Country Village, Jersey City
Encyclopedia
Country Village is an residential enclave in the southwestern corner of the Greenville
section of Jersey City, New Jersey
that was built as planned community in the early 1960s.
Country Village is enclosed on its southern and western perimeter side by New Jersey Route 440, across from which is Newark Bay
. Access to the waterfront is limited due the highway, presenting an obstacle to the development of the Hackensack RiverWalk
planned along its shores. The city-line with Bayonne
cuts through a small southern part of the neighborhood. The line was originally created along the banks of the Morris Canal
, a short filled section of the national historic site running through Country Village as a unmarked, undeveloped, right of way. It creates the official eastern perimeter of the enclave, though the western slope descending from Kennedy Boulevard is somewhat similar in style and character. Danforth Avenue
, a major crosstown and commercial street of Greenville, is to the north, its intersection at West Side Avenue
marking the origination point of that avenue. To the south are the approaches to two bay crossings,
, the Newark Bay Bridge
and the Lehigh Valley Railroad Bridge
.
The neighborhood is in the city's Ward "A" and along with neighboring Bayonne
is part of Freeholders District 1.
Greenville, Jersey City
Greenville is the southernmost section of Jersey City, New Jersey.In its broadest definition Greenville encompasses the area south of the West Side Branch of Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and north of the city line with Bayonne, between the Upper New York Bay and the Newark Bay, and corresponds to the...
section of Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
that was built as planned community in the early 1960s.
Design and geography
Designed as "suburbia-in-the-city" the community consists of one-family Colonial style homes, two-family Cape Cod-style homes, and one-family ranch-style homes streets with the names Sycamore Road, Suburbia Court, Northcroft Road, Suburbia Drive, Oakdale Road, Suburbia Terrace, and Glenn Lane. The houses are densely placed and some have garages so there are few front gardens, though most streets are tree-lined.Country Village is enclosed on its southern and western perimeter side by New Jersey Route 440, across from which is Newark Bay
Newark Bay
Newark Bay is a tidal bay at the confluence of the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers in northeastern New Jersey. It is home to the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the largest container shipping facility in Port of New York and New Jersey, 3rd largest and one of busiest in the United States...
. Access to the waterfront is limited due the highway, presenting an obstacle to the development of the Hackensack RiverWalk
Hackensack RiverWalk
Hackensack RiverWalk a is partially constructed greenway along the Newark Bay and Hackensack River on the west side of the Bergen Neck peninsula in Hudson County, New Jersey...
planned along its shores. The city-line with Bayonne
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
cuts through a small southern part of the neighborhood. The line was originally created along the banks of the Morris Canal
Morris Canal
The Morris Canal was an anthracite-carrying canal that incorporated a series of water-driven inclined planes in its course across northern New Jersey in the United States. It was in use for about a century — from the late 1820s to the 1920s....
, a short filled section of the national historic site running through Country Village as a unmarked, undeveloped, right of way. It creates the official eastern perimeter of the enclave, though the western slope descending from Kennedy Boulevard is somewhat similar in style and character. Danforth Avenue
Danforth Avenue (Hudson County)
-Station:The Danforth Avenue Station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is located one block east of Garfield Avenue, near the location of the former Central Railroad of New Jersey Greenville station.-Service:...
, a major crosstown and commercial street of Greenville, is to the north, its intersection at West Side Avenue
West Side, Jersey City
The West Side of Jersey City is a made of several diverse neighborhoods on either side of West Side Avenue, one of the city's main shopping streets...
marking the origination point of that avenue. To the south are the approaches to two bay crossings,
, the Newark Bay Bridge
Newark Bay Bridge
The Newark Bay Bridge is a steel through arch bridge that is continuous across three spans. It crosses Newark Bay and connects the cities of Newark and Bayonne in New Jersey...
and the Lehigh Valley Railroad Bridge
Lehigh Valley Railroad Bridge
The Lehigh Valley Railroad Bridge is a vertical lift bridge spanning the Newark Bay in northeastern New Jersey. It is used by CSX Transportation travelling through the North Jersey Shared Assets Area of the United States rail network along the National Docks Secondary line. The bridge is just north...
.
The neighborhood is in the city's Ward "A" and along with neighboring Bayonne
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
is part of Freeholders District 1.
History
The purpose of the new housing was to offer middle-income urban dwellers an opportunity to buy homes in a residential area with an "out of town" feel without the need for long commutes. In 1959 Jersey City Planning Commission rezoned the 42 acres (169,968.1 m²) undeveloped industrial tract for residential use. Census figures for the city had revealed a steady decline in the population. (After reaching a height of 316,715 in 1930 and by 1960 the downward trend had reached 276,101.) It was hoped that the creation of new residential districts would increase the population of the city once again. The low-lying area had never been developed because of drainage and sewerage problems. Interested parties in the site were discouraged by the land reclamation requirements for factories to be constructed there. In 1960, however, the builder Alexander Muss took on the task of filling in the lowland area with 400,000 square yards of landfill costing over $500,000. When completed, the 553 houses that cost from $19,000 to $23,000 were reportedly all sold by 1964.Transportation
- Red & Tan in Hudson County buses 10/99s and 99x run along Kennedy Boulevard south to Bayonne and north to Journal Square with continuing service via Jersey City Heights to the Port Authority Bus TerminalPort Authority Bus TerminalThe Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City...
. - A&CA&C Bus CorporationThe A&C Bus Corporation, also known as the Montgomery & Westside Bus Owners Association, is a bus company in Jersey City, New Jersey. All buses operated by A&C are known for their solid red line on the side of the bus and the phrase "use the bus card on this bus" on the front of the...
West Side buses run along West Side AvenueWest Side, Jersey CityThe West Side of Jersey City is a made of several diverse neighborhoods on either side of West Side Avenue, one of the city's main shopping streets...
to McGinley SquareMcGinley SquareMcGinley Square is in Jersey City, New Jersey, located near the middle of the city, south of Journal Square. The square itself is at the intersection of two of the city's major thoroughfares, Montgomery Street , and Bergen Avenue .The area was named after Monsignor Roger...
, Grove Street StationGrove Street (PATH station)Grove Street is a PATH station at the junction of Grove Street, Newark Avenue and Railroad Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey. Opened on September 6, 1910 as Grove-Henderson Streets station, it is situated in the heart of Jersey City's historic downtown district...
to Newport Centre MallNewport Centre MallNewport Centre is a shopping mall in Jersey City, New Jersey that opened in 1987. It is a major component of the enormous Newport, Jersey City mixed-use community on the Hudson River waterfront across from lower Manhattan, New York...
and Exchange PlaceExchange Place, Jersey CityExchange Place is a district of Downtown Jersey City, New Jersey that is sometimes referred to as "Wall Street West" due to the concentration of financial concerns which have offices there...
. - New Jersey Transit bus 80 along Danforth Avenue and West Side Avenue to Journal Square and Exchange PlaceExchange Place, Jersey CityExchange Place is a district of Downtown Jersey City, New Jersey that is sometimes referred to as "Wall Street West" due to the concentration of financial concerns which have offices there...
.