Kearny, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Kearny is a town
in Hudson County
, New Jersey
, United States. It was named after Civil War
general Philip Kearny
. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark
.
Kearny was originally formed as a township
by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on April 8, 1867, from portions of Harrison Township
. Portions of the township were taken on July 3, 1895, to form East Newark
. Kearny was incorporated as a town on January 19, 1899, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 10.19 square miles (26.4 km²), of which, 9.14 square miles (23.7 km²) of it is land and 1.05 square miles (2.7 km²) of it (10.30%) is water. The town is bordered by East Newark
, Harrison and North Arlington
. The Passaic River separates it from Newark
and Belleville
, and the Hackensack River separates it from Jersey City
.
The town is varied in topography and roughly divided into three parts: the Kearny Uplands
, the Kearny Meadows, and Kearny Point. Main thoroughfares include the eponymous Kearny Avenue (the local segment of Ridge Road / Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard), Bergen Avenue, Midland Avenue, Schuyler Avenue
and Passaic Avenue.
A number of small parks running along Passaic River
) are collectively called Riverbank Park
. The largest, located on the colloquial "Bunnyland Hill", is a gift from Kearny's veterans. It is named after a small zoo named Bunnyland, which was maintained by the local Kiwanis Club, that occupied part of the present Bunnyland Hill in the 20th century. During Kearny's Fourth of July
celebrations (which include a fireworks display), Bunnyland Hill is the primary gathering spot for celebrants and observers. The largest park is West Hudson Park, shared with Harrison
, which contains a variety of sports fields, recreational areas, and an artificial pond. The next largest recreational zone is the Kearny Playground at Gunnel Oval.
after his old home. As was the custom of the times, the Major paid Chief Tantaqua of the Hackensack Indians 20 English Pounds Sterling for all their reserve rights and titles. It would seem these transactions made Major Sandford Kearny's first citizen and founder. William Sandford died in 1690.
In 1710, Sanford's friend Major Nathaniel Kingsland sold the upper western tract of the Grant for 300 English Pounds Sterling to Captain Arent Schuyler
, having purchased the property two years earlier. The new purchase included present-day Kearny, North Arlington
, Lyndhurst
and Kingsland.
Shortly after Schuyler's purchase of his new homestead, a peculiar green stone was uncovered. It was sent to England for analysis and he learned that that it contained 80% copper. His opening of a copper mine brought the first steam engine to America from England; it was used to pump out the deep mine shaft. The engine was secretly delivered by its engineer, Josiah Hornblower
. The engine and mines were destroyed by fire in 1772 and remained idle for some years.
Schuyler Mansion played a role during the American Revolutionary War
Era. When Lord Howe of England took possession of New York Harbor
, the nearness of Schuyler Mansion drew many of his officers. They generally traveled over a road that today is referred to as the Belleville Turnpike. It was originally made of cedar logs from the nearby swamps in 1759.
During September 1777, General Henry Clinton
, head of the British Expeditionary Forces in America, selected Schuyler Mansion for his headquarters during one of his more important raiding operations which included the famed Battle of Second River. The Mansion stood until 1924, a period of 214 years, when it was torn down by a land development company, despite the company's offers to transfer the land an organization that would be able to pay to maintain the property.
On April 8, 1867, the first election of town officers was held. General N. M. Halsted was elected Chairman. The first official seat of Government was three rooms in the old Lodi Hotel, on the northeast corner of Schuyler and Harrison Avenues.
In the early 1870s, Kearny erected its first Town Hall, on the corner of Kearny and Woodland Avenues, the present site of the Knox Presbyterian Church Parish Hall. This served as a Town Hall, Court House, and Schoolhouse. The Minute Book of the Township states on August 16, 1870, the first step toward establishing Kearny's present public school system was taken. The first schoolhouse was housed in the Town Hall built at Kearny and Woodland Avenues in 1873.
When the town's growth demanded larger quarters, the present Kearny Town Hall, built of Indiana limestone, was erected in 1909.
The town's nickname, "Soccer Town, U.S.A." is derived from a soccer tradition that originated in the mid-1870s, when thousands of Scottish and Irish immigrants settled in the town, after two Scottish companies, Clark Thread Company
and Nairn Linoleum, opened two local mills and a factory.
