| Kearny, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Nickname(s): Soccer Town, U.S.A. | |
| Map highlighting Kearny within Hudson County. Inset: Location of Hudson county highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Kearny, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Hudson |
| Incorporated | April 8, 1867 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Town (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Alberto G. Santos (tern ends 2013)[2] |
| • Administrator | Michael J. Martello[3] |
| Area[4] | |
| • Total | 10.19 sq mi (26.4 km2) |
| • Land | 8.77 sq mi (22.7 km2) |
| • Water | 1.42 sq mi (3.7 km2) 13.94% |
| Elevation[5] | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[6][7][8][9] | |
| • Total | 40,684 |
| • Density | 4,636.5/sq mi (1,790.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 07032, 07099[10] |
| Area code(s) | 201/551 |
| FIPS code | 34-36510[11][12] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885266[13] |
| Website | http://www.kearnynj.org |
Kearny ( /ˈkɑrni/ kar-nee[14]) 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.[7][9] 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.[15]
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Kearny is located at (40.763051, -74.137187).[16]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.19 square miles (26.4 km2), of which 8.77 square miles (22.7 km2) is land and 1.42 square miles (3.7 km2), or 13.94%, is water.[4] 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.[17]
The town is varied in topography and roughly divided into three parts: the Kearny Uplands, the Kearny Meadows, and Kearny Point.[18] 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.
The area of Kearny Township, created in 1867, had been part of the original Crown Grant of 30,000 acres (120 km2) obtained by Major William Sandford of Barbadoes Island on July 4, 1668. Major Sandford named it New Barbadoes Neck after his old home.[19] 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.[20]
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.[21][22]
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.[23]
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.[24]
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".[25]
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.[26]
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.[26]
When the town's growth demanded larger quarters, the present Kearny Town Hall, built of Indiana limestone, was erected in 1909.[26]
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.[27]
The Kearny Museum mounts exhibitions related to the history and culture of the town.[28]
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.[29]
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.[30]
Cargo ships were built at Kearny Yards during World War I, and warships during World War II.[31]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 777 |
|
|
| 1890 | 7,064 | 809.1% | |
| 1900 | 10,896 | 54.2% | |
| 1910 | 18,659 | 71.2% | |
| 1920 | 26,724 | 43.2% | |
| 1930 | 40,716 | 52.4% | |
| 1940 | 39,467 | −3.1% | |
| 1950 | 39,952 | 1.2% | |
| 1960 | 37,472 | −6.2% | |
| 1970 | 37,585 | 0.3% | |
| 1980 | 35,735 | −4.9% | |
| 1990 | 34,874 | −2.4% | |
| 2000 | 40,513 | 16.2% | |
| 2010 | 40,684 | 0.4% | |
| Population sources:1900-1930[32] 1930-1990[33] 2000[34][35] 2010[7][9][8] |
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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 40,684 people, 13,462 households, and 9,921 families residing in the town. The population density was 4,636.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,790.2 /km2). There were 14,180 housing units at an average density of 1,616.0 per square mile (623.9 /km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 73.57% (29,933) White, 5.37% (2,186) African American, 0.40% (163) Native American, 4.41% (1,793) Asian, 0.08% (32) Pacific Islander, 12.53% (5,099) from other races, and 3.63% (1,478) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.95% (16,253) of the population.[7]
There were 13,462 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.28.[7]
In the town the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.4 years. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.7 males.[7]
As of the census[11] 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.[34][35]
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.[34][35]
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.[34][35]
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.[34][35]
Kearny is governed under the Town 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.[1]
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.
As of 2011[update], 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.[36] Members of the Town Council are:
Kearny is part of both the Ninth and Thirteenth Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 32nd state legislative district.[41] The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[9]
New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District is represented by Steve Rothman (D, Fair Lawn). 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).
32nd District, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Nicholas Sacco (D, North Bergen) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Vincent Prieto (D, Secaucus) and Joan M. Quigley (D, Jersey City).[42] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[43] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[44]
The Hudson County Executive, elected at-large, is Thomas A. DeGise.[45] Kearny is in Hudson County's 9th freeholder district. Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders District 9, comprising the West Hudson towns of Kearny, Harrison, and East Newark and most of Secaucus,[46] is represented by Albert Cifelli.[47][48]
The Kearny School 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[49]) 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).
Schools in Kearny include:[50]
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.[52] [53] [54]
Portions of Kearny are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone.[55] 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).[56]
New Jersey Transit 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.[57]
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.[58][59] 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.
The HBO drama series The Sopranos 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.[60]
Notable current and former residents of Kearny include:
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