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Bayonne, New Jersey

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A sunny view of the Bayonne Bridge from a park in New Jersey.

Bayonne is a city in Hudson County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located on Bergen Neck, a peninsula between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill Van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east. At the time of the 2020 United States census, Bayonne was the state's 15th-most-populous municipality, with a population of 71,686.

The city was formed as a township in 1861, from portions of Bergen Township, and later became a city in 1869. It includes communities such as Bergen Point, Constable Hook, Centreville, Pamrapo, and Saltersville.

Today, parts of the Port of New York and New Jersey and the Cape Liberty Cruise Port are located in Bayonne, helping to support its economy through manufacturing, distribution, and maritime activities.

History

The area now known as Bayonne was originally home to the Lenape people, called Lenapehoking. In 1609, Henry Hudson explored the nearby river for the Dutch East India Company. Soon after, the Dutch West India Company established New Netherland, with New Amsterdam as its main city. In 1646, land was granted to Jacob Jacobsen Roy, called “Constable Hook.” Later, Peter Stuyvesant added more lands, and the area became known as Bergen Neck.

In 1664, English forces took over New Netherland and renamed it New York. The land was granted to Sir George Carteret, who named it New Jersey after his home. During the American Revolutionary War, forts were built to protect the area. In 1836, the Morris Canal was extended, and steamboats began linking Bayonne to New York City. The Central Railroad of New Jersey also connected Bayonne in 1864.

Bayonne became a separate city in 1869, uniting several villages. It grew as a beach resort and later became an industrial center, especially for oil refining. The city also became a place where many European immigrants settled after arriving in the United States. Parks like Stephen R. Gregg—Bayonne Park and Mercer Park were developed in the early 1900s.

In 1931, the Bayonne Bridge opened, connecting the city to Staten Island. During World War II, the area was used by the United States Navy. After the war, it became a place to store old ships. In the 1990s, a new cruise port opened at the former naval base. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail started service in 2011, linking Bayonne with nearby cities.

Geography and climate

Geography

An 1837 map of Bayonne, oriented with north pointing to the right

Bayonne is a city in New Jersey. It has a total area of 11.09 square miles, with 5.82 square miles of land and 5.27 square miles of water.

The city is on a peninsula called Bergen Neck. It is surrounded by Upper New York Bay to the east, Newark Bay to the west, and Kill Van Kull to the south. Bayonne is east of Newark, north of Elizabeth, and west of Brooklyn. It shares a land border with Jersey City to the north and is connected to Staten Island by the Bayonne Bridge.

Climate

Bayonne has a humid subtropical climate that is close to a hot-summer humid continental climate. The temperature usually ranges from about 32 °F in January to 77 °F in July. The area is in hardiness zone 7b, with the coldest temperature usually around 5 °F.

Demographics

Bayonne is a city with a rich mix of people from many backgrounds. It is home to many African Americans, Italian Americans, Irish Americans, Polish Americans, Indian Americans, Egyptian Americans, Dominican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Mexican Americans, Salvadoran Americans, Filipino Americans, and Pakistani Americans.

In the 2020 census, Bayonne had 71,686 people. The average age was 37.4 years. About 22% of the people were younger than 18, and 14% were 65 or older. For every 100 girls and women, there were about 93 boys and men.

In the 2010 United States census, Bayonne had 63,024 people. Most people were from different racial and ethnic groups. About 25% of the people identified as Hispanic or Latino. The average family size was about 3 people.

In the 2000 United States census, Bayonne had 61,842 people. The most common family backgrounds were Italian, Irish, and Polish. About 28% of households had children under 18, and many families lived together.

