Linden, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Linden is a city in southeastern Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, located about Template:Convert southwest of Manhattan and bordering Staten Island, a borough of New York City, across the Arthur Kill. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 43,738,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 3,239 (+8.0%) from the 2010 census count of 40,499,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 1,105 (+2.8%) from the 39,394 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>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> In 2015, Linden was listed as the most polluted community in New Jersey, based on the volume of toxic chemicals released into the local environment by facilities in the city.<ref>DiMaio, Shane. "Report: Linden most toxic city in New Jersey for 2013", Staten Island Advance, November 2, 2015. Accessed May 5, 2025. "In 2013, 10.9 million pounds of toxic chemicals were released by 383 New Jersey facilities required to report them under the 'right-to-know law,' according to a report by NJSpotlight.com. In the report, Linden, N.J., is listed as the number-one town where facilities with the state's largest on-site toxic releases are located."</ref>

History

Linden was originally formed as a township on March 4, 1861 from portions of Elizabeth, Rahway and Union Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Cranford (March 14, 1871), Linden Borough (March 30, 1882) and Roselle (December 20, 1894). Linden was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 1, 1925, replacing both Linden Township and Linden Borough, based on the results of a referendum held on November 8, 1923.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 239. Accessed May 29, 2024.</ref> The city's name derives from linden trees brought from Germany.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 3, 2015.</ref>

Geography

File:Arthur Kill Pralls Island.jpg

Linden lies west of the Arthur Kill and north of the Rahway River

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 11.42 square miles (29.56 km²), including 10.69 square miles (27.68 km²) of land and 0.73 square miles (1.88 km²) of water (6.37%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Bayway, Grasselli, Morses Mill, Tremley, Sunnyside, Vreeland Mills, Warners and Wheatsheaf.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

The city borders the municipalities of Clark, Cranford Township, Elizabeth, Rahway, Roselle and Winfield Township in Union County; Carteret and Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County; and Staten Island in New York City across the Arthur Kill tidal strait.<ref>Areas touching Linden, MapIt. Accessed February 25, 2020.</ref><ref>Union County Municipal Profiles, Union County, New Jersey. Accessed February 25, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Polish and Polish-American community

File:Pierogi z cebulką.jpg

As a regional hub of Polish immigration, Linden is known for its Polish cuisine such as pierogis

Linden is a regional hub of Polish immigration and features a significant number of establishments featuring the food and culture of Poland. 13.1% of residents are of Polish origin and 15.6% of its residents five years old and above in the center of the city of Linden primarily speak the Polish language at home.<ref>http://www.city-data.com/city/Linden-New-Jersey.htm; https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/nj/linden/city-center/</ref> The Skulski Art Gallery of the Polish Cultural Foundation of neighboring Clark has exhibited Linden-based artists.

Polish-American grocery specialty shop Pulaski Meats takes up nearly a city block.<ref>Feeney, Kelly. "Kielbasa Kingdom", The New York Times, December 3, 2010. Accessed December 10, 2016.</ref> Polish language services are held at two Roman Catholic churches, including at the heavily Polish parish St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church, established in the 1920s.<ref>http://unionnewsdaily.com/headline-news/27965; Linden, New Jersey pg 100 by Lauren Pancurak Yeats; http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/The-Home-Forum/2010/0401/For-the-love-of-babka-the-Slavic-sweet-bread-with-a-long-tale</ref>

Linden holds an annual Polish Heritage Day Festival to showcase local Polish cuisine, pottery, dance, traditional fashion and other Polish arts for visitors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, the mayor of Linden hosted a state visit by Poland’s president Andrzej Duda and first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda to the Polish community in Linden.<ref>"Polish President Andrzej Duda and first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda caused quite a stir when they visited Linden’s Polish community, following Mayor Derek Armstead’s invitation." Union News Daily. https://unionnewsdaily.com/news/linden/57345</ref>

In old pagan Slavic mythology, the tree for which the city is named, the linden tree (lipa, as called in all Slavic languages) was considered a sacred tree.<ref>Archaeology and Language: Language change and cultural transformation Roger Blench, Matthew Spriggs, p.199</ref>

Demographics

2020 census

Linden, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 1990<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 1990	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	26,167	22,827	18,089	13,744	71.30%	57.95%	44.67%	31.42%
Black or African American alone (NH)	7,229	8,782	10,403	11,722	19.70%	22.29%	25.69%	26.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	48	43	58	33	0.13%	0.11%	0.14%	0.08%
Asian alone (NH)	534	914	1,066	1,484	1.46%	2.32%	2.63%	3.39%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	N/A	14	8	5	N/A	0.04%	0.02%	0.01%
Some other race alone (NH)	23	125	166	541	0.06%	0.32%	0.41%	1.24%
Mixed-race or multi-racial (NH)	N/A	1,015	614	1,154	N/A	2.58%	1.52%	2.64%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,700	5,674	10,095	15,055	7.36%	14.40%	24.93%	34.42%
Total	36,701	39,394	40,499	43,738	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 census

Largest ancestries (2010)	Percent
Polish	15.2%
Italian	8.8%
Irish	6.8%
German	5.4%
American	3.2%
Portuguese	2.7%

The 2010 United States census counted 40,499 people, 14,909 households, and 10,272 families in the city. The population density was 3,793.8 per square mile (1,464.8/km²). There were 15,872 housing units at an average density of 1,486.8 per square mile (574.1/km²). The racial makeup was 59.15% (23,957) White, 26.88% (10,888) Black or African American, 0.29% (118) Native American, 2.71% (1,099) Asian, 0.02% (8) Pacific Islander, 7.57% (3,066) from other races, and 3.37% (1,363) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.93% (10,095) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 14,909 households, 29.9% had children under the age of 18; 45.1% were married couples living together; 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.1% were non-families. Of all households, 26.2% were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.27.<ref name=Census2010/>

21.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.7 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey shows that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $55,859 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,529) and the median family income was $64,439 (+/− $4,027). Males had a median income of $45,890 (+/− $3,397) versus $39,288 (+/− $2,842) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,011 (+/− $1,161). About 5.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Linden city, Union County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 23, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

Largest ancestries (2000)	Percent
Polish	18.0%
Italian	10.3%
Irish	9.0%
German	6.8%
Portuguese	3.1%
English	2.7%

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 39,394 people, 15,052 households, and 10,084 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 15,567 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 66.08% White, 22.80% African American, 0.14% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.88% from other races, and 3.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.40% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Linden city, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 23, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Linden city, Union County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 23, 2012.</ref>

There were 15,052 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.21.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the city the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the city was $46,345, and the median income for a family was $54,903. Males had a median income of $39,457 versus $30,395 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,314. About 5.0% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Economy

The east side of Linden is located along the Arthur Kill, a navigable strait which plays an important role in bulk cargo transportation in the Port of New York and New Jersey.

Together with Elizabeth, Linden is home to the Bayway Refinery, a Phillips 66 refining facility that helps supply petroleum-based products to the New York/New Jersey area, producing approximately Template:Convert, making it the second-largest on the East Coast of the United States and one of the country's 25 largest facilities.<ref>Caroom, Eliot. "ConocoPhillips' Bayway Refinery in Linden one of a dying breed on East Coast", The Star-Ledger, November 17, 2011. Accessed July 23, 2012. "Bayway is the second largest of 12 refineries on the East Coast, and the 25th largest in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It employs about 800 people at the Linden facility."</ref>

From 1937 to 2005, Linden was home to Linden Assembly, a General Motors manufacturing plant that produced Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick and other GM automobiles, but also produced planes during World War II.<ref>Hopkins, Jamie Smith. "GM to lay off about 950 at plant in Linden, N.J.; SUV decision comes 13 days after news of Baltimore closure", The Baltimore Sun, December 1, 2004. Accessed May 17, 2017. "General Motors Corp. said yesterday that it will lay off almost all of its 1,000 workers at an assembly plant in New Jersey early next year, news that comes on the heels of its announcement that it will close its van plant in Baltimore. The Linden, N.J., plant was the only one that produced the Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Jimmy, sport utility vehicles that GM introduced almost a decade ago and does not plan to continue making."</ref> By early 2008 most of the plant has been torn down for redevelopment by Duke Realty Corporation, which purchased the Template:Convert site for $76.5 million.<ref>Friedman, Alexi. "Former GM plant is razed for Linden 'renaissance'", The Star-Ledger, August 31, 2008. Accessed July 23, 2012. "Demolition crews have finished clearing the massive site on the former General Motors assembly plant in Linden, making way for a planned industrial and retail park that Linden officials hope will play a key role in the city's renaissance.... After Indianapolis-based Duke Realty Corp. purchased the property from GM for $76.5 million, crews from the demolition firm Testa Corp. began dismantling the site in February. Razing the 2.7 million-square-foot automotive plant that encompassed 100 acres along Routes 1&9 -- and across from Linden Airport -- was supposed to take a year, but was completed earlier this month, far ahead of schedule."</ref>

Linden, together with Rahway, is home to Merck & Co., one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. In 2003, the pharmaceutical company celebrated 100 years in Rahway and Linden.<ref>To Merck & Co., Inc. for 100 years of community investment and redevelopment., New Jersey Future, 2003. Accessed July 23, 2012. "Merck & Co., Inc. is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its research and manufacturing facility in the cities of Rahway and Linden, where it has grown considerably with the support of its civic partners.In the summer of 1903, a small manufacturing operation began on 150 acres of land 20 miles southwest of New York City in Rahway, New Jersey."</ref>

Sunnyside section of Linden and the Jewish community

File:Linden PRR station from platform.jpg

Linden station offers direct trains to Manhattan

The residential area of Linden west of St. Georges Avenue is known as Sunnyside, named for the former Sunnyfield Golf Club located in that area.<ref>"Gets 55 Home Permits; Developer Plans More Units at Linden Club Site", The New York Times, January 1, 1950. Accessed May 27, 2024. "Fifty-five more permits have been issued by Building Inspector Charles B. Keiming to Sunnyfield, Inc., for that many more one-family residences on the site of the former Sunnyfield Golf Club course here."</ref> It borders on Clark, Cranford and Winfield on the west and Roselle on the east.

Jewish community of Linden

Like the rest of Linden, Sunnyside is a diverse neighborhood featuring residents of many different backgrounds.<ref name=Streimels>Ginsberg, Johanna R. "Streimels in suburbia Chasidim build ‘enclave’ in Linden, will the town become the next Lakewood?", New Jersey Jewish News, April 17, 2019. Accessed February 10, 2022. "'You walk on the street and people say hello, not like in New York,'” said Chani Lissauer, who moved from Borough Park, Brooklyn, in January 2018, one of the first of about 40 chasidic families who recently moved to this diverse town of 42,000 in Union County."</ref> Congregation Anshe Chesed is a Modern Orthodox synagogue in the Sunnyside section that was founded in 1914.<ref>Staff. "Linden shul enters second century", New Jersey Jewish News, July 13, 2016. Accessed February 10, 2022. "Congregation Anshe Chesed of Linden celebrated 102 years of service to the Orthodox Jewish community on June 8 at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston.... Their forebears started a tiny shul in 1914 in Linden, with Rabbi Morris Baicofsky, a recent immigrant from Poland, serving as the congregation’s first religious leader and for many years also as cantor and shohet, fulfilling all three categories at the same time. The group built a large synagogue, known as the Blancke St. Shul, which still stands and serves Linden as a home for its PAL activities."</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It has a large modern building on St. Georges Avenue and its former synagogue building on Blancke Street was converted for use for community athletics.<ref>Yeats, L. P. The Making of America: Linden, New Jersey, pp. 103-108. Arcadia Publishing, 2002. Accessed February 10, 2022.</ref>

Among the parks in the Sunnyside section is Sunnyside Park, at the corner of Summit Terrace and Edgewood Road, dubbed the “Shabbos park” by the area's Modern Orthodox community as a place where families meet on Saturday afternoons.<ref name=Streimels/>

