Passaic, New Jersey

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City of Passaic, New Jersey
Map of Passaic in Passaic County
Map of Passaic in Passaic County
Coordinates: 40°51′27″N, 74°07′44″W
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Passaic County
Settled 1679
Incorporated 1873
Government
 - Mayor Samuel Rivera
Area
 - City  3.2 sq mi (8.3 km²)
 - Land  3.1 sq mi (8.1 km²)
 - Water  0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
Elevation  112 ft (34 m)
Population (2000)
 - City 67,861
 - Density 21,804.7/sq mi (8,424.8/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
Website: http://www.cityofpassaic.com/

Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 67,861. Located north of Newark on the Passaic River, it was first settled in 1678 by Dutch traders, as Acquackanonk Township. The city and river draw their name from the Lenape word "pahsayèk" meaning "valley".[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The city originated from a Dutch settlement on the Passaic River established in 1679 which was called Acquackanonk. Industrial growth began in the 19th century, as Passaic became a textile and metalworking center. Passaic was formed within Acquackanonk Township on March 10, 1869, and was incorporated as an independent village on March 21, 1871. Passaic was chartered as a city on April 2, 1873.[2]

A famous strike in 1926 against reductions in wages involved the right of free assembly.

[edit] Geography

Passaic is located at 40°51′27″n, 74°7′44″w (40.857384, -74.128997)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.3 km² (3.2 mi²). 8.1 km² (3.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (3.12%) is water. Passaic is bordered on the north, west and south by the City of Clifton, and to the east by the Passaic River.

Passaic is located 10 miles from New York City, and 12 miles from Newark Airport.

[edit] The City

Passaic has several business districts: Main Avenue begins in Passaic Park and follows the curve of the river to downtown. Broadway runs east - west through the center of the city, ending at Main Avenue in downtown. Monroe Street has many shops, restaurants and businesses reflecting the city's Latino and Eastern European populations.

The city is home to several architecturally notable churches, including St. John's Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian of Passaic, and St. John's Episcopal Church.

Southwest Passaic (known as Passaic Park) is a residential and institutional center of Orthodox Judaism, with 25 Orthodox synagogues and 1,300 families, as well as being home to numerous yeshivas, schools, other institutions. There are also kosher food and shopping establishments.[3]

Passaic Park takes its name from Third Ward Park, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful municipal parks in New Jersey. This area is also noted for its large mansions and homes of various architectural styles, especially Victorian and Tudor. Several condominium and cooperative apartment complexes are also located here including: Carlton Tower (the city's tallest structure), The Towers, and Barry Gardens.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1880 6,532
–
1890 13,028 99.4%
1900 27,777 113.2%
1910 54,773 97.2%
1920 63,841 16.6%
1930 62,959 -1.4%
1940 61,394 -2.5%
1950 57,702 -6.0%
1960 53,963 -6.5%
1970 55,124 2.2%
1980 52,463 -4.8%
1990 58,041 10.6%
2000 67,861 16.9%
historical data sources: [4][5]

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 67,861 people, 19,458 households, and 14,457 families residing in the city. The population density was 8,424.8/km² (21,804.7/mi²). There were 20,194 housing units at an average density of 2,507.1/km² (6,488.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 35.43% White, 13.83% African American, 0.78% Native American, 5.51% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 39.36% from other races, and 5.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 62.46% of the population. It is also known for its Ukrainian enclave.[citation needed]

There were 19,458 households out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.46 and the average family size was 3.93. In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,594, and the median income for a family was $34,935. Males had a median income of $24,568 versus $21,352 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,874. About 18.4% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

The City of Passaic is governed under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government under the Faulkner Act. Under this form of government, the Mayor is elected directly by the voters for a four-year term. Seven Council Members serve overlapping four year terms.

The Mayor of Passaic is Sammy Rivera, who was re-elected to office on May 10, 2005.[6] Members of the City Council are Gary Schaer (Council President), Gerardo Fernandez, Jose Garcia, Marcellus Jackson, Chaim M. Munk, Daniel J. Schwartz and Jonathan Soto.[7]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Passaic is in the Eighth Congressional District is part of New Jersey's 36th Legislative District.[8]

New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District, covering the southern portion of Passaic County and northern sections of Essex County, is represented by Bill Pascrell Jr. (D, Paterson). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 36th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Paul Sarlo (D, Wood-Ridge) and in the Assembly by Frederick Scalera (D, Nutley) and Gary Schaer (D, Passaic). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).

Passaic County's Board of Chosen Freeholders are Freeholder Director Elease Evans of Paterson, Freeholder Deputy Director Pat Lepore of West Paterson, Terry Duffy of West Milford, James Gallagher of Paterson, Bruce James of Clifton, Sonia Rosado of Ringwood and Tahesha Way of Wayne.

[edit] Education

The Passaic City School District is a type I school district, and is an independent legal entity administered by a nine-member Board of Education elected by the voters of the school district. The school district is not a part of any regional or consolidated school district, and neither receives nor sends students, except for a limited number of special education students. The school system is comprised of 2 early childhood centers, 12 elementary schools (grades K-6), 1 middle school (grades 7-8), and 1 high school (grades 9-12). The Passaic City School District is an Abbott District.

