Bergen County Seat · Main Street · Hackensack Meridian Health · Two Rail Stations
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is Bergen County’s county seat and one of its most important urban centers, combining government, healthcare, courts, a redeveloping Main Street downtown, large apartment districts, regional shopping and strong rail and bus transportation.
Hackensack University Medical Center is a dominant employment and healthcare anchor, while the Main Street district, HACPAC, Johnson Public Library, county offices and The Shops at Riverside give the city a broad mix of civic, cultural and commercial destinations.
Hackensack at a glance
A compact profile using current Census and municipal information.
Housing snapshot: Median owner-occupied home value $393,700; median gross rent $1,911; mean travel time to work 28.9 min. Census values represent the 2020–2024 reporting period and are not live market prices.
History & identity
Hackensack’s history reaches back to Lenape settlement and early Dutch activity. The Green became a Revolutionary-era landmark, the city grew as Bergen County’s governmental center, and the municipality adopted its present Hackensack name and city charter in 1921.
Large township immediately east with universities, parks and major road/bus connections.
Small residential borough southeast of downtown Hackensack.
Separate township with commercial and industrial districts south of the city.
Business & community life
Hackensack has its own local commercial pattern rather than a generic suburban mix.
Traditional and rapidly redeveloping downtown with restaurants, services, apartments, arts venues and civic institutions.
Regional shopping and dining corridor anchored by The Shops at Riverside and nearby commercial centers.
Healthcare, professional offices, transit and dense housing around Hackensack University Medical Center.
Automotive, retail, service and riverfront-oriented commercial properties connect downtown with Route 80 access.
Parks, recreation & things to do
Downtown venue for theater, music, visual arts and community programming.
Civic green associated with Revolutionary-era history and the historic First Reformed Church area.
274 Main Street · major BCCLS library with extensive programs, learning resources and community space.
Restaurants, shops, services, public art, events and continuing redevelopment make downtown a visitor destination.
Regional shopping and dining destination on Hackensack Avenue.
City recreation center with courts, programs, community rooms and year-round activities.
Schools & library
Hackensack residents are served by local public-school and library systems with current calendars, programs and employment information available from official sources.
Getting around
Hackensack has two Pascack Valley Line stations—Anderson Street and Essex Street—plus the downtown Hackensack Bus Terminal and extensive local/regional bus service.
Transit reminder: Routes, platforms and schedules can change. Verify time-sensitive trips directly with NJ Transit.
Official resources
City of HackensackGovernment, departments, meetings, forms, notices and resident services.Hackensack Public SchoolsDistrict information, calendars, schools and employment resources.Hackensack Public LibraryLibrary hours, BCCLS resources, programs and community services.Recreation & ParksMunicipal recreation, facilities, programs and seasonal information.
Nearby communities
Large township immediately east with universities, parks and major road/bus connections.
Small residential borough southeast of downtown Hackensack.
Separate township with commercial and industrial districts south of the city.
Dense borough west of Hackensack with Route 46 access.
Residential borough west of central Hackensack.
Residential borough north of Hackensack on the Pascack Valley Line.
Explore Hackensack on NJTGO
Use the full seven-page guide for businesses, restaurants, real estate, visitor planning, community classifieds and employment.
Advertising & Enhanced ListingsHackensack government, Census, school, library, recreation, transit, business and community information was reviewed in September 2026. Programs, schedules, businesses and public information can change; verify time-sensitive details with the responsible organization.