West New York

Town in Hudson County, northeast New Jersey; population (1990) 38,100. It is situated atop the Palisades of the Hudson River, across from Manhattan, and 8 km/5 mi northeast of Jersey City. West New York has long been the major embroidery producing municipality in the USA. Its other manufactures include textiles, clothing, radio parts, rubber and leather products, and toys. Its waterfront accommodates ocean-going vessels, and there are also facilities of the New York Central Railroad.

Dutch settlement of the area dates from 1661. West New York itself was founded in 1790, and became a separate town in 1898. Since the 1960s, West New York and its neighbour, Union City, have become commercial centres for Cuban refugees and, more recently, immigrants from the Caribbean and South America; 60% of residents are foreign-born.