Leonia, New Jersey Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

by btobers · Published June 21, 2019 · Updated September 12, 2024

Leonia, New Jersey is a vibrant city situated in Bergen County. It has a population of 8,937 as of 2019. Geographically, the city is located on the west bank of the Hackensack River and is bordered by Palisades Park to the north and Fort Lee to the south. It also has access to major highways like Route 4 and Interstate 95 which makes it easily accessible from other parts of New Jersey.

The climate in Leonia is moderate with cold winters and hot summers. Temperatures range from an average low of 32 degrees Fahrenheit during winter months to an average high of 83 degrees Fahrenheit during summer months. The city receives about 48 inches of rainfall annually and averages around 160 sunny days per year.

Leonia was first established as a borough in 1894 by an act of the New Jersey State Legislature. Since then, Leonia has grown into a thriving community with its own unique culture and history. The city was once known as “the town that time forgot” due to its small-town atmosphere but has since become more urbanized over time.

Politically, Leonia leans heavily towards Democratic candidates at both state and national levels. The mayor is currently elected for a four-year term by popular vote, while council members serve two-year terms on staggered schedules.

The economy in Leonia is mainly based on small businesses such as retail stores, restaurants, cafes, and service providers like doctors’ offices or beauty salons. There are also some larger companies located nearby such as Sony Music Entertainment which provides employment opportunities for residents living in Leonia or its surrounding areas.

Leonia offers education through public schools such as Fort Lee High School and Academy Charter School along with several private schools like St Mary’s Catholic School or Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School which provide religious studies along with general education courses for students from kindergarten through twelfth grade level classes .

There are several landmarks in Leonia including Overpeck Park which offers hiking trails, picnicking spots, fishing spots, bike trails etc; Tenakill Brook Nature Preserve which is home to various species of birds; St John’s Episcopal Church which was built in 1871; Palisades Amusement Park; Hackensack Riverfront Walkway; Hackensack Golf Course etc . All these places help make Leonia one of the most sought after cities in New Jersey for its cultural diversity, vibrant atmosphere and rich history .

Population: 8,914. Estimated population in July 2024: 8,853 (-0.7% change)
Males: 4,289 (48.1%), Females: 4,625 (51.9%)

Bergen County

Demographics

Median resident age: 39.9 years
Median household income: $72,440
Median house value: $282,500

Population by Race

Races in Leonia:

White Non-Hispanic (57.5%)
Korean (16.7%)
Hispanic (12.7%)
Other race (3.2%)
Japanese (2.7%)
Two or more races (2.6%)
Black (2.3%)
Chinese (2.0%)
Asian Indian (1.9%)
Filipino (1.7%)
Other Asian (1.0%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: Italian (14.5%), Irish (11.7%), German (9.7%), Russian (4.2%), Polish (4.1%), United States (3.1%).

Elevation: 100 feet

Land area: 1.5 square miles

Population by Education

Leonia, New Jersey is a small borough in Bergen County located just a few miles west of the George Washington Bridge. It is home to about 9,200 people, according to the 2018 United States Census Bureau. The population of Leonia is diverse with nearly 33% of residents being foreign-born from various countries around the world. The most common ancestries are Italian (14%), Irish (11%), German (7%), and Polish (5%).

The majority of Leonia’s population is between the ages of 25-44 years old, making up 35% of the population while those between 45-64 years old make up 28%. Children under 18 make up 17% and those over 65 make up 11%. The median household income in Leonia is $89,947. This higher than average income level reflects the fact that many people living in Leonia commute to New York City for work or attend college and graduate school nearby.

Leonia also has a high rate of education with 88% having achieved at least some college education and 39% having attained a Bachelor’s degree or higher. This reflects its proximity to major universities such as Columbia University, NYU, and Rutgers University. In addition to education, there are many recreational activities available to residents in Leonia such as hiking trails along Overpeck Creek Park, tennis courts at Memorial Park, and community events hosted by the local library.

For population 25 years and over in Leonia

High school or higher: 92.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 49.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 20.4%
Unemployed: 2.7%
Mean travel time to work: 33.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Leonia borough

Never married: 23.8%
Now married: 58.7%
Separated: 2.5%
Widowed: 7.1%
Divorced: 7.8%

35.8% Foreign born (22.0% Asia, 6.9% Latin America, 6.5% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: +546 (+6.5%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Leonia:

ENGLEWOOD HOSPITAL & MED CTR (about 3 miles; ENGLEWOOD, NJ)
HOLY NAME HOSPITAL (about 3 miles; TEANECK, NJ)
NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE (about 4 miles; NEW YORK, NY)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Leonia:

TETERBORO (about 5 miles; TETERBORO, NJ; Abbreviation: TEB)
LA GUARDIA (about 11 miles; NEW YORK, NY; Abbreviation: LGA)
PORT AUTH-DWNTN-MANHATTAN/WALL ST (about 12 miles; NEW YORK, NY; Abbreviation: JRB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Leonia:

LITTLE FERRY (about 3 miles; LITTLE FERRY, NJ; Abbreviation: 2N7)
WEST 30TH ST. (about 8 miles; NEW YORK, NY; Abbreviation: JRA)
PAN AM METROPORT (about 9 miles; NEW YORK, NY; Abbreviation: 6N4)

Amtrak stations near Leonia:

8 miles: YONKERS (FOOT OF DOCK ST. & WELLS AVE.). Services: fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, snack bar, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for car rental service, taxi stand, public transit connection.
8 miles: NEW YORK (PENN STA) (NEW YORK, 7TH AVE. & W. 32ND ST.). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, full-service food facilities, snack bar, vending machines, ATM, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for car rental service, taxi stand, public transit connection.
11 miles: LA GUARDIA AIRPORT (QUEENS, ) – Bus Station. Services: enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, snack bar and vending machines, ATM, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, car rental agency, taxi stand.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Leonia:

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY-ALL CAMPUSES (about 3 miles; TEANECK, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 6,482)
CUNY CITY COLLEGE (about 4 miles; NEW YORK, NY; Full-time enrollment: 7,635)
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY (about 4 miles; NEW YORK, NY; Full-time enrollment: 5,413)
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK (about 5 miles; NEW YORK, NY; Full-time enrollment: 18,009)
TEACHERS COLLEGE AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY (about 5 miles; NEW YORK, NY; Full-time enrollment: 3,371)
BARNARD COLLEGE (about 5 miles; NEW YORK, NY; Full-time enrollment: 2,253)
CUNY BRONX COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 6 miles; BRONX, NY; Full-time enrollment: 5,299)

Schools

Public high school in Leonia:

LEONIA HIGH (Students: 588; Location: 100 CHRISTIE HGTS ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Leonia:

ANNA C SCOTT (Students: 672; Location: HIGHLAND ST; Grades: KG – 05)
LEONIA MIDDLE (Students: 452; Location: BROAD ST; Grades: 06 – 08)

Private primary/middle schools in Leonia:

ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST SCHOOL (Students: 227; Location: 260 HARRISON STREET; Grades: KG – 8)
INFANTS & CHILDREN’S GARDEN (Students: 93; Location: 390 BROAD AVE WOODRIDGE PL; Grades: PK – KG)

Libraries

Library in Leonia:

LEONIA PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $566,487; Location: 227 FORT LEE RD.; 44,804 books; 3,976 audio materials; 2,813 video materials; 157 serial subscriptions)