Editing Union City, New Jersey

{{short description|City in Hudson County, New Jersey, US}}
{{Distinguish|Union Township, Union County|Union Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement 
|name                     = Union City, New Jersey
|official_name            = City of Union City<ref>[https://www.ecode360.com/11833888 Municipal Code], City of Union City. Accessed May 17, 2023.</ref><!-- Per [[Template:Infobox settlement]], "Use official_name if the official name is unusual or cannot be simply deduced from the name and settlement type." and this is not the "City of Union".-->
|nickname                 = "Embroidery Capital of the United States"<br>"Havana on the Hudson"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/nyregion/in-havana-on-the-hudson-few-are-left-to-celebrate-fidel-castros-death.html|title=In 'Havana on the Hudson,' Few Are Left to Celebrate Fidel Castro's Death|first=Liz|last=Robbins|date=November 29, 2016|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-date=November 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129062737/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/nyregion/in-havana-on-the-hudson-few-are-left-to-celebrate-fidel-castros-death.html}}</ref><br>"Little Havana on the Hudson"<ref name=GoogleNews>Bartlett, Kay. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19770628&id=4kwNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4464,3136176 "Little Havana on the Hudson"], ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'', June 28, 1977 Archived at [[Google News]]. Accessed March 31, 2011.</ref>
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = 9.19.11MustoCenterByLuigiNovi1.jpg
|imagesize                = 250x200px
|image_caption            = [[William V. Musto Cultural Center]]
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = Union City Seal.png

<!-- Maps -->
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|map_caption             = Interactive map of Union City
|pushpin_map              = USA New Jersey Hudson County#USA New Jersey#USA
|pushpin_label            = Union City
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in [[Hudson County, New Jersey|Hudson County]]##Location in [[New Jersey]]##Location in the United States
|pushpin_relief           = yes

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New Jersey|County]]
|subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|New Jersey}}
|subdivision_name2        = {{flagicon image|}} [[Hudson County, New Jersey|Hudson]]
|government_type          = [[Walsh Act]]
|government_footnotes     = <ref name=DataBook/>
|governing_body           = Board of Commissioners
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = [[Brian P. Stack]] (term ends May 18, 2026)<ref name=Mayor/><ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/dca/home/2023mayors.pdf 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory], [[New Jersey Department of Community Affairs]], updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023.</ref>
|leader_title1            = [[Municipal clerk]]
|leader_name1             = Hilda I. Rosario (acting)<ref>[http://www.ucnj.com/Departments/city-clerk City Clerk], City of Union City. Accessed April 10, 2022.</ref>
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = June 1, 1925

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='34'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 11, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
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|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.29
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.29
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_water_percent       = 0.00
|area_rank                = 472nd of 565 in state<br>10th of 12 in county<ref name=CensusArea>[https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_cousubs_34.txt 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 1, 2020.</ref>

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/>
|settlement_type          = [[City (New Jersey)|City]]
|population_total         = 68589
|population_rank          = [[List of United States cities by population|590th]] in country (as of 2022)<ref name=ANNRNK>[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2022/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2022-ANNRNK.xlsx Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 50,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2022 Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022], [[United States Census Bureau]], released May 2023. Accessed May 18, 2023. Note that townships (including Edison, Lakewood and Woodbridge, all of which have larger populations) are excluded from these rankings.</ref><br>18th of 565 in state<br>3rd of 12 in county<ref name=LWD2020Density>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/dmograph/est/mcd/density.xlsx Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref>
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 53293.7
|population_density_rank  = 2nd of 565 in state<br>2nd of 12 in county<ref name=LWD2020Density/>
|population_est           = 64462
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name=Census2020/><ref name=ANNRNK/><ref name=PopEst/>

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
|utc_offset               = −05:00
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|Eastern (EDT)]]
|utc_offset_DST           = −04:00
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|id=885424|name=City of Union City|access-date=March 14, 2013}}</ref>
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = 190
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR1">[https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>
|coordinates              = {{coord|40.767425|-74.032279|region:US-NJ_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 07087<ref>[http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=union%20city&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP code for Union City, NJ], [[United States Postal Service]]. Accessed September 19, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/njzips.htm ZIP codes], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed August 19, 2013.</ref>
|area_code                = [[Area codes 201 and 551|201]]<ref>[http://www.area-codes.com/search.asp?frmNPA=&frmNXX=&frmState=NJ&frmCity=Union%20City&frmCounty=Hudson Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Union City, NJ], Area-Codes.com. Accessed September 14, 2014.</ref>
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 3401774630<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR2">[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey], Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0885424<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR3">[http://geonames.usgs.gov US Board on Geographic Names], [[United States Geological Survey]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.ucnj.com/}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
{{Multiple image
| direction = vertical
| total_width = 220
| image1 = WeehawkenCove.HudsonRiver.Manhattan.skyline.sunrise.jpg
| caption1 = 
}}
'''Union City''' is a [[City (New Jersey)|city]] in the [[North Hudson, New Jersey|northern part]] of [[Hudson County, New Jersey|Hudson County]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the city was [[List of municipalities in New Jersey|the state's 18th-most-populous municipality]],<ref name=Largest2020>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_PL94_Summary/Table_1_2020.xlsx Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> with a population of 68,589,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 2,134 (+3.2%) from the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] count of 66,455,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn had reflected a decline of 633 (−0.9%) from the 67,088 counted in the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2010/2010data/table7cm.xls Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]], February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> As of the 2010 Census, among cities with a population of more than 50,000, it was the [[List of United States cities by population density|most densely populated city in the United States]],{{Cref|a}} with a density of 54,138 per square mile of land.<ref>Maciag, Mike. [https://www.governing.com/gov-data/population-density-land-area-cities-map.html "Population Density for U.S. Cities Statistics"], ''[[Governing (magazine)|Governing]]'', November 29, 2017. Accessed December 4, 2020. "The following are the most densely populated cities with populations exceeding 50,000:  Union City, N.J.: 54,138 persons/sq. mile"</ref><ref name=WSJ2011>{{cite web|author=De Avila, Joseph|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904875404576532311550254784|title=Tightly Packed Union City Welcomes More|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=August 27, 2011|access-date=April 15, 2024|archive-date=April 15, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/KGa9h|quote=Union City is a tiny city measuring just over one square mile with about 66,000 residents, making it the most densely populated city in the country, according to the latest U.S. Census.}}</ref> The [[United States Census Bureau|Census Bureau]]'s [[Population Estimates Program]] calculated that the city's population was 65,366 in 2022,<ref name=Census2020/> ranking the city the [[List of United States cities by population|590th-most-populous in the country]].<ref name=ANNRNK/>

Union City was incorporated as a city by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]] on June 1, 1925, with the merger of [[Union Hill, New Jersey|Union Hill]] and [[West Hoboken, New Jersey|West Hoboken Township]].<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. [https://nj.gov/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf ''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968''], Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 148. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=31 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''], New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref>

Two major waves of immigration, first of [[German language|German]] speakers and then of [[Spanish language|Spanish]] speakers, greatly influenced the development and character of Union City. Its two [[List of city nicknames in New Jersey|nicknames]], "Embroidery Capital of the United States" and "[[Havana on the Hudson]]", reflect important aspects of that history. Thousands visit Union City each year to see the nation's longest-running [[passion play]].<ref>Shortell, Tom. [https://www.nj.com/hudson/2010/04/passion_play_continues_lenten.html "Passion Play continues Lenten tradition in Union City"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', April 1, 2019, updated April 1, 2010. Accessed November 14, 2019. "John Penn Lewis, the Park Performing Arts Center’s executive director, said the show is believed to be the longest running Passion Play in America and possibly on this continent."</ref>

Union City is where [[Mallomars]] were first sold and the site of the first [[lunch wagon]], built by Jerry and Daniel O'Mahoney and John Hanf, which helped spark New Jersey's golden age of diner manufacturing, for which the state is colloquially referred to by author Richard J.S. Gutman as the "diner capital of the world".<ref name="Gabriele, Michael C. 43">Gabriele, Michael C. [https://njmonthly.com/articles/eat-drink/classic-diners-jersey-gems/ "Classic Diners, Offering a Glimpse Into the Past, are True Jersey Gems"], ''[[New Jersey Monthly]]'', May 1, 2018. Accessed April 7, 2024. "A Jersey City restaurant entrepreneur, Michael Griffin, purchased the first O'Mahony wagon for $800. A contract, dated July 3, 1912, stated the wagon would operate in West Hoboken (today’s Union City), in the vicinity of Paterson Plank Road and Summit Avenue.... The transaction helped set in motion New Jersey’s golden age of diner manufacturing, which in turn made the Garden State the diner capital of the world."</ref>

==History==
===Early history and civic boundaries===
[[File:1.23.10UnionCityBorderByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|Sign marking Union City's southern border with [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]]]]
The area of what is today Union City was originally inhabited by the [[Munsee language|Munsee-speaking]] branch of [[Lenape]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]],<ref name=History/><ref>Trigger, Bruce G. ''Delaware languages: Handbook of North American Indians'' Vol. 15: Northeast, page 215. [[Smithsonian Institution Press]], Washington D.C. 1978. {{ISBN|0-16-004575-4}}.</ref><ref>Day, Gordon M. "The Indian as an Ecological Factor in the Northeastern Forests." ''Ecology'', Vol. 34, No. 2 (April): 329-346. New England and New York areas 1580–1800. Notes that the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) tribe in New Jersey and the Massachuset tribe in Massachusetts used fire in ecosystems.1953</ref><ref>Russell, Emily W.B. "Vegetational Change in Northern New Jersey Since 1500 A.D.: A Palynological, Vegetational and Historical Synthesis." PhD dissertation. New Brunswick, PA: Rutgers University. Author notes on page 8 that Indians often augmented lightning fires. 1979</ref><ref>Russell, Emily W.B. "Indian Set Fires in the Forests of the Northeastern United States." ''Ecology'', Vol. 64, No. 1 (Feb): 78 88. 1983a Author found no strong evidence that Indians purposely burned large areas, but they did burn small areas near their habitation sites. Noted that the Lenna Lenape Tribe used fire.</ref><ref>''A Brief Description of New York, Formerly Called New Netherlands with the Places Thereunto Adjoining, Likewise a Brief Relation of the Customs of the Indians There.'' New York, NY: William Gowans. 1670. Reprinted in 1937 by the Facsimile Text Society, [[Columbia University Press]], New York. Notes that the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) tribe in New Jersey used fire in ecosystems.</ref> who wandered into the vast woodland area encountered by [[Henry Hudson]] during the voyages he conducted from 1609 to 1610 for the [[Dutch people|Dutch]], who later claimed the area (which included the future [[New York City]]) and named it [[New Netherland]]. The portion of that land that included the future Hudson County was purchased from members of the [[Hackensack tribe]] of the Lenni-Lenape and became part of [[Pavonia, New Netherland]].<ref>Karnoutsos, Carmela. [http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/P_Pages/Pavonia.htm Pavonia, Lower Jersey City] [[New Jersey City University]]. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref>

The relationship between the early Dutch settlers and Native Americans was marked by frequent armed conflict over land claims. In 1658 by New Netherland colony Director-General [[Peter Stuyvesant]] re-purchased the territory.<ref>Robinson, Walter F. (1964). ''New Jersey Tercentenary: 1664–1964''. Hudson County Tercentenary Committee for this information, p. 190</ref><ref name=UCPictures>[[Fernandez, Lucio]]; Karabin, Gerard (2010). ''Union City in Pictures''. Book Press NY. pp. 11–13.</ref> The boundaries of the purchase are described in the deed preserved in the New York State Archives, as well as the medium of exchange: "80 fathoms of [[wampum]], 20 fathoms of cloth, 12 brass kettles, 6 guns, one double brass kettle, 2 blankets, and one half barrel of strong beer."<ref>''50th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town of West Hoboken, N.J.'' (1911). Datz Co.</ref> In 1660, he ordered the building of a fortified village at [[Bergen Square|Bergen]] to protect the area.<ref>Karnoutsos, Carmela. [http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/D_Pages/Dutch_Settlement.htm 350th Anniversary of the Dutch Settlement of Bergen; Colonial Jersey City], [[New Jersey City University]]. Accessed August 28, 2017.</ref> It was the first permanent European settlement in New Jersey, located in what is now the [[Journal Square]] area of [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]] near Academy Street.<ref name=UCPictures/><ref name=350Years>Kaulessar, Ricardo. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2010/10/03/350-years-of-history-2/ "350 years of history; Fair commemorates founding of Jersey City, will honor the oldest families in Hudson County"], ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', October 3, 2010. Accessed November 14, 2019. "Before there was a Jersey City or a Hudson County, the village of Bergen – the first European settlement in New Jersey, founded in 1660 by Dutch settler Peter Stuyvesant – had its origins in what is now the Journal Square area of Jersey City near Academy Street."</ref> In 1664, the [[United Kingdom|British]] captured New Netherland from the Dutch, at which point the boundaries of Bergen Township encompassed what is now known as Hudson County. North of this was the unpopulated Bergen Woods, which would later be claimed by settlers, after whom a number of Union City streets today are named,<ref name=UCPictures/> including Sipp Street,<ref name=1957Map>''Bergen: Town and Township Nov 1660-Sept 22, 1668'', 1957 Genealogical Society of New Jersey</ref><ref name=Harvey>Harvey, Cornelius Burnham. [https://books.google.com/books?id=EdoMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA20 ''Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey''], p. 20. The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref><ref name=Winfield>Winfield, Charles H. [https://archive.org/details/historycountyhu00winfgoog/page/n553 <!-- pg=525 --> ''History of the County of Hudson, New Jersey''], p. 525. Kennard & Hay Stationary, 1874. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref> Brown Street,<ref name=Harvey/><ref name=1873Map>''Northern Part of the Town of Union'', 1873, Gleason's Old Maps, [[East Templeton, Massachusetts]]</ref> Golden Lane,<ref name=1873Map/> Tournade Street and Kerrigan Avenue,<ref name=BusinessDirectory>''Business Directory Of North Hudson'', North Hudson Hospital Association, Town of Union, N.J. 1905, p. 331</ref> which is named after J. Kerrigan, the owner of Kerrigan Farm, who donated the land for [[Saint Michael's Monastery]].<ref name=BusinessDirectory/><ref name=Calendar>Union City 2000 Calendar, 2000, culled from ''History of West Hoboken and Union Hill'' by Ella-Mary Ryman, 1965 and "The Historical Background of Union City" by Daniel A. Primont, William G. Fiedler and Fred Zuccaro, 1964</ref>

The area that would one day be Union City, however, remained sparsely populated until the early 19th century. The British granted Bergen a new town charter in 1668. In 1682 they created [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]], which was named to honor their Dutch predecessors. That county included all of present-day Hudson, Bergen and [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic]] counties. Sparsely inhabited during the 17th and 18th centuries, the southeast section of Bergen County had grown by the early 19th century to the point where it was deemed necessary to designate it a separate county. The New Jersey legislature created Hudson County in 1840, and in 1843, it was divided into two townships: Old Bergen Township (which eventually became Jersey City) and [[North Bergen, New Jersey|North Bergen Township]], which was gradually separated into Hudson County's present day municipalities: [[Hoboken, New Jersey|Hoboken]] in 1849, [[Weehawken, New Jersey|Weehawken]] and [[Guttenberg, New Jersey|Guttenberg]] in 1859, and [[West Hoboken, New Jersey|West Hoboken]] and [[Union Hill, New Jersey|Union Township]].<ref name=Story/><ref name=UCPictures/> West Hoboken was incorporated as a [[township (New Jersey)|township]] by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]] on February 28, 1861, from portions of North Bergen Township. The township was reincorporated on April 6, 1871, and again on March 27, 1874. Portions of the township were ceded to Weehawken in 1879.<ref name=Story/> On June 28, 1884, West Hoboken was reincorporated as a [[town (New Jersey)|town]], based on an ordinance passed nine days earlier. The town was reincorporated on April 24, 1888, based on the results of a referendum passed 12 days earlier.<ref name=Story/> Union Township, or simply Union,<ref name=1873Map/><ref name=BusinessDirectory/><ref>''Rules and Regulations of the Police Department of the Town of Union, N.J.'' Adopted July 13, 1881. West Hoboken, A.E. Gregory, Printer, Palisade Avenue. 1881</ref> was formed in 1864<ref name=Story/> through the merger of a number of villages, such as Dalleytown, Buck's Corners and Cox's Corners. The largest of these villages, Union Hill, became the colloquial name for the merged town of Union itself.<ref>Van Winkle, Daniel (1924). ''History of the Municipalities of Hudson County, NJ'' 1630–1923, Lewis Historical Publishing Company Inc. New York & Chicago. pp. 463-464</ref> The northern section of Union Township was later incorporated as [[West New York, New Jersey|West New York]] in 1898.<ref name=UCPictures/> Union City was incorporated on June 1, 1925, by merging the two towns of West Hoboken and [[Union Hill, New Jersey|Union Hill]].<ref name=Story/><ref name=History>Karabin, Gerard. [http://www.ucnj.com/Departments/history/ "Brief History of Union City"]. Union City, New Jersey. Accessed August 28, 2017. "Eighty-five years ago on June 1, 1925, the Town of Union (colloquially known as Union Hill) and the Township of West Hoboken joined together and became one, the city of Union City."</ref> The name of one of the city's schools, [[Union Hill Middle School]], recalls the former town.<ref>[http://uhmiddleunioncity.sharpschool.com/ Union Hill Middle School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919200929/http://uhmiddleunioncity.sharpschool.com/ |date=2016-09-19 }}. Accessed August 27, 2013.</ref>