An eruv links the Sunnyside section of Linden to Roselle, Warinanco Park, the Jewish Educational Center of Elizabeth, and Hillside.<ref>Linden Eruv, Congregation Anshe Chesed. Accessed February 10, 2022. "Linden's Eruv is approximately two and a half square miles with the shul at the center. The eruv extends into Cranford on the west side (and incorporates the Homewood Suites by Hilton), proceeds up until the Linden NJ Transit rail line on the east side, and connects with the Elizabeth-Hillside eruv to the north, enabling full carrying across communities."</ref><ref>"Linden Orthodox congregation formalizes resolution with Cranford", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 29, 2010, updated April 1, 2019. Accessed February 10, 2022. "Rabbi Joshua Hess, spiritual leader of Congregation Anshe Chesed in Linden, presented a plaque with a one dollar bill to Mayor Mark Smith of the Township of Cranford, to formalize the resolution adopted by the township last month, authorizing the Linden Jewish Community to 'rent' the township of Cranford for religious purposes, to be used as part of their Eruv."</ref> A mikveh was constructed in 2015.<ref>Glazer, Harry. "Linden Women Set to Celebrate Anshe Chesed Mikvah", Jewish Link, July 26, 2023. "One of the surest signs of a resurgence of observant Jewish life in a community is increased use of the community mikvah. This key indicator tells an observer not only that there are more young families in the area but also that those families, and especially the wives, are serious about their yiddishkeit. The Ziga Roshanski Mikvah at Anshe Chesed was completed in 2015, following more than a decade of planning, fundraising and construction, all under the leadership of the prior rabbi and rebbetzin of the shul, Rabbi Joshua and Naava Hess. Since then, the mikvah has become widely recognized as an essential pillar of the community."</ref>

Following the move in 2017 of members of the Koson congregation to the Sunnyside section of Linden,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> other Hasidic communities have grown in Linden, including Bobov, Rachmastrivka, Pupa, and Satmar communities, with 700 families living in the area in 2025.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Landa, Yitzchok. "Squeezed Out; Is the town of Linden, New Jersey, out to make life intolerable for its Orthodox Jewish residents?", Mishpacha, April 22, 2025. Accessed May 6, 2025. "In 2017, after extensive research, and with the location for a beis medrash already identified, the Rebbe of Kosson moved to Linden with a community of followers. Over the ensuing seven and a half years, the Orthodox Jewish community in Linden and surrounding Union County has grown quickly. Today, it numbers approximately 700 families, mostly chassidim affiliated with kehillos such as Kosson, Bobov, Rachmistrivka, Skulen, Satmar, Belz, and others."</ref>

In addition to rules greatly expanding the minimum lot size for houses of worship, the city enacted zoning restrictions in 2025 limiting use of basements for bedrooms or kitchens and requiring driveways, which would have a disproportionate impact on the growing number of large Haredi families in the area.<ref>Russell, Suzanne. "Linden rethinks zoning ordinances after pushback from Orthodox Jewish community", Courier News, April 18, 2025. Accessed May 6, 2025. "According to Hasidic community members, the original ordinances proposed zoning changes that unfairly target and restrict the growth of the Orthodox Jewish population in the city, Yeshiva World News reported. One ordinance prohibited the use of basements for any purpose, including bathrooms or kitchens, and the other required all homes to have garages and a single, narrow driveway, according to city documents, which would complicate the construction of homes for large families with multiple bedrooms."</ref>

Local media

Linden media includes:

• Union News Daily. A news outlet covering Union County news, it has a dedicated Linden section.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is part of LocalSource and published by Worrall Community Newspapers of Union.
• TAPinto Linden is a local digital news site covering Linden news exclusively, part of the TAPinto network of news in Central and Northern New Jersey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Life in Linden is published by Renna Media, located on Walnut Street in Cranford, NJ.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• LindenTV is the city's own channel, and is available to cable and Verizon FiOS television subscribers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The City of Linden shares news and events via its official website.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Remaining multi-community newspapers include the Courier News, a daily newspaper based in Bridgewater Township, and The Star-Ledger and the Suburban News based in Newark.<ref>Home Page, Suburban News. Accessed August 14, 2017.</ref>
• Linden is the official city of license for WNJU (channel 47), a television station serving the New York metropolitan area as the flagship station of the Spanish-language Telemundo network.<ref>TV Station Information for WNJU, Federal Communications Commission. Accessed July 5, 2023. "Community of License: Linden, NJ"</ref>

Parks and recreation

• Hawk Rise Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary created by the City of Linden and the New Jersey Audubon Society on the banks of the Rahway River at the lower reaches of the Rahway River Parkway.<ref>Whats New?, New Jersey Audubon Society. Accessed December 9, 2016.</ref>
• John Russell Wheeler Park is home to the Linden Skatepark for skateboarders at Winans Avenue and West Edgar Road near where Morses Creek winds through the park. an Template:Convert spray park opened in 2019, replacing a pool that dated back to 1931.<ref>"Union County Opens Wheeler Park Spray Park in Linden", Union County, New Jersey, press release dated May 28, 2019. Accessed June 30, 2022. "The spray park replaces the former pool, which had been built in 1931 and witnessed a physical decline over the past two decades. The spray park encompasses 11,000 square feet of the total 49,000 square foot area, and also contains picnic tables, ample space for lounging, gazebos for shade, artificial turf areas, and plenty of free-play space."</ref>
• Peach Orchard Park sits at Dill Avenue, Hussa Street and Cranford Avenue, behind School #4. It is home to Peach Orchard Brook, a tributary of Morses Creek.
• Warinanco Park's Park Drive entrance connects the park to Linden.

