Leonia, New Jersey
Population: 8,914
Located in Bergen County
Borough of Have you ever wondered where the name "Leonia" came from? In the 1700’s, this area was called "the English Neighborhood." In the 1800’s, after the railroad came through, we were known as West Fort Lee. Then in the 1860’s, a group of local farmers decided they didn’t want to play second fiddle to Fort Lee and voted on the name Leonia. I’d always thought it meant "place of Lee" after the Revolutionary War General Charles Lee. But now the commonly held theory has been challenged by Leonia writer and venerer Jacques Guyot, who claims Leonia really means "place of the lions." Leo (lion) plus Onia (place of). To prove his theory, Jacques has jogged all through town, up and down every single street, in search of Leonia’s namesake lions (and gryphons). In April, he completed his survey and perhaps he’s right! He found fifteen pairs on lions guarding the homes of our community including one pair of Babylonian lions and two pairs of gryphons), and one solo lion. The lions can be found in every part of town on the following streets: Gladwin, Crescent, Maple, Broad, Ray, Woodbridge, Lakeview, Vreeland, Hillside, Harold, Nordhoff, Ridgeland Terrace, Jones Road, Paulin, Reldyes, and Park. Next time you’re out running or walking, see if you can spot these creatures. Only in Leonia!
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