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18703,834—
18809,372144.4%
189019,033103.1%
190032,72271.9%
191055,54569.7%
192076,75438.2%
193088,97915.9%
194079,198−11.0%
195077,203−2.5%
196074,215−3.9%
197072,743−2.0%
198065,047−10.6%
199061,444−5.5%
200061,8420.6%
201063,0241.9%
202071,68613.7%
2024 (est.)74,5324.0%
Population sources: 1870–1920
1870 1880–1890
1890–1910 1870–1930
1940–2000 2000
2010 2020
Racial composition as of the 2020 census
RaceNumberPercent
White36,31250.7%
Black or African American8,01111.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native4020.6%
Asian7,1229.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander300.0%
Some other race11,10015.5%
Two or more races8,70912.1%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)22,10130.8%

Economy

Bayonne has a long history of making things, especially ships and other products. The city used to have a big oil refinery.

Some parts of Bayonne are special areas where businesses get help to grow and create jobs. These areas also let shoppers pay less tax at certain stores. This special status started in 2002 and will last until 2023. Over 200 businesses are part of this program.

The Bayonne Town Center is a place where people can shop and eat. The Bayonne Medical Center, a big hospital, is the city's biggest employer with more than 1,200 workers.

Bayonne Crossing is a shopping spot on Route 440 with stores like Lowe's and Wal-Mart.

On the site where a big military base once stood, there is now a place called the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor. It has new homes, businesses, and a cruise port. There is also a memorial park to remember the people affected by the September 11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Parks and recreation

The Hackensack RiverWalk starts at Collins Park in Bergen Point, where the Kill Van Kull meets Newark Bay. Along the bay, you can also find 16th Street Park. In May 2006, a plaque was unveiled for the new Richard A. Rutowski Park, a wetlands area that is part of the RiverWalk. It is right next to Stephen R. Gregg Hudson County Park.

The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway is meant to stretch more than 18 miles from the Bayonne Bridge to the George Washington Bridge. In August 2014, a local business owner and resident brought back the Bayonne Hometown Fair, which had stopped in 2000. The first fair after it came back was held on June 6–7, 2015.

Government

Further information: Mayor of Bayonne, New Jersey

City Hall

The City of Bayonne uses a special way of running its government called the Mayor-Council system. This system started on July 1, 1962. The mayor and five council members make the rules and decisions for the city. Two council members are chosen by everyone in the city, and three are chosen by smaller areas called wards. They all serve for four years at the same time.

As of 2026, the mayor of Bayonne is Robert Kubert. The council members are Gary La Pelusa Sr., Loyad Booker, Neil Carroll III, Juan M. Perez, and Jacqueline Weimmer. They all work together to help run the city.

Babcock & Wilcox Co. works in 1919, one of the many industrial sites that were once located in Bayonne

Bayonne is part of the 8th Congressional District and the 31st state legislative district in New Jersey. For the United States Congress, it is represented by Rob Menendez. In the New Jersey Legislature, it is represented by Angela V. McKnight in the State Senate and William Sampson and Jerry Walker in the General Assembly.

Hudson County has its own government led by a County Executive and a Board of County Commissioners. As of 2025, the County Executive is Craig Guy. The commissioners come from different parts of the county and help make decisions for the whole area.

Politics

Many people in Bayonne support the Democratic party. In past presidential elections, Democrats like Barack Obama and John Kerry won more votes than Republicans. This shows that most people in Bayonne tend to vote for Democratic candidates.

Local services

Municipal Utilities Authority

The Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority uses wind power and built New Jersey’s first wind turbine in the metropolitan area in January 2012. In December 2012, the authority made an agreement with the Bayonne Water Joint Venture to help manage water services. This partnership helps pay off debts and improve water and wastewater services for the city.

Fire Station # 3

Fire department

Bayonne has about 180 full-time firefighters who work out of five fire stations. They have many types of vehicles and tools to help put out fires and respond to emergencies. The department works with other nearby fire departments to help with big emergencies.

Office of Emergency Management

The Office of Emergency Management helps plan for and respond to disasters and emergencies in Bayonne. They work with police, firefighters, and other services to keep everyone safe. They also send alerts through social media and phone messages to tell people about important events or weather warnings.