Government

File:AMERICAN CYANAMID COMPANY IN THE LINDEN, NEW JERSEY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX OF METROPOLITAN NEW YORK ON THE ARTHUR KILL... - NARA - 555775.jpg

Linden, New Jersey (1974)

Local government

Linden is governed under the City form of government. The city is one of 15 (of the 564) municipalities statewide that use this traditional form of municipal government.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and an 11-member City Council. The mayor and council president are elected at-large to four-year terms of office, while the other 10 members are elected from wards to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or four of the ward seats up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 94.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 4. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government; Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed July 23, 2012. "The number of council members can vary. For instance, the City of Linden currently has eleven council members, a provision which preceded the 1987 revisions."</ref>

Template:As of, the Mayor of Linden is Democrat Derek Armstead, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.<ref name=Mayor>Mayor Derek Armstead, City of Linden. Accessed February 20, 2024.</ref> Members of the City Council are:<ref>City Council, City of Linden. Accessed February 20, 2024.</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, City of Linden. Accessed February 20, 2024.</ref><ref name=UnionOfficials>Union County Elected Officials, Union County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed February 20, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2023>General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed February 19, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed February 19, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2021>General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

• Council President – Michele Yamakaitis<ref>Michele Yamakaitis, City of Linden. Accessed June 27, 2022.</ref> (D, 2026)
• First Ward – Lisa A. Ormon<ref>Lisa A. Ormon, City of Linden. Accessed February 20, 2024.</ref> (D, 2024)
• Second Ward – Barry E. Javick<ref>Barry E. Javick, City of Linden. Accessed February 20, 2024.</ref> (D, 2025)
• Third Ward – Monique Caldwell<ref>Monique Caldwell, City of Linden. Accessed February 20, 2024.</ref> (D, 2025)
• Fourth Ward – Alfred Mohammed<ref>Alfred Mohammed, City of Linden. Accessed February 20, 2024.</ref> (D, 2026)
• Fifth Ward – Carlos A. Rivas<ref>Carlos Rivas, City of Linden. Accessed February 19, 2024.</ref> (D, 2025)
• Sixth Ward – John Francis Roman<ref>John Francis Roman, City of Linden. Accessed February 20, 2024.</ref> (D, 2026)
• Seventh Ward – Ralph Strano<ref>Ralph Strano, City of Linden. Accessed February 20, 2024.</ref> (D, 2025)
• Eighth Ward – Mark Armstead<ref>Mark Armstead, City of Linden. Accessed February 19, 2024.</ref> (D, 2026)
• Ninth Ward – Armando Medina<ref>Armando Medina, City of Linden. Accessed February 20, 2024.</ref> (D, 2024)
• Tenth Ward – Christine Ann Hudak<ref>Christine Hudak, City of Linden. Accessed February 19, 2024.</ref> (D, 2026)

In June 2022, Christine Ann Hudak was appointed to fill the 10th Ward seat that had become vacant following the resignation of Gretchen M. Hickey. Hudak served on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election when she was elected to serve the remainder of the term of office.<ref>Wildstein, David. "Linden Councilwoman Is Daughter Of Ex-Mayor, Assemblyman", New Jersey Globe, June 22, 2022. Accessed June 27, 2022. "Christine Ann Hudak, whose late father served as an assemblyman and mayor, has been named to fill a vacant 10th Ward seat on the Linden City Council. She will replace Gretchen Hickey, who resigned this month after serving eight years in local office.... Hudak will need to run in a special election in November for the remainder of Hickey’s term, which expires in 2023."</ref><ref name=Union2022/>

The 8th Ward seat expiring in December 2020 became vacant in January 2019 when Michele Yamakaitis took office as Council President. The Democratic municipal committee chose Paul Coates to fill the vacancy, but Mayor Derek Armstead sought to keep the seat vacant until the November 2019 general election. After a legal battle waged by the Linden Democratic municipal committee and its chairman Nicholas Scutari, a Superior Court judge ruled in May 2019 that Coates should be immediately seated to the council to serve until the November general election.<ref>Wildstein, David. "Judge rules Linden councilman must be seated immediately; Armstead loses court battle to Scutari-backed candidate", New Jersey Globe, May 14, 2019. Accessed January 24, 2020. "A Superior Court judge ruled that Linden must immediately seat Paul Coates as a city councilman, ending a four-month legal battle that began when mayor Derek Armstead refused to allow the choice of the local Democratic Party to fill a vacancy.... Coates, who takes office immediately, faces Garnett Blaine in the Democratic primary to run in a November special election to fill the unexpired term. Michele Yamakaitis, who left her 8th ward seat on January 1 to become the new council president."</ref> In the November 2019 voting, Garret Blaine was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Union2019>General Election November 5, 2019 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated December 5, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

In November 2015, the City Council selected Ralph Strano from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the Seventh Ward seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Mike Minarchenko until his resignation from office the previous month; Strano served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election,<ref>Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the 2015 Council of the City of Linden, held Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Template:Webarchive, City of Linden. Accessed August 4, 2016. "WHEREAS, Mike Minarchenko, a duly elected member of the City Council of the City of Linden, has resigned from his office effective October 21, 2015; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Vacancy Law, specifically N.J.S.A. 40A:16-11, the municipal committee of the Democratic Party, of which Mr. Minarchenko is a member, has put forward three nominations to fill the vacancy, including the name Ralph Strano. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Linden, County of Union, State of New Jersey, that Ralph Strano is hereby appointed to fill the unexpired term of Mike Minarchenko in accordance with the law and that Ralph Strano shall replace Mr. Minarchenko in all committees he is a part of."</ref> when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Union2016>General Election November 8, 2016 Official Results, Union County, New Jersey, updated November 14, 2016. Accessed January 30, 2017.</ref>

John T. Gregorio, served as mayor of Linden for 30, non-consecutive years until December 31, 2006, and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which forced him from office for two terms. Gregorio returned as mayor following his conviction.<ref>Strupp, Joe. "A Man of Influence", New Jersey Monthly, May 2006. Accessed May 19, 2013.</ref>

