West New York

West New York, New Jersey
—  Town  —
Map highlighting West New York within Hudson County. Inset: Location of Hudson County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of West New York, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°47′09″N 74°00′34″W / 40.78583°N 74.00944°W / 40.78583; -74.00944Coordinates: 40°47′09″N 74°00′34″W / 40.78583°N 74.00944°W / 40.78583; -74.00944
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Hudson
Incorporated	July 8, 1898
Government [1]
- Type	Walsh Act (New Jersey)
- Mayor	Silverio Vega
Area
- Total	1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2)
- Land	1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)
- Water	0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)
Elevation [2]	151 ft (46 m)
Population (2007)[3]
- Total	46,425
- Density	44,995.1/sq mi (17,372.7/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	07093
Area code(s)	201
FIPS code	34-79610[4][5]
GNIS feature ID	0885438[6]
Website	http://westnewyorknj.org/

West New York is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, situated upon the New Jersey Palisades. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 45,768. The ZIP code for West New York is 07093. West New York is part of the New York metropolitan area, with about 19% of the town's employed residents working in New York City. It is the third most densely populated incorporated place in the country.

West New York was incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on July 8, 1898, replacing Union Township, based on the results of a referendum held three days earlier.^[7]

West New York's Urban Enterprise Zone covers portions of Bergenline Avenue from 49th to 67th Streets. 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).^[8]

Geography

West New York is located at 40°47′18″N 74°00′47″W / 40.788400°N 74.013090°W / 40.788400; -74.013090 (40.788400, -74.013090).^[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), of which, 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (23.48%) is water.

West New York is bordered on the north by Guttenberg, on the east by the Hudson River, on the south by Union City, and on the west by North Bergen.

West New York is one of North Hudson's communities atop the Hudson Palisades, and home to the highest point in the county.^[10] Its Hudson waterfront has been known as Bulls Ferry since pre-revolutionary times. Bergenline Avenue is its main commercial thoroughfare, while the wide two-way 60th Street is a major cross-town thoroughfare, and site of Town Hall. More than half of US Presidents have streets bearing their name in the town.^[11]

Demographics

As of 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates there were 46,963 people, 17,906 households, and 11,463 families residing in the town. The average household size was 2.6 people. The town was 79.1 percent Hispanic (of any race). Of the total population, 68.4 percent was white, 5.6 percent black, 1.2 percent Native American, 3.4 percent Asian, and 19.5 percent other races.

In comparison, the 2000 census recorded 60.09% White, 3.55% African American, 0.67% Native American, 2.93% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 25.16% from other races, and 7.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 78.74% of the population.

There were 17,906 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30 percent lived alone.

In 2000, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The median age was 35.5 years.

The median income for a household was 41,459, and the median income for a family was $39,904, compared to $31,980, $34,083 in 2000, respectively. About 17.1 percent of the population in 2007 was below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 30.6% of those age 65 or over.

West New York is ranked as #52 on a list of cities with the highest percentage of renters.^[13] 80.1% of West New York residents live in renter-occupied housing units, vs. 33.8% nationwide.^[14]

Commerce

West New York is in a state-established "Urban Enterprise Zone," which was implemented through a program designed to assist businesses in economically distressed communities across New Jersey. Businesses within the zone apply for a variety of incentives, including a sales tax reduction to customers of 3½% from the mandated 7% statewide sales tax, with no tax on clothing or on purchases made by merchants related to running their businesses. Revenue generated from the reduced sales tax is maintained in a special fund dedicated for use within the zone for specific economic development and physical improvement projects. The zone was established in February 1995 through the efforts of Assemblyman Raul "Rudy" Garcia, who later became the mayor of Union City. Between 1995 and 2000, over 150 businesses participated in the tax incentives and other advantages offered by the program.^{[citation needed]}

Until the 1880s, the primary commercial area of West New York was Palisade Avenue. An influential citizen named Henry Kohlmeier who lived there objected to the noise created by horse-drawn public coaches, which led to the route being transferred two blocks west to what is now Bergenline Avenue (formerly Lewis Street), which runs parallel to Palisade Avenue, and which remains the city's main commercial thoroughfare. Currently the longest commercial avenue in the state, boasting over 300 retail stores and restaurants, Bergenline runs through not only the entire length of West New York from north to south, but also through Union City, Guttenberg and North Bergen, making it the main commercial strip for North Hudson. Also known as the "Miracle Mile", Bergenline's largest concentration of retail and chain stores begins at the intersection of 32nd Street in Union City, and continues north until 92nd Street in North Bergen. Bergenline Avenue is also used as the route for local parades, such as the annual Memorial Day Parade and different ethnic parades (e.g., Dominican and Puerto Rican Day).^{[citation needed]}

Transportation

This NY Waterway ferry named West New York is not used on the routes which serve the town.

New Jersey Transit bus service is available to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 128, 154, 156, 158, 159, 165, 166 and 168 routes. The 181 and 188 routes offer service to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal. Travel to other New Jersey communities, including Jersey City, is offered on the 22, 23, 84, 86, 88 and 89.^[15] With the addition of service on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, many commuters can travel within Hudson County via Bus with connections to PATH train services to New York City.

NY Waterway provides ferry service between West New York/Port Imperial/Weehawken and New York City. The ferry terminal is located at Port Imperial Boulevard and Pershing Road, along the bank of the Hudson River. Ferry service runs regularly throughout the day.^[16]

The closest airport in New Jersey with scheduled passenger service is Newark Liberty International Airport, located 13.6 miles away in Newark / Elizabeth. New York City's LaGuardia Airport is 13.5 miles away in Flushing Queens via the Lincoln Tunnel.

Government

Local government

West New York City Hall.

West New York has been governed under the Walsh Act form of New Jersey municipal government, by a five-member commission since 1931. Commission members are elected at-large in nonpartisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis. Each Commissioner is assigned to head one of five departments. The Commission selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.^[1]

The five members of the West New York Town Commission are Silverio Vega (Commissioner of Public Affairs), Lawrence Riccardi (Commissioner of Public Safety), Alberto Rodriguez (Commissioner of Public Works), Michelle Fernandez Lopez (Commissioner of Parks and Public Property), and Gerald Lange, Jr. (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance).^[17] In November 2006, the West New York Town Commission reorganized & appointed Silverio A. Vega as acting Mayor. In May 2007, The West New York Town Commission unanimously voted to appoint Silverio A. Vega to a full four-year term as Mayor of West New York. Mayor Vega has been a member of the West New York Town Commission for over 16 years.

Federal, state and county representation

West New York is in the 13th Congressional District, which is represented by Albio Sires (D, West New York), who won a special election held on November 7, 2006 to fill the vacancy the had existed since January 16, 2006. It is also part of New Jersey's 33rd Legislative District,^[18] which is represented in the New Jersey Legislature in the State Senate^[19] by Caridad Rodriguez of West New York.

West New York is in Freeholder District 7 of the County's Board of Chosen Freeholders, and is represented by Jose C. Muñoz, who also represents Guttenberg and Weehawken.

Education

St. Joseph of the Palisades High School.

West New York is served by West New York School District. The district is one of 31 Abbott Districts statewide.^[20]

Public schools

Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics^[21]) are Early Childhood School for Pre-K (308 students), six K-6 elementary schools — Public School No. 1 (903), Public School No. 2 (483), Public School No. 3 (375), Public School No. 4 (407), Public School No. 5 (646) and Harry L. Bain Elementary School (681) — West New York Middle School for grades 7 and 8 (864), and Memorial High School (1,739).

Private schools

• St. Joseph of the Palisades Grammar School
• St. Joseph of the Palisades High School (Closed in 2009)
• Our Lady of Libera

Emergency services

Fire

West New York's Emergency Medical Services was among the many Hudson County agencies that responded to the January 2009 crash of Flight 1549, for which they received accolades from the survivors.^[22][23]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of West New York include:

• Oscar L. Auf der Heide (1874-1945), represented New Jersey's 11th congressional district from 1925-1933, and the 14th congressional district from 1933-1935. Auf der Heide was a member of the town council from 1899-1902, and was a member and president of the board of education in 1903 and 1904, served on the board of assessors in 1912 and 1913 and was mayor of West New York from 1914-1917.^[24]
• Tyson Beckford (born 1970), male supermodel.^[25]
• James J. Braddock (1905-1974), heavyweight boxing champion.^[26]
• Emil Draitser, author of 12 books and 135 short stories, professor of Russian at Hunter College, New York and three-time winner of a fellowship grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts^[27]
• King Kamali (born 1972), IFBB professional bodybuilder.^[28]
• John Mahnken (born 1922), former professional basketball player.^[29]
• Jeff Roehl (born 1980), offensive lineman who played for the New York Giants.^[30]
• Jeremy Shockey (born 1980), NFL Football Player for the New Orleans Saints^[31]
• Gerard Way (born 1977), musician, frontman of the alternative rock band, My Chemical Romance.^[32]

References

External links

• West New York Town website
• West New York School District
• West New York School District's 2007–08 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Data for the West New York School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• West New York Police Department
• WNY Public Library: A History of West New York

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