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81-571: Harold Bell was born on October 5, 1919, in Union City, New Jersey . He was one of three sons born to his parents, David and Hilda Rosenthal Belsky. His father worked as an embroiderer . Bell served in the United States Navy during World War II . He moved to Los Angeles, California , following the end of the war. Once in Los Angeles , Bell began working as a marketer and licensing agent for

162-516: A Weider Barbell store in Union City, whose patrons included body builder Dave Draper . The first Cubans immigrated to Union City from New York City in the late 1940s, having been attracted to the city in search of work after hearing of its famed embroidery factories. A majority of these Cubans hailed from small towns or cities, particularly Villa Clara Province in central Cuba. After World War II , veterans relocated to Bergen County , causing

243-806: A competition. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the UEZ, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the 6 + 5 ⁄ 8 % rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants. Established in April 1995, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in April 2026. There are approximately 180 UEZ-certified businesses in the city, which includes Bergenline Avenue from 49th to 15th Streets, 32nd Street from Bergenline Avenue to Kennedy Boulevard , Summit Avenue from 18th to Fifth Street, and Paterson Plank Road from Fifth to Seventh Streets. In addition to providing an incentive for shoppers and for business owners to invest in

324-475: A decline of 633 (−0.9%) from the 67,088 counted in the 2000 census . As of the 2010 Census, among cities with a population of more than 50,000, it was the most densely populated city in the United States , with a density of 54,138 per square mile of land. The Census Bureau 's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 65,366 in 2022, ranking the city the 590th-most-populous in

405-719: A five-story, trapezoid-shaped brick building at 707 Summit Avenue, originated in 1910 as the National Bank of North Hudson. It later became the First National Bank of Union City. By the 1960s, it had become the headquarters of Teamsters Local 560 , which was controlled by mobster Anthony "Tony Pro" Provenzano , a reported caporegime in the Genovese crime family , and a top associate of Jimmy Hoffa . On July 30, 1975, Hoffa intended to meet Provenzano in Bloomfield Township ,

486-455: A higher level of education, and 21.6% had a Bachelor's degree or higher degree of education. As of the 2000 Census, 17% of the city's employed residents work in New York City. Of Union City's 24,931 housing units in 2010 (up 1,190 from the 2000 Census), 2,117 of them, or 8%, were vacant, twice the vacancy rate of the 2000 Census. As of May 2017, the average income of a Union City resident

567-552: A major shopping thoroughfare for North Hudson County, one of the leading shopping centers and commercial strips in Northern New Jersey, and the longest commercial avenue in the state. Among the Cuban Americans in the area, it has earned the nickname La Avenida. Bergenline runs through not only the entire length of Union City from north to south, but also through West New York, Guttenberg and North Bergen. Also known as

648-478: A new town charter in 1668. In 1682 they created Bergen County , which was named to honor their Dutch predecessors. That county comprised all of present-day Hudson, Bergen and Passaic counties. Sparsely inhabited during the 17th and 18th centuries, the southeast section of Bergen County had grown by the early 19th century to the point where it was deemed necessary to designate it a separate county. The New Jersey legislature created Hudson County in 1840, and in 1843, it

729-421: A second wave of Cubans to Union City, which totaled 15,000 by 1994. The city, as well as neighboring towns such as West New York , experienced a profound cultural impact as a result of this, as seen in such aspects of local culture as its cuisine, fashion, music, entertainment and cigar -making. Amid a redevelopment boom in the early 1960s, The Troy Towers, a 22-story twin tower luxury apartment complex,

810-476: A series of improvements in 2009 to improve business there, such as improved sidewalks, landscaping and street lights from Seventh Street to 13th Street. In terms of business, Union City is notable for being the location where Mallomars were first sold. Nabisco sold them to a grocer in the southern half of the town, when it was West Hoboken. Union City is one of several cities in Hudson County that contains

891-626: A short-lived decline in the population. By the 1960s the city was predominantly an old-line Italian enclave. This began to change when large numbers of Cubans emigrated to the city after Fidel Castro took power in 1962. This made Union City for many years the city with the largest Cuban population in the U.S. after Miami, hence its nickname, "Little Havana on the Hudson ." Following the Mariel boatlift in 1980, 10,000 Cubans settled in New Jersey, leading to

