North Bergen was incorporated as a township on April 10, 1843, by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature, from Bergen Township. Portions of the township have been taken to form Hoboken Township , Weehawken , Union Township and West Hoboken Township (both created on February 28, 1861), Union Hill town and Secaucus .
As of the census of 2000, there were 58,092 people, 21,236 households, and 14,249 families residing in the township. The population density was 11,179.6 people per square mile (4,313.4/km²). There were 22,009 housing units at an average density of 1, 634.2/km² (4,235.5/sq mi). The racial makeup of the township was 67.36% White, 2.72% African American, 0.40% Native American, 6.47% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 15.53% from other races, and 7.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.25% of the population.
There were 21,236 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,844, and the median income for a family was $46,172. Males had a median income of $35,626 versus $29,067 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,058. About 9.6% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.
The township is a suburb of New York City, where about 21% of the township's employed residents work.
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) service is available at the Tonnelle Avenue station. HBLR is a light rail system, owned by New Jersey Transit and operated by the 21st Century Rail Corporation, that connects the Hudson County communities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City and North Bergen. Service is available to Hoboken Terminal and two stations at West Side Avenue in Jersey City and 22nd Street in Bayonne.
Route 495, Route 3 and U.S. Route 1/9 are major highways within the township's borders, and the New Jersey Turnpike is easily accessible.
New Jersey Transit bus service is available to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 121, 125, 127, 128, 154, 156, 158, 159, 165, 166, 168, 320 routes. The George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal is served by the 181 and 188. Jersey City is accessible via the 22, 23, 83, 84, 85, 86, 88 and 89 routes. Local routes are served by the 751.
The closest airport in New Jersey with scheduled passenger service is Newark Liberty International Airport, located 13.7 miles away straddling the border between Newark and Elizabeth. New York City's LaGuardia Airport is 16.0 miles away in Flushing, Queens, via the George Washington Bridge.