Cities in Bergen County

```mediawiki Cities in Bergen County, New Jersey, form a significant part of the state's urban and suburban fabric. Bergen County is one of the most populous counties in New Jersey, with 955,732 residents counted in the 2020 U.S. Census, and it comprises 70 municipalities ranging from small boroughs to mid-sized cities. From early colonial settlements along the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers to the rapid industrialization of the 19th century and the post-World War II suburban expansion, the cities of Bergen County have grown into centers of commerce, healthcare, education, and residential life. This article covers the history, geography, culture, economy, transportation, education, and demographics of the cities within Bergen County.

History

Bergen County's cities trace their origins to the early 17th century, when Dutch and English settlers established communities along the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers during the 1630s and 1660s. The area was initially part of New Netherland, a Dutch colonial territory, and later became part of the British-controlled Province of New Jersey after the Second Anglo-Dutch War in 1667. The founding of towns such as Hackensack and Paramus dates to this period, with early settlements centered around trade and agriculture. Before European arrival, the region was home to the Lenape people, who had inhabited the Hackensack and Passaic River valleys for thousands of years and whose place names survive in the county's geography to this day.

The Lenape connection to this land runs deep. The word "Hackensack" itself derives from a Lenape term, as do place names including Pascack, Ramapo, and Teaneck. The Lenape lived in villages along river corridors, relying on the Hackensack and Passaic for fishing and transportation. European settlement brought displacement through a combination of land purchases, treaty pressure, and disease, and by the mid-18th century the Lenape presence in what is now Bergen County had been largely extinguished. The scholarly record of this period is documented in Herbert C. Kraft's The Lenape: Archaeology, History, and Ethnography, published by the New Jersey Historical Society in 1986, which remains a standard reference for understanding indigenous life in the region before colonization.

By the late 18th century, Bergen County's towns had become stops along major post roads connecting New York and Philadelphia, supporting the movement of goods and troops during the American Revolution. The county's strategic position along the Hudson River made it a contested zone between British and Continental forces. One of the war's more consequential episodes unfolded here in November 1776, when General George Washington led his retreating Continental Army across the Hackensack River at New Bridge following the fall of Fort Lee. That retreat, documented in Adrian C. Leiby's The Revolutionary War in the Hackensack Valley, preserved the army's fighting capacity and set the conditions for Washington's subsequent victories at Trenton and Princeton. Skirmishes and encampments occurred across the county throughout the war, and the area's divided loyalties gave rise to what Leiby called the "neutral ground," a zone where neither side could claim full control.

Hackensack was formally incorporated as a city in 1868, making it one of the earlier municipalities in the region to achieve city status, though it was reincorporated under a revised charter in 1921. The 19th and 20th centuries brought significant growth to Bergen County's cities, driven by railroad expansion and the rise of industries including textiles, manufacturing, and trade. The development of Hudson River port connections and rail lines running through the county strengthened its economic ties to New York City.

Suburbanization accelerated sharply after World War II. Fair Lawn, incorporated in 1924, saw rapid population growth as returning veterans and their families sought affordable housing near Manhattan employment centers. Leonia, incorporated in 1894, followed a similar pattern, transitioning from a rural township to a close-knit suburban borough within a generation. Both municipalities were transformed by federally backed mortgage programs and the expansion of automobile infrastructure that characterized post-war American development across the northeastern United States. Today, the historical legacy of these cities is preserved through institutions such as the Bergen County Historical Society and the county's Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs, which maintain archives, landmarks, and public programs documenting the region's colonial past and industrial development.

Geography

Bergen County is situated in the northeastern corner of New Jersey, bordered by the Hudson River to the east, the Passaic River to the south, and Rockland County, New York, to the north. Its geography is more varied than the flat suburban image the county sometimes carries. The western portions rise into the Ramapo Mountains, part of the larger Appalachian chain, while the central and eastern sections are dominated by the low-lying Hackensack Valley, a product of glacial activity during the last ice age. This valley, drained by the Hackensack River, historically attracted settlement and industry, and it remains the county's most densely developed zone.

Major waterways have shaped city development throughout the county's history. The Hackensack River runs south through the heart of the county, passing through or near Hackensack, Teaneck, and several other municipalities. The Passaic River forms part of the county's southern boundary and historically served as a transportation corridor linking interior communities to the broader regional economy. The Hudson River's western shoreline defines the county's eastern edge, where communities like Edgewater and Fort Lee sit on the Palisades cliffs overlooking Manhattan.

Bergen County's transportation infrastructure reflects its geography directly. The New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and the Palisades Interstate Parkway all pass through the county, connecting its cities to New York City and other parts of New Jersey. The George Washington Bridge, which connects Fort Lee to upper Manhattan, carries one of the heaviest traffic volumes of any bridge in the United States and serves as the primary link between Bergen County and New York City. This combination of river access, flat valley terrain, and proximity to Manhattan has made Bergen County a natural location for dense residential development and has shaped its role as one of the New York metropolitan area's primary commuter counties.

Culture

The cultural life of Bergen County's cities reflects their long history of immigration and ethnic diversity. From the early Dutch and English settlers to successive waves of immigrants arriving through the 19th and 20th centuries, the region developed a wide range of traditions, languages, and artistic communities. Cities such as Teaneck have earned recognition for their commitment to diversity and progressive civic culture. Teaneck became in 1964 the first municipality in the United States to voluntarily desegregate its public schools, a distinction still cited as a defining part of the town's identity.

