Weehawken, New Jersey
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Weehawken is a
township A township is a form of human settlement or administrative subdivision. Its exact definition varies among countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, this tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Canad ...
in the northern part of
Hudson County Hudson County is a List of counties in New Jersey, county in the U.S. state of New Jersey, its smallest and most densely populated. Lying in the northeast of the state and on the west bank of the North River (Hudson River), Hudson River, the No ...
, in the U.S. state of
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
. It is located on the Hudson Waterfront and
Hudson Palisades The Palisades, also called the New Jersey Palisades or the Hudson River Palisades, are a line of steep cliffs along the west side of the lower Hudson River in Northeastern New Jersey and Southeastern New York in the United States. The cliffs s ...
overlooking the
Hudson River The Hudson River, historically the North River, is a river that flows from north to south largely through eastern New York (state), New York state. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains at Henderson Lake (New York), Henderson Lake in the ...
. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 17,197, an increase of 4,643 (+37.0%) from the 2010 census count of 12,554, which in turn reflected a decline of 947 (−7.0%) from the 13,501 counted in the 2000 census.


History


Name

The name ''Weehawken'' is generally considered to have evolved from the Algonquian language
Lenape The Lenape (, , ; ), also called the Lenni Lenape and Delaware people, are an Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands, who live in the United States and Canada. The Lenape's historica ...
spoken by the Hackensack and Tappan. It has variously been interpreted as "maize land", "place of gulls", "rocks that look like trees", which would refer to the Palisades, atop which most of the town sits, or "at the end", among other suggested translations. Three U.S. Navy ships have been named for the city. The USS ''Weehawken'', launched on November 5, 1862, was a ''Passaic''-class monitor, or ironclad ship, which sailed for the Union Navy during the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
, encountered battles at the
Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...
, coast and sank in a moderate gale on December 6, 1863. The ''Weehawken'' was the last ferry to the West Shore Terminal on March 25, 1959, at 1:10 am, ending 259 years of continuous ferry service. Weehawken Street in
Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...
's
Greenwich Village Greenwich Village, or simply the Village, is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street (Manhattan), 14th Street to the north, Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the s ...
was the site of a colonial
Hudson River The Hudson River, historically the North River, is a river that flows from north to south largely through eastern New York (state), New York state. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains at Henderson Lake (New York), Henderson Lake in the ...
ferry landing. The name and the place have inspired mention in multiple works of popular culture.


Founding

The township's written history began in 1609, when Henry Hudson, on his third voyage to the New World, sailed down what was later named the North River on the Half Moon and anchored in Weehawken Cove. At the time it was the territory of the Hackensack and Tappan, of the Turtle Clan, or Unami, a branch of the
Lenape The Lenape (, , ; ), also called the Lenni Lenape and Delaware people, are an Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands, who live in the United States and Canada. The Lenape's historica ...
. They were displaced by immigrants to the province of New Netherland, who had begun to settle the west bank of the Hudson at Pavonia in 1630. On May 11, 1647, Maryn Adriansen received a patent for a plantation (of 169 acres) at ''Awiehaken''. In 1658, Director-General of New Netherland Peter Stuyvesant negotiated a deal with the Lenape to purchase all the land from ''"the great rock above Wiehacken"'', west to ''Sikakes'' ( Secaucus) and south to ''Konstapels Hoeck'' ( Constable Hook). In 1661, Weehawken became part of
Bergen Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo. By May 20 ...
when it (and most of northeastern New Jersey) came under the jurisdiction of the court at Bergen Square. In 1674, New Netherland was ceded to the
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
by the British and the town became part of the Province of East Jersey. In 1677, John Luby acquired several parcels covering along the Hudson. Most habitation was along the top of the cliffs since the low-lying areas were mostly marshland. Descriptions from the period speak of the dense foliage and forests and excellent land for growing vegetables and orchard fruits. As early as 1700 there was regular, if sporadic ferry service from Weehawken. In 1752, King George II made the first official grant for ferry service, the ferry house north of Hoboken primarily used for farm produce and likely was sold at the
Greenwich Village Greenwich Village, or simply the Village, is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street (Manhattan), 14th Street to the north, Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the s ...
landing that became Weehawken Street. Weehawken was formed as a township by an act of the
New Jersey Legislature The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and ...
, on March 15, 1859, from portions of Hoboken and North Bergen. A portion of the township was ceded to Hoboken in 1874. Additional territory was annexed in 1879 from West Hoboken.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 148. Accessed May 30, 2024.


Revolutionary War

During the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
, Weehawken was used as a lookout for the patriots to check on the British, who were situated in New York and controlled the surrounding waterways. In fact, in July 1778, Lord Stirling asked
Aaron Burr Aaron Burr Jr. (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836) was an American politician, businessman, lawyer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805 d ...
, in a letter written on behalf of General
George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...
, to employ several persons to "go to Bergen Heights, Weehawk, Hoebuck, or any other heights thereabout to observe the motions of the enemy's shipping" and to gather any other possible intelligence. Early documented inhabitants included a Captain James Deas, whose stately residence at Deas' Point was located atop a knoll along the river. Lafayette had used the mansion as his headquarters and later
Washington Irving Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 – November 28, 1859) was an American short-story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He wrote the short stories "Rip Van Winkle" (1819) and "The Legend of Sleepy ...
came to gaze at Manhattan. Not far from Deas' was a ledge 11 paces wide and 20 paces long, situated above the Hudson on the Palisades. This ledge, long gone, was the site of 18 documented duels and probably many unrecorded ones in the years 1798–1845. The most famous is the duel between
Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757July 12, 1804) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the first U.S. secretary of the treasury from 1789 to 1795 dur ...
, first
Secretary of the Treasury The United States secretary of the treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, and is the chief financial officer of the federal government of the United States. The secretary of the treasury serves as the principal a ...
, and
Aaron Burr Aaron Burr Jr. (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836) was an American politician, businessman, lawyer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805 d ...
, then Vice President of the United States, which took place on July 11, 1804; this duel was re-enacted on its 200th anniversary (July 11, 2004) by descendants of Hamilton and Burr. Three years earlier, a duel was held at this spot between Hamilton's son, Philip Hamilton, and George Eacker."The American Experience – The Duel – People & Events – Philip Hamilton's Duel"
, PBS. Accessed March 21, 2022. "When Alexander Hamilton's 19-year-old son rose to his father's defense on November 20, 1801, he took the first step of a violent process that had become an American social convention – the duel.... The weapons chosen were pistols; the dueling site the heights of Weehawken, New Jersey, just across the Hudson from New York."
(Another source, however, puts the duel in Paulus Hook in
Jersey City Jersey City is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, second-most populous
.) Phillip, who had been defending his father's honor, suffered a fatal wound in his hip and his left arm and died two days later on November 24, 1801.


