Linden, New Jersey


Linden is a city in southeastern Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, located about southwest of Manhattan and bordering Staten Island, a borough of New York City, across the Arthur Kill. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 43,738, an increase of 3,239 from the 2010 census count of 40,499, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,105 from the 39,394 counted in the 2000 census. In 2015, Linden was listed as the most polluted community in New Jersey, based on the volume of toxic chemicals released into the local environment by facilities in the city.

History

Linden was originally formed as a township on March 4, 1861, from portions of Elizabeth, Rahway and Union County, New Jersey|Union Township]. Portions of the township were taken to form Cranford, Linden Borough and Roselle. Linden was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 1, 1925, replacing both Linden Township and Linden Borough, based on the results of a referendum held on November 8, 1923. The city's name derives from linden trees brought from Germany.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 11.42 square miles, including 10.69 square miles of land and 0.73 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Bayway, Grasselli, Morses Mill, Tremley, Sunnyside, Vreeland Mills, Warners and Wheatsheaf.
The city borders the municipalities of Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Rahway, Roselle and Winfield Township in Union County; Carteret and Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County; and Staten Island in New York City across the Arthur Kill tidal strait.

Polish and Polish-American community

Linden is a regional hub of Polish immigration and features a significant number of establishments featuring the food and culture of Poland. 13.1% of residents are of Polish origin and 15.6% of its residents five years old and above in the center of the city of Linden primarily speak the Polish language at home. The Skulski Art Gallery of the Polish Cultural Foundation of neighboring Clark has exhibited Linden-based artists.
Polish-American grocery specialty shop Pulaski Meats takes up nearly a city block. Polish language services are held at two Roman Catholic churches, including at the heavily Polish parish St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church, established in the 1920s.
Linden holds an annual Polish Heritage Day Festival to showcase local Polish cuisine, pottery, dance, traditional fashion and other Polish arts for visitors.
In 2021, the mayor of Linden hosted a state visit by Poland’s president Andrzej Duda and first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda to the Polish community in Linden.
In old pagan Slavic mythology, the tree for which the city is named, the linden tree was considered a sacred tree.

Demographics

2020 census

Race / Ethnicity Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop. 2010% 1990% 2000% 2010
Latino whites|White] alone 26,16722,82718,08913,74471.30%57.95%44.67%31.42%
Black or African American alone 7,2298,78210,40311,72219.70%22.29%25.69%26.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 484358330.13%0.11%0.14%0.08%
Asian alone 5349141,0661,4841.46%2.32%2.63%3.39%
Pacific Islander alone N/A1485N/A0.04%0.02%0.01%
Some other race alone 231251665410.06%0.32%0.41%1.24%
Mixed-race or multi-racial N/A1,0156141,154N/A2.58%1.52%2.64%
Hispanic or Latino 2,7005,67410,09515,0557.36%14.40%24.93%34.42%
Total36,70139,39440,49943,738100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 40,499 people, 14,909 households, and 10,272 families in the city. The population density was 3,793.8 per square mile. There were 15,872 housing units at an average density of 1,486.8 per square mile. The racial makeup was 59.15% White, 26.88% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 2.71% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 7.57% from other races, and 3.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.93% of the population.
Of the 14,909 households, 29.9% had children under the age of 18; 45.1% were married couples living together; 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.1% were non-families. Of all households, 26.2% were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.27.
21.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.7 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey shows that median household income was $55,859 and the median family income was $64,439. Males had a median income of $45,890 versus $39,288 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,011. About 5.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 39,394 people, 15,052 households, and 10,084 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 15,567 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 66.08% White, 22.80% African American, 0.14% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.88% from other races, and 3.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.40% of the population.
There were 15,052 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,345, and the median income for a family was $54,903. Males had a median income of $39,457 versus $30,395 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,314. About 5.0% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The east side of Linden is located along the Arthur Kill, a navigable strait which plays an important role in bulk cargo transportation in the Port of New York and New Jersey.
Together with Elizabeth, Linden is home to the Bayway Refinery, a Phillips 66 refining facility that helps supply petroleum-based products to the New York/New Jersey area, producing approximately, making it the second-largest on the East Coast of the United States and one of the country's 25 largest facilities.
From 1937 to 2005, Linden was home to Linden Assembly, a General Motors manufacturing plant that produced Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick and other GM automobiles, but also produced planes during World War II. By early 2008 most of the plant has been torn down for redevelopment by Duke Realty Corporation, which purchased the site for $76.5 million.
Linden, together with Rahway, is home to Merck & Co., one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. In 2003, the pharmaceutical company celebrated 100 years in Rahway and Linden.

Sunnyside section of Linden and the Jewish community

The residential area of Linden west of St. Georges Avenue is known as Sunnyside, named for the former Sunnyfield Golf Club located in that area. It borders on Clark, Cranford and Winfield on the west and Roselle on the east.