===Immigration and industry===
[[File:1.22.10UCParkTheaterEmbroideryByLuigiNovi16.jpg|thumb|left|Embroidery and lace exhibit at Union City's [[Park Performing Arts Center]]]]
In the 18th century, [[Dutch people|Dutch]] and [[British people|English]] merchants first settled the area. Later, [[German people|German]] immigrants immigrated from [[Manhattan]]. [[Irish people|Irish]], [[Polish people|Polish]], [[Armenians]], [[Syrian people|Syrians]], [[Eastern European Jews]] and [[Italians]] followed.<ref name=OtherCuban>{{cite web|author=Perez-Stable, Marifeli|url=http://www.cubaverdad.net/weblog/2009/12/that-other-cuban-community/|title=That other Cuban community|newspaper=[[The Miami Herald]]|date=December 3, 2009|access-date=August 22, 2019|archive-date=August 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829040223/http://www.cubaverdad.net/weblog/2009/12/that-other-cuban-community/}}</ref> In 1851, [[Germans]] moved across the [[Hudson River]] from [[New York City]] in search of affordable land and open space.  During the [[American Civil War]] a military installation, Camp Yates, covered an area now bounded by [[Bergenline Avenue|Bergenline]] and Palisade Avenues from 22nd to [[Hackensack Plank Road|32nd Street]]. Germans began to settle what would become Union Hill in 1851,<ref name=UCPictures/> and some descendants of the immigrants of this period live in the city today.<ref name=350Years/> Although the area's diversity was represented by the more than 19 nationalities that made their home in the Dardanelles (a five-block area of Central Avenue from 23rd Street to 27th Street)<ref name=UCPictures/> from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, [[German American]]s and [[Dutch people|Dutch]] dominated the area. Along with [[Switzerland|Swiss]] and [[Austria]]n immigrants, they founded the European-style [[lace]] making industries for which they were famous. The introduction of [[Schiffli lace]] [[Schiffli embroidery machine|machines]] in Hudson County<ref>[http://www.schiffli.org/history.htm "History"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719103136/http://www.schiffli.org/history.htm |date=July 19, 2011 }}. Schiffli Lace and Embroidery Manufacturers Association. Accessed February 18, 2011.</ref> made Union City the "embroidery capital of the United States". The trademark of that industry is on the Union City Seal,<ref name=Calendar/><ref name="Cunningham">{{cite book|last=Cunningham|first=John|title=This is New Jersey|edition=4|year=2004|publisher=Rutgers University Press/Hudson River Museum|location=[[Yonkers, New York]]|isbn=0-8135-2141-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/thisisnewjersey0000cunn/page/100 100]|url=https://archive.org/details/thisisnewjersey0000cunn/page/100}}</ref><ref name=PopikUnionCity>Popik, Barry. [http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/florida/entry/little_havana_miami_little_havana_on_the_hudson_union_city_new_jersey/ "Little Havana (Miami) & Little Havana on the Hudson (Union City, New Jersey)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707213306/http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/florida/entry/little_havana_miami_little_havana_on_the_hudson_union_city_new_jersey/ |date=July 7, 2011 }}. BarryPopkik.com, August 15, 2006. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref> though foreign competition and austere prevailing fashions led to the decline of embroidery and other industries in the area by the late 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|author=Pristin, Terry|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/03/nyregion/in-new-jersey-a-delicate-industry-unravels.html|title=In New Jersey, a Delicate Industry Unravels|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 3, 1998|access-date=July 6, 2020|archive-date=November 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111200151/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/03/nyregion/in-new-jersey-a-delicate-industry-unravels.html}}</ref> In May 2014 the city dedicated "Embroidery Square" at New York Avenue to commemorate that history.<ref>Conte, Michaelangelo. [http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2014/05/embroidery_square_dedicated_in_union_city.html#incart_river_default "Union City dedicates plaza that honors history as 'Embroidery Capital of the World'"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', May 31, 2014. Accessed October 14, 2015. "Union City named a portion of New York Avenue 'Embroidery Plaza' last night to commemorate the city's once-thriving embroidery industry."</ref>

As immigration to the area progressed throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, [[Belgians]], [[Armenians]], [[Greeks]], [[Chinese people|Chinese]], [[Jewish people|Jews]] and [[Russians]] found a home in the area,<ref name=UCPictures/> though its domination by Germans by the turn of the 20th century was reflected in the fact that the minutes of town meetings were recorded in [[German language|German]].<ref>Keller, Susan Jo. [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/06/nyregion/at-schuetzen-park-a-bit-of-germany-and-a-tradition-of-charity.html "At Schuetzen Park, a Bit of Germany and a Tradition of Charity"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 6, 1996. Accessed November 14, 2019. "Around the turn of the century in Union Hill, a town later absorbed into Union City, the minutes of town meetings were written in German, a reflection of the number of German immigrants in Hudson County. Today little of that German influence remains, with the exception of Schuetzen Park, a three-acre enclave in North Bergen where polka music sometimes still sets feet tapping."</ref> By this time, the area was witnessing a period of urbanization, as an extensive [[tram|trolley]] system was developed by the [[North Hudson County Railway]], spurred by both electrification in 1890 and the arrival of [[Irish people|Irish]] and [[Italians|Italian]] immigrants, which dominated the city until the late 1960s. Successive waves of immigrants from [[Eastern Europe]], the Near East and [[Latin America]] contributed to the embroidery industry in subsequent years. "The Cultural Thread"/"El Hilo", an exhibit highlighting this industry, is on display at Union City's Park Performing Arts Center.<ref>[http://www.parkpac.org/pp_exh.html The Cultural Thread/El Hilo Cultural] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727163429/http://www.parkpac.org/pp_exh.html |date=2011-07-27 }}, Park Performing Art Center. Accessed June 25, 2007.</ref>

The town was famous for being the home of the rowdy Hudson [[American burlesque|Burlesque]].<ref name=GoogleNews/><ref name=TimesPassion>Romano, Jay. [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/05/nyregion/union-city-journal-2-passion-plays-thrive-on-a-friendly-rivalry.html "Union City Journal: 2 Passion Plays Thrive On a 'Friendly Rivalry'"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 5, 1989. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref> Theaters in Union City featured [[vaudeville]] and burlesque and acts including [[Fred Astaire]] and [[Harry Houdini]].<ref name=History/><ref>Fernandez, 2010, p. 15.</ref> It was at a vaudeville theater in Union City that comedian [[George Burns]] would meet his longtime partner and wife, [[Gracie Allen]].<ref>[https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/gracie-allen/bio/152480 "Grace Allen Biography"]. ''[[TV Guide]]''. Accessed April 14, 2014.</ref> Union City was also for a time the home to the headquarters of sports publisher [[Joe Weider]].<ref>[[Joe Weider|Weider, Joe]]; Weider, Ben; and Steere, Mike. [https://books.google.com/books?id=RHFRX2spCvMC&pg=PA115 ''Brothers of Iron''], p. 115. Sports Publishing LLC, 2006. {{ISBN|9781596701243}}. Accessed August 28, 2017. "In January 1957, the guys loaded one last moving van and then I locked the doors forever on Hopkins Avenue. About a mile of there we celebrated the opening of a brand-new headquarters at 801 Palisade Avenue, Union City, New Jersey."</ref> Weider's empire included a Weider Barbell store in Union City, whose patrons included body builder [[Dave Draper]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/24/sports/dave-draper-dead.html|title=Dave Draper, Bodybuilding's 'Blond Bomber,' Dies at 79|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|author=Sandomir, Richard|date=December 24, 2021|access-date=August 30, 2023|archive-date=February 8, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220208171037/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/24/sports/dave-draper-dead.html}}</ref>

The first [[Cubans]] immigrated to Union City from New York City in the late 1940s, having been attracted to the city in search of work after hearing of its famed embroidery factories.<ref name=OtherCuban/><ref name=TechPlans/><ref name=NewYorkTimes2.5.06>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/nyregion/on-politics-a-cuban-revolution-only-its-in-new-jersey.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|title=ON POLITICS; A Cuban Revolution, Only It's in New Jersey|author=Gettleman, Jeffrey|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=February 5, 2006|access-date=January 12, 2023|archive-date=February 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223174541/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/nyregion/on-politics-a-cuban-revolution-only-its-in-new-jersey.html}}</ref> A majority of these Cubans hailed from small towns or cities, particularly [[Villa Clara Province]] in central Cuba.<ref name=OtherCuban/><ref name=TechPlans/> After [[World War II]], veterans relocated to [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]], causing a short-lived decline in the population.<ref name=NewYorkSun>Hope, Bradley. [http://www.nysun.com/new-york/havana-on-hudson-reverberates-after-castros/37178/ "Havana on Hudson Reverberates After Castro's Operation"], ''[[The New York Sun]]'', August 2, 2006. Accessed July 6, 2017. "Several of the group's leaders sat in chairs around the union hall on a quiet street in Union City, N.J., a town minutes away from Manhattan that was once known as 'Havana on the Hudson'."</ref> By the 1960s the city was predominantly an old-line Italian enclave.<ref name=GoogleNews/><ref>[[Jeffrey Gettleman|Gettleman, Jeffrey]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/01/nyregion/william-musto-88-a-mayor-reelected-on-his-way-to-jail-is-dead.html "William Musto, 88, a Mayor Re-elected on His Way to Jail, Is Dead"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 1, 2006. Accessed November 14, 2019. "Mr. Musto, a Democrat, was a pioneer in affirmative action, flinging open the doors to City Hall to his growing Cuban-American constituency. He was mayor from 1962 to 1970 and 1974 to 1982, an era when the city, perched on the sandstone palisades across the Hudson from New York City, dramatically changed, from an old-line Italian enclave to a little Little Havana."</ref> This began to change when [[Cuban exile|large numbers of Cubans emigrated]] to the city after [[Fidel Castro]] took power in 1962. This made Union City for many years the city with the largest Cuban population in the U.S. after Miami, hence its nickname, "Little [[Havana on the Hudson]]."<ref name=GoogleNews/><ref name=NewYorkSun/><ref>Grenier, Guillermo J. [https://books.google.com/books?id=3XBcqhL_pKEC&pg=PA84 ''Miami Now!: Immigration, Ethnicity, and Social Change'']. Archived at [[Google Books]]. Accessed March 31, 2011.</ref> Following the [[Mariel boatlift]] in 1980, 10,000 Cubans settled in New Jersey, leading to a second wave of Cubans to Union City, which totaled 15,000 by 1994.<ref name=PopikUnionCity/><ref name=HR20070625/><ref>Evelyn Nieves (August 29, 1994). [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/29/nyregion/cubans-kin-are-anxious-in-union-city.html "Cubans' Kin Are Anxious In Union City"]. ''The New York Times''. Accessed December 15, 2016.</ref> The city, as well as neighboring towns such as [[West New York, New Jersey|West New York]], experienced a profound cultural impact as a result of this, as seen in such aspects of local culture as its cuisine,<ref>Sietsema, Robert (December 13, 2016). [https://ny.eater.com/2016/12/13/13868522/havana-on-the-hudson-new-jersey-best-cubano-sandwiches "A Food Crawl Through Havana on the Hudson"]. Eater. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref> fashion, music, entertainment and [[cigar]]-making.<ref name=GoogleNews/><ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/09/04/2003270336 "Cuban cigar tradition fades"]. ''[[Taipei Times]]''. September 4, 2005</ref><ref>Martin, Lydia. "Cuban cool", ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', August 9, 1995. pp. 41 and 54.</ref><ref>Juri, Carmen. "Jersey's Cuban flavors", ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', August 9, 1995. pp. 41 and 54.</ref><ref name=NYTimes2.21.08>[[Peter Applebome|Applebome, Peter]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/nyregion/21towns.html "In Little Little Havana, Not Quite as Much of a Cuban Feel"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 21, 2008. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref>

Amid a redevelopment boom in the early 1960s, The Troy Towers, a 22-story twin tower luxury apartment complex, was completed in 1966 on the edge of the Palisades cliffs<ref name=NYTimes5.9.18>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/09/realestate/living-in-union-city-new-jersey.html|title=Union City, N.J.: Close to the City, but Still Affordable|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|author=Capuzzo, Jill P.|date=May 9, 2018|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=May 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509131244/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/09/realestate/living-in-union-city-new-jersey.html}}</ref> on Mountain Road<ref name=JJ12.9.65>{{cite news|title=Troy Towers Going Up: New Look for Mountain Road|newspaper=[[The Jersey Journal]]|date=December 9, 1965|page=26}}</ref> at 19th Street, at the former site of the Abbey Inn, just north of where a motorized vehicle elevator and a staircase called the Lossburg Steps were located. The former was an angled ramp originally built for horse-drawn carriages, which along with the steps, connected to [[Hackensack Plank Road]] beneath the cliffs,<ref name=JJ12.9.65/> in the Shades section of Weehawken.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kids Still Use Perilous Lossberg Steps|newspaper=[[The Jersey Journal]]|date=November 13, 1963|page=16}}</ref> According to the Hudson County Multiple Listing service, between 2016 and 2018 the median list price of residential properties on the market in Union City fluctuated between $345,000 and $509,000. The most expensive home on the market in May 2018 was a four-family building on sale for $1.6 million, while the lowest was a studio apartment in Troy Towers for $148,000. A typical residential property was a six-bedroom, three-family house in need of updating, listed at $568,000.<ref name=NYTimes5.9.18/>

===Development in the 21st century===
[[File:4.25.11ThreadByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|The name of the city's first high-rise condominium tower, the Thread, invokes its historical association with the embroidery industry.]]
Since its inception in 2000, the Cuban Day Parade of New Jersey became a major annual event in [[North Hudson, New Jersey|North Hudson]], beginning in North Bergen and traveling south to its end in Union City.<ref>Rosero, Jessica. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2004/06/11/celebrating-cuban-pride-fifth-annual-cuban-day-parade-draws-residents-and-honored-guests-2/ "Celebrating Cuban Pride Fifth annual Cuban Day Parade draws residents and honored guests"], ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', June 11, 2004. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref>Miller, Jonathan. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/31/nyregion/31parade.html "Judge Decides Against a Mayor Who Banned Cuban Parade"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', May 31, 2007. Accessed July 7, 2016.</ref><ref>Rosero, Jessica. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2007/06/17/the-parade-marches-on-eighth-annual-cuban-day-parade-of-new-jersey-keeps-traditional-route/ "The parade marches on Eighth annual Cuban Day Parade of New Jersey keeps traditional route"], ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', June 17, 2007. Accessed November 14, 2019. "Superior Court Judge Maurice Gallapoli ruled in favor of the committee and allowed the parade to run its traditional course along Bergenline Avenue, last Sunday, from 79th Street in North Bergen to 31st Street in Union City. In addition, since Union City Mayor Brian Stack had granted an extension through 22nd Street, as an alternate route to the parade, the committee let the parade run nine additional blocks. West New York Mayor Silverio 'Sal' Vega refused to sign the permit for the parade to go through the township, saying that people needed to remember the plight of the Cuban people."</ref> Union City has historically been a family-oriented city predominantly made up of [[brownstone]]s, two-family homes and locally owned businesses.<ref name=NYTimes10.2.05>{{cite web|author=Martin, Antoinette|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/realestate/residential-upandcomer-union-city.html|title=Residential Up-and-Comer: Union City|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 2, 2005|access-date=February 4, 2020|archive-date=August 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829042038/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/realestate/residential-upandcomer-union-city.html}}</ref> Another wave of modestly sized residences began development approximately in 2003, spurred by similar development in neighboring [[Hoboken, New Jersey|Hoboken]], and the city's attempt to attract developers to what had historically been a town unfriendly to them, according to Mayor [[Brian P. Stack]]. Through approval of varied construction projects to address the needs of residents of different incomes, improved [[rent control]] laws and community input on such issues,<ref name=NYTimes10.2.05/> this "Hobokenization" resulted in positive comparisons with the redeveloped Hoboken of the mid-to-late 1990s, with new restaurants, bars, and art galleries cited as evidence of renewal. The city recorded $192 million in new construction in 2007, and 600 [[Certificate of occupancy|certificates of occupancy]], with 500–700 projected for 2008–2009, compared with previous years, in which 50 certificates was considered a high amount.<ref>Amoroso, Mary. [http://corenyc.com/files/04.20.08-northjersey.com-now-it-27s-union-city-27s-turn.pdf "Now it's Union City's Turn"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103234952/http://corenyc.com/files/04.20.08-northjersey.com-now-it-27s-union-city-27s-turn.pdf |date=2012-11-03 }}, ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', April 20, 2008. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref> This development continued for several years, reaching a milestone in 2008 with the completion of Union City's first high-rise [[condominium]] tower, The Thread, whose name evokes the city's historical association with the embroidery industry.<ref>''The Union City Reporter''. March 28, 2008. p. 9</ref><ref>Carroll, Timothy J. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2009/03/01/housing-in-hudsonin-slow-economy-smaller-better-spaces-lure-buyers-from-across-the-river/ "Housing in Hudson; In slow economy, smaller, better spaces lure buyers from across the river"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', March 1, 2009. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref name=HobokenComes>Martin, Antoinette. [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/realestate/09njzo.html "Hoboken Comes to Union City"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 9, 2008. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref><ref>Martin, Antoinette. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/realestate/08njzo.html "Defining the Buyer of the Future"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 6, 2009. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref> Other such buildings followed, such as the Altessa,<ref name=HobokenComes/> Park City Grand,<ref>{{cite web|author=Wright, E. Assata|url=https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2010/03/07/ups-and-downs-in-residential-real-estate/|title=Ups and downs in residential real estate; Thrifty buyers return to slowly improving housing market|newspaper=The Hudson Reporter|date=March 7, 2010|access-date=February 17, 2020|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217010941/https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2010/03/07/ups-and-downs-in-residential-real-estate/}}</ref> and Hoboken Heights.<ref>{{cite web|author=West, Teri|url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2020/02/site-work-begins-for-cliffside-luxury-condo-complex-in-union-city.html|title=Site work begins for cliffside luxury condo complex in Union City|newspaper=The Jersey Journal|via=NJ.com|location=Jersey City|language=en|date=February 14, 2020|access-date=February 17, 2020|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217010941/https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2010/03/07/ups-and-downs-in-residential-real-estate/}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city had a total area of 1.29 square miles (3.33&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), all of which was land.<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 /> Part of the [[New York metropolitan area]],<ref name=Metropolitan>[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/metroarea/stcbsa_pg/Feb2013/cbsa2013_NJ.pdf NEW JERSEY - Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) and Counties], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed August 28, 2017.</ref> it is one of the municipalities which comprise [[North Hudson, New Jersey|North Hudson]]. Located atop the ridge of the lower [[Hudson Palisades]] (just south of the highest point in the county),<ref>[http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=7139 Hudson County Highest Point], peakbagger.com. Accessed January 8, 2010.</ref> many of its streets offer glimpses and views of the surrounding municipalities, the [[New York City]] skyline, and the [[New Jersey Meadowlands]].

