Linden is a city in southeastern Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is portion of the New York Metropolitan Area, located not quite 13 miles (21 km) southwest of Manhattan and adjacent Staten Island, a borough of New York City, across the Arthur Kill. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough’s population was 7,020, an buildup of 335 (+5.0%) from the 2010 census supplement of 6,685, which in slant reflected an accumulation of 1,105 (+2.8%) from the 39,394 counted in the 2000 census.

Linden was originally formed as a township on March 4, 1861 from portions of Elizabeth, Rahway and Union Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Cranford (March 14, 1871), Linden Borough (March 30, 1882) and Roselle (December 20, 1894). Linden was incorporated as a city by an conflict of the New Jersey Legislature upon January 1, 1925, replacing both Linden Township and Linden Borough, based upon the results of a referendum held upon November 8, 1923. The city’s proclaim derives from linden trees brought from Germany.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 11.42 square miles (29.56 km), including 10.69 square miles (27.68 km²) of home and 0.73 square miles (1.88 km) of water (6.37%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or no question within the city include Bayway, Grasselli, Morses Mill, Tremley, Sunnyside, Vreeland Mills, Warners and Wheatsheaf.