Hackensack

Sister cities

• Passau

History

The earliest known inhabitants of the area were the Lenni Lenape, an Algonquian people who became known to settlers as 'the Delaware Indians.' They lived along a river they called Achinigeu-hach, or "Ackingsah-sack", which translates to stony ground—today this river is more commonly known by the name 'the Hackensack River.' A representation of Chief Oratam of the Achkinhenhcky appears on the Hackensack municipal seal. The most common explanation is that the city was named for the Native American tribe, though other sources attribute it to a Native American word variously translated as meaning "hook mouth", "stream that unites with another on low ground", "on low ground" or "land of the big snake", while another version described as "more colorful than probable" attributes the name to an inn called the "Hock and Sack". Settlement by the Dutch West India Company in New Netherland on the west banks of the Hudson River across from New Amsterdam (present-day lower Manhattan) began in the 1630s at Pavonia, eventually leading to the establishment of Bergen (at today's Bergen Square in Jersey City) in 1660. Oratam, sachem of the Lenni Lenape, deeded the land along mid-Hackensack River to the Dutch in 1665. The area was soon taken by the English in 1667, but kept its Dutch name. Philip Cartaret, governor of what became the proprietary colony of East Jersey granted land to Captain John Berry in the area of Achter Kol and soon after took up residence and called it "New Barbadoes," after having resided on the island of Barbados. In 1666, a deed was confirmed for the tract that had been given earlier by Oratem to Sarah Kiersted in gratitude for her work as emissary and interpreter. Other grants were given at the English Neighborhood. In 1675, the East Jersey Legislature…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 4.35 square miles (11.27 km2), including 4.19 square miles (10.86 km2) of land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) of water (3.63%). There are many houses of historic value, and some of these were identified in the 1990 Master Plan. The city does not have any registered historic districts, or any restrictions on preserving the historic facade in any portions of the city. Areas considered suburban single-family residential neighborhoods account for about one-third of the city's area, mostly along its western side. Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Fairmount and North Hackensack.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  138,681
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  136,853
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  116,235
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  115,521
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  113,919
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  111,726
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  96,982
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  95,293

Largest nearby schools

• Ridgewood High School
  High · RIDGEWOOD · 1,746 students · 12.7:1 ratio
• Hackensack High School
  High · HACKENSACK · 1,745 students · 12.7:1 ratio
• Fair Lawn High School
  High · FAIR LAWN · 1,624 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Hackensack Middle School
  Middle · Hackensack · 1,363 students · 10.8:1 ratio
• Teaneck High School
  High · TEANECK · 1,271 students · 11.8:1 ratio
• Bergen Arts and Sciences Charter School
  Other · GARFIELD · 1,253 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• Cliffside Park High School
  High · CLIFFSIDE PARK · 1,240 students · 13.1:1 ratio
• Bergenfield High School
  High · BERGENFIELD · 1,224 students · 11.5:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.8 — 2025-08-05
  1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey
• M 3 — 2025-08-03
  0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey
• M 2.9 — 2024-05-24
  6 km E of Califon, New Jersey
• M 2.6 — 2024-05-01
  1 km NW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 2.9 — 2024-04-27
  7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 2.6 — 2024-04-10
  5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey