pɹˈaɪɚ tʊ ɪts dɪvˈɛləpmənt æz ɐ kəmˈɜːʃəl dˈɪstɹɪkt dʒˈɜːnəl skwˈɛɹ wʌzðə sˈaɪt ʌv mˈɛni fˈɑːɹmhaʊzᵻz ænd mˈænɚz bᵻlˈɔŋɪŋ tə dᵻsˈɛndənts ʌvðɪ ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəl sˈɛtlɚz ʌv bˈɜːdʒən, ðə fˈɜːst tʃˈɑːɹɾɚd mjuːnˈɪsɪpˈælᵻɾi ɪnðə stˈeɪt sˈɛɾəld ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɪkshˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti ænd loʊkˈeɪɾᵻd dʒˈʌst sˈaʊθ æt bˈɜːdʒən skwˈɛɹ.
Prior to its development as a commercial district Journal Square was the site of many farmhouses and manors belonging to descendants of the original settlers of Bergen, the first chartered municipality in the state settled in 1660 and located just south at Bergen Square.