Hackensack is the county seat of Bergen County, New Jersey, positioned along the Hackensack River in the northeastern part of the state, roughly seven miles from the George Washington Bridge and the borough of Manhattan beyond it. With about 46,000 residents, it is one of the most established cities in one of New Jersey's most populous counties, serving as a center for county government, courts, and administration. The city's roots reach back to the Dutch colonial era. Its First Reformed Church, established in the late 1600s, is among the oldest congregations in the region, and the community grew up around the river that gave it its name. Hackensack served as the area's government and trading center for centuries and retains a historic downtown core alongside newer development. The city's street grid and older buildings reflect this layered history, with landmarks and historic homes sitting beside modern commercial blocks. Today Hackensack mixes its county-seat role with a substantial residential and educational presence. Fairleigh Dickinson University operates its Metropolitan Campus in the city, and the downtown has undergone significant redevelopment, with new residential units, retail, and public spaces joining established commercial streets along Main Street and River Street. The city is also known for the former New Jersey Naval Museum and the World War II submarine USS Ling, and it counts astronaut Wally Schirra among its notable native sons. Hackensack's neighborhoods range from quiet, tree-lined single-family streets on the west side to denser, walkable areas near the riverfront, and its population is notably diverse. For homebuyers and renters, the city offers a location close to New York City with direct NJ Transit rail and bus service, a walkable downtown, riverfront parkland, and a housing stock that ranges from historic single-family homes to newly built apartments.