Secaucus, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Secaucus, New Jersey
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Town
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The Frank R. Lautenberg station at Secaucus Junction is a major rail hub for NJ Transit Rail.
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| Nickname(s):
"The Jewel of the Meadowlands"
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 Secaucus, New Jersey
Location in Hudson County, New Jersey
Secaucus, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Secaucus, 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 | Hudson | |
| Incorporated | March 12, 1900 (as borough) | |
| Reincorporated | June 5, 1917 (as town) | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Town | |
| • Body | Town Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 6.54 sq mi (16.95 km2) | |
| • Land | 5.83 sq mi (15.09 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.72 sq mi (1.86 km2) 10.96% | |
| Area rank | 248th of 565 in state 4th of 12 in county |
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| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,181 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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21,005 | |
| • Rank | 126th of 565 in state 8th of 12 in county |
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| • Density | 3,807.2/sq mi (1,470.0/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 171st of 565 in state 12th of 12 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Codes |
07094, 07096
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| Area code(s) | 201 | |
| FIPS code | 3401766570 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885392 | |
Secaucus (/ˈsiːkɔːkəs/ see-KAW-kəs) is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey. In 2020, about 22,181 people lived there. This was a big increase from 16,264 people in 2010.
Secaucus is located in the New Jersey Meadowlands. It feels more like a suburban area compared to other towns in the county. However, many parts of Secaucus are used for factories, shops, and transportation. It also has many protected areas.
The name Secaucus comes from Algonquian words. It means "place of snakes" or "black snake."
Contents
History of Secaucus
The area known as Sikakes was once an island. In 1658, Peter Stuyvesant, a leader of New Netherland, bought this land. It was part of the oldest town in New Jersey, called Bergen, which started in 1660.
People began settling here around 1733. The Smith family was one of the first. Secaucus officially became a borough on March 12, 1900. It was formed from parts of North Bergen. Later, on June 7, 1917, it became a town.
From Farms to a Commuter Town
Secaucus was first known for growing flowers. Then, in the early 1900s, it became famous for its pig farms. At one point, there were about 55 pig farms, with nearly 250,000 pigs during World War II. This meant pigs outnumbered people 16 to 1! These farms supplied meat to nearby cities like Newark and New York. Many pig farmers became wealthy and even involved in local politics.
By the 1950s, the number of pig farms started to go down. Some land was needed for building the New Jersey Turnpike. The last farms closed by court order in the late 1950s.
In 1963, old materials from the demolition of Pennsylvania Station in New York City were dumped in the Secaucus Meadowlands. In later years, Secaucus became a place where people live and travel to work in other cities. This is called a commuter town.
In 1996, a serious train accident happened in Secaucus. Two NJ Transit commuter trains collided, causing injuries and some deaths. This was a very sad event for NJ Transit.
New Jersey Monthly magazine has ranked Secaucus as one of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.
Geography and Natural Areas
Secaucus is like an island in the New Jersey Meadowlands. The Hackensack River runs along its western side. Penhorn Creek and Cromakill Creek form its eastern borders.
The town covers about 6.54 square miles (16.95 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with some water areas.
At the southern end of Secaucus is Snake Hill, also called Laurel Hill. It's a rock formation that rises about 150 feet (46 meters) from the Meadowlands.
Secaucus has many natural marsh areas. These areas are recovering after being used for farming and industry. Some marsh areas have been turned into walking paths where you can see birds and other wildlife. Secaucus has a lot of "green space," more than any other town in Hudson County.
Secaucus shares borders with several other towns:
- In Hudson County: Jersey City, Kearny, and North Bergen.
- In Bergen County: Carlstadt, East Rutherford, Lyndhurst, and Rutherford.
Some well-known places within Secaucus include:
- County Avenue
- Harmon Cove
- Harmon Meadow (home to Mill Creek Mall)
- Laurel Hill
- Mill Creek Marsh
- North End
- Riverbend
- Secaucus Junction (a major train station)
- Secaucus Plaza Central Business District
- Snake Hill
North End Community
The North End is a part of Secaucus located north of New Jersey Route 3. It is connected to the main business district by Paterson Plank Road. The Hackensack River and Mill Creek form its other borders.
This is one of the older, traditional neighborhoods in Secaucus. It is home to Secaucus High School. Schmiddt's Wood, a nearby forest, is one of the last original hardwood forests in this urban area. The areas along the river are important for preserving and restoring wetlands. Mill Creek Marsh is a park managed by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission.
Harmon Cove Area
Harmon Cove is the western part of Secaucus, along the Hackensack River. It is south of New Jersey Route 3. This area was developed in the 1970s with homes and tall residential buildings.
Part of the Hackensack RiverWalk Secaucus Greenway goes through this neighborhood. Hudson Regional Hospital and several hotels are located in Harmon Cove. The main road here is Meadowlands Parkway, where you can find offices and factories. The Harmon Cove Outlet Center is a shopping area with discounted brand-name items.
Population and People
Secaucus has grown quite a bit. In 2010, there were 16,264 people, and by 2020, the population grew to 22,181.
Many people who live in Secaucus travel to New York City for work. About 20% of the town's working residents commute there.
The town has a diverse population. In 2010, about 68% of residents were White, 4% Black or African American, 20% Asian, and 18% were Hispanic or Latino.
Economy and Businesses
Secaucus has several large shopping areas. Secaucus Plaza is the "downtown" area. The Outlets offer discounted name-brand items. Many factory stores are found in the Harmon Cove industrial area. The Harmon Cove Outlet Center is the biggest outlet mall.
