Bayonne, New Jersey is a bustling city in Hudson County, New Jersey. The city sits on a peninsula that is surrounded by the Newark Bay, Kill Van Kull, and New York Bay. But this metropolis wasn't always a city. This article is all about how the city of Bayonne came to be and is provided by the Bayonne DWI attorneys at Levow DWI Law, P.C..
Bayonne Before And After The European Settlement
Long before Europeans traveled to American shores, the Lenape, a Native American tribe, lived in the area that is now called Bayonne. This matriarchal tribe assigned land to specific clans for farming, hunting, and fishing. A fixed settlement within the territory would be created until the surrounding area was exhausted and the tribe would move.
When Henry Hudson arrived in the 1600s, he sailed past Bayonne and claimed the land for the Netherlands. The Dutch settlers who arrived soon after named the area Bergen Neck. In 1664, the British took the area from the Dutch.
Bayonne During The Revolutionary War
The Patriots created Fort Delancy in July 1776, thinking that the stage road that ran next to it might be used for the pending British invasion of New York. That invasion, however, was launched instead from Long Island and the British took New York. The fort was abandoned in October 1776 when Patriot fighters were forced to retreat.
The British took the fort and manned it for the remainder of the Revolutionary War.
Following the war, the area continued to grow in population with the establishment of new farms that created a number of small villages. The name Bayonne did not yet exist.
Bayonne Explodes With Growth Thanks To Technology
In 1836, the Morris Canal linked this area to New York City. Steamboats made passage easy and in 1861, the villages of Bergen Point, Constable Hook, Centerville, Pamrapo and Saltersville were joined together to create the township of Bayonne. Just eight years later, Bayonne officially became a city, after the railroad was established allowing for even more growth.
During World War II, Bayonne established a large shipping terminal and naval supply center.
Bayonne Today
The city population is incredibly diverse, with residents that identify as Egyptian American, Polish American, Irish American, Italian American, Mexican American, African American, and Dominican American among others.
The population of more than 65,000 people is supported by numerous major companies, including Henry Repeating Arms, a firearms manufacturing company, Bayonne Medical Center, and hundreds of small businesses.
Residents and visitors have a wide variety of parks to visit. One of the most popular is the Husdon River Walkway, which includes a wetlands preserve!
Whether you live in Bayonne, work there, or just visiting, our Bayonne DWI lawyers hope that you enjoy each moment. You can learn more about Bayonne by reading our articles on the best places to eat and the top things to do in this fun little city!