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972-503: A state-established Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), under a program that was implemented in 1983 by the New Jersey Department of Commerce and Economic Development assist businesses and revitalize economically distressed communities in New Jersey. One of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide, Union City was selected in 1994 as one of a group of 10 zones added to participate in the program and one of four of those chosen based on

1053-518: A suburb of Detroit, but Hoffa famously disappeared that afternoon. According to Time , Provenzano was seen fraternizing with local union members in Hoboken, although Provenzano, according to the Associated Press , told investigators that "he was playing cards with Stephen Andretta in Union City, New Jersey the day Hoffa disappeared", and denied having arranged any meeting with Hoffa. In 2023, when

1134-485: Is located in Union City. The PERC facility, which includes a soup kitchen, food pantry and 40-bed shelter on 37th Street, lost $ 100,000 in federal funding in 2011, and in January and August 2012, aided a record-breaking number of guests. According to the 2000 United States Census , Union City had a population of 67,088, making it the second-most populous municipality in the county after Jersey City. The population density

1215-472: Is named after J. Kerrigan, the owner of Kerrigan Farm, who donated the land for Saint Michael's Monastery . The area that would one day be Union City, however, remained sparsely populated until the early 19th century. The British granted Bergen a new town charter in 1668. In 1682 they created Bergen County , which was named to honor their Dutch predecessors. That county included all of present-day Hudson, Bergen and Passaic counties. Sparsely inhabited during

1296-635: Is now the Journal Square area of Jersey City near Academy Street. In 1664, the British captured New Netherland from the Dutch, at which point the boundaries of Bergen Township encompassed what is now known as Hudson County. North of this was the unpopulated Bergen Woods, which would later be claimed by settlers, after whom a number of Union City streets today are named, including Sipp Street, Brown Street, Golden Lane, Tournade Street and Kerrigan Avenue, which

1377-553: Is part of the Hudson County Park System . Previously a flat expanse of dirt, it had been used to host visiting carnivals, circuses, and Wild West shows, including Buffalo Bill 's Wild West show, performed there in 1908, when the plot was called the North Street Grounds. A movement to develop it into a park began in 1909, though this would not come into fruition until 1917, and the park took its current shape in

1458-438: Is the northern boundary with West New York . Apart from a small section between Bergen Turnpike and Weehawken Cemetery , Kennedy Boulevard , a major north–south thoroughfare, creates the western border with North Bergen . A former colonial road and previous border between the merged municipalities takes three names as it diagonally crosses the city's urban grid: Hackensack Plank Road, 32nd Street, and Bergen Turnpike . Most of

1539-460: Is the only municipality in Hudson County to be entirely surrounded by other county municipalities. According to the 1910 United States census , the population of West Hoboken and Union Hill, the two towns that would later merge to form Union City was 37,000 and 23,000, respectively. By the late 20th century, Union City emerged as a working class community. One of Hudson County's three homeless shelters, Palisades Emergency Residence Corp. (PERC),

1620-642: The Hackensack tribe of the Lenni-Lenape in 1658 by New Netherland colony Director-General Peter Stuyvesant , and became part of Pavonia, New Netherland . The boundaries of the purchase are described in the deed preserved in the New York State Archives, as well as the medium of exchange: "80 fathoms of wampum , 20 fathoms of cloth, 12 brass kettles, 6 guns, one double brass kettle, 2 blankets, and one half barrel of strong beer." The relationship between

1701-533: The Hudson River from New York City in search of affordable land and open space. During the American Civil War a military installation, Camp Yates, covered an area now bounded by Bergenline and Palisade Avenues from 22nd to 32nd Street . Germans began to settle what would become Union Hill in 1851, and some descendants of the immigrants of this period live in the city today. Although the area's diversity

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1782-505: The Munsee-speaking branch of Lenape Native Americans , who wandered in the vast woodland area encountered by Henry Hudson during the voyages he conducted from 1609 to 1610 for the Dutch . Hudson later claimed the area (which included the future New York City ) and named it New Netherland . The portion of that land that included the future Hudson County was purchased from members of

1863-535: The New Jersey Meadowlands . The city is bisected by New Jersey Route 495 , a vehicular cut built in conjunction with the Lincoln Tunnel . Soon after its construction, many street names were abandoned in favor of numbering in most of North Hudson starting at 2nd Street, just north of Paterson Plank Road , which runs through the city's only major park and creates its border with Jersey City . 49th Street

