Hilltop, Jersey City
Encyclopedia
The Hilltop is the eastern section of the Journal Square
district of Jersey City, New Jersey
.The name is a reflection of its location atop Bergen Hill
, the southern portion of the Hudson Palisades, on either side of the cut
, or excavated ravine, through which the Port Authority Trans Hudson rapid transit
system travels, offering some streets views of Downtown Jersey City
, the New York Skyline, and the Upper New York Bay
.
The northern part of Hilltop is located to the east of Five Corners
.The neighborhoods borders are created by other excavations, namely Bergen Arches
, the Long Dock Tunnel
, and The Divided Highway. Soon after passing the Hudson County Courthouse
, Newark Avenue
begins its descent. Rising above the avenue at the beginning of Palisade Avenue
is the national historic landmark Jersey City High School. Designed by John T. Rowland
(who also designed the Jersey City Medical Center and the Labor Bank Building
), it was later renamed for William L. Dickinson, the Superintendent of Schools from 1872 until his death on November 3, 1883. Newark Avenue separates the school grounds from Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery
, originally developed in the mid 19th century. Across Palisade is the 1942 Hudson Gardens Housing Project. Behind the complex is Washburn Avenue, named for Richard Charles Washburn, a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
.
The Island is a small enclave within the Hilltop neighborhood which takes its name from its location atop an isolated outcropping of Bergen Hill
formerly called Mount Pleasant which has been diminished in size by the railroads tracks which surround it. Vehicular traffic can travel along Chestnut Avenue onto the island, which is also served by a footbridge
at Waldo Avenue. The name Island was used as early as the 1960s and though unknown to many because of the small size.
South of the rail lines and east of Bergen Square
, Summit Avenue
and Baldwin Avenue continue along the ridge of the Palisades, passing by the Jersey City Armory
. Mill Road connects the neighborhood with the former West End
and is named for John Prior's Mill on Harsimus Creek. Mercer Street, one of the few that keeps it name as it rises from low-lying downtown is named for General Hugh Mercer
, who stayed with John Prior at his home several times. The neighborhood overlooks the Waldo Yards, originally used by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Jersey City Branch, and now partially used by Port Authority Trans Hudson maintenance facilities. In October 1948, the Freedom Train was stationed at the yards for two days during its trip across the United States.
Journal Square
Journal Square is a business district, residential area, and transportation hub in Jersey City, New Jersey, which takes its name from the newspaper Jersey Journal whose headquarters are located there. The "square" itself is at the intersection of Kennedy Boulevard and Bergen Avenues...
district of Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
.The name is a reflection of its location atop Bergen Hill
Bergen Hill
Bergen Hill refers to the lower Hudson Palisades in New Jersey, USA, where they emerge on Bergen Neck, which in turn is the peninsula between the Hackensack and Hudson River, and their bays. In Hudson County, it reaches a height of 260 feet.-Rail:...
, the southern portion of the Hudson Palisades, on either side of the cut
Cut (earthmoving)
In civil engineering, a cut or cutting is where soil or rock material from a hill or mountain is cut out to make way for a canal, road or railway line....
, or excavated ravine, through which the Port Authority Trans Hudson rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system travels, offering some streets views of Downtown Jersey City
Downtown Jersey City
Downtown is an area of Jersey City, New Jersey that includes the Historic Downtown and the Waterfront. Historic Downtown can be further broken down into the neighborhoods of Harsimus Cove, The Village, Van Vorst Park, Grove Street, Hamilton Park and Boyle Plaza...
, the New York Skyline, and the Upper New York Bay
Upper New York Bay
Upper New York Bay, or Upper Bay, is the traditional heart of the Port of New York and New Jersey, and often called New York Harbor. It is enclosed by the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island and the Hudson County, New Jersey municipalities of Jersey City and Bayonne.It...
.
The northern part of Hilltop is located to the east of Five Corners
Five Corners, Jersey City
Five Corners is at the intersection of Summit Avenue, Newark Avenue and Hoboken Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey and is a northeastern part of the larger Journal Square district...
.The neighborhoods borders are created by other excavations, namely Bergen Arches
Bergen Arches
Bergen Arches is an abandoned railroad right of way through Bergen Hill in Jersey City, New Jersey.-History:...
, the Long Dock Tunnel
Long Dock Tunnel
The Long Dock Tunnel is a tunnel in New Jersey that runs diagonally through Bergen Hill, a section of the New Jersey Palisades in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States...
