Union City, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Union City, New Jersey
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City
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| City of Union City | ||
William V. Musto Cultural Center
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| Nickname(s):
"Embroidery Capital of the United States"
"Havana on the Hudson" "Little Havana on the Hudson" |
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 Union City, New Jersey
Location in Hudson County, New Jersey
Union City, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Union City, 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 |
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| Incorporated | June 1, 1925 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Walsh Act | |
| • Body | Board of Commissioners | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.29 sq mi (3.33 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.29 sq mi (3.33 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0.00% | |
| Area rank | 472nd of 565 in state 10th of 12 in county |
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| Elevation | 190 ft (60 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 68,589 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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64,462 | |
| • Rank | 590th in country (as of 2022) 18th of 565 in state 3rd of 12 in county |
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| • Density | 53,293.7/sq mi (20,576.8/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 2nd of 565 in state 2nd of 12 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07087
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| Area code(s) | 201 | |
| FIPS code | 3401774630 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885424 | |
Union City is a city in the northern part of Hudson County, New Jersey. In 2020, it was the 18th most populated city in New Jersey, with 68,589 people. This was an increase of over 2,000 people since 2010.
Union City is known for being very densely populated. In 2010, it was the most densely populated city in the United States with more than 50,000 people.
The city was officially formed on June 1, 1925. This happened when two towns, Union Hill and West Hoboken Township, joined together.
Two big waves of people moving here changed Union City a lot. First came German speakers, then Spanish speakers. This is why the city has two nicknames: "Embroidery Capital of the United States" and "Havana on the Hudson". These names show important parts of its history. Many people visit Union City every year to see the nation's longest-running passion play.
Union City is also where Mallomars cookies were first sold. It was also the place where the first lunch wagon was built. This helped start New Jersey's "golden age" of making diners, which is why the state is sometimes called the "diner capital of the world".
Contents
History of Union City
How Union City Began
The land where Union City is today was first home to the Lenape Native Americans. They spoke the Munsee language. In the early 1600s, Henry Hudson explored this area for the Dutch. The Dutch then claimed the land and called it New Netherland.
Later, the Dutch bought this land from the Hackensack tribe of the Lenape people. In 1658, Peter Stuyvesant, a Dutch leader, bought the land again to make sure it was theirs. He paid with items like wampum (beads), cloth, and kettles. In 1660, he ordered a village to be built for protection. This was the first permanent European settlement in New Jersey.
In 1664, the British took control from the Dutch. The area became part of Bergen County. For a long time, the area that would become Union City had very few people.
Forming the City's Borders
In the 1800s, more people moved to the area. In 1840, Hudson County was created. Then, in 1843, it was split into two parts. One part was North Bergen Township. Over time, smaller towns broke away from North Bergen. These included Hoboken, Weehawken, and Guttenberg.
West Hoboken became a township in 1861. Union Township was formed in 1864 by joining several small villages. The biggest village, Union Hill, gave the new town its common name.
Finally, on June 1, 1925, Union City was officially formed. This happened when West Hoboken and Union Hill merged. One of the city's schools, Union Hill Middle School, still reminds people of the old town.
Waves of People and Industries
In the 18th century, Dutch and English traders first settled here. Later, German immigrants came from Manhattan. They were looking for cheaper land. Over time, people from Ireland, Poland, Armenia, Syria, and Italy also moved to Union City.
In 1851, Germans started settling in what would become Union Hill. Many of their families still live in the city today. Germans, Swiss, and Austrian immigrants started the lace-making industries. These industries made Union City famous.
The invention of Schiffli embroidery machines made Union City the "embroidery capital of the United States". You can even see a symbol of this industry on the Union City Seal. However, by the late 1990s, foreign competition caused the embroidery industry to decline. In 2014, the city named "Embroidery Square" to remember this history.
As more people arrived, the city became more urban. A large trolley system was built. Irish and Italian immigrants also moved in. They were the main groups in the city until the late 1960s. Later, people from Eastern Europe, the Near East, and Latin America also joined the embroidery industry.
