Bayonne, New Jersey

Bayonne, New Jersey
—  City  —
Flag
map showing Bayonne in Hudson County
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Hudson
Incorporated	April 1, 1861 (as township)
Incorporated	March 10, 1869 (as city)
Government
- Type	Faulkner Act Mayor-Council
- Mayor	Mark Smith
Area
- Total	11.2 sq mi (29.1 km2)
- Land	5.6 sq mi (14.6 km2)
- Water	5.6 sq mi (14.6 km2)  50.04%
Elevation[1]	13 ft (4 m)
Population (2006)[2]
- Total	58,844
- Density	10,992.2/sq mi (4,241.1/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
ZIP code	07002
Area code(s)	201, 551
FIPS code	34-03580[3]
GNIS feature ID	0874554[4]
Website	http://www.bayonnenj.org/

Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, south of Jersey City. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 61,842. Bayonne is also 9 miles (14 km) east of Newark, which is part of Newark Bay.

According to tradition, the city derives its name from the city of Bayonne in France. It is said that French Huguenots settled there some time before New Amsterdam was founded. French-speaking Walloons were a large percentage of the population of New Netherland during the mid-seventeenth century and may have given the name. However, there are no historical records to prove this, and it has been alternatively suggested that, when the land was purchased for real estate speculation, it was named Bayonne because it is on the shores of two bays, Newark and New York, hence Bay-on, or "on the Bays." Bayonne is a diverse city, with large communities of Italian, Irish and Polish Americans .

Bayonne was originally formed as a township on April 1, 1861, from portions of Bergen Township. Bayonne was reincorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 10, 1869, replacing Bayonne Township, subject to the results of a referendum held nine days later.^[5]

Bayonne is connected to Staten Island, New York by the Bayonne Bridge. The Bayonne Bridge is lit in patriotic colors (red, white & blue) in the evenings, as a 9/11 memorial initiated by a then 8-year-old girl in the summer of 2002, Veronica Marie Granite, with the assistance of then-Municipal Councilmember-at-Large Maria Karczewski.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 Government 3.1 Local government 3.2 Federal, state and county representation 4 Education 5 Transportation 5.1 Car 5.2 Bus 5.3 Light Rail 6 Places 6.1 Bergen Point 6.2 Constable Hook 6.3 Hackensack RiverWalk 6.4 National Registered Historic Places and Museums 6.5 Hudson River Waterfront Walkway 6.6 Military Ocean Terminal 6.7 Shooters Island 7 Local media 8 In media 9 Notable residents 10 References 11 External links

Geography

Bayonne is located at (40.666552, -74.117680),^[6] south of Jersey City on a peninsula surrounded by New York Bay to the east, Newark Bay to the west, and the Kill van Kull to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29.1 km²), of which, 5.6 square miles (14.6 km²) of it is land and 5.6 square miles (14.6 km²) of it (50.04%) is water.

Communities within Bayonne include Bergen Point and Constable Hook.^[7]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	9,372		—
1890	19,033		103.1%
1900	32,722		71.9%
1910	55,545		69.7%
1920	76,754		38.2%
1930	88,979		15.9%
1940	79,198		−11.0%
1950	77,203		−2.5%
1960	74,215		−3.9%
1970	72,743		−2.0%
1980	65,047		−10.6%
1990	61,444		−5.5%
2000	61,842		0.6%
Est. 2006	58,844	[2]	−4.8%
historical data sources:[8][9][10]

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 61,842 people, 25,545 households, and 16,016 families residing in the city. The population density was 10,992.2 people per square mile (4,241.1/km²). There were 26,826 housing units at an average density of 4,768.2/sq mi (1,839.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.64% White, 5.52% African American, 0.17% Native American, 4.14% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 7.46% from other races, and 4.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.81% of the population.

As of the 2000 census, the ancestry of Bayonne residents was: Italian (20.1%), Irish (18.8%), Polish (17.9%), German (6.1%), Arab (3.8%), United States (2.5%).^[11]

There were 25,545 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,566, and the median income for a family was $52,413. Males had a median income of $39,790 versus $33,747 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,553. About 8.4% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.^[11]

Government

Local government

The City of Bayonne is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.

