Jersey City, New Jersey

Jersey City is the second-most populous city in New Jersey, after Newark, and serves as the county seat of Hudson County. It has a long history, first settled by the Dutch in the 1600s. It later became an important port city.

Today, Jersey City is very diverse, with people from many countries and over 40 languages spoken there. It is located near the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay, making it a busy place for travel. The city connects to Manhattan through the Holland Tunnel, PATH rapid transit, NJ Transit buses, and NY Waterway ferry services.

Jersey City is also a center for banking and finance, sometimes called "Wall Street West" because of its strong economy and closeness to New York City.

The city has many places to learn and explore, including New Jersey City University and Saint Peter's University. Popular spots include the Liberty Science Center, Loew's Jersey Theatre, and Liberty State Park. With its lively arts, many different people, and growing economy, Jersey City keeps changing and welcoming new residents and visitors.

History

The land that is now Jersey City was home to the Lenape people, a group of Native American tribes. In 1609, explorer Henry Hudson sailed into the area while looking for a new route to East Asia for the Dutch. This led to the region becoming part of Dutch-controlled New Netherland.

The Dutch built settlements here, and the area grew into a small village named Bergen. In 1664, the English took control and renamed the area New Jersey after the Channel Island of Jersey. Over time, Jersey City grew and became an important port and industrial center.

During the American Revolution, the area helped defend against British forces. In the 1800s, the city grew with new transportation like railroads and ferries, and it became a place where many immigrants settled. The 1900s brought more changes, with new buildings, parks, and infrastructure.

Jersey City has faced challenges like economic changes and natural disasters, but it has kept growing.

Geography

Jersey City is the second-most-populous city in New Jersey. It is the seat of Hudson County and covers 21.13 square miles (54.74 km²). It is near the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay, next to parts of New York State.

The city includes parts of Ellis Island and is close to Liberty Island. Jersey City is often called part of New York City's sixth borough because it is close and has good transportation.

Jersey City has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters. The city is divided into six wards, each with its own neighborhoods. Downtown Jersey City is a busy area with many shops, restaurants, and new buildings. The Heights is a residential area with two- and three-family houses. Journal Square is a central business area with many shops and a major transportation hub. Greenville and the West Side are neighborhoods with diverse communities and new development projects.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Jersey City had a population of 292,449. The city has become more crowded over time, with many new homes built.

Per the American Community Survey's 2014–2018 estimates, Jersey City's age distribution was 7.7% of the population under 5, 13.2% between 6–18, 69% from 19 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.2 years. Females made up 50.8% of the population.

Housing

There were 110,801 housing units and 102,353 households in 2018. The average household size was 2.57. The average per capita income was $36,453, and the median household income was $62,739. 18.7% of residents lived below the poverty line.

From 2005 to 2023, Jersey City led New Jersey and the Northeastern United States in housing construction. Since 2021, Jersey City has enacted several ordinances to expand affordable housing and protect renters.

Race and ethnicity

Main articles: India Square, Indians in the New York City metropolitan area, and Filipinos in the New York metropolitan area

Jersey City is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. The city is a major port of entry for immigration to the United States and a major employment center close to Manhattan.

India Square, also known as "Little India", is a rapidly growing Indian American ethnic enclave in Jersey City. Filipino Americans make up a part of the city's population, and the Five Corners district serves as a prominent Little Manila.

Religion

Nearly 59.6% of Jersey City's inhabitants are religious adherents, of which 46.2% are Catholic Christians and 7.3% are Protestant Christians. Muslims constituted 3.4% of religious adherents in Jersey City. Dharmic religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism, make up 1.5% of the city's religious demographic, with Judaism at 0.6%.

Economy

Jersey City is a busy place to work, with over 100,000 jobs in both private and public jobs. This helps the city grow when people come to work during the day. Many jobs are in banking, services, shipping, and shopping. Between 1995 and 2003, Jersey City grew more jobs than any other big city in the United States. From 2020 to 2021, more people started working in the city.

