spaces. For example, the old American Can Company building now has homes and other businesses. The Middle East Center for the Arts (MECA) is an art gallery. It's located inside Mana Contemporary. This art space is in another old factory building. It's also connected to a company that moves fine art. This huge building is also home to dance groups.
Green Spaces and Parks
Skyway Park is a new park project. It has received money to be built. Eventually, it will connect to the Hackensack RiverWalk. This will add a long path to Lincoln Park. It will also connect to the East Coast Greenway.
This new park is being built on an old industrial site. These sites are called brownfields. The park will be 32 acres big. It will have two soccer fields and a practice area. There will also be a large lawn and a mile-long path for walking or jogging. Parts of this land were once a landfill.
The Vibrant India Square
India Square is a special part of the Marion and Journal Square neighborhoods. It has one of the largest groups of people from India in the Western Hemisphere. It's like a "Little India" within the greater New York City Metropolitan Area.
This area is centered around India Square itself. It's a two-block stretch of Newark Avenue. Over 13,000 people of Indian background live here. In 2010, the area had over 27,000 residents. Most of them were of Indian descent. At that time, Asian Indians made up about 10.9% of Jersey City's total population.
Future PATH Train Station
Even though the PATH train runs through Marion, there isn't a station there yet. In the past, mayors of Jersey City have asked for a new station. Gerald McCann and Jerramiah Healy both thought a PATH stop at Broadway and West Side Avenue would be a good idea. This would help the closest station at Journal Square.
More and more homes are being built in Marion. City leaders believe a PATH station is needed. It would help reduce traffic on city streets. It would also make it easier for people to travel. A new station could also help the neighborhood grow. It would bring more development to Marion. In 2018, the city agreed to study if a station was possible. After some delays, the study was finished in 2020.