Union City was also known for its lively entertainment. Theaters here hosted vaudeville and burlesque shows. Famous performers like Fred Astaire and Harry Houdini appeared here. Comedian George Burns met his wife, Gracie Allen, at a vaudeville theater in Union City.
Cuban Influence and Modern Growth
The first Cubans came to Union City in the late 1940s. They were looking for jobs in the embroidery factories. After Fidel Castro took power in Cuba in 1962, many more Cubans moved to Union City. For many years, Union City had the largest Cuban population in the U.S. after Miami. This is why it earned the nickname "Little Havana on the Hudson".
This large Cuban population greatly changed the city's culture. You can see it in the food, fashion, music, and even cigar-making.
In the early 2000s, Union City started to grow and develop more. New homes and businesses were built. This was partly inspired by similar growth in nearby Hoboken. The city worked to attract developers and get community input. This led to new restaurants, bars, and art galleries. In 2008, Union City's first tall apartment building, The Thread, was finished. Its name remembers the city's embroidery past.
Geography of Union City
Union City covers about 1.29 square miles (3.33 km2) of land. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. The city sits on a ridge called the lower Hudson Palisades. From many streets, you can see views of nearby towns, the New York City skyline, and the New Jersey Meadowlands.
New Jersey Route 495 cuts through the city. This road was built for the Lincoln Tunnel, which goes to New York City. After this road was built, many streets in North Hudson were numbered.
The city's northern border with West New York is 49th Street. To the west, Kennedy Boulevard forms most of the border with North Bergen. The southern part of the city, once West Hoboken, looks over Hoboken. They are connected by the Wing Viaduct.
Union City is unique because it is completely surrounded by other towns in Hudson County. These include Hoboken, Jersey City, North Bergen, Weehawken, and West New York.
People of Union City
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 4,640 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,849 | 26.1% | |
| 1890 | 10,643 | 82.0% | |
| 1900 | 15,187 | 42.7% | |
| 1910 | 21,023 | 38.4% | |
| 1920 | 20,651 | −1.8% | |
| 1930 | 58,659 | 184.0% | |
| 1940 | 56,173 | −4.2% | |
| 1950 | 55,537 | −1.1% | |
| 1960 | 52,180 | −6.0% | |
| 1970 | 57,305 | 9.8% | |
| 1980 | 55,593 | −3.0% | |
| 1990 | 58,012 | 4.4% | |
| 2000 | 67,088 | 15.6% | |
| 2010 | 66,455 | −0.9% | |
| 2020 | 68,589 | 3.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 64,462 | −3.0% | |
| Population sources: 1870–1920 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1870–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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Population Changes Over Time
In 1910, before Union City was formed, West Hoboken had about 37,000 people and Union Hill had 23,000. By the late 20th century, Union City was mainly a working-class community.
In 2010, Union City had 66,455 people. This made it the 17th largest city in New Jersey. It was also the second most densely populated city in the U.S. (after Guttenberg, NJ) and the most densely populated U.S. city.
Diversity in Union City
In 2010, about 84.7% of Union City's population was Hispanic or Latino. This was the highest percentage of Hispanic residents in any town in New Jersey.
The city is very diverse. While Cubans were once the largest Hispanic group, now there are many people from the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, and El Salvador. Even though the number of Cubans has gone down, news channels often come to Union City to talk to people about events in Cuba.
In 2017, over half of Union City residents spoke Spanish at home.
Work and Education
In July 2019, the median household income in Union City was $48,992 per year. About 19.6% of residents lived in poverty.
As of 2019, about 71.5% of adults aged 25 or older had finished high school. Also, 21.6% had a Bachelor's degree or higher. In 2000, about 17% of people working in Union City also worked in New York City.
Parks and Fun in Union City
Washington Park is a large park that covers 22 acres. It sits on the border of Union City and Jersey City. This park is part of the Hudson County Park System.
Long ago, this area was a flat dirt field used for circuses and Wild West shows. Even Buffalo Bill's Wild West show performed there in 1908. People wanted to turn it into a park, and it finally took its current shape in the 1930s.
