Jersey City, NJ

Jersey City, established in 1820, is a waterfront city located in the northeast portion of New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City. Formerly a manufacturing and railroad town, Jersey City is now a center for finance and a commuter hub. With a population of just over 240,000, Jersey City is the state's second-largest city, behind Newark. Ellis Island is located within Jersey City limits.

Jersey City is ethnically diverse. The plurality of residents are of either African-American or Hispanic heritage (each group comprises 28% of the population). Jersey City is also home to significant South Asian, Indian, Filipino, Italian and German populations, as well as more than 30,000 Copts (native Egyptian Christians).

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Today, Jersey City's economic growth is based on the 'FIRE' industries, an acronym that stands for finance, insurance and real estate. FIRE industry businesses have increased fivefold in the city since 1993. The boom is the result of the migration of those businesses from New York City, where rent, tax and utility costs had become prohibitively high for some companies. Conversely, 26% of Jersey City residents work in New York City.

The median cost of a home is almost triple what it was in 2000, putting Jersey City above the state's average. The average household income has increased almost 50 percent from 2000. Fifteen percent of Jersey City residents live below the poverty line, a figure spread fairly evenly among most of its ethnic groups.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

• Downtown: The Downtown district is the site of much of Jersey City's economic renaissance. Exchange Place, on the Hudson River waterfront, was the first section of Jersey City to undergo redevelopment. "Wall Street West," as it is sometimes called, is home to Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch. Newport, a neighborhood on the north end of the district bordering Hoboken, is a residential and retail community, built on the site of the former Erie Lackawanna Railway yards. The Newport Center Mall was also an early economic contributor to the waterfront's rebirth. Downtown is ringed with historic residential areas, including Paulus Hook, site of a famous Revolutionary War battle. Newer, high-end developments have sprung up since the arrival of a light-rail line to the area in 2000.
• Journal Square: Journal Square, the long-time home of much of Jersey City's commercial activity, is an area in decline. Two landmark theaters can be found in Journal Square, The Stanley Theater, currently a Jehovah's Witness meeting hall, and the well-preserved Loew's Jersey Theater, which still hosts occasional musical events.
• West Side: Jersey City's West Side is one of its more racially diverse neighborhoods, boasting significant Filipino, Indian and West Indian populations. The neighborhood was also home of the historic Roosevelt Stadium, which was demolished in 1985.
• Greenville: Greenville includes some of the city's most blighted areas, and its highest crime rate. The recent addition of a light rail line, however, has slowly ushered in some revitalization, including Port Liberté, an upscale, gated community on the waterfront. This neighborhood, commonly called "The Hill," was also the one-time home of New Jersey native Frank Sinatra.
• The Heights: Jersey City Heights rests on the edge of the New Jersey Palisades, overlooking both Hoboken and the Hudson River. It consists mostly of multi-family houses.

GETTING AROUND

Jersey City is a busy commuter hub. As in New York, many residents do not own cars, and almost half of all Jersey City commuters do not drive to their destinations. Jersey City is third-ranked city in the country, behind New York and Washington D.C., in terms of public transit use.

Jersey City is served by two rail systems: the PATH subway system, which dates back to 1908, and makes four stops in Jersey City; and The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, a much newer system, opened to the public in 2000, which makes 13 stops along three separate branches in Jersey City.

Journal Square and Exchange Place are major origination and destination points for bus service. Commuting via ferry is also a popular option, as three different companies offer service across the Hudson from Manhattan to various points in Jersey City.

For drivers, the Holland Tunnel and the New Jersey Turnpike are the major arteries into Jersey City. The city is ringed by U.S. Routes 1 and 9 to the north, State Highway 440 to the west and Interstate 78, a New Jersey Turnpike spur to the east and south.

EDUCATION

Jersey City is home to the New Jersey City University and Saint Peter's College, both of which are located in the city's West Side district. Rutgers, the state university, offers classes at a satellite campus in Jersey City.

BEST BETS

Immigration landmark Ellis Island is located within Jersey City limits, though it is owned by the Federal Government. Additionally, the Statue of Liberty is located less than one half-mile from Jersey City.

After Ellis Island, Jersey City's most well known cultural attraction is the Liberty Science Center. Located in Liberty State Park, the center is state's first major science museum.

The Colgate Clock is the most well known feature in the Jersey City skyline. Built in 1924, the working clock is 50 feet in diameter with a minute hand weighing more than a ton.

SPORTS TEAMS

Jersey City's Roosevelt Stadium is famous for being the site where Jackie Robinson took his first step toward breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier. A statue in Journal Square commemorates this event and Robinson's legacy. A few years later, in 1956-57, Roosevelt Stadium hosted a few 'home' games for Jackie Robinson's Brooklyn Dodgers.

Jersey City is not currently home to any professional sports franchises.

LOCAL MEDIA

Newspapers: The Jersey Journal, a local daily newspaper founded in 1867, operates out of Jersey City.

Radio Stations: WFMU 91.1 FM, the oldest freeform station in the United States relocated to Jersey City from East Orange, New Jersey in 1998. WHTZ 100.3, the top-rated radio station in New York City, broadcasts from Jersey City.