Jersey City’s taxes are very strong. In 2017, the city’s tax money grew by $136 million, making it the biggest tax base in New Jersey. By 2024, the city’s tax money was more than $57 billion, the largest in the state.

Wall Street West

Jersey City’s area along the Hudson River, from Exchange Place to Newport, is called Wall Street West. This area has lots of big office space and many jobs in banking and finance. One-third of the jobs in the city are in financial services, with most of them in investing, some in banking, and a few in insurance.

Jersey City is where the National Stock Exchange has its main office. It is also where companies like Verisk Analytics and Lord Abbett have their main offices. Other big companies such as Computershare, ADP, IPC Systems, and Fidelity Investments also work in the city. Tech companies like Revenued help the financial businesses here. In 2014, Forbes moved its main office to this area. In 2014, RBC Bank planned to bring 900 jobs to the city. In 2015, JPMorgan Chase moved 2,150 jobs from Manhattan to Jersey City. In 2020, American International Group planned to rent big office space in the city. In 2024, Bank of America rented a huge amount of office space in Newport, which is the biggest office rental in New Jersey in the last ten years.

Life science and technology industry

The life science and technology industry is growing fast in Jersey City. In 2024, the city was named the 5th best tech city in the United States. It now has 394 tech and computer companies, and 15.5% of all jobs in the city came from this industry between 2020 and 2021.

In 2020, Organon International, a company from Merck & Co, moved its main office to the Goldman Sachs Tower. In 2021, the Liberty Science Center started building SciTech Scity, a big campus for science, health, and technology. This $450 million campus will have labs, offices, and a school. Other companies like Sheba Medical Center, RWJBarnabas Health, Bristol Myers Squibb, EY, and Nokia Bell Labs will also be there. The campus will also have a new high school and housing for people who work in tech jobs.

Another science and technology area called The Cove was announced in 2022. This 13-acre area will have office space, homes, and a park next to the water.

In 2023, EpiBone, a company that grows bone for surgeries, moved from Brooklyn to Jersey City. In 2024, RegenLab USA, which makes devices for cell therapy, also moved from Brooklyn to Jersey City. Also in 2024, Eikon Therapeutics moved into big office space. In 2025, Hexaware Technologies and Zoi North America Inc. opened their main offices in Jersey City.

Sports betting

Jersey City has become a big place for sports betting in the United States. Companies like BetMGM and Caesars Sports Book have their main offices along the Hudson River. Other companies like FanDuel, Draft Kings, and Fanatics also have offices in the city. FanDuel added more space in 2025. With New Jersey allowing gambling and many tech workers living there, Jersey City has become part of the gambling industry in Atlantic City.

Retail

Jersey City has many places to shop, with streets full of stores in different parts of the city, such as Central, Danforth, Newark, and West Side Avenues. In 2022, Lower Newark Avenue became a walking area with places to eat and enjoy the arts. Journal Square is a big shopping and business area with neighborhoods like Bergen Square, McGinley Square, India Square, the Five Corners, and parts of the Marion Section. The city has two shopping malls: Newport Centre Mall and Hudson Mall.

Some parts of the city are in an Urban Enterprise Zone, which helps create jobs and gives shoppers lower sales tax at certain stores. This zone started in 1983 and was made longer in 2021 for ten more years. Jersey City is the largest and most active Urban Enterprise Zone in the state, covering one-third of the city.

E-commerce and distribution

Because Jersey City is close to New York City and has good trains and roads, it is a good place for companies to send and receive goods. Companies like Sysco have their distribution centers here.