The Plaza at Harmon Meadow is a large complex with hotels, restaurants, and shops. It includes the Meadowlands Convention Center, a movie theater, a Walmart, and a Sam's Club.
Secaucus is also home to the headquarters of several companies, such as The Children's Place, FiberMedia, Hartz Mountain Industries, and Quest Diagnostics.
Some big companies have moved out of Secaucus in recent years. Panasonic's North American headquarters, which had been in Secaucus since 1973, moved to Newark. The Manischewitz Company also moved its offices.
Secaucus has 11 data centers. These are important because they store and manage large amounts of digital information. They are located here because it's close to New York City and has good protection against storms.
Arts, Culture, and Sports
The indie rock band, The Wrens, named their 1996 album Secaucus because they lived and worked in the town for ten years.
Sports in Secaucus
Since 2014, Secaucus has been the official review headquarters for the NBA. This means that all replays of controversial calls in NBA games are reviewed here. The high-tech center has many HD televisions to watch every game.
Several sports companies have their main offices in Secaucus:
- Red Bull New York (a soccer team)
- Major League Baseball's MLB Network
- National Hockey League's NHL Network
- NBA Entertainment/NBA TV (where the NBA draft lottery is held)
Secaucus also has a men's soccer team called Secaucus FC.
Education in Secaucus
Students in Secaucus attend schools run by the Secaucus Public Schools district. There are four schools in the district:
- Millridge School / Early Learning Center (for Pre-K)
- Clarendon Elementary School (grades K–5)
- Huber Street Elementary School (grades Pre-K–5)
- Secaucus Middle School (grades 6–8)
- Secaucus High School (grades 9–12)
The sports teams at Secaucus High School are called the "Patriots."
In 2018, High Tech High School moved to a new, large building in Secaucus. This school is part of the Hudson County Schools of Technology.
The Nicholas G. Hayek Watchmaking School is also in Secaucus. It offers a two-year program to train students to repair watches.
Transportation Hub
_from_the_overpass_for_the_ramp_to_New_Jersey_State_Route_495_(Lincoln_Tunnel_Approach)_in_Secaucus,_Hudson_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Secaucus is a major center for road and rail transportation. Because of its central location, many shipping companies like UPS have warehouses and truck transfer stations here. There is also a large rail yard where goods are moved between trains or to and from trucks.
Roads and Highways
Secaucus is crossed by several important roads. Route 3 runs east and west, and the Eastern Spur of the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) runs north and south. These roads divide the town into four parts.
The Route 3 bridges cross the Hackensack River. There are two exits from the New Jersey Turnpike in Secaucus:
- Exit 16E/17 for Route 3 and Route 495 (which leads to the Lincoln Tunnel into New York City).
- Exit 15X for the Secaucus Junction train station.
Public Transportation
Secaucus is home to NJ Transit's Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction rail station. This station connects NJ Transit's two main train networks in northern New Jersey. It's a very important hub for commuters. The station opened in 2003 and has a large parking lot.
Many NJ Transit buses serve Secaucus. These buses can take you to places like the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, Newark, Jersey City, and Hoboken. There is also a bus park-and-ride area.
In the early 1900s, a trolley line used to run through Secaucus on Paterson Plank Road.
The closest airport for passenger flights is Newark Liberty International Airport.
Media and Entertainment
Secaucus is part of the New York media market. This means most major newspapers and TV channels from New York are available here.
Local news is covered by The Jersey Journal, a daily newspaper that moved its offices to Secaucus in 2014. The Secaucus Reporter is a local weekly newspaper.
WWOR-TV, Channel 9, is a television station licensed to Secaucus. Its studios were once located in Secaucus, and some TV shows were filmed there. The hospital drama Mercy was filmed in a warehouse in Secaucus.
MSNBC, a cable news channel, also had its original home in Secaucus before moving to New York City. MLB Network now uses that space.
Notable People from Secaucus
Many interesting people have connections to Secaucus, including:
- Jeff Bittiger (born 1962), a former baseball pitcher.
- Jerry Casale (1933–2019), a former baseball pitcher.
- Dave Draper (1942–2021), a famous bodybuilder.
- Dennis Elwell (born 1945), a former mayor of Secaucus.
- Paul Iacono (born 1988), an actor known for the film Fame.
- Anthony Impreveduto (1948–2009), who served on the Town Council and in the New Jersey General Assembly.
- Louis King (born 1999), a college basketball player.
- Henry B. Krajewski (1912–1966), a pig farmer and frequent political candidate.
- Margarita Levieva (born 1980), an actress.
- Mark Lukasiewicz (born 1973), a former baseball pitcher.
- Blaine Morris, a cast member on the TV show Skins.
- Frank MacCormack (born 1954), a former baseball pitcher.
- John J. Matheussen (born 1953), a politician who served in the New Jersey Senate.
- Vincent Prieto (born 1960), a member of the New Jersey General Assembly and former Assembly Speaker.
- Dan Resin (1931–2010), an actor known for Caddyshack.
- Ian Roberts (born 1965), a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade improv group.
- Russ (born 1992), a rapper.
- Bart Shatto, an actor.
- Seven Volpone (born 1972), an entrepreneur, singer, and record producer.
Images for kids
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The Frank R. Lautenberg station at Secaucus Junction is a major rail hub for NJ Transit Rail.
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The official logo of Secaucus.
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Harmon Meadow Plaza, a large shopping and entertainment complex.
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The northbound New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) in Secaucus.
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A former trolley station, now a park.
See also
In Spanish: Secaucus (Nueva Jersey) para niños
