Weehawken, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Weehawken, New Jersey
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Weehawken highlighted in Hudson County. Inset: Location of Hudson County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Weehawken, New Jersey

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Hudson
government_footnotes =
government_type = Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Richard F. Turner
leader_title1 = Manager
leader_name1 = James Marchetti [ [http://www.weehawken-nj.us/dept.php?dept=manager Township Manager] , Township of Weehawken. Accessed April 16, 2008.]
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = March 15, 1859

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 3.9
area_land_km2 = 2.2
area_water_km2 = 1.7
area_total_sq_mi = 1.5
area_land_sq_mi = 0.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.7

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 12649
population_density_km2 = 6135.7
population_density_sq_mi = 15891.3

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882224|Township of Weehawken, Geographic Names Information System, accessed November 1, 2007.]
elevation_m = 44
elevation_ft = 144
latd = 40 |latm = 46 |lats = 4 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 1 |longs = 18 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 07086-07087
area_code = 201
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-77930GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0882224GR|3
website = http://www.weehawken-nj.us
footnotes = USCensusPop
1930=14807
1940=14363
1950=14830
1960=13504
1970=13383
1980=13168
1990=12385
2000=13501
estimate=12649
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US3432250&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3432250&_street=&_county=weehawken&_cityTown=weehawken&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Weehawken township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 18, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990 [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , accessed March 1, 2007.]

Weehawken is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 13,501.

Geography

Situated on the western shore of the Hudson River, along the southern end of the New Jersey Palisades, and across from Midtown Manhattan, Weehawken is the location of the western terminus of the Lincoln Tunnel.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), of which, 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.7 km²) of it (43.71%) is water.

Though small, Weehawken is very urban, with a population density that is among the highest in the United States and comparable with that of nearby Jersey City. Weehawken is a residential community of primarily one- and two-family homes (many built during the Edwardian era) and low-rise apartment buildings.

Weehawken has a retail district along Park Avenue (its boundary with Union City) and large office and apartment/townhouse developments along the Hudson River. A few scattered retail shops and light manufacturing facilities blend into their respective neighborhoods. Local zoning laws prohibit the construction of high-rise buildings that would obstruct sight-lines from higher points in town.

As the emergent "Palisades" cliffs define Weehawken's natural topography, so too the Lincoln Tunnel (which cuts the town in half) looms as an inescapable man-made feature. Geographically, Weehawken retains distinct neighborhoods: Downtown (or The Shades), The Heights, Uptown (which includes The Bluff), and The Waterfront which in the 1990s and 2000s developed into a commercial/residential nexus. Though some are long abandoned (e.g., Grauert Causeway), there are still several outdoor public staircases (e.g., Shippen Steps) throughout the town, and a surprising number (more than 15) of "dead-end" streets. At its southeastern corner is Weehawken Cove which, along with the rail tracks farther inland, defines Weehawken's border with Hoboken. Its northern boundary is shared with West New York. Traversing Weehawken is JFK Boulevard East (known by earlier designation "Boulevard East"), a scenic thoroughfare atop the cliff of The Palisades offering a sweeping vista of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 13,501 people, 5,975 households, and 3,059 families residing in the township. The population density was 15,891.3 people per square mile (6,132.7/km²). There were 6,159 housing units at an average density of 7,249.4/sq mi (2,797.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 73.05% White, 3.58% African American, 0.20% Native American, 4.67% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 13.94% from other races, and 4.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40.64% of the population.

There were 5,975 households, out of which 20.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.8% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the township the population was spread out with 16.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 42.4% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $50,196, and the median income for a family was $52,613. Males had a median income of $41,307 versus $36,063 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,269. About 9.3% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

Name

"Weehawken" is generally considered to have evolved from the Lenape (or Delaware Indian). It has variously been interpreted as "place of gulls" or "rocks that look like rows of trees", which would refer to the Palisades, atop of which most of the town sits. [ [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/w4/weehawken-i.htm "Weehawken"] , Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, accessed June 13, 2007. "A township in Hudson County, N.J., seven miles northeast of Jersysic City. The name was originally an Algonquin Indian term and later changed by folk-usage to a pseudo-Dutch form. Its exact meaning is unclear, but variously translated as "place of gulls," "rocks that look like trees," "maize land," "at the end" (of the Palisades) and "field lying along the Hudson."] The Lenape, whose contemporary language the word "wikweko" means "at the end of", may have used that meaning to describe the end of the cliffs closest to the river or to the mouth of the stream that flowed from them.