19th century

In the mid-19th century,
James G. King built his estate Highwood on the bluff that now bears his name and entertained many political and artistic figures of the era, including
Daniel Webster Daniel Webster (January 18, 1782 – October 24, 1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who represented New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the U.S. Congress and served as the 14th and 19th United States Secretary of State, U.S. secretary o ...
. With the ferry, the Hackensack Plank Road (a toll road that was a main artery from Weehawken to Hackensack), and later, the West Shore Railroad, built during the early 1870s, the waterfront became a transportation hub. The wealthy built homes along the top of the New Jersey Palisades, where they might flee from the sweltering heat of New York and breathe the fresh air of the heights. Weehawken became the playground of the rich during the middle to late 19th century. A series of wagon lifts, stairs and even a passenger elevator designed by the same engineer as those at the
Eiffel Tower The Eiffel Tower ( ; ) is a wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower from 1887 to 1889. Locally nicknamed "''La dame de fe ...
(which at the time was the world's largest) were put in place to accommodate the tourists and summer dwellers. The Eldorado Amusement Park, a
pleasure garden A pleasure garden is a park or garden that is open to the public for recreation and entertainment. Pleasure gardens differ from other public gardens by serving as venues for entertainment, variously featuring such attractions as concert halls, b ...
which opened in 1891, drew massive crowds.


20th century

The turn of the 20th century saw the end of the large estates,
casino A casino is a facility for gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, conce ...
s, hotels, and theaters as tourism gave way to subdivisionsSenft, Bret
"If You're Thinking of Living In/Weehawken; Insular With a Magnificent Skyline View"
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', September 25, 1994. Accessed February 9, 2015.
(such as Highwood Park and Clifton Park) and the construction of many of the private homes in the township. This coincided with the influx of the Germans, Austrians, and Swiss, who built them and the breweries and embroidery factories in nearby Union City and West New York. While remaining essentially residential, Weehawken continued to grow as Hudson County became more industrial and more populated. Shortly after
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, a significant contingent of
Syrian Syrians () are the majority inhabitants of Syria, indigenous to the Levant, most of whom have Arabic, especially its Levantine and Mesopotamian dialects, as a mother tongue. The cultural and linguistic heritage of the Syrian people is a blend ...
immigrants from
Homs Homs ( ; ), known in pre-Islamic times as Emesa ( ; ), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is Metres above sea level, above sea level and is located north of Damascus. Located on the Orontes River, Homs is ...
(a major textile center in its own right) moved into Weehawken to take advantage of the burgeoning textile industry.


Geography

Weehawken is part of the
New York metropolitan area The New York metropolitan area, also called the Tri-State area and sometimes referred to as Greater New York, is the List of cities by GDP, largest metropolitan economy in the world, with a List of U.S. metropolitan areas by GDP, gross metropo ...
. Situated on the western shore of the
Hudson River The Hudson River, historically the North River, is a river that flows from north to south largely through eastern New York (state), New York state. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains at Henderson Lake (New York), Henderson Lake in the ...
, along the southern end of the New Jersey Palisades across from
Midtown Manhattan Midtown Manhattan is the central portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan, serving as the city's primary central business district. Midtown is home to some of the city's most prominent buildings, including the Empire State Building, the ...
, it is the western terminus of the Lincoln Tunnel. Weehawken is one of the towns that comprise North Hudson, sometimes called NoHu in the artistic community.Paul, Mary; and Matzner, Caren
"Scores of artists find a place in N. Hudson WNY, Union City, Weehawken, and North Bergen becoming 'NoHu'"
''The Union City Reporter'', April 17, 2008, pages 1, 6 and 19. Accessed January 14, 2012.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 1.48 square miles (3.82 km2), including 0.78 square miles (2.03 km2) of land and 0.69 square miles (1.79 km2) of water (46.69%). The township borders the municipalities of Hoboken, Union City and West New York in Hudson County; and the
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
borough of
Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...
, across the Hudson River. While the Palisades defines Weehawken's natural topography, the Lincoln Tunnel Helix and Lincoln Tunnel toll plaza are prominent man-made structures. Geographically, Weehawken has distinct neighborhoods: Downtown (known as "The Shades"), the Heights, Uptown (which includes Kingswood Bluff, known as "The Bluff"), and the Waterfront, which since the 1990s has been developed for transportation, commercial, recreational and residential uses. Though some are long abandoned (e.g., Grauert Causeway), there are still several outdoor public staircases (e.g., Shippen Steps) throughout the town and more than 15 "dead-end" streets. At its southeastern corner is Weehawken Cove which, along with the rail tracks farther inland, defines Weehawken's border with Hoboken. Its northern boundary is shared with West New York. Traversing Weehawken is Boulevard East, a scenic thoroughfare offering a sweeping vista of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline.Sherman, Lauren; and Gaulkin, Ellen Robb
''Weehawken''
Arcadia Publishing Arcadia Publishing is an American Publishing, publisher of neighborhood, local history, local, and regional history of the United States in pictorial form.(analysis of the successful ''Images of America'' series). Arcadia Publishing also runs th ...
, 2009. . Accessed October 23, 2015.
Local zoning laws prohibit the construction of high-rise buildings that would obstruct sight-lines from higher points in the township. In a 1999 decision that blocked the development of a pair of waterfront towers that would have stood , a judge cited the panoramic vistas from Weehawken as "a world-class amenity that encourages people to live, work and locate businesses in the area". In 2021, the development company Roseland donated of land on the Palisades cliff face to the town in order to preserve its beauty and its history.