The Kearny Museum
mounts exhibitions related to the history and culture of the town.
The early influx and development of industry in Kearny dates back to 1875 when the Clark Thread Company of Paisley
in Scotland
extended its activities to the United States by erecting two large mills in Kearny, and adding two others in 1890. These mills brought to Kearny thousands of Scots immigrants. Many of them would play on Kearny's soccer teams in National Association Football League. Many are buried at Arlington Memorial Park
in the Kearny Uplands
.
In 1876, the Mile End Thread Mills started operating, giving employment to several hundred operators.
In 1883, the Marshall Flax Spinning Company of England erected a large plant in Kearny, known as the Linen Thread Company. Their need for experienced flax spinners brought an influx of workers from other sections of the British Isles
. Families of those early textile workers were the nucleus of Kearny's present population.
The Puraline Manufacturing Company, later called the Arlington Company, which became a subsidiary of E. I. DuPont de Nemours Company
, had purchased a large tract of land east of the Arlington Station on the Erie Railroad extending well out, north of the railroad embankment, into the meadowland.
In 1887, Sir Michael Nairn established the Nairn Linoleum
Company of Kirkcaldy
in Scotland, now the Congoleum Nairn Company of Kearny, giving further impetus to local industrial growth.
The Highland Hose No. 4
firehouse which is now on the National Register of Historic Places
list was built in 1895.
In 1902, the Lovell-Dressel Company, manufacturers of marine and railway lamps and fixtures, located in Kearny adjacent to the Erie Railroad
.
Other industries which located in Kearny include: Swift & Company, Koppers Company, Theobald Industries, Standard Tool & Manufacturing
, Wilkata Box Company, Harris Steel Company and L & R Manufacturing. Between 1926 and 1986 the Kearny Works of Western Electric
employed thousands in producing a variety of hardware and supplies for the Bell System
and was the home of the "Kearny Standard" for tools and equipment.
Cargo ships were built at Kearny Yards
during World War I
, and warships during World War II
.
of 2000, there were 40,513 people, 13,539 households, and 9,802 families residing in the town. The population density
was 4,433.2 people per square mile (1,711.4/km²). There were 13,872 housing units at an average density of 1,518.0 per square mile (586.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.75% White, 3.97% African American, 0.37% Native American, 5.50% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 10.04% from other races
, and 4.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.34% of the population.
There were 13,539 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 106.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,757, and the median income for a family was $54,596. Males had a median income of $38,672 versus $30,620 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,886. About 6.1% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor
and Town Council comprising eight council members. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Town Council is elected by the voters in partisan elections, two from each of the four wards, on a staggered basis for two-year terms, with one seat from each ward coming up for election each year.
The Mayor and Council operate on a legislative basis, with the Mayor having veto power. The day-to-day operations fall within the jurisdiction of the Town Administrator whose duties are specified by local ordinance, and who generally carries out the policies adopted by the Mayor and Council.
, the Mayor of Kearny is Al Santos
, who has been Mayor of Kearny since January 1, 2000. Before his election as mayor, Santos served as councilman of Kearny's Second Ward for one year. Members of the Town Council are:
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
Kearny is in Hudson County's 9th freeholder district.
is dedicated to the education of the more than 5,000 culturally diverse students in the district in preschool through 12th grade. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are six elementary schools —
Franklin School (PreK-8; 1,027),
Garfield School (PreK-6; 591 students),
Lincoln School (PreK-8; 748),
Roosevelt School (PreK-6; 463),
Schuyler School (PreK-6; 484) and
Washington School (PreK-8; 657) — and
Kearny High School (9-12; 1,774).
. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax
rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide).
offers bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal
in Midtown Manhattan
and to other New Jersey communities. Bus service to Newark
is available on the 1, 30, 40, 43, 76 and 80 routes.
The Belleville Turnpike (Route 7) forms the northern border of the town with North Arlington
. Kearny Avenue passes through the town and continues north as Ridge Road, the beginning of NJ 17. The Essex Freeway (I-280)
passes through the town and ends at Interstate 95(W)
(the New Jersey Turnpike
Eastern & Western Spurs) at Exit 15W. The 15W tollgate is located in Kearny, with a total of 14 lanes at the gate.