Festivals and community events highlight the range of cultures present across the county. Events such as the Hackensack River Festival bring together residents to celebrate local heritage and the natural environment. Bergen County's cities also support active religious communities spanning Christian denominations, Jewish congregations, Muslim mosques, Hindu temples, and Korean Protestant churches, all of which contribute to the region's religious and cultural plurality. This shows directly in the county's restaurant scene, which includes Korean barbecue corridors along Broad Avenue in Palisades Park, Indian dining concentrated in Fort Lee, and traditional Italian and Jewish delis scattered throughout the older boroughs.

Music is woven into the county's civic identity as well. Jack Antonoff, born in Bergenfield and raised in New Milford and Woodcliff Lake, started his career in the indie rock band Steel Train before co-founding the pop group Fun., which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with "We Are Young" in 2012. He has since fronted Bleachers and built a parallel career as one of the most sought-after record producers in popular music, with production credits on albums by Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, and others. As of 2024, he holds five Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. Bergen County residents take considerable pride in that record.

The arts are well represented at the institutional level. The Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) in Englewood hosts national touring acts and serves as one of the primary live music venues in the county, presenting performers ranging from classical ensembles to major pop and rock acts. Local government initiatives aimed at preserving historical sites and supporting arts education have kept these programs active even during periods of municipal budget pressure.

Notable Residents

Bergen County has produced and attracted a notable range of figures in entertainment, science, business, and public life.

In music, Jack Antonoff stands out as one of the county's most recognized contemporary figures. Born in Bergenfield and raised in New Milford and Woodcliff Lake, Antonoff began his career in the indie rock band Steel Train before co-founding the pop group Fun., which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with "We Are Young" in 2012. He has since fronted Bleachers and built a separate career as one of the most sought-after record producers in popular music, with credits on albums by Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, and others. As of 2024, he holds five Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.

Frank Langella, the actor known for his Tony Award-winning stage performances and his Academy Award-nominated role in Frost/Nixon (2008), spent formative years in Bergen County after being born in Bayonne. His career in theater and film has spanned more than five decades.

In the realm of medicine and public education, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, sex therapist, author, and broadcaster, built much of her public career while based in the New York metropolitan area and maintained strong ties to the Bergen County region through speaking engagements and community work in education and public health.

These individuals represent a broader tradition of creative and professional achievement rooted in Bergen County communities.

Economy

Bergen County's economy is anchored by healthcare, retail, professional services, and technology. Its proximity to New York City has historically made it attractive to businesses seeking lower operating costs than Manhattan while retaining access to the city's labor market and financial infrastructure.

Healthcare is the county's single largest employment sector. Hackensack University Medical Center, part of Hackensack Meridian Health, is among the largest hospitals in New Jersey and functions as a major regional employer, drawing patients and medical professionals from across the tri-state area. The healthcare sector as a whole contributes billions of dollars annually to the local economy.

Retail is another cornerstone. Bergen County hosts some of the highest retail sales volumes in New Jersey, driven by Route 4 and Route 17 commercial corridors in Paramus. Paramus's concentration of major shopping malls, including Garden State Plaza and Paramus Park, generates substantial sales tax revenue, which the borough uses to keep residential property taxes among the lowest in the county. State law prohibits most retail operations in Paramus on Sundays, a blue law holdover that has done little to diminish the borough's status as one of the busiest retail destinations in the northeastern United States.

Technology and professional services have expanded significantly in recent decades. Companies including IBM have maintained offices in Bergen County, and the county's access to transit corridors and a highly educated workforce continues to attract corporate tenants. Fairleigh Dickinson University, with its metropolitan and Florham campuses, produces graduates in engineering, business, and information technology who feed directly into the regional employment base. Small businesses, including family restaurants, independent retailers, and professional service firms, remain a visible part of the economic fabric across nearly every municipality.

Hackensack, the county seat, has seen particularly active redevelopment in recent years. New residential towers and mixed-use projects have transformed sections of the downtown, and the city's proximity to NJ Transit rail service has made it an increasingly attractive destination for younger professionals priced out of New York City neighborhoods. The housing market across the county reflects substantial variation by municipality. Median home values in Ridgewood have reached roughly $1.2 million, while communities such as Paramus sit closer to $1 million, and more moderately priced municipalities like Washington Township fall in the $800,000 range, according to recent market data. That spread shows the county's socioeconomic complexity better than any single statistic can.

Transportation

Bergen County's cities are connected by one of the more comprehensive transportation networks in the state, reflecting their long function as a commuter zone for New York City. The George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee is the primary vehicular crossing to Manhattan and one of the busiest bridges in the world. The New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and the Palisades Interstate Parkway provide major highway access to points south, north, and west.

NJ Transit operates several rail lines serving Bergen County, including the Main Line, the Bergen County Line, and the Pascack Valley Line. These services connect commuters in communities like Ridgewood, Ramsey, and Park Ridge to Hoboken Terminal and Penn Station New York. Bus service provided by NJ Transit supplements rail access across the county, particularly in municipalities without train stations. The Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) system, while centered slightly to the south, is accessible from several Bergen County communities via connecting bus routes.

For air travel, Newark Liberty International Airport serves as the closest major airport to the county, with direct service to domestic and international destinations. Teterboro Airport, located within Bergen County in the borough of Teterboro, serves private and charter aviation and is one of the busiest general aviation airports on the East Coast.

The county also has a notable maritime history. In 2004, the Voyager of the Seas departed from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, technically in Hudson County but closely tied to the Bergen County region, marking the first passenger cruise ship departure from a New Jersey port in nearly 40 years. That departure helped establish Cape Liberty as a viable alternative to the Manhattan cruise terminals and set the stage for the port's subsequent growth as a regional embarkation point