Jersey City travel guide

First, my creds. I was born in JC more than 76 years ago, raised and educated here, then lived pretty much all over the world between the ages of 19 and 57. I returned here almost exactly 19 years ago.The above information, especially the text saying, ". . . it has railroad shops, oil refineries, warehouses, and plants that manufacture a diverse assortment of products, including chemicals, petroleum, electronics, textiles, and cosmetics" is approximately 40 years out of date. Virtually all those factories have moved away. They have been replaced by more modern businesses.During the period from the late 1950s through the 60s, the city's former majority (about 85%) of more than 300,000 white Irish, Italian, Greek and German (mostly Catholic) population moved to the suburbs or other parts of the US, following the dispersal of industries and jobs and opportunities. The exodus was motivated by a combination of racial and economic motives.Jersey City's excellent base of high quality, blue-collar housing attracted major immigrant populations seeking entry level and menial jobs that were the first step to "The American Dream." That movement continues to this day. The "Gateway to the American Dream" (as some have called it) now enjoys (yes, we enjoy) one of the most diverse populations in the world. I doubt that you will find people from as many places in the world in any other location.We all live side-by-side, thoroughly mixed from house to house, street to street, area by area. Although there are pockets of intensity, such as India Town or the Middle Eastern section or Filipinos, there is little of the de-facto segregation that once existed. We have no ethnic strife. Local government, private employment, professional people, the schools, life on the streets and business owners are broadly representative of the diversity.The city now is home to the "back-office" operations of some of the world's largest financial operators. For example, the tower in the photo above is the Goldman Sachs Building. Their official HQ is in smaller premises in Manhattan, but the employees and huge computers that do all the work are in that tower. BTW - its truncated profile has given it a colorful local name, "The Broken Dildo."The city began a renaissance starting in the mid to late 1980s. Neighborhoods that had been rail yards (like the Dildo) became the site of the state's tallest skyscrapers, rivaling those directly across the river in Manhattan, one subway stop away. NJ's three tallest office buildings are in that same area, along with many residential towers and many acres of newer lowrise homes that are modern versions of the city's famous "brownstones."Our "crown jewel" is Liberty State Park. Thanks to the foresight 30 years ago of a handful of determined urban activists, and the 25 year struggle by their adherents, the formerly blighted area along the waterfront is now a spectacular public space wrapped around the Statue of Liberty. (Google "Liberty State Park" and be ready for a wonderful surprise).Little known fact: The SOL is not in New York. Just look at any map with enough scale and you will see that. It is obviously in Jersey City. In fact, it is so close to the park, that when you are on the amazing Liberty Walk that runs along the water, you must look UP to see the top.

2009-09-02 / follow JerseyJoe / report abuse