Jersey City, New Jersey
Whether you were born there, or planning to relocate there, Jersey City is a special place filled with interesting neighborhoods, fascinating people, magnificent architecture, calming green spaces and amazing views of Manhattan. Boasting one of the most diverse populations in the country, those moving to Jersey City will discover a collection of ethnicities and cultures.
History:
Robert Fulton, the investor and entrepreneur, soon bought land in New Jersey for a dry dock and in 1812 began to run his steamboats to and from Manhattan. By the mid-1830s, with the arrival of both the railroad and the Morris Canal, Jersey City’s role in the regional economy was sealed. Good transportation and access to fuel from the coalmines of Pennsylvania attracted industry that attracted a growing population. By 1838, the young town was becoming an independent municipality of Jersey City. In the 1880's, Irish and German immigrants gave the city another boost to the town’s population. Expansion of the railroads along the waterfront, growing industrialization and a steady supply of workers to operate the factories and run the trains continued through the Civil War. By 1870, citizens voted to merge into one larger city. In the years following World War II, Jersey City changed, mainly due to the lure of the suburbs and partially because of the collapse of the independent railroad lines and downturn of the factories. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, the decline of the city’s economic base appeared irreversible; however, to the surprise of many natives, the process that began centuries before repeated itself. In the mid-1980s, the waterfront became the Gold Coast as new developments brought in new residents, new stores and new jobs. With a number of new middle and moderate-income housing units, an increase in professional and service jobs, a continuing sense of neighborhood, Jersey City remains an important American city.
Economy:
Located in the heart of the New Jersey/New York City metropolitan area, Jersey City experienced an economic renaissance in the 1990s, and the growth trend continues into the 21st century. Traditionally, dependent on sectors such as transportation and distribution, the city is now focusing on finance, insurance and real estate businesses. There has been an incredible 500 percent growth in these types of businesses in Jersey City since the mid-1990s. High rent, taxes, and utility costs in nearby Manhattan have prompted many New York firms to relocate operations across the Hudson River to Jersey City. Since the early 1990s, many major firms have relocated or begun new operations in Jersey City. Jersey City has no city income tax, no corporate or payroll tax, no commercial rent tax, 30 percent lower utilities than New York City's Con Ed and rent on Class A office space is nearly a third less than in Manhattan. Jersey City’s economic sphere is now one of the fastest-growing as Fortune-500 corporations such as Chase Manhattan Bank, Merrill Lynch, Charles Schwab and others continue to bring businesses to the area.
Tourism:
If relaxing is what you are after, there are great options for spending the day out exploring the water along the Hudson River Waterfront. Next, head over to Pershing Field where you will find a lovely park with a running track, basketball and tennis courts and an Olympic sized swimming pool that turns into an ice skating rink during the winter. Next, head over to Jersey City Museum. Located in the Van Vorst Park section of downtown, this museum offers collects, exhibits, preserves and interprets American paintings, sculpture and materials of regional culture. For shopping, visit any one of Jersey City's 10 shopping districts and be treated to a tempting mix of diverse gift shops, corner stores, fashion boutiques and retailers.
Colleges/Universities:
• Saint Peter's College
• New Jersey City University
• Hudson County Community College
Interesting Facts:
• The Goldman Sachs building is one of the 200 Tallest Buildings in the World.
• Located in Jersey City, McNair Academic High School has been ranked the top public high school in New Jersey and 15th in the nation.
Helpful Links:
• Jersey City Real Estate
• Jersey City Storage Facility
• Jersey City Insurance
• Jersey City Dental Offices
• Jersey City Moving Companies