The city is bisected by [[New Jersey Route 495]], a vehicular [[Cut (earthmoving)|cut]] built in conjunction with the [[Lincoln Tunnel]]. Soon after its construction, many street names were abandoned in favor of numbering in most of North Hudson starting at 2nd Street, just north of [[Paterson Plank Road]], which runs through the city's only major park and creates its border with [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]]. 49th Street is the northern boundary with [[West New York, New Jersey|West New York]]. Apart from a small section between [[Bergen Turnpike]] and [[Weehawken Cemetery]], [[county Route 501 (New Jersey)|Kennedy Boulevard]], a major north–south thoroughfare, creates the western border with [[North Bergen, New Jersey|North Bergen]]. A former colonial road and previous border between the merged municipalities takes three names as it diagonally crosses the city's urban grid: [[Hackensack Plank Road|Hackensack Plank Road, 32nd Street, and Bergen Turnpike]]. Most of the city north of the street, formerly Union Hill, shares its eastern border along Park Avenue with [[Weehawken, New Jersey|Weehawken]]. The southern section of the city, formerly West Hoboken, is indeed west of [[Hoboken, New Jersey|Hoboken]],<ref name=Story/> which it overlooks and is connected by the road which creates their shared border, the [[14th Street (Hoboken)|Wing Viaduct]].<ref name="Hagstrom Map Company, Inc">{{Cite book| publisher = Hagstrom Map Company, Inc. | isbn = 978-0-88097-763-0| title = Hudson County New Jersey Street Map | year = 2008}}</ref>

The city borders the Hudson County municipalities of [[Hoboken, New Jersey|Hoboken]], [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]], [[North Bergen, New Jersey|North Bergen]], [[Weehawken, New Jersey|Weehawken]] and [[West New York, New Jersey|West New York]].<ref>[https://global.mapit.mysociety.org/area/1010606/touches.html Areas touching Union City], MapIt. Accessed March 14, 2020.</ref><ref>[http://chnj.njpn.org/hudson-county/ Hudson County Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430114258/http://chnj.njpn.org/hudson-county/ |date=April 30, 2020 }}, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 14, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf New Jersey Municipal Boundaries], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref> It is the only municipality in Hudson County to be entirely surrounded by other county municipalities.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870=  4640
|1880=  5849
|1890= 10643
|1900= 15187
|1910= 21023
|1920= 20651
|1930= 58659
|1940= 56173
|1950= 55537
|1960= 52180
|1970= 57305
|1980= 55593
|1990= 58012
|2000= 67088
|2010= 66455
|2020= 68589
| estimate=64462
| estyear=2023
| estref=<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=ANNRNK/><ref name=PopEst>[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/mcds/totals/SUB-MCD-EST2023-POP-34.xlsx Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023], [[United States Census Bureau]], released May 2024. Accessed May 16, 2024.</ref>
|footnote=Population sources:<small><br>1870–1920<ref>[https://dspace.njstatelib.org/xmlui/handle/10929/25218?show=full ''Compendium of censuses 1726–1905: together with the tabulated returns of 1905''], [[New Jersey Department of State]], 1906. Accessed August 7, 2013.</ref> 1870<ref>Raum, John O. [https://archive.org/details/historyofnewjers03raum/page/278 ''The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1''], p. 278, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed August 11, 2013. "The town of Union contains a population of 4,640."</ref><ref>Staff. [https://archive.org/details/acompendiumnint00offigoog/page/n272 <!-- pg=259 --> ''A compendium of the ninth census, 1870''], p. 259. [[United States Census Bureau]], 1872. Accessed August 11, 2013.</ref> 1880–1890<ref>Porter, Robert Percival. [https://archive.org/details/preliminaryresu01portgoog/page/n217 ''Preliminary Results as Contained in the Eleventh Census Bulletins: Volume III - 51 to 75''], p. 98. [[United States Census Bureau]], 1890. Accessed August 11, 2013.</ref><br>1890–1910<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924070698356/page/n344 <!-- pg=337 --> ''Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910: Population by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions, 1910, 1900, 1890''], [[United States Census Bureau]], p. 337. Accessed August 11, 2013.</ref> 1870–1930<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=kifRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA712 ''Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I''], [[United States Census Bureau]], p. 712. Accessed January 25, 2012.</ref><br>1940–2000<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2kpub/njsdcp3.pdf#page=27 Table 6: New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1940 - 2000], Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, August 2001. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> 2000<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/><br>2010<ref name=Census2010>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20200212101109/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0600000US3401774630 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Union City city, Hudson County, New Jersey]}}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 24, 2012.</ref><ref name=LWD2010>[http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_hud/unioncity1.pdf Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Union City city] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402032517/http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_hud/unioncity1.pdf |date=2012-04-02 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed January 24, 2012.</ref> 2020<ref name=Census2020>[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/unioncitycitynewjersey/ QuickFacts Union City city, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 15, 2023.</ref><ref name=LWD2020>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_Mun/MCD%200_All.pdf Total Population: Census 2010 - Census 2020 New Jersey Municipalities], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref></small>
}}

===20th century===
According to the [[1910 United States census]], the population of West Hoboken and Union Hill, the two towns that would later merge to form Union City was 37,000 and 23,000, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1911/06/18/104868978.pdf|title=New Jersey Towns May Consolidate|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=June 18, 1911|accessdate=March 10, 2022|archive-date=July 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720163858/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1911/06/18/104868978.pdf}}</ref>

By the late 20th century, Union City emerged as a [[working class]] community.<ref name=APNewsArchive>{{cite web|author=Fleeman, Michael|url=https://apnews.com/b1e566428018189847b95e645a9c08c5|title=Madonna Brings A Touch Of Hollywood Glamor To Union City|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|language=en-US|url-status=dead|date= January 10, 1988|access-date=October 14, 2015|archive-date=May 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523025837/https://apnews.com/article/b1e566428018189847b95e645a9c08c5|quote=Union City, N.J. (AP) _ On a snowy street corner in this predominantly Hispanic, working-class city, there's a touch of Hollywood glamor, a very small touch.}}</ref> One of Hudson County's three homeless shelters, Palisades Emergency Residence Corp. (PERC), is located in Union City.<ref>Wright, E. Assata. "Three deaths raise concerns". ''The Union City Reporter''. July 31, 2001</ref> The PERC facility, which includes a soup kitchen, food pantry and 40-bed shelter on 37th Street, lost $100,000 in federal funding in 2011, and in January and August 2012, aided a record-breaking number of guests.<ref>Pope, Gennarose. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2002/12/16/proactive-help-for-the-homeless-mayors-initiative-yields-results-local-death-shows-need-for-more-work/ "Use of homeless shelter breaks records; Fed. funding decreases, UC facility requests aid from community"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', December 16, 2012. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref>

===2000 Census===
According to the [[2000 United States Census]], Union City had a population of 67,088, making it the second-most populous municipality in the county after Jersey City.<ref name=2010Population>Smith, Ray. [https://issuu.com/hudsonreporter/docs/progress-2011 "What's new in residential development; More housing available and rentals are hot in Hudson"], ''The Hudson Reporter'' Progress Report, March 6, 2011, p. 3. Accessed July 7, 2016.</ref><ref name=2010Census>Cullen, Deanna. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2011/02/13/growing-influence/ "Growing influence; UC and WNY house 6 percent of state's Hispanics"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', February 13, 2011. Accessed November 14, 2019. "Hispanics account for 42 percent of the Hudson County’s overall population of 634,266 residents, and almost 36 percent of the county’s Hispanics reside in Union City and West New York. Union City and West New York are each over three quarters Hispanic. In New Jersey, Union City has the highest percentage of people in that group – 84.7 percent. West New York is 78.1 percent Hispanic, coming in at third."</ref>

The population density was {{convert|52,977.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}} in 2000, approximately twice as high as New York City as a whole, but less than Manhattan alone. Union City is the most densely populated city in the United States,<ref name="CCT">[http://cct.edc.org/sites/cct.edc.org/files/publications/uc_transform_cond00.pdf "The Transformation of Union City: 1989 to Present"], Center for Children and Technology, August 15, 2000. Accessed August 28, 2017. "The following facts describe the demographics of Union City, NJ: It is the most densely populated city in the U.S."</ref><ref>Gerut, Amanda. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-74686482.html "Clifton to consider allowing town houses on river"]{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', June 6, 2003. Accessed October 14, 2015. "Passaic is the third most densely populated city in America, after Union City and New York City, and public officials usually decry any new home building, especially projects that involve multifamily dwellings."</ref> though neighboring [[Guttenberg, New Jersey|Guttenberg]] (legally incorporated as a [[town (New Jersey)|town]]) was more densely populated.<ref name="Census">[https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/GCTPH1.ST10/0400000US34 GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2000 for New Jersey -- Place and County Subdivision] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200213125219/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/GCTPH1.ST10/0400000US34 |date=February 13, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref> In 2000, the median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.<ref name=Census2000>[http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/1603474630.pdf Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Union City city] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811080713/http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/1603474630.pdf |date=2014-08-11 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 21, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20200212095259/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3401774630 DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Union City city, Hudson County, New Jersey]}}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 21, 2013.</ref>

As of the 2000 Census, 58.7% of the population was foreign born and 21.6% of residents were naturalized citizens, while 13.9% only speak English at home, whereas 80.7% reported that they spoke Spanish at home.<ref name=Census2000/>

===2010 census===
Union City's 2010 population of 66,455 made it [[List of municipalities in New Jersey|the state's 17th largest municipality]], having seen a decline of 633 residents (-0.9%) from its population of 67,088 in the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], when it was the state's 16th most populous municipality.<ref name=Census2010XLS>[http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/2010data/nj_tab1.xls The Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships in 2010 in New Jersey: 2000 and 2010], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref><ref name=2010Population/><ref name=2010Census/> {{As of|2010}}, it was still the country's second-most densely populated incorporated municipality (after the nearby [[Guttenberg, New Jersey|Town of Guttenberg]]) and the most densely populated U.S. [[city (New Jersey)|city]].<ref name=WSJ2011/><ref>Pope, Gennarose. [http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/16637305/article-Lost-in-the-crowd-UC-school-program-provides-refuge-for-students-in-need-?instance=lead_story_left_column "Lost in the crow: UC school program provides refuge for students in need"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828184657/http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/16637305/article-Lost-in-the-crowd-UC-school-program-provides-refuge-for-students-in-need-?instance=lead_story_left_column |date=2017-08-28 }}, ''The Hudson Reporter'', December 4, 2011. Accessed March 12, 2012. "Union City was identified as the most densely populated city in New Jersey in 2010, with 66,455 residents living in an area of only 1.27 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau."</ref>

The [[2010 United States census]] counted 66,455 people, 22,814 households, and 15,514 families in the city. The [[population density]] was 51,810.1 per square mile (20,004.0/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 24,931 housing units at an average density of 19,436.9 per square mile (7,504.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup was 58.01% (38,549) [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 5.25% (3,487) [[Black (U.S. census)|Black or African American]], 1.23% (819) [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 2.39% (1,587) [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.05% (33) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 27.43% (18,231) from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#Race|other races]], and 5.64% (3,749) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 84.71% (56,291) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/> {{As of|2010}}, the city had the highest percentage of Hispanic residents in any municipality in New Jersey.<ref>Mascarenhas, Rohan. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/census_data_shows_hispanics_as.html "Census data shows Hispanics as the largest minority in N.J."], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', February 3, 2011. Accessed August 7, 2013.</ref>

Of the 22,814 households, 34.2% had children under the age of 18; 36.7% were married couples living together; 21.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.0% were non-families. Of all households, 23.8% were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.39.<ref name=Census2010/>

23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.3  males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 [[American Community Survey]] showed that (in 2010 [[inflation adjustment|inflation-adjusted]] dollars) [[median household income]] was $40,173 (with a margin of error of +/− $1,946) and the median family income was $43,101 (+/− $2,185). Males had a median income of $31,987 (+/− $1,696) versus $25,010 (+/− $1,517) for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,506 (+/− $719). About 17.0% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.4% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20200212082947/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3401774630 DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Union City city, Hudson County, New Jersey]}}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 24, 2012.</ref>

Hispanics remained the dominant ethnic group in the city, and their percentage of the population increased from 82.3% in the 2000 Census to 84.7% in the 2010 Census. Non-Hispanic whites made up 15.3% of the city's population in 2010; up from 13.3% in the 2000 Census. Blacks made up 5.2% of the city's population in 2010; up from 3.3% in the 2000 Census. The rest of the racial makeup of the city was 0.70% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 28.19% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 6.87% from two or more races.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/> Though Native Americans comprise less than 1% of the city's population, they doubled between the 2000 and 2010 Census, and combined with West New York's Native Americans, comprise 38% of the county's Native American population.<ref name=2010Census/> [[Spanish language|Spanish]] was spoken at home by more than half of the residents of Union City, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/data/2017/12/the_41_nj_towns_where_english_is_not_the_dominant.html#incart_m-rpt-2|title=The 41 N.J. towns where English is not the dominant language|author=Carla Astudillo|publisher=New Jersey On-Line LLC|date=December 10, 2017|access-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref>

===Demographics in the 2010s and 2020s===
As of May 2017, the age breakdown of the city was as follows: 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18, of which 6.6% were under the age of five; and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older.<ref name=BestPlaces>{{cite web|url=https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/new_jersey/union_city|title=Economy in Union City, New Jersey|publisher=Best Places|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=May 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529015633/https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/new_jersey/union_city}}</ref> In 2019, the median age was 37.8 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://censusreporter.org/profiles/97000US3416380-union-city-school-district-nj/|title=Union City School District, NJ|publisher=Census Reporter|date=2019|access-date=May 29, 2021|archive-date=May 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529043033/https://censusreporter.org/profiles/97000US3416380-union-city-school-district-nj/}}</ref>

As of July 2019, Union City's employment breakdown was:
7.8% Construction;
9.6% Manufacturing;
4.4% Wholesale trade;
12.3% Retail;
9.4% Transportation and warehousing;
0.4% Utilities;
1.8% Information;
3.7% Finance and insurance;
2.1% Real estate, rental, leasing;
4.1% Professional, scientific, technical services;
8.2% Administrative, support, waste management;
5.2% Educational services;
10.1% Health care and social assistance;
2.1% Arts, entertainment, recreation;
11.0% Accommodation, food services; 
5.7% Other services;
and 2.1% Public administration.<ref name=BestPlaces/>

As of July 2019, 71.5% of residents age 25 or older had completed high school or a higher level of education, and 21.6% had a Bachelor's degree or higher degree of education.<ref name=CensusJuly2019>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/unioncitycitynewjersey/PST045219|title=Quick Facts|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|date=July 1, 2019|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=October 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024133501/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/unioncitycitynewjersey/PST045219}}</ref> As of the 2000 Census, 17% of the city's employed residents work in New York City.<ref>[https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/commuting/files/2kresmcd_NJ_1.xls 2000 Census Worker Flow Files], [[United States Census Bureau]].</ref>

Of Union City's 24,931 housing units in 2010 (up 1,190 from the 2000 Census), 2,117 of them, or 8%, were vacant, twice the vacancy rate of the 2000 Census.<ref name=2010Census/>

As of May 2017, the average income of a Union City resident was $19,834 a year, and the compared to a national average of $28,555 a year. The median household income of a Union City resident is $40,939 a year, compared to the national median of is $53,482.<ref name=BestPlaces/> By July 2019, the median household income was $48,992.<ref name=CensusJuly2019/>

In the 2000s, the [[Brookings Institution]] studies ranked Union City among the 92 most economically depressed localities in the United States, with 18.1% of the population and 27.5% of the children falling below the [[poverty line]]. In 1997, the New Jersey Municipal Distress Index, which is based on social, economic, fiscal and physical indicators, ranked Union City as the third most distressed community in the state.<ref name=TechPlans>[http://www.union-city.k12.nj.us/edinovations/TechPlans-04-07.pdf The Union City Public Schools: Technology Plan 2004–2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218004823/http://www.union-city.k12.nj.us/edinovations/TechPlans-04-07.pdf |date=2006-02-18 }}, [[Union City School District (New Jersey)|Union City Board of Education]], approved April 29, 2004, p. 4 of 25. Accessed June 25, 2007. "According to the 1997 New Jersey Municipal Distress Index, which is based on social, economic, fiscal and physical indicators, of the 566 municipalities in New Jersey, Union City is considered to be the 3rd most distressed community in the state.... In the 1940s Union City attracted the first Cuban immigrants. These early Cubans learned of Union City's famed embroidery factories and came in search of work."</ref> By July 2019, 19.6% of residents lived in poverty.<ref name=CensusJuly2019/>

===The Latino and Hispanic community===
[[File:6.6.10CubanParadeUCByLuigiNovi5.jpg|thumb|left|Revelers during the 2010 Cuban Day Parade on [[Bergenline Avenue]]]]
Immigration from Cuba to Union City began slowly in the late 1940s and early 1950s, when jobs in the local embroidery and textile factories were abundant.<ref name=USForeignService>Patterson, Mary Jo. [https://publications.america.gov/publication/union-city-new-jersey-cuban-americans/#axzz43pyACW2b "Cuban Americans, Union City, New Jersey"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829073629/https://publications.america.gov/publication/union-city-new-jersey-cuban-americans/#axzz43pyACW2b |date=August 29, 2017 }}, [[United States Foreign Service]]. Accessed August 28, 2017.</ref> By 1955, the city's Cuban population was large enough that [[Fidel Castro]] visited Union City to raise money for his revolt against Cuban dictator [[Fulgencio Batista]], though a speech he gave one night at a bar on 26th Street, Le Molino Rojo ("The Red Mill") led to a brawl that resulted in Castro's arrest.<ref name=NYTimes3.22.16>[[Jim Dwyer (journalist)|Dwyer, Jim]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/23/nyregion/in-a-cuban-enclave-in-new-jersey-mixed-feelings-about-reconciliation.html?smid=fb-share "In a Cuban Enclave in New Jersey, Skeptics View a Moment With Open Minds"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 22, 2016. Accessed December 15, 2016.</ref><ref>Torres, Agustin C. [http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index.ssf/2010/02/political_insider_the_chief_wh.html "Political Insider: The chief who cracked down on Castro"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', February 20, 2010. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref><ref>Worth, Richard. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZD83heAmGzAC&pg=PA38 ''Hispanic America: 1950s to 1960s'']. Cavendish Square Publishing. p. 38. Archived at Google Books. Accessed March 24, 2016.</ref>

Following the [[Cuban Revolution]] of 1959, large numbers of Cubans in professional occupations emigrated to Union City,<ref name=USForeignService/> resulting in Union City's status as the nation's second-largest Cuban population, behind [[Miami, Florida]], leading to the nickname "Little [[Havana on the Hudson]]".<ref name=NewYorkSun/><ref name=HR20070625>Rosero, Jessica. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2006/09/05/most-liquor-licenses-bumpiest-town-local-municipalities-hold-unusual-distinctions/ "Most liquor licenses? Bumpiest town? Local municipalities hold unusual distinctions"], ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', September 5, 2006. Accessed November 14, 2019. "At one time, Union City had its own claim to fame as being the second largest Cuban community in the nation, after Miami. During the wave of immigrant exiles of the 1960s, the Cuban population that did not settle in Miami's Little Havana found its way to the north in Union City. However, throughout the years, the growing Cuban community has spread out to other regions of North Hudson."</ref><ref name=NYTimes2.21.08/> Aspects of the enclave are explored in the 2009 publication ''The Cubans of Union City: Immigrants and Exiles in a New Jersey Community''.<ref name=Prieto>[http://www.temple.edu/tempress/chapters_1400/1519_ch1.pdf ''The Cubans of Union City: Immigrants and Exiles in a New Jersey Community''], [[Temple University]]. Accessed August 28, 2017.</ref>

In the ensuing decades, Cuban residents spread out to other communities of [[North Hudson, New Jersey|North Hudson County]]. [[West New York, New Jersey|West New York]], at 19.64%, now has the highest percentage of Cubans in New Jersey, with Union City in second place, with 15.35%. These two municipalities have the highest Cuban population percentage in the United States outside of [[Florida]].<ref>[http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Cuban.html "Cuban Ancestry"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122040230/http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Cuban.html |date=November 22, 2012 }}. [[EPodunk]]. Accessed June 16, 2006.</ref> Moreover, Union City still boasts [[List of U.S. cities with Hispanic majority populations#New Jersey|the largest Hispanic population percentage in New Jersey]], at 84.7% by the 2010 Census.<ref name=2010Census/>

