Passaic, New Jersey

Passaic, New Jersey
City
City of Passaic
St. Marys Hospital
Map of Passaic in Passaic County. Inset: Location of Passaic County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Passaic, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°51′23″N 74°07′37″W / 40.856413°N 74.12694°W / 40.856413; -74.12694Coordinates: 40°51′23″N 74°07′37″W / 40.856413°N 74.12694°W / 40.856413; -74.12694[1][2]
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Passaic
Settled	1679
Incorporated	April 2, 1873
Government[6]
• Type	Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
• Body	City Council
• Mayor	Hector C. Lora[3]
• Administrator	Rick Fernandez[4]
• Municipal clerk	Amada Curling[5]
Area[1]
• Total	3.244 sq mi (8.401 km2)
• Land	3.146 sq mi (8.149 km2)
• Water	0.098 sq mi (0.253 km2)  3.01%
Area rank	324th of 566 in state 11th of 16 in county[1]
Elevation[7]	98 ft (30 m)
Population (2010 Census)[8][9][10][11]
• Total	69,781
• Estimate (2016)[12]	70,635
• Rank	15th of 566 in state 3rd of 16 in county[13]
• Density	22,179.6/sq mi (8,563.6/km2)
• Density rank	7th of 566 in state 1st of 16 in county[13]
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
ZIP code	07055[14][15]
Area code(s)	973[16]
FIPS code	3403156550[1][17][18]
GNIS feature ID	0885342[1][19]
Website	www.cityofpassaic.com

Passaic (/pəˈseɪ.ɪk/ pə-SAY-ik^[20] or locally /pəˈseɪk/ pə-SAYK^[21]) is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781,^[8][10][11] maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents (+2.8%) from the 2000 Census population of 67,861,^[9] which had in turn increased by 9,820 (+16.9%) from the 58,041 counted in the 1990 Census.^[22] Passaic is the tenth most densely populated municipality in the entire United States with 22,000+ people per square mile.

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" which has been variously attributed to mean "valley" or "place where the land splits."^{[23][24][25][26]}

History[edit]

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.

A commercial center formed around a wharf ("landing") at the foot of present-day Main Ave, this came to be commonly known as Acquackanonk Landing, and the settlement that grew around it became known as the Village of Acquackanonk Landing or simply Acquackanonk Landing Settlement.^[27][28][29] In 1854 Alfred Speer (later owner of the city's first newspaper^[30] and public hall) and Judge Henry Simmons were principals in a political battle over the naming of village. Simmons wished to keep the old name, while Speer wished to simplify it to Passaic Village. Speer was losing the battle, but convinced the U.S. Postmaster General to adopt the name, and hung a Passaic sign at the local railroad depot, the de facto name change was effective.^[31]

Legally, Passaic was formed as an unincorporated village within Acquackanonk Township (now Clifton) on March 10, 1869. and was incorporated as an independent village on March 21, 1871. Passaic was chartered as a city on April 2, 1873.^[32]

The Okonite company owned an industrial site here from 1878 to 1993, it was the company's headquarters and primary manufacturing plant for most of the company's history. Early uses of the company's insulated wires include some of the earliest telegraph cables, and the wiring for Thomas Edison's first generating plant, Pearl Street Station in Lower Manhattan.^{[33][34][35][36][37][38]} The property was then turned into a furniture factory, whose owners redeveloped into an upscale mall, Contempo Plaza, in 2015.^[39]

The 1926 Passaic Textile Strike led by union organizer Albert Weisbord saw 36,000 mill workers leave their jobs to oppose wage cuts demanded by the textile industry, the workers successfully fought to keep their wages unchanged but did not receive recognition of their union by the mill owners.^[40][41]

Passaic has been called "The Birthplace of Television";^[42] in 1931, experimental television station W2XCD began transmitting from DeForest Radio Corporation in Passaic. It has been called the first television station to transmit to the home, and was the first such station to broadcast a feature film. Allen B. DuMont, formerly DeForest's chief engineer, opened pioneering TV manufacturer DuMont Laboratories in Passaic in 1937, and started the DuMont Television Network, the world's first commercial television network, in 1946.

