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Passaic, New Jersey

Encyclopedia : P : PA : PAS : Passaic, New Jersey

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".

Contents

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.

Geography

Passaic is located at [40°51′27″n, 74°7′44″w] (40.857384, -74.128997)[Geographic references#1GR1].

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.

The City

Southwest Passaic (known as Passaic Park) is a residential and institutional center of Orthodox Judaism, being home to numerous yeshivas as well as Orthodox synagogues, schools, other institutions.

Demographics

As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] 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.

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.

Government

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[Mayor of Passaic], accessed July 6, 2006. 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[City Council Members], accessed July 6, 2006.

Federal, state and county representation

Passaic is part of New Jersey's 36th Legislative District and is in the Eighth Congressional District.

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, Union City).

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.

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.

Noted Passaic natives

Passaic is the birthplace of the following notables:

References

External links

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