The closest airport with scheduled passenger service is Newark Liberty International Airport
, located 6.5 miles (10.5 km) away in Newark
and Elizabeth
.
Kearny was formerly served by the Boonton Line
which stopped at the now abandoned Arlington Station
. New Jersey Transit discontinued service in 2002 when the Montclair Connection
was opened. Through the early 1970s trains also stopped at a second station along this route known as West Arlington. This station was just to the east of the now abandoned WR movable bridge. Prior to April 30, 1967, a station in South Kearny, was served by the Central Railroad of New Jersey
. This station was popular with employees of the giant Western Electric
plant, and other industries in the area. In the final years of this service a pair of rush hour trains ran in each direction between South Kearny, and the CNJ's Broad Street Station in downtown Newark, as well as a single rush hour round trip between South Kearny, and Plainfield. This train operated via Elizabethport, and the CNJ main line.
filmed partially in Kearny. One of its buildings was used for Satriale’s pork store. It was later razed to prepare for a condominium development.
Town (New Jersey)
A Town in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government...
in Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States. It was named after Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
general Philip Kearny
Philip Kearny
Philip Kearny, Jr., was a United States Army officer, notable for his leadership in the Mexican-American War and American Civil War. He was killed in action in the 1862 Battle of Chantilly.-Early life and career:...
. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
.
Kearny was originally formed as a township
Township (New Jersey)
A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...
by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on April 8, 1867, from portions of Harrison Township
Harrison Township, Hudson County, New Jersey
Harrison Township was created by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 13, 1840, and was part of Hudson County which was created from portions of Bergen County, on February 22, 1840....
. Portions of the township were taken on July 3, 1895, to form East Newark
East Newark, New Jersey
East Newark is a borough in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,406. The borough is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
. Kearny was incorporated as a town on January 19, 1899, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.
Geography
Kearny is located at 40°45′47"N 74°8′14"W (40.763051, -74.137187).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 10.19 square miles (26.4 km²), of which, 9.14 square miles (23.7 km²) of it is land and 1.05 square miles (2.7 km²) of it (10.30%) is water. The town is bordered by East Newark
East Newark, New Jersey
East Newark is a borough in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,406. The borough is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
, Harrison and North Arlington
North Arlington, New Jersey
North Arlington is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 15,392...
. The Passaic River separates it from Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and Belleville
Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville is a Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 35,926.-History:...
, and the Hackensack River separates it from Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
.
The town is varied in topography and roughly divided into three parts: the Kearny Uplands
Kearny Uplands
The “Uplands” district of Kearny, New Jersey is the residential area in the northwestern portion of town, on a the ridge between the Kearny Meadows and the Passaic River. along which runs Riverbank Park. Some sections are graced with fine Victorian and manor homes; others have homes indicative of...
, the Kearny Meadows, and Kearny Point. Main thoroughfares include the eponymous Kearny Avenue (the local segment of Ridge Road / Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard), Bergen Avenue, Midland Avenue, Schuyler Avenue
County Route 507 (New Jersey)
County Route 507 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Harrison Avenue on the Kearny-Harrison town line to the New York state line in Mahwah. Between Ho-Ho-Kus and Mahwah, this highway is known as Franklin Turnpike...
and Passaic Avenue.
A number of small parks running along Passaic River
Passaic River
The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey,...
) are collectively called Riverbank Park
Kearny Riverbank Park
Kearny Riverbank Park is a municipal linear park along the Passaic River in Kearny, New Jersey. It is located in the Kearny Uplands north of Bergen Avenue and was extended to Belleville Turnpike in 2011 with brownfield reclamation projects...
. The largest, located on the colloquial "Bunnyland Hill", is a gift from Kearny's veterans. It is named after a small zoo named Bunnyland, which was maintained by the local Kiwanis Club, that occupied part of the present Bunnyland Hill in the 20th century. During Kearny's Fourth of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
celebrations (which include a fireworks display), Bunnyland Hill is the primary gathering spot for celebrants and observers. The largest park is West Hudson Park, shared with Harrison
Harrison, New Jersey
Harrison is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 13,620. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark, New Jersey.-Geography:Harrison is located at ....
, which contains a variety of sports fields, recreational areas, and an artificial pond. The next largest recreational zone is the Kearny Playground at Gunnel Oval.