1944-538: The United States Forest Service for the first Earth Day in 1970. The United States Forest Service had requested that Bell and the others develop a new message and symbol for the agency. A number of other animals were considered as the mascot, including a ladybug , rainbow trout , elk and raccoon . An owl was ultimately chosen because of the belief that owls are wise, can see polluters from treetop perches, and can live near cities and towns. Bell and

2025-520: The Walt Disney Company . He founded his own marketing firm in 1957, which specialized in marketing cartoon , television and film characters to the public. Through his company, Bell helped to brand and license such iconic characters as Lassie , the Lone Ranger , Dick Tracy and Mr. Magoo . Bell, a licensing agent, also produced and created a series of public service announcements for

2106-456: The "Miracle Mile", Bergenline's largest concentration of retail and chain stores begins at the intersection of 32nd Street and continues north until 92nd Street in North Bergen, and while it is a narrow one-way, southbound street throughout most of Union City, it becomes a four lane, two-way street at 48th Street, one block south of the town's northern boundary. Bergenline Avenue is also used as

2187-447: The "diner capital of the world". The area of what is today Union City was originally inhabited by the Munsee-speaking branch of Lenape Native Americans , who wandered into the vast woodland area encountered by Henry Hudson during the voyages he conducted from 1609 to 1610 for the Dutch , who later claimed the area (which included the future New York City ) and named it New Netherland . The portion of that land that included

2268-461: The "embroidery capital of the United States". The trademark of that industry is on the Union City Seal, though foreign competition and austere prevailing fashions led to the decline of embroidery and other industries in the area by the late 1990s. In May 2014 the city dedicated "Embroidery Square" at New York Avenue to commemorate that history. As immigration to the area progressed throughout

2349-566: The 17th and 18th centuries, the southeast section of Bergen County had grown by the early 19th century to the point where it was deemed necessary to designate it a separate county. The New Jersey legislature created Hudson County in 1840, and in 1843, it was divided into two townships: Old Bergen Township (which eventually became Jersey City) and North Bergen Township , which was gradually separated into Hudson County's present day municipalities: Hoboken in 1849, Weehawken and Guttenberg in 1859, and West Hoboken and Union Township . West Hoboken

2430-484: The 1930s, partially as a result of the input of the Works Progress Administration . Among its features is Wave , a 14 feet (4.3 m) high, 35 feet (11 m) wide brushed stainless steel sculpture by Chakaia Booker that was installed in 2008. Reservoir Park, located around Hackensack Reservoir on Palisade Avenue between 20th and 22nd Streets, opened on September 25, 2015. The passive park, at

2511-586: The 19th and 20th centuries, Belgians , Armenians , Greeks , Chinese , Jews and Russians found a home in the area, though its domination by Germans by the turn of the 20th century was reflected in the fact that the minutes of town meetings were recorded in German . By this time, the area was witnessing a period of urbanization, as an extensive trolley system was developed by the North Hudson County Railway , spurred by both electrification in 1890 and

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2592-401: The 2000 Census, 58.7% of the population was foreign born and 21.6% of residents were naturalized citizens, while 13.9% only speak English at home, whereas 80.7% reported that they spoke Spanish at home. Union City's 2010 population of 66,455 made it the state's 17th largest municipality , having seen a decline of 633 residents (-0.9%) from its population of 67,088 in the 2000 census , when it

2673-423: The 22,814 households, 34.2% had children under the age of 18; 36.7% were married couples living together; 21.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.0% were non-families. Of all households, 23.8% were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.39. 23.7% of the population were under

2754-557: The Cuban Day Parade of New Jersey became a major annual event in North Hudson , beginning in North Bergen and traveling south to its end in Union City. Union City has historically been a family-oriented city predominantly made up of brownstones , two-family homes and locally owned businesses. Another wave of modestly sized residences began development approximately in 2003, spurred by similar development in neighboring Hoboken , and

2835-446: The Dutch, at which point the boundaries of Bergen Township encompassed what is now known as Hudson County. North of this was the unpopulated Bergen Woods, which would later be claimed by settlers, after whom a number of streets were named, such as Brown Street and Golden Lane, which still exist in Union City today. The area that became Union Hill, however, was sparsely populated until the early 19th century. The British granted Bergen