The current Mayor of Bayonne is Mark Smith, who was elected in a Special Election in November 2008 to fill out the term of former Mayor Joseph V. Doria, who was appointed by then-Governor Jon Corzine to head the state Department of Community Affairs. Smith is running for a full term in May 2010.

Members of the Bayonne City Council are:^[12]

• Vincent Lo Re Jr. - Council President- At-large
• Terrence Ruane - At-large
• Theodore Connolly - First Ward
• John Halecky - Second Ward
• Gary La Pelusa - Third Ward

Mayors of Bayonne

• Mayors have been governing the community since Bayonne was established in 1869.
• The first mayor of Bayonne was Henry Meigs, who served from 1869-1879.
• The mayor with the longest term in office was Dennis P. Collins, who served from 1974-1990.
• Pierre P. Garven served two non-consecutive terms from 1906-1910 and 1915-1919
• Dr. Bert J. Daly served three non-consecutive terms from 1914-1915, 1927-1931 and 1943-1947.

1. Henry Meigs, Jr. 1869-1879
2. Stephen K. Lane 1879-1883
3. David W. Oliver 1883-1887
4. John Newman 1887-1891
5. William C. Farr 1891-1895
6. Egbert Seymour 1895-1904
7. Thomas Brady 1904-1906
8. Pierre P. Garven 1906-1910
9. John J. Cain 1910-1912
10. Matthew T. Cronin 1912-1914
11. Dr. Bart J. Daly 1914-1915
12. Pierre P. Garven 1915-1919
13. W. Homer Axford 1919-1923
14. Robert J. Talbot 1923-1927
15. Dr. Bert J. Daly 1927-1931
16. Lucius F. Donohue 1931-1939
17. James J. Donovan 1939-1943
18. Dr. Bert J. Daly 1943-1947
19. Charles A. Heiser 1947-1951
20. Edward F. Clark 1951-1955
21. G. Thomas DiDomenico 1955-1959
22. Alfred V. Brady 1959-1962
23. Francis G. Fitzpatrick 1962-1974
24. Dennis P. Collins 1974-1990
25. Richard A. Rutkowski 1990-1994
26. Leonard P. Kiczek 1994-1998
27. Joseph V. Doria, Jr. 1998-2007
28. Terrance Malloy 2007-2008
29. Mark Smith 2008-present

Federal, state and county representation

Bayonne is split between the 10th and 13th Congressional districts. New Jersey's Tenth Congressional District is represented by Donald M. Payne (D, Newark). New Jersey's Thirteenth Congressional District is represented by Albio Sires (D, West New York). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

Bayonne is in the 31st District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Sandra Bolden Cunningham (D, Jersey City) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Anthony Chiappone (D, Bayonne) and Charles Mainor (D, Jersey City).^[13]

Hudson County's County Executive is Thomas A. DeGise. The executive, together with the Board of Chosen Freeholders in a legislative role, administer all county business. Hudson County's nine Freeholders (as of 2009) are: District 1: Doreen McAndrew DiDomenico (Chairman); District 2: William O'Dea (Chairman Pro Tempore); District 3: Jeffrey Dublin; District 4: Eliu Rivera; District 5: Anthony Romano; District 6: Tilo Rivas (Vice Chairman); District 7: Jose C. Muñoz; District 8: Thomas Liggio; and District 9: Albert Cifelli.

Education

The Bayonne Board of Education serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are the ten K-8 elementary schools ( Henry E. Harris No. 1, Phillip G. Vroom No. 2, Dr. Walter F. Robinson No. 3, Mary J. Donohoe No. 4, Lincoln No. 5, Horace Mann No. 6, Midtown Community School No. 8, George Washington School No. 9, Woodrow Wilson No. 10 and John M. Bailey No. 12); P.S. #14, an advanced school for gifted and talented students in academics, the arts, and physical education, for students in grades K-8th (as of 2008); and Bayonne High School. Bayonne High School is the only public school in the state to have an on-campus ice rink for its hockey team.^[14]