Tropicana opened a big juice factory in Greenville Yard in 1991. Summit Import Corporation moved their headquarters and factory to Jersey City in 2000. Evergreen Marine Corporation moved its U.S. main office back to Jersey City in 2003. DeBragga & Spitler moved to Jersey City in 2011. Imperial Dade opened a big distribution center in 2013. East Coast Warehouse and Distribution grew its space in 2017. Goya Foods opened a big warehouse and office in 2015. Nuts.com moved its main office to Jersey City in 2019. CVS Health rented a lot of space in 2024. Daylight Transport opened a shipping center in 2025, and Furniture of America opened a big distribution center the same year.

Port Jersey

Port Jersey is a place where ships and trains load and unload cargo, located near the Upper New York Bay. The Greenville Yard is a train yard built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in the early 1900s. New York New Jersey Rail runs trains between Jersey City and Brooklyn. In 2017, they added new boats that can carry many train cars. In 2019, they finished a big project to help trains connect better. The central part of Port Jersey has a big shipping area called Port Liberty Bayonne, which grew in 2014. In 2024, Port Jersey got new large ships that can carry many containers.

Other

Iron Mountain opened a big paper shredding center in Jersey City in 2006. From 2008 to 2013, Jersey City was allowed to give tax money to companies that built near train stations. In 2014, VF Corporation moved workers to Newport. In 2015, Jackson Hewitt moved its main office to Exchange Place. IT Cosmetics has been in Newport since 2008 and grew in 2017. Tory Burch moved some offices to Newport in 2017. In 2021, LifeCap farms opened a mushroom farm. In 2022, Oishii opened a strawberry farm. In 2022, Collectors Holdings moved to Harborside. In 2023, Whole Foods Market moved its main office to Harborside and opened a store. In 2024, Technogym opened an office at Exchange Place and later moved its U.S. main office to Jersey City. In 2025, Casio America Inc. leased space at Harborside 5 for their new sales and marketing office.

Notable landmarks

Jersey City has many important places to visit. One of the most famous is the Liberty Science Center, a big science museum in Liberty State Park. You can also see the Statue of Liberty from nearby islands, even though they are officially part of New York.

Other interesting spots include the Colgate Clock, which is very large and can be seen from far away, and the Loew's Jersey Theatre, where you can watch old movies and live shows. There are also beautiful memorials, like the Jersey City 9/11 Memorial and Empty Sky, which honor people who were lost during sad events. The city also has old houses, like the Van Wagenen House, which dates back to 1740 and has a rich history.

Art and culture

Jersey City is known for its arts and culture. In 2020, residents voted to create a special fund to support local arts groups and artists, and help provide more arts education for young people. This made Jersey City the first city in New Jersey to have a tax dedicated to supporting the arts.

The city has many places to enjoy art, including libraries, museums, and galleries. The Jersey City Free Public Library is the largest library system in New Jersey, with a main library and many branches. One special branch opened in 2024, featuring tools like 3D printers and a recording studio for learning and creating. The library also has a room filled with historical documents about New Jersey, especially Hudson County and Jersey City.

There are several museums in Jersey City. The Afro-American Historical and Cultural Society Museum shows the history of the city's African American community. The Museum of Jersey City History, located in a historic house, displays exhibits about the city's past. Liberty State Park is home to the Liberty Science Center, an interactive science museum with many exhibits, a huge IMAX theater, and a planetarium.

Jersey City has many places to see and enjoy performances. White Eagle Hall, a beautiful old theater, opened in 1910 and was recently renovated. It now hosts dance and theater shows. The Loew's Jersey Theatre, a grand old movie theater, is being renovated to become a modern performing arts venue and is set to reopen in 2026.

The city also has many festivals and events throughout the year. These include art tours, comedy festivals, music series, Shakespeare performances, and a big 4th of July celebration with fireworks over the Hudson River. There are also food festivals and many other events that bring people together to enjoy the arts and culture of Jersey City.

Parks

Jersey City has 109 parks. These parks are managed by the city, the county, the state, and the federal government. About 12% of the city's land is used for parks. This is more than the national average. Every person in Jersey City lives within a 10-minute walk of a park.