2916-436: The Hudson ", reflect important aspects of that history. Thousands visit Union City each year to see the nation's longest-running passion play . Union City is where Mallomars were first sold and the site of the first lunch wagon , built by Jerry and Daniel O'Mahoney and John Hanf, which helped spark New Jersey's golden age of diner manufacturing, for which the state is colloquially referred to by author Richard J.S. Gutman as

2997-670: The Hudson County Multiple Listing service, between 2016 and 2018 the median list price of residential properties on the market in Union City fluctuated between $ 345,000 and $ 509,000. The most expensive home on the market in May 2018 was a four-family building on sale for $ 1.6 million, while the lowest was a studio apartment in Troy Towers for $ 148,000. A typical residential property was a six-bedroom, three-family house in need of updating, listed at $ 568,000. Since its inception in 2000,

3078-481: The National Forest Service featuring Smokey Bear . Bell was hired as a technical advisor for the long-running, popular television show, Lassie . The concept for Woodsy Owl was developed on the set of Lassie . Bell teamed with three other Lassie technical advisors - United States Forest Service rangers, Chuck Williams and Glenn Kovar, and colleague Betty Hite - to create Woodsy Owl as the new mascot for

3159-498: The Word , mixed with the song, The Syncopated Clock , by Leroy Anderson . Union City, New Jersey Union City is a city in the northern part of Hudson County , in the U.S. state of New Jersey . As of the 2020 United States census , the city was the state's 18th-most-populous municipality , with a population of 68,589, an increase of 2,134 (+3.2%) from the 2010 census count of 66,455, which in turn had reflected

3240-409: The age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.3 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income

3321-789: The age of 18, of which 6.6% were under the age of five; and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. In 2019, the median age was 37.8 years. As of July 2019, Union City's employment breakdown was: 7.8% Construction; 9.6% Manufacturing; 4.4% Wholesale trade; 12.3% Retail; 9.4% Transportation and warehousing; 0.4% Utilities; 1.8% Information; 3.7% Finance and insurance; 2.1% Real estate, rental, leasing; 4.1% Professional, scientific, technical services; 8.2% Administrative, support, waste management; 5.2% Educational services; 10.1% Health care and social assistance; 2.1% Arts, entertainment, recreation; 11.0% Accommodation, food services; 5.7% Other services; and 2.1% Public administration. As of July 2019, 71.5% of residents age 25 or older had completed high school or

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3402-420: The area without raising taxes, up to $ 30,000 in annual UEZ revenue is also used for area upkeep and safety projects, marketing campaigns, and holiday decorations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , Union City's unemployment rate as of September 2009 was 15%, the highest in the state, compared with the lowest, Hoboken , at 6.3%, and a statewide rate of 9.8%. By 2018, the city's unemployment rate

3483-509: The arrival of Irish and Italian immigrants, which dominated the city until the late 1960s. Successive waves of immigrants from Eastern Europe , the Near East and Latin America contributed to the embroidery industry in subsequent years. "The Cultural Thread"/"El Hilo", an exhibit highlighting this industry, is on display at Union City's Park Performing Arts Center. The town was famous for being

3564-489: The building went on sale, the city planned to purchase it for $ 3.1 million, and convert it into 24 affordable housing units. Transfer Station was also the site, in 1912, of the first lunch wagon built by Jerry and Daniel O'Mahoney and John Hanf, which was bought for $ 800 and operated by restaurant entrepreneur Michael Griffin, who chose the location for its copious foot traffic. The wagon helped spark New Jersey's so-called "golden age of diner manufacturing", which in turn made

3645-613: The city border in Weehawken , was created on the 14.4-acre (5.8 ha) site of a reservoir that had been owned by United Water but had not been used since 1996. Originally, Bergenline Avenue was the width of a cowpath, and was not regarded as a business center. Street car tracks were expected to be laid on Palisade Avenue where the Town Hall was located. However, an influential citizen named Henry Kohlmeier, who had just built his residence on Palisade Avenue, did not wish to be disturbed by

3726-517: The city had a total area of 1.29 square miles (3.33 km ), all of which was land. Part of the New York metropolitan area , it is one of the municipalities which comprise North Hudson . Located atop the ridge of the lower Hudson Palisades (just south of the highest point in the county), many of its streets offer glimpses and views of the surrounding municipalities, the New York City skyline, and