Colonial roots
The area of Kearny Township, created in 1867, had been part of the original Crown Grant of 30000 acres (121.4 km²) obtained by Major William Sandford of Barbadoes Island on July 4, 1668. Major Sandford named it New Barbadoes NeckNew Barbadoes Neck
New Barbadoes Neck is the name given in the colonial era for the peninsula in northeastern New Jersey, USA between the lower Hackensack and Passaic Rivers, in what is now western Hudson County and southern Bergen County...
after his old home. As was the custom of the times, the Major paid Chief Tantaqua of the Hackensack Indians 20 English Pounds Sterling for all their reserve rights and titles. It would seem these transactions made Major Sandford Kearny's first citizen and founder. William Sandford died in 1690.
In 1710, Sanford's friend Major Nathaniel Kingsland sold the upper western tract of the Grant for 300 English Pounds Sterling to Captain Arent Schuyler
Arent Schuyler
Arent Schuyler was born in Rensselaerswyck , New York on June 25, 1662 and died in Belleville, New Jersey on November 26, 1730. A member of the influential Schuyler family , during his life-time he was a surveyor, "Indian agent", miner, merchant, and land speculator.Schuyler participated in the...
, having purchased the property two years earlier. The new purchase included present-day Kearny, North Arlington
North Arlington, New Jersey
North Arlington is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 15,392...
, Lyndhurst
Lyndhurst, New Jersey
Lyndhurst is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 20,554.Lyndhurst was originally formed as Union Township on February 19, 1852 from portions of Harrison Township...
and Kingsland.
Shortly after Schuyler's purchase of his new homestead, a peculiar green stone was uncovered. It was sent to England for analysis and he learned that that it contained 80% copper. His opening of a copper mine brought the first steam engine to America from England; it was used to pump out the deep mine shaft. The engine was secretly delivered by its engineer, Josiah Hornblower
Josiah Hornblower
Josiah Hornblower was an English engineer and statesman in America Belleville, New Jersey. He was a delegate for New Jersey in the Continental Congress in 1785 and 1786.-Engineering career :...
. The engine and mines were destroyed by fire in 1772 and remained idle for some years.
Schuyler Mansion played a role during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
Era. When Lord Howe of England took possession of New York Harbor
Port of New York and New Jersey
The Port of New York and New Jersey comprises the waterways in the estuary of the New York-Newark metropolitan area with a port district encompassing an approximate area within a radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument...
, the nearness of Schuyler Mansion drew many of his officers. They generally traveled over a road that today is referred to as the Belleville Turnpike. It was originally made of cedar logs from the nearby swamps in 1759.
During September 1777, General Henry Clinton
Henry Clinton (American War of Independence)
General Sir Henry Clinton KB was a British army officer and politician, best known for his service as a general during the American War of Independence. First arriving in Boston in May 1775, from 1778 to 1782 he was the British Commander-in-Chief in North America...
, head of the British Expeditionary Forces in America, selected Schuyler Mansion for his headquarters during one of his more important raiding operations which included the famed Battle of Second River. The Mansion stood until 1924, a period of 214 years, when it was torn down by a land development company, despite the company's offers to transfer the land an organization that would be able to pay to maintain the property.
19th century
In the middle 19th century, Kearny was the upper, or northern, section of the Township of Harrison. A prominent citizen and resident of the upper section, General N. M. Halsted, felt it was impossible under these political conditions for his section to obtain proper recognition. He engaged an energetic campaign for an independent township. He succeeded when the NJ Legislature of 1867 on March 14, adopted “an act creating the Township of Kearny”. The town was named to honor Major General Phil Kearny, Commander of the New Jersey Forces in the Civil War and the owner of the mansion known as Belle Grove (or Belgrove), locally called "Kearny Castle".On April 8, 1867, the first election of town officers was held. General N. M. Halsted was elected Chairman. The first official seat of Government was three rooms in the old Lodi Hotel, on the northeast corner of Schuyler and Harrison Avenues.
In the early 1870s, Kearny erected its first Town Hall, on the corner of Kearny and Woodland Avenues, the present site of the Knox Presbyterian Church Parish Hall. This served as a Town Hall, Court House, and Schoolhouse. The Minute Book of the Township states on August 16, 1870, the first step toward establishing Kearny's present public school system was taken. The first schoolhouse was housed in the Town Hall built at Kearny and Woodland Avenues in 1873.