For the 2004-05 school year, Mary J. Donohoe No. 4 School was named a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve.^[15] It is the fourth school in Bayonne to receive this honor. The other three are Bayonne High School in 1995-96,^[16] Midtown Community School in 1996-97^[17] and P.S. #14 in the 1998-99 school year.^[18]

Beginning with the 2006-07 school year, the Board of Education implemented a dress code for students in pre-K through eighth grade. Under this code students wear a school logo shirt and a variety of pants, skirts, shorts, and other prescribed items. The plan was intended to "increase student identification with their schools and the district, eliminate many of the distractions associated with differences in social or economic status, allow the children, their teachers and the Board of Education to concentrate on shared pursuit of educational excellence [and] instill a sense of belonging and school pride".^[19][20] The decision prompted a battle between the Board, and parents upset at the manner in which the policy was imposed, the cost of the uniforms, the loss of freedom of expression to students in choosing the clothing they wear and issues regarding the manner in which the contract was awarded.^[21]

Transportation

Car

The Bayonne Bridge provides a direct link to New York City, i.e. Staten Island.

The Newark Bay Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 78) provides access to Jersey City and, via the Holland Tunnel, Manhattan. In the opposite direction on the Newark Bay Extension, the Newark Bay Bridge provides access to Newark, Newark Liberty International Airport and the rest of the Turnpike (Interstate 95).

Route 440 runs along the east side of Bayonne, and the west side of Jersey City, following the old Morris Canal route. Although it has traffic lights it is usually the quickest route north-south within Bayonne. It connects to the Bayonne Bridge, I-78, and to Route 185 to Liberty State Park.

Bus

Bus transportation is provided on three main north-south streets of the city: Broadway, Kennedy Boulevard, and Avenue C, both by the state-operated New Jersey Transit and several private bus lines. The Broadway line runs solely inside Bayonne city limits, while bus lines on Avenue C and Kennedy Boulevard run to various end points in Jersey City. One Kennedy Boulevard service (the Coach USA 99S) runs to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan, New York City, and rush hours peak direction the NJ Transit 120 runs between Avenue C in Bayonne and Battery Park in Downtown Manhattan, while the 81 provides service to New Jersey.^[22]

Light Rail

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, which was completed in the year 2000, has been a popular form of transportation which currently has stops throughout Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City and North Bergen.

Stations in Bayonne are:

• 45th Street: Avenue E at East 45th Street
• 34th Street: Avenue E at East 34th Street
• 22nd Street: Avenue E at East 22nd Street

A fourth station, 8th Street, which will be located at Avenue C, is under construction. All of these were originally train stations for the old Central Jersey rail system.

Service within Bayonne is available between these three stations. Northbound service from Bayonne runs through Jersey City, mostly near the waterfront, to Hoboken Terminal. Other parts of the system can be accessed via transfers. The Tonnelle Avenue (in North Bergen) and other stations north of Hoboken Terminal can also be reached by transferring at stations between Liberty State Park and Pavonia-Newport for the West Side Avenue-Tonnelle Avenue route, or at Hoboken Terminal for the Tonelle Avenue-Hoboken route. The Liberty State Park station is a transfer point for travel between Bayonne and stations on the West Side Avenue (Jersey City) line. Connection to PATH trains to midtown Manhattan and to New Jersey Transit commuter train service are available at Hoboken Terminal, and connections to PATH trains to midtown Manhattan are available at the Hoboken Terminal and Pavonia-Newport stations. Transfers to PATH trains to Newark, Harrison, and downtown Manhattan are available at Exchange Place.

Places

Bergen Point

Constable Hook

The Bayonne Golf Club at New York Harbor, a private links style golf course that was constructed on marshland at Constable Hook. A flagpole, displaying a large American flag that is visible from Manhattan and other surrounding communities, stands next to the golf course's clubhouse, which also marks the highest point of elevation in the city of Bayonne.

