Linden is a city located in southeastern Union County within the state of New Jersey. Situated in the New York metropolitan area, it lies approximately 13 miles southwest of Manhattan and shares a border with Staten Island across the Arthur Kill.
The city experienced steady population growth over the early 21st century, reaching 43,738 residents as of the 2020 United States census. In 2015, Linden was identified as the most polluted community in New Jersey due to the volume of toxic chemicals released into the local environment by industrial facilities.