Jewish community of Linden

Like the rest of Linden, Sunnyside is a diverse neighborhood featuring residents of many different backgrounds. Congregation Anshe Chesed is a Modern Orthodox synagogue in the Sunnyside section that was founded in 1914. It has a large modern building on St. Georges Avenue and its former synagogue building on Blancke Street was converted for use for community athletics.
Among the parks in the Sunnyside section is Sunnyside Park, at the corner of Summit Terrace and Edgewood Road, dubbed the “Shabbos park” by the area's Modern Orthodox community as a place where families meet on Saturday afternoons.
An eruv links the Sunnyside section of Linden to Roselle, Warinanco Park, the Jewish Educational Center of Elizabeth, and Hillside. A mikveh was constructed in 2015.
Following the move in 2017 of members of the Koson congregation to the Sunnyside section of Linden, other Hasidic communities have grown in Linden, including Bobov, Rachmastrivka, Pupa, and Satmar communities, with 700 families living in the area in 2025.
In addition to rules greatly expanding the minimum lot size for houses of worship, the city enacted zoning restrictions in 2025 limiting use of basements for a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, as well as requiring driveways, which were perceived to have a disproportionate impact on the growing number of large Haredi families in the area.

Local media

Linden media includes:
  • Union News Daily. A news outlet covering Union County news, it has a dedicated Linden section. It is part of LocalSource and published by Worrall Community Newspapers of Union.
  • TAPinto Linden is a local digital news site covering Linden news exclusively, part of the TAPinto network of news in Central and Northern New Jersey.
  • Life in Linden is published by Renna Media, located on Walnut Street in Cranford, NJ.
  • LindenTV is the city's own channel, and is available to cable and Verizon FiOS television subscribers.
  • The City of Linden shares news and events via its official website.
  • Remaining multi-community newspapers include the Courier News, a daily newspaper based in Bridgewater Township, and The Star-Ledger and the Suburban News based in Newark.
  • Linden is the official city of license for WNJU, a television station serving the New York metropolitan area as the flagship station of the Spanish-language Telemundo network.

    Parks and recreation

  • Hawk Rise Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary created by the City of Linden and the New Jersey Audubon Society on the banks of the Rahway River at the lower reaches of the Rahway River Parkway.
  • John Russell Wheeler Park is home to the Linden Skatepark for skateboarders at Winans Avenue and West Edgar Road near where Morses Creek winds through the park. an spray park opened in 2019, replacing a pool that dated back to 1931.
  • Peach Orchard Park sits at Dill Avenue, Hussa Street and Cranford Avenue, behind School #4. It is home to Peach Orchard Brook, a tributary of Morses Creek.
  • Warinanco Park's Park Drive entrance connects the park to Linden.

    Government

Local government

Linden is governed under the City form of government. The city is one of 15 municipalities statewide that use this traditional form of municipal government. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and an 11-member City Council. The mayor and council president are elected at-large to four-year terms of office, while the other 10 members are elected from wards to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or four of the ward seats up for election each year in a three-year cycle.
, the Mayor of Linden is Democrat Derek Armstead, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the City Council are:
  • Council President – Michele Yamakaitis
  • First Ward – Lisa A. Ormon
  • Second Ward – Barry E. Javick
  • Third Ward – Monique Caldwell
  • Fourth Ward – Alfred Mohammed
  • Fifth Ward – Kayla Lott
  • Sixth Ward – Eloy Delgado
  • Seventh Ward – Ralph Strano
  • Eighth Ward – Mark Armstead
  • Ninth Ward – Alfred Rodriguez
  • Tenth Ward – Christine Ann Hudak
In June 2022, Christine Ann Hudak was appointed to fill the 10th Ward seat that had become vacant following the resignation of Gretchen M. Hickey. Hudak served on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election when she was elected to serve the remainder of the term of office.
The 8th Ward seat expiring in December 2020 became vacant in January 2019 when Michele Yamakaitis took office as Council President. The Democratic municipal committee chose Paul Coates to fill the vacancy, but Mayor Derek Armstead sought to keep the seat vacant until the November 2019 general election. After a legal battle waged by the Linden Democratic municipal committee and its chairman Nicholas Scutari, a Superior Court judge ruled in May 2019 that Coates should be immediately seated to the council to serve until the November general election. In the November 2019 voting, Garret Blaine was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
In November 2015, the City Council selected Ralph Strano from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the Seventh Ward seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Mike Minarchenko until his resignation from office the previous month; Strano served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
John T. Gregorio, served as mayor of Linden for 30 non-consecutive years until December 31, 2006, and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which forced him from office for two terms. Gregorio returned as mayor following his conviction.
Rhashonna Cosby-Hurling became the first African American female elected to the City Council when she took office in 2011 to represent the Fifth Ward.

