Carlstadt is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, set along the Hackensack River at the edge of the New Jersey Meadowlands. With a population of about 6,370, it is a compact community whose identity has long been tied to industry, transportation, and its strategic location minutes from New York City. The borough's history is one of manufacturing and commerce. Carlstadt became known as a manufacturing and industrial center, particularly for its role in the dye and chemical industries during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Over time, as the Meadowlands was redeveloped with new roadways and expanding rail yards, warehousing and distribution grew into the borough's dominant industry—a role that continues today. Carlstadt's location is central to its character. The Hackensack River forms part of the borough's boundary, and the surrounding Meadowlands wetlands—once largely agricultural—have been reshaped over the past century by roads, rail yards, and distribution centers. The New Jersey Turnpike runs along the eastern edge of the Meadowlands District, and the Meadowlands Sports Complex, a regional hub for professional football, concerts, and events, lies just to the east. The borough's residential sections are compact and established, woven among its industrial and commercial corridors. Homes date largely from the early to mid-twentieth century, and the community retains a small-town civic life despite its industrial surroundings. Its position near the Turnpike and the George Washington Bridge places Manhattan within minutes, making Carlstadt a hub for logistics and a convenient residential base for commuters. Public school students attend a regional school district shared with neighboring East Rutherford. For residents, Carlstadt offers an established foothold in Bergen County with exceptional regional access, set against the distinctive backdrop of the Meadowlands.