By the early 2000s Union City had become a mix of the Latin and Asian diasporas, with [[Dominican American|Dominicans]] cited as the fastest-growing ethnic group, and other groups including [[Colombian American|Colombians]], [[Ecuadorean American|Ecuadoreans]] and [[Salvadoran American|Salvadorans]].<ref>Cave, Damien. [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/15/nyregion/union-city-journal-a-park-s-dominican-name-reflecting-quirky-diversity.html "Union City Journal; A Park's Dominican Name, Reflecting Quirky Diversity"]. ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 15, 2004. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref> Despite the decline in the size of the Cuban population, the major New York City [[television news]] outlets will often journey to Union City to interview citizens when developments in [[Cuba–United States relations]] occur.<ref name=NYTimes2.21.08/><ref name=NYTimes3.22.16/>

As of the 2000 Census, 5.94% of Union City's residents identified themselves as being of [[Ecuador]]ian ancestry, which was the third highest of any municipality in New Jersey and the seventh highest percentage of Ecuadorian people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.<ref>[http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Ecuadorian.html Ecuadorian Communities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110231932/http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Ecuadorian.html |date=November 10, 2006 }}, EPodunk. Accessed June 28, 2006.</ref> That number increased to 12.6%, according to December 2017 Census figures.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.towncharts.com/New-Jersey/Demographics/Union-City-city-NJ-Demographics-data.html|title=Union City, New Jersey Demographics Data|date=December 2017|access-date=May 29, 2021|publisher=Towncharts.com|archive-date=January 16, 2020|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116225017/https://www.towncharts.com/New-Jersey/Demographics/Union-City-city-NJ-Demographics-data.html}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
[[Washington Park (Hudson County)|Washington Park]], which covers {{convert|22|acre}} straddling the border of the city and [[The Heights, Jersey City|The Heights]] neighborhood in [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]], is part of the [[Hudson County Park System]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://njcu.libguides.com/washingtonpark|title=Washington Park|publisher=[[New Jersey City University]]|date=June 23, 2020|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803100120/https://njcu.libguides.com/washingtonpark}}</ref> Previously a flat expanse of dirt, it had been used to host visiting carnivals, circuses, and Wild West shows, including [[Buffalo Bill]]'s ''[[Buffalo Bill#Buffalo Bill's Wild West|Wild West]]'' show, performed there in 1908, when the plot was called the North Street Grounds.<ref name=HobokenGirl>{{cite web|url=https://www.hobokengirl.com/jersey-city-heights-historical-walking-tour/|author=Gittleman, Nicole|title=A Historical Walking Tour of Jersey City Heights|publisher=The Hoboken Girl|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=January 10, 2023|access-date=28 October 2023|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111171946/https://www.hobokengirl.com/jersey-city-heights-historical-walking-tour/}}</ref> A movement to develop it into a park began in 1909, though this would not come into fruition until 1917, and the park took its current shape in the 1930s, partially as a result of the input of the [[Works Progress Administration]].<ref name=JerseyJournal12.11.80>{{cite web|url=http://www.wpanj.org/history-of-washington-park.html|title=Washington Park History|author=J.J., Shamburg|newspaper=[[The Jersey Journal]]|via=Washington Park Association of Hudson County|date=December 11, 1980|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808014900/http://www.wpanj.org/history-of-washington-park.html |access-date=28 October 2023}}</ref> Among its features is ''Wave'', a {{convert|14|ft|m|}} high, {{convert|35|ft|m|}} wide brushed [[stainless steel]] sculpture by [[Chakaia Booker]] that was installed in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://jcheights.com/public-art-sculptures-in-the-jc-heights/|title=Public Art Scupltures in JC Heights |publisher =Central Avenue BID|access-date= 30 October 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2008/10/art_unveiled_at_washington_par.html | title=Art unveiled at Washington Park |last=Fink| first=Jason| newspaper = The Jersey Journal | date=October 15, 2008 |access-date =29 October 2023}}</ref>

Reservoir Park, located around [[Hackensack Reservoir]] on Palisade Avenue between 20th and 22nd Streets, opened on September 25, 2015. The passive park, at the city border in [[Weehawken, New Jersey|Weehawken]], was created on the {{convert|14.4|acres|adj=on}} site of a reservoir that had been owned by [[United Water]] but had not been used since 1996.<ref>Fedschun, Travis. [http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2011/12/weehawken_and_union_city_will.html "Weehawken and Union City will have new park where defunct reservoir, purchased for $11 million, has been idle for 15 years"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', December 29, 2011. Accessed August 14, 2016. "Weehawken and Union City have purchased the dormant Hackensack Reservoir No. 2 from United Water, the state Department of Environmental Protection announced. The 14.4-acre reservoir property, which hasn't been in operation since 1996, will be transformed into a passive park with a trail around it, officials said."</ref><ref>[http://www.ucnj.com/Articles/Read.aspx?id=73 Grand Opening of Union City / Weehawken Reservoir Park], City of Union City. Accessed August 14, 2016. "Please join us on Friday, September 25, 2015 for a Block Party from 6 to 9 p.m. to celebrate the grand opening of the Union City / Weehawken Reservoir Park with rides, hot dogs and music. The park is located at 20th to 22nd Palisade Avenue."</ref>

==Park Ordinance==



Union City, NJ local government has famously banned the consumption of food and beverages except water in all of it's parks.

See Ch 290 Park and Recreation Areas <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ecode360.com/15745751?highlight=picnic&searchId=27975269187690004|title=Union City, NJ Parks and Recreation Areas}}</ref>

N. 

Consumption of food and/or beverages (other than water) is prohibited in public parks and recreation areas within the City of Union City. No person shall picnic or lunch in any location within any public park or recreation area. Park attendants shall have the authority to enforce these restrictions to ensure the comfort and convenience of all. This provision shall not be applicable to infants/small children, persons with diabetes, and/or any other medical necessity.
[Amended 11-21-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-78]

Additional references include the banning of a fictious item labeled "Tongas".

E. 

Appear at any public park or recreation area in anything other than proper and appropriate clothing. Visitors must wear clothing and swimwear considered appropriate for a family-friendly atmosphere. "Tongas" and any other clothing/swimwear that reveals a person's nudity are prohibited.
[Amended 11-21-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-78]

==Commerce and economy==
[[File:BergenlineThen&NowByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|400px|left|[[Bergenline Avenue]] then and now: Facing south toward [[Hackensack Plank Road|32nd Street]], {{circa|1900}} (left), and in 2010 (right)]]
Originally, [[Bergenline Avenue]] was the width of a cowpath, and was not regarded as a business center. [[streetcar|Street car]] tracks were expected to be laid on Palisade Avenue where the Town Hall was located. However, an influential citizen named Henry Kohlmeier, who had just built his residence on Palisade Avenue, did not wish to be disturbed by the noise of the passing cars, and proposed that the tracks be laid on Bergenline Avenue, two blocks to the west, and before those who would have objected to this became aware of this change, the motion was approved.<ref>''Twentieth Anniversary: 1919–1939'' West Hoboken Post No. 14 Union City, New Jersey. The American Legion. Department of New Jersey. p. 31</ref>

The continuous line of retail stores that appeared on Bergenline Avenue by the time the town of Union Hill was incorporated<ref name=Kiwanis>{{cite book|title=North Hudson Kiwanis Club: History and Directory: Silver Anniversary: 1922 — 1947|author=Galland, Frank|publisher=North Hudson [[Kiwanis]] Club|date=1947|location=[[Hudson County, New Jersey]]|page=67}}</ref> made it not only the city's main commercial thoroughfare,<ref name=Calendar/><ref name=OtherCuban/> but a major shopping thoroughfare for [[North Hudson, New Jersey|North Hudson]] County, one of the leading shopping centers and commercial strips in Northern New Jersey,<ref name=Kiwanis/> and the longest commercial avenue in the state.<ref name="EndForUEZ?">{{cite web|url=https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2011/03/06/is-end-near-for-biz-districts-and-3-5-sales-tax/|author=Cullen, Deanna|title=Is end near for biz districts (and 3.5 % sales tax)?|language=en-US|url-status=live|newspaper=[[The Hudson Reporter]]|date=March 6, 2011|accessdate=March 21, 2022|archive-date=March 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321172557/https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2011/03/06/is-end-near-for-biz-districts-and-3-5-sales-tax/}}</ref> Among the Cuban Americans in the area, it has earned the nickname La Avenida.<ref name=NewYorkTimes2.5.06/>

Bergenline runs through not only the entire length of Union City from north to south, but also through West New York, [[Guttenberg, New Jersey|Guttenberg]] and North Bergen. Also known as the "Miracle Mile", Bergenline's largest concentration of retail and chain stores begins at the intersection of [[Hackensack Plank Road|32nd Street]] and continues north until 92nd Street in North Bergen, and while it is a narrow one-way, southbound street throughout most of Union City, it becomes a four lane, two-way street at 48th Street, one block south of the town's northern boundary. Bergenline Avenue is also used as the route for local parades, such as the annual [[Memorial Day]] Parade.<ref name=Kiwanis/><ref name=HudReporter5.10.09>{{cite web|author=Staab, Amanda|url=https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2009/05/10/attracting-shoppers-to-summit-ave/|title=Attracting shoppers to Summit Ave.: UC talks street improvements, suspends liquor license|newspaper=[[The Hudson Reporter]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=May 10, 2009|access-date=November 14, 2019|archive-date=May 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504141215/https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2009/05/10/attracting-shoppers-to-summit-ave/}}</ref>

[[File:10.2.09TransferStationByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|[[Transfer Station (Hudson County)|Transfer Station]] was once an interchange for trolleys and buses. The trapezoidal building at 707 [[Summit Avenue (Hudson Palisades)|Summit Avenue]] was home to a bank, and later the headquarters of [[Teamsters Local 560]] when it was led by mobster [[Anthony "Tony Pro" Provenzano]], before being purchased in by the city in 2023 to convert into affordable housing.<ref name=NJ.com9.8.23/><ref name=USvLoc560/>]]
At Union City's southern end, Bergenline is primarily a residential street, with the shopping district concentrated at [[Summit Avenue (Hudson County)|Summit Avenue]] and [[Transfer Station (Hudson County)|Transfer Station]],<ref name=Kiwanis/><ref name=HudReporter5.10.09/> so called because it was a transfer point for buses<ref name=HudReporter3.15.14>Schwartz, Art. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2014/03/16/jersey-diner-served-gis-when-things-were-wild/ "Jersey diner served GIs when things were 'wild'"], ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', March 6, 2014. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> and three trolley lines.<ref name="Gabriele, Michael C. 43"/> A prominent landmark of Transfer Station is its five-corner intersection of Summit Avenue, Paterson Plank Road, and 7th Street, on which sits a five-story, trapezoid-shaped brick building at 707 Summit Avenue, originated in 1910 as the National Bank of North Hudson. It later became the First National Bank of Union City. By the 1960s, it had become the headquarters of [[Teamsters Local 560]], which was controlled by mobster [[Anthony "Tony Pro" Provenzano]],<ref name=NJ.com9.8.23>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2023/09/union-city-teamsters-building-associated-with-infamous-mobsters-to-be-converted-into-affordable-housing.html|publisher=[[NJ.com]]|author=Koosau, Mark|title=Union City Teamsters building associated with infamous mobsters to be converted into affordable housing|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=September 8, 2023|access-date=September 13, 2023|archive-date=September 10, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230910160957/https://www.nj.com/hudson/2023/09/union-city-teamsters-building-associated-with-infamous-mobsters-to-be-converted-into-affordable-housing.html?outputType=amp}}</ref><ref name=USvLoc560>{{Cite web|url=https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-loc-560-intern-bro-of-teamsters|title=United States v. Loc. 560, Intern. Bro. of Teamsters|publisher=[[United States District Court for the District of New Jersey]]|via=Casetext|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=March 8, 1984|access-date=September 13, 2023|archive-date=September 13, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230913213931/https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-loc-560-intern-bro-of-teamsters}}</ref> a reported [[caporegime]] in the [[Genovese crime family]], and a top associate of [[Jimmy Hoffa]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/13/obituaries/anthony-provanzano-71-ex-teamster-chief-dies.html|url-status=live|archive-date=January 4, 2019|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|author=McFadden, Robert D.|title=Anthony Provanzano, 71, Ex-Teamster Chief, Dies|date=December 13, 1988|access-date=September 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104073016/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/13/obituaries/anthony-provanzano-71-ex-teamster-chief-dies.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm}}</ref> On July 30, 1975, Hoffa intended to meet Provenzano in [[Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan|Bloomfield Township]], a suburb of Detroit, but Hoffa [[Jimmy Hoffa#Disappearance|famously disappeared]] that afternoon. According to ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', Provenzano was seen fraternizing with local union members in Hoboken,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,917718-3,00.html|title=Investigations: Hoffa Search: 'Looks Bad Right Now'|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|page=3|url-status=live|date=August 18, 1975|access-date=September 13, 2023|archive-date=September 13, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230913224102/https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,917718-3,00.html}}</ref> although Provenzano, according to the [[Associated Press]], told investigators that "he was playing cards with Stephen Andretta in Union City, New Jersey the day Hoffa disappeared",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/11/anthony-tony-pro-provenzano-real-story-true/|title=Anthony Provenzano Real Story: Who Was 'Tony Pro'?|author=McBride, Jessica|publisher=[[Heavy.com]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=November 27, 2019|access-date=September 13, 2023|archive-date=September 13, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230913224912/https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/11/anthony-tony-pro-provenzano-real-story-true/}}</ref> and denied having arranged any meeting with Hoffa.<ref name=CNN>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/05/17/hoffa.search/index.html|title=FBI: Tip on Jimmy Hoffa prompts search|publisher=[[CNN]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|location=Atlanta, Georgia|date=May 18, 2006|access-date=September 13, 2023|archive-date=February 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212145653/http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/05/17/hoffa.search/index.html}}</ref> In 2023, when the building went on sale, the city planned to purchase it for $3.1 million, and convert it into 24 affordable housing units.<ref name=NJ.com9.8.23/>

Transfer Station was also the site, in 1912, of the first [[lunch wagon]] built by Jerry and Daniel O'Mahoney and John Hanf, which was bought for $800 and operated by restaurant entrepreneur Michael Griffin, who chose the location for its copious foot traffic. The wagon helped spark New Jersey's so-called "golden age of diner manufacturing", which in turn made the state the informal "diner capital of the world". In the decades that followed, nearly all major U.S. diner manufacturers, including Jerry O'Mahoney Inc., started in New Jersey.<ref name="Gabriele, Michael C. 43"/> During World War II, the area was a 24-hour hotspot for U.S. servicemen, who patronized the dozens of nightclubs located there.<ref name=HudReporter3.15.14/> In later decades, Summit Avenue was not as busy a shopping area as upper Bergenline, so the city implemented a series of improvements in 2009 to improve business there, such as improved sidewalks, landscaping and street lights from Seventh Street to 13th Street.<ref name=HudReporter5.10.09/>

In terms of business, Union City is notable for being the location where [[Mallomars]] were first sold. [[Nabisco]] sold them to a grocer in the southern half of the town, when it was West Hoboken.<ref>[[James Barron (journalist)|Barron, James]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/08/nyregion/the-cookie-that-comes-out-in-the-cold.html "The Cookie That Comes Out in the Cold"]. ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 8, 2005. Accessed July 6, 2017. "Mallomars' origins are in New Jersey. Kraft, whose Nabisco division markets Mallomars, says the first buyer was a grocer in West Hoboken, which was consolidated to form Union City in 1925."</ref>

Union City is one of several cities in Hudson County that contains a state-established [[Urban Enterprise Zone]] (UEZ), under a program that was implemented in 1983 by the New Jersey Department of Commerce and Economic Development assist businesses and revitalize economically distressed communities in New Jersey.<ref>Sanabria, Santo. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2011/07/03/keeping-bergenline-and-tonnelle-pumping-2/ "Keeping Bergenline and Tonnelle pumping; Shopkeepers look at future of urban business program"], ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', July 3, 2011. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> One of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide, Union City was selected in 1994 as one of a group of 10 zones added to participate in the program and one of four of those chosen based on a competition.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/dca/affiliates/uez/publications/pdf/tax_q&a_052709.pdf ''Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and Answers''], [[New Jersey Department of Community Affairs]], May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "In 1994 the legislation was amended and ten more zones were added to this successful economic development program. Of the ten new zones, six were predetermined: Paterson, Passaic, Perth Amboy, Phillipsburg, Lakewood, Asbury Park/Long Branch (joint zone). The four remaining zones were selected on a competitive basis. They are Carteret, Pleasantville, Union City and Mount Holly."</ref> In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the UEZ, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% [[sales tax]] rate (half of the {{frac|6|5|8}}% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/dca/affiliates/uez/about/ Urban Enterprise Zone Program], [[New Jersey Department of Community Affairs]]. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Businesses participating in the UEZ Program can charge half the standard sales tax rate on certain purchases, currently 3.3125% effective 1/1/2018"</ref> Established in April 1995, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in April 2026.<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/dca/affiliates/uez/publications/pdf/ZONE%20EXPIRATION%20DATES%20-%202018.pdf Urban Enterprise Zones Effective and Expiration Dates], [[New Jersey Department of Community Affairs]]. Accessed January 8, 2018.</ref>  There are approximately 180 UEZ-certified businesses in the city, which includes Bergenline Avenue from 49th to 15th Streets, 32nd Street from Bergenline Avenue to [[County Route 501 (New Jersey)|Kennedy Boulevard]], Summit Avenue from 18th to Fifth Street, and [[Paterson Plank Road]] from Fifth to Seventh Streets. In addition to providing an incentive for shoppers and for business owners to invest in the area without raising taxes, up to $30,000 in annual UEZ revenue is also used for area upkeep and safety projects, marketing campaigns, and holiday decorations.<ref name="EndForUEZ?"/>

According to the [[U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]], Union City's unemployment rate as of September 2009 was 15%, the highest in the state, compared with the lowest, [[Hoboken, New Jersey|Hoboken]], at 6.3%, and a statewide rate of 9.8%.<ref>Tirella, Tricia. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2009/12/27/the-business-of-business-2/ "The business of business; Hudson stores, companies cope with economy"], ''The Hudson Reporter Year in Review'', December 27, 2009. Accessed November 14, 2019. "Hudson County’s average unemployment rate was 11.6 percent for the month of September, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s unemployment rate in September was 9.8 percent. Union City had the highest unemployment rate at 15 percent, and Hoboken had the lowest rate at 6.3 percent."</ref> By 2018, the city's unemployment rate was 4.5%, compared to a rate of 3.9% in Hudson County.<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/education/finance/fp/audit/1819/AnnualAverageLaborForceEstimatesbyMunicipality2018.pdf 2018 NJ Annual Average Labor Force Estimates by Municipality (2018 Benchmark)], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]], April 12, 2019. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref>

==Government==
===Local government===
[[File:11.22.10UnionCityCityHallByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|City Hall]]
Union City's City Hall is located at 3715 Palisade Avenue. The oldest municipal building in North Hudson, it was built in the 1890s as the town hall for Union Hill. Prior to the 1914 opening of Union Hill High School, classes were also held in the building. After the 1925 consolidation of West Hoboken and Union Hill into Union City, the town hall for the former was converted into the new fire headquarters for the city. It also served as the second police precinct for many years.<ref>Anlian, Haig (February 28, 1984). "Union City boasts oldest municipal site", ''The Jersey Journal''.</ref>