Another park, Reservoir Park, opened in 2015. It is located around the Hackensack Reservoir on Palisade Avenue. This peaceful park was built on the site of an old reservoir that had not been used since 1996.
Shopping and Business
Bergenline Avenue is Union City's main shopping street. It is also a major shopping area for all of North Hudson County. It is one of the busiest shopping streets in Northern New Jersey and the longest commercial avenue in the state. Many Cuban Americans call it "La Avenida".
Bergenline Avenue runs through Union City from north to south. It also goes through West New York, Guttenberg, and North Bergen. It is sometimes called the "Miracle Mile". The main shopping part starts at 32nd Street and goes north. Bergenline Avenue is also used for local parades, like the annual Memorial Day Parade.
At the southern end of Union City, the shopping area is mostly around Summit Avenue and Transfer Station. This area was called "Transfer Station" because it was a place where people could switch between buses and trolley lines. A famous building here is a five-story, trapezoid-shaped brick building at 707 Summit Avenue. It was built in 1910 as a bank. In 2023, the city planned to buy it to create affordable housing.
Transfer Station was also where the first lunch wagon was built in 1912. This wagon helped start New Jersey's "golden age of diner manufacturing". This made New Jersey known as the "diner capital of the world".
Union City is part of a special program called the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). This program helps businesses and improves communities. In this zone, shoppers can pay a lower sales tax rate of 3.3125% instead of the usual state rate. This helps encourage people to shop and businesses to invest in the area.
Getting Around Union City
Roads and Highways
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Union City has over 41 miles of roads. The most important highway is New Jersey Route 495. It connects directly to the Lincoln Tunnel, which goes into New York City. To the west, it connects to other major highways like Interstate 95 (the New Jersey Turnpike).
Public Transportation
The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has a station at Bergenline Avenue. This light rail connects Union City to other towns in Hudson County.
New Jersey Transit bus service is also available. These buses go to places in Hudson, Bergen, and Passaic counties. They also go to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
You can also find privately run dollar vans, which locals call guagua. These vans connect Union City to many places in the New York metropolitan area, like the Hudson County Courthouse and 42nd Street in Manhattan.
For air travel, Newark Liberty International Airport is about 12.5 miles south. LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens, New York, are also nearby.
Education in Union City
In 2021, Union City had 14 public schools serving 11,893 students. The Union City School District runs these schools for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
A professor from the University of California, Berkeley, David L. Kirp, praised Union City's education system. In his books, he noted how well the schools help poor, mostly immigrant children. Many of these students speak only Spanish at home. Kirp found that Union City schools have achievement scores close to the state average.
In 2011, Union City had a high school graduation rate of 89.5%. This was about 10 percentage points higher than the national average. In 2012, 75% of Union City graduates went on to college. Some top students even won scholarships to Ivy League schools. Kirp highlighted the city's practice of enrolling almost every 3- and 4-year-old in kindergarten.
Public Schools in Union City
The Union City School District has 14 schools. These include:
- Eugenio Maria de Hostos Center for Early Childhood Education (PreK-K)
- Thomas A. Edison Elementary School (PreK–6)
- Sara Gilmore Academy School (1–8)
- Henry Hudson Elementary School (PreK–3)
- Jefferson Elementary School (PreK–4)
- Colin Powell Elementary School (K–5)
- Theodore Roosevelt School (K–6)
- Veteran's Memorial Elementary School (PreK–5)
- George Washington Elementary School (PreK–6)
- Robert Waters Elementary School (PreK–6)
- Emerson Middle School (6–8)
- Union Hill Middle School (7–8)
- José Martí STEM Academy (9–12)
- Union City High School (9–12)
Union City High School opened on September 3, 2009. It was built where the old Roosevelt Stadium used to be. This $178 million school has a unique athletic field on its second-floor roof. It replaced the former Emerson High School and Union Hill High School, which became middle schools.
Hudson County Community College also has a North Hudson Higher Education Center in Union City. It opened in 2011 and uses green technology like solar panels.
Colin Powell Elementary School opened in 2012. It was visited by its namesake, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, in 2013.
Woodrow Wilson School received the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence in 2004–2005 and again in 2014–2015. This is a very high honor for American schools.
The Sarah M. Gilmore Elementary School opened in 2017. It cost $29 million and serves 350 students.
The city's newest school, Union City Middle School, began construction in 2023. This six-story, $93.7 million project will help with overcrowding in classrooms. It will have special classrooms like a robotics lab and a dance studio. It is expected to open in Fall 2025.
Private Schools in Union City
St. Francis Academy is a K-8 Catholic school. In 2013, it was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School. Other private schools include two Islamic schools, Miftaahul Uloom Academy and Rising Star Academy, a Jewish school, Mesivta Sanz, and Union City Daycare Program School.
Famous Places in Union City
The former Monastery and Church of Saint Michael the Archangel is a very old and important building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is now called the Hudson Presbyterian Church. In 2002, the José Martí Middle School and a public library branch were built next to it.
The Park Performing Arts Center was built in 1931. It has a large theater that seats 1,400 people. This center hosts local, national, and international artists.
The Union City High School and Athletic Complex opened in 2009. It has a sports field on its roof! It also has the Union City Performing Arts Center and a community health center.
Emerson Middle School opened in 1915 as West Hoboken High School. It was renamed Emerson High School when the two towns merged. It became a middle school in 2009.
Union City has two Carnegie Libraries. These libraries were built with money donated by Andrew Carnegie. The first one, built in 1903, is now the William V. Musto Cultural Center. It has the Union City Museum of Art, the Union City Police Museum, and a senior citizen center.
Celia Cruz Park is dedicated to the famous Cuban-American salsa singer Celia Cruz. It opened in 2004. The park has a sidewalk star for Cruz and a mural. This park is also part of Union City's "Walk of Fame." New stars are added each spring to honor other Latin entertainers.
9/11 Memorials Union City has memorials to honor the five citizens who died in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. One memorial is in Liberty Plaza. Doric Park was rebuilt as Firefighters Memorial Park, which opened in 2009. It has a public swimming pool and a memorial for local firefighters.
The Monastery of the Perpetual Rosary, also called The Blue Chapel, was built between 1912 and 1914. It is a historic site that the city is working to protect.
Historical Markers Since 2009, Union City has placed historical markers to remember important people and places. These include markers for boxer Joe Jeanette, karate grandmaster Peter George Urban, and novelist Pietro di Donato.
COVID-19 Victims Memorial In 2022, the city dedicated a memorial in Ellsworth Park. It honors those who died and suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arts and Culture
Union City is part of the New York media market. Local news is covered by The Jersey Journal. The Union City Reporter used to be a local weekly newspaper. Other publications like River View Observer and El Especialito also cover local news.
Many films have been set or filmed in Union City. These include Union City (1980) and Far from Heaven (2002). The 1989 film Bloodhounds of Broadway, starring Madonna, was partly filmed at a building on Summit Avenue. Madonna even lived in an apartment there during filming.
Union City is known as "NoHu" (North Hudson) for its performing and fine artists. Many artists, especially immigrants from Latin America, live here because housing is more affordable than in nearby cities. The Union City area is a major place for training actors.
In 2008, Union City started its first annual Art Month. This event includes the Union City Arts and Crafts Festival. Groups like La Ola and Federación Mercantil support local artists. The Union City Artists Collective was founded in 2007.
The Park Performing Arts Center is a popular place for arts events. It hosts Hudson Theatre Works, a theater company. It also used to host the Multi-Arts Festival.
The Multi-Arts Festival is an annual event held every May since 1981. It features artwork, music, and workshops by students and alumni from Union City schools.
The Union City Museum of Art, the Union City Police Museum, and the Union City Museum of History are all located in the William V. Musto Cultural Center. This center also hosts concerts and plays.
In 2010, Union City started its first International Film Festival. The city also created the Union City Plaza of the Arts on Bergenline Avenue. This plaza is a place for artists to gather and show their work.
In 2014, "Union City" became the city's official song. It was written by Union City native Phil Gallo and Mike Boldt. The song mentions local streets and landmarks.
Notable People
See also
In Spanish: Union City (Nueva Jersey) para niños
