Bergenwood, North Bergen
Encyclopedia
Bergenwood is a long narrow district of North Bergen, New Jersey
in the northern central part of the township between Kennedy Boulevard
and Tonnelle Avenue, characterized by the steep slopes on the west side of the Hudson Palisades as they descend to the New Jersey Meadowlands
. It is here that North Bergen's distinction of being the US municipality with the most hills, second only to San Francisco, is evident. The unusual topography also makes for another oddity. The north-south streets in Bergenwood (and on much of the western slope of North Bergen) keep their names (Newkirk, Durham, Liberty, Columbia, and Grand among them) but often do not run contiguously, in some cases are broken up into seven or eight sections. (Addresses are taken from the numbered east-west streets which more or less follow the urban grid of North Hudson
municipalities.)
Bergenwood is a dense residential area of mostly two family homes built in the latter part of the 20th century dotted with small local parks and playgrounds. There are small clusters of highrises overlooking the Meadowlands
while on Tonnelle Avenue there are strip malls, motels, and other commercial activity. North Bergen High School
is located on Kennedy Boulevard, across from which is the Racetrack Section
. High Tech High School
(one of Hudson County Schools of Technology
) is located at the foot of 85th Street. Bergenwood is separated from Meadowview Section
, a neighborhood to its south by three cemeteries: Flower Hill Cemetery
, Grove Church Cemetery
and Machpelah Cemetery
, while its northern border is created by the Fairview Cemetery
at the Bergen County
line.
The name Bergenwood is reminiscent of the American colonial era when much of Jersey City Heights and North Hudson, New Jersey
was still a forest known as Bergen Woods. At that time it was still part of the Bergen County, the residents of which would pass through the woods between its larger towns at Bergen
and Hackensack
.
North Bergen, New Jersey
North Bergen is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 60,773. Originally founded in 1843, the town was much diminished in territory by a series of secessions. Situated on the Hudson Palisades, it is one...
in the northern central part of the township between Kennedy Boulevard
County Route 501 (New Jersey)
County Route 501 is a county highway in New Jersey in two sections spanning Middlesex, Hudson and Bergen Counties. The southern section runs from South Plainfield to Perth Amboy, the northern section runs from Bayonne to Rockleigh, and the two sections are connected by New York State Route 440...
and Tonnelle Avenue, characterized by the steep slopes on the west side of the Hudson Palisades as they descend to the New Jersey Meadowlands
New Jersey Meadowlands
New Jersey Meadowlands, also known as the Hackensack Meadowlands after the primary river flowing through it, is a general name for the large ecosystem of wetlands in northeast New Jersey in the United States. The Meadowlands are known for being the site of large landfills and decades of...
. It is here that North Bergen's distinction of being the US municipality with the most hills, second only to San Francisco, is evident. The unusual topography also makes for another oddity. The north-south streets in Bergenwood (and on much of the western slope of North Bergen) keep their names (Newkirk, Durham, Liberty, Columbia, and Grand among them) but often do not run contiguously, in some cases are broken up into seven or eight sections. (Addresses are taken from the numbered east-west streets which more or less follow the urban grid of North Hudson
North Hudson, New Jersey
North Hudson is the collective name of the municipalities of Weehawken , Union City , West New York , Guttenberg and North Bergen in Hudson County, New Jersey...
municipalities.)
Bergenwood is a dense residential area of mostly two family homes built in the latter part of the 20th century dotted with small local parks and playgrounds. There are small clusters of highrises overlooking the Meadowlands
New Jersey Meadowlands
New Jersey Meadowlands, also known as the Hackensack Meadowlands after the primary river flowing through it, is a general name for the large ecosystem of wetlands in northeast New Jersey in the United States. The Meadowlands are known for being the site of large landfills and decades of...
while on Tonnelle Avenue there are strip malls, motels, and other commercial activity. North Bergen High School
North Bergen High School
North Bergen High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade from North Bergen, in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the North Bergen School District....
is located on Kennedy Boulevard, across from which is the Racetrack Section
Racetrack Section, North Bergen
The Racetrack Section of North Bergen, New Jersey is a mostly residential district between Bergenline and Kennedy Boulevard. Its east-west streets follow the numbering of other North Hudson towns while its north-south streets are called avenues and are numbered First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth...
. High Tech High School
High Tech High School
High Tech High School is a full-time magnet public high school, located in North Bergen, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Hudson County Schools of Technology...
(one of Hudson County Schools of Technology
Hudson County Schools of Technology
The Hudson County Schools of Technology offer career and vocational training for public high school and adult students in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States....
) is located at the foot of 85th Street. Bergenwood is separated from Meadowview Section
New Durham, North Bergen
New Durham is an area of North Bergen, New Jersey near the foot of Union Turnpike and Bergen Turnpike, and south of the Tonnelle Avenue Station of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail...
, a neighborhood to its south by three cemeteries: Flower Hill Cemetery
Flower Hill Cemetery, North Bergen
Flower Hill Cemetery is located in North Bergen, New Jersey. It is cojoined with Hoboken Cemetery and Machpelah Cemetery.-Notable burials:*Ed Alberian children's television actor and entertainer...
, Grove Church Cemetery
Grove Church Cemetery
The Grove Church Cemetery is a nonsectarian cemetery, located on the western slope of the Hudson Palisades, along with several other cemeteries in a string of green open space, in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. The Grove Church, who owns the cemetery, is one of the oldest religious...
and Machpelah Cemetery
Machpelah Cemetery, North Bergen
The Machpelah Cemetery, also spelled as "Macpelah Cemetery", or "Macphelah Cemetery", is a cemetery in Hudson County, New Jersey.-Location:Machpelah Cemetery is located at 5810 Tonnelle Avenue, in North Bergen, New Jersey...
, while its northern border is created by the Fairview Cemetery
Fairview Cemetery
Fairview Cemetery may refer to:in Canada* Fairview Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotiain the United States* Fairview Cemetery , listed on the NRHP in Arkansas...
at the Bergen County
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
line.
The name Bergenwood is reminiscent of the American colonial era when much of Jersey City Heights and North Hudson, New Jersey
North Hudson, New Jersey
North Hudson is the collective name of the municipalities of Weehawken , Union City , West New York , Guttenberg and North Bergen in Hudson County, New Jersey...
was still a forest known as Bergen Woods. At that time it was still part of the Bergen County, the residents of which would pass through the woods between its larger towns at Bergen
Bergen Square
Bergen Square, at the intersection of Bergen Avenue and Academy Street in Jersey City, is in the southwestern part of the much larger Journal Square district...
and Hackensack
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
.