Quick History of Bayonne, NJ

Looking for a quick history of Bayonne, NJ? Check out this brief timeline curated by Mercedes-Benz of Union for some information about the history of our area!

Early History

The early history of Bayonne, NJ consists of:

• Home to Lenni Lenape Native Americans before the arrival of Europeans
• Dutch settlers arrive in the 1600s, when Bayonne was known as Bergen Neck
• British came to rule in 1664

Middle History

By the 1800s, Bayonne, NJ began to develop significantly:

• Completion of the Morris Canal in 1836 connected Bergen Neck to the rest of Northern New Jersey
• Steamboats linked the area with New York City in 1846
• Railroads arrived in the 1860s

Bayonne came to be an independent township in 1861 and a city in 1869, and was named after what was once Bayonne Avenue.

Becoming Bayonne

Some facts about the early days of Bayonne include:

• The first mayor was Henry Meigs, Jr., President of the New York Stock Exchange.
• Bayonne served as an early boat-building and yachting location.
• From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Bayonne rapidly urbanized and industrialized.
• Standard Oil Company became the city’s largest employer in the 1920s, and Bayonne once was among the largest oil refinery centers in the world.

Bayonne Today

Today, Bayonne maintains elements of a small town, and waves of immigrants have arrived in the area over the decades. The arrival of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit system also marks modern times.

Visit Mercedes-Benz of Union

Mercedes-Benz of Union is proud to be a part of the Bayonne community! We’re always here if you’re looking for a new Mercedes-Benz model, would like some advice on financing, or need vehicle service. Get in touch to learn more!

*Photo Credit https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bayonne_Bridge_Collins_Pk_jeh.JPG