In 1992, the voters of Passaic Township in Morris County voted to change the name of their municipality to Long Hill Township, to avoid confusion between the City of Passaic and the largely rural community 22 miles (35 km) away, as well as association with the more urban city.^[43]

Passaic is served by two regional newspapers, The Record and Herald News, both owned by Gannett company and predecessor North Jersey media Group.

The city previously had many of its own newspaper companies, among them Speer's The Passaic Item (1870-1904), the Passaic City Herald (1872-1899), the Passaic Daily Times (1882-1887), the Passaic City Record (1890-1907), the Passaic Daily News (1891-1929), the Passaic Daily Herald (1899-1929), and the Passaic Herald News (1932-1987), the Passaic Herald News went through several mergers with other Passaic County newspapers to become the current Herald News.^{[44][45][46][47][48]}

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 3.244 square miles (8.401 km²), including 3.146 square miles (8.149 km²) of land and 0.098 square miles (0.253 km²) of water (3.01%).^[1][2]

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Davis Bridge and Pleasant Plains.^[49]

Passaic's only land border is with neighboring Clifton, which borders Passaic to the north, south, and west, the Passaic River forms the eastern border of Passaic. Four additional neighboring towns in Bergen County immediately across the river from Passaic are East Rutherford, Garfield, Rutherford and Wallington.^[50] Passaic and Wallington are connected by four bridges (Market Street Bridge, 8th Street Bridge, Gregory Avenue Bridge, Main Avenue Bridge), while the city connects with Garfield at two bridges (Monroe Street Bridge, Passaic Street Bridge) and Rutherford at the Union Avenue Bridge, which is located on Route 21. One cannot cross from Passaic into East Rutherford by vehicle, however, as there is no bridge connecting the two municipalities; Drivers wanting to cross from Passaic to East Rutherford must use either the Main Avenue Bridge, which is located near Wallington's border with East Rutherford, or the Union Avenue Bridge, where East Rutherford can be accessed via surface streets.

Passaic is located 10 miles (16 km) from New York City, and 12 miles (19 km) from Newark Airport.

The city[edit]

Passaic has several business districts: Main Avenue begins in Passaic Park and follows the curve of the river to downtown. Broadway runs east–west through the center of the city, ending at Main Avenue in Downtown. Main Street has many shops, restaurants and businesses reflecting the city's Latino and Eastern European populations.

The city is home to several architecturally notable churches, including St. John's Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian of Passaic, and St. John's Episcopal Church.

Passaic Park[edit]

Southwest Passaic (known as Passaic Park) is a residential and institutional center of Orthodox Judaism, with over 30 minyanim on Shabbos, and over 1,300 families, making it one of the state's fastest-growing Orthodox communities. Home to several yeshivas and other institutions, there are also many kosher food and shopping establishments.^[51]

Passaic Park takes its name from Third Ward Park, this area is also noted for its large mansions and homes of various architectural styles, especially Victorian and Tudor. Several condominium and cooperative apartment complexes are also located here including:

• Carlton Tower, at 22 stories, the city's tallest structure^[52]
• The Towers, across the street from Carlton
• Barry Gardens, garden apartments next door to The Towers
• Presidential Towers

Climate[edit]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Passaic has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.^[53]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	6,532		—
1890	13,028		99.4%
1900	27,777		113.2%
1910	54,773		97.2%
1920	63,841		16.6%
1930	62,959		−1.4%
1940	61,394		−2.5%
1950	57,702		−6.0%
1960	53,963		−6.5%
1970	55,124		2.2%
1980	52,463		−4.8%
1990	58,041		10.6%
2000	67,861		16.9%
2010	69,781		2.8%
Est. 2016	70,635	[12][54]	1.2%
Population sources: 1880-1920[55] 1880-1890[56] 1880-1900[57] 1890-1910[58] 1910[59] 1880-1930[60] 1930-1990[61] 2000[62][63] 2010[8][9][10][11]