Federal, state, and county representation

Linden is located in the 7th and 10th Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 22nd state legislative district.
Prior to the 2010 Census, Linden had been split between the, the 10th Congressional District and the, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 21,494 registered voters in Linden, of which 11,831 were registered as Democrats, 1,319 were registered as Republicans and 8,339 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the city's 2010 Census population, 53.1% were registered to vote, including 67.9% of those ages 18 and over.

Education

Public schools

The Linden Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of 11 schools, had an enrollment of 6,125 students and 557.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.0:1. Schools in the district are
School No. 1,
School No. 2,
School No. 4,
School No. 5,
School No. 6,
School No. 8,
School No. 9,
School No. 10,
Myles J. McManus Middle School,
Joseph E. Soehl Middle School and
Linden High School. School No. 5 was one of nine schools in New Jersey honored in 2020 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which recognizes high student achievement.

Private schools

Sinai Christian Academy serves grades Pre-K through 12th grade.
Saints Mary and Elizabeth Academy was a Catholic school serving students in Pre-K through 8th grade that operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark until its closure at the end of the 2013–2014 school year due to declining enrollment.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the city had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Union County, by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
The New Jersey Turnpike passes through the eastern portion of the city, with a few ramps that lead to the nearest exit which is on the border with nearby Elizabeth. The city is also the western terminus of Interstate 278, which travels through all five boroughs of New York City. Other major roadways in the city are U.S. Route 1/9 and Route 27. The Garden State Parkway passes about west of the city limits.

Public transportation

Bus

Local public transportation is provided by NJ Transit with bus service to Elizabeth, Perth Amboy and Newark. NJ Transit routes 112 and 115 provide local service and interstate service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City, on the 48 to Elizabeth and 94 routes to Newark, and local service on the 56 and 57 routes.

Rail

The Linden train station offers a one-seat ride to Manhattan in 39 minutes via service on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line and the Northeast Corridor Line. Trains travel northbound to Newark Penn Station, Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station, and southbound towards the Trenton Transit Center, with connections available at those locations

Airport

is a small general aviation facility and reliever airport located on the eastern side of the city along U.S. Route 1/9. The airport was constructed for the United States Navy in 1942 for use in development and testing of the Grumman F4F Wildcat and was taken over by the city of Linden after World War II. The airport served as a road racing course in June 1954 for a race in the then-NASCAR Grand National Division, with Al Keller winning the 50-lap race over a course.
Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 15 minutes away.

Arts and culture

  • Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade is the home of outdoor concerts and other performing arts in Linden. Live bands play R&B, funk and jazz at several live performance venues, and late R&B and jazz vocalist Linda Hayes, who played with the well-known Platters was from Linden.
  • Catholic-born artist Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt grew up in poverty in 1950s and 1960s Linden. Openly gay, he recently had a career retrospective on his exploration of "gay sexuality, class struggle, and religion" in his art at MoMA PS1, and is also known for being photographed as a youth at the Stonewall Riots. Lanigan-Schmidt worked as a 1960s Linden youth doing "odd jobs to help support his family and was bullied by high school thugs," moving to New York City as a young man. As a child in 1950s Linden, after Lanigan-Schmidt was assigned to decorate the school bulletin board in his Catholic elementary school, he built a detailed model of a church altar. The impressive model was featured in a local paper while Lanigan-Schmidt was a student at St. Elizabeth School at 170 Hussa Street. The school closed in 2014; it is a part of the campus of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church in Linden.
  • One of the artists from New Jersey hardcore punk hip-hop group Ho99o9, theOGM, has Linden roots.
  • 1910 Fruitgum Company, a bubblegum pop band from the 1960s, was formed by five Linden residents.
  • De Luxe Records was a record company and label formed in 1944 in Linden, New Jersey, and is known for its famed R&B and early rock recordings.
  • In the mid-20th century, Linden was the headquarters for the Regal Records, as well as the budget record label Springboard International Records later in the century. Transco, before acquisition by Apollo, made sound recording industry acetate discs out of Linden.
  • The Linden Cultural and Heritage Committee exists to bring entertainment events to area residents such as craft bazaars, street fairs, concerts, and plays, and the Linden Society for Historic Preservation works to preserve the history of the city.
  • Linden was chosen as the primary filming location for Volume 2 of the streetball video series, AND1 Mixtapes. One of the original five streetballers to sign with AND1, Waliyy Dixon, a Linden native who also goes by the nickname "Main Event," helped host a night of basketball at 4th Ward Park that claimed attendance by 2,000 spectators.
  • Several scenes from the 2008 Mickey Rourke film The Wrestler, later nominated for several Academy Awards, were filmed in Linden.
  • Hal Linden, the stage and screen actor, television director and musician best known as the star of the ABC TV series Barney Miller, chose his stage name after seeing the word "Linden" on a water tower while heading from Philadelphia to perform in New York City.

    Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Linden include: