Hackensack was initially settled as New Barbados in 166. It was incorporated to the United States, or whatever we were called then, in 1693. The name Hackensack comes from the name that the original Lenni Lenape called the land, Ackingsah-sack, meaning ‘stony ground’. Hackensack was a small town that was basically made up of a courthouse and some surrounding buildings. Hackensack did not have a very large population, and the land was made up of woods, swamplands and farm fields. There were only a few roads, and the current size of Hackensack was smaller back then. In 1921, Hackensack became officially called Hackensack rather than New Barbados. Hackensack is governed by a mayor along with five council methods.
Hackensack is bordered by many towns in Bergen County. Bergen County is made up of over 70 boroughs, so many towns are up against one another. Bergen County has many historical homes, but no homes in Hackensack have made the registry, although some seem to fit the bill. One-third of the area is made up of suburban single-family homes. North Hackensack and Fairmount are unincorporated communities.
Hackensack has a diverse population, including a large Spanish – speaking community. Many people immigrate to Bergen County, which contributes to the many types of people who live there. I’m sure that means that there is a lot of good cooking around here!
Not many people live in Hackensack compared to major cities – only about 40,000. The schools there host students of Hackensack as well as students from neighboring communities as part of a sending/receiving relationship between boroughs. Some schools are Hackensack High School and Bergen Arts and Science Charter High School. There is a school for children with behavioral and emotional difficulties called the YCS George Washington School.The colleges in Hackensack are Fairleigh Dickinson University, Bergen Community College, and Eastwick College.
Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Center is the primary health care provider of Hackensack. The hospital campus includes an All Women’s Hospital, a Children’s Hospital, and a Heart and Vascular Hospital. The Hackensack University Medical center has two medical offices along with a career center.
There are many main roads serving Hackensack, along with a bus service and a train system that connects to Penn Station. I guess it’s good to be able to get around, because there’s not much to do in the suburbs!
There are walking tours in Hackensack that you can go on to see the beautiful historic spaces that are common in the area. Some places to see are the First Dutch Reformed Church (known as Church On The Green) was built way back in 1696, and the New Jersey Naval Museum. Catch a performance in the park by the people of the Hackensack Cultural Arts Center. Many of the community’s local theater groups are housed there.
Shopping is centered at The Shops at Riverside, an upscale mall that serves the affluent local community. There are many upscale dining choices and department stores, which attract people from Manhattan as well as Bergen County.