Rhashonna Cosby-Hurling became the first African American female elected to the City Council when she took office in 2011 to represent the Fifth Ward.<ref>Russell, Suzanne C. "New Linden council member proud to be first black woman in post", Courier News, January 17, 2011. Accessed November 24, 2014. "Rhashonna Cosby-Hurling gets goose bumps when she thinks of the history mark she is setting as the city's first African-American woman to serve on the Linden City Council."</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Linden is located in the 7th and 10th Congressional Districts<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 22nd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Prior to the 2010 Census, Linden had been split between the Template:Ushr, the 10th Congressional District and the Template:Ushr, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.<ref name=LWV2011>2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government Template:Webarchive, p. 60, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed May 22, 2015.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 21,494 registered voters in Linden, of which 11,831 (55.0% vs. 41.8% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,319 (6.1% vs. 15.3%) were registered as Republicans and 8,339 (38.8% vs. 42.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Union, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed May 19, 2013.</ref> Among the city's 2010 Census population, 53.1% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 67.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 19, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 11,213 votes (73.3% vs. 66.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 3,814 votes (24.9% vs. 32.3%) and other candidates with 135 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 15,303 ballots cast by the city's 22,753 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.3% (vs. 68.8% in Union County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Union County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 19, 2013.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Union County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 19, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 10,728 votes (66.5% vs. 63.1% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 5,037 votes (31.2% vs. 35.2%) and other candidates with 162 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 16,142 ballots cast by the city's 22,266 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.5% (vs. 74.7% in Union County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Union County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed May 19, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 9,222 votes (64.0% vs. 58.3% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 4,966 votes (34.4% vs. 40.3%) and other candidates with 116 votes (0.8% vs. 0.7%), among the 14,419 ballots cast by the city's 20,596 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.0% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Union County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed May 19, 2013.</ref>

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In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Democrat Phil Murphy received 5,665 votes (72.0% vs. 65.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Kim Guadagno with 2,021 votes (25.7% vs. 32.6%), and other candidates with 180 votes (2.3% vs. 2.1%), among the 8,195 ballots cast by the city's 24,699 registered voters, for a turnout of 33.2%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 54.6% of the vote (4,255 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 43.9% (3,420 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (123 votes), among the 8,158 ballots cast by the city's 22,416 registered voters (360 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.4%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 5,429 ballots cast (57.8% vs. 50.6% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 3,272 votes (34.8% vs. 41.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 452 votes (4.8% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 98 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 9,390 ballots cast by the city's 21,742 registered voters, yielding a 43.2% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Union County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed May 19, 2013.</ref>

Education

Public schools

The Linden Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>District Policy 010 - Identification, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Linden School District. Composition The Linden Public Schools District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Linden."</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of 11 schools, had an enrollment of 6,125 students and 557.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.0:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Linden Public 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>School Data for the Linden Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>) are School No. 1<ref>School No. 1, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref> (with 374 students; in grades PreK–5), School No. 2<ref>School No. 2, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref> (584; PreK–5), School No. 4<ref>School No. 4, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref> (437; PreK–5), School No. 5<ref>School No. 5, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref> (290; PreK–5), School No. 6<ref>School No. 6, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref> (332; PreK–5), School No. 8<ref>School No. 8, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref> (300; PreK–5), School No. 9<ref>School No. 9, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref> (324; PreK–5), School No. 10<ref>School No. 10, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref> (242; PreK–5), Myles J. McManus Middle School<ref>Myles J. McManus Middle School, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref> (696; 6–8), Joseph E. Soehl Middle School<ref>Joseph E. Soehl Middle School, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref> (662; 6–8) and Linden High School<ref>Linden High School, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref> (1,801; 9–12).<ref>District Calendar, Linden Public Schools. Accessed October 27, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Linden Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Linden Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> School No. 5 was one of nine schools in New Jersey honored in 2020 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which recognizes high student achievement.<ref>2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Non-Public Schools, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed September 27, 2020.</ref><ref>Clark, Adam. "9 N.J. schools just won a huge national honor", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 24, 2020. Accessed September 27, 2020. "Nine New Jersey public schools have been awarded the national Blue Ribbon designation, one of the highest honors in education. The schools were recognized Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education for high student achievement."</ref>

Private schools

Sinai Christian Academy serves grades Pre-K through 12th grade.<ref>Home page Template:Webarchive, Sinai Christian Academy. Accessed October 18, 2013.</ref>

Saints Mary and Elizabeth Academy was a Catholic school serving students in Pre-K through 8th grade that operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark until its closure at the end of the 2013–2014 school year due to declining enrollment.<ref>Haggerty, Neil. "NJ Catholic schools fight to keep doors open as future dims", The Star-Ledger, July 7, 2014. Accessed December 10, 2016. "Goodness said the four schools closed this year — St. Agnes School in Clark, Saints Mary and Elizabeth Academy in Linden, Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy in West Orange and Most Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Wallington — were not financially sound and could not keep their enrollment up for the archdiocese's new 'Lighting the Way' program, implemented this month."</ref>

Transportation

Roads and highways

File:2021-05-26 11 13 59 View north along Interstate 95 (New Jersey Turnpike) from the overpass for Union County Route 617 (Tremley Point Road) in Linden, Union County, New Jersey.jpg

The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) northbound in Linden

Template:As of, the city had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Union County, Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.<ref>Union County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) passes through the eastern portion of the city, with a few ramps that lead to the nearest exit (Exit 13 for I-278) which is right on the city limits with nearby Elizabeth.<ref>Interstate 95 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated August 2014. Accessed July 17, 2022.</ref> The city is also the western terminus of Interstate 278, which travels through all five boroughs of New York City.<ref>Interstate 278 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, June 2018. Accessed July 17, 2022.</ref> Linden is also served by U.S. Route 1/9 and Route 27. The Garden State Parkway passes about Template:Convert west of the city limits.<ref>Union County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 20, 2023.</ref>

Public transportation

Bus

Local public transportation is provided by NJ Transit with bus service to Elizabeth, Perth Amboy and Newark. New Jersey Transit routes 112 and 115 provide local service and interstate service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, on the 48 to Elizabeth and 94 routes to Newark, and local service on the 56 and 57 routes.<ref>Union County Bus/Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed July 23, 2011.</ref>

Rail

The Linden train station<ref>Linden station, NJ Transit. Accessed October 18, 2013.</ref> offers a one-seat ride to Manhattan in 39 minutes via service on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line and the Northeast Corridor Line. Trains travel northbound to Newark Penn Station, Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station, and southbound towards the Trenton Transit Center, with connections available at those locations<ref>Northeast Corridor Line, NJ Transit. Accessed October 18, 2013.</ref><ref>North Jersey Coast Line, NJ Transit. Accessed October 18, 2013.</ref>

Airport

Linden Airport is a small general aviation facility and reliever airport located on the eastern side of the city along U.S. Route 1/9. The airport was constructed for the United States Navy in 1942 for use in development and testing of the Grumman F4F Wildcat and was taken over by the City of Linden after World War II.<ref>Linden Airport. Accessed October 18, 2013.</ref> The airport served as a road racing course in June 1954 for a race in the then-NASCAR Grand National Division (now known as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series), with Al Keller winning the 50-lap race over a Template:Convert course.<ref>1954 International 100, Racing-Reference.info. Accessed March 2, 2022.</ref>

Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 15 minutes away.

Arts and culture

• Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade is the home of outdoor concerts and other performing arts in Linden. Live bands play R&B, funk and jazz at several live performance venues, and late R&B and jazz vocalist Linda Hayes, who played with the well-known Platters (of which her brother was lead singer) was from Linden.<ref>Medleys Jazz Restaurant; Robins Nest Rhythm & Blues in Tremley Point</ref>
• Catholic-born artist Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt grew up in poverty in 1950s and 1960s Linden. Openly gay, he recently had a career retrospective on his exploration of "gay sexuality, class struggle, and religion" in his art at MoMA PS1, and is also known for being photographed as a youth at the Stonewall Riots. Lanigan-Schmidt worked as a 1960s Linden youth doing "odd jobs to help support his family and was bullied by high school thugs," moving to New York City as a young man.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As a child in 1950s Linden, after Lanigan-Schmidt was assigned to decorate the school bulletin board in his Catholic elementary school, he built a detailed model of a church altar. The impressive model was featured in a local paper while Lanigan-Schmidt was a student at St. Elizabeth School at 170 Hussa Street. The school closed in 2014; it is a part of the campus of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church in Linden.<ref>BOMB Magazine: Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt by Jessica Baran http://bombmagazine.org/article/7157/; Newspaper clipping, "Pupil Constructs Church Model", c. 1955 (he is misattributed in the photo; he is the boy on the lower right).</ref>
• One of the artists from New Jersey hardcore (now LA-based) punk hip-hop group Ho99o9 (pronounced "Horror"), theOGM, has Linden roots.<ref>Josephs, Brian. "Jersey Rap-Punks Ho99o9 Aim to Reclaim Black Rage", Spin, May 25, 2017. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Rather, the molding of Ho99o9 can be traced back to Eaddy's hometown of Newark, as well as theOGM's time growing up in Elizabeth and Linden—both cities consistently rank among New Jersey's most dangerous."</ref>
• 1910 Fruitgum Company, a bubblegum pop band from the 1960s, was formed by five Linden residents.<ref name=1910FruitgumCompany>Voger, Mark. "1910 Fruitgum Company: From Linden to the Top 10", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 28, 2014, updated March 29, 2019. Accessed November 25, 2019. "Jeckell's fellow founding members were Mark Gutkowski (lead vocals, keyboards), Pat Karwan (guitar), Steve Mortkowitz (bass), and Floyd Marcus (drums).... And so five young men from Linden with aspirations to be the next Vanilla Fudge scored a Top 10 hit ... with a bubblegum song."</ref>
• De Luxe Records (later DeLuxe Records) was a record company and label formed in 1944 in Linden, New Jersey, and is known for its famed R&B and early rock recordings.
• In the mid-20th century, Linden was the headquarters for the Regal Records, as well as the budget record label Springboard International Records later in the century. Transco, before acquisition by Apollo, made sound recording industry acetate discs (also called acetate blanks, dubplates or lacquers) out of Linden.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The Linden Cultural and Heritage Committee exists to bring entertainment events to area residents such as craft bazaars, street fairs, concerts, and plays, and the Linden Society for Historic Preservation works to preserve the history of the city.
• Linden was chosen as the primary filming location for Volume 2 of the streetball video series, AND1 Mixtapes.<ref name=AND1>Palmer, Chris. AND1 Streetball: All the ballers, moves, slams and shine, p. 38.HarperCollins, 2004. Template:ISBN. Accessed June 16, 2009.</ref> One of the original five streetballers to sign with AND1, Waliyy Dixon, a Linden native who also goes by the nickname "Main Event," helped host a night of basketball at 4th Ward Park that claimed attendance by<ref name=AND1/> 2,000 spectators.<ref name=AND1/>
• Several scenes from the 2008 Mickey Rourke film The Wrestler, later nominated for several Academy Awards, were filmed in Linden.<ref>Jordan, Chris. "Linden go-go bar gets its close-up in Oscar-nominated The Wrestler", Courier News, February 20, 2009, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 12, 2016. Accessed August 4, 2016. "Move over Bada-Bing of The Sopranos, Cheeques at 1230 East Linden Ave., in Linden, featured in the movie The Wrestler, is taking over as the most famous go-go in New Jersey."</ref>
• Hal Linden, the stage and screen actor, television director and musician best known as the star of the ABC TV series Barney Miller, chose his stage name after seeing the word "Linden" on a water tower while heading from Philadelphia to perform in New York City.<ref>Lowerison, Jean. "Hal Linden coming to Welk San Diego", SDGLN.com, February 12, 2014. Accessed September 21, 2016. "Born Harold Lipschitz in New York City, he wanted to be a bandleader and studied classical clarinet, playing with symphony orchestras from the age of 15.... He chose his stage name on the way from Philadelphia to an acting job in New York, when he saw the water tower in Linden, New Jersey."</ref>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Linden include:

• Amelia Brodka (born 1989), Olympic athlete and professional skateboarder<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Deidre Davis Butler (1955–2020), lawyer, disability rights activist and federal official<ref>Genzlinger, Neil. "Deidre Davis Butler, Who Fought for Disability Rights, Dies at 64; A wheelchair user herself, she helped draft a landmark law and held government posts championing people with disabilities, especially those of color.", The New York Times, August 21, 2020. Accessed August 23, 2020. "Deidre Ann Davis was born on Sept. 26, 1955, in Elizabeth, N.J., to Hilton and Bernice (Jones) Davis and grew up in nearby Linden."</ref>
• Kevin Carolan (born 1968), actor and comedian<ref>Kolton, Tara. "Actor with Wanaque roots takes the Broadway stage in Newsies the Musical", Suburban Trends, September 6, 2012. Accessed January 27, 2015. "Now a resident of Linden, Carolan grew up in Wanaque and attended the St. Francis of Assisi School before graduating from Neumann Prep in Wayne."</ref>
• Roger Chanoine (1976–2016), offensive tackle who played in the NFL between 1998 and 2002, primarily for the Cleveland Browns<ref>"Former Owl Roger Chanoine Passes", Temple Owls football, July 19, 2016. Accessed February 5, 2025. "The Linden, N.J. native was a three-year starter for the Owls under head coach Ron Dickerson."</ref>
• John Charles (born 1944), former cornerback and safety who played eight seasons in the National Football League<ref>via Associated Press. "Purdue Loses Top Defender", St. Joseph News-Press, October 21, 1966. Accessed July 23, 2012. "The 6-1, 195-pound senior from Linden, N.J., was hurt just before the close of the day's practice."</ref>
• Nick Christiani (born 1987), former baseball pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds<ref>Nick Christiani, Vanderbilt Commodores baseball. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Born 7/17/87 in Linden, N.J."</ref>
• Jerome A. Cohen (born 1930), professor of law at New York University School of Law and an expert in Chinese law<ref>"Jerome A Cohen To Study Abroad", Linden Observer, June 21, 1951. Accessed May 19, 2021. "Jerome Alan Cohen, of 623 North Wood avenue, was awarded the degree of bachelor of arts at the 230th commencement of Yale University.... He is a graduate of Linden High School."</ref>
• George Thomas Coker (born 1943), United States Navy navigator who spent over six years as a POW after being shot down over North Vietnam in 1966<ref>"A Jersey P.O.W. Among Released; Freeing of Navigator Brings Happy Tears in Linden", The New York Times, March 5, 1973. Accessed December 5, 2007.</ref>
• Danny Dias (Template:Circa–2017), activist and reality television personality who starred on season 13 on MTV's Road Rules, Road Rules: X-Treme, in 2004<ref>"Road Rules Star Danny Dias Dead at 34", Sarasota Herald, June 7, 2017. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Dias, a native of Linden, New Jersey, competed on Road Rules: X-Treme, which took place in Argentina and Chile."</ref>
• Tamecka Dixon (born 1975), professional basketball player who played for 13 seasons in the WNBA<ref>Tamecka Dixon, Kansas Jayhawks women's basketball. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Hometown: Linden, N.J."</ref>
• Waliyy Dixon (born 1974), a.k.a. "Main Event" on the AND1 Mixtape Tour; one of the original players on the famous AND1-sponsored streetball tours<ref>Linden Athletic Hall of Fame Template:Webarchive. Accessed January 30, 2009.</ref>
• Carolyn Dorin-Ballard (born 1964), professional bowler and TV bowling analyst, USBC Hall of Famer<ref>Pezzano, Chuck. "Bohn, Dorin-Ballard Reap More Accolades", The Record, February 24, 2002. Accessed May 13, 2007. "Parker Bohn III of Jackson and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Linden were named honorary captains of the recently announced All-America teams in polls conducted by the American Bowling Congress and Women's International Bowling Congress."</ref>
• Cathy Dorin-Lizzi (born 1966), professional bowler and TV bowling analyst, sister of Carolyn<ref>Caballero, Paula. "Inside Bowling; Sisters have historic meeting in LPBT finals", Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 23, 1997. Accessed May 13, 2007." Cathy Dorin of Linden, N.J., outdueled sister Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of North Richland Hills, 245-203, Thursday in the first stepladder match of the $65,000 Sam's Town Tunica Mid South Classic in Memphis, Tenn."</ref>
• Calvin Duncan (born 1961), pastor and former professional basketball player who was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round (30th pick overall) of 1985 NBA draft<ref>Calvin Duncan. The Draft Review. 2009. Accessed September 15, 2009.</ref><ref>Berman, Zach. "VCU success story Calvin Duncan has Jersey roots", The Star-Ledger, March 31, 2011, updated March 31, 2019. Accessed May 17, 2020. "Calvin Duncan was 18 in 1979 with a budding basketball career, a laughable transcript and no parents. The aunt who raised him in Linden remained bedridden from a stroke. Needing improved test scores and a new environment, Duncan transferred from Linden High School to Oak Hill Academy in rural Virginia — as removed from Linden as he figured he could go."</ref>
• John T. Gregorio (1928−2013), politician who served as mayor of Linden, in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1976 to 1978 and in the New Jersey Senate from 1978 to 1983<ref>Khavkine, Richard. "John T. Gregorio, the Lion of Linden, dies at 87", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 23, 2013, updated March 30, 2019. Accessed June 3, 2020. "John T. Gregorio, a Democratic icon who served eight terms as a charismatic and colorful mayor of Linden, died today. He was 87."</ref>
• Linda Hayes (1923–1998; nee Bertha Williams), jazz and R&B singer<ref>Eagle, Bob L.; and LeBlanc, Eric S. Blues: A Regional Experience, p. 265. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Template:ISBN. Accessed November 24, 2014. "Linda Hayes (Bertha Lulu Williams) (v) (Linden, Union County, December 10, 1923—[Bertha L. Roberson] Atlanta, Georgia, May 26, 1998)."</ref>
• George Hudak (1935–1996), politician who represented the 20th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1986 to 1994 and was mayor of Linden from 1983 to 1987<ref>Russell, Suzanne C. "George Hudak Dies; 'Too Nice' For Politics", The Central Jersey Home News, November 6, 1996. Accessed July 12, 2020. "Mr. Hudak was a lifelong resident of Linden."</ref>
• Eddie Kasko (1931–2020), infielder, manager, scout and front office executive in Major League Baseball<ref>Crehan, Herbert F. Red Sox Heroes of Yesteryear, p. 191. Rounder Books, 2005. Template:ISBN. Accessed May 13, 2007. "I was the last one cut, but I headed home to Linden, New Jersey, Figuring I had better get a job."</ref>
• Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt (born 1948), artist and veteran of the Stonewall riots<ref>Stonewall Rebellion Template:Webarchive, University of Wisconsin. Accessed April 22, 2011. "Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt was born in 1948 and raised in the multi-ethnic Catholic enclaves of Elizabeth and Linden, New Jersey."</ref>
• Mike Nardi (born 1985), basketball player who has played for Scavolini Spar Pesaro in the Italian League – Serie A<ref>Wielgus, Jennifer. "Villanova product Nardi ready to hold court", Bucks County Courier Times, July 6, 2008. Accessed July 23, 2012. "His team bused all over Italy to play, with trips taking up to six hours through mountains and countryside - a far cry from Nardi's urban hometown of Linden, N.J."</ref>
• Vincent Obsitnik (born 1938), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Slovak Republic<ref>Staff. U.S. ambassador returns to Linden (Obsitnik '59), United States Naval Academy, May 6, 2009. Accessed July 23, 2011. "Obsitnik shared his story of being born in Slovakia and moving to Linden as a child. He listed his addresses in Linden: his first house, at 308 East Elm St.; the house at 714 Roselle St. that his parents rented; and 308 East Curtis St., which his father built. From there, Obsitnik attended the Naval Academy and worked as an executive for IBM, Unisys and Litton Corp. Obsitnik graduated from Linden High School in 1955, and he recalled a few differences between the 1950s and today. Uniforms were one."</ref>
• Mike Pringley (born 1976), former American football defensive end who played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions and San Diego Chargers<ref>Mike Pringley, North Carolina Tar Heels football. Accessed February 24, 2020. "Hometown: Linden, N.J.; High School: Linden"</ref>
• Giovanni Riggi (1925–2015), mobster and member of the DeCavalcante crime family since the 1940s<ref>Staff. "Feds indict reputed mob boss", The Washington Times, July 15, 1992. Accessed July 23, 2012. "Giovanni Riggi, 67, of Linden, N.J., is the fifth alleged mob boss whom federal grand juries in Brooklyn have indicted in the last 18 months."</ref>
• Jon Rua (born 1983), actor, singer and choreographer who appeared in the Broadway hit Hamilton<ref>Iati, Marisa. "'Hamilton' star talks Broadway and his N.J. roots", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 13, 2016. Accessed August 29, 2017. "Rua chatted with a full house in Elizabeth last week about how his childhood in Union County inspires and shapes his push to create theater, music and dance that strike audience members at their core. Rua, now 32, was born in Elizabeth and grew up in Linden."</ref>
• Nicholas Scutari (born 1968), politician, who has been serving in the New Jersey Senate since 2004, where he represents the 22nd Legislative District<ref>Pérez-Peña, Richard. "New Jersey's Medical Marijuana Law Loses Planned Grower and Dispensers", The New York Times, July 23, 2010. Accessed June 3, 2020. "State Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, a Democrat from Linden who was the other main sponsor, said that Mr. Christie wanted too much control over the program and that the state would have no choice but to approve private growers."</ref>
• Danny Stiles (1923–2011), radio personality at WNYC, WNSW, WJDM and WPAT in the New York City market<ref>Model, Eric. "Danny Stiles: The 'Vicar of Vintage' endures even after his passing" Template:Webarchive, NewJerseyNewsroom.com, June 20, 2011. Accessed July 23, 2012. "Danny Stiles was born in 1923 and grew up in Newark and Linden during the Great Depression. After graduating from high school in 1941, he enlisted for the Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After being honorably discharged due to an injured hip, Stiles went to college and held several jobs before starting his radio career."</ref>
• Troy Stradford (born 1964), former running back who played for six seasons in the NFL<ref>Thomsen, Ian. "He's In A State Of Anticipation; Bc's Stradford Eyes A Big Year", The Boston Globe, August 27, 1985. Accessed July 20, 2012. "He was a 5-foot-8-inch basketball player who could dunk two-handed, but [Troy Stradford] was mainly a 1,000-yard tailback each of his last two years at Linden High School."</ref>
• Joseph Suliga (1958–2005), former member of the New Jersey Senate who was the youngest person ever elected to the Linden Public Schools Board of Education, at the age of 19<ref>Becker, Arielle, Levin. "Ex-senator mourned in Linden", Home News Tribune, February 20, 2005. Accessed July 23, 2011. "Union County Democratic Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo recalled the day 27 years ago when the 19-year-old Suliga walked into her office, wearing a suit and looking younger than his 19 years, and announced that he was running for the Linden school board."</ref>
• Craig Taylor (born 1966), former running back for the Cincinnati Bengals<ref>Staff. "Closing comes early for Bellevue Stratford", The Pittsburgh Press, March 5, 1986. Accessed April 22, 2011. "Rose was named in warrants sworn by Jones and Craig Taylor, another WVU football player of Linden, N.J."</ref>
• Chester A. Weidenburner (1913–1985), lawyer and judge who served as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and as a Judge of the New Jersey Superior Court<ref>Staff. "Chester Weidenburner Dies; Ex-Judge and U.S. Attorney", The New York Times, December 11, 1985. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Chester Weidenburner, a former New Jersey Superior Court judge and United States Attorney, died Sunday at the Elizabeth (N.J.) General Medical Center. He was 72 years old and lived in Linden, N.J."</ref>
• Muhammad Wilkerson (born 1989), defensive end who has played for the New York Jets<ref>Vrentas, Jenny. "Former Linden High star Muhammad Wilkerson likely to be first New Jerseyan selected in 2011 NFL Draft", The Star-Ledger, April 25, 2011. Accessed July 23, 2011. "Raised in Elizabeth and Linden, Wilkerson grew up a Giants fan until he became simply a fan of the game. The third of four children, he and his mother share a close connection, reinforced by their tradition of sending 'hugs' in daily text messages."</ref>
• Robert Zarinsky (1940–2008), convicted murderer and suspected serial killer<ref>Russell, Suzanne C. "Unsolved killings probed", Asbury Park Press, August 19, 1999. Accessed April 22, 2011. "Law enforcement officials today will resume their search of a Linden home owned by Robert Zarinsky, the man serving a life sentence for the 1969 killing of a 17-year-old Atlantic Highlands girl whose body was never found."</ref>

External links

• Linden website