Wallington’s Polish Community

The years after World War I heralded a large influx of Polish immigrants fleeing war-torn homelands in search of a better life. Drawn by the opportunity to work in the textile and manufacturing mills, Polish immigrants moved to Wallington, New Jersey, a newly incorporated borough in Bergen County. The Polish community of Wallington established themselves as local store owners and businessmen. They constructed churches and social club buildings; established restaurants, pubs, and grocery stores; and participated in the social life of their community. By the 1920s, Polish Americans began to dominate local politics; in 1929, the first Polish American mayor, Leo Strzelecki, was elected. Polish Americans became the majority in Wallington between 1935 and 1945, representing about 70 percent of the population. In 2012, Polish Americans comprise over 50 percent of Wallington's population. Through vintage photographs that capture the spiritual life of these people and the struggles they overcame, Wallington's Polish Community honors the Polish immigrants of the past while educating new generations.