Some well-known parks in the city include Berry Lane Park, the largest city park, and Lincoln Park, the largest county park. Liberty State Park is the largest urban park in the state and welcomes many visitors each year. The Statue of Liberty National Monument, including Ellis Island, is managed by the National Park Service and sits in New York Harbor. The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway is a long path running from the George Washington Bridge to the Bayonne Bridge. The Hackensack River Greenway is a walkway under development along the western waterfront, with parts already open at Droyer's Point, Lincoln Park, and Skyway Park.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Jersey City, New Jersey

Jersey City has many places where people can play and watch sports. The city has teams and parks where kids and families can enjoy games and activities.

In media

Newspapers & other news outlets

Jersey City is part of the New York media market. Daily newspapers like The New York Times and Daily News sell there. As of 2025, Jersey City no longer has its own daily newspaper. The city’s former newspaper, The Jersey Journal, stopped publishing in 2025. Other local news sources include Hudson Dispatch, Jersey City Reporter, River View Observer, and El Especialito. Online news outlets like NJ.com, Jersey City Times, and Jersey City Independent also cover the city.

Radio

WSNR 620 AM is a commercial radio station licensed to Jersey City. WFMU 91.1 FM, a freeform radio station, moved to Jersey City in 1998.

Television and film

Jersey City has been used for many movies and TV shows. It hosts film festivals, including the Golden Door Film Festival and the Brightside Film Festival. The city’s first film studio opened in 1910. Famous films like The Perils of Pauline and The Godfather were filmed there. Many other movies and shows, such as Men in Black, The Sopranos, and Ms. Marvel, have used Jersey City as a backdrop or filming location.

Government

Local

Jersey City runs using a special system called the Faulkner Act. This system has a mayor and a council with nine members. The council has six members from different parts of the city and three who represent the whole city. They all serve four-year terms and are chosen in elections.

As of 2026, the mayor of Jersey City is James Solomon. The council members include Denise Ridley, Frank E. Gilmore, Joel Brooks, Jake Ephros, Michael Griffin, Rolando Lavarro, Eleana Little, Mamta Singh, and Thomas Zuppa.

Federal, state and county representation

Jersey City is divided between two areas for choosing members of the U.S. House of Representatives. For the current Congress, Rob Menendez represents the 8th District, and LaMonica McIver represents the 10th District. New Jersey’s two U.S. Senators are Cory Booker and Andy Kim.

In the New Jersey Legislature, the city is split between the 31st and 32nd districts. For the 31st district, Angela V. McKnight serves in the State Senate, with William Sampson and Jerry Walker in the General Assembly. For the 32nd district, Raj Mukherji serves in the State Senate, with Ravinder Bhalla and Katie Brennan in the General Assembly.

Hudson County has a County Executive and a group of Commissioners who make decisions. As of 2025, the County Executive is Craig Guy.

Public safety

The Jersey City Fire Department is the largest in the state. It started as a volunteer group in 1829 and became a professional department in 1871. The department includes a special unit for fighting fires in tall buildings, called “Squad 1.”

The Jersey City Police Department has over 950 officers. It was created in 1829 and has grown to cover the whole city. In 2024, the city opened a new training center to help officers and the community learn about emergencies.

Emergency Medical Services are provided by the Jersey City Medical Center, part of RWJBarnabas Health.

Education

Colleges and universities

Jersey City has several places for higher learning. New Jersey City University is a public university on the West Side, starting as a school for teachers. Saint Peter's University is a private university also on the West Side, founded by the Society of Jesus. Hudson County Community College helps students get ready to move on to bigger universities. Rutgers University and New Jersey Institute of Technology also offer classes in the city.

Public schools

The Jersey City Public Schools welcome students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. The district includes 39 schools with many students and teachers. Some well-known high schools are William L. Dickinson High School, James J. Ferris High School, and Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, which has been recognized as one of the best schools in the state and the country.