3807-493: The city north of the street, formerly Union Hill, shares its eastern border along Park Avenue with Weehawken . The southern section of the city, formerly West Hoboken, is indeed west of Hoboken , which it overlooks and is connected by the road which creates their shared border, the Wing Viaduct . The city borders the Hudson County municipalities of Hoboken , Jersey City , North Bergen , Weehawken and West New York . It

3888-681: The city's attempt to attract developers to what had historically been a town unfriendly to them, according to Mayor Brian P. Stack . Through approval of varied construction projects to address the needs of residents of different incomes, improved rent control laws and community input on such issues, this "Hobokenization" resulted in positive comparisons with the redeveloped Hoboken of the mid-to-late 1990s, with new restaurants, bars, and art galleries cited as evidence of renewal. The city recorded $ 192 million in new construction in 2007, and 600 certificates of occupancy , with 500–700 projected for 2008–2009, compared with previous years, in which 50 certificates

3969-408: The city's population, they doubled between the 2000 and 2010 Census, and combined with West New York's Native Americans, comprise 38% of the county's Native American population. Spanish was spoken at home by more than half of the residents of Union City, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in 2017. As of May 2017, the age breakdown of the city was as follows: 22.5% of residents were under

4050-501: The colloquial name for the merged town of Union itself. Union Hill was incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 29, 1864, from part of Union Township . In 1866, part of North Bergen was added to it. The town was reincorporated on March 27, 1874. The northern section of Union Township was later incorporated as West New York in 1898. Union Hill merged with West Hoboken to form Union City, which

4131-412: The country . Union City was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 1, 1925, with the merger of Union Hill and West Hoboken Township . Two major waves of immigration, first of German speakers and then of Spanish speakers, greatly influenced the development and character of Union City. Its two nicknames , "Embroidery Capital of the United States" and " Havana on

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4212-400: The deed preserved in the New York State Archives, as well as the medium of exchange: "80 fathoms of wampum , 20 fathoms of cloth, 12 brass kettles, 6 guns, one double brass kettle, 2 blankets, and one half barrel of strong beer." In 1660, he ordered the building of a fortified village at Bergen to protect the area. It was the first permanent European settlement in New Jersey, located in what

4293-559: The dominant ethnic group in the city, and their percentage of the population increased from 82.3% in the 2000 Census to 84.7% in the 2010 Census. Non-Hispanic whites made up 15.3% of the city's population in 2010; up from 13.3% in the 2000 Census. Blacks made up 5.2% of the city's population in 2010; up from 3.3% in the 2000 Census. The rest of the racial makeup of the city was 0.70% Native American , 2.15% Asian , 0.08% Pacific Islander , 28.19% from other races , and 6.87% from two or more races. Though Native Americans comprise less than 1% of

4374-409: The early Dutch settlers and Native Americans was marked by frequent armed conflict over land claims. In 1660, Peter Stuyvesant ordered the building of a fortified village called Bergen to protect the area. It was the first permanent European settlement in New Jersey, located in what is now the Journal Square area of Jersey City near Academy Street. In 1664, the British captured New Netherland from

4455-559: The fastest-growing ethnic group, and other groups including Colombians , Ecuadoreans and Salvadorans . Despite the decline in the size of the Cuban population, the major New York City television news outlets will often journey to Union City to interview citizens when developments in Cuba–United States relations occur. As of the 2000 Census, 5.94% of Union City's residents identified themselves as being of Ecuadorian ancestry, which

4536-456: The former was converted into the new fire headquarters for the city. It also served as the second police precinct for many years. Union Hill, New Jersey Union Hill was a town that existed in Hudson County , New Jersey , United States, from 1864 to June 1, 1925, when it merged with West Hoboken to form Union City . The area that became West Hoboken was originally inhabited by

4617-420: The future Hudson County was purchased from members of the Hackensack tribe of the Lenni-Lenape and became part of Pavonia, New Netherland . The relationship between the early Dutch settlers and Native Americans was marked by frequent armed conflict over land claims. In 1658 by New Netherland colony Director-General Peter Stuyvesant re-purchased the territory. The boundaries of the purchase are described in

4698-489: The highest percentage of Cubans in New Jersey, with Union City in second place, with 15.35%. These two municipalities have the highest Cuban population percentage in the United States outside of Florida . Moreover, Union City still boasts the largest Hispanic population percentage in New Jersey , at 84.7% by the 2010 Census. By the early 2000s Union City had become a mix of the Latin and Asian diasporas, with Dominicans cited as