Spellings in Dutch and English have included: "Awiehawken, Wiehacken, Weehauk, Weehawk, Weehock, Wiceaken" and "Wiehachan".

History

Weehawken was formed as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1859, from portions of Hoboken and North Bergen ("see map"). A portion of the township was ceded to Hoboken in 1874. Additional territory was annexed in 1879 from West Hoboken."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 148.]

Its written history began in 1609 when Henry Hudson, on his third voyage to the New World, sailed up what was later named The North River on the Half Moon and weighed anchor in Weehawken Cove. At the time it was the territory of the Hackensack and Tappan, of the Turtle Clan, or Unami, a branch of the Lenni Lenape.. They were displaced by immigrants to the province of New Netherland, who had begun to settle the west bank of the Hudson at Pavonia in 1630. On May 11, 1647, Maryn Adriansen received a patent for a plantation (of 169 acres) at "Awiehaken". In 1658, Director-General of New Netherland Peter Stuyvesant negotiated a deal with the Lenape to purchase all the land from "the great rock above Wiehacken", west to "Sikakes" (Secaucus) and south to "Konstapels Hoeck" (Constable Hook). [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=owpYaTSYmDMC&pg=PA62&lpg=PA62&dq=%22by+the+great+rock+above+wiehacken22&source=web&ots=N3sWTbWs6r&sig=OWea40y4zZcNeK6XlvGItRN7nlY#PPA62,M1 History of the County of Hudson, New Jersey, from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time] , p. 62, accessed March 29, 2007.] In 1661, Weehawken become part of Bergen when it (and most of northeastern New Jersey) came under the jurisdiction of the court at Bergen Square.

In 1674, New Netherland was ceded to the British, and the town became part of the Province of East Jersey. Most habitation was along the top of the cliffs since much of the low-lying areas were marshland. Descriptions from the period speak of the dense foliage and forests and excellent land for growing vegetables and orchard fruits. In 1752, Weehawken was given its first official grant for ferry service (although boats had been crossing the river long before that); the ferry house was north of Hoboken and was primarily used for farm produce, and likely was sold at the Greenwich Village landing that became Weehawken Street.

During the American Revolutionary War, Weehawken was used as a lookout for the patriots to check on the British, who were in situated in New York and controlled the surrounding waterways. In fact, in July 1778, Lord Stirling asked Aaron Burr, in a letter written on behalf of General George Washington, to employ several persons to "go to the Bergen heights, Weehawk, Hoebuck or other heights to observe the motions of the enemy's shipping" and to gather any other possible intelligence.Early documented inhabitants included a Captain James Deas, whose stately residence at Deas' Point was located atop a knoll along the river. Lafayette had used the mansion as his headquarters and later Washington Irving came to gaze at Manhattan.

Not far from Deas' was a ledge- 11 paces wide 20 paces long and situated 20 ft (6.1 m) above the Hudson along the Palisades. This ledge, long-gone, hosted 18 documented duels and many unknown ones between the years 1798–1845, the most famous being that between General Alexander Hamilton, first Secretary of the Treasury, and Colonel Aaron Burr, sitting third Vice President of the United States, which took place on July 11, 1804. The duel was re-enacted on July 11, 2004, the 200th anniversary of the fatal duel, by descendants of Hamilton and Burr. [ [http://duel2004.weehawkenhistory.org Hamilton-Burr Duel Re-Enactment] , accessed May 17, 2006.] In the mid 1800s, James G. King built his estate Highwood on the bluff that now bears his name, and entertained many politic and artistic figures of the era, including Daniel Webster.

With the ferry, the Hackensack Plank Road (a toll road that was a main artery from Weehawken to Hackensack), and later, the West Shore Railroad, built during the early 1870s, the waterfront became a transportation hub. The wealthy built homes along the top of the New Jersey Palisades, where they might flee from the sweltering heat of New York, and breathe the fresh air of the heights. Weehawken became the playground of the rich during the middle to late 1800s. A series of wagon lifts, stairs, and even an elevator designed by famed Frenchman Gustave Eiffel (which at the time was the world's largest) were put in place to accommodate the tourists and summer dwellers. The Eldorado, a sort of 19th century amusement park, drew massive crowds.

