Bergen County is one of the leading places in Garden State to live, and it’s easy to see why. Bergen County is situated in the northeast corner of New Jersey. This vibrant county displays something for everyone. From top-notch schools and entertainment options to abundant job opportunities and convenient connections to New York City, Bergen County has it all. It’s also a place of valuable history, from being an early hub of the film industry to hosting famous inventors and celebrities. We’ve compiled some of our favorite fun facts about Bergen County for easy reading. Read on for 20 facts you probably didn’t know about Bergen County, New Jersey.

Disclaimer: This list contains only 20 facts, but it is not exhaustive. There are many more fun facts out there, and this collection is part of an ever-growing list.

1. Bergen County Was an OG in NJ

Bergen was one of the four original counties in New Jersey. Today, Bergen County spans 239 square miles in the northeast corner of the state and has a population of over 900,000 people.

2. Native American Roots

Before the Dutch settled Hackensack in 1693, the area was home to the Lenni Lenape Indian community, specifically the Achkinheshcky tribe, who lived along the Hackensack River and practiced a form of democracy in their independently governed villages. The name “Hackensack,” meaning “mouth of a river,” originated from this tribe.

Read More: The Best Indoor Activities in Bergen County

3. The Story Behind the Ramsey Train Station

The Bergen County town of Ramsey is named after Peter J. Ramsey, a 19th-century landowner who sold the land where a railroad station was built in 1848. This station is now called “Ramsey’s Station,” which is a popular means of transportation today.

4. Hollywood of the East Coast

People recognize Fort Lee as the birthplace of the American motion picture industry. Fort Lee, situated just across the river from New York City, emerged as a prominent location for early film production. In the 1910s, motion pictures permeated every facet of life in this suburban New Jersey town. The Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee is a tribute to the town’s pivotal role in the movie industry over 120 years ago.

5. Blue Laws

The “Blue Laws” have been a defining aspect of life in Bergen County for decades, restricting certain Sunday retail activities to reduce traffic. Bergen County has been the only county in New Jersey to maintain them since 1985.

6. The New Jersey End of the George Washington Bridge

The New Jersey end of the George Washington Bridge is Fort Lee, NJ. Since the George Washington Bridge opened to traffic in October 1931, it has influenced life in Bergen County more than any other large structure.

BG pro-tip:  If you take a stroll across the bridge, you can stand with one foot in New York and the other in New Jersey simultaneously.

7. What is The Devil’s Tower?

For many years, legends and rumors have surrounded the Devil’s Tower, a stone structure in Alpine, New Jersey. Some claim that circling the tower a specific number of times will cause a ghost to appear. Officially known as Rio Vista, millionaire sugar importer Manuel Rionda built the tower in 1910 as a tribute to his wife.

8. Home to a Groundbreaking Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant

Edgewater was the site of a Ford Motor Company assembly plant built between 1929 and 1931. At the time, this plant was regarded as one of the most advanced and efficient automobile assembly facilities.

9. It’s Popular!

Bergen County is the most populous county in New Jersey and holds the distinction of being the most densely populated county in the state.

10. Land of the Deep Fried Hot Dogs

A deep-fried hot dog is a classic Bergen County treat. Hiram’s in Fort Lee is renowned for its deep-fried hot dogs and was a favorite spot of the late Anthony Bourdain.

11. 70 Municipalities, One County

Bergen County is made up of 70 municipalities, but it lacks any large cities. The most populous town in the county is Hackensack.

12. The Mystery Behind Bergen County’s Name: Debunking the Origin

There is a debate about the origin of the name “Bergen County.” Some sources claim it’s named after Bergen, Norway, while others point to Bergen in North Holland, Netherlands. Another theory suggests that Hans Hansen Bergen, an early settler from Norway who arrived in New Netherland (now New York City) in 1633, named it.

13. A Forgotten Tragedy of World War I

The Kingsland Explosion took place on January 11th, 1917, at a munitions factory in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, during World War I. A fire at the Canadian Car and Foundry Company’s Kingsland plant in Bergen County ignited approximately 500,000 three-inch explosive shells, destroying the facility.

14. Home to the Bergen PAC

The Bergen Performing Arts Center (PAC) in Englewood serves as a venue for a variety of performances. The center has hosted major artists, including comedian Howie Mandel and musical performer Billy Ocean.

15. Famous Locals

Many famous people have claimed Bergen County as their home at one time or another. Celebs living and deceased include John Travolta, the Jonas Brothers, James Gandolfini, and Frank Sinatra have Bergen County roots. Yep, we’re pretty cool!

16. Hosting One of New Jersey’s Oldest Eateries

The Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern takes pride in being one of New Jersey’s oldest establishments. Originally built in 1796 by Andrew Zabriskie as a family home, it officially transitioned to a restaurant in 1890.

17. LG North American Headquarters

LG, officially known as LG Corporation, has its North American headquarters in Englewood Cliffs. This facility was a project with an investment of approximately $300 million. LG employs around 74,000 people around the world today and is the second-largest television manufacturer to date.

18. Henry’s House in Goodfellas

The home located at 1080 Inwood Terrace in Fort Lee was the residence of the real Henry Hill who was the subject of the movie Goodfellas. Henry Hill was an American mobster linked to the Lucchese crime family and later became an FBI informant. In the film, he was portrayed by actor and Newark native Ray Liotta.

See More: Why is Jersey City Called Chilltown? A Deep Dive

19. Direct Distance Dialing

In 1951, Englewood became the first place to introduce direct distance dialing, allowing telephone calls to be made without operator assistance.

20. Where Scarlet Witch + Vision Called Home

Leonia was the temporary residence of the characters Scarlet Witch and Vision in several Marvel Comics storylines from the 1980s, primarily featured in The Vision and the Scarlet Witch series.