Hoboken, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Hoboken n.

[proper name of Hoboken, New Jersey; poss. f. an imagined identification with hobo n. (2) although the name is, in fact, Indian]

(US)

1. an insignificant, out-of-the-way place; thus slogan ‘Heaven, Hell or Hoboken!’.

1902		E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden and Mr Paul 94: Even if she is French, Duchess was n’t born in Hoboken, nor yesterday.
1916		Sun (NY) 25 June 46: You should have seen us make the Boche run! [...] Our slogan was ‘Heaven, Hell or Hoboken by Christmas!’.
1918		Ohinemuri Gaz. (N.Z.) 22 Nov. 1/4: Whatever happens to the English, for the U.S.A. force it is going to be ‘heaven, hell, or Hoboken’ by Christmas.
1982		L. Kirkland N.Y. Times 11 July n.p.: Everything outside the A.F.L.-C.I.O. is Hoboken [R].

2. hell.

1926

Wood & Goddard Dict. Amer. Sl. 25: Jericho, (to send one to.) Hell or Hoboken.

go to Hoboken and climb a tree

phr. of dismissal.

1882		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 28 Oct. 3/1: Max Strakosch had better take the old-time gallery boy’s advice and ‘go to Uobokcn and climb a tree’.
1889		A. Daly Under the Gaslight 46: Go to Hoboken and climb a tree! I guess I’ll follow him and see he do’'t pick up anything on his way out .