Demographics


2020 census


2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 12,554 people, 5,712 households, and 2,913 families in the township. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
was . There were 6,213 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 71.85% (9,020)
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 4.83% (606) Black or African American, 0.49% (61) Native American, 8.16% (1,024) Asian, 0.01% (1)
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 10.76% (1,351) from other races, and 3.91% (491) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40.27% (5,055) of the population. Of the 5,712 households, 20.4% had children under the age of 18; 34.9% were married couples living together; 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 49.0% were non-families. Of all households, 36.1% were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.93. 16.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 39.1% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.0 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010
American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...
showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars)
median household income The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways of und ...
was $62,435 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,887) and the median family income was $90,903 (+/− $17,797). Males had a median income of $53,912 (+/− $7,426) versus $50,129 (+/− $3,238) for females. The per capita income for the township was $45,206 (+/− $5,011). About 10.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 20.4% of those age 65 or over.


2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 13,501 people, 5,975 households, and 3,059 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 6,159 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 73.05%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 3.58%
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.20% Native American, 4.67% Asian, 0.10%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 13.94% from other races, and 4.47% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race were 40.64% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Weehawken township, New Jersey
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
. Accessed November 12, 2012.
DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Weehawken township, Hudson County, New Jersey
,
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
. Accessed November 12, 2012.
There were 5,975 households, out of which 20.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.8% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 3.02. In the township, the population was spread out, with 16.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 42.4% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males. The median income for a household in the township was $50,196, and the median income for a family was $52,613. Males had a median income of $41,307 versus $36,063 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,269. About 9.3% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over. Weehawken, with a population density about equal to that of
Jersey City Jersey City is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, second-most populous
, is among the most densely populated municipalities in the United States.


Economy

Weehawken has a retail district along Park Avenue, which represents its boundary with
Union City and large office and apartment/townhouse developments along the Hudson River. Weehawken is a mostly residential community, but has a business district at Lincoln Harbor between the Lincoln Tunnel and Weehawken Cove. UBS, Swatch Group USA, Hartz Mountain Telx Technologies ( colocation center) are among the corporations which maintain offices in the neighborhood, which also hosts a Sheraton Hotels and Resorts-branded hotel.


Sports

Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
announced plans in 2011 to host a street race on a circuit stretching in Weehawken and West New York called Grand Prix of America, that was planned to have its first event in June 2013. The three-day event was anticipated to attract 100,000 people and bring in approximately $100 million in economic activity. The 2013 race was dropped from the calendar, with Formula One President and CEO Bernie Ecclestone stating that the promoters were in breach of contract and that new proposals from other parties would be welcome.Staff
"New Jersey Grand Prix organizers in breach of contract says Ecclestone"
'' Autoweek'', December 23, 2013. Accessed March 6, 2018. "Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that the organizers of the proposed Grand Prix in New Jersey are in breach of their race contract and have not paid him since signing the agreement in 2011. Speaking to Autoweek over lunch in London, Ecclestone also said that several groups are considering whether to take over the race from the current management to ensure that it goes ahead. The race, known as the Grand Prix of America, is planned to run on 3.2-miles of public roads in Port Imperial, a district in the New Jersey towns of West New York and Weehawken."
The race was repeatedly added then removed from future Formula One provisional calendars, and dropped completely from the provisional calendar by 2016.


Points of interest

Though the panoramic view (from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to
George Washington Bridge The George Washington Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting Fort Lee in Bergen County, New Jersey, with the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It is named after George W ...
) may be its most famous attraction, Weehawken is also home to other sites of historic, aesthetic and engineering importance: * The city's main commercial thoroughfare is Park Avenue, which is populated mostly by locally owned stores, eateries and bars.Smith, Ray (March 11, 2012). "The State of Main Street". '' The Hudson Reporter: Progress Report''. pp. 4, 11. * Hamilton Park, on Boulevard East, is located at the site of the former Eldorado Amusement Resort. * King's Bluff, a historic district at "the end of the Palisades", includes many of Weehawken's most expensive homes, in an eclectic array of architectural styles * The Weehawken Water Tower on Park Avenue was built in 1883 as part of the Hackensack Water Company Complex and inspired by Palazzo Vecchio in
Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...
, Italy. The Tower is cited on the Federal Maritime Chart as the "Red Tower" and serves as a warning to ships traveling south along the Hudson that they are approaching New York Bay. * The former North Hudson Hospital is located on Park Avenue. * Hackensack Plank Road, an early colonial thoroughfare first laid out in 1718, climbs from Downtown to ''The Heights'' and further north, originally connecting Hoboken and Hackensack. * The "Horseshoe" on Shippen Street is a cobbled double hairpin street leading to Hackensack Plank Road and Shippen Street Steps, at the bottom of which is located Weehawken's original town hall. It is the home of VFW Post 1923 and the Weehawken Historical Commission. * The Lincoln Tunnel Helix is the eight-lane circular
viaduct A viaduct is a specific type of bridge that consists of a series of arches, piers or columns supporting a long elevated railway or road. Typically a viaduct connects two points of roughly equal elevation, allowing direct overpass across a wide ...
that leads into the
Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...
style Lincoln Tunnel Toll Plaza. Nearby are the ventilation towers at Lincoln Harbor. * The Weehawken Public Library, which was built in 1904 as the home the son of William Peter Sr., wealthy brewer/beer baron of the William Peter Brewing Company, is located at 49 Hauxhurst Avenue. It opened as a library in 1942 and underwent renovations from 1997 to 1999. * The Atrium, which is home to Hudson River Performing Arts Center-sponsored events. * NY Waterway's Weehawken Port Imperial Ferry Terminal, a state-of-the-art facility opened in 2006, is located at the site of the United Fruit Company, which was the largest banana import facility in the nation from the time of its opening in 1952. * Reservoir Park, located at 20th to 22nd Streets on Palisade Avenue, opened on September 25, 2015, The passive park was created on the site of a reservoir that had been owned by United Water but hadn't been used since 1996. * The West Shore Railroad Tunnel, carved through the cliffs, is now used for the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail. * The '' Hudson Riverfront 9/11 Memorial'' on the Hudson River Walkway near the foot of Pershing Road consists of two trident-shaped beams that served as supports for the twin towers of the World Trade Center. * The Weehawken Pool, part of the Weehawken Waterfront Park and Recreation Center, which opened in August 2021. File:Hamilton Park, Jersey City.JPG, View from Hamilton Park File:Weehawken Water Tower jeh.jpg, Water Tower File:12.17.09WeehawkenLibraryByLuigiNovi1.jpg, Public Library File:A355, September 11th Memorial, Hudson River Walk, Weehawken, New Jersey, USA, 16 April 2012.JPG, 9/11 Memorial


