Paterson, New Jersey
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The skyline of Paterson, New Jersey, showing the canyon of the Passaic River in the foreground. The area along the river was formerly the site of most the mills that flourished throughout the city's history. |
Paterson is a
city in
Passaic County,
New Jersey,
United States. As of the
United States 2000 Census, the city population was 149,222. Census population projections indicate a population of 154,463 as of 2005, making it New Jersey's third
largest city. It is the
county seat of
Passaic County. Paterson is known as the
Silk City for its dominant role in silk production during the latter 19th century.
In 1791,
Alexander Hamilton helped found the
Society for the Establishment of Useful Manufactures (S.U.M.), which helped encourage the harnessing of energy from the
Great Falls of the Passaic, to secure economic independence from British manufacturers. Paterson, which was founded by the society, became the cradle of the industrial revolution in America. Paterson was named for
William Paterson,
Governor of New Jersey, statesman, and signer of the
Constitution.
French architect, engineer, and city planner
Pierre L'Enfant, who developed the plans for
Washington, D.C., was the first superintendent for the S.U.M. project. He devised a plan, which would harness the power of the Great Falls through a channel in the rock and an aqueduct. However, the society's directors felt he was taking too long and was over budget. He was replaced by Peter Colt, who used a less-complicated reservoir system to get the water flowing to factories in 1794. Eventually, Colt's system developed some problems and a scheme resembling L'Enfant's original plan was used after 1846.
The industries developed in Paterson were powered by the 77-foot high Great Falls, and a system of water raceways that harnessed the power of the falls. The city began growing around the falls and until 1914 the mills were powered by the waterfalls. The district originally included dozens of mill buildings and other manufacturing structures associated with the textile industry and later, the firearms, silk, and railroad locomotive manufacturing industries. In the latter half of the 1800s,
silk production became the dominant industry and formed the basis of Paterson's most prosperous period, earning it the nickname "Silk City." In 1835, Samuel Colt began producing firearms in Paterson, although within a few years he moved his business to
Hartford, Connecticut. Later in the 19th century, Paterson was the site of early experiments with submarines by inventor
John Holland. Two of Holland's early models — one found at the bottom of the Passaic River — are on display in the Paterson Museum, housed in a former mill near the Passaic Falls.
The city was a mecca for immigrant laborers who worked in its factories as well. Paterson was also the site of historic labor unrest that focused on anti-child labor legislation, and the six-month long
Paterson silk strike of 1913 that demanded the
eight-hour day and better working conditions, but was defeated by the employers with workers forced to return under pre-strike conditions. Factory workers labored long hours for low wages under dangerous conditions and lived in crowded tenement buildings around the mills. The factories then moved south where there were no labor unions and later overseas.
In 1932, Paterson opened
Hinchliffe Stadium, a 7,500-seat stadium named in honor of John V. Hinchliffe, a former Paterson mayor. Hinchliffe originally served as the site for high school and semi-professional athletic events. From 1933 to 1945, Hinchliffe became the home of the
New York Black Yankees of the
Negro National League, as well as the venue for many football games, track and field events, boxing matches and shows, including those done by
Abbott and Costello. In the 1970s, Paterson Public Schools acquired the stadium and utilized it for public school events until the 1997. Currently, Hinchliffe stadium is in a state of disrepair. However, Hinchliffe is one of only two
Negro League stadiums left standing in the
United States.
World War II helped a little, when Paterson played an important part in the aircraft engine industry. By the end of WWII however there was a decline in urban areas and Paterson was no exception. Since the 1970s the city has been plagued with high unemployment rates. By 1980, Paterson was one of the most distressed cities in the United States. The city no longer has a single movie theater or a motor vehicles office, its major department stores have closed, and the social indices of despair—childhood AIDS, unemployment, homelessness, illiteracy, and graduation rates—all moved in the wrong direction during the unrivaled prosperity of the 1990s economic boom. The failing schools have since been taken over by the state.