When the town's growth demanded larger quarters, the present Kearny Town Hall, built of Indiana limestone, was erected in 1909.
The town's nickname, "Soccer Town, U.S.A." is derived from a soccer tradition that originated in the mid-1870s, when thousands of Scottish and Irish immigrants settled in the town, after two Scottish companies, Clark Thread Company
Clark Thread Company Historic District
The Clark Thread Company Historic District, located at 900 Passaic Avenue, East Newark, New Jersey, is a large mill complex. The company originally started in Newark, New Jersey as an offshoot of the Clark Thread Company of Paisley, Scotland and then expanded into these buildings in 1875. There...
and Nairn Linoleum, opened two local mills and a factory.
The Kearny Museum
Kearny Museum
The Kearny Public Library is free public library of Kearny, New Jersey. Containing a collection of 85254 volumes it serves a population of approximately 46,000 from two locations and circulates 64,808 items annually...
mounts exhibitions related to the history and culture of the town.
Factory town
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
extended its activities to the United States by erecting two large mills in Kearny, and adding two others in 1890. These mills brought to Kearny thousands of Scots immigrants. Many of them would play on Kearny's soccer teams in National Association Football League. Many are buried at Arlington Memorial Park
Arlington Memorial Park
Arlington Memorial Park is a cemetery located mostly in Kearny in Hudson County, New Jersey, on Schuyler Avenue. A small portion of the cemetery is located across Belleville Turnpike in North Arlington in Bergen County....
in the Kearny Uplands
Kearny Uplands
The “Uplands” district of Kearny, New Jersey is the residential area in the northwestern portion of town, on a the ridge between the Kearny Meadows and the Passaic River. along which runs Riverbank Park. Some sections are graced with fine Victorian and manor homes; others have homes indicative of...
.
In 1876, the Mile End Thread Mills started operating, giving employment to several hundred operators.
In 1883, the Marshall Flax Spinning Company of England erected a large plant in Kearny, known as the Linen Thread Company. Their need for experienced flax spinners brought an influx of workers from other sections of the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. Families of those early textile workers were the nucleus of Kearny's present population.
The Puraline Manufacturing Company, later called the Arlington Company, which became a subsidiary of E. I. DuPont de Nemours Company
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
, had purchased a large tract of land east of the Arlington Station on the Erie Railroad extending well out, north of the railroad embankment, into the meadowland.
In 1887, Sir Michael Nairn established the Nairn Linoleum
Linoleum
Linoleum is a floor covering made from renewable materials such as solidified linseed oil , pine rosin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most commonly on a burlap or canvas backing; pigments are often added to the materials.The finest linoleum floors,...
Company of Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
in Scotland, now the Congoleum Nairn Company of Kearny, giving further impetus to local industrial growth.
The Highland Hose No. 4
Highland Hose No. 4
Highland Hose No. 4, is located in Kearny, New Jersey. The firehouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 29, 1987. The firehouse was constructed in 1894 to be used by Highland Hose No. 4. The firehouse is currently used as a meeting hall for the Firemen's Mutual Benevolent...
firehouse which is now on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
list was built in 1895.
In 1902, the Lovell-Dressel Company, manufacturers of marine and railway lamps and fixtures, located in Kearny adjacent to the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
.
Other industries which located in Kearny include: Swift & Company, Koppers Company, Theobald Industries, Standard Tool & Manufacturing
Standard Tool & Manufacturing
Standard Tool & Manufacturing was a Swedish-American Tool company and main supplier of electronics to R.C.A. based in Kearny, New Jersey, USA.-History:...
, Wilkata Box Company, Harris Steel Company and L & R Manufacturing. Between 1926 and 1986 the Kearny Works of Western Electric
Western Electric
Western Electric Company was an American electrical engineering company, the manufacturing arm of AT&T from 1881 to 1995. It was the scene of a number of technological innovations and also some seminal developments in industrial management...
employed thousands in producing a variety of hardware and supplies for the Bell System
Bell System
The Bell System was the American Bell Telephone Company and then, subsequently, AT&T led system which provided telephone services to much of the United States and Canada from 1877 to 1984, at various times as a monopoly. In 1984, the company was broken up into separate companies, by a U.S...
and was the home of the "Kearny Standard" for tools and equipment.