The turn of the century saw the end of the large estates, casinos, hotels, and theaters as tourism gave way to subdivisions (such as Highwood Park and Clifton Park) and the construction of many of the private homes still seen in town. This coincided with the influx of the Germans, Austrians, and Swiss, who built them and the breweries and embroidery factories in nearby Union City and West New York, NJ. While remaining essentially residential, Weehawken continued to grow as Hudson County became more industrial and more populated. Many Irish families (with roots in New York City's Hell's Kitchen) and Italian families (who had started out in Hoboken) made it their home. Weehawken saw its highest census numbers in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, approaching but never quite reaching 15,000.

In the 1970s, Cuban emigree families (many of whom had established themselves in North Hudson's "Havana on the Hudson") chose Weehawken as the place to live. Since the 1990s, a growing population of individuals and childless families (often retirees, gay men and women, or newlyweds) have taken up residency in town.

Points of interest

Though the panoramic view (from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to George Washington Bridge) may be its most famous attraction, Weehawken is also home to other sites of historic, aesthetic, and engineering importance:

*Hamilton Park, used by tourists, wedding parties, advertising companies, fashion designers, and others as a setting for photographs
*King's Bluff, a historic district at "the end of the Palisades" with many homes in an eclectic array of architectural styles
*The Weehawken Water Tower (on Park Avenue), was built in the 1800s as part of the Hackensack Water Company Complex, and inspired by Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. The Tower is cited on the Federal Maritime Chart as the "Red Tower", and serves as warning to ships traveling south along the Hudson that they are approaching New York Bay. [Anderson, Steph. [http://www.hudsonreporter.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15229056&BRD=1291&PAG=461&dept_id=523586&rfi=6 "What's that building??"] , "Jersey City Reporter", September 17, 2005. Accessed August 4, 2008.]
*The former North Hudson Hospital (on Park Avenue)
*The Public Library, former home of the Peters Brewery family (overlooking Park Ave and I-495)
*Hackensack Plank Road, an early colonial thoroughfare climbing from the "The Shades" to "The Heights" and furthur north.
*The Horseshoe (at Shippen Street), a cobbled double hairpin street leading to Hackensack Plank Road
*Shippen Street Steps, at the bottom of which is located Weehawken's original town hall
*Hackensack Number Two, (at Highpoint Avenue), a reservoir previously part Hudson County's water system along with #1 (demolished), and #3 and #4 in Jersey City Heights in the Gregory/Highpoint Historic District. All are named for the river from which water was pumped into them.
*The Lincoln Tunnel Toll Plaza, designed in Art Deco style, and The Helix, an eight-lane circular viaduct leading to it. In the 1960s, a rail-workers strike required Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, to unload in Weehawken and march their caravans, cages, and elephants through the Lincoln Tunnel, much to the delight of children who were awakened to watch it.
*Lincoln Tunnel Ventilation Towers
*The Atrium, home to Hudson River Performing Arts Center-sponsored events
*The NY Waterway Ferry Terminal, located at the site of The United Fruit Company, which for many years was the largest banana import facility in the nation
*The West Shore Railroad Tunnel, carved through the cliffs, and now used for the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.
*Hamilton Memorial (at the northern end of Hamilton Avenue)The first memorial to the duel was constructed in 1806 by the Saint Andrew Society, of which Hamilton had been a member. A 14-foot (4.3-m) marble cenotaph, consisting of an obelisk, topped by a flaming urn and a plaque with a quote from Horace, surrounded by an iron fence, was constructed approximately where Hamilton was believed to have fallen. [Demontreux, 2004, p. 3-4.] Duels continued to be fought at the site, and the marble was slowly vandalized and removed for souvenirs, leaving nothing remaining by 1820. The tablet itself did survive, turning up in a junk store and finding its way to the New York Historical Society in Manhattan, where it still resides. [Demontreux, 2004, p. 4.]