Hamilton Monument

The Alexander Hamilton Monument on Hamilton Avenue, next to Hamilton Park, is the site of the second memorial to the Burr–Hamilton duel between
Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757July 12, 1804) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the first U.S. secretary of the treasury from 1789 to 1795 dur ...
and
Aaron Burr Aaron Burr Jr. (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836) was an American politician, businessman, lawyer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805 d ...
. The first, on the original duel site, was constructed in 1806 by the Saint Andrew Society, of which Hamilton had been a member. A 14-foot (4.3-m)
marble Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting of carbonate minerals (most commonly calcite (CaCO3) or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) that have recrystallized under the influence of heat and pressure. It has a crystalline texture, and is ty ...
cenotaph, consisting of an
obelisk An obelisk (; , diminutive of (') ' spit, nail, pointed pillar') is a tall, slender, tapered monument with four sides and a pyramidal or pyramidion top. Originally constructed by Ancient Egyptians and called ''tekhenu'', the Greeks used th ...
, topped by a flaming urn and a plaque with a quote from
Horace Quintus Horatius Flaccus (; 8 December 65 BC – 27 November 8 BC), Suetonius, Life of Horace commonly known in the English-speaking world as Horace (), was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus (also known as Octavian). Th ...
, surrounded by an iron fence, was raised about where Hamilton was believed to have fallen.Willie. 2004
"The Changing Face of the Hamilton Monument"
. Weehawken Historical Commission. pp. 3–4.
Duels continued to be fought at the site and the marble was slowly vandalized and removed for souvenirs, disappearing entirely by 1820. The tablet turned up in a junk store and found its way to the New-York Historical Society in
Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...
, where it still resides. From 1820 to 1857, the site was marked by two stones, with the names Hamilton and Burr, placed where they were thought to have stood during the duel. When a road from Hoboken to Fort Lee was built through the site in 1858, an inscription on a boulder where a mortally wounded Hamilton was thought to have rested—one of the many pieces of
graffiti Graffiti (singular ''graffiti'', or ''graffito'' only in graffiti archeology) is writing or drawings made on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from simple written "monikers" to elabor ...
left by visitors—was all that remained. No primary accounts of the duel confirm the boulder anecdote. In 1870, railroad tracks were built directly through the site and the boulder was hauled to the top of the Palisades, where it remains today, located just off the Boulevard East. In 1894, an iron fence was built around the boulder, supplemented by a bust of Hamilton and a plaque. The bust was thrown over the cliff on October 14, 1934, by vandals and the head was never recovered; a new bust was unveiled on July 12, 1935. The plaque was stolen by vandals in the 1980s and an abbreviated version of the text was inscribed on the indentation left in the boulder, which remained until the early 1990s, when a
granite Granite ( ) is a coarse-grained (phanerite, phaneritic) intrusive rock, intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly coo ...
pedestal was added in front of the boulder; the bust was moved to the top of the pedestal. New historical markers were added on July 11, 2004, the 200th anniversary of the duel.


Government


Local government

Weehawken operates within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager form of municipal government. The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government. The governing body is a five-member Township Council, whose members are elected to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis in
non-partisan Nonpartisanship, also known as nonpartisanism, is a lack of affiliation with a political party and a lack of political bias. While an ''Oxford English Dictionary'' definition of ''partisan'' includes adherents of a party, cause, person, etc., ...
elections held in May. Two council members are elected from the township
at-large At large (''before a noun'': at-large) is a description for members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent a whole membership or population (notably a city, county, state, province, nation, club or association), rather tha ...
and the remainder are chosen from each of three wards. The council selects a mayor and a deputy mayor from among its members in a reorganization meeting held in the first week of July after the election.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'',
Rutgers University Rutgers University ( ), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of three campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's C ...
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 135.
, the mayor of Weehawken is Richard F. Turner (at-large), whose term of office ends June 30, 2026. Turner has served in office since July 1990, after having served as town manager. Turner is one of longest-serving mayors in New Jersey. Other members of the Township Council are Deputy Mayor Rosemary J. Lavagnino (2nd Ward), David J. Curtis (3rd Ward), Carmela Silvestri-Ehret (1st Ward) and Robert Sosa (at large), all serving terms of office expiring on June 30, 2026.Mayor and Township Council
Township of Weehawken. Accessed December 16, 2024.
2022 Municipal Election May 10, 2022 Official Results
Hudson County, New Jersey, updated June 1, 2022. Accessed December 1, 2022.
Elected Officials
Hudson County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed March 1, 2023.
Giovanni D. Ahmad is the township manager.


Federal, state and county representation

Weehawken is located in the 8th Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report
New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.
and is part of New Jersey's 33rd state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District
New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.
''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''
New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.


Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 7,335 registered voters in Weehawken, of which 3,717 (50.7%) were registered as Democrats, 850 (11.6%) were registered as Republicans and 2,753 (37.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 15 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
received 74.7% of the vote (3,692 cast), ahead of Republican
Mitt Romney Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American businessman and retired politician. He served as a United States Senate, United States senator from Utah from 2019 to 2025 and as the 70th governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 ...
with 23.6% (1,169 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (83 votes), among the 4,969 ballots cast by the township's 7,995 registered voters (25 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 62.2%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 72.4% of the vote (3,895 cast), ahead of Republican
John McCain John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American statesman and United States Navy, naval officer who represented the Arizona, state of Arizona in United States Congress, Congress for over 35 years, first as ...
with 26.1% (1,406 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (52 votes), among the 5,381 ballots cast by the township's 8,230 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat
John Kerry John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is an American attorney, politician, and diplomat who served as the 68th United States secretary of state from 2013 to 2017 in the Presidency of Barack Obama#Administration, administration of Barac ...
received 65.0% of the vote (3,250 ballots cast), outpolling Republican
George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...
with 33.8% (1,688 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (26 votes), among the 4,997 ballots cast by the township's 7,293 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 68.5. In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 55.5% of the vote (1,407 cast), ahead of Republican
Chris Christie Christopher James Christie (born September 6, 1962) is an American politician and former United States Attorney, federal prosecutor who served as the 55th governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. A member of the Republican Party (United States) ...
with 42.2% (1,070 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (60 votes), among the 2,637 ballots cast by the township's 8,135 registered voters (100 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 32.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 69.9% of the vote (2,209 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 25.1% (792 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 3.8% (119 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (27 votes), among the 3,161 ballots cast by the township's 7,220 registered voters, yielding a 43.8% turnout.


Public safety

Weehawken is served by North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue (NHRFR). Engine 3 and Engine 5 are assigned to two fire stations located in the township. Weehawken Volunteer First Aid and the Weehawken Police Department were among the many Hudson County agencies that responded to the January 2009 crash of Flight 1549, for which they received accolades from the survivors.


Mayors

* Simon Kelly, 1887 to 1897. * Edward W. Berger * Morris Frost, in 1908 for a week * William H. Wood * George Gonzales * William M. Brady in 1917 * Emile W. Grauert (1855–1931), 1912 to 1931. He was born in 1855 in
Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...
and later worked as an architect. His mayorship was possibly split over non-consecutive terms. He died in the mayor's office on April 20, 1931, from a heart attack."Widow, 72, Succeeds Weehawken Mayor"
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', May 14, 1931. Accessed November 14, 2019. "Mrs. Clara E. Grauert, 72-year-old widow of Emile W. Grauert, who at the time of his death on April 20. had completed twenty-one years as Mayor of Weehawken, N. J., was sworn in last night at the Weehawken City Hall as her husband's successor."
* Clara E. Grauert, the 72-year-old widow of Emile W. Grauert starting in 1931 filling the office of her husband * John Meister in 1949 * Charles F. Krause Jr. in 1956. * Stanley D. Ianoco from before 1972 to 1979 * Wally P. Lindsley (born 1949), from 1979 to 1982 * Stanley D. Ianoco, 1982 to 1990 (second non-consecutive term) * Richard F. Turner (born 1950), from 1990 to present


Education

The Weehawken School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through
twelfth grade Twelfth Grade (also known as Grade 12, Senior Year, Standard 12, 12th Standard, 12th Class, or Class 12th or Class 12) is the twelfth and final Educational stage, year of Formal education, formal or compulsory education. It is typically the final ...
. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,320 students and 130.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.1:1.District information for Weehawken Public School District
National Center for Education Statistics The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the principal federal agency responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data on education in the United States. Established under , it operates within the Institute of Education S ...
. Accessed December 15, 2024.
Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the
National Center for Education Statistics The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the principal federal agency responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data on education in the United States. Established under , it operates within the Institute of Education S ...
) are Daniel Webster School with 391 students in PreK through 2nd grade, Theodore Roosevelt School with 328 students in grades 3–6 and Weehawken High School with 589 students in grades 7–12. The school system is known for its small classes and high ratings. The Woodrow Wilson Arts Integrated School (grades 1–8), located in Weehawken, was part of the Union City School District. Hoboken Catholic Academy, a consolidation of existing Catholic schools, is located in Hoboken. A K–8 school, it was formerly co-sponsored by St. Lawrence Church in Weehawken and four Hoboken churches before the archdiocese's Lighting the Way program changed the allocation of money for schools in the archdiocese. The Weehawken Public Library has a collection of approximately 43,000 volumes and circulates 40,600 items annually. and is a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. The landmark building, extensively renovated and updated in 1999.


Transportation


Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Hudson County and by the
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, (PANYNJ; stylized, in logo since 2020, as Port Authority NY NJ) is a joint venture between the U.S. states of New York (state), New York and New Jersey, established in 1921 through an interstate c ...
. Route 495 travels east-west between the Lincoln Tunnel and the New Jersey Turnpike (
Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, north to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the ...
) with interchanges for Route 3 and U.S. Route 1/9 in North Bergen. The Lincoln Tunnel Helix in Weehawken carries traffic between the tunnel's toll plaza and the crest of the Palisades. County Route 505 also passes through the township.


Public transportation

Public transportation in Weehawken is provided by bus, ferry, and light rail. Bus service is provided along busy north-south corridors on Park Avenue, Boulevard East and Port Imperial Boulevard by NJ Transit and privately operated jitneys within Hudson County, and to
Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...
and
Bergen County Bergen County is the List of counties in New Jersey, most populous County (United States), county in the U.S. state of New Jersey.NJT 123, 126, 128, 156, 158, 159, 165, 166, 168 originate/terminate at the
Port Authority Bus Terminal The Port Authority Bus Terminal (colloquially known as the Port Authority and by its acronym PABT) is a bus station, bus terminal located in Manhattan in New York City. It is the busiest bus terminal in the world by volume of traffic, serving ab ...
. NJT 23 and 89 travel between Nungessers and Hoboken Terminal, where transfer is possible to
PATH A path is a route for physical travel – see Trail. Path or PATH may also refer to: Physical paths of different types * Bicycle path * Bridle path, used by people on horseback * Course (navigation), the intended path of a vehicle * Desir ...
and NJT commuter rail. NJ Transit buses 84 and 86 travel between Nungessers and Journal Square or Pavonia/Newport in
Jersey City Jersey City is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, second-most populous
. Routes 68 and 67 provide minimal peak service from Lincoln Harbor to the
Jersey Shore The Jersey Shore, commonly called the Shore by locals, is the coast, coastal region of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The term encompasses about of shore, oceanfront bordering the Atlantic Ocean, from Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Perth Amboy in the n ...
. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) service is available westbound to Bergenline and Tonnelle Avenue and southbound to Hoboken,
Jersey City Jersey City is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, second-most populous
and
Bayonne Bayonne () is a city in southwestern France near the France–Spain border, Spanish border. It is a communes of France, commune and one of two subprefectures in France, subprefectures in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques departments of France, departm ...
at the Lincoln Harbor station and Port Imperial station, where transfer to NY Waterway ferries to Midtown and
Lower Manhattan Lower Manhattan, also known as Downtown Manhattan or Downtown New York City, is the southernmost part of the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The neighborhood is History of New York City, the historical birthplace o ...
is possible. NY Waterway headquarters are located at Weehawken Port Imperial. In 2013, a planned regional bike share system was announced by the Mayors of Weehawken and two cities to its south. Hudson Bike Share, launched in Hoboken in 2015, expanded to Weehawken in 2017. The program ended in 2020 when Hoboken joined the Citibike network.