The Collegiate School is a private coeducational day school located in Passaic, serving students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade.

Passaic County Community College plans to open a new campus in the city of Passaic in Spring 2008. Construction commences on the new site in Spring 2007 at 2 Paulison Avenue. The new campus will allow PCCC to reach the 15% of its students who come from the city of Passaic. The college's nursing program will be relocated and expanded at the new campus to provide a qualified program to help fill the longstanding nursing shortage.

The Yeshiva Gedolah of Passaic is an institute of Jewish Learning.

[edit] Transportation

Passaic is well served by state roadways including Route 3 and Route 21. The Garden State Parkway and Interstate 80 are nearby.

Local bus transportation is provided by New Jersey Transit, with service to Paterson, Rutherford, Newark, Clifton, Garfield, and Wallington among other locations.

New Jersey Transit bus 190 provides local service and interstate service to Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City.

The Passaic New Jersey Transit rail station is located in the Passaic Park section, providing service on the Main Line southbound to Hoboken Terminal, Secaucus Junction for connections to several other rail lines, and to Pennsylvania Station in Midtown Manhattan. Northbound service is provided to Paterson, Ridgewood and New York stations in Suffern and Port Jervis.

Commuter jitney buses operate along Main Avenue providing service to Paterson, Union City, the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal in New York City, and points between. This service does not operate on an official schedule.

[edit] Communications

Passaic uses telephone area code 973.

[edit] Noted Passaic natives

Passaic is the birthplace of the following notables:

[edit] Trivia

  • Passaic has been called "The Birthplace of Television".[16] In 1931, experimental television station W2XCD began transmitting from DeForest Radio Corp. in Passaic. It has been called the first television station to transmit to the home, and was the first such station to broadcast a feature film. Allen B. Dumont, formerly DeForest's chief engineer, opened pioneering TV manufacturer Dumont Laboratories in Passaic in 1937. Dumont later started DuMont Television Network, the first television network, in 1946.
  • In the 1960s television sitcom F Troop, the character, Cpl. Randolph Agarn (played by Larry Storch), hails from Passaic, Storch's home town. The city is occasionally mentioned - and featured - in episodes.
  • While born in New York City, actress Marcia Strassman grew up in Passaic, across the street from Alan Rosenberg.
  • The short-lived Ellen Travolta sitcom Makin' It was set in Passaic, although, at the time of the disco-themed show, the city actually had little disco culture of its own. Ms. Travolta had an occasional role in Welcome Back Kotter, which starred Ms. Strassman as Mrs. Kotter.
  • Numerous music groups have performed at the Loop Lounge on Broadway. Performers have included:

Faith No More. Dead Milkmen, They Might Be Giants, APB, Gang of Four, My Chemical Romance, and The Smithereens.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lenape Language / Pronunciation, accessed September 20, 2006
  2. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 210.
  3. ^ Rachel Berman, Passaic/Clifton - The New Jewish Boom Town, The Jewish Press, November 22, 2006
  4. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
  5. ^ Wm. C. Hunt, Chief Statistician for Population. Fourteenth Census of The United States: 1920; Population: New Jersey; Number of inhabitants, by counties and minor civil divisions (ZIP). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-03-21.
  6. ^ Mayor of Passaic, accessed July 6, 2006
  7. ^ City Council Members, accessed July 6, 2006
  8. ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 62, accessed August 30, 2006
  9. ^ Meet the Writers: Mitch Albom, accessed December 19, 2006
  10. ^ A site dedicated to George Breeman and the USS Breeman (DE-104), accessed December 19, 2006
  11. ^ Mark DeRosa player profile, accessed December 19, 2006
  12. ^ "Garment Workers Lobbyist Dubrow Dies", San Francisco Chronicle, June 21, 2006
  13. ^ "Heyward lived hard and died young", Taipei Times, May 30, 2006
  14. ^ Congressional biography of William J. Martini, accessed December 26, 2006
  15. ^ DREXLER, CALHOUN AND WOODARD HIGHLIGHT 16 FINALISTS FOR NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, Basketball Hall of Fame press release dated February 15, 2004. "DICK VITALE, a native of Passaic, NJ., has been synonymous with college basketball for more than 20 years as the lead color announcer for ESPN."
  16. ^ UCLA Film and Television Archive Television Programs Preserved 1988 - 2000, accessed February 18, 2007

[edit] External links

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Municipalities of Passaic County, New Jersey
(County seat: Paterson)
Boroughs Bloomingdale | Haledon | Hawthorne | North Haledon | Pompton Lakes | Prospect Park | Ringwood | Totowa | Wanaque | West Paterson
Cities Clifton | Passaic | Paterson
Townships Little Falls | Wayne | West Milford
CDPs and
communities		 Haskell | Hewitt | Newfoundland | Oak Ridge | Pines Lake



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