Hudson County, New Jersey

Hudson County is in, , with its in.

Geography and Topography
According to the, the county has a total area of 162 (62 ). 121 km² (47 sq mi) of it is land and 41 km² (16 sq mi) of it (25.21%) is water. It is the smallest of New Jersey's 21 counties.

Hudson is bordered by the and  to the east;  to the south;, and either the  or  to the west.

The topography is marked by in the north with cliffs overlooking the Hudson to the east and less severe  or slope to the west. They gradually level off to the southern peninsula, which is coastal and flat. The western region, around the  and  is part of the.

There are two equally high points, 260 feet (79 m) above sea, in Guttenberg and West New York; the lowest point is sea level itself along the rivers.

and, opposite , lie entirely within Hudson County's waters, which extend to the state line. Liberty Island is wholly part of New York. Ellis Island is jointly administered by the states of New Jersey and New York. Nine-tenths of its land is technically part of Hudson County, with the remainder being part of New York. , in the, is also shared with New York. sits atop a the reef which runs parallel the Bayonne and Jersey City waterfront. Given its proximity to Manhattan, is sometimes referred to as 's sixth.

Counties adjacent to Hudson are to the east;  and  to west;  to the south; and, the only one with which it shares a land border, to the north and west.

Much of the county lies between the Hackensack and Hudson Rivers on geographically long narrow peninsula that is a contiguous urban area where it's often difficult to know when one's crossed a civic boundary. These boundaries and the topography-including many hills and inlets-create very distinct neighborhoods.

Demographics
As of the, the population was 608,975. It is part of the. There were 230,546 households and 143,630 families residing in the county. The was 5,036/km² (13,044/sq mi). There were 240,618 housing units at an average density of 1,990/km² (5,154/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 55.58%, 13.48% or , 0.42% , 9.35% , 0.06% , 15.48% from , and 5.63% from two or more races. 39.76% of the population were or  of any race. According to 9.9% were of  and 6.7%  ancestry.

By 2005 34.6% of the population was non-Hispanic whites. 15.1% of the population was African-American. 11.0% of the population was Asian. Only 2.1% of the population reported two or more races. 41.0% of the population was Latino.

There were 230,546 households out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.80% were living together, 16.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.70% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.60% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 35.60% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,293, and the median income for a family was $44,053. Males had a median income of $36,174 versus $31,037 for females. The for the county was $21,154. About 13.30% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the, including 22.00% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.

Hudson County is the most densely populated county in the state. , within the county, is the most densely populated city in the country.

Municipalities
Numbers correspond to map at right.


 * 1) (city)
 * 2) (city)
 * 3) (city)
 * 4) (city)
 * 5) (town)
 * 6) (town)
 * 7) (town)
 * 8) (town)
 * 9) (town)
 * 10) (borough)
 * 11) (township)
 * 12) (township)

Government
The is elected by a direct vote of the electorate. The executive, together with the in a legislative role, administer all county business. Nine members are elected concurrently to serve three-year terms as, each representing a specified district which are equally proportioned based of population. Each year, in January, the Freeholders select one of their nine to serve as Chair and one as Vice Chair for a period of one year.

Hudson County's is. Hudson County's Freeholders, as of 2006, are:
 * District 1: (Bayonne and parts of Jersey City)
 * District 2: (parts of Jersey City)
 * District 3: (parts of Jersey City)
 * District 4: (parts of Jersey City)
 * District 5: (Parts of Hoboken and Jersey City)
 * District 6: (Union City)
 * District 7:, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Freeholder Chairman , as of , (Guttenberg, Weehawken and West New York)
 * District 8: - Freeholder Vice-Chairman (North Bergen and parts of Jersey City and Secaucus)
 * District 9: (East Newark, Harrison, Kearny and parts of Secaucus)

Three federal s cover the county, including portions of, represented by , , represented by   and , represented by.

The Hudson County court system consists of several municipal courts, including the busy Jersey City Court, plus the Hudson County Superior Court.

Politics
Hudson County has traditionally been the most county in New Jersey. Democrat beat Republican  here by a 2-to-1 margin in the, and Democrat  beat Republican  by a 3-to-1 margin in the. Both Republican candidates failed to carry even one municipality within the county. Two out of the three statewide elected officials, Governor Corzine and, hail from Hudson County.