4779-412: The home of the rowdy Hudson Burlesque . Theaters in Union City featured vaudeville and burlesque and acts including Fred Astaire and Harry Houdini . It was at a vaudeville theater in Union City that comedian George Burns would meet his longtime partner and wife, Gracie Allen . Union City was also for a time the home to the headquarters of sports publisher Joe Weider . Weider's empire included

4860-633: The local embroidery and textile factories were abundant. By 1955, the city's Cuban population was large enough that Fidel Castro visited Union City to raise money for his revolt against Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista , though a speech he gave one night at a bar on 26th Street, Le Molino Rojo ("The Red Mill") led to a brawl that resulted in Castro's arrest. Following the Cuban Revolution of 1959, large numbers of Cubans in professional occupations emigrated to Union City, resulting in Union City's status as

4941-404: The nation's second-largest Cuban population, behind Miami, Florida , leading to the nickname "Little Havana on the Hudson ". Aspects of the enclave are explored in the 2009 publication The Cubans of Union City: Immigrants and Exiles in a New Jersey Community . In the ensuing decades, Cuban residents spread out to other communities of North Hudson County . West New York , at 19.64%, now has

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5022-408: The noise of the passing cars, and proposed that the tracks be laid on Bergenline Avenue, two blocks to the west, and before those who would have objected to this became aware of this change, the motion was approved. The continuous line of retail stores that appeared on Bergenline Avenue by the time the town of Union Hill was incorporated made it not only the city's main commercial thoroughfare, but

5103-409: The others envisioned Woodsy Owl with a broad mission, unlike Smokey Bear, who focused almost exclusively on forest fire prevention. The owl would be used to advocate environmental programs and urge American children to fight pollution and help the environment. Woodsy Owl became most famous for his motto, Give a hoot, Don’t pollute . As of 2009, the character now uses the slogan , Help Woodsy Spread

5184-493: The population and 27.5% of the children falling below the poverty line . In 1997, the New Jersey Municipal Distress Index, which is based on social, economic, fiscal and physical indicators, ranked Union City as the third most distressed community in the state. By July 2019, 19.6% of residents lived in poverty. Immigration from Cuba to Union City began slowly in the late 1940s and early 1950s, when jobs in

5265-416: The results of a referendum passed 12 days earlier. Union Township, or simply Union, was formed in 1864 through the merger of a number of villages, such as Dalleytown, Buck's Corners and Cox's Corners. The largest of these villages, Union Hill, became the colloquial name for the merged town of Union itself. The northern section of Union Township was later incorporated as West New York in 1898. Union City

5346-456: The route for local parades, such as the annual Memorial Day Parade. At Union City's southern end, Bergenline is primarily a residential street, with the shopping district concentrated at Summit Avenue and Transfer Station , so called because it was a transfer point for buses and three trolley lines. A prominent landmark of Transfer Station is its five-corner intersection of Summit Avenue, Paterson Plank Road, and 7th Street, on which sits

5427-419: The state the informal "diner capital of the world". In the decades that followed, nearly all major U.S. diner manufacturers, including Jerry O'Mahoney Inc., started in New Jersey. During World War II, the area was a 24-hour hotspot for U.S. servicemen, who patronized the dozens of nightclubs located there. In later decades, Summit Avenue was not as busy a shopping area as upper Bergenline, so the city implemented

5508-474: Was $ 19,834 a year, and the compared to a national average of $ 28,555 a year. The median household income of a Union City resident is $ 40,939 a year, compared to the national median of is $ 53,482. By July 2019, the median household income was $ 48,992. In the 2000s, the Brookings Institution studies ranked Union City among the 92 most economically depressed localities in the United States, with 18.1% of

5589-435: Was $ 40,173 (with a margin of error of +/− $ 1,946) and the median family income was $ 43,101 (+/− $ 2,185). Males had a median income of $ 31,987 (+/− $ 1,696) versus $ 25,010 (+/− $ 1,517) for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 18,506 (+/− $ 719). About 17.0% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 29.4% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over. Hispanics remained

