Paterson, New Jersey, is one of the most densely populated cities in the United States. Geographically speaking, Paterson is located in Northern New Jersey, in the northernmost part of Passaic County, in the northeastern part of the state. It is approximately 31 miles from New York City, making it the second-most populous city in the state, and it is around 8 miles from Newark, which is the third-most populous city in the state.
It is also home to a large immigrant population, about 50 percent of which is of Asian descent.
The Geography of Paterson is a journey through the ever-changing world of the inner city. Paterson's unique geography has shaped the history of the city and the lives of its people.
HISTORY OF PATERSON
Paterson is a city with a rich history. From the days of the Revolutionary War to the industrial revolution, Paterson is a city with a dynamic past. Paterson was once an industrial powerhouse. The area around the Great Falls of the Passaic River has the distinction of being the country's first planned industrial city. In the 1800s, Paterson had a bustling downtown and a diverse economy, bustling with entrepreneurs and inventors.
Paterson was a hub for industrial manufacturing during the United States Industrial Revolution. A major employer in the area was the silk industry. Paterson is home to many historic landmarks. One such landmark is the Great Falls Historic District, filed in 1975, which includes the Great Falls at the Passaic River. They are one of the oldest waterfalls in North America. The Delaware and Raritan Canal, completed in 1834, is a vital link in the commercial navigation between New York Harbor and tidewater on the Hudson River. It also helped new immigrants settle in Paterson. Paterson is home to the Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works, which at one time manufactured every steam locomotive used.
The city's rich history has been documented in several books, and some of the homes and buildings from its heyday are still standing.
Population growth of Paterson
Paterson is one of the most densely populated cities in the United States and saw its population double from 50,000 to 100,000 from 1990 to 20 The population growth of the city has been enabled by a strong economy and a range of transportation and home-making options that are all relatively affordable. The city has managed its population growth by investing in public services such as schools and hospitals in order to decrease overcrowding in these facilities.
The population of Paterson, New Jersey will grow by 78% over the next 50 years, according to a projection by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. To meet this demand for housing, Paterson is working on plans to create more affordable housing developments, which will include an increase in the density of residential units. Paterson is considered to be one of the most ethnically diverse cities in New Jersey with close to 50% of the population being foreign-born. The demographics of Paterson include a diverse array of nationalities and races, including African American, White American, Asian American, and Hispanic.
WHEN WAS PATERSON FOUNDED?
Paterson, New Jersey was founded on 22 November 1791, by Alexander Hamilton, who owned a large part of the land in the area. Paterson and Hamilton were friends and Hamilton convinced him to found the town by the Great Falls of Passaic. Hamilton's vision was to create a trading hub along the Great Falls of Passaic with mills, warehouses, and other buildings that would feed into the Passaic River. Hamilton went bankrupt after his partner went to prison for counterfeiting currency, forcing him to relinquish all the property he owned to save it, including Paterson, which he sold to a syndicate of investors.
Paterson has a long history, which started in 1668 when the Delaware Indians inhabited the area. Originally known as "Pater's Town" or "Patterson's Town," Paterson was founded by the Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1693 as a community where they could live with religious freedom. The area had been incorporated as a township in 1735 with the name of New Barbados.
In 1668, when the area was first explored by Dutch settlers, it was named "Pater Staats", as it was inhabited by the tribe of Pattersons, a branch of the Delaware Indians. In 1676, the English claimed ownership of the land and renamed it "Paterson's Township."
The city was chartered in 1792 and incorporated as "Paterno," and later, Paterson.