Once a premier shopping and leisure destination of northern New Jersey, competition from the malls in neighboring towns like
Wayne and
Paramus have forced the big-chain stores out of Paterson's downtown. The biggest industries are now the small businesses because the factories have moved overseas. However the city still, as always, attracts many immigrants. Many of these immigrants have revived the city's economy especially through small businesses.
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Map of Paterson in Passaic County |
Paterson is located at (40.915498, -74.162927) in the
Piedmont region between the
Appalachian foothills and the
Coastal Plain.
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.6
km² (8.7
mi²). 21.9 km² (8.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (3.32%) is water.
The City
Neighborhoods
|
Market Street, Downtown Paterson |
The
Great Falls Historic District is the most famous neighborhood in Paterson, because of the landmark
Great Falls of the Passaic River. The city has attempted to revitalize the area in recent years, including the installation of period lamp posts and the conversion of old industrial buildings into apartments and retail. Many artists live in this section of Paterson. A major redevelopment project is planned for this district in the coming years. The
Paterson Museum and
Lambert Castle are situated in this neighborhood.
Downtown Paterson is the main commercial district of the city and was once a shopping mecca for
northern New Jersey. After a devastating fire in 1902, the city rebuilt the downtown with massive
Beaux-Arts-style buildings, many of which remain to this day. These buildings are usually four to seven stories tall. Downtown Paterson is home to City Hall and the Passaic County Courthouse Annex, two of the city's architectural landmarks.
As with many other old downtown districts in the United States, Downtown Paterson suffered as shoppers and retailers moved to the suburban shopping malls of the region. Many historic buildings are in disrepair or are abandoned after years of neglect. In addition, Downtown Paterson is an
Urban Enterprise Zone. Today, Downtown Paterson is a mishmash of a variety of discount shops that hum on the congested streets. The city has, in recent years, begun initiatives in hopes of reviving the downtown area. A project called the Center City project will convert a downtown parking lot into a commercial and entertainment center with office space. Downtown Paterson is located in the city's 1st Ward.
The Eastside is a residential neighborhood east of downtown. Once the home of the city's industrial and political leaders, the neighborhood experienced a significant downturn as industry fled Paterson. In recent years, people have begun moving back into the neighborhood and are restoring some of the area's historic houses. The Eastside Park Historic District, a state- and nationally-registered historic place, is situated in this neighborhood. The jewel of the neighborhood is Eastside Park and the mansions that surround it. In addition, this section of Paterson once had a large
Jewish population and there is still a synogague left.
Manor section is a residential neighborhood in Paterson. It is located east of East 33rd Street, north of Broadway and south-west of
Route 20 and the
Passaic River. The Manor section of Paterson is located in the city's 3rd Ward.
South Paterson is a diverse neighborhood with a significant
Arab as well as
Turkish,
Persian, and
Hispanic community centered south of Montclair Avenue. The majority of the city's Arabs live in this section of Paterson. Many of the retail shops and restaurants cater to this community. The neighborhood is also characterized by
halal meat markets which offer goat and lamb, and shop signs in
Arabic. South Paterson is located in the city's 6th Ward.
Hillcrest is a large mostly residential, middle class enclave, to the west of the downtown area. Its borders' limits are Preakness Avenue to the east, Cumberland Avenue to the west and Totowa Avenue along with West Side Park and the Passaic River to the south. Hillcrest is one of Paterson's most desireable neighborhoods. The Hillcrest section of Paterson is located in the city's 2nd Ward
Peoples Park is a vibrant neighborhood located north of 23rd Avenue and South of Market Street.
Twenty-First Avenue or
"La Veintiuno" as it's known by most of Paterson's Spanish-speaking community, is located in the
Peoples Park section of Paterson, is an active and vibrant retail strip featuring a variety of shops and services catering to a diverse clientele. Twenty First Avenue used to have a large
Italian population. Although there is still a significant Italian presence left in the neighborhood, it also has a large
Hispanic population, particularly
Colombian.