From 1820 to 1857, the site was marked by two stones, with the names Hamilton and Burr, placed where they were thought to have stood during the duel. When a road from Hoboken to Fort Lee was built through the site in 1858, an inscription on a boulder where a mortally wounded Hamilton was thought to have rested—one of the many pieces of graffiti left by visitors—was all that remained. No primary accounts of the duel confirm the boulder anecdote. In 1870, railroad tracks were built directly through the site, and the boulder was hauled to the top of the Palisades, where it remains today. [Demontreux, 2004, p. 5.] In 1894, an iron fence was built around the boulder, supplemented by a bust of Hamilton and a plaque. The bust was thrown over the cliff on October 14, 1934 by vandals, and the head was never recovered [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40C10FF3A58177A93C7A8178BD95F408385F9 "Head of Hamilton Bust Is Stolen in Weehawken"] , "The New York Times", October 15, 1934. Accessed August 5, 2008.] ; a new bust was unveiled on July 12, 1935. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50D15FB3C58167A93C1A8178CD85F418385F9 "Hamilton Bust Unveiled"] , "The New York Times", July 13, 1935. Accessed August 5, 2008.] [Demontreux, 2004, p. 6.]

The plaque was stolen by vandals in the 1980s, and an abbreviated version of the text was inscribed on the indentation left in the boulder, which remained until the 1990s, when a granite pedestal was added in front of the boulder, and the bust was moved to the top of the pedestal. New markers were added on July 11, 2004, the 200th anniversary of the duel. [Demontreux, 2004, p. 7-9.]

Government

Local government

Weehawken operates under the Faulkner Act (Council-Manager) form of municipal government. ["2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 135.]

As of 2008 members of Weehawken's Township Council are: [ [http://www.weehawken-nj.us/dept.php?dept=mayor Weehawken Mayor and Town Council] , Township of Weehawken. Accessed April 16, 2008.]
*Richard F. Turner, Mayor
*Robert Zucconi, Councilman-at-Large
*Carmela Silvestri Ehret, 1st Ward Councilwoman
*Rosemary J. Lavagnino, 2nd Ward Councilwoman
*Robert J. Sosa, 3rd Ward Councilman

James Marchetti is the Township Manager.

Federal, state and county representation

Weehawken is in the Thirteenth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 33rd Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 65. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Hudson County's County Executive is Thomas A. DeGise. Weehawken is in Freeholder [http://www.hudsoncountynj.org/downloads/freeholders/HC%20Freeholder%20District%207.pdf District 7] of the County's Board of Chosen Freeholders, and is represented by Jose C. Munoz, who also represents Guttenberg and West New York.

Education

The Weehawken School District serves public school students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417310 Data for the Weehawken School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 16, 2008.] ) are [http://www.weehawken.k12.nj.us/weehawken/schools/Webster/Webster.html Daniel Webster School] (307 students in PreK through 2nd grade), [http://www.weehawken.k12.nj.us/weehawken/schools/Roosevelt/roosevelt.html Theodore Roosevelt School] (342 students in grades 3-6) and Weehawken High School (541 students in grades 7-12).

Transportation

Rail

During the 1940s and 1950s, Weehawken and Hudson County saw its extensive streetcar/trolley system dismantled and replaced by buses (as had happened in many cities across the USA).

Today, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) provides service on the waterfront at Lincoln Harbor and Port Imperial, where transfer to the boat is possible. The system connects with neighboring North Hudson locations at Bergenline Avenue and 48th Street (Union City/West New York) and Tonnelle Avenue (North Bergen) heading westbound and continues southbound towards Hoboken, Jersey City and Bayonne.

In 1910, the Pennsylvania Railroad opened the North River Tunnels, with a western portal in North Bergen and terminus in the also newly-opened Pennsylvania Station. Now used by the Northeast Corridor line, it is operated by Amtrak and shared with New Jersey Transit trains. Although the tunnel runs deep underground through the township, there has never been a stop in Weehawken, but one is being considered for the proposed Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel (THE Tunnel). Weehawken is a short bus or light-rail trip away from Hoboken Terminal, where connections to New Jersey Transit trains and the PATH system is possible.

urface

Bus service is provided by New Jersey Transit to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 123, 126, 128, 156, 158, 159, 165, 166, 168 and 319 routes. The George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal is served by the 181, Newark by the 67, and Jersey City on the 23, 68, 84, 86 and 89 routes. [ [http://www.njtransit.com/sf_tp_rc_hudson.shtml Hudson County Bus/rail Connections] , New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 3, 2007.] There is also service by "carrito" (licensed mini-bus) with destinations in Journal Square and Pavonia/Newport in Jersey City, Manhattan, Paterson,and southeast Bergen County.