Education
Each municipality has a public. All but two have their own s. East Newark students attend and Guttenberg students attend. is a public secondary and adult vocational-technical school with locations in North Bergen, Jersey City, Union City and Harrison. Colleges and universities are, , , all in Jersey City, and in Hoboken. There are private and parochial elementary and secondary schools located throughout Hudson.

Transportation
The confluence of roads and railways of the megalopolis and  passing through Hudson County make it one of the 's major transportation crossroads and provide access to an extensive network of interstate highways, state freeways and toll roads, and  vehicular water crossings. Many long distance trains and buses pass through the county, though and the major national bus companies of  and  do not provide service within it. There many local, intra-state, and Manhattan-bound bus routes, an expanding light rail system, ferries traversing the Hudson, and commuter trains to North Jersey, the Jersey Shore, and Trenton. Much of the rail, surface transit, and ferry system is oriented to commuters traveling to, lower and midtown , and the Hudson Waterfront. Public transportation is operated by a variety of public and private corporations, notably, , and , each of which charge customers separately for their service.

Hubs
, at 32nd, 48th, and 91st Streets in,  and  in Jersey City are major public transportation hubs. The and  in midtown Manhattan, the  in lower Manhattan, and  also play important roles within the county's transportation network. provides access to eight commuter rail lines.

Rail

 * (HBLR) serves, , , and at the  waterfront, Bergenline  (/) and Tonnele Ave
 * Hoboken Division: (to Suffern, and in partnership with /, express service to Port Jervis),, and jointly with /,  (limited AM inbound and PM outbound service), all via ;  and ;  (limited service as );  (limited service)
 * Newark Division: and  can be reached via Secaucus Junction or


 * is a 24-hour subway mass transit system serving  (NWK), Harrison,  (JSQ), downtown Jersey City,  (HOB), midtown Manhattan (33rd) (along 6th Ave to Herald Square/), and  (WTC)

Water



 * ferry service, from Jersey City, Hoboken and Weehawken to and / in lower Manhattan, and to West 39th in midtown Manhattan, where free transfer is available to a variety of "loop" buses.
 * operates seasonal excursions to the and  from Liberty State Park
 * in Bayonne is one of three trans- passenger terminals in.

Road
Major highways include New Jersey Routes, , , , , , Interstates , , and , and U.S. Routes and , as well as the  and The. Automobile access to is available through the  (via  to midtown ) and the  (via Jersey City to lower Manhattan), and over the  to.

Air
is the closest of the metropolitan area's three major airports. and are located in, New York. and are general aviation airports closest the county.

Parks


There are nine county parks including Lincoln Park, Columbus Park, and North Hudson Park and the newest, Laurel Hill, home to. There are many municipal parks, some of which were developed as "city squares" during the 19th century. , the county's largest, is sited on land that had once been part of a vast oyster bed, was landfilled for industrial, rail, and maritime uses, and was reclaimed in the 1970s. Two promenades are being developed, the and. There are also wetlands preservation areas in the Meadowlands, most of which do not encourage public access.

Lenape
Hudson County was originally inhabited the or  (later named ), who practiced small-scale  to augment a largely mobile  society which likely, given the topography of the area, included much fishing and trapping. They were displaced by European settlers, whose purchase of their lands was misconstrued by both parties. Their can still be inferred in some local place names such as Communipaw, Hoboken, Weehawken, Secaucus.

New Netherland
, for whom the county and river on which it sits is named, established a claim for the area in 1609 when anchoring his ship the  (Half Moon) at and. The west bank of the North River (as it was called) and the cliffs, hills, and marshlands abutting and beyond it, were settled by Europeans (Dutch, Flemish, Walloon, Huguenot) from the around the same time as, in the mid 1600s. After Micheal Pauw, whose Latin-ized name gave the settlement its name, failed to populate his, or land-grant, homesteads were established at Communipaw (1633), Harisumus (1634), Hoebuck (1643), Awiehaken (1647), and other 'lands behind Kill van Kull' (1647). Relations were tenuous with the Lenape, with whom they engaged in a series of raids and reprisals, notably, which began as a raid on Pavonia and is considered to be the first genocide of Native Americans by Europeans. In 1658, Governor of  negotiated a deal with the Lenape to re-purchase the area named, "by the great rock above Wiehacken," then taking in the sweep of land on the peninsula west of the Hudson and east of the  extending down to the  in. In 1660, a charter was granted to build a village/garrison at the site of present-day, establishing what is considered to be the oldest self-governing municipality in New Jersey. The Dutch ceded control of province to the English in 1664.

