Jersey City is a city located in New Jersey. With a 2020 population of 260,299, it is the 2nd largest city in New Jersey (after Newark) and the 85th largest city in the United States. Jersey City is currently declining at a rate of -0.68% annually but its population has increased by 5.13% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 247,597 in 2010. Jersey City reached it's highest population of 316,715 in 1930. Spanning over 21 miles, Jersey City has a population density of 17,655 people per square mile.
The average household income in Jersey City is $105,122 with a poverty rate of 17.15%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to $1,401 per month, and the median house value is $373,700. The median age in Jersey City is 34.3 years, 34 years for males, and 34.7 years for females. For every 100 females there are 98.4 males.
Jersey City is located in the state of New Jersey. It is the county seat of Hudson County, and it is the largest city by population within that county. Jersey City is part of the New York metro area and serves as a transportation, distribution, and manufacturing center for the Port of New York and New Jersey.
Jersey City Population Growth
In its earliest years, Jersey City experienced substantial population growth, reaching over 100,000 residents by 1880 and more than 200,000 by 1900. However, the period between the 1930s and 1990s saw a decline in population. As mentioned, this was due to rising crime rates, political corruption, and other problems within the city. However, efforts in the late 1980s were successful in bringing more residents into Jersey City, posting a 2.2% increase between 1980 and 1990. Since the last census taken in 2010, the population has risen by over 6%, showing that this once thriving city is back on track to see continued growth in the future.
The Lenape once inhabited the area that is now Jersey City. Henry Hudson arrived in the region in 1609. A land grant to Michael Reyniersz Pauw was used to purchase the land from the Lenape in 1630.
In the late 1700s, Alexander Hamilton and other prominent people in New York and New Jersey went to work to develop what is now historic downtown Jersey City. An interesting fact about Jersey City is that during the 19th century, former slaves used the Underground Railroad to reach this city. Jersey City was not incorporated as a city until 1820. It was reincorporated in 1829, then again in 1838. Two years later, it was made part of Hudson County.
The 1850s through the 1880s saw the introduction of the railroad, which through the 20th century was one of the biggest employers in the city. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the city was a dock and manufacturing town. It was also a city that attracted many immigrants from Germany, Italy, and Ireland.
The 1970s saw a decline in urban population as more people moved to the suburbs following high crime rates, political corruption, and hardships. Through the 1970s and early 1980s, Jersey City lost 9% of its workforce, while the 30-year period from 1950 to 1980 saw a loss of 75,000 residents. However, later in the 1980s, revitalization efforts began to bring in more residents. This included the construction of high-rise buildings, the development of the financial district, and a thriving downtown area.