Wrigley Park or more recently known as the
Fourth Ward by most Patersonians, is a neighborhood that has suffered from years of poverty, crime, and neglect. It is mostly
African-American. Poverty, crime, open-air drug markets, vacant lots, and boarded-up windows are common in this area. However, there are new houses being built and crime has dropped in recent years. This neighborhood is located north of Broadway.
Sandy Hill is a neighborhood in Paterson also known as the area around Roberto Clemente Park, formerly known as Sandy Hill Park. Its location is roughly west of Madison Avenue, north of 21st Avenue, south of Park Avenue and east of Straight Street. Due to Paterson's significant population turn-over, this neighborhood is now home to a large Hispanic community, mostly
Dominican American. The Sandy Hill section of Paterson is located in the city's 5th Ward.
Northside, located north of Downtown, suffers from some of the social problems currently facing the Wrigley Park neighborhood but to a lesser extent. This neighborhood borders
Haledon and
Prospect Park and it is known for its hills and having sweeping views of
New York City. The Northside section of Paterson is located in the city's 1st Ward.
Totowa Section is a large neighborhood located west of the Passaic River, south-west of West Broadway and north-east of Preakness Avenue. It is mostly Hispanic with a rising
Bengali population. A large
Italian presence remains in this neighborhood. Many
Peruvian and other Latin Restaurants and businesses are located on Union Avenue. Colonial Village and Brooks Sloate Terrace are located in this neighborhood. The Totowa Section is located in parts of the 1st and 2nd Wards of Paterson.
Stoney Road is Paterson's most south-west neighborhood, bordering
West Paterson to the south and
Totowa across the Passaic River to the west. This neighborhood is home to Pennington Park, Hayden Heights, Lou Costello Pool, the reservoir, western Grand Street, Mc Bride Avenue and Garret Heights. The Stoney Road section of Paterson is located in the city's 2nd Ward.
Riverside is a larger neighborhood of Paterson and, as its name states, this neighborhood is bound by the Passaic River to the north and east, separating the city from
Hawthorne and
Fair Lawn. Riverside is mostly a quiet working-class neighborhood. The neighborhood is mostly residential with some industrial uses. It is also middle-class near the Fair Lawn border. Madison Avenue cuts through the heart of this district. This section is ethnically diverse with
Hispanics living mostly north and along River Street.
African Americans and
Caribbean blacks live south of River Street. Many
Albanians make their home in the East 18th Street and River Street areas. River View Terrace is located in this neighborhood. Riverside is located in parts of the 3rd and 4th Wards of Paterson.
Bunker Hill is a mostly industrial area west of River Street and east of the Passaic River.
Lakeview, situated in the southern part of the city, the Lakeview Section is a middle class neighborhood.
Interstate 80 runs north of this district. Lakeview is home to the Paterson Farmers Market, where people from all across
North Jersey come to buy fresh produce. The neighborhood consists primarily of
Hispanics and
African Americans, although this neighborhood also has a sizable
White,
Middle Eastern and
Asian population, including a significant
Filipino presence. Lakeview also shares some of the same characteristics as neighboring
Clifton as they both share the neighborhood bearing the same name. Lakeview section is one of Paterson's most desireable neighborhoods. The Lakeview section of Paterson is located in the city's 6th Ward.
Diversity
Paterson is an ethnically diverse city and this diversity is reflected in its many stores and restaurants. Western Market Street is home to many
Peruvian businesses. The Great Falls Historic District, including Cianci Street, and 21st Avenue has several
Italian businesses. To the north of the Great Falls is a fast-growing
Bengali population. Park Avenue and Market Street between Straight Street and Madison Avenue is heavily
Dominican American and
Puerto Rican. Main Street, just south of downtown, is heavily
Puerto Rican with a growing
Mexican American population. Broadway or Martin Luther King Jr. Way is predominately Black, as is the Fourth Ward and parts of Eastside and Northside. Paterson's Black community is made up of
African Americans of Southern heritage and more recent
Caribbean and
African immigrants. Main Street between the Clifton border and about Montclair Avenue is heavily
Turkish and
Arab. 21st Avenue in the People's Park section is characterized by
Colombian restaurants and shops.