The British and Early America
By 1675, The finalized the transfer and the area became part of the British colony of, in the administrative district of. The county's seat was transferred to in 1709. Small villages and farms supplied the burgeoning city of New York, across the river, notably with oysters from the vast beds in the Upper New York Bay, and fresh produce, sold at, in Manhattan. During the American Revolutionary War the area was under British control though colonialist troops used the heights to observe enemy movements. The, a surprise raid on a British fortification in 1779, was seen as an a victory and morale booster for revolutionary forces. ,, and other early American military figures and politicians met in area. Weehawken became notorious for duels, including the nation's most famous between and  in 1804. Border conflicts for control of the waterfront with New York (which claimed jurisdiction to the high water line and the granting of ferry concessions) restricted development though some urbanization took place in downtown Jersey City and Hoboken, which became a vacation spot for well-off New Yorkers. The, early steam railroads, and the devlopment of the harbor stimulated further growth. In September 1840, Hudson County was created by separation from Bergen and annexation of some Essex County lands. During the 19th century, Hudson played an integral role in the, with four routes converging in Jersey City.

Boundaries
Most of Hudson County, apart from the western municpalities not on the Bayonne Peninsula, was part of Bergen Township. Bergen Township was created by an Act of the on, , as one of the first group of 104 townships formed in New Jersey. . As originally constituted, Bergen Township included the area between the on the east, the  to the west, south to  and north to the present-day Hudson-Bergen border. For the next 127 years civic borders within the county took many forms, until they were finalized with the creation of Union City in 1925.

The City of Jersey was incorporated by an Act of the on, , from portions of , while the area was still a part of. The city was reincorporated on, , and again on , , at which time it became completely independent of North Bergen and was given its present name. On, , it became part of the newly-created Hudson County. As Jersey City grew, several neighboring communities were annexed:,  and  (both on , ), and.

North Bergen was incorporated as a township on, , by an Act of the , from. Portions of the township have been taken to form Hoboken Township (,, now the City of ), Hudson Town (, , later part of Hudson City), (, , later annexed by ),  (formed within the township on , , and set off as an independent municipality on , ),  ,  and  (both created on , ),   and.

Hoboken was established in 1804, and formed as a on, , from portions of  and incorporated as a full-fledged city, and in a referendum held on , , ratified an Act of the  signed the previous day, and the City of Hoboken was born.

Weehawken was formed as a township by an Act of the on, , from portions of  and. A portion of the township was ceded to Hoboken in 1874. Additional territory was annexed in 1879 from.

West New York was incorporated as a town by an Act of the on, , replacing , based on the results of a referendum held three days earlier.

Kearny was originally formed as a by an Act of the  on, , from portions of. Portions of the township were taken on, , to form. Kearny was incorporated as a town on, , based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.

Bayonne was originally formed as a on, , from portions of. Bayonne was reincorporated as a city by an Act of the on, , replacing Bayonne Township, subject to the results of a referendum held nine days later.

Union City was incorporated as a city by an Act of the on, , replacing both  and.

Urbanization and Immigration
During the latter half of the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries, Hudson experienced intense industrial, commercial and residential growth. Construction, first of ports, and later railroad terminals, in, , , and (which significantly altered the shoreline with ) fueled much of the development. European immigration, notably German-language speakers and Irish (many fleeing famine) initiated a population boom that would last for several decades.

Neighborhoods grew as farms, estates, and other holdings were sub-divided for housing, civic and religious architecture. Streets (some with trolley lines) were laid out. and were established.

Before the opening, in 1910, of the 's under the Hudson, trains terminated on the west bank of the river, requiring passengers and cargo to travel by ferry or barge to New York. Transfer to the tubes (now ) became possible upon its opening in 1908. , a national historic landmark originally built in 1907 by the to replace the previous one, is the only one of five major rail/ferry terminals that once dotted the waterfront still in operation. Terminal in Weehawken, Erie Railroad's and 's Exchange Place in Jersey City were all razed. 's Communipaw Terminal, across a small strait from  and, played a crucial role in the massive immigration of the period, with many newly-arrived departing the station to embark on their lives in America. Many, though, decided to stay, taking jobs on the docks, the railroads, the factories, the refineries, and in the and  of Manhattan. Many manufacturers, whose names read as a "who's who" in American industry established a presence, including, , , , and. , particularly Union City became the "embroidery capital of America". Secaucus boasted numerous pig farms and rendering plants. It was during this period that much of the housing stock, namely one and two family homes and low-rise apartment buildings, was built; municipal boundries finalized, neighborhoods established. Commercial corriders such as, Central, Newark and Ocean Avenues came into prominence. became an business, shopping, and entertainment mecca, home to, after which it is named, and movie palaces such as and.

