Population
Paterson is the third most populous city in New Jersey with a population of 145,647 as of the 2020 Census. Located in Passaic County, it is part of the New York City metropolitan area. Originally founded in 1791, Paterson grew into a major industrial city in the 19th century known for its silk production and locomotive manufacturing. In more recent decades, its population has become more diverse with large Hispanic and African American communities.
For more information about the demographics and population history of Paterson, visit the Paterson, New Jersey Wikipedia page.
Economy
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Paterson was an industrial powerhouse, with its Great Falls providing hydro power for hundreds of mills and factories producing textiles, firearms, railroad locomotives, and silk. Silk production was a major industry in Paterson – at one point it produced half of the silk in the United States, earning it the nickname “Silk City.”
While manufacturing has declined in Paterson, it remains an important sector. Major employers today include Stryker Corporation, a medical technologies company, Colfax Corporation, manufacturing pumping equipment, and Graham Packaging which produces plastic containers. Healthcare and education are also large employers in the city. The economy has shifted towards service industries in recent decades. Tourism has increased around the Great Falls National Historical Park.
For more economic and employment information, visit the City of Paterson economic development webpage.
Landmarks and Points of Interest
As the site of Alexander Hamilton’s Great Falls of the Passaic River and the surrounding industrial-era mills and factories, Paterson has many national historic landmarks that draw tourists. The Great Falls and surrounding district was designated as the Great Falls National Historical Park in 2011. The 77 foot high falls provided the water power that allowed Paterson to become America’s first industrialized city.
Other major landmarks include:
- Hinchliffe Stadium – Historic 10,000 seat stadium that once hosted Negro League baseball games.
- Paterson Museum – Housed in a 19th century mill, features exhibits on Paterson’s history and art.
- Lambert Castle – 19th century mansion located on Garret Mountain overlooking the city.
Downtown Paterson also contains a variety of historic commercial, civic, and religious buildings including City Hall, the Passaic County Court House, Saint Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, and Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
Sports Teams
There are no major professional sports teams in Paterson currently, however the city was once home to several minor league teams. From 1937 to 1951, Hinchliffe Stadium hosted the New York Black Yankees and New York Cubans of the Negro Baseball League. Previous minor league teams included the Paterson Intruders baseball team and Paterson Panthers football team.
Today youth and amateur sports are popular in the city. The Paterson Panthers semi-pro football team began playing at Hinchcliffe Stadium again in 2013 and have over 500 players participating in various age groups.
You can follow the latest news and events happening in Paterson by liking the City of Paterson Facebook page. It provides updates from the city government, notices about public meetings, information about city services and programs, and announcements of upcoming community events.