Moving in, out in Hudson County

Thursday, July 17, 2008
By LYSA CHEN
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Hudson County is shrinking, according to population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau recently.

Although New Jersey as a whole has increased in population by 3.2 percent since April 2000, Hudson County's population has fallen by 1.8 percent.
Populations in East Newark, Kearny and Weehawken fell the most: 8.5 percent, 7.9 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively. Officials in East Newark, Kearny and Weehawken did not return calls.

Only Hoboken, West New York and Jersey City, of the county's 12 municipalities, saw population growth. Jersey City grew just under 1 percent, West New York grew 1.4 percent and Hoboken grew 5.1 percent.

The Census Bureau estimated July populations from the years 2000 to 2007 and included April 2000 data from the most recent official census. The next official census will occur in 2010.

Hoboken Mayor David Roberts said he was not surprised Hoboken has grown the most in Hudson County, but was surprised the estimates were not higher.

The steady growth in Hoboken's population is noticeable just by observing the streets and neighborhoods, Roberts said, attributing the population boom to the city's proximity to New York, the mass transit system and array of community events.

Jersey City, too, has benefited from its easy access to Manhattan, Mayor Jerramiah Healy said. An extensive public transportation system sets Jersey City apart from other towns and cities in the state and country, where residents must spend more time and money commuting in cars, he said.

Healy added that Jersey City and the rest of Hudson County have traditionally attracted immigrants.

"But what happens is either the parents themselves or the first generation, they save a few dollars, and then bang - they move out," he said. "That's what has happened to our county, but at least in Jersey City that is starting to reverse."