World Wars and New Deals


Upon entry to World War I the US government took the piers in Hoboken under, and Hudson became the major point of embarkation for more than three million soldiers, known as "s". In 1916, an act of sabotage literally and figuratively shook the region when agents set off bombs at the munitions depot in New York Bay at. The fore-runner of was established on,. Huge transportation projects opened between the wars: The in 1927, The  in 1931, and The  in 1937, allowing vehicular travel between New Jersey and New York City to bypass the waterfront. Hackensack River crossings, notably the, were also built. What was to become opened. Major projects included construction of stadiums in Jersey City and Union City. Both were named for, who attended the opening of the largest project of them all, The , a massive complex built in the Style. During this era the "Hudson County Democratic Machine", known for its cronyism and corruption, with Jersey City mayor at its head was at its most powerful. Industries in Hudson were crucial to the war effort during WWII, including the manufacture by  in Bayonne. (MOTBY) was opened in 1942 as a U.S. military base an remained in operation until 1999.

Post War Years
After the war maritime and manufacturing industries still dominated the local economy, and union membership provided guarantees of good pay packages. Though some returning service men took advantage of GI housing bills and moved to close-by cookie-cutter suburbs, many with strong ethnic and familial ties chose to stay in the county. made his major league debut and broke the baseball color line at Roosevelt Stadium. Much of Hudson County experienced the phenomenon of some ethnic/economic groups leaving and being replaced by others, as was typical older communities of the New York Bay region. When the big businesses decided to follow them or vis-versa, Hudson County's socio-economic differences became more profound. By the early 1970s the old economic underpinnings were gone and nothing new seemed to be on the horizon. Attempts were made to stabilize the population by demolishing the so-called slums and build subsidized middle-income housing and the pockets of so-called "good neighborhoods" came in conflict with those that went into decline, leading to lower property values which allowed the next wave of immigrants, many from Latin America, to rent or buy cheap houses., particularly Union City, saw many emigrees fleeing the Cuban revolution take up residence. Riots occurred in Jersey City in 1964.

Pre/Post Millennium


The county since the mid-1990s has seen much real estate speculation and development and a population increase, as many new residents purchase exisitng housing stock as well as condominiums in high and mid rise developments, many along the waterfront. What had started as a in the 1980s became a full-blown "redevelopment" of the area as many suburbanites, transplanted Americans, internationals, and immigrants (most focused on opportunities in NY/NJ region and proximity to Manhattan) began to make the "Jersey" side of the Hudson their home, and the "real-estate boom" of the era encouraged many to seek investment opportunities. The exploitation of certain parts of the waterfront and other led to commercial development as well, especially along former rail yards. Hudson felt the short and long term impact of the destruction of the intensely: Its proximity to lower Manhattan made it a place to evacuate to, many residents who worked there lost their jobs (or their lives), and many companies sought office space across the river. Re-zoning, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, and New Jersey State land-use policy of have further spurred construction. Though very urban and with some of the highest residential densities in the United States the Hudson communities have remain fragmented, due in part to New Jersey's long history of home rule in local government; geographical factors such as Hudson River inlets/canals, the cliffs of the and rail lines; and ethnic/demographic differences in the population. As the county sees more development this tradtional perception is challenged.

Interesting Facts

 * The only city in Hudson that is among the most populated hundred cities in the United States is at sixty six. US Census
 * Of municipalities with over 50,000 people, is the most densely populated in the United States.
 * is the city with the second most hills per square mile in the United States behind.
 * has the second largest Cuban American population in the United States behind.
 * is the twenty first most racially diverse city in the United States and the most racially diverse on the.
 * Hudson has three communities on the list of the 100 cities (population 5,000 and up) with the highest percent of foreign-born residents: West New York (65.2%), Union City (58.7%), and Guttenberg (48.7%)