The governing body is comprised of a five-member Board of Commissioners, as per the city's [[Walsh Act (New Jersey)|Walsh Act]] form of government, which has been in place since 1930. The members of the commission are elected [[at-large]] on a non-partisan basis in the May municipal election. At a reorganization meeting held after the election, each commissioner is assigned a department to oversee. The mayor of Union City also serves as a commissioner.<ref name=DataBook>''2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], p. 144.</ref><ref>[http://www.njstatelib.org/slic_files/imported/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/MFMG/MFMGCH4.PDF "The Commission Form of Municipal Government"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605155532/http://www.njstatelib.org/slic_files/imported/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/MFMG/MFMGCH4.PDF |date=2015-06-05 }}, p. 53. Accessed June 3, 2015.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=8 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604040836/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=8 |date=June 4, 2023 }}, p. 8. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The city is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601184216/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf |date=June 1, 2023 }}, [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

[[File:9.11.07BrianPStackByLuigiNovi23.2.jpg|upright|left|thumb|Mayor [[Brian P. Stack]] also serves as state senator.]]
{{As of|2024}}, the [[mayor]] of Union City is [[Brian P. Stack]],<ref name=Mayor>[http://www.ucnj.com/Officials/Bio/mayor-brian-p-stack Mayor Brian P. Stack], Union City, New Jersey. Accessed November 28, 2022.</ref> who became mayor in 2000 after a [[recall election]] forced the resignation of then-mayor [[Rudy Garcia (New Jersey politician)|Raúl "Rudy" Garcia]].<ref>Strunsky, Steve. [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/29/nyregion/politics-and-government-for-two-young-mayors-it-was-a-difficult-week.html "Politics And Government; For Two Young Mayors, It Was A Difficult Week"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 29, 2000. Accessed July 7, 2016. "In Union City, a political minefield in the heart of Hudson County, Mayor Rudy Garcia handed in his resignation on Tuesday afternoon, and was replaced the same evening by three of his former allies on the city Board of Commissioners.... Mr. Garcia's antagonist was a savvy grass-roots politician named Brian Stack, who saw in the city's budget deficit the chance to unseat Mr. Garcia and install himself -- with help from Representative Robert Menendez, whom Mr. Garcia had clashed with in recent years."</ref> The five members of the Union City Board of Commissioners serve in both administrative and legislative capacities, with each commissioner acting as the director of one of the five major departments of the city, administering the daily operations of a designated department. The five commissioners and their departmental assignments are 
Mayor Brian P. Stack ([[Commissioner of Public Safety]]), 
[[Lucio P. Fernandez]] ([[Commissioner of Public Affairs]]),
Wendy A. Grullon ([[Commissioner of Public Works]]),
Maryury A. Martinetti ([[Commissioner of Revenue and Finance]]) and 
Celin J. Valdivia ([[Commissioner of Parks and Public Property]]), all serving concurrent terms ending on May 15, 2026.<ref>[http://www.ucnj.com/directory Directory], Union City, New Jersey. Accessed May 12, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://www.ucnj.com/_Content/pdf/minutes/2022-05-17-Commissioners-Minutes.pdf#page=17 Reorganization Meeting Transcript May 17, 2022], City of Union City. Accessed November 28, 2022. "The Department of Public Safety, Brian P. Stack; Department of Public Affairs, Commissioner Lucio Fernandez; Department of Public Works, Commissioner Wendy Grullon; Department of Parks and Public Property, Commissioner Celin Valdivia; Department of Revenue and Finance, Commissioner Maryury Martinetti."</ref><ref>[https://www.ucnj.com/_Content/pdf/budgets/2023-UC-adopted-Budget.pdf#page=17 2023 Municipal Data Sheet], Union City, New Jersey. Accessed May 4, 2022.</ref><ref name=HudsonDirectory>[https://www.hudsoncountyclerk.org/elected-officials/ Elected Officials], [[Hudson County, New Jersey]] Clerk. Accessed May 12, 2024.</ref><ref name=Hudson2022Municipal>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Hudson/112983/web.285569/#/summary 2022 Municipal Election May 10, 2022 Official Results], [[Hudson County, New Jersey]], updated June 1, 2022. Accessed November 28, 2022.</ref>

The budget adopted by the city in 2021 was $151 million, which remained balanced during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name=2021YearReview>{{cite web|title=2021: The year in review |newspaper=[[The Hudson Reporter]]|date=January 7, 2022 |url=https://hudsonreporter.com/2022/01/07/2021-the-year-in-review/|accessdate=January 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107154658/https://hudsonreporter.com/2022/01/07/2021-the-year-in-review/|archive-date=January 7, 2022}}</ref>

===Federal, state, and county representation===
Union City is located in the 8th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 33rd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>[https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf ''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''], New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#33 Districts by Number for 2011–2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 08}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 33}}

{{NJ Hudson County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 28,503 registered voters in Union City, of which 18,589 (65.2%) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 1,839 (6.5%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 8,062 (28.3%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 13 voters registered to other parties.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-hudson-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Hudson], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 82.1% of the vote (14,569 cast), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 17.2% (3,050 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (134 votes), among the 17,893 ballots cast by the city's 30,841 registered voters (140 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 58.0%.<ref name=2012Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-hudson.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Hudson County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-hudson.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Hudson County|date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Democrat Barack Obama received 74.6% of the vote (13,657 cast), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 23.9% (4,366 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (150 votes), among the 18,305 ballots cast by the city's 32,030 registered voters, for a turnout of 57.1%.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-hudson.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Hudson County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Democrat [[John Kerry]] received 64.8% of the vote here (10,894 ballots cast), outpolling Republican [[George W. Bush]] with 32.0% (5,375 votes) and other candidates with 0.3% (90 votes), among the 16,811 ballots cast by the city's 27,727 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 60.6.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_hudson_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Hudson County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential Elections Results
!Year
![[Republican Party (New Jersey)|Republican]]
![[Democratic Party (New Jersey)|Democratic]]
![[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2024 United States presidential election in New Jersey|2024]]<ref name="2024Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-hudson.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 5, 2024 - Hudson County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.3% ''7,881''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.3%'''  ''11,202''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.7% ''417''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2020|2020]]<ref name="2020Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-hudson.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 3, 2020 - Hudson County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2020}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|26.9% ''5,556''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''70.2%'''  ''14,474''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.9% ''172''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016|2016]]<ref name="2016Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-hudson.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 8, 2016 - Hudson County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|18.5% ''3,322''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''78.5%''' ''14,127''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.6% ''463''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012]]<ref name=2012Election>{{Cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-hudson.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Hudson County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|17.2% ''3,050''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''82.1%''' ''14,569''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |0.8% ''134''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008]]'''<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-hudson.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Hudson County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 24, 2024.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|23.9%  ''4,366''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''74.6%''' ''13,657'' 
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |0.8% ''150''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004]]'''<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_hudson_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Hudson County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520184200/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_hudson_co_2004.pdf |date=May 20, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.0% ''5,375''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''64.8%'''   ''10,894''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |0.3% ''90''
|-
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 58.1% of the vote (6,653 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 40.6% (4,651 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (148 votes), among the 12,583 ballots cast by the city's 31,515 registered voters (1,131 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 39.9%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-hudson.pdf |title=Governor - Hudson County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-hudson.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Hudson County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] received 76.8% of the vote here (8,611 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 20.2% (2,265 votes), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 1.4% (152 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (89 votes), among the 11,218 ballots cast by the city's 27,373 registered voters, yielding a 41.0% turnout.<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-hudson.pdf 2009 Governor: Hudson County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822214207/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-hudson.pdf |date=August 22, 2012}}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref>

===Public safety===
The Union City Police Department consists of over 200 officers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unioncitypd.org/|publisher=Union City Police Department|author=Luster, Nichelle|title=Welcome to the Union City Police Department!|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115224700/https://unioncitypd.org/}}</ref> Union City's Chief of Police is Nichelle Luster, the city's first female Police Chief, who replaced former Chief Richard Molinari. Luster had been a captain since 2013, when she became the first female to attain that position.<ref>Conte, Michaelangelo. [https://www.nj.com/hudson/2018/11/union_city_may_see_hudson_countys_first_female_pol.html "Female captain named acting chief of police in Union City"], ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', November 21, 2018, updated January 21, 2019. Accessed November 14, 2019. "Hudson County is one step closer to having its first female police chief. Union City police Capt. Nichelle Luster has been named acting chief of the department following the retirement of Chief Richard Molinari, who held the post since 2013 and named Luster as his temporary replacement."</ref>

Until 1999, the Union City Fire Department consisted of 100 firefighters, and four fire stations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nj1015.com/union-city-fire-department-remembered-with-t-shirts/|title=UNION CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT REMEMBERED WITH T-SHIRTS|publisher=[[New Jersey 101.5]]|author=Trevelise, Steve|date=January 19, 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120031903/https://nj1015.com/union-city-fire-department-remembered-with-t-shirts/}}</ref> In January 1999<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/cresskill/police-fire/north-hudson-regional-fire-and-rescue-has-first-chief-from-north-bergen/628736/|publisher=[[The Daily Voice (American hyperlocal news)|The Daily Voice]]|title=North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue has first chief from North Bergen|author=DeMarco, Jerry|date=March 28, 2012|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 16, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211116171741/https://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/cresskill/police-fire/north-hudson-regional-fire-and-rescue-has-first-chief-from-north-bergen/628736/}}</ref> Union City and four other cities in [[North Hudson, New Jersey|North Hudson]] merged their fire departments into [[North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue]]. The other municipalities include [[Guttenberg, New Jersey|Guttenberg]], [[North Bergen, New Jersey|North Bergen]], [[Weehawken, New Jersey|Weehawken]] and [[West New York, New Jersey|West New York]].<ref>[http://northhudsonfire.com/about-north-hudson-regional-fire-rescue/ About], [[North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue]]. Accessed August 28, 2017. "In 1999, North Bergen, Union City, West New York, Weehawken and Guttenberg combined their fire departments into an award-winning and nationally recognized fire-protection unit called North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue."</ref> Three of the NHRFR's fire stations are located in Union City:<ref name=NHRFRLocations>{{cite web|url=https://www.northhudsonfire.org/locations/|title=NHRFR Locations|publisher=[[North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue]]|access-date=August 18, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818182315/https://www.northhudsonfire.org/locations/}}</ref>

* Battalion 1 / Squad 2 / Ladder 1 – 1600 New York Avenue
* Deputy 1 / Engine 4 – 541–29th Street
* Battalion 2 / Rescue 1 / Squad 1 – 4300 [[County Route 501 (New Jersey)|Kennedy Boulevard]]<ref name=NHRFRLocations/>


<big>'''Pollution'''</big>

Brian P. Stack leaflets continue to pollute local mailboxes with unsubstantiated claims that more light equals less crime and has brought upon permanent daylight, using city funds that should be going to improving road conditions and instead blinding it's supportive citizens after 6pm with poorly installed layouts featuring lumens over national limits.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ucnj.com/News/View/2064/bright-lights-key-to-reducing-crime|title=Bright Lights = Key to Reducing Crime|website=www.ucnj.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.scenic.org/2024/03/14/new-jersey-and-illinois-propose-outdoor-lighting-regulations-leave-room-for-improvement-with-digital-billboards/#:~:text=The%20New%20Jersey%20bill%20in,that%20are%20considered%20environmentally%20sensitive | title=New Jersey and Illinois Propose Outdoor Lighting Regulations, Leave Out Digital Billboards | date=March 14, 2024 }}</ref>

==Transportation==
{{Hudson County Transportation Network}}

===Roads and highways===
[[File:2021-06-06 11 27 03 View east along New Jersey State Route 495 (Lincoln Tunnel Approach) from the overpass for Palisade Avenue in Union City, Hudson County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|View east along [[New Jersey Route 495|Route 495]] in Union City]]
{{As of|2010}}, the city had a total of {{convert|41.67|mi}} of roadways, of which {{convert|37.46|mi}} were maintained by the municipality, {{convert|3.42|mi}} by Hudson County and {{convert|0.64|mi}} by the [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] and {{convert|0.15|mi}} by the [[New Jersey Turnpike Authority]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_Hudson.pdf Hudson County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

Several major roadways traverse Union City.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/gis/maps/Hudson.pdf Hudson County Highway Map], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> [[New Jersey Route 495]] is the most significant highway passing through, connecting directly to the [[Lincoln Tunnel]] into [[New York City]].<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000495__-.pdf Route 495 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated June 2014. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> To the west, it connects with, [[Interstate 95 in New Jersey|Interstate 95]] (the [[New Jersey Turnpike]]),<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000095__-.pdf#page=34 Interstate 95 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated August 2014. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> [[U.S. Route 1/9]]<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000001__-.pdf#page=21 U.S. Route 1 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated May 2018. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> and [[New Jersey Route 3]].<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000003__-.pdf#page=5 Route 3 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated March 2017. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/enlarged_view_47.pdf Enlarged View 47 (Secaucus Town, North Bergen Township and Union City, Hudson County)], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], March 2019. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> [[County Route 505 (New Jersey)|County Route 505]] also passes through the city.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000505__-.pdf County Route 505 Straight Line Diagram], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], updated December 2012. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> Within the city, [[Bergenline Avenue]] and the marginal highway of Route 495 are major public transportation corridors.<ref name="Hagstrom Map Company, Inc"/>

===Public transportation===
[[File:8.7.09BerglineAve48STHBLRByLuigiNovi1.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Hudson-Bergen Light Rail]] station on [[Bergenline Avenue (HBLR station)|Bergenline Avenue at 48th Street]]]]
The [[Bergenline Avenue (HBLR station)|Bergenline Avenue station]] of the [[Hudson-Bergen Light Rail]] is located at 49th Street near the city line with West New York and North Bergen.<ref name="Hagstrom Map Company, Inc"/><ref>[http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=LightRailStationLookupFrom&selLineCode=HBLR&selStation=38578&x=42&y=14 Bergenline Avenue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915073636/http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=LightRailStationLookupFrom&selLineCode=HBLR&selStation=38578&x=42&y=14 |date=September 15, 2014 }}, [[NJ Transit]]. Accessed September 14, 2014.</ref>

[[NJ Transit Bus Operations|New Jersey Transit bus service]] transportation is available to points in [[Hudson County|Hudson]], [[Bergen County|Bergen]], and [[Passaic County|Passaic]] counties and to the [[Port Authority Bus Terminal]] in [[Midtown Manhattan]]. Routes which stop in the city are the [[111 (New Jersey bus)|111]], [[121 (New Jersey bus)|121]], [[123 (New Jersey bus)|123]], [[124 (New Jersey bus)|124]], [[125 (New Jersey bus)|125]], [[127 (New Jersey bus)|127]], [[129 (New Jersey bus)|129]], [[154 (New Jersey bus)|154]], [[156 (New Jersey bus)|156]], [[159 (New Jersey bus)|159]], [[144 (New Jersey bus)|144]], [[190 (New Jersey bus)|190]] (and the [[107 (New Jersey bus)|107]], [[108 (New Jersey bus)|108]], [[160 (New Jersey bus)|160]], [[161 (New Jersey bus)|161]], [[163 (New Jersey bus)|163]], [[167 (New Jersey bus)|167]], [[191 (New Jersey bus)|191]], [[192 (New Jersey bus)|192]] by passenger request for travel to the Port Authority Bus Terminal only), and the [[195 (New Jersey bus)|195]] (Saturdays only). The [[George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal]] is served by the [[181 (New Jersey bus)|181]]. [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]] can be reached on the [[22 (New Jersey bus)|22]], [[82 (New Jersey bus)|82]], [[83 (New Jersey bus)|83]], [[84 (New Jersey bus)|84]], [[85 (New Jersey bus)|85]], [[86 (New Jersey bus)|86]], [[88 (New Jersey bus)|88]] and [[89 (New Jersey bus)|89]] routes.<ref>[http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/Hudson_County_Map.pdf Hudson County System Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416093859/http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/Hudson_County_Map.pdf |date=April 16, 2017 }}, [[New Jersey Transit]]. Accessed August 28, 2017.</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090522212337/http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=BusRoutesHudsonCountyTo Hudson County Bus/Rail Connections]}}, [[NJ Transit]], backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of May 22, 2009. Accessed August 28, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/Hudson_County_Map.pdf Hudson County System Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112221513/https://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/Hudson_County_Map.pdf |date=November 12, 2019 }}, [[NJ Transit]]. Accessed November 12, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://hudsontma.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/HTMA_Map2018_R2_Revised.pdf 2018 Hudson County Transit Map], Hudson Transportation Management Association. Accessed November 12, 2019.</ref>

[[OurBus]] routes link Union City to [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>[https://www.ourbus.com/routes Routes Guide], [[OurBus]]. Accessed February 25, 2022.</ref>

Additional public transportation service is augmented by privately operated [[dollar van]]s that link Union City to various points throughout the [[New York metropolitan area]],<ref name=TheNewYorker>Reiss, Aaron. [http://projects.newyorker.com/story/nyc-dollar-vans "New York's Shadow Transit"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924174759/http://projects.newyorker.com/story/nyc-dollar-vans/ |date=September 24, 2015 }}, ''[[The New Yorker]]''. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref> such as the [[Hudson County Courthouse]], [[Newport Mall]], [[42nd Street (Manhattan)|42nd Street in Manhattan]], and [[Paterson, New Jersey]].<ref>[http://www.hudsontma.org/pdfs/2%20Bus%20Circulation%20Study%20Final%20Report%202007.pdf ''Hudson County Bus Circulation and Infrastructure Study'' (PDF file)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212416/http://www.hudsontma.org/pdfs/2%20Bus%20Circulation%20Study%20Final%20Report%202007.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }}, prepared for Hudson County Division of Planning, November 2007. Hudson Transportation Management Association. Accessed May 6, 2016.</ref> The [[minibus]]es, locally known by their [[Spanish language]] name ''guagua'',<ref>[http://www.hotelplanner.com/Attractions/4228-Things-to-do-in-Secaucus-NJ "Best Things to do in Secaucus NJ New Jersey"]. Hotel Planner. Accessed August 7, 2010</ref> have come subject to greater scrutiny due to alleged safety issues.<ref>Tirella, Tricia. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2010/07/25/fierce-competition-surrounds-jitney-buses-2/ "Fierce competition surrounds jitney buses; Frequent violations may put riders in danger, officials say"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', July 25, 2010. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref>Hague, Jim. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2007/05/22/erratic-driving-lack-of-licensing-prosecutors-office-cracks-down-on-commuter-vans/ "Erratic driving, lack of licensing: Prosecutor's Office cracks down on commuter vans"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', May 22, 2007. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060228085917/http://www.hudsoncountynj.org/downloads/masterplan/chapter4x.pdf "Hudson County Master Plan: Chapter IV: Circulation Plan"]}}, HudsonCountyNJ.org. Accessed August 7, 2010</ref>