5670-465: Was 4.5%, compared to a rate of 3.9% in Hudson County. Union City's City Hall is located at 3715 Palisade Avenue. The oldest municipal building in North Hudson, it was built in the 1890s as the town hall for Union Hill. Prior to the 1914 opening of Union Hill High School, classes were also held in the building. After the 1925 consolidation of West Hoboken and Union Hill into Union City, the town hall for

5751-475: Was 52,977.8 inhabitants per square mile (20,454.8/km ) in 2000, approximately twice as high as New York City as a whole, but less than Manhattan alone. Union City is the most densely populated city in the United States, though neighboring Guttenberg (legally incorporated as a town ) was more densely populated. In 2000, the median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males. As of

5832-420: Was 58.01% (38,549) White , 5.25% (3,487) Black or African American , 1.23% (819) Native American , 2.39% (1,587) Asian , 0.05% (33) Pacific Islander , 27.43% (18,231) from other races , and 5.64% (3,749) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84.71% (56,291) of the population. As of 2010 , the city had the highest percentage of Hispanic residents in any municipality in New Jersey. Of

5913-701: Was completed in 1966 on the edge of the Palisades cliffs on Mountain Road at 19th Street, at the former site of the Abbey Inn, just north of where a motorized vehicle elevator and a staircase called the Lossburg Steps were located. The former was an angled ramp originally built for horse-drawn carriages, which along with the steps, connected to Hackensack Plank Road beneath the cliffs, in the Shades section of Weehawken. According to

5994-538: Was considered a high amount. This development continued for several years, reaching a milestone in 2008 with the completion of Union City's first high-rise condominium tower, The Thread, whose name evokes the city's historical association with the embroidery industry. Other such buildings followed, such as the Altessa, Park City Grand, and Hoboken Heights. According to the United States Census Bureau ,

6075-512: Was divided into two townships: Old Bergen Township (which eventually became Jersey City) and North Bergen Township , which was gradually separated into Hudson County's municipalities of Hoboken (1849), Weehawken and Guttenberg (1859), and Union Township (or simply Union, ) (1864), though it was colloquially known as Union Hill. Union Hill was formed through the merger of a number of villages, such as Dalleytown, Buck's Corners and Cox's Corners. The largest of these villages, Union Hill, became

6156-441: Was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1861, from portions of North Bergen Township. The township was reincorporated on April 6, 1871, and again on March 27, 1874. Portions of the township were ceded to Weehawken in 1879. On June 28, 1884, West Hoboken was reincorporated as a town , based on an ordinance passed nine days earlier. The town was reincorporated on April 24, 1888, based on

6237-447: Was incorporated on June 1, 1925, by merging the two towns of West Hoboken and Union Hill . The name of one of the city's schools, Union Hill Middle School , recalls the former town. In the 18th century, Dutch and English merchants first settled the area. Later, German immigrants immigrated from Manhattan . Irish , Polish , Armenians , Syrians , Eastern European Jews and Italians followed. In 1851, Germans moved across

6318-402: Was incorporated on June 1, 1925. One of Union City's schools, Union Hill Middle School recalls the name of the former town. The town's commercial district was Bergen Turnpike , at the border with West Hoboken. Intersecting Bergen Turnpike was Bergenline Avenue , a former cowpath that became another commercial venue after plans to lay street car tracks on Palisade Avenue, two blocks to

6399-587: Was represented by the more than 19 nationalities that made their home in the Dardanelles (a five-block area of Central Avenue from 23rd Street to 27th Street) from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, German Americans and Dutch dominated the area. Along with Swiss and Austrian immigrants, they founded the European-style lace making industries for which they were famous. The introduction of Schiffli lace machines in Hudson County made Union City

6480-527: Was the state's 16th most populous municipality. As of 2010 , it was still the country's second-most densely populated incorporated municipality (after the nearby Town of Guttenberg ) and the most densely populated U.S. city . The 2010 United States census counted 66,455 people, 22,814 households, and 15,514 families in the city. The population density was 51,810.1 per square mile (20,004.0/km ). There were 24,931 housing units at an average density of 19,436.9 per square mile (7,504.6/km ). The racial makeup

6561-472: Was the third highest of any municipality in New Jersey and the seventh highest percentage of Ecuadorian people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry. That number increased to 12.6%, according to December 2017 Census figures. Washington Park , which covers 22 acres (8.9 ha) straddling the border of the city and The Heights neighborhood in Jersey City ,

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