"New Jersey shaped who and what I am. Growing up in Jersey gave you all the advantages of New York, but you were in its shadow. Anyone who's come from here will tell you that same story." Jon Bon Jovi
Head due west from New York City into New Jersey and you’ll hit Kearney, NJ, a New Jersey town in Hudson County that’s closely associated with its industrial history. Kearney was founded during the colonial period, when a local settler discovered a copper stone and began a copper mine there. In the 1870s, many Scottish and Irish immigrants came to town for factory jobs at two Scottish-run companies (Clark Thread and Nairn Linoleum), and these two groups helped shape the future character of the city. Talk about diverse beginnings! From then, Kearney began to add factories to its stock and immigrants continued to move there to work in them. Today, many of Kearney’s factories are closed or shut down, but its community remains a strong group of blue collar workers. Some episodes of The Sopranos was filmed here in the early 2000s, but even many of the buildings they used have since been torn down for new development.
If you are ready to move to the mid-Atlantic and want to check out homes near Kearney, it would be best to start your home search in the spring or fall, since summers get humid and unpleasant and winters can be bone-chillingly cold
"New Jersey shaped who and what I am. Growing up in Jersey gave you all the advantages of New York, but you were in its shadow. Anyone who's come from here will tell you that same story." Jon Bon Jovi
Head due west from New York City into New Jersey and you’ll hit Kearney, NJ, a New Jersey town in Hudson County that’s closely associated with its industrial history. Kearney was founded during the colonial period, when a local settler discovered a copper stone and began a copper mine there. In the 1870s, many Scottish and Irish immigrants came to town for factory jobs at two Scottish-run companies (Clark Thread and Nairn Linoleum), and these two groups helped shape the future character of the city. Talk about diverse beginnings! From then, Kearney began to add factories to its stock and immigrants continued to move there to work in them. Today, many of Kearney’s factories are closed or shut down, but its community remains a strong group of blue collar workers. Some episodes of The Sopranos was filmed here in the early 2000s, but even many of the buildings they used have since been torn down for new development.
Moving to Kearney
If you are ready to move to the mid-Atlantic and want to check out homes near Kearney, it would be best to start your home search in the spring or fall, since summers get humid and unpleasant and winters can be bone-chillingly cold. Residences are split 50/50 between rentals and properties for purchase, so whether you’re looking to buy a house and bring your family or just find a short-term apartment rental, there’s a good chance you'll hit gold here. Only 5% of homes in Kearney are vacant, so you might not be able to find what you want right off the bat, but if you spend enough time looking or hire a broker to help, chances are after a few months youll be able to find a place that suits your size and price needs.
When beginning an apartment search, its important to remember that moving is expensive so be sure to stock up on that green stuff. On top of moving costs, you’ll need to pay several months rent, a security deposit, a brokers fee, and also the cost of movers. To prove to your potential landlord that youll be able to afford your rent consistently, youll need to submit some documents along with your apartment application. Gather your bank statements, tax returns, pay stubs, proof of employment, letters of reference from previous landlords, and copies of IDs these will allow the landlord to check your financial history. They’ll also probably run a credit check, so make sure your credit score is in good standing.
Neighborhoods
Kearney’s a small town, but that doesn't mean there aren't neighborhoods here. If you want to move to Kearney, you better be sure you end up in the right area of town. Read below to find out more about the character and prices of some areas in town:
Arlington:Arlington is the neighborhood in the northwestern most corner of Kearney. It’s the most expensive neighborhood in the city. That’s because it’s farthest from Newark and the industrial areas around there. Move here for family living and suburban feeling neighborhoods. You can find old, historic homes here, so it’s a good place if you want to live somewhere that has an interesting past.
Newark Turnpike:This neighborhood is on the eastern side of Kearney, and it borders Jersey City. This area is closest to New York City, so some even consider it a suburb. This is a working class neighborhood, but homes are single-family and some streets feel residential, if industrial. There are water views of the Hackensack River and the bay but the waters pretty toxic, so move there only if you like to look at water, not touch it.
Western Kearney:The southern part of Western Kearney borders Newark, which is not the most desirable town to live in, but it does have an international airport and great public transportation systems. This area’s on the Passaic River, so there are some scenic spots. You can find mid-range houses in this neighborhood, and there are both apartments and houses for rent and purchase.
Living in Kearney
Don't be confused by its waterfront location; Kearney is no quaint river or beach town. It is, however, a clean working-class, blue-collar suburb in New Jersey, and it offers living that’s a tad more affordable than a lot of other suburbs across the river from the big city. If you want to get around the area, many people recommend having a car, which makes it easy to run errands and get to other New Jersey towns. If you’re planning to commute into New York City, you’ll probably want to leave your own wheels in the garage--which I'm sure is a relief to hear. To get into the city, there are buses that you can ride. There is also a PATH train that runs from nearby Harrison, so if you have a way to get to the next town over, you will be able to take a quick and easy train in.
What is there to do in Kearney itself? You can definitely eat, and eat some more. Ask anyone what to do in Kearney and they will say to eat fish and chips. This is a part of the cuisine that remains from when the area was nearly all Scottish and Irish. A favorite fish and chips spot in town is the Argyle Fish & Chip Restaurant. If you like something a little more exotic than fish and chips, try Mi Pueblito, a highly-rated Mexican restaurant that people say serves up fresh and authentic Mexican food. If you like spicy cuisine, you might also like El Cubanitos Cafe in town, which is the locals' favorite spot for Cuban food. For something else exotic, try Oh! Calamares. It’s a Peruvian restaurant, and you can be sure that you'll get a fresh, homemade tasting Peruvian meal, which isn’t always easy to find in this part of the country.
If you like to do things other than eat, you might have a hard time occupying yourself in the small town. There is, however, a nice park called West Hudson Park. The park is home to a nice water park, tennis courts, a pond, and lots of trails and green grass to lounge about on (this is a rarity for the area!). Theres a movie theater in town, the Lincoln Cinema 5 and while people say it can be small and rinky-dink, it does offer first-run showings of Hollywood’s best movies. If you like live performances better than recorded ones, you wont find anything in Kearney but in nearby Newark, you can check out the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, which has tons of live shows symphonies, musicals, operas and more. If you have kids, the nearby Liberty Science Center is a draw for people all over the country. Located in Jersey City, the Liberty Science Center offers people of all ages a hands-on look at science, history and nature.
Let’s face it, Kearney is not the most idyllic looking city. But if you don’t mind a working-class neighborhood with easy access to some of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city, then Kearney might be a good choice for you. Its cost of living is low, relative to the area, so moving there won’t break the bank (at least not as much as some other places around there will).