In 2021, Union City was among the municipalities in Hudson County that formally codified regulations governing the use of [[electric bicycle]]s and [[motorized scooter|scooters]].<ref name=2021YearReview/>

[[Newark Liberty International Airport]] is located {{convert|12.5|mi|km}} south in [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]]/[[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth]]. [[LaGuardia Airport]] in [[Queens]], [[New York (state)|New York]], is {{convert|12.3|mi|km}} away. [[John F. Kennedy Airport]] is also in Queens. The [[Colombia]]n airline [[Avianca]] operates a private bus service from to Union City and [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth]] for passengers on Avianca flights departing from and arriving to JFK.<ref>[http://www.avianca.com/Inicio/Banners/EN/bannerHome2_US "Board in New Jersey and Get off in Latin America"], [[Avianca]]. Accessed January 27, 2009.</ref>

==Education==
[[File:7.4.22UCNJBoardOfEdByLuigiNovi3.jpg|thumb|The city's Board of Education building]]
The student population was 9,730 as of November 2009.<ref name=UCRSchools>Rappaport, Melissa. ""Small school district, big problem". ''The Union City Reporter''. November 1, 2009. pp. 1 and 15</ref> In 2021, its 14 public schools served 11,893 students.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publicschoolreview.com/new-jersey/union-city-school-district/3416380-school-district|title=Union City School District|publisher=Public School Review|date=2021|access-date=May 29, 2021|archive-date=May 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529042436/https://www.publicschoolreview.com/new-jersey/union-city-school-district/3416380-school-district}}</ref>

Historically, Union City schools have ranked among the highest in Hudson County in reported incidents of violence compared to the size of the student population more than once, most recently in a November 2009 report by the [[New Jersey Department of Education]], which annually records incidents of violence, vandalism, weapons and substance abuse or possession. According to the report, such incidents declined statewide between the 2006–2007 and the 2007–2008 school years, but rose slightly in Hudson County, with Union City schools having the second-highest number of reported incidents behind the [[Jersey City Public Schools]].<ref name=UCRSchools/>

[[University of California, Berkeley]] Professor [[David L. Kirp]], in his 2011 book, ''Kids First'', and his 2013 book, ''Improbable Scholars'', praised Union City's education system for bringing poor, mostly immigrant kids (three quarters of whom live in homes where only Spanish is spoken and a quarter of which are thought to be undocumented and fearful of deportation) into the educational mainstream. Kirp, who spent a year in Union City examining its schools, notes that while in the late 1970s, Union City schools faced the threat of state takeover, they now boast achievement scores that approximate the statewide average. Kirp also observes that in 2011, Union City boasted a high school graduation rate of 89.5 percent—roughly 10 percentage points higher than the national average, and that in 2012, 75 percent of Union City graduates enrolled in college, with top students winning scholarships to the [[Ivy League]]. Kirp singles out the city's practice of enrolling almost every 3- and 4-year-old in kindergarten, and the leadership of [[Union City High School (New Jersey)|Union City High School]] principal John Bennetti for the positive educational atmosphere in that school.<ref>[[Kirp, David L.]] [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/opinion/sunday/the-secret-to-fixing-bad-schools.html "The Secret to Fixing Bad Schools"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 9, 2013. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref><ref>Kirp, David L. (2011). ''Kids First: Five Big Ideas for Transforming Children's Lives'', (1st edition), Public Affairs, pp. 88,90, 92, 111-112, 137, {{ISBN|158648947X}}</ref><ref>DeChiaro, Dean. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2013/03/31/tortoise-beats-hare/ "Tortoise beats hare; Berkeley professor celebrates UC in new book"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', March 31, 2013. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref>[[David L. Kirp|Kirp, David L.]] [http://www.thenation.com/article/how-union-city-shifting-arc-immigrant-kids-lives/ "How Union City Is Shifting the Arc of Immigrant Kids' Lives"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915051648/http://www.thenation.com/article/how-union-city-shifting-arc-immigrant-kids-lives/ |date=September 15, 2015 }}. ''[[The Nation]]'', April 8, 2013. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref>

===Public schools===
[[File:6.20.13UnionCityHighSchoolByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[Union City High School (New Jersey)|Union City High School]]]]
The [[Union City School District (New Jersey)|Union City School District]] operates public schools in Union City, serving students in [[pre-kindergarten]] through [[twelfth grade]]. The district is one of 31 former [[Abbott district]]s statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by the [[New Jersey Supreme Court]] in ''Abbott v. Burke'',<ref>[https://www.njsda.gov/About/WhatWeDo#History What We Do: History], [[New Jersey Schools Development Authority]]. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in the ''Abbott v. Burke'' case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.... Full funding for approved projects was authorized for the 31 special-needs districts, known as 'Abbott Districts'."</ref> which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on the requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the [[New Jersey Schools Development Authority]].<ref>[https://www.njsda.gov/About/WhatWeDo What We Do], [[New Jersey Schools Development Authority]]. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.njsda.gov/Content/FactSheets/31_SDA_Districts.pdf SDA Districts], [[New Jersey Schools Development Authority]]. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref>

As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of 14 schools, had an enrollment of 12,848 students and 858.0 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a [[student–teacher ratio]] of 15.0:1.<ref name=NCES>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&details=1&ID2=3416380&DistrictID=3416380 District information for Union City School District], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the [[National Center for Education Statistics]]<ref>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3416380 School Data for the Union City School District], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>) are 
Eugenio Maria de Hostos Center for Early Childhood Education<ref>[https://ecc.ucboe.us/ Eugenio Maria de Hostos Center for Early Childhood Education], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (279; grades PreK-K), 
Thomas A. Edison Elementary School<ref>[https://edison.ucboe.us/ Thomas A. Edison Elementary School], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (839; PreK–6), 
Sara Gilmore Academy School<ref>[https://gilmore.ucboe.us// Sara Gilmore Academy School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721183053/https://gilmore.ucboe.us/ |date=July 21, 2020 }}, Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (390; 1–8), 
Henry Hudson Elementary School<ref>[https://hudson.ucboe.us/ Henry Hudson Elementary School], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (295; PreK–3), 
Jefferson Elementary School<ref>[https://jefferson.ucboe.us/ Jefferson Elementary School], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (302; PreK–4), 
Colin Powell Elementary School<ref>[https://cpowell.ucboe.us/ Colin Powell Elementary School], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (721; K–5),<ref>McDonald, Terrence T. [https://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2013/02/gov_christie_attends_union_cit.html#incart_river "Gov. Christie visits Union City school opening, hears Democratic mayor praise him"]. [[NJ.com]], February 8, 2013. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref>
Theodore Roosevelt School<ref>[https://roosevelt.ucboe.us/ Theodore Roosevelt School], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (919; K–6), 
Veteran's Memorial Elementary School<ref>[https://veterans.ucboe.us/ Veteran's Memorial Elementary School], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (551; PreK–5), 
George Washington Elementary School<ref>[https://washington.ucboe.us/ George Washington Elementary School], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (779; PreK–6), 
Robert Waters Elementary School<ref>[https://rws.ucboe.us/ Robert Waters Elementary School], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (976; PreK–6), 
[[Emerson Middle School (New Jersey)|Emerson Middle School]]<ref>[https://ems.ucboe.us/ Emerson Middle School], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (1,001; 6–8), 
[[Union Hill Middle School]]<ref>[https://uhms.ucboe.us/ Union Hill Middle School], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (849; 7–8), 
José Martí STEM Academy<ref>[https://jmsa.ucboe.us/ José Martí STEM Academy], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (664; 9–12) and  
[[Union City High School (New Jersey)|Union City High School]]<ref>[https://uchs.ucboe.us/ Union City High School], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref> (3,025; 9–12).<ref>[https://www.ucboe.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=416205&type=d&pREC_ID=909643 Schools], Union City School District. Accessed December 2, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/selectreport/2022-2023/17/5240 School Performance Reports for the Union City School District], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://homeroom6.doe.state.nj.us/directory/school/districtid/5240 New Jersey School Directory for the Union City School District]. [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref><ref>Schwartz, Art. [http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/23485051/article-Back-to-school-in-Union-City--Kids--teachers-gear-up-this-week-- "Back to school in Union City; Kids, teachers gear up this week"], ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', September 1, 2013. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref>

The city's single public high school, Union City High School, opened September 3, 2009,<ref>Rappaport, Melissa. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2009/08/30/back-to-school-9/ "Back to school; New buildings, new amenities for 2009"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', August 30, 2009. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> and was built on the site of the former [[Roosevelt Stadium (Union City)|Roosevelt Stadium]].<ref>Hu, Winnie. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/22/nyregion/22union.html "After 88 Years of Rivalry, the Last as Us and Them"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 22, 2007. Accessed July 6, 2017. "But today's so-called Turkey Game signals the end of the tradition. Next fall, the two schools will merge in a new $176 million building.... The new Union City High School will take up {{convert|4.5|acre|m2}} in the center of the city, squeezed between row houses and commercial strips. It will have a football field and bleachers built on the roof so that players will no longer have to share the facilities at José Martí Middle School."</ref> The $178 million school, whose signature feature is an athletic field on its second floor roof, replaced the former Emerson High School and Union Hill High School, which converted to middle schools.<ref>Thorbourne, Ken. [http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/08/eagels_ready_to_soar_at_new_un.html "Eagles ready to soar at new Union City High School"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', August 30, 2009. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref>

[[Hudson County Community College]]'s $28.1 million North Hudson Higher Education Center opened in September 2011. The seven-story, {{convert|92250|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Center is located on [[County Route 501 (New Jersey)|Kennedy Boulevard]], adjacent to the [[Bergenline Avenue (HBLR station)|Bergenline Avenue Light Rail station]]. It incorporates [[green technology]], such as [[photovoltaic electrical systems]], [[rainwater harvesting]] tanks, daylight and occupancy sensors, [[low-flow]] fixtures, and high-efficiency mechanical equipment. The NHHEC also houses offices for the Hudson County Career Development Center and the County Clerk.<ref>Diaz, Lana Rose. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2010/09/19/college-for-the-community/ "College for the community; HCCC previews new North Hudson Higher Education Center"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', September 19, 2010. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref>Clark, Amy Sara. [http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/02/hudson_county_community_colleg.html "Hudson County Community College's building spree continues with North Campus in Union City"]. ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', February 18, 2009. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref>
[[File:1.20.10MotherSetonMiftaahulUloomByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|Mother Seton Interparochial School (left) and [[Miftaahul Uloom Academy]], a Pre-K to 12th grade [[Islamic]] school (right), are both located on 15th Street.]]

Colin Powell Elementary School opened in September 2012 and was dedicated on February 7, 2013. It is the seventh educational facility created over the course of a decade, and the 14th school in the city.<ref>McDonald, Terrence T. [http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2013/02/gov_christie_attends_union_cit.html#incart_river "Gov. Christie visits Union City school opening, hears Democratic mayor praise him"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', February 8, 2013. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref> For the 2013–2014 school year students from Gilmore and Hudson Schools were relocated to Colin Powell, so that the former schools, both of which are over 100 years old, could undergo renovations.<ref>Schwartz, Art. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2013/09/01/back-to-school-in-union-city/ "Back to school in Union City; Kids, teachers gear up this week"], ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', September 1, 2013. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> The K-5 school, which is located on New York Avenue and 15th Street, was visited by its namesake, former Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]], in June 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/2013/06/seeing_union_city_school_with.html|title=Seeing Union City school with his name a special thrill for Colin Powell|publisher=[[NJ.com]]|author=Ambrosio, John|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=June 5, 2013|access-date=September 13, 2023|archive-date=September 13, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230913210157/https://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/2013/06/seeing_union_city_school_with.html}}</ref>

Woodrow Wilson School was awarded the [[National Blue Ribbon Schools Program|Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence]] by the [[United States Department of Education]], the highest award an American school can receive, during the 2004–2005 school year.<ref>[http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-2003.pdf U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982 Through 2013 (PDF)], [[United States Department of Education]]. Accessed December 31, 2014.</ref> The Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence was awarded again to Woodrow Wilson for the 2014–2015 school year.<ref>Goldman, Jeff. [http://www.nj.com/education/2014/10/which_nj_schools_were_named_to_national_blue_ribbon_list.html "Which N.J. schools were named to national 'Blue Ribbon' list?"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], October 2, 2014. Accessed December 31, 2014. "Eleven New Jersey schools have been named to the annual National Blue Ribbon list, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday."</ref><ref>[http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2014/national.pdf#page=17 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private], [[United States Department of Education]]. Accessed December 31, 2014.</ref>

The Sarah M. Gilmore Elementary School, which is located on Kerrigan Avenue, between 16th and 17th Streets, opened in September 2017. The school, which cost $29 million, opened with 350 students.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2017/08/union_city_to_open_new_school_in_time_for_start_of.html|publisher=[[NJ.com]]|title=Union City to open new school in time for start of classes|author=Strunsky, Steve|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=August 31, 2017|access-date=September 13, 2023|archive-date=September 13, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230913205720/https://www.nj.com/hudson/2017/08/union_city_to_open_new_school_in_time_for_start_of.html}}</ref>

The city's newest school is Union City Middle School, which began construction in September 2023. The 15th school in the city, the six-story, $93.7 million project, which is located at 518 36th Street between Kennedy Boulevard and Bergenline Avenue, was conceived to ease overcrowding in the city's classrooms. It will house students that otherwise would have attended Emerson and Union Hill Middle Schools, as well as some ninth graders that would have otherwise attended Union City High School, and enable the city to move all sixth graders into its elementary schools. It is expected to open for the 2025 Fall semester. Although it will be able to host 936 students, the city will limit it to 827. Its specialized classrooms will include a [[robotics]] lab, a [[hydroponics lab]], and a [[dance studio]].<ref>[https://www.nj.com/hudson/2023/09/union-city-finds-solution-to-overcrowded-classrooms-new-937-million-middle-school.html "Union City finds solution to overcrowded classrooms: New $93.7 million middle school"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'' / NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], September 12, 2023. Accessed December 2, 2024. "Shovels are in the ground and construction is underway for a new Union City middle school intended to ease overcrowded classrooms in the growing school district. The state-funded school at 518 36th St. — between Kennedy Boulevard and Bergenline Avenue — is expected to open in fall 2025, welcoming students in grades seven through nine. With room for more than 900 students, the new building will both pull in students from other city middle schools and be the new home for some ninth-graders who would otherwise have attended Union City High School, Superintendent Silvia Abbato said.... The estimated $93.7 million school is funded by the state Schools Development Authority (SDA), an agency dedicated to improving school facilities for 31 urban school districts in the state, formerly known as Abbott districts.... The school will stand six stories and be approximately 132,000 square feet, according to the SDA’s project page."</ref>

===Private schools===
St. Francis Academy is a K-8 [[Catholic school]] operated under the auspices of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark]].<ref>[https://catholicschoolsnj.org/hudson-county-1 Hudson County Elementary Schools], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark]]. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> In September 2013, St. Francis Academy was one of 15 schools in New Jersey to be recognized by the [[United States Department of Education]] as part of the [[National Blue Ribbon Schools Program]], an award called the "most prestigious honor in the United States' education system" and which Education Secretary [[Arne Duncan]] described as honoring schools that "represent examples of educational excellence".<ref>Rundquist, Jeanette. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/09/15_nj_schools_named_as_national_blue_ribbon_winners.html "15 N.J. schools named as national 'Blue Ribbon' winners"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', September 24, 2013. Accessed September 25, 2013. "Five Catholic schools, six county vocational-technical schools and a Yeshiva are among the list of honored schools in New Jersey. Also named as 2013 Blue Ribbon Schools were Dover, Harrison and Wildwood high schools."</ref><ref>[http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2013/national.pdf#page=15 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private], pp. 15–17. [[United States Department of Education]], [[National Blue Ribbon Schools Program]]. Accessed September 25, 2013.</ref> In the wake of declining enrollment and lingering financial issues, Mother Seton Interparochial School (which had been formed in 2006 from the merger of St. Michael's and St. Anthony of Padua) and St. Augustine's School were closed by the Newark Archdiocese after the 2019–20, school year and merged into Academy of St. Joseph of the Palisades in [[West New York, New Jersey]].<ref>Zeitlinger, Ron. [https://www.nj.com/hudson/2020/08/three-north-hudson-catholic-schools-to-consolidate-archdiocese-announces.html "Three North Hudson Catholic schools to consolidate, archdiocese announces"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', August 4, 2020. Accessed March 1, 2023. "Two Union City Catholic schools will merge with Academy of St. Joseph of the Palisade in West New York, the Newark Archdiocese announced Tuesday afternoon. Saint Augustine, at 39th Street and New York Avenue, and Mother Seton Interparochial School, at 15th and New York Avenue, will not reopen in September because of dwindling enrollment and financial problems that have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, officials said."</ref>

Other schools in Union City include two Islamic schools, [[Miftaahul Uloom Academy]]<ref>Cullen, Deanna, "Kids in the courtroom", ''The Union City Reporter'', February 20, 2011, pages 1 and 14</ref><ref>[http://www.muanj.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=11&Itemid=8 History], Miftaahul Uloom Academy. Accessed February 18, 2011.</ref> and [[Rising Star Academy]],<ref>[https://www.privateschoolreview.com/rising-star-academy-profile Rising Star Academy], Private School Review. Accessed August 28, 2017.</ref> a Jewish school, Mesivta Sanz,<ref>[https://www.mesivtasanz.com/the-mesivta.html The Mesivta], Mesivta Sanz of Hudson County. Accessed November 14, 2019. "The vibrant institutions of Sanz Zvill, in Union City, New Jersey, stand in an uplifting tribute to the great Sanz Klausenberger Rebbe, Zatzal."</ref><ref>[http://high-schools.com/schools/100896/mesivta-sanz.html "Mesivta Sanz in Union City, NJ"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511124344/http://high-schools.com/schools/100896/mesivta-sanz.html |date=2014-05-11 }}. high-schools.com. Accessed January 21, 2013.</ref> and Union City Daycare Program School.<ref>Reyes, Daniel. [http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2012/07/sen_menendez_visits_union_city.html "Sen. Menendez visits Union City daycare with women officials to underline his commitment to improving women's lives"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', July 17, 2012. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref>

