Wallington is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, covering less than one square mile on the banks of the Passaic River, roughly eight miles from Midtown Manhattan. With a population of about 11,900, it is one of the smaller and more densely settled municipalities in the county, a tightly knit residential community that blends a long local history with direct access to New York City. The borough's origins reach back to 1687, when Walling Jocobse Van Winkle, a settler from the Netherlands, purchased the tract then known as Acquacknonk and built a home near the present-day intersection of Paterson and Main avenues. That early Dutch heritage, layered with the waves of European immigration that followed, helped shape Wallington's identity; the borough is especially known for its strong Polish-American community. Wallington's housing stock is the product of its age and density. Much of the borough was built before the 1960s, and its streets are lined with Cape Cods, colonials, and ranch-style homes, alongside duplexes, small apartment buildings, and condominiums. The compact street grid keeps the community walkable, and the Passaic River forms a natural boundary on one side. Transportation is central to Wallington's appeal. NJ Transit buses connect the borough to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in under an hour, and commuter rail service is a short drive away at the Rutherford and Passaic stations. The borough's small size places nearly every home within reach of local schools, shops, and the riverfront. Recreation includes Samuel Nelkin County Park and nearby county green spaces, while the Meadowlands, the American Dream complex, and the cultural and employment centers of Bergen and Passaic counties lie within easy reach. Wallington suits those seeking an established, transit-friendly Bergen County community with proximity to the city.