Elizabeth, NJ: Portside Pride, Immigrant Roots, and a City That Never Stops Moving

In the heart of Union County, just across the river from Staten Island, sits Elizabeth, New Jersey—a city built by laborers, led by immigrants, and sustained by generations of Black and brown resilience. From its colonial past to its role as a modern-day global logistics hub, Elizabeth has always been a city of movement. But beneath the trucks, trains, and planes is a story of people: families holding space, youth reshaping the future, and communities making home through joy, struggle, and determination.

Origin and History

Elizabeth is one of the oldest—and boldest—cities in America.

• Lenape Homeland: Long before colonization, the area was home to the Lenape people who lived and traded along the Arthur Kill and Elizabeth River.
• Colonial Beginnings: Originally called “Elizabethtown,” it was founded in 1664 and served as the first capital of New Jersey. It played a key role in Revolutionary War strategy and skirmishes.
• Industrial Rise: Elizabeth boomed in the 19th and 20th centuries thanks to its shipyards, railroads, oil refineries, and factories. Its port became a gateway to the world—and a magnet for workers.
• Immigration Waves: Over time, Elizabeth became home to Irish, Italian, and Eastern European immigrants, followed by large influxes of Latinx, African, Caribbean, Arab, and South Asian families.
• Modern Transformation: Elizabeth remains a center for shipping, warehousing, and international logistics—while also being a key hub for immigrant settlement and Black cultural life in North Jersey.

Demographics

Elizabeth is one of the most diverse cities in the United States—and proudly multilingual.

• Population: Approx. 137,000 residents (2020 U.S. Census)
• Cultural Composition: Over 65% Latinx (primarily Dominican, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran, and Colombian), 20% Black/African American (including African American and Afro-Caribbean), 10% white, and 5% Asian and multiracial.
• Languages Spoken: Spanish is widely spoken, alongside English, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Arabic, Tagalog, and Urdu.
• Immigrant Legacy: Over 45% of the population is foreign-born. Many residents are first- or second-generation Americans navigating bilingual, multigenerational households.

Geographic Location and Size

Elizabeth sits at the intersection of history, highways, and hemispheres.

• Size: 13.5 square miles
• County Seat: Union County
• Proximity: Just 15 miles from New York City, adjacent to Newark and Staten Island.
• Transit Access: Served by NJ Transit trains, multiple bus routes, and home to Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal—the busiest port complex on the East Coast.

Where We Thrive

Elizabeth’s power is in its people—hardworking, deeply rooted, and ready to rise.

• Public Schools: Elizabeth Public Schools is one of NJ’s largest urban school districts, serving over 28,000 students. Despite funding challenges, the district offers bilingual programs, college prep, and community-based supports.
• Faith and Culture: Elizabeth is home to dozens of churches, mosques, temples, and spiritual centers—many of which offer food pantries, youth mentorship, and immigration clinics.
• Local Business Power: From Dominican beauty salons to West African markets, Arab-owned bakeries to Salvadoran pupuserías, Elizabeth’s small business economy reflects its immigrant diversity.
• Civic and Legal Organizing: Groups like Make the Road NJ, First Friends of NJ & NY, and the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless lead efforts around housing rights, immigrant protections, and youth advocacy.

Fun Facts and Local Gems

• Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal: The second-busiest port in the country, it fuels global trade—and local labor movements.
• Boxwood Hall: A preserved colonial home visited by George Washington and Alexander Hamilton—tucked right inside the city’s urban core.
• Midtown Elizabeth: A dense, walkable downtown filled with Latinx businesses, halal restaurants, and Afro-Caribbean storefronts.
• Kean University (bordering Union): A major regional university serving many Elizabeth students and families.

Challenges and Change

Elizabeth is rich in community—but still battling systemic injustice.

• Housing Crisis: Rising rents, overcrowding, and real estate speculation make affordable housing scarce—especially for undocumented families and working-class residents.
• ICE Detention Legacy: Elizabeth was home to one of New Jersey’s most infamous immigration detention centers, which closed in 2021 after years of protest—but the trauma remains.
• School Funding Inequities: Despite a high-needs student population, Elizabeth schools continue to fight for fair funding, equitable staffing, and culturally responsive curriculum.
• Environmental Racism: Industrial pollution, traffic congestion, and proximity to the port contribute to high asthma and health risks in neighborhoods with the fewest resources.

Community Voices

“Elizabeth is hustle and heart. We’re not flashy, but we show up—at school board meetings, marches, and church basements. We fight, we love, we stay. Because this city raised us.”
— María F., second-generation Dominican organizer and youth mentor

Why Elizabeth Matters

Elizabeth isn’t just a city—it’s a frontline. A place where global trade meets global struggle. Where undocumented workers run the economy and public school kids speak five languages before lunch. Where the past is preserved in plaques, and the future is being shaped in barbershops, classrooms, and crowded living rooms.

HFYC uplifts Elizabeth because its people have earned visibility—not as victims, but as visionaries.

Call to Action

Live in Elizabeth? Know a student activist, street vendor, artist, abuela, imam, coach, or educator shaping your block?

Let us help tell their story.
Submit a feature, nominate a changemaker, or reflect on what Elizabeth means to you—from the port to the park bench.