West New York

West New York is a town in Hudson County in northern New Jersey that stretches along the Palisades cliffs directly across from Manhattan. The area is densely built with multistory residential buildings, narrow streets and commercial strips that merge almost seamlessly into neighboring municipalities.

The municipality was founded in the late 19th century and soon attracted textile operations that turned the region into a center for embroidery and lace production. Later waves of immigrants from Cuba and other Latin American countries arrived, shaping the present character of the town.

Bergenline Avenue runs as one of the longest commercial streets in the state, passing through several adjoining municipalities with hundreds of small shops, eateries and services. Many storefront signs and menus appear in Spanish, reflecting the strong Latin American presence in everyday life here.

Buses run frequently toward Manhattan and surrounding municipalities, while local connections lead to the light rail system nearby. Many streets climb steeply, so sturdy footwear helps when exploring the area on foot.

The population density ranks among the highest in the entire United States, with many tall residential towers standing close together along the clifftop. Boulevard East offers direct views of the Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River below from several lookout points.

Location: Hudson County

Elevation above the sea: 46 m

Shares border with: Guttenberg, North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken, Manhattan

Website: http://westnewyorknj.org

GPS coordinates: 40.78583,-74.00944

Latest update: December 11, 2025 20:50