Media and culture

Weehawken is located within the New York media market. '' The Jersey Journal'' was a 157-year-old local daily paper covering news in
Hudson County Hudson County is a List of counties in New Jersey, county in the U.S. state of New Jersey, its smallest and most densely populated. Lying in the northeast of the state and on the west bank of the North River (Hudson River), Hudson River, the No ...
that ceased online and print publication in February 2025. Local weeklies include the free bilingual paper, ''Hudson Dispatch Weekly'', (named for the former daily '' Hudson Dispatch''), the Spanish language ''El Especialito,'' and the '' River View Observer''. '' The Hudson Reporter'' and the '' Weehawken Reporter'' ceased publication in January 2023. The ''Weehawken Sequence'', an early 20th-century series of approximately 100 oil sketches by local artist John Marin, who worked in the city, is considered among, if not the first, abstract paintings done by an American artist. The sketches, which blend aspects of
Impressionism Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by visible brush strokes, open Composition (visual arts), composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...
,
Fauvism Fauvism ( ) is a style of painting and an art movement that emerged in France at the beginning of the 20th century. It was the style of (, ''the wild beasts''), a group of modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong col ...
and
Cubism Cubism is an early-20th-century avant-garde art movement which began in Paris. It revolutionized painting and the visual arts, and sparked artistic innovations in music, ballet, literature, and architecture. Cubist subjects are analyzed, broke ...
, have been compared to the work of
Jackson Pollock Paul Jackson Pollock (; January 28, 1912August 11, 1956) was an American painter. A major figure in the abstract expressionist movement, Pollock was widely noticed for his "Drip painting, drip technique" of pouring or splashing liquid household ...
. The Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build a world-class
performing arts center Performing arts center/centre (see spelling differences), often abbreviated as PAC, is usually a complex housing performance spaces for various performing arts, including dance, music, and theatre. In some cases it refers to a single multi-use s ...
on the waterfront. Since 2004, it has presented both indoor and outdoor events at Lincoln Harbor.


In popular culture

The name and the place have inspired mention in multiple works of popular culture. *In 2014, the Fox Channel animated television series, ''
Futurama ''Futurama'' is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company and later revived by Comedy Central, and then Hulu. The series follows Philip J. Fry, who is cryogenically preserved for 1 ...
'', Weehawken is the home of the former DOOP headquarters. In visual art, Weehawken is the subject of the American painter
Edward Hopper Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967) was an American realism painter and printmaker. He is one of America's most renowned artists and known for his skill in depicting modern American life and landscapes. Born in Nyack, New York, to a ...
's '' East Wind Over Weehawken''. *The Broadway musical ''
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: * Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States * ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda ** ''Hamilton'' (al ...
'' includes a scene depicting the duel between
Aaron Burr Aaron Burr Jr. (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836) was an American politician, businessman, lawyer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805 d ...
and
Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757July 12, 1804) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the first U.S. secretary of the treasury from 1789 to 1795 dur ...
, as well as the duel between Phillip Hamilton and George Eacker. *In 1980, Italian science fiction/horror film ''
Contamination Contamination is the presence of a constituent, impurity, or some other undesirable element that renders something unsuitable, unfit or harmful for the physical body, natural environment, workplace, etc. Types of contamination Within the scien ...
'' features an Edwardian home on the corner of Boulevard East and 46th Street, in the scene in which a disgraced former astronaut is visited by the colonel who disgraced him. * In the 1970s and early 1980s, jazz composer and pianist
Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk ( October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the Jazz standard, standard jazz repertoire, includ ...
lived during his final decade until his death in 1982 in a
modernist Modernism was an early 20th-century movement in literature, visual arts, and music that emphasized experimentation, abstraction, and Subjectivity and objectivity (philosophy), subjective experience. Philosophy, politics, architecture, and soc ...
home at 63 Kingswood Road owned by Jazz patron and heiress Pannonica de Koenigswarter—which she bought from film director Josef von Sternberg and later dubbed "the Mad Pad" and "the Cathouse." * In Dr. Seuss' 1940 children's book '' Horton Hatches the Egg'', Horton the Elephant visits Weehawken while he is in the circus, and in Dr. Seuss's '' The Lorax'', the Onceler gives directions to the land of the Truffula trees that include "...turn left at Weehawken." * In the
Apple TV+ Apple TV+ is an American subscription over-the-top streaming service owned by Apple. The service launched on November 1, 2019, and it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service w ...
animated musical, ''Central Park'', a rap about Weehawken recorded by Daveed Diggs is sung by Helen, one of the characters, who is from there.


Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Weehawken include: * Maryn Adriansen (1600–1654), first European settler in Weehawken * Ed Alberian (1920–1997), entertainer, whose credits include early television's Clarabell the Clown on the ''
Howdy Doody ''Howdy Doody'' is an American Children's television series, children's television program (with circus and Western (genre), Western frontier themes) that was created and produced by Victor F. Campbell
Show'', ''The Beachcomber Bill Show'', and'' Let's Have Fun'' * Adele Astaire (1896–1981), Fred Astaire's elder sister, dancer and entertainer in vaudeville, on Broadway and the West End * Fred Astaire (1899–1987), Hollywood actor/dancerHague, Jim
"New commission will capture town's history"
'' The Hudson Reporter'', February 15, 2000. Accessed November 13, 2012. "But as Fleckenstein is quick to point out, there are other historic facts about the township. Like the fact that famed actor/dancer Fred Astaire once called Weehawken home."
* Myril Axelrod Bennett (1920–2014), an early female executive in the advertising industry * Eleanor Barooshian (1950–2016), singer and a member of the band the Cake * Francis Bitter (1902–1967), son of Karl Bitter, physicist known for his research with magnets and long career at MIT * Karl Bitter (1867–1915), sculptor, established an atelier, where he lived and worked until his death * John H. Bonn (1829–1891), founder of North Hudson County Railway * Kenneth Burke (1897–1993), literary theorist, poet, essayist, and novelist * Marlene Caride (born 1963), politician who has represented the 36th Legislative District in the
New Jersey General Assembly The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. Since the election of 1967 (1968 session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts f ...
since 2012 and was nominated in 2017 to lead the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance * Justin Casquejo (born 1997), free solo climber and stunt performer * Helen Castillo, fashion designer and cast member of season 12 of the reality television series '' Project Runway'' who was born and raised in Weehawken * Jack Cusick (1928–1989), right-handed
shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball positions, baseball or softball fielding position between second base, second and third base, which is considered to be among the Defensive spectrum, most demanding defensive positions. Historically, the ...
who played for the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
and
Boston Braves The Boston Braves were a Major League Baseball club that originated in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, and played from 1871 to 1952. Afterwards they moved to History of the Atlanta Braves#Milwaukee, Milwaukee (and became the Milwaukee Braves). ...
* John Diebold (1926–2005), computer scientist, considered to be an automation evangelist * John J. Eagan (1872–1956), Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 11th congressional district in the
United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
from 1913 to 1921 * Ronald Enroth (1938–2023), Professor of Sociology at Westmont College * Gary T. Erbe (born 1944), self-taught
oil painter Oil painting is a painting method involving the procedure of painting with pigments combined with a drying oil as the Binder (material), binder. It has been the most common technique for artistic painting on canvas, wood panel, or oil on coppe ...
who is best known for his '' trompe-l'œils'' * John Erskine (1879–1951), educator and author, who reflects on the town in ''The Memory of Certain Persons'' * Edward Feigenbaum (born 1936), computer scientist who collaborated on the development of the first expert system Dendral * Peter Fiordalisi (1904–1988), modern artist whose work was inspired by the New Jersey Palisades * Marie L. Garibaldi (1934–2016), former Associate Justice of the
New Jersey Supreme Court The Supreme Court of New Jersey is the supreme court, highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, the Supreme Court of New Jersey is the final judicial authority on all cases in the state court system, including cases cha ...
who became the first woman to serve on New Jersey's highest court when she was appointed by Governor Thomas Kean in 1982 *
João Gilberto João Gilberto (born João Gilberto do Prado Pereira de Oliveira – ; 10 June 1931 – 6 July 2019) was a Brazilian guitarist, singer, and composer who was a pioneer of the musical genre of bossa nova in the late 1950s. Around the world, he w ...
(1931–2019), Brazilian singer and guitar player, composer and bossa nova pioneer ratliff, Ben
"João Gilberto, an Architect of Bossa Nova, Is Dead at 88"
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', July 6, 2019. Accessed October 26, 2020. "After divorcing Astrud and, in 1965, marrying another singer, Heloísa Buarque de Holanda — known in her own career as Miúcha — Mr. Gilberto moved to Weehawken, N.J., and then to Brooklyn."
*
Nancy Giles Nancy Giles is an American actress and commentator, perhaps best known for her appearances in the series '' China Beach'' and on '' CBS News Sunday Morning''. Early life Nancy Giles is a graduate of Oberlin College. Career Giles was a member o ...
(born 1960),
CBS News CBS News is the news division of the American television and radio broadcaster CBS. It is headquartered in New York City. CBS News television programs include ''CBS Evening News'', ''CBS Mornings'', news magazine programs ''CBS News Sunday Morn ...
reporter who, during the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, produced "A brisk walk with Nancy Giles", which documented her walk around the town, in particular up the inclined block on which Weehawken High School is located and up Boulevard East * Baker Grace, musician and songwriter * Emile Griffith (1938–2013), professional boxer who was a World Champion in the
welterweight Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term ''welterweight'' was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify th ...
, junior middleweight and
middleweight Middleweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the middleweight division is contested above and up to . Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have beg ...
classes * Janet Hamill (born 1945), poet and spoken word artist * Barry Harris (1929–2021), jazz pianist and educator * Glenn Hauman (born 1969), writer, artist, editor and electronic publisherGlenn Hauman
SFBookcase. Accessed August 19, 2011.
"A Star Trek Wedding"
NPR. March 26, 2005
* Robert Hilferty (1959–2009), journalist, filmmaker and AIDS activist * Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter (1897–1982), director of the
Central Intelligence Agency The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA; ) is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States tasked with advancing national security through collecting and analyzing intelligence from around the world and ...
from 1947 to 1950 * Bob Kennedy (1928–1991), defensive back and halfback who played in the
All-America Football Conference The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was a major professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many ...
for the
Los Angeles Dons The Los Angeles Dons were an American football team in the newly formed football league the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) from 1946 Los Angeles Dons season, 1946 to 1949 Los Angeles Dons season, 1949, and played their home games in the L ...
* A. J. Khubani (born 1959), founder, president and CEO of Telebrands Corp. * James G. King (1791–1853), businessman and politician who represented from 1849 to 1851 * Nica de Koenigswarter née