Hackensack RiverWalk

Bayonne's section of the Hackensack RiverWalk (Bergen Point to Bellman's Creek in North Bergen), if fully completed, would run from the southwest corner of Bergen Point where the Kill Van Kull meets the Newark Bay and connect to the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. A plaque unveiled on May 2, 2006 for the new Richard A. Rutkowski Park, a wetlands preserve on the northwestern end of town that is part of the RiverWalk. Also known as the Waterfront Park and Environmental Walkway, it is located immediately north of the Stephen R. Gregg Hudson County Park.

National Registered Historic Places and Museums

See List of Registered Historic Places in Hudson County, New Jersey

• Bayonne Truck House No. 1, home to Bayonne Firefighters Musuem
• Bayonne Trust Company, home to Bayonne Community Museum
• First Reformed Dutch Church of Bergen Neck
• Robbins Reef Light

Hudson River Waterfront Walkway

Military Ocean Terminal

On the site of the former Military Ocean Terminal, plans for Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor include new housing and businesses. Construction is underway and one section of housing is completed. A memorial park for the Tear of Grief, commemorating September 11th, 2001, Cape Liberty Cruise Port and Port Liberty are located at the end of the long peninsula. In 2005, eight PCC trolly cars from the Newark City Subway were given to the Bayonne to be rehabilitated and operated along a proposed 2.5-mile (4.0 km) loop to connect to the 34th Street station of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.^[23]

Shooters Island

Local media

• Bayonne Community News
• Bayonne Evening Star-Telegram (B.E.S.T.)

In media

• Jackie Gleason, a former headliner at the Hi-Hat Club in Bayonne, was fascinated by the city and mentioned it often in the television series The Honeymooners.^[24]
• In the 1997 film Men in Black, starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, they mention that Bayonne has been taken over by aliens.
• Bayonne is also mentioned in the movie How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, in the scene in which Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey) says, "Whenever someone flushes a toilet in Bayonne, you are going to get scolded."
• The 2000 film Men of Honor starring Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. takes place in Bayonne. Chief Petty Officer Leslie William "Billy" Sunday (De Niro) also mentions Bayonne during a welcome.
• The 2002 film Hysterical Blindness, starring Uma Thurman, is set in Bayonne.
• The 2005 film War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise opens at the Bayonne home of the lead character, and depicts the destruction of the Bayonne Bridge by aliens.

Notable residents

(B) denotes that the person was born there.

• Ben Bernie (1891-1943), bandleader, author, violinist, composer and conductor who wrote Sweet Georgia Brown.(B)^[25]
• Joe Borowski, professional baseball player for the Cleveland Indians.^[26]
• Kenny Britt, current wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans.(B)^[27][28]
• Sandra Dee, actress best known for her role as Gidget.^[29]
• Barney Frank, member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts since 1981.(B)^[30]
• Herman Kahn, military strategist.^[31]
• Brian Keith (1921-1997), film and TV actor who appeared in The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming and as Uncle Bill in Family Affair.(B)^[32]
• Frank Langella (1940-), actor who has appeared in over 70 productions including Dave and Good Night, and Good Luck..(B)^[33]
• Jammal Lord (1981-), former safety for the Houston Texans.^[34]
• George R. R. Martin, author and screenwriter of science fiction, horror, and fantasy.^[35]
• Gene Olaff (1920-), early professional soccer goalie.(B)^[36]
• Shaquille O'Neal, all-star basketball player for various NBA teams.^[37]
• James Urbaniak, film and TV actor best known for his role as the voice of Dr. Thaddeus Venture in The Venture Bros..(B)^[38]
• Chuck Wepner, hard-luck boxer who was known as "The Bayonne Bleeder".^[39]
• Zakk Wylde, hard rock and heavy metal guitarist.(B)^[40]

References

External links

• Official City of Bayonne Website
• Bayonne Board of Education
• Bayonne Board of Education's 2008–09 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• National Center for Education Statistics data for the Bayonne Board of Education

Municipalities and communities of Hudson County, New Jersey County seat: Jersey City Cities Bayonne | Hoboken | Jersey City | Union City Borough East Newark Towns Guttenberg | Harrison | Kearny | Secaucus | West New York Townships North Bergen | Weehawken

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