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Passaic, New Jersey

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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"<ref>Lenape Language / Pronunciation, accessed September 20, 2006</ref>.

Image:Passaic nj.png

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[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. It was incorporated as a village in 1869 and chartered as a city in 1873. 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 two 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.

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 16 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.<ref>Rachel Berman, Passaic/Clifton - The New Jewish Boom Town, The Jewish Press, November 22, 2006</ref>

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

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<ref>Mayor of Passaic, accessed July 6, 2006</ref>. 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.<ref>City Council Members, accessed July 6, 2006</ref>

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Passaic is in the Eighth Congressional District is part of New Jersey's 36th Legislative District.<ref>League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 62, accessed August 30, 2006</ref>

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 Robert 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 Sonia Rosado of Ringwood, Terry Duffy of West Milford, James Gallagher of Paterson, Bruce James of Clifton, Pat Lepore of West Paterson 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 September 2007. The new site, located at 2 Paulison Avenue, 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 downtown, 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] References

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[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 Image:Map of New Jersey highlighting Passaic County.svg
Cities Clifton | Passaic | Paterson
Townships Little Falls | Wayne | West Milford
CDPs and
Communities 		Hewitt | Newfoundland | Pines Lake


Image:Flag of New Jersey.svg State of New Jersey

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Capital Trenton
Regions Central Jersey | Delaware Valley | Jersey Shore | Meadowlands | North Jersey | Pine Barrens | South Jersey | New York metro area | Tri-State Region
Cities Atlantic City | Bayonne | Camden | Clifton | East Orange | Elizabeth | Hackensack | Hoboken | Jersey City | Linden | Long Branch | New Brunswick | Newark | Passaic | Paterson | Perth Amboy | Plainfield | Princeton | Toms River | Trenton |Union City | Vineland | In addition to the major cities listed, All Municipalities (by Population)
Counties Atlantic | Bergen | Burlington | Camden | Cape May | Cumberland | Essex | Gloucester | Hudson | Hunterdon | Mercer | Middlesex | Monmouth | Morris | Ocean | Passaic | Salem | Somerset | Sussex | Union | Warren
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