Education

The Bayonne School District serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. It has 13 schools and about 10,000 students. One special school, Bayonne High School, even has its own ice rink for hockey!

Bayonne Free Public Library and Cultural Center

Besides public schools, there are private schools too. All Saints Catholic Academy is one of them, and it was honored for doing great work in 2017. There is also a school called Marist High School, but it closed in 2020 because not enough students were attending.

The city also has libraries and museums that offer fun learning experiences for everyone.

Media and culture

Bayonne is part of the New York media market, and many daily newspapers are available there. Local and county news is covered by the Jersey Journal. The Bayonne Community News is part of The Hudson Reporter group of local weeklies. Other weeklies, like the River View Observer and El Especialito, also cover local news. Bayonne has its own periodical called the Bayonne Evening Star-Telegram, known as B.E.S.T.

Bayonne has a lively local culture, with an Annual Outdoor Art Show started in 2008 where local artists show their work. The city has been featured in books and movies. For example, in the 1983 novel Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin, "The Bayonne Marsh" is home to a hidden group of warriors. Actor Jackie Gleason, who performed at the Hi-Hat Club in Bayonne, often mentioned the city in the TV series The Honeymooners. Movies such as Mortal Thoughts, Men of Honor, Hysterical Blindness, War of the Worlds, A Beautiful Mind, and The Wrestler either were set in or filmed in Bayonne.

Religion

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark runs Catholic churches in Bayonne. Two churches, Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich Church and St. John Paul II Church, were created in 2016 from combining older churches because fewer people were attending. The Jewish community in Bayonne has several temples, including Temple Beth Am, Temple Emanu-El, Ohav Zedek, and Chabad.

Transportation

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, Bayonne had about 76.55 miles of roads. Some roads are kept up by the city, some by Hudson County, some by the state, and a few by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

View west along Interstate 78 (New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension) in Bayonne

The Bayonne Bridge is a big bridge that connects Bayonne to Staten Island. It was built in 1931 and was updated in 2017 so that bigger ships can pass under it.

Public transportation

Rail

8th Street station

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has four stops in Bayonne. These stops are at 45th Street, 34th Street, 22nd Street, and 8th Street.

For many years, trains ran through Bayonne, going to Jersey City and other places. But in later years, the train service changed, and now the light rail is the main rail service.

Bus

Several bus routes run through Bayonne. They go along main streets like Broadway, Kennedy Boulevard, and Avenue C. These buses go to places like Jersey City and Manhattan.

Ferry

In December 2025, Bayonne started building a new ferry terminal. This ferry will take passengers to New York and will be operated by NY Waterway.

Points of interest

Kill Van Kull meets Newark Bay
  • The Bayonne Bridge is one of the longest steel arch bridges in the world. It held the title of the longest for many years before another bridge was built.
  • Bergen Point is a notable area in the city.
  • Constable Hook has old burial grounds, many large storage tanks, and a golf club located at the city's highest spot.
  • Shooters Island is a private island used as a place for birds to live, managed by New York City parks.
  • To the Struggle Against World Terrorism is a large sculpture remembering those lost in terrorist attacks in New York City and earlier in 1993. It was a gift from the Russian government.

National Registered Historic Places and museums

See List of Registered Historic Places in Hudson County, New Jersey

Notable people

See also: Category:People from Bayonne, New Jersey

People who were born in, lived in, or were closely linked to Bayonne include:

Images

A detailed relief map showing the geography of the contiguous United States.
Aerial view of Bayonne, New Jersey, with the Manhattan skyline visible in the background, showcasing the area's landscape and industrial features in 1974.
A nighttime tribute of lights honoring those remembered on Patriot Day, viewed from a distance in New Jersey.

Related articles

2020 United States census
U.S. state
Port of New York and New Jersey
Staten Island
United States Army
African Americans

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