Hackensack, New Jersey, USA
1844 - Hackensack

This township is 10 miles long, with a width varying from 3 to 5 miles. It is bounded N. by Harrington, B. by Hudson river, S. by part of Hudson co., and W. by Lodi and New Barbadoes. On the E. the Palisades skirt along the Hudson. The W. part is generally level, and contains much meadow-land in the valleys of Hackensack river and English creek. The raising of garden vegetables for the New York market furnishes support for many of the inhabitants. The value in 1840 was $11,726; being more than double that of any other township in the county. There are 4 bridges over the Hackensack, in the township,—one near the village of Hackensack, and at New Milford, at Old Bridge, and at New Bridge. These three, with Schraalenberg, Closter, and Mount Clinton, contain each a few dwellings. English Neighborhood is a thickly settled vicinity, in the south part, 5 miles from Hoboken, where there is a Reformed Dutch and a Christ-ian church. The township contains 5 stores, 9 grist m., 6 saw m.; cap. in manufac. $300; 6 schools, 281 scholars. Population, 2,631.

The Palisade rocks, with their bold and rugged fronts, commence a short distance above the city of New York, and form the western bank of the Hudson to Tappan, a distance of twenty miles. Remarkable for their picturesque and sublime appearance, they are justly considered among the most interesting objects of natural scenery in America. In some places they rise almost perpendicularly from the shore, to the height of five or six hundred feet, and form for miles a solid wall of dark frowning rock, impressing the stranger, as he sails along their base, with the aspect of nature in her sterner forms. The summit is slightly undulating table-land, averaging in width about two miles, and generally covered with wood. From thence the mountain gently descends to the west, and is cleared and cultivated, with many neat farm-houses at its based Still further on, is seen the Hackensack quietly coursing through a beautiful fertile valley; and in the perspective, the blue outlines of distant hills in the interior of the state.

Fort Lee is a small village on the Hudson, 5 miles SE. of Hackensack, and 9 above New York. It consists of about 30 dwellings, irregularly grouped in a nook at the foot of the Palisades. It derives its name from the fort built in the war of the revolution, on the summit of the rocks, about 300 feet above the river, overlooking the village. Traces of the ruins of the fortress still exist, am! until within a short time some of the stone huts used by the soldiers were standing. They were small, low, rude structures, only large enough for one or two men. In digging the cellar for the hotel, a few years since, swords, bullets, bayonets, and other military relics were found. The site of the fort is overgro’wn with low trees.

Fort Washington is on the opposite side of the Hudson, about three miles above. When it was taken, Nov. 16, 1776, and the garrison put to the sword, tradition affirms that Washington stood on “Bluff Point,” a high eminence just N. of Fort Lee, and with a spyglass witnessing the massacre, appeared greatly agitated, and wept. Four days after, the Americans evacuated Fort Lee...

HISTORICHAL COLLECTIONS OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, OHN W. BARBER and HENRY HOWE, 1844

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