Private schools

Catholic schools

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark runs many elementary and high schools in Jersey City. Some of these include Hudson Catholic Regional High School and Saint Dominic Academy. Some schools have closed over the years.

Other private schools

Jersey City also has many other private schools, such as First Christian Pentecostal Academy, Stevens Cooperative School, and the French American Academy. These schools offer different types of learning and programs for students.

Transportation

Jersey City has many ways for people to get around. Many people use public transportation to get to work.

Air

The closest big airport is Newark Liberty International Airport, which serves Jersey City and is run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Mass transit

Rail

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is very popular in Jersey City. The PATH system has stations in the city, connecting to places like Hoboken, Midtown Manhattan, the World Trade Center, and Newark Penn Station.

Bus

There are many bus routes that start or end at places like the Journal Square Transportation Center, Exchange Place, and Hoboken Terminal. Some buses go to Midtown Manhattan or even Atlantic City.

In 2023, a bus company called A&C Bus Corporation stopped running, and NJ Transit took over some of its routes. There are also small, local buses called "dollar vans" that many people use.

Since 2016, some airlines have provided buses from Jersey City to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Bus rapid transit

Plans are being made to create a fast bus system called BRT along John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Work is also starting on a BRT line from Secaucus to the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

Via on-demand public transit

In 2020, the city started an on-demand bus service called Via Jersey City. People can book rides using a phone app. This service was expanded to run on weekends in 2021.

Water

Ferry services run from Jersey City to different places in Manhattan, like Battery Park City and the West Midtown Ferry Terminal.

Road

Jersey City has many roads, including parts of the New Jersey Turnpike, Route 7, and Route 440. There are also important bridges like the Holland Tunnel, which goes to Manhattan, and the Wittpenn Bridge.

Bike

Jersey City is working on making it easier and safer to ride bikes. Parts of a big bike route called the East Coast Greenway will go through the city. There are also bike-friendly paths along the Hudson River and the Hackensack River.

In 2012, the city started adding bike lanes, and by 2024, there were many miles of protected bike lanes. In 2024, the city also started a network of secure bike parking spots and charging stations.

Pedestrian safety

In 2018, Jersey City started a program called Vision Zero to make streets safer for people walking and biking. The city added things like better crosswalks, traffic lights that give pedestrians extra time, and speed bumps.

Because of all these transportation options, Jersey City is known for being very walkable. As of 2025, it is ranked as one of the most walkable cities in the United States.

Hospitals and healthcare

Jersey City has one main hospital, Jersey City Medical Center. It is located in Downtown Jersey City. The hospital has special care for women, children, and people who need help quickly.

There are also other medical places in Jersey City. One is in the Greenville area, and another is in Journal Square. These places help people with everyday health needs. Some older hospitals in Jersey City have closed, including Heights University Hospital.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Jersey City, New Jersey

Jersey City has been home to many famous people. They have done great things in areas like entertainment and sports. The city is still a place where many successful people live or used to live.

Sister cities

Jersey City has many sister cities around the world. These are places that work together with Jersey City in friendly ways. Some of these sister cities include:

• Cusco in Peru, since 1988
• Karpathos in Greece, since 1992
• Changwon in South Korea, since 1993
• New Delhi in India, since 1993
• Ahmedabad in India, since 1994
• Nantong in China, since 1994
• Changsha in China, since 1995
• Ozamiz in the Philippines, since 1995
• Jerusalem in Israel, since 1997
• Oviedo in Spain, since 1998
• Sant'Arsenio in Italy, since 1999
• Kolkata in India, since 2001
• Saint John's in Antigua and Barbuda, since 2002
• Palatka, Florida in the United States, since 2016
• Gomoa West District in Ghana, since 2018
• Indrawati in Nepal, since 2018
• General Santos in the Philippines, since 2018
• Beit Shemesh in Israel, since 2022