Rothschild Rothschild () is a name derived from the German ''zum rothen Schild'' (with the old spelling "th"), meaning "to the red shield", in reference to the houses where these family members lived or had lived. At the time, houses were designated by signs ...
, (1913–1988), known as the "bebop baroness" for her patronage of many jazz musiciansFriedwald, Will
"The Ballad of a Jazz Royal"
''
The Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...
'', July 7, 2011. Accessed July 9, 2014. "Finally, in 1958, the baroness moved to a mansion in Weehawken, N.J., which became what might have been the metropolitan area's greatest jazz salon ever. Monk, Barry Harris and other greats lived there for long periods, and more incredible music was heard there than in most concert halls."
Thelonious Junior biography
''
Jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
''. Accessed July 8, 2011. "He made three final performances with an orchestra at Carnegie Hall, and appeared with a quartet at the Newport Jazz Festival New York in 1975 and in 1976, but otherwise spent his final years in seclusion in Weehawken, New Jersey, at the home of the Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, his lifelong friend and patron."
* Franck de Las Mercedes (born 1972), postmodern artist * Ed Lucas (1939–2021), blind sportswriter * Lori Majewski, entertainment writer, communications strategist and consultant * John Marin (1870–1953), early American modernist artist * Trade Martin (born 1945), composer, songwriter and producer * Steven Massarsky (1948–2007), lawyer and businessman who founded Voyager Communications * David Mearns (born 1958), marine scientist and deep water search and recovery expert, specializing in the discovery of the location of historic shipwrecks * Cecilia Mettler (1909–1943), medical historian who was one of the first full-time, and the first female, professors of the
history of medicine The history of medicine is both a study of medicine throughout history as well as a multidisciplinary field of study that seeks to explore and understand medical practices, both past and present, throughout human societies. The history of med ...
in the United States * Alice Duer Miller (1874–1942), poet and novelist whose work actively influenced political thought during the American suffrage movement and the nations's entry into World War II * Miúcha (1937–2018), Brazilian singer and composer *
Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk ( October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the Jazz standard, standard jazz repertoire, includ ...
(1917–1982), jazz pianist * Michael Noriega (born 1977/1978), associate justice of the
Supreme Court of New Jersey The Supreme Court of New Jersey is the supreme court, highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, the Supreme Court of New Jersey is the final judicial authority on all cases in the state court system, including cases cha ...
* Liam O'Brien (born 1976), voice actor, writer, and voice director * William E. Ozzard (1915–2002),
New Jersey Senate The New Jersey Senate is the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with an average population of 232,225 (2020 figure ...
president, 1963 * Kate Pierson (born 1948), vocalist and one of the lead singers and founding members of The B-52's * William Ranney (1813–1857), painter best known for his depictions of Western life, sporting scenery, historical subjects and portraiture * Dan Resin (1931–2010), actor known as Dr. Beeper in the film '' Caddyshack'', and as the Ty-D-Bol man in toilet cleaner commercials * Henry Reuterdahl (1870–1925), Swedish-American painter highly acclaimed for his nautical artwork *
Jerome Robbins Jerome Robbins (born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz; October 11, 1918 – July 29, 1998) was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theatre director and producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television. Among his nu ...
(1918–1998), choreographer, famous for ''
West Side Story ''West Side Story'' is a Musical theatre, musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a Book (musical theatre), book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play ''Romeo an ...
'' and many works for the
New York City Ballet New York City Ballet (NYCB) is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company. Léon Barzin was the company's fir ...
*
Wilbur Ross Wilbur Louis Ross Jr. (born November 28, 1937) is an American businessman who served as the 39th United States Secretary of Commerce from 2017 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Ross was previously cha ...
(born 1937), United States Secretary of Commerce and investor known for restructuring companies in industries such as steel, coal, telecommunications, foreign investment and textiles * Gerard Schwarz (born 1947), conductor, currently with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra * Theodore Seltzer (died 1957), manufacturer of Bengay * Kenneth Steiglitz, professor of computer science at Princeton University * Fred Stickel (1921–2015), newspaperman, notably publisher of ''The Oregonian'' * Frank Tashlin (1913–1972), film director, whose credits include ''The Glass Bottom Boat'' and ''The Alphabet Murders'' * Paul van K. Thomson (1916–1999), Roman Catholic priest, author and educator * Amani Toomer (born 1974), wide receiver who played for the New York GiantsMullins, Michael D
"Was it the shoes? Local fan says he has secret of Giants' success, as city plans celebration"
, '' The Hudson Reporter'', February 19, 2008. Accessed February 6, 2013. "City officials said that besides quarterback Eli Manning, who lives in the Hudson Tea Building on 15th Street, linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Mathias Kiwanuka are Hoboken residents. Several Giants live in surrounding municipalities, including Amani Toomer and Derrick Ward, who both live in Weehawken."
* Percie Vivarttas, architect whose work includes Temple Beth-El (Jersey City, New Jersey), Temple Beth-El in Jersey City * Josef von Sternberg (1894–1969), film noir director who built a home in the 1940s that was sold in 1958 to Nica de Koenigswater * Derrick Ward (born 1980), running back who played for the New York Giants *
Daniel Webster Daniel Webster (January 18, 1782 – October 24, 1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who represented New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the U.S. Congress and served as the 14th and 19th United States Secretary of State, U.S. secretary o ...
(1782–1852), statesman * Grant Wright (1865–1935), cartoonist, illustrator and painterStaff
"Grant Wright, 70, Dies In East of Pneumonia"
''Journal Star (Peoria), Peoria Star'', October 21, 1935. Accessed August 11, 2014. "Grant Wright aged 70, one of the leading landscape painters in the country, and known to practically every older resident of Peoria, died yesterday morning at the North Hudson Hospital at Union City, N.J., following a short illness. Death was caused by pneumonia. He was admitted to the hospital Saturday night, being taken from his home, 327 Park Avenue, Weehawken, N.J."


See also

* Bergen, New Netherland * Bergen Township, Bergen County, New Jersey (Historical 1693) * Gateway Region * Gold Coast, New Jersey * Hudson River Waterfront Walkway * National Register of Historic Places listings in Hudson County, New Jersey * North Hudson, New Jersey


References


External links

* * {{Authority control Weehawken, New Jersey, 1859 establishments in New Jersey Faulkner Act (council–manager) New Jersey populated places on the Hudson River North Hudson, New Jersey Populated places established in 1859 Townships in New Jersey Townships in Hudson County, New Jersey