, and The Divided Highway. Soon after passing the Hudson County Courthouse
Hudson County Courthouse
The Hudson County Courthouse or Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Courthouse is located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The six-story structure was originally built between 1906 and 1910 at a cost of $3,328,016.56...
, Newark Avenue
Newark Plank Road
The Newark Plank Road was a major 19th century artery between New Jersey's Hudson Waterfront and the burgeoning city of Newark, further inland across the New Jersey Meadows. As its name suggests, a plank road was constructed of wooden planks laid side-to-side on a roadbed. A charter to construct...
begins its descent. Rising above the avenue at the beginning of Palisade Avenue
Palisade Avenue (Hudson Palisades)
Palisade Avenue is the name given to a historic road which parallels the eastern crest of Hudson Palisades in northeastern New Jersey. It travels between in Jersey City and Fort Lee, passing through Jersey City Heights, North Hudson, and Cliffside Park, various parts carrying Hudson and Bergen...
is the national historic landmark Jersey City High School. Designed by John T. Rowland
John T. Rowland
John T. Rowland, Jr. was an American architect who served as the Supervising Architect for Jersey City, New Jersey Board of Education for forty-two years. Projects designed by Rowland include several buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places...
(who also designed the Jersey City Medical Center and the Labor Bank Building
26 Journal Square
26 Journal Square is a high-rise in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was originally known as the Labor Bank Building. It was completed in 1928 and has 15 floors. It is the 23rd tallest building in the city. It is often considered the first skyscraper in Jersey City. The Beaux Arts building was designed...
), it was later renamed for William L. Dickinson, the Superintendent of Schools from 1872 until his death on November 3, 1883. Newark Avenue separates the school grounds from Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery
Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery
Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery is a historic cemetery located in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was established in 1829 by the first cemetery company founded in the State of New Jersey and is the size of . The cemetery is an early example of Garden Style landscape cemeteries. The cemetery fell into...
, originally developed in the mid 19th century. Across Palisade is the 1942 Hudson Gardens Housing Project. Behind the complex is Washburn Avenue, named for Richard Charles Washburn, a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
.
The Island is a small enclave within the Hilltop neighborhood which takes its name from its location atop an isolated outcropping of Bergen Hill
Bergen Hill
Bergen Hill refers to the lower Hudson Palisades in New Jersey, USA, where they emerge on Bergen Neck, which in turn is the peninsula between the Hackensack and Hudson River, and their bays. In Hudson County, it reaches a height of 260 feet.-Rail:...
formerly called Mount Pleasant which has been diminished in size by the railroads tracks which surround it. Vehicular traffic can travel along Chestnut Avenue onto the island, which is also served by a footbridge
Footbridge
A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
at Waldo Avenue. The name Island was used as early as the 1960s and though unknown to many because of the small size.
South of the rail lines and east of Bergen Square
Bergen Square
Bergen Square, at the intersection of Bergen Avenue and Academy Street in Jersey City, is in the southwestern part of the much larger Journal Square district...
, Summit Avenue
Summit Avenue
Summit Avenue is a street in Saint Paul, Minnesota known for having a number of historic houses, churches, synagogues, and schools. The street starts just west of downtown Saint Paul and continues four and a half miles west to the Mississippi River. Other cities have similar streets, such as...
and Baldwin Avenue continue along the ridge of the Palisades, passing by the Jersey City Armory
Jersey City Armory
The Jersey City Armory is located at 678 Montgomery Street near McGinley Square in Jersey City, New Jersey. In addition to being a military training and mustering facility of the New Jersey National Guard , the WPA era armory has long been used as a sports arena, particularly for boxing,...
. Mill Road connects the neighborhood with the former West End
West End, Jersey City
The West End is the former name of the only neighborhood in Historic Downtown Jersey City, New Jersey that is entirely west of the New Jersey Turnpike's Newark Bay Extension.-History:...
and is named for John Prior's Mill on Harsimus Creek. Mercer Street, one of the few that keeps it name as it rises from low-lying downtown is named for General Hugh Mercer
Hugh Mercer
Hugh Mercer was a soldier and physician. He initially served with British forces during the Seven Years War but later became a brigadier general in the Continental Army and a close friend to George Washington...
, who stayed with John Prior at his home several times. The neighborhood overlooks the Waldo Yards, originally used by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
Jersey City Branch, and now partially used by Port Authority Trans Hudson maintenance facilities. In October 1948, the Freedom Train was stationed at the yards for two days during its trip across the United States.