SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM IN North Bergen

North Bergen

North Bergen is a township in the northern part of Hudson County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township was incorporated in 1843. Situated on the Hudson Palisades, it is one of the hilliest municipalities in the United States. Like neighboring North Hudson communities, North Bergen is among those places in the nation with the highest population density. As of the 2020 United States census, the township’s population was 63,361. At the time of European colonization, the area was the territory of the Hackensack tribe of the Lenape Native Americans, who maintained a settlement, Espatingh, on the west side of the hills, where a Dutch trading post was established after the Peach War.

In 1658, Peter Stuyvesant, then Director-General of New Netherland, repurchased the area from the Lenape, encompassing the municipalities of Hudson County east of the Hackensack River. In 1660, Stuyvesant granted permission to establish the semi-autonomous colony of Bergen. At the time, the area of North Bergen was heavily forested and became known as Bergen Woods. North Bergen was incorporated as a township on April 10, 1843, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, from the northern portion of Bergen Township.

North Bergen’s topography and unusual shape have created diverse historical and contemporary neighborhoods. Bergenline Avenue runs through the township and has been described as the longest commercial avenue in the state, with over 300 retail stores and restaurants. Other distinct neighborhoods include the Racetrack section, Bergenwood on the steep slopes of the Palisades, New Durham near the Bergen Turnpike, and Meadowview near the Municipal Building. Low-lying areas along the west side are part of the New Jersey Meadowlands.

North Bergen is the 27th most populated municipality in the state of New Jersey. The largest racial and ethnic groups are Hispanic at 68.6%, followed by White at 19.9% and Asian at 6.7%. The median household income is $75,505, though 9.5% of families live in poverty.

North Bergen has been governed under the Walsh Act form of New Jersey municipal government since 1931. The governing body is comprised of five commissioners elected at-large to the Township Committee, who select one of their members to serve as mayor. Nicholas J. Sacco has served as mayor of North Bergen since 1991 and also served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1994 to 2024, representing the 32nd Legislative District.

North Bergen has many miles of roads, including Route 495, which connects the Lincoln Tunnel to the New Jersey Turnpike. Getting around North Bergen is easy with public transportation, including buses and light rail. Many bus lines connect to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, and jitney commuter buses along Bergenline Avenue are very frequent, offering quick rides to the city.

North Bergen has notable ties to popular culture. The township was the production base for the NBC drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, with scenes filmed at NBC’s Central Archives building on West Side Avenue. The film Cinderella Man, starring Russell Crowe as boxer James J. Braddock, depicted North Bergen during the Great Depression, and a city park bears Braddock’s name.

Township of North Bergen