Every summer Patersonians enjoy an African-American Day Parade, a Peruvian Day Parade, a Dominican Day Parade and a Puerto Rican Day Parade.
The Suburbs
The following towns border Paterson and are considered to be its
suburbs:
Prospect Park,
Haledon,
Totowa,
West Paterson,
Hawthorne,
Clifton, and
North Haledon in Passaic County; and
Elmwood Park (formerly East Paterson) and
Fair Lawn in
Bergen County.
Paterson and its suburbs are sometimes known informally as
Greater Paterson. The nearby township of
Wayne is also considered to be a part of Greater Paterson. Two important Wayne institutions —
William Paterson University and
St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital — have their origins in 19th century Paterson before moving to suburban Wayne in the 20th century.
Paterson forms part of the
Paterson-Clifton-Passaic Metropolitan Area, along with
Passaic and
Clifton.
As of the
census of 2000, there were 149,222 people, 44,710 households, and 33,353 families residing in the city. With a
population density of 6,826.4/km² (17,675.4/mi²), Paterson is the second most densely populated large city (i.e., with a population of 100,000 or more) in the United States, only after
New York City. However, this figure is somewhat misleading, since
Newark's population density, if its airport and seaport lands are excluded, is significantly higher than Paterson's if they are included. These exceptions make Newark's density slightly higher than that of Paterson, which does not have any such facilities.
There were 47,169 housing units at an average density of 2,157.8/km² (5,587.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 32.90%
African American, 30.77%
White, 0.60%
Native American, 1.90%
Asian, 0.06%
Pacific Islander, 27.60% from
other races, and 6.17% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 50.11% of the population.
There were 44,710 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were
married couples living together, 26.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.25 and the average family size was 3.71.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,778, and the median income for a family was $35,420. Males had a median income of $27,911 versus $22,733 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $13,257. About 19.2% of families and 22.2% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
The City of Paterson Municipal Council was created as a result of a 1974 decision to change its form of government from a 1907 statute-based form, to a
Faulkner Act Plan-D
Mayor-Council form.
The 1907 statute-based form consisted of various boards. A Board of Aldermen, Board of Finance, Board of Health, Board of Public Works, Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.
The Mayor-Council plan consisted of a Mayor and nine Council members. Six of the members that sit on the Municipal Council represent each of the city's six wards. The three remaining members are members At-Large. The Municipal Council has the responsibility of reviewing and approving Municipal legislation.
Under the Mayor-Council plan, the Mayor is the chief executive and is responsible for administering the City's activities. The Mayor is elected for a four-year term by the citizens and is responsible for them. His function includes enforcing the charter and the ordinances and laws passed by the City Council. The Mayor appoints all department heads including the business administrator, with the advise and consent of the Council He may also remove and or all department heads after giving them notice and an opportunity to be heard.
With the assistance of the business administrator, the Mayor is responsible for preparation of the municipal budget. The Mayor submits the budget to the Council along with a detailed analysis of expenditures and revenues. The Council may reduce any item or items in the budget by a majority vote, but can only increase an item by a two-thirds vote.
The
Mayor of Paterson is
José "Joey" Torres.
City Council Members are
[Paterson City Council, accessed June 22, 2006]:
*
Kenneth Morris, Jr. - Council President and Councilman At-Large
*
Anthony "Eboney" Davis - First Ward
*
Aslon Goow Sr. - Second Ward
*
William C. McKoy - Third Ward
*
Vera Ames-Garnes - Fourth Ward
*
Juan A. Torres - Fifth Ward
*
Thomas C. Rooney, Jr. - Sixth Ward
*
Jefferey Jones - Coucilman At-Large
*
Rigo Rodriguez - Councilman At-Large
Federal, state and county representation
Paterson is part of New Jersey's 35th Legislative District and is in the Eighth Congressional District.
