Why Hackensack
Hackensack is the most populous municipality and the official county seat of Bergen County, New Jersey. Functioning as an inner suburb of New York City, the municipality lies approximately 12 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan and roughly seven miles from the George Washington Bridge. Covering a total area of 4.35 square miles, including a small portion of water, the city provides elevated vantage points along Prospect Avenue that overlook the Manhattan skyline.
The geographic landscape of Hackensack displays a diverse assortment of land uses tucked closely together. Residential neighborhoods range from suburban single-family homes and older historic residences on expansive lots to high-rise residential districts stretching along Prospect Avenue and large garden apartment complexes. The local natural environment features a tidal river, various municipal parks, and dedicated green spaces such as Borg's Woods Nature Preserve and Hackensack River County Park.
The area's history extends back to its original indigenous inhabitants, the Lenni Lenape, who settled along the river they called Achinigeu-hach. European settlement began with the Dutch in the 1630s and continued under English rule, initially designating the region as New Barbadoes Township. Chosen as the Bergen County seat in 1710 due to its central location, the village served a strategic role during the American Revolutionary War, hosting George Washington's encampment on the green in late 1776. The municipality officially incorporated under its current name in 1921, and its community has since grown into a highly diverse population with residents originating from across the globe.
Points of interest across the city encompass notable institutional, educational, and historical sites. Hackensack is home to the Bergen County Court House, the Bergen County Jail, and the Hackensack University Medical Center. Higher education is represented by the Metropolitan Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University, which straddles the Hackensack River between Hackensack and Teaneck. Additionally, the city is recognized as the native hometown of astronaut Wally Schirra and contains the former location of the New Jersey Naval Museum, home to the World War II submarine USS Ling.
The city's urban structure is anchored by a vibrant small-city downtown district along Main Street alongside various localized commercial nodes, office complexes, and industrial sections. Bordered by eleven neighboring Bergen County municipalities, Hackensack functions as a key regional hub balancing residential communities with active commercial and civic sectors.
01 Weather
83°
76°
☔ 100% 
82°
71°
72°
59°
67°
63°
☔ 100%
67°
62°
☔ 100%
60°
59°
☔ 85%