Polish Community in New Jersey

New Jersey has a large and vibrant Polish-American community, with major concentrations in northern New Jersey. Polish immigration to New Jersey began in the 1870s and continues to this day, creating thriving “Little Poland” neighborhoods.

Wallington - “Little Warsaw”

Wallington is commonly referenced as “Little Warsaw” - a small, one-mile-long town in Bergen County where 45.5% of the population has Polish ancestry, making it one of the highest concentrations of Polish Americans in the United States.

According to 2019 data, 43.3% of Wallington residents have Polish ancestry, and one-third of the population is Polish.

Wallington Features

Wallington is filled with:

Polish bakeries (including Banas Bakery, open since 1989)
Polish restaurants
Polish banquet halls
Polish churches
Polish businesses and services

Historical Background

Polish immigrants moved to Wallington in significant numbers, drawn by opportunities to work in textile and manufacturing mills.

Major Polish Communities in Northern NJ

The biggest Polish communities with the most businesses catering to Polish populations:

Wallington (Bergen County) - “Little Warsaw”
Passaic (Passaic County) - Historic Polish settlement since 1877
Garfield (Bergen County) - Major Polish population
Clifton (Passaic County) - Polish community

Northern Central NJ

Linden (Union County) - Significant Polish community

Historical Polish Settlement

Passaic - Polish people began settling in Passaic as early as 1877, drawn by opportunities in textile and manufacturing mills.

The first Polish school in the area was built in 1901 by parishioners of St. Joseph’s Church, staffed by the Felician Sisters in 1902.

Religious Communities

Polish Catholic Churches

There are Polish Catholic churches throughout northern New Jersey:

Passaic County:

St. Joseph’s Church, Passaic
Churches in Clifton and surrounding areas

Bergen County:

Churches in Garfield, Wallington, and surrounding communities

Other Northern NJ:

Jersey City
Bayonne

Central NJ:

Sayreville
Perth Amboy

Southern NJ:

Camden

Polish National Catholic Churches

SS Peter & Paul Parish Location: 126 River Drive, Passaic, New Jersey Diocese: New York/New Jersey Seniorate, Polish National Catholic Church

Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish Location: 135 Hathaway Street, Wallington, NJ Denomination: Polish National Catholic Church

Polish Cultural Organizations

Polish Cultural Foundation

Location: Clark, NJ

Features:

Museum showcasing Polish heritage
Auditorium for events
Polish Saturday school
Cultural programs and events

Other Polish Organizations

Numerous Polish organizations serve communities throughout New Jersey, including:

Polish American Congress - New Jersey Division
Polish National Alliance lodges
Polish Falcons organizations
Cultural clubs and societies

Polish Educational Institutions

Polish Schools

First Polish School - Built in 1901 by St. Joseph’s Church parishioners, Passaic Staff: Felician Sisters (beginning 1902)

Polish Saturday Schools:

Multiple locations throughout northern NJ
Polish language and culture instruction
Clark - Polish Cultural Foundation school

Polish Language Programs

Polish language classes available through:

Polish Cultural Foundation
Parish schools
Community organizations

Polish Business Districts

Polish businesses thrive in:

Wallington

Polish bakeries and delis
Polish restaurants
Polish import shops
Polish professional services

Passaic/Garfield/Clifton

Polish grocery stores
Polish butcher shops
Polish bookstores
Polish travel agencies
Polish professional services (legal, medical, accounting)

Linden

Polish businesses and services

Cultural Events

Annual Celebrations

Polish Constitution Day (May 3)
Pulaski Day celebrations (October)
Dyngus Day (Easter Monday)
Pączki Day (Fat Tuesday)
Parish festivals and celebrations
Cultural events at Polish Cultural Foundation

Polish Media in New Jersey

Polish-language newspapers
Polish radio programs
Polish community publications
Online Polish resources

Resources

Connect with Polish Communities in Other States

Nearby States:

New York - Brooklyn’s Greenpoint and NYC
Pennsylvania - Philadelphia region
Connecticut - Hartford and New Britain
Delaware - Wilmington area

Other Major Polish Communities:

Illinois - Chicago’s massive Polish population
Michigan - Detroit and Hamtramck
Wisconsin - Milwaukee area
Massachusetts - Boston and Worcester

Back to all states

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