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 (+8.0%) from the 2010 census count of 40,499, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,105 (+2.8%) from the 39,394 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. 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.DiMaio, Shane. "Report: Linden most toxic city in New Jersey for 2013", Staten Island Advance, November 2, 2015. Accessed May 5, 2025. "In 2013, 10.9 million pounds of toxic chemicals were released by 383 New Jersey facilities required to report them under the 'right-to-know law,' according to a report by NJSpotlight.com. In the report, Linden, N.J., is listed as the number-one town where facilities with the state's largest on-site toxic releases are located."
History Linden was originally formed as a township on March 4, 1861, from portions of Elizabeth, Rahway and Union Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Cranford (March 14, 1871), Linden Borough (March 30, 1882) and Roselle (December 20, 1894). 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.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 239. Accessed May 29, 2024. The city's name derives from linden trees brought from Germany.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 3, 2015.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 11.42 square miles (29.56 km2), including 10.69 square miles (27.68 km2) of land and 0.73 square miles (1.88 km2) of water (6.37%).2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
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.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
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.Areas touching Linden, MapIt. Accessed February 25, 2020.Union County Municipal Profiles, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed February 25, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
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.http://www.city-data.com/city/Linden-New-Jersey.htm; https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/nj/linden/city-center/ 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.Feeney, Kelly. "Kielbasa Kingdom", The New York Times, December 3, 2010. Accessed December 10, 2016. 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.http://unionnewsdaily.com/headline-news/27965; Linden, New Jersey pg 100 by Lauren Pancurak Yeats; https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/The-Home-Forum/2010/0401/For-the-love-of-babka-the-Slavic-sweet-bread-with-a-long-tale
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."Polish President Andrzej Duda and first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda caused quite a stir when they visited Linden’s Polish community, following Mayor Derek Armstead’s invitation." Union News Daily. https://unionnewsdaily.com/news/linden/57345
In old pagan Slavic mythology, the tree for which the city is named, the linden tree (lipa, as called in all Slavic languages) was considered a sacred tree.Archaeology and Language: Language change and cultural transformation Roger Blench, Matthew Spriggs, p.199
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Linden, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop. 2010% 1990% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)26,16722,82718,08913,74471.30%57.95%44.67%31.42%Black or African American alone (NH)7,2298,78210,40311,72219.70%22.29%25.69%26.80%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)484358330.13%0.11%0.14%0.08%Asian alone (NH)5349141,0661,4841.46%2.32%2.63%3.39%Pacific Islander alone (NH)N/A1485N/A0.04%0.02%0.01%Some other race alone (NH)231251665410.06%0.32%0.41%1.24%Mixed-race or multi-racial (NH)N/A1,0156141,154N/A2.58%1.52%2.64%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2,7005,67410,09515,0557.36%14.40%24.93%34.42%Total36,70139,39440,49943,738100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Linden had a population of 43,738. The median age was 39.4 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.5 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 15,609 households in Linden, of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.3% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 16,452 housing units, of which 5.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 16,179 37.0% Black or African American 12,228 28.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 225 0.5% Asian 1,525 3.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 18 0.0% Some other race 7,729 17.7% Two or more races 5,834 13.3% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 15,055 34.4%
2010 census Largest ancestries (2010) Percent Polish 15.2% Italian 8.8% Irish 6.8% German 5.4% American 3.2% Portuguese 2.7%
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 (1,464.8/km2). There were 15,872 housing units at an average density of 1,486.8 per square mile (574.1/km2). The racial makeup was 59.15% (23,957) White, 26.88% (10,888) Black or African American, 0.29% (118) Native American, 2.71% (1,099) Asian, 0.02% (8) Pacific Islander, 7.57% (3,066) from other races, and 3.37% (1,363) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.93% (10,095) 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 (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $55,859 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,529) and the median family income was $64,439 (+/− $4,027). Males had a median income of $45,890 (+/− $3,397) versus $39,288 (+/− $2,842) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,011 (+/− $1,161). 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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Linden city, Union County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 23, 2012.
2000 census Largest ancestries (2000) Percent Polish 18.0% Italian 10.3% Irish 9.0% German 6.8% Portuguese 3.1% English 2.7% As of the 2000 United States censusU.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014. 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Linden city, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 23, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Linden city, Union County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 23, 2012.
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.