==Notable landmarks==
[[File:8.14.09StMichaelsMonasteryByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|[[Hudson Presbyterian Church]]]]
[[File:1.13.10JoséMartiUCLibraryByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|José Martí STEM Academy and Union City Public Library]]
The former [[Monastery and Church of Saint Michael the Archangel]] on West Street, once the largest [[Roman Catholic]] church in [[Hudson County]], is the one landmark on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Hudson County, New Jersey|National Register of Historic Places]] in Union City,<ref>{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref> and one of several locations which have been designated by [[New Jersey Register of Historic Places]].<ref>[http://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/1identify/nrsr_lists/Hudson.pdf New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places in Hudson County], [[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] Historic Preservation Office, as of August 17, 2017. Accessed August 28 2017.</ref> It is now known as the Hudson Presbyterian Church.<ref>Staab, Amanda. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2009/03/01/a-saint-from-ucformer-resident-may-join-the-holy-ranks/ "A saint from UC; Former resident may join the holy ranks"], ''The Hudson Reporter'' March 1, 2009. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> In 2002 [[José Martí]] Middle School and the southern branch of the Union City Public Library were built on the southern side of the Monastery grounds, on 18th Street. They opened in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.njsda.gov/njsda/schools/descr_det.asp?SchoolID=17-5240-n01&SchoolName=Jose+Marti+M.S.|title=Union City (Hudson Co.): Jose Marti M.S.|publisher=State of New Jersey Schools Development Authority|access-date=January 21, 2016}}{{dead link|date=August 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uclibrary.org/about.html|title=Library Information|publisher=Union City Public Library|access-date=January 21, 2016|archive-date=January 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128070028/http://www.uclibrary.org/about.html}}</ref> When Union City High School opened in September 2009, the middle school converted to José Martí Freshman Academy to house most of town's ninth graders. In 2019 that building was repurposed as José Martí STEM Academy, in order to expand access to instruction in [[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2020/06/union-citys-jose-marti-stem-academy-makes-a-mark-in-its-first-year.html|title=Union City's José Martí STEM Academy makes a mark in its first year|publisher=[[NJ.com]]|author=West, Teri|date=June 3, 2020|access-date=November 9, 2021|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612025900/https://www.nj.com/hudson/2020/06/union-citys-jose-marti-stem-academy-makes-a-mark-in-its-first-year.html}}</ref>

The [[Park Performing Arts Center]] was originally built in 1931 by the German congregation the Catholic parish of Holy Family Church (and still owned by the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark]]) to house their cultural and educational programs Its outstanding feature is the Park Theater which seats 1,400. Incorporated in 1983 the non-profit arts center presents works of local, national, and international artists, as well as permanent and rotating exhibitions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Passion Play at Park Performing Arts Center|url=http://www.parkpac.org/pp_pas.html|url-status=dead |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727164656/http://www.parkpac.org/pp_pas.html}}</ref>

[[Union City High School (New Jersey)|Union City High School and Athletic Complex]] opened in September 2009 on the site of the former [[Roosevelt Stadium (Union City)|Roosevelt Stadium]], demolished in 2005 to make way for it. The sports field is located on the second floor roof of the building, which also houses the Union City Performing Arts Center and a community health center.<ref name=LiftSpirit>Hu, Winnie. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/12/nyregion/12metjournal.html "A Fine New Field Lifts Spirits"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', September 11, 2009. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref>[http://www.preservationnj.org/ten_most/ten_most_property_detail.asp?COUNTY=Hudson%20County&PropID=112 Endangered Historic Site: Hudson County: Roosevelt Stadium – 2004] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050315201935/http://www.preservationnj.org/ten_most/ten_most_property_detail.asp?COUNTY=Hudson%20County&PropID=112 |date=2005-03-15 }}, Preservation New Jersey. Accessed June 8, 2006.</ref>

[[Emerson Middle School (Union City, New Jersey)|Emerson Middle School]], was opened in April 1915 as West Hoboken High School, and was home to the Bulldogs. It was renamed Emerson High School for the writer [[Ralph Waldo Emerson]], when the two towns merged. Located on New York Avenue at 18th Street, the original building is connected with the gym building, built in the 1980s, by a second story enclosed bridge that runs over New York Avenue. The school became the South campus of Union City High School in September 2008, before converting to a middle school in September 2009, with the opening of the new Union City High School proper. The mascot of Union City was also changed to the Soaring Eagles. Alumni of the school include [[DJ]] and music producer [[Erick Morillo]]<ref>''1989 Altruist: A Classic Year'' The Emerson High School yearbook for 1989</ref> and former [[Green Bay Packers]] center [[Frank Winters]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100205191217/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=WinteFra01 "Frank Winters"]}}, DatabaseFootball.com. Accessed December 2, 2012.</ref>

Union City is home to two [[List of Carnegie libraries in New Jersey|Carnegie Libraries]] funded by the donations of steel magnate [[Andrew Carnegie]]. Both are considered historically and architecturally significant by the city.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130208212111/http://www.ucnj.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=9 Recreation]}}, Union City's official site. Accessed January 19, 2010</ref> The first was built in 1903 by the Cranwell family builders, who were active in the construction of many of the city's buildings,<ref name=HudsonIndependent>Abby Levine and Craig Radhuber. [http://www.hudsonindependentnews.com/august2011.html A Visit to the Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330234502/http://www.hudsonindependentnews.com/august2011.html |date=2012-03-30 }}". ''The Hudson Independent News''. August 2011. page 4</ref> with a $25,000 donation by Carnegie in what was once West Hoboken on 15th Street between Bergenline Avenue and New York Avenue. The second was built in 1905 at the corner of 43rd Street and New York Avenue in what was once [[Union Hill, New Jersey|Union Hill]],<ref name=ColaGiant>Archilla, Dylan M. [http://www.hudsonreporter.com/pages/full_story/push?article--Pop-+goes+the+donation+Cola+giant+lends+a+hand+to+UC+literacy%20&id=2387359 "'Pop' goes the donation Cola giant lends a hand to UC literacy"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', January 24, 2003</ref><ref>Nardone, Christine. [http://www.hudsonreporter.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Closing+the+books+Plans+for+a+central+library+may+close+other+two%20&id=2368999 "Closing the books: Plans for a central library may close other two"]. ''The Hudson Reporter''. 2002. Accessed January 19, 2010.</ref>  and is the main branch. The 15th Street library retains its original stained glass, but was closed in 2004 upon the completion of a new library on the corner of Summit Avenue and 18th Street, housed in the same building as José Martí Middle School.<ref>Nardone, Christine. [http://www.hudsonreporter.com/pages/full_story/push?article-All+fired+up+UC+residents+protest+outside+City+Hall%20&id=2382862 "All fired up UC residents protest outside City Hall"]. ''The Hudson Reporter''. July 11, 2002</ref> It was converted into the William V. Musto Cultural Center,<ref name=History/><ref name=Fernandez22>Fernandez; 2010. Page 22.</ref> which opened in June 2011. It houses the Union City Museum of Art, the Union City Police Museum, the Union City Art Gallery & Concert Hall, the Union City Museum of History, and a senior citizen center.<ref name=HudsonIndependent/><ref name=THR2011>Sanabria, Santo. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2011/06/19/new-uc-center-holds-museums-senior-center/ "New UC center holds museums, senior center; But some controversy as it honors convicted former Mayor Musto"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', June 19, 2011. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref>

[[File:9.7.14CeliaCruzParkByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|left|Celia Cruz Park was constructed in tribute to Cuban-American [[salsa music|salsa]] singer [[Celia Cruz]] and other Latin stars.]]
'''Celia Cruz Park''' On June 4, 2004, nearly a year after the death of Cuban-American [[salsa music|salsa]] singer [[Celia Cruz]] (who lived in nearby [[Fort Lee, New Jersey|Fort Lee]]), Union City heralded its annual Cuban Day Parade by dedicating a park to Cruz, which is also known as Celia Cruz Plaza, at 31st Street and Bergenline Avenue, with Cruz's widower, [[Pedro Knight]], present. The park featured a sidewalk star in Cruz's honor, and an 8' × 10' mural by Union City's Edgardo Davila, a collage of Cruz's career throughout the decades. There are four other similar dedications to Cruz around the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2004/06/02/homage-to-celia-cruz-uc-to-pay-tribute-to-queen-of-salsa-with-events-park-dedication/|title=Homage to Celia Cruz UC to pay tribute to Queen of Salsa with events, park dedication|first=Hudson|last=Reporter|date=June 2, 2004}}</ref> The Latin American Kiwanis Club refurbished the park in early June 2006, replacing the mural with a [[backlit]] photograph of Cruz. Cruz's star has expanded into Union City's "Walk of Fame",<ref>Fernandez; 2010; Page 74.</ref> as new marble stars are added each spring to honor Latin entertainment and media personalities. People so honored at the park include [[merengue (music)|merengue]] singer Joseíto Mateo, salsa singer [[La India]], Cuban musician [[Cachao López|Israel "Cachao" Lopez]], Cuban [[tenor]] [[Beny Moré]],<ref>Rosero, Jessica. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2006/06/18/viva-la-comunidad-cubano-north-hudson-celebrates-at-the-annual-cuban-day-parade-2/ "Viva la comunidad Cubano North Hudson celebrates at the annual Cuban Day Parade"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', June 18, 2006. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> [[Tito Puente]], Spanish language [[television news]] anchor [[Rafael Pineda (television journalist)|Rafael Pineda]], salsa pioneer [[Johnny Pacheco]],<ref>Rosero, Jessica. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2005/06/21/la-vida-es-un-carnaval-north-hudson-celebrates-6th-annual-cuban-day-parade-3/ "'La vida es un carnaval' North Hudson celebrates 6th annual Cuban Day Parade"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', May 26, 2006. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> singer/bandleader [[Gilberto Santa Rosa]] and music promoter [[Ralph Mercado]].<ref>Staab, Amanda. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2008/11/06/uc-first-stop-for-latin-grammies-music-icons-join-residents-officials-for-celebration/ "UC first stop for Latin Grammies Music icons join residents, officials for celebration"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', November 6, 2008. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref>
[[File:September11AttacksByLuigiNovi1.jpg|thumb|right|Spectators viewing the aftermath of the [[September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks]] from Doric Park. The park was later turned into Firefighter's Memorial Park.]]

'''9/11 Memorials''' The city's first memorial to honor the five Union City citizens who died in the [[September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks]]<ref>Pope, Gennarose "Unbreakable spirit" ''The Union City Reporter''. September 16, 2012. pp. 1 and 9</ref> was a sculpture placed in Doric Park, in whose courtyard citizens gathered on September 11, 2001 to view the attacks' aftermath.<ref>Rosero, Jessica. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2004/09/21/remembering-9-11-uc-wny-hold-commemoration-ceremonies-for-victims/ "Remembering 9/11 UC, WNY hold commemoration ceremonies for victims"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', September 21, 2004. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> On September 11, 2007, the city dedicated its Liberty Plaza to commemorate the event. The Plaza, which serves as a transit hub through which commuters pass on their way to and from Manhattan, includes two memorial markers.<ref>[http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2007/09/911_commemorations_begin_tomor.html "9/11 commemorations begin tomorrow morning"]. ''[[Jersey Journal]]''/NJ.com. September 8, 2007</ref><ref>Lucio Fernandez and Gerard Karabin. ''Union City in Pictures''. Book Press NY. 2010. Pages 24 and 25.</ref> Doric Park was later rebuilt as Firefighters Memorial Park, which opened in August 2009. The park includes a public swimming pool, and a new memorial to local fallen firefighters that stands at the entrance.<ref>Rappaport, Melissa. "Now open: Firefighters Memorial Park". ''The Union City Reporter''. August 16, 2009. Pages 1 and 8</ref><ref name="Zeitlinger, Ron 2010. Pages 1">Zeitlinger, Ron. "Union City limits use of Firefighters park pool". ''[[Hudson Dispatch]]''. July 15, 2010. Pages 1 and 3</ref> Its popularity has attracted visitors from [[Manhattan]] and [[Staten Island]].<ref name="Zeitlinger, Ron 2010. Pages 1"/>

The '''Monastery of the Perpetual Rosary''', known as [[The Blue Chapel]], was constructed between 1912 and 1914. In 2010, the chapel was included on Preservation New Jersey's annual 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites list, which is intended to draw attention to historical sites in need of preservation. The site's caretakers have previously indicated that it will likely be abandoned or sold,<ref>[https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2010/05/18/uc-site-considered-endangered-by-preservation-nj/ "UC site considered 'endangered' by Preservation NJ"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', May 18, 2010. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> but the city Board of Commissioners passed a November 3, 2010 resolution designating it as a historic site as part of efforts to protect it.<ref>Staff. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2010/11/04/blue-chapel-receives-municipal-designation-as-historic-site/ "Blue Chapel receives municipal designation as historic site"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', November 4, 2010. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref>Mestanza, Jean-Pierre. [http://www.nj.com/secaucusjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1289460384118790.xml&coll=3 "Union City mounts effort to save chapel"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307071657/http://www.nj.com/secaucusjournal/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-2%2F1289460384118790.xml&coll=3 |date=2016-03-07 }}, [[NJ.com]], November 11, 2010. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref>

[[File:7.4.22UCNJCovid19MemorialByLuigiNovi4.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The city's [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey|COVID-19 pandemic]] memorial]]
'''Historical markers''' In 2009, Union City began installing a series of historical markers to commemorate the lives of its noteworthy natives.<ref name=UCReporter4.26.09>''[[The Union City Reporter]]'' April 26, 2009; Page 2</ref><ref name=NJSportsHeroes>{{cite web|url=https://www.njsportsheroes.com/joejeanettebx.html|publisher=NJSports.com|title=Joe Jeanette|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=2021|access-date=March 2, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205234426/https://njsportsheroes.com/joejeanettebx.html}}</ref> The first marker was dedicated to the memory of boxer [[Joe Jeanette]] on April 17, 2009, and placed at the corner of [[Summit Avenue (Hudson Palisades)|Summit Avenue]] and 27th Street on April 17, 2009, where Jeanette's former residence and gym once stood.<ref name=UCReporter4.26.09/><ref name=NJSportsHeroes/><ref name=HudReporter12.16.12>{{cite web|author=DeChiaro, Dean|url=https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2012/12/16/brewers-boxers-and-book-scribes/|title=Brewers, boxers, and book scribes; Historic markers tell of renowned Union City residents|newspaper=[[The Hudson Reporter]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=December 16, 2012|access-date=March 2, 2023|archive-date=March 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302175406/https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2012/12/16/brewers-boxers-and-book-scribes/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.njboxinghof.org/joe-jeanette/|title=Joe Jeanette|publisher=New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame|language=en-US|url-status=live|access-date=March 2, 2023|archive-date=June 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627125740/https://www.njboxinghof.org/joe-jeanette/}}</ref><ref name=HudReporter2.26.06>{{cite web|url=https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2006/02/26/native-sons-and-daughters-north-hudson-native-and-20th-century-boxing-sensation-joe-jeanette-2/|title=Native sons and daughters North Hudson native and 20th century boxing sensation Joe Jeanette|newspaper=[[The Hudson Reporter]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=February 26, 2006|access-date=March 2, 2023|archive-date=March 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302174256/https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2006/02/26/native-sons-and-daughters-north-hudson-native-and-20th-century-boxing-sensation-joe-jeanette-2/|quote='[Jeanette] was one of the four great black boxers of the early 1900s, and he owned a boxing gym on 26th Street and Summit Avenue,' said Kathie Pontus, a private historian. 'Jeanette Street between Summit Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard is named for him.'}}</ref> The marker lies two blocks from a street, located between Summit Avenue and [[County Route 501 (New Jersey)|Kennedy Boulevard]], that was named Jeanette Street in his honor.<ref name=HudReporter2.26.06/> Present at the dedication ceremony was Jeanette's grandniece, Sabrina Jennette.<ref>Fernandez; 2010. Page 82.</ref> Another historical marker was dedicated September 26, 2009 to Peter George Urban, a 10th degree [[karate]] [[Grandmaster (martial arts)|grandmaster]], writer and teacher who founded an American karate system, American Goju Do. Present at the dedication ceremony was Urban's daughter, Julia Urban-Kimmerly.<ref>Fernandez; 2010. Page 83.</ref> On May 22, 2010 the city dedicated a marker to novelist and screenwriter [[Pietro di Donato]], and placed at Bergenline Avenue and 31st Street, where di Donato once lived. That area was named Pietro di Donato Plaza in his honor. Present at the dedication ceremony was di Donato's son, Richard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/7585939/article-BRIEFS|title=UC recognizes history with dedication and marker|language=en-US|url-status=dead|newspaper=[[The Hudson Reporter]]|date=May 23, 2010|access-date=October 14, 2015|archive-date=February 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227101709/http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/7585939/article-BRIEFS}}</ref><ref>Fernandez; 2010. Page 84.</ref> The fourth marker was dedicated to painter [[William Tylee Ranney]] on September 18, 2010.<ref>"Union City marca su historia". ''[[El Especialito]]'', October 1, 2010, p. 16</ref> In addition to those honoring people, subsequent markers were erected to honor particular sites. As of December 2012, the city had eight historic markers.<ref name=HudReporter12.16.12/>

'''COVID-19 Victims Memorial''' On March 25, 2022, the city dedicated a memorial in Ellsworth Park, in tribute to the citizens who died and suffered as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hudsonreporter.com/2022/03/28/union-city-dedicates-covid-19-victims-memorial/|title=Union City dedicates COVID-19 Victims Memorial|newspaper=[[The Hudson Reporter]]|author=Israel, Daniel|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=March 28, 2022|accessdate=April 11, 2022|archive-date=March 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328164023/https://hudsonreporter.com/2022/03/28/union-city-dedicates-covid-19-victims-memorial/}}</ref> A plaque on the forward side of the pedestal reads, "In memory of all those who perished from the COVID-19 Pandemic. You will always be in our hearts."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIqdHtF7soI|author=Antelo, Marcos|title=COVID-19 Memorial Unveiled In Union City|publisher=Hudson TV|via=[[YouTube]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=March 26, 2022|accessdate=April 11, 2022|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/8z1Q0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://hudsontv.com/covid-19-memorial-unveiled-in-union-city/|title=COVID-19 Memorial Unveiled In Union City|publisher=HudsonTV|author=Henig, Jeffrey|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=March 26, 2022|access-date=September 14, 2023|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/8z1Q0}}</ref>{{Clear}}