Water

In 1959, the last boat left the Western Shore Terminal, ending almost 300 years of ferry service. But in the late 1980s, the ferry returned in the form of NY Waterway. Ridership continues to grow (it was extremely high after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, but some of the growth was temporary) and new ferry stops are being planned for the west bank of the Hudson from Fort Lee to Bayonne. In 2006, in agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the company opened new major terminals on Weehawken's waterfront and West 38th Street in Manhattan.

Currently, NY Waterway offers service to midtown and lower Manhattan, as well sight-seeing trips and seasonal excursions to the Hudson Valley, Yankee Stadium, and Sandy Hook.

Air

*Newark Liberty Airport (EWR), 13.1 miles away, is the closest airport in New Jersey with scheduled passenger service. [ [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Weehawken,+NJ+07086&daddr=EWR&sll=40.752725,-73.95065&sspn=0.110013,0.233459&ie=UTF8&z=12&ll=40.736592,-74.104843&spn=0.11004,0.233459&om=1 Google Maps: Weehawken NJ to EWR] , Google Maps. Accessed January 10, 2007.]
*LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is 11.9 miles away in Flushing, Queens. [ [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Weehawken,+NJ+07086&daddr=LGA&sll=40.706439,-73.90756&sspn=0.220178,0.466919&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1 Google Maps: Weehawken NJ to LGA] , Google Maps. Accessed January 10, 2007.]
*John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) is 19.4 miles away on Jamaica Bay in Queens. [ [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Weehawken,+NJ+07086&daddr=jfk&sll=40.752719,-73.950691&sspn=0.110013,0.233459&ie=UTF8&z=11&om=1 Google Maps: Weehawken NJ to JFK] , Google Maps. Accessed January 10, 2007.]
*Teterboro Airport, in the Hackensack Meadowlands, serves private and corporate planes, and is located 9.4 miles away. [ [http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Weehawken,+NJ+07086&daddr=teterboro+airport&sll=40.782881,-74.020729&sspn=0.219927,0.466919&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1 Google Maps: Weehawken NJ to Teterboro Airport] , Google Maps. Accessed February 11, 2007.]

