Welcome
Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the most ethnically diverse city in the United States (nj.gov, nj.com). Downtown Jersey City is only a small region of Jersey City.
Colloquial Regions in Jersey City:
Public Transportation
The Holland Tunnel for transportation by vehicle and NY Waterway ferry service connects Jersey City with lower Manhattan.The PATH rapid transit system also connects Jersey City with lower Manhattan along with Newark and Hoboken as well. The local tram (Light Rail) system connects Jersey City internally along with Hoboken and Bayonne.
Light Rail and PATH Stations in Jersey City:
History
The land that is now Jersey City was part of Lenapehoking and inhabited by the Lenape, a collection of Native American tribes that were part of the Algonquian nation. The area was first invaded by the Dutch in the 17th century as Pavonia and later established as Bergen; the first European civil government and oldest municipality in what became the state of New Jersey.
The Poverty Divide
Downtown Jersey City is significantly more expensive to live in than other regions of Jersey City. It is more desirable to live here for various reasons:
It is much easier to access well-maintained public transportation, the schools have better funding, and it is more walkable. There are more trees and parks, less crime, and less litter. There is a privately funded “special improvement” district that only operates in the Downtown area, they run events, promote businesses, and hire employees to clean and beautify public spaces. There are more popular restaurants, stores, and accessible resources. Downtown is also home to Jersey City's more lively mall and city hall. Hoboken, a small city that borders Downtown Jersey City to the north, is similarly expensive for the some of the same reasons.
Poverty Rates in Jersey City (as of 2017):