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Place Name
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Jersey City
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Place Status (Type)
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city
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Capital Of
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Hudson County
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Population
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228,537 (1990)
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Location
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Hudson County, New Jersey (NJ), United States, North America
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Latitude
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40°42'N
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Longitude
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74°03'W
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Jersey City
, city (1990 pop. 228,537),  Hudson co., NE
N.J., a port on a peninsula formed by the Hudson and Hackensack rivers
and Upper New York Bay, opposite the lower area of Manhattan isl.;
40°42'N 74°03'W. Settled before 1650, inc. as Jersey City 1836. The
2d-largest city in the state and a commercial and industrial center
surpassed only by Newark. It is a port of entry and a mfg. center. With
11 mi/18 km of waterfront and significant RR
connections, Jersey City is an important transportation terminal point
and distribution center. It has RR shops, oil refineries, warehouses,
and plants mfg. a diverse assortment of prods., such as chemicals,
petroleum and electrical goods, newspapers, textiles, and cosmetics.
The city has benefited from its position across from Manhattan, and
many Jersey City companies are extensions of those originating in N.Y.
city. Further developments have included housing and shopping areas and
marinas along the waterfront; other parts of the city, however, remain
run-down after years of commercial activity. A large number of ethnic
groups throughout U.S. history have settled in Jersey City before
venturing out across the country. The area was acquired by Michiel Pauw
c.1629. The Dutch soon set up the trading posts of Paulus Hook,
Communipaw, and Horsimus. In 1674 the site fell permanently under Br.
rule. The fort at Paulus Hook was captured by Light-Horse Harry Lee
under Washington's plan, Aug. 19, 1779. Nearby Bergen was a stockaded
Du. village dating from before 1620 and had N.J.'s 1st municipal
govt., church (Dutch Reformed), and school (1662). Jersey City was
consolidated with Bergen and Hudson City in 1869; the town of
Greenville was added in 1873. The city's industrial growth began in
the 1840s with the arrival of the RR and the improvement of its water
transport system. In 1916, Jersey City docks were the scene of the
“Black Tom” explosion that caused widespread property damage. The
city has a modern medical center and is the seat of Jersey City State
Col., Hudson Co. Community Col, and St. Peter's Col. Site of
waterfront-renewal project. In Lincoln Park is a statue of Lincoln,
built in 1929.
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