==Media and culture==
Union City is located within the [[Media in New York City|New York media market]], with most of its daily papers available for sale or delivery. Until its closing in 1991, the ''[[Hudson Dispatch]]'', a morning daily newspaper that once had a circulation of 39,132, was based in Union City for 117 years.<ref>Good, Philip. [https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/27/nyregion/recalling-the-glory-days-of-the-hudson-dispatch.html "Recalling the Glory Days of The Hudson Dispatch"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 27, 1991. Accessed August 11, 2013.</ref> It later relaunched as a free bilingual weekly.<ref>''Hudson Dispatch Weekly'', May 13, 2010</ref> Local, [[Hudson County|county]], and regional news is covered by the daily ''[[Jersey Journal]]''. ''The Union City Reporter'' was part of the ''[[Hudson Reporter]]'' group of local weeklies<ref>{{cite web|author=Riker, Melissa|url=https://thesunpapers.com/2018/06/08/newspaper-media-group-acquires-the-hudson-reporter-newspaper-chain-7/|title=Newspaper Media Group acquires the Hudson Reporter newspaper chain|publisher=The Sun Newspapers|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=June 8, 2018|access-date=February 18, 2023|archive-date=February 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218210040/https://thesunpapers.com/2018/06/08/newspaper-media-group-acquires-the-hudson-reporter-newspaper-chain-7/}}</ref> until that chain closed in January 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Zeitlinger|first=Ron|date=January 20, 2023|title=Hudson Reporter newspaper chain closes down|url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2023/01/hudson-reporter-newspaper-chain-closes-down.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121003543/https://www.nj.com/hudson/2023/01/hudson-reporter-newspaper-chain-closes-down.html|archive-date=January 21, 2023|access-date=January 20, 2023|language=en-US|via=[[NJ.com]]|newspaper=[[The Jersey Journal]]}}</ref> Other publications that cover local news include the ''[[River View Observer]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://riverviewobserver.net|newspaper=[[River View Observer]]|title=River View Observer: A lifestyle and entertainment publication serving A lifestyle and entertainment publication serving the Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, Weehawken, West New York, North Bergen, Cliffside Park, Edgewater, Secaucus and Guttenberg Waterfront Communities|language=en-US|access-date=February 18, 2023}}</ref> and ''[[El Especialito]]'', which is as of 2016, is headquartered in Union City.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lopez, Erica Y.|title=N.J. businessman, publisher of largest Spanish language weekly newspaper, master of reinvention|newspaper=[[New York Daily News|Daily News]]|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/n-publisher-spanish-weekly-paper-master-reinvention-article-1.2850581|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=October 30, 2016|accessdate=February 18, 2023|archive-date=February 18, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230218210922/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/n-publisher-spanish-weekly-paper-master-reinvention-article-1.2850581|quote=Distributed free in four New York boroughs, six New Jersey counties and in Miami, the Union City, N.J.-based paper boasts a circulation of 320,000 and readership of 1.3 million, according to a Certified Audit of Circulations.}}</ref>

[[File:10.28.23-2312SummitAveByLuigiNovi1.jpg|thumb|The building at 2312 Summit Avenue has served as a venue for performers including [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Tito Nieves]], and [[Bacilos]], and was a key filming location for the 1989 film ''[[Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989 film)|Bloodhounds of Broadway]]'', starring [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], who lived in an apartment in the building during filming.<ref name=NJ.com8.31.23/><ref name=JerseyDigs/>]]
Among the films set or shot in the city are ''[[Union City (film)|Union City]]'' (1980) (which was released in conjunction with the [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]] song "[[Union City Blue]]"), ''[[Out of the Darkness (1985 film)|Out of the Darkness]]'' (1985),<ref name=UCFilms>{{cite web|author=Karabin, Gerard|publisher=Union City, NJ History|url=http://unioncitynjhistory.blogspot.com/2012/06/union-city-film-history.html|title=Union City Film History|via=[[Blogger (service)|Blogger]]|language=en-US|url-status=dead|date=June 1, 2012|access-date=February 18, 2023|archive-date=March 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308071503/http://unioncitynjhistory.blogspot.com/2012/06/union-city-film-history.html}}</ref> and ''[[Far from Heaven]]'' (2002).<ref name=UCFilms/> The low-budget film directed by former [[Guttenberg, New Jersey|Guttenberg]] mayor Peter Lavilla, ''Oak Hill'', features local institutions including Union City's Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation homeless shelter and a [[synagogue]] in [[North Bergen, New Jersey|North Bergen]].<ref>Tirella, Tricia. "Movie filmed at U.C. shelter", ''The Union City Reporter'', November 25, 2008. pp. 1 and 6.</ref>

The mixed-use, two-story building at 2312 Summit Avenue, at the corner of 24th street, which features two ballrooms, has hosted performers including [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Tito Nieves]], La Sonora, [[Bacilos]], Guayacan, and Nelson N.<ref name=NJ.com8.31.23>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/realestate-news/2023/08/nj-building-where-madonna-stayed-and-filmed-bloodhounds-of-broadway-is-for-sale.html|publisher=[[NJ.com]]|title=N.J. building where Madonna stayed and filmed 'Bloodhounds of Broadway' is for sale|author=Preis, Allison|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=August 31, 2023|access-date=October 27, 2023|archive-date=October 27, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231027224531/https://www.nj.com/realestate-news/2023/08/nj-building-where-madonna-stayed-and-filmed-bloodhounds-of-broadway-is-for-sale.html}}</ref> The 1989 film ''[[Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989 film)|Bloodhounds of Broadway]]'', which starred [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[Matt Dillon]], and [[Jennifer Grey]],<ref name=APNewsArchive/><ref name=UCFilms/><ref>{{cite web|author=Harmetz, Aljean|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/01/movies/a-director-s-race-with-aids-ends-before-his-movie-opens.html|title=A Director's Race With AIDS Ends Before His Movie Opens|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=November 1, 1989|access-date=October 27, 2023|archive-date=January 30, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130144840/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/01/movies/a-director-s-race-with-aids-ends-before-his-movie-opens.html|quote=But ''The Bloodhounds of Broadway'' is not entirely the movie that Mr. Brookner created on the streets of Union City, Newark and Jersey City beginning in December 1987.}}</ref> was also partially filmed at the building. Specifically, one of the two ballrooms in the building was used as a major setting for much of the film, which is set on New Year's Eve in 1928. During shooting at that location, the property was rented for six months, and Madonna lived in an apartment in the building. It was put up for sale in October 2023 for $2.5 million.<ref name=NJ.com8.31.23/><ref name=JerseyDigs>{{cite web|url=https://jerseydigs.com/madonna-bloodhounds-of-broadway-union-city/|title=Union City Building Where Madonna Filmed 'Bloodhounds of Broadway' Hits the Market|author=Fry, Chris|publisher=Jersey Digs|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=October 24, 2023|access-date=October 27, 2023|archive-date=October 27, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231027223927/https://jerseydigs.com/madonna-bloodhounds-of-broadway-union-city/}}</ref> Not far away, Madonna also recorded her [[Madonna (album)|self-titled debut album]] at the former Quantum Sound Studios near Washington Park at 512 Paterson Plank Road, across the street from the Union City side of that road.<ref name=JerseyDigs/>

In the late 2000s, Union City, [[West New York, New Jersey|West New York]], [[Weehawken, New Jersey|Weehawken]] and [[North Bergen, New Jersey|North Bergen]] came to be dubbed collectively as "NoHu", a North Hudson haven for local performing and fine artists, many of whom are immigrants from [[Latin America]] and other countries, in part due to lower housing costs compared to those in nearby art havens such as [[Hoboken, New Jersey|Hoboken]], [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]] and [[Manhattan]].<ref name=NoHu>Paul, Amry; and Matzner, Caren. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2008/05/06/scores-of-artists-find-a-place-in-n-hudson-wny-union-city-weehawken-and-north-bergen-becoming-nohu-2/ "Scores of artists find a place in N. Hudson WNY, Union City, Weehawken, and North Bergen becoming 'NoHu'"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', May 6, 2008. Accessed November 14, 2019. "Local artists are currently thriving in Union City and the neighboring immigrant towns on this side of the river - buoyed both by a need to preserve their native culture, and a realization that housing prices are slightly lower here than in nearby arts havens like Hoboken, Jersey City, and Manhattan."</ref> The Union City area is a major training ground for actors in the county.<ref name=HudsonTheatre>Cullen, Deanna. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2011/02/27/new-performers-on-the-block-2/ "New performers on the block; Hudson Theatre Works holds inaugural show Monday"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', February 27, 2011. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> In September 2008, Union City held its first annual month-long Art Month, which originated with the September 2006 "Celebrate Art" show at St. John's Episcopal Church. Art Month includes events such as the Union City Arts and Crafts Festival, held the second week of every September. Group shows are also arranged by organizations such as La Ola,<ref name=NoHu/><ref>[http://www.laola.org La Ola] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012064131/http://www.laola.org/ |date=2008-10-12 }}. Accessed November 20, 2010.</ref> a group formed to help unite local artists, and Federación Mercantil, which provides support to artists in the form of bank loan assistance and help avoiding foreclosure, and puts on an annual show of work by Spanish-American painters.<ref name=NoHu/> Another is the Union City Artists Collective, founded in 2007 by a group of artists and public officials that includes painter/sculptor Amado Mora,<ref name=HudsonDispatchWeekly>Mestanza, Jean-Pierre. [http://www.nj.com/secaucusjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1290065184128530.xml&coll=3 "Union City artist spreads word about city"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604073414/http://www.nj.com/secaucusjournal/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-2%2F1290065184128530.xml&coll=3 |date=2016-06-04 }}, ''Secaucus Weekly'', November 18, 2010. Accessed May 6, 2016.</ref> who was named Union City's first Art Curator,<ref name=OfficialSong>[https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2014/06/15/union-city-now-rocks-to-its-own-song/ "Union City now rocks to its own song"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', June 15, 2014. p. 3. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> responsible for the Union City Art Gallery at City Hall.<ref name=HudsonDispatchWeekly/> Locations in which artists reside or have put on tours or shows include the Yardley Building, a former [[Yardley of London]] soap factory on Palisade Avenue that overlooks Hoboken, and the old R.H. Simon Silk Mill on 39th Street, which has been dubbed the "[[Union Hill, New Jersey|Union Hill]] Arts Building". The [[Park Performing Arts Center]] is also a popular arts venue in the city, as it houses Hudson Theatre Works, a theatre company founded in 2011.<ref name=HudsonTheatre/> It was also the first venue for the Park Players, an acting troupe founded in the early 1980s by local teacher Joseph Conklin,<ref>LaMarca, Stephen. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2011/07/21/providing-hudson-county-with-theater-2/ "Providing Hudson County with theater; Park Players to take on Agatha Christie in NB restaurant"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', July 24, 2011. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> and formerly hosted the ''NoHu Visions'' show, and the annual two-day Multi-Arts Festival<ref name=NoHu/><ref name=SilverAnn>{{cite web|author=Rosero, Jessica|url=https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2005/05/31/silver-anniversary-of-the-multi-arts-union-city-celebrates-25th-annual-multi-arts-festival-at-the-parkpac-5/|title=Silver Anniversary of the Multi-Arts Union City celebrates 25th annual Multi-Arts Festival at the ParkPAC|newspaper=[[The Hudson Reporter]]|page=9|date=May 21, 2005|access-date=June 24, 2020|archive-date=June 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624170439/https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2005/05/31/silver-anniversary-of-the-multi-arts-union-city-celebrates-25th-annual-multi-arts-festival-at-the-parkpac-5/}}</ref> until 2010, when the latter moved to Union City High School, which houses the Union City Performing Arts Center.<ref name=HudReporter10.25.09>Rappaport, Melissa. [http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/4121011/article-Live---UC-inaugurates-performing-arts-center--?instance=search_results "Live! UC inaugurates performing arts center"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829035758/http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/4121011/article-Live---UC-inaugurates-performing-arts-center--?instance=search_results |date=2017-08-29 }}, ''The Hudson Reporter'', October 25, 2009. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref><ref name=UCPACSite>[http://www.unioncitypac.com/ Home page], Union City Performing Arts Center. Accessed June 18, 2014.</ref>

[[File:6.4.10MulitArtsFestivalByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|left|Artwork at the Union City Multi-Arts Festival]]
In 2009 poet/musician Graciela Barreto was named Union City's first [[poet laureate]].<ref name=HudReporter10.25.09/> By April 2010 she was succeeded by Ben Figueroa.<ref>Kaulessar, Ricardo. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2010/04/08/town-that-gives-poetic-license/ "Town that gives poetic license: Jersey City inspires writers, and a reading series"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', April 8, 2010. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref> During the late 2000s the city also named a City Historian and organized a Historical Committee.<ref name=OfficialSong/>

The 2010 independent [[gothic horror]] art film, ''Vampire in Union City'', was filmed entirely in Union City, and was directed by entertainer and Union City Commissioner Lucio Fernandez. Produced by MeLu Films, it premiered on September 3, 2010 at the Summit Theater, marking the city's first movie premiere,<ref>"UC to host first ever film premiere in the city" ''The Union City Reporter'' August 22, 2010. p. 5</ref><ref>[http://www.luciofernandez.com/melufilms.html "World Premiere of 'Vampire in Union City'"], MeLu Films. Accessed August 19, 2010</ref> and the 2010 Celebrate Art Month, which included art exhibits, jazz, dance and opera performances, a film festival, and the public release of Francisco Rivadeneira's book, ''Los Amos del Planeta, Tomo II''.<ref name=2010CelebrateArt9.5>"Celebrate Art" ''The Union City Reporter''. September 5, 2010. p. 2</ref><ref>Diaz, Lana Rose. [http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/9480537/article-Celebrate-art---UC-honors-and-supports-local-artists-with-month-of-events "Celebrate art! UC honors and supports local artists with month of events"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816224928/http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/9480537/article-Celebrate-art---UC-honors-and-supports-local-artists-with-month-of-events |date=2016-08-16 }}, ''The Hudson Reporter'', September 12, 2010. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref>

On April 20, 2018, Union City's Performing Arts Center hosted the official premiere of ''Union City, U.S.A.'', a documentary on the city's history and culture. It was written, directed, and produced by Fernandez, who began research for the film in 2008 with city historian Gerard Karabin, conducting interviews with numerous past and current residents of the city. The film was edited by director of photography Mauro De Trizio, and narrated by Tom Colavito.<ref>Mosca, David. [https://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/2018/04/union_city_on_the_big_screen.html "Union City on the big screen"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', April 20, 2018, updated December 1, 2018. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref>Vereau, Gery. [https://voicesofny.org/2018/04/a-documentary-about-njs-most-populated-latino-city/ "A Documentary about NJ’s Most Populated Latino City"], [[Voices of NY]] / [[CUNY Graduate School of Journalism]], April 1, 2018. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref>

The Multi-Arts Festival is an exhibition of artwork, musical performances and workshops held every May since 1981. Students and alumni of the various schools of Union City display their artwork, put on musical performances, and put on free demonstrations of [[sculpture]], [[portrait]]ure and [[caricature]] for attendees. It was created by Agnes Dauerman, a Union Hill High School art teacher, who coordinated the program for 25 years before she retired in 2005.<ref name=SilverAnn/> The Union City Museum of Art, the Union City Police Museum, the Union City Art Gallery and Concert Hall and the Union City Museum of History are housed in the [[William V. Musto]] Cultural Center, formerly the 15th Street library.<ref name=HudsonIndependent/><ref name=THR2011/> The Musto Center hosts a number of events, including various concerts and theatrical performances.<ref>[http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/21667347/article-BRIEFS?instance=secondary_stories_left_column "Briefs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828190624/http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/21667347/article-BRIEFS?instance=secondary_stories_left_column |date=2017-08-28 }}. ''The Hudson Reporter''. February 10, 2013.</ref> Specific events it has hosted include the Union City Artist Awards,<ref>[http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/18730467/article-BRIEFS "Briefs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828191309/http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/18730467/article-BRIEFS |date=2017-08-28 }}. ''The Hudson Reporter''. May 27, 2012.</ref> the NoHu International Film Festival,<ref>Zietlinger, Ron. [http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2012/10/nohu_international_short_film.html "Union City International Film Festival"], ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', October 4, 2012. Accessed July 6, 2017.</ref> and Artists Assemble!, a [[comics convention]] first held in February 2013.<ref>DeChiaro, Dean. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2013/02/10/superheroes-and-fanboys-unite-2/ "Superheroes and fanboys unite!; Local comic buff hosts city's mini-Comic Con"], ''The Hudson Reporter'', February 10, 2013. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref>

The first annual Union City International Film Festival began in December 2010, with the short film ''X'', which was written and directed by [[Josh Brolin]], as the opening film.<ref>[https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2010/12/02/uc-international-film-festival-to-be-held-this-weekend/ "UC International Film Festival to be held this weekend"], ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', December 2, 2010. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Mestanza, Jean-Pierre|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-1/1291361109322270.xml&coll=3|title=Film festival opening; Film Festival in Union City|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604073516/http://www.nj.com/entertainment/jjournal/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fentertainment-1%2F1291361109322270.xml&coll=3|archive-date=June 4, 2016|newspaper=[[The Jersey Journal]]|date=December 3, 2010|access-date=May 6, 2016|quote=The UCIFF will take place on today and tomorrow, with the opening short film being 'X' by Academy-Award nominated actor and first-time director Josh Brolin.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://neciotv.com/neciotvwp/?p=13809|title=Union City International Film Festival To Open With Josh Brolin's Acclaimed Short Film 'X'|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714162056/http://neciotv.com/neciotvwp/?p=13809 |archive-date=July 14, 2011|publisher=NecioTV|date=November 18, 2010}}</ref> Later that month Union City unveiled the Union City Plaza of the Arts on [[Bergenline Avenue]] between 30th and 31st Streets, as a venue for artists to congregate and showcase their work. The location, which sees copious traffic to and from [[Midtown Manhattan]], was chosen in order to showcase the city in a positive light to commuters, and so that the plaza could represent fine arts alongside the adjacent [[Pietro Di Donato]] Plaza and [[Celia Cruz]] Plaza, which represent literature and music, respectively.<ref>Cullen, Deanna. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2010/12/05/local-artists-communal-grounds/ "Local artists' communal grounds; UC Plaza of the Arts to be unveiled Dec. 8"], ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', December 5, 2010. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Around Hudson County|newspaper=Hudson Dispatch Weekly|date=December 16, 2010|page=1}}</ref>

On June 11, 2014, the city's Board of Commissioners passed a resolution adopting "Union City" as the city's official song. The song was composed by Union City native Phil Gallo and Weehawken native Mike Boldt, and performed by the group Dez Manku, which features Boldt and Gallo. An accompanying music video was produced and edited by Mauro DeTrizio for Action Productions, and released on [[YouTube]] and [[iTunes]]. The guitar-driven rock song's lyrics make references to local streets such as [[Bergenline Avenue]] and [[Monastery and Church of Saint Michael the Archangel|Monastery Place]], and landmarks such as the Roosevelt Theater, the Hudson Burlesque, and the former high schools, Emerson and Union Hill.<ref name=OfficialSong/>

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Union City, New Jersey}}

== See also ==
* {{Portal-inline|New Jersey}}

==Notes==
{{Cnote|a|Nearby [[Guttenberg, New Jersey]] is more densely populated, but is incorporated as a town (not as a city).}}
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Ryman, Ella-May. ''History of West Hoboken and Union Hill'' (1965)
* Primont, Daniel A.; Fiedler, William G.; and Zuccaro, Fred. ''The Historical Background of Union City: A Monograph, Prepared for the Commemoration of New Jersey's Tercentenary 1664–1964 and As a Teaching Material and Aid in the Union City School System'' by  (1964)
* ''The City of Union City'' (A 1996 calendar)

==External links==
{{Commons category|Union City, New Jersey}}
{{NSRW Poster|Union, N. J.}}
* [http://www.ucnj.com/ Union City's official website]
* [https://www.ucboe.us/ Union City Board of Education]
* {{NJReportCard|17|5240|0|Union City Board of Education}}
* [https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3416380 Data for the Union City Board of Education], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]
* [http://www.parkpac.org/ Park Performing Arts Center]
{{Union City, New Jersey}}
{{Hudson County, New Jersey}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Union City, New Jersey| ]]
[[Category:1925 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Cities in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Cities in Hudson County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zones]]
[[Category:North Hudson, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1925]]
[[Category:Walsh Act]]
[[Category:Embroidery in the United States]]