Cargo ships were built at Kearny Yards
Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
The Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company was a United States shipyard, active from 1917 to 1949. During World War II, it built ships as part of the U.S. Government's Emergency Shipbuilding Program. Operated by a subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation, the shipyard was located at...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and warships during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 40,513 people, 13,539 households, and 9,802 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,433.2 people per square mile (1,711.4/km²). There were 13,872 housing units at an average density of 1,518.0 per square mile (586.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.75% White, 3.97% African American, 0.37% Native American, 5.50% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 10.04% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.34% of the population.
There were 13,539 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 106.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,757, and the median income for a family was $54,596. Males had a median income of $38,672 versus $30,620 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $20,886. About 6.1% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Kearny is governed under the TownTown (New Jersey)
A Town in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government...
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and Town Council comprising eight council members. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Town Council is elected by the voters in partisan elections, two from each of the four wards, on a staggered basis for two-year terms, with one seat from each ward coming up for election each year.
The Mayor and Council operate on a legislative basis, with the Mayor having veto power. The day-to-day operations fall within the jurisdiction of the Town Administrator whose duties are specified by local ordinance, and who generally carries out the policies adopted by the Mayor and Council.
, the Mayor of Kearny is Al Santos
Al Santos (mayor)
Alberto G. Santos is the Mayor of Kearny, New Jersey, and a Democrat. Santos formerly served as councilman of Kearny's Second Ward for one year. Santos was elected Mayor in 2000, and then re-elected in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2009.-Background:...
, who has been Mayor of Kearny since January 1, 2000. Before his election as mayor, Santos served as councilman of Kearny's Second Ward for one year. Members of the Town Council are:
- Council members 1st Ward: Alexa Arce and Albino Cardoso
- Council members 2nd Ward: Laura Cifelli-Pettigrew and Madeline Peyko
- Council members 3rd Ward: Carol Jean Doyle and Eileen Eckel
- Council members 4th Ward: Michael D. Landy and Susan McCurrie
Federal, state and county representation
Kearny is part of both the Ninth and Thirteenth Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 32nd state legislative district. The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment CommissionNew Jersey Apportionment Commission
The New Jersey Apportionment Commission is a constitutionally-created ten-member commission responsible for apportioning the forty districts of the New Jersey Legislature. The commission is convened after each decennial U.S. Census, and the districts are to be in use for the legislative elections...
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
Kearny is in Hudson County's 9th freeholder district.
Education
Public
The Kearny School DistrictKearny School District
The Kearny School District is a public school district that provides public education for students from the Town of Kearny, in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States....
is dedicated to the education of the more than 5,000 culturally diverse students in the district in preschool through 12th grade. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are six elementary schools —
Franklin School (PreK-8; 1,027),
Garfield School (PreK-6; 591 students),
Lincoln School (PreK-8; 748),
Roosevelt School (PreK-6; 463),
Schuyler School (PreK-6; 484) and
Washington School (PreK-8; 657) — and
Kearny High School (9-12; 1,774).
Private
Schools in Kearny include:- Kearny Christian Academy
- Mt. Carmel Guild School
- Mater Dei Academy (St. Stephen's and Holy Cross), part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of NewarkRoman Catholic Archdiocese of NewarkThe Archdiocese of Newark is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in northern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of the Catholic parishes and schools in the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Union, Hudson and Essex .-History:Originally established as the Diocese of...
. - The Little Neighborhood Learning Center
- Happy Time Preschool & Day Care
Library and museum
The Kearny Public Library is one of New Jersey's remaining Carnegie libraries, and houses a museum on its third floor which focuses on local history and has a collection of artifacts related to the town's namesake.Commerce
Portions of Kearny are part of an Urban Enterprise ZoneUrban Enterprise Zone
In the United States, Urban Enterprise Zones , also known as Enterprise Zones, are intended to encourage development in blighted neighborhoods through tax and regulatory relief to entrepreneurs and investors who launch businesses in the area. UEZs are areas where companies can locate free of...
. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide).
Transportation
New Jersey TransitNew Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
offers bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal
Port Authority Bus Terminal
The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City...
in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
and to other New Jersey communities. Bus service to Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
is available on the 1, 30, 40, 43, 76 and 80 routes.