Noteworthy residents

Notable current and former residents of Weehawken include:
*Liam Aiken (born 1990), actor who starred in various films, including "Good Boy!" and "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" spent his early childhood in Weehawken.Fact|date=September 2008
*Ed Alberian, (1920–1997), entertainer, whose credits include early television's Clarabell the Clown on the "Howdy Doody" Show, The Beachcomber Bill Show, and Let's Have Fun
*Adele Astaire, (1896–1981), Fred Astaire's elder sister, dancer and entertainer in vaudeville, on Broadway and the West End, who retired in 1932 to become Lady Charles Cavendish
*Fred Astaire, (1899–1987), Hollywood legend, lived in Weehawken as a teenager, and during vaudville and early Broadway years
*Francis Bitter, (1902–1967), son of Karl Bitter, physicist know for his research with magnets and long career at MIT. ["FRANCIS BITTER, 65, OF M.I.T. IS DEAD; An Authority on Magnetism Served Navy During War", "The New York Times", July 27, 1967.]
*Karl Bitter, (1867–1915), sculptor, established atelier in town, where he lived and worked until his death. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70C1EFC3F5A12738DDDA80894DF405B868CF1D3 "Peasant Sculptor from Sweden Seeks Field for His Art in America"] , "The New York Times", July 1, 1906, accessed May 8, 2007. "Along with the painters who seek the seclusion of the grim-visaged cliffs for their work, there is a goodly quota of sculptors -- the studio of Karl Bitter tops the heights of Weehawken."]
*Nica de Koenigswarter nee Rothschild, (1913–1988), known as the "bebop baroness" for her patronage of many jazz musicians.
*Franck de Las Mercedes, (born 1972), Renowned postmodern Artist, creator of the global public art project called the "Priority Boxes." [Levine, Daniel Rome. [http://abcnews.go.com/Exclusiva/story?id=3475011&page=1 "Triunfador Franck de Las Mercedes"] , "ABC News", August 16, 2007. Accessed August 18, 2008. "Standing in the middle of his one-bedroom loft apartment in an industrial part of Weehawken, N.J., the 34-year-old abstract painter covers a small brown cardboard box in white acrylic paint and then carefully drips red and hot pink paint on it."]
*John Diebold, (1926–2005), computer scientist, considered to be an automation evangelist. [Bayot, Jennifer. [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/27/nyregion/27diebold.html?scp=1&sq=%22John+Diebold%22+weehawken&st=nyt "John Diebold, 79, a Visionary of the Computer Age, Dies"] , "The New York Times", December 27, 2005. Accessed April 16, 2008.]
*John J. Eagan, (1872–1956), a Democrat who represented New Jersey's 11th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1913-1921. [ [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=E000001 John Joseph Eagan biography] , Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed June 25, 2007.]
*John Erskine, (1879–1951), educator and author, who reflects on the town in "The Memory of Certain Persons".
*Edward Feigenbaum, (born 1936), computer scientist who collaborated on the development of the first expert system Dendral. [ [http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/dictionary/detail.asp?guid=&searchtype=&DicID=17106&RefType=Encyclopedia Edward A. Feigenbaum] from the SmartComputing Encyclopedia, accessed December 26, 2006.]
*Peter Fiordalisi, (1904–1988), modern artist whose work was inspired by the Palisades, Hudson, and skyline
*Barry Harris, (born 1929), jazz pianist and educator. [Watrous, Peter. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507E2DF153BF93BA15756C0A962958260 " Be-Bop's Generous Romantic"] , "The New York Times", May 28, 1994. Accessed June 2, 2008. "Mr. Harris moved to New York in the early 1960's and became friends with Thelonious Monk and Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, Mr. Monk's patron. Eventually, Mr. Harris moved to her estate in Weehawken, N.J., where he still lives."]
*James G. King (1791–1853), businessman and politician who represented ushr|New Jersey|5 from 1849 to 1851. [ [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=K000203 James Gore King] , "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress". Accessed September 23, 2007.]
*Lori Majewski, journalist, former contributor to "Spin" and "US Weekly" magazines, and current managing editor of "Teen People" magazine.
*John Marin, (1870–1953), modern American artist, raised by maternal grandparents and two artistically talented maiden aunts in town. [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,940672,00.html "Out of the Dark Room"] , "Time (magazine)", March 16, 1962, accessed June 13, 2007. "In many ways, it took Marin 40 years to find himself. Raised by two maiden aunts in Weehawken. N.J. (his mother died nine days after his birth), he attended Stevens Institute of Technology for a year, drifted from job to job, spent six frustrating years trying to turn himself into an architect."]
*Steven Massarsky (1948–2007), American lawyer and businessman; founder of Voyager Communications. [ [http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/steven_massarsky_1948_2007/ Steven Massarsky, 1948-2007] , "The Comics Reporter", October 7, 2007. Accessed June 2, 2008.]
*Thelonious Monk, (1917–1982), jazz legend, who retired to and spent last years in town. [http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_monk_thelonious.htm Thelious Junior (1917–1982) Pianist and composer] . Accessed May 8, 2007. "He made three final performances with an orchestra at Carnegie Hall, and appeared with a quartet at the Newport Jazz Festival New York in 1975 and in 1976, but otherwise spent his final years in seclusion in Weehawken, New Jersey, at the home of the Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, his lifelong friend and patron."]
*Kate Pierson, (born 1948), lead singer and founding member of The B-52's.Fact|date=August 2008
*Jerome Robbins, (1918–1998), choreographer, famous for "West Side Story" and many works for the New York City Ballet. [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988880,00.html A "Made in The U.S.A." Genius: Jerome Robbins, master choreographer] , "Time", August 10, 1998.]
*William Ranney (1813–1857), famed 19th Century Western painter. [Millan, Nicholas; "Famed American 19th century painter called North Hudson home"; "The Union City Reporter"; March 16, 2008.]
*Gerard Schwarz, (born 1947), conductor, currently with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. [Hague, Jim. [http://www.hudsonreporter.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13444145&BRD=1291&PAG=461&dept_id=523588&rfi=6 "Guitar Wizards: Brazilian brothers open HRPAC's UBS Atrium series"] , "Hudson Reporter", November 28, 2004. Accessed May 8, 2007. "The Seattle Symphony, with Weehawken native Gerard Schwarz as conductor, recently performed a triple concerto of Sergio Assad's original musical compositions. "]
*William Stelling, film actor in 1940s and 1950s.
*Frank Tashlin, (1913–1972), film director, whose credits include "The Glass Bottom Boat" and "The Alphabet Murders". [Hendrix, Grady. [http://www.nysun.com/article/38964 "The Cartoonist Who Crashed the Party"] , "The New York Sun", September 1, 2006, accessed June 13, 2007. "Tashlin, a native of Weehawken, N.J., got his start animating "Looney Tunes" in the early 1940s before becoming the go-to guy for comedy as one of the few directors to successfully make the transition from animation to live-action, shaping star vehicles for one outsized celeb after another: Bob Hope, Jayne Mansfield and, most famously, Jerry Lewis."]
*Derrick Ward (born 1980), played for the New York Giants in the 2007 season.Fact|date=January 2008
*Daniel Webster (1782–1852), American statesman who spent part of his later years in town