Paterson is served by a number of highways:
Interstate 80,
Route 4,
Route 19, and
Route 20.
The city is served by the
New Jersey Transit Main Line commuter rail service. The line stops in the Downtown area at the
Paterson station. Possibly by next year, the town may also receive Hudson Bergen Light Rail service on the existing NYS&W line, which is currently single-tracked. In addition, the Newark Light Rail may come in time to the existing NJ Transit station.
Bus service to locations in Passaic,
Bergen,
Essex and
Hudson counties is provided by NJ Transit, making the city a regional transit hub. The Broadway Bus Terminal, also downtown, is the terminus for NJ Transit bus lines to
Newark and the
Port Authority Bus Terminal and
George Washington Bridge Bus Station in
New York City. Service to Manhattan and shopping centers in Bergen County is also provided by independent bus carriers.
The
Paterson Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. PPS is an
Abbott District.
*
Adeva, House/R&B vocalist
*
Lawrence Barrett, actor, one of the leading American actors of the
19th century*
Just Blaze, hip hop music producer
*
Gaetano Bresci, weaver and anarchist, assassinated Italian king
Umberto I*
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, boxer, subject of the
Bob Dylan song "
Hurricane" and the movie
The Hurricane*
Federico Castelluccio,
Italian-born actor, most known for portraying
Furio Giunta on the
HBO series
The Sopranos*
Joe Clark, educator and former principal of
Eastside High School, depicted by
Morgan Freeman in the movie
Lean on Me *
Lou Costello, of the comedy duo
Abbott and Costello*
Larry Doby,
Hall of Fame Major League Baseball player who broke the
color barrier in the
American League*
Allen Ginsberg, writer and
Beat Generation poet
*
Talmadge Hayer, one of the men convicted for the assassination of
Malcolm X*
Garret A. Hobart, twenty-fourth
Vice President of the United States*
Michael Hossack, drummer, member of the
Doobie Brothers*
Charlie Jamieson, Major League Baseball player (1915-32)
*
Maxine Jones, singer, member of
En Vogue*
Bernard Kerik, NYPD Police Chief, was born in Newark NJ but was raised in Paterson, NJ
*
Frank Lautenberg, politician, currently represents New Jersey in the
United States Senate*
Bette Midler, Oscar-nominated actress and singer
*
Joseph D. Pistone, aka
Donnie Brasco, FBI agent and author who infiltrated the
Bonanno crime family*
Bucky Pizzarelli, jazz guitarist
*
John Pizzarelli, jazz guitarist and singer
*
Frederick Reines, awarded the
1995 Nobel Prize in Physics for detection of the
neutrino*
Frankie Ruiz,
salsa music singer
*
John Spencer, actor, best known for his role as
Leo McGarry, the
White House Chief of Staff on the
television drama The West Wing
*J. Michael Straczynski, science-fiction writer, creator and writer for Babylon 5
*Tim Thomas, pro basketball player, currently on the Phoenix Suns
*Dante Tomaselli, horror film screenwriter, director, and composer
*Robert Torricelli, politician, former representative of New Jersey in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives
*Elizabeth Vargas, ABC news anchor
*"Uncle" Floyd Vivino, comic, and star of Uncle Floyd Show
was the longest-running ever cable-access show in New Jersey.
*Jimmy Vivino, musician, guitarist, member of the Max Weinberg Seven
*Patrick Warburton, actor, performs in movies and on television, famous for his roles in Seinfeld and Family Guy
*Bernie Wayne, songwriter, wrote "There She Is, Miss America"
*Bert Wheeler, of the comedy duo Wheeler & Woolsey, which pre-dated Abbott and Costello
*William Carlos Williams, Pediatrician and well-known Modernist poet who wrote the long poem, Paterson''
*
City of Paterson, New Jersey (official site)*
Paterson Public Schools*
National Center for Education Statistics data for the Paterson Public Schools*
centercitypaterson.com*
patersononline.net*
Paterson: Great Falls State Park. Masterplan design competition
