On April 10, 1843, North Bergen was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature.

 

North Bergen first separated on Feb. 10, 1843 from the northern portion of Bergen Township, a town created in 1661 by the early Dutch settlers and encompassing all that is present day Hudson and Bergen Counties. It was then officially incorporated on April 10 of that year.

 

The Township of North Bergen that was created in 1843 was massive, with the original southern border of town located near today’s Journal Square. As described by historian Michael Maring, “The New Jersey Railroad tracks divided the townships for several years until Hoboken was formed in 1849, which also encompassed present day Weehawken. It was after this that the ‘Villages of North Bergen’ began to form themselves into townships and municipalities. In 1855 Hudson Town was formed; today Hudson Town is Jersey City Heights. Then Union Township, which became West New York and West Hoboken, present day downtown Union City, in 1861. They were followed by Union Hill Township, uptown Union City, in 1864. The last section of North Bergen to leave was Secaucus in 1900. Which leaves us with North Bergen’s current day boundaries.”