Use of the name

*Weehawken Street is located in Greenwich Village, one block from the Hudson River at Christopher Street. During the colonial era it was the site of a ferry landing and market where fresh produce was brought to Manhattan from farms across the river. [ [http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/reports/weehawken.pdf WEEHAWKEN STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT: Designation Report] from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, dated May 2, 2006.]
*The USS "Weehawken", launched on November 5, 1862, was a "Passaic"-class monitor, or ironclad ship, which sailed for the Union Navy during the American Civil War, encountered battles at the Charleston, South Carolina coast, and sank in a moderate gale on December 6, 1863.
*Weehawken Cemetery is located in nearby North Bergen.
*Weehawk is a type of knife-blade.
*Weehawkin is the name of a street in Oceanport, NJ
*In his 1918 Pulitzer Prize-winning Cornhuskers, Carl Sandburg mentions Weehawken in reference to its railyards.

Popular culture references

*Weehawken (though misspelled in a caption as "Weehauken") was humorously slighted in the TV series "Futurama" as being the prior location of the rather ramshackle Democratic Order Of Planets (DOOP) headquarters, which was shown after the new headquarters was destroyed.
*In the TV series "Sex and The City", the star was advised to seek a cheap apartment in town.
*In "House" (in an episode that included a character from forementioned Sex in the City), the town was cited as a humorously mundane place for a patient to have travelled.
*Weehawken is referred to in many Dr. Seuss stories, most notably "The Lorax".
*Wee Willie Weehawken is a character in "Boys' Ranch", created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, and published by Harper Comics in the 1950s.
*In the TV sit-com "Petticoat Junction", a swindler registers at a hotel as being from Weehawken.
*In the comic strip Pogo, the turtle character, Churchy Lafemme, once exclaimed "Weehawken!" as his head was unstuck from his shell by use of a bicycle pump.
*On Moby Grape's 1968 album "Wow", the track "Just Like Gene Autry: A Foxtrot" (strangely, cut at 78 rpm) features Arthur Godfrey announcing: "And now, emanating from the Secaucus Lounge at the fabulous Fandango Hotel in Weehawken, New Jersey..."

Film

Weehawken was used as a film location as early as 1902 when three silents were shot there: "Baby in a Rage", "Little Man", and "Baby Playing in Gutter". Woody Allen shot scenes for "Zelig" (1983) and "Broadway Danny Rose" (1984) in town. Other movies shot partially in town include "Straight, No Chaser" (1988) about Thelonious Monk, "Backstreet Dreams" (1990), "Hudson Hawk" (1991), "Naked Fear" (1999), "Forces of Nature" (1999), "Miss Congeniality" (2000), "In America" (2002), "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" (2004), "My African Giraffe" (2006),

ee also

*Bergen Township
*Burr-Hamilton duel
*Gateway Region
*Gold Coast, New Jersey
*Hudson River Waterfront Walkway
*New Jersey Palisades
*North Hudson, New Jersey
*"Weehawken Reporter"

References

External links

* [http://www.weehawken-nj.us Township of Weehawken website]
* [http://www.weehawken.k12.nj.us/ Weehawken School District]
*NJReportCard|17|5580|0|Weehawken School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417310 Data for the Weehawken School District] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.weehawken-nj.us/images/whkmap.jpgMap of Township]
* [http://www.weehawkenhistory.org Weehawken Time Machine] - historic images
* [http://www.amny.com/news/local/am-city0727,0,6743108.story?coll=am-homepromo-briefs AM New York special report on Weehawken]
* [http://www.weehawkenandyou.com/ Weehawken and You Homepage]