Racetrack Section, North Bergen
Encyclopedia
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. Located on the plateau of the Hudson Palisades (which begin their descent at the Boulevard) the Racetrack Section consists of mostly one and two family homes and enjoys convenient public transportation, a stable population, and proximity to North Bergen Public Library, North Bergen High School
, North Hudson Park and Woodcliff
.
The neighborhood takes its name from Nungesser's Guttenberg Racetrack. The racetrack located in the area was a popular with day-tripper
s from New York (who traveled by streetcar from the elevator at the Weehawken Ferry) during the latter part of the 19th century, until gaming was outlawed by the New Jersey legislature in 1893. While the tracks closed, the area remained an amusement park known as Little Coney Island. The “pleasure resort” as it was known, gained a reputation as attracting a similarly rowdy crowd as the racetrack, and reported incidents of alcohol being served to chidren women being drugged. The recently invented ice cream cone
was popularized at the park.The track was later used as a roadhouse for automobilists under the former clubhouse burned down in 1910. The site became a known landing spot for early aviators.
The land on which the racetrack sound was subdivided in 1919, and later was built upon creating the section which exists today. . A White Castle
, an early drive-in fast-food chain, has long been a landmark in the neighborhood.
The district is still sometimes called Hudson Heights or Nungesser's, which is more commonly used to describe the intersection and transportation hub at the northwest corner of North Hudson Park
, at the Bergen
line with Fairview border.
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...
is a mostly residential district between Bergenline
Bergenline Avenue (New Jersey)
Bergenline Avenue is a major commercial district in the North Hudson section of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. The north-south streets passes through Union City, West New York, Guttenberg, North Bergen. Its southern end is at Union City's Second Street, the north boundary of Washington...
and 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...
. Its east-west streets follow the numbering of other 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...
towns while its north-south streets are called avenues and are numbered First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth. Located on the plateau of the Hudson Palisades (which begin their descent at the Boulevard) the Racetrack Section consists of mostly one and two family homes and enjoys convenient public transportation, a stable population, and proximity to North Bergen Public Library, 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....
, North Hudson Park and Woodcliff
Woodcliff, North Bergen
Woodcliff is a neighborhood in northeastern North Bergen, New Jersey. The center of area is a large Hudson County park known as North Hudson Park, which refers to the collective name of the municipalities in northern part of the county, and is officially named for James J...
.
The neighborhood takes its name from Nungesser's Guttenberg Racetrack. The racetrack located in the area was a popular with day-tripper
Day-tripper
A day-tripper is a person who visits a tourist destination or visitor attraction from his/her home and returns home on the same day.- Definition :In other words, this excursion does not involve a night away from home such as experienced on a holiday...
s from New York (who traveled by streetcar from the elevator at the Weehawken Ferry) during the latter part of the 19th century, until gaming was outlawed by the New Jersey legislature in 1893. While the tracks closed, the area remained an amusement park known as Little Coney Island. The “pleasure resort” as it was known, gained a reputation as attracting a similarly rowdy crowd as the racetrack, and reported incidents of alcohol being served to chidren women being drugged. The recently invented ice cream cone
Ice cream cone
An ice cream cone, poke or cornet is a dry, cone-shaped pastry, usually made of a wafer similar in texture to a waffle, allowing ice cream to be eaten without a bowl or spoon...
was popularized at the park.The track was later used as a roadhouse for automobilists under the former clubhouse burned down in 1910. The site became a known landing spot for early aviators.
The land on which the racetrack sound was subdivided in 1919, and later was built upon creating the section which exists today. . A White Castle
White Castle (restaurant)
White Castle is an American regional fast food hamburger restaurant chain in the Midwestern United States and in the New York metropolitan area, and the first of its kind in the US. It is known for its small, square hamburgers. Sometimes referred to as "sliders", the burgers were priced at five...
, an early drive-in fast-food chain, has long been a landmark in the neighborhood.
The district is still sometimes called Hudson Heights or Nungesser's, which is more commonly used to describe the intersection and transportation hub at the northwest corner of North Hudson Park
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...
, at the Bergen
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 with Fairview border.