Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey sits between the coastal plains and the Appalachian Mountains. As the first designed industrial city in the U.S., Paterson was known as the "Silk City" due to the thriving textile manufacturing businesses driven by the falls. The area is distinguished by rolling hills that are the remains of an ancient mountain range worn away by glacial action and river erosion. The city stands strategically on the 77-foot Great Falls of the Passaic River in northern New Jersey's Passaic County. Those moving to Paterson, will also discover a city that is within close proxmity to Newark, the George Washington Bridge and Manhattan -- making Paterson a practical place to live.
History:
The City of Paterson is located on the Passaic River in New Jersey was once one of the mightiest industrial cities of the U.S. It has a rich history as the country’s first planned industrial city, as well as containing some of the country's oldest textile mills and businesses. In the late 1700s, Alexander Hamilton created an investment group named the Society of Useful Manufactures, whose funds would develop a planned industrial city in the US that would later become Paterson. Hamilton believed that the country needed to cut its dependence on foreign goods, and instead develop its own industries. The industries created in Paterson were aided by the 77-foot high Great Falls, and a system of water raceways that harnessed the power of the falls. The city originally incorporated numerous of mill buildings and other manufacturing structures connected with the textile industry. In the mid-1800s, silk production became the leading industry, earning it the nickname "Silk City." The city also played a historic role in reforming labor unrest; challenging anti-child labor legislation, and worked to improve safety in the workplace, a minimum wage and reasonable working hours.
Economy:
Paterson, New Jersey has continued to experience a population surge, and has modified its historic focus on silk production to related industries such as polymers. Tourism has become a growth industry in the Great Falls area in specific and in New Jersey in general. The Great Falls/S.U.M. National Historic Landmark District has received more than $4 million in federal funding to repair and stabilize bridges, preserve the upper raceway on the Falls and create solutions for deteriorating ruins along the site. The City of Paterson has developed a Department of Community Development that works to stimulate the city and its neighborhoods through restoration, attractions and preservation of sustainable industries. The city is currently concentrating on aerospace innovators, advanced manufacturing businesses and the automotive manufacturing sector.
Tourism:
Great Falls Historic District is a famous neighborhood in Paterson that is also home to the Paterson Museum. The Eastside Park Historic District consists of nearly 1,000 homes featuring a variety of architectural styles. One of Paterson's most famous historic landmarks is the Lambert Castle Museum. Built in the late-1800s, the museum is the former home of Catholina Lambert, owner of a well-known silk mill in the city. Paterson residents and their visitors enjoy many opportunities throughout the year to celebrate the city's ethnic diversity. Every summer, the city hosts an African-American Day Parade, a Dominican Day Parade, a Puerto Rican Day Parade a Peruvian Day Parade and a Turkish-American Day Parade. Attractions elsewhere in the New York metropolitan area are limitless. Located just a short ride from Paterson is an abundance of things to see and do. Among the more popular are the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History, Manhattan's Central Park, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Bronx Zoo, the Rockefeller Center, the Apollo Theater and the Statue of Liberty.
Colleges/Universities:
• Christian University
• Passaic County Community College
Interesting Facts:
• Paterson was named for William Paterson, New Jersey governor, statesman, and signer of the constitution.
• Joe Clark, educator and former principal of Eastside High School, depicted by Morgan Freeman in the movie Lean on Me, was from Paterson.
• 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."
Helpful Links:
• Paterson Real Estate
• Paterson Storage Facility
• Paterson Insurance
• Paterson Dental Offices
• Paterson Moving Guide