The Belleville Turnpike (Route 7) forms the northern border of the town with North Arlington
North Arlington, New Jersey
North Arlington is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 15,392...
. Kearny Avenue passes through the town and continues north as Ridge Road, the beginning of NJ 17. The Essex Freeway (I-280)
Interstate 280 (New Jersey)
Interstate 280 is a Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It provides a spur from I-80 in Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County to Newark, and I-95 Interstate 280 (abbreviated I-280) is a Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It provides a spur from I-80 in...
passes through the town and ends at Interstate 95(W)
Interstate 95 in New Jersey
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway that traverses the full extent of the East Coast of the United States, from Florida to Maine...
(the New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
Eastern & Western Spurs) at Exit 15W. The 15W tollgate is located in Kearny, with a total of 14 lanes at the gate.
The closest airport with scheduled passenger service is Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
, located 6.5 miles (10.5 km) away in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and Elizabeth
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
.
Kearny was formerly served by the Boonton Line
Montclair-Boonton Line
The Montclair-Boonton Line is a commuter rail line of New Jersey Transit Rail Operations. It is part of the Hoboken Division. The line is a consolidation of three individual lines: the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad's Montclair Branch, which ran from Hoboken Terminal to Bay Street,...
which stopped at the now abandoned Arlington Station
Arlington (NJT station)
The Arlington Station is an abandoned train station that is located in the town of Kearny, New Jersey. The station was a former stop on the Boonton Line, which runs from Hoboken Terminal to Hackettstown...
. New Jersey Transit discontinued service in 2002 when the Montclair Connection
Montclair Connection
The Montclair Connection is a short section of double-track New Jersey Transit rail connecting the former end of the Montclair Branch at Bay Street Station to the old Boonton Line southeast of Walnut Street Station. It opened on Monday, September 30, 2002, at a cost of $60,000,000...
was opened. Through the early 1970s trains also stopped at a second station along this route known as West Arlington. This station was just to the east of the now abandoned WR movable bridge. Prior to April 30, 1967, a station in South Kearny, was served by the Central Railroad of New Jersey
Central Railroad of New Jersey
The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States...
. This station was popular with employees of the giant Western Electric
Western Electric
Western Electric Company was an American electrical engineering company, the manufacturing arm of AT&T from 1881 to 1995. It was the scene of a number of technological innovations and also some seminal developments in industrial management...
plant, and other industries in the area. In the final years of this service a pair of rush hour trains ran in each direction between South Kearny, and the CNJ's Broad Street Station in downtown Newark, as well as a single rush hour round trip between South Kearny, and Plainfield. This train operated via Elizabethport, and the CNJ main line.
In popular culture
The HBO drama series The SopranosThe Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
filmed partially in Kearny. One of its buildings was used for Satriale’s pork store. It was later razed to prepare for a condominium development.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Kearny include:- Guy W. CalissiGuy W. CalissiGuy W. Calissi , was an American Democratic Party politician, prosecutor, lawyer and judge, who served for seven years as mayor of Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, 16 years as Bergen County, New Jersey prosecutor and was appointed in 1970 to serve as a judge on New Jersey Superior Court, a post he served...
(c. 1909-80), New Jersey Superior CourtNew Jersey Superior CourtThe Superior Court is the state court in the U.S. state of New Jersey, with state-wide trial and appellate jurisdiction. The Superior Court has three divisions: the Appellate Division is essentially an intermediate appellate court while the Law and Chancery Divisions function as trial courts...
judge who lived in an orphanage here. - Ownie CarrollOwnie CarrollOwen Thomas "Ownie" Carroll, was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played nine seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , New York Yankees , Cincinnati Reds , and Brooklyn Dodgers .-High school and college career:Born in Kearny, New Jersey, Ownie was a right-handed thrower who played...
(1902–75), Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher who played nine seasons in the major, from 1925 to 1934 . - Ted GillenTed GillenTed Gillen is a former U.S. soccer defender who currently coaches men’s high school soccer. Gillen played one season in Major Soccer League, two in the American Professional Soccer League, one in USISL and one in Major League Soccer. He earned three caps with the U.S. national team in 1988...
