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Introduction to Jersey City, New Jersey
The city of Jersey City is the county seat of Hudson County, New Jersey. Considered part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City is a close neighbor to Manhattan, separated only be the Hudson River. A significant port of entry, the city serves as an important industrial and commercial center for the region and benefits from its close proximity to Manhattan due to the spillover effect from several of New York City's large businesses. Jersey City is serviced by several highways, including Interstate I-78; U.S. Routes 1 and 9: New Jersey State Highways 7, 139, and 440; and the New Jersey Turnpike. Public transportation is the primary form of transport for Jersey City commuters and it exists in many varieties: there is abundant ferry service offered by NY Waterway to and from several locations, Hudson-Bergen offers light rail service, and there is 24-hour subway and bus service as well. Nearby large airports include LaGuardia Airport (LGA), John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), and Newark's Liberty Airport, which is directly connected to Jersey City via rail service operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PATH).
The area which now comprises Jersey City was first explored in 1609 by English navigator Henry Hudson, who was financed by the Dutch East India Company. A permanent settlement was pioneered there in 1630 by Michael Pauw, an agent of the Dutch West India Company, and the city today retains this early influence with its abundant Dutch street names. Initially dubbed Paulus Hook, named after one of its early governors Michael Paulusen, the city became incorporated as the city of Jersey in 1820 while it was still a part of the town of Bergen. It was reincorporated in 1838, at which time it became independent of Bergen and was given its present name. From 1860 to 1870 the city's population more than quadrupled, owing to the economic strength of its factories and also to the consolidation of several municipalities into the city. A significant event occurred in 1916 when German saboteurs exploded ammunition-laden railroad cars into the city's Black Tom Island, resulting in property losses estimated in the millions. By the latter part of the 20th century, Jersey City had attained a healthy level of prosperity owing to its perception as a favorable alternative for businesses looking to escape New York City's exorbitant business costs.
Attractions in the Jersey City Area
Jersey City's prime attraction is Liberty State Park. The Park, about half of which is open to public access, offers views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. There are also several bike paths and walkways, including Liberty Walkway, a long waterfront path stretching from the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal building to the Statue of Liberty overlook. The Park also houses the Liberty Science Center, offering several floors of exhibits and a theater with one of the nation's largest IMAX dome screens. Jersey City visitors can also take advantage of the enormous number of things to see and do in the greater metropolitan New York City area. Some of these include the following:
Major league professional sports abound in the New York City area, home to the following teams:
Jersey City strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in New Jersey):
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Public Transportation Use (vs. Peers) | Top 1% |  |
| Racial Diversity (vs. State) | Top 5% | |
| Walking and Biking to Work (vs. State) | Top 14% | |
| Low Property Crime (vs. Peers) | Top 17% | |
| Affordability of Rents (vs. State) | Top 19% | |
Comparing Jersey City to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in New Jersey (State):
Ratings range from 
(lowest) to 
(highest).
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Racial Diversity |  | |
| Well-Paid Single Women |  |  |
| Male Share of the Population | |  |
| Female Share of the Population |  |  |
| Well-Paid Single Men | |  |
| Age of the Population | | |
| Children Under 5 Years Old | | |
| Senior Citizens | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size |  | |
| Portion of People Married | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| College Educated Adults | | |
| People in Middle Class or Better | | |
| Median Family Income | | |
| People Above Poverty | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Public Transportation Use | | |
| Walking and Biking to Work | | |
| Working at Home | | |
| Short Commute Times | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | | |
| People Living Alone | | |
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
| Affordability of Rents | | |
| Housing Recently Built | | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Low Property Crime | | |
| Low Violent Crime | | |
Detailed pages on related topics: Jersey City colleges • Jersey City travel • Jersey City mortgages and property.
 | Jersey City Colleges Jersey City colleges and trade schools. |
 | Jersey City Hotels & Travel Jersey City hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
 | Jersey City Mortgage Jersey City property, mortgage, and real estate. |
We've crunched the numbers to create PlaceMatch™, which compares thousands of cities and towns to find the places most similar to each.
Select a photo to view (Source):
Marlborough House between 1900 and 1906
Hotel Traymore c1900.
Savoy Hotel between 1900 and 1905
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