Preakness, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Preakness, New Jersey
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 Preakness, New Jersey
Location in Passaic County, New Jersey
Preakness, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Preakness, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Passaic |
| Township | Wayne |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.70 sq mi (14.77 km2) |
| • Land | 5.67 sq mi (14.70 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) |
| Elevation | 213 ft (65 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,487 |
| • Density | 3,258.2/sq mi (1,258.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code |
07470
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| FIPS code | 34-60810 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0879476 |
Preakness is a small community located in Wayne, which is part of Passaic County in the state of New Jersey. It's known as an "unincorporated community," meaning it's a recognized place but doesn't have its own separate local government. Instead, it's governed as part of the larger township of Wayne.
Contents
The Famous Horse Preakness
Did you know that Preakness is connected to a very famous horse? The community is named after a racehorse called Preakness. This horse was owned by Milton H. Sanford, who had his horse stables right here in Preakness.
The horse Preakness became so famous that a major horse race, the Preakness Stakes, was named after him. This exciting Thoroughbred horse race takes place every year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
People from Preakness
Preakness has also been home to some important figures in horse racing. Barry Littlefield, a well-known trainer, was born here. He was even inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame! His brother, Fred Littlefield, was also a jockey who won the Preakness Stakes race way back in 1888.
How Preakness Got Its Name
The name "Preakness" has an interesting history. It's believed to come from the Native American Minisi language. One idea is that it comes from "Pra-qua-les," which meant "Quail Woods" in the area. Another idea suggests the name comes from "per-ukunees," which might mean "young buck."
Population of Preakness
According to the 2020 United States Census, about 18,487 people live in the Preakness area.