(born 1968), former professional soccer player. - Albert GonzalezAlbert GonzalezAlbert Gonzalez is a computer hacker and computer criminal who is accused of masterminding the combined credit card theft and subsequent reselling of more than 170 million card and ATM numbers from 2005 through 2007—the biggest such fraud in history.Gonzalez and his accomplices used SQL injection...
(born 1981), government informant and computer criminal. - Ed HalickiEd HalickiEd Halicki , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1974-1980. On August 24, 1975, Halicki threw a no-hitter for the San Francisco Giants against the New York Mets in a 6-0 victory...
(born 1950), former professional baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher with a no-hitterNo-hitterA no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
to his credit, pitched on August 24, 1975, against the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. - John HarkesJohn HarkesJohn Harkes is an American former soccer player. Harkes was the first American ever to play in the English Premier League, and the second American to score at Wembley Stadium. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He appeared in two FIFA World Cup tournaments, and won two MLS Cup...
(born 1967), professional soccer player. - Herbie HaymerHerbie HaymerHerbie Haymer was an American jazz reedist, known primarily as a saxophonist in big bands.Haymer played alto saxophone from age 15 and picked up tenor at age 20...
(1916–49), jazz saxophonist. - Frank IeroFrank IeroFrank Anthony Iero Jr is the rhythm guitarist, co-lead guitarist and backup vocalist of the alternative rock band My Chemical Romance as well as the vocalist of the post-hardcore band Leathermouth.-Early life:...
(born 1981), rhythm guitarist and backup vocalist for My Chemical RomanceMy Chemical RomanceMy Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
. - Jeffrey Klepacki (born 1968), three-time US Olympian in rowing and three-time world champion.
- Tony MeolaTony MeolaAntonio Michael "Tony" Meola is an American former soccer goalkeeper who played for the United States national team at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, and from 1996 to 2006 played in Major League Soccer, the U.S. top soccer division, where he obtained multiple honors...
(born 1969), professional soccer player. - Dots MillerDots MillerJohn Barney "Dots" Miller was a professional baseball player who played first base and second base in Major League Baseball from 1909 to 1921. He would play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals.-Career:Miller started his major league career with the Pirates...
(1886-1923), Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player from 1909 to 1921. - Tony MottolaTony MottolaTony Mottola was an American guitarist who released dozens of solo albums. Mottola was born in Kearny, New Jersey, and died in Denville, New Jersey.-Career:...
(1918–2004), jazz guitarist. - Shamus O'BrienShamus O'BrienWilliam Shamus O’Brien was a U.S.-Scottish soccer inside left. During his Hall of Fame career, O’Brien spent eight seasons in the first American Soccer League and another five in the second American Soccer League.-Youth:While born in Scotland, O’Brien’s family immigrated to the United States when...
(1907–81), soccer player inducted in 1990 into the National Soccer Hall of FameNational Soccer Hall of FameThe National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
. - George PaxtonGeorge PaxtonGeorge Paxton was an American big band leader, saxophonist, composer, publisher, and arranger of swing jazz music from the 1930s to the late 1940s; as well as president and producer of Coed Records, primarily a doo-wop label, from the late 1950s to the mid 1960s.-Early career:He was born in...
(c. 1914-1989), big band jazz leader, saxophonist, composer, producer. - Tab RamosTab RamosTabaré Ramos Ricciardi, known as Tab Ramos is a retired U.S. Olympic Team and National Team soccer midfielder. He played professionally for 13 seasons in Spain, Mexico and the United States. Ramos was the first player to sign with Major League Soccer, where he played seven years with the MetroStars...
(born 1966), retired soccer midfielder. - Ray Toro (born 1977), My Chemical RomanceMy Chemical RomanceMy Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
lead guitarist. - Alex Webster (born 1931), professional football player for the Montreal AlouettesMontreal AlouettesThe Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
and New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Dick WeisgerberDick WeisgerberDick Weisgerber is a former player in the National Football League. He played four seasons with the Green Bay Packers.-References:...
(born 1913), professional football player for the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
.
External links
- Town of Kearny website
- Kearny School District
- Data for the Kearny School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- A recent article about the Kearny School District in The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
- Kearny Public Library website
- Kearny High Alumni web site
- Kearny On The Web web site
- EKearny.com | Kearny Top Headlines & More
- KearnySoccer.com | A website dedicated to Kearny Soccer