Among the speakers of Polish in Passaic are many Gorals.^[64]

Passaic, with over 20 synagogues and an Orthodox Jewish population of 15,000, has one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities in New Jersey, along with the townships of Lakewood and Teaneck.^[65]

Census 2010[edit]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 69,781 people, 19,411 households, and 14,597 families residing in the city, the population density was 22,179.6 per square mile (8,563.6/km²). There were 20,432 housing units at an average density of 6,494.2 per square mile (2,507.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.06% (31,440) White, 10.64% (7,425) Black or African American, 1.07% (745) Native American, 4.36% (3,040) Asian, 0.04% (27) Pacific Islander, 33.37% (23,284) from other races, and 5.47% (3,820) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 71.02% (49,557) of the population.^[8] The city's Hispanic population represented the fourth-highest percentage among municipalities in New Jersey as of the 2010 Census.^[66]

There were 19,411 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 23.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.57 and the average family size was 4.02.^[8]

In the city, the population was spread out with 31.5% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.2 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.2 males.^[8]

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $31,135 (with a margin of error of +/− $1,280) and the median family income was $34,934 (+/− $2,987). Males had a median income of $30,299 (+/− $1,883) versus $25,406 (+/− $2,456) for females, the per capita income for the city was $14,424 (+/− $581). About 25.0% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.9% of those under age 18 and 25.5% of those age 65 or over.^[67]

Same-sex couples headed 107 households in 2010, a decline of the 142 counted in 2000.^[68]

Census 2000[edit]

As of the 2000 United States Census^[17] there were 67,861 people, 19,458 households, and 14,457 families residing in the city of Passaic, New Jersey, the population density was 21,804.7 people per square mile (8,424.8/km²). There were 20,194 housing units at an average density of 6,488.6 per square mile (2,507.1/km²). 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. The cultural groupings for Hispanic or Latino of any race were 62.46% of the population.^[62][63]

As of the 2000 Census, 59.3% of residents spoke Spanish at home, while 28.9% of residents identified themselves as speaking only English at home. An additional 2.5% were speakers of Gujarati and 2.4% spoke Polish.^[69] There were 31,101 foreign-born residents of Passaic in 2000, of which 79.4% were from Latin America, with 31.3% of foreign-born residents from Mexico and 27.2% from the Dominican Republic.^[70]

There were 19,458 households of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18, 43.7% were married couples living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 8.2% of Passaic households were same-sex partner households. 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.^[62][63]

The city population comprised 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.^[62][63]

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.^[62][63]

Economy[edit]

Portions of Passaic are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone that was created in August 1994;^[71] in addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.4375% sales tax rate (half of the 6.875% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.^[72]

Government[edit]

Local government[edit]

The city of Passaic is governed within the Faulkner Act system of municipal government, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council (Plan B), enacted by direct petition as of July 1, 1973.^[73] Under this form of government, the mayor is elected directly by the voters for a four-year term of office. Seven council Members serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either three or four seats up for election in odd-numbered years. Elections are non-partisan, with all positions selected at-large in balloting held in May.^[6]

As of 2018^[update], the mayor of Passaic is Hector Carlos Lora, whose term of office ends June 30, 2021.^[3] Lora became Interim Mayor in November 2016, after Alex Blanco pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges involving the acceptance of $110,000 in kickbacks and resigned from office, and stepped down from office on the Passaic County Board of chosen freeholders to fill a term of office ending in June 2017; Blanco was the second consecutive mayor, and the third of the last four, to be indicted on federal charges^[74] Members of the Passaic City Council are Council President Gary Schaer (term ends June 30, 2019), Jose R. "Joe" Garcia (2021), Terrence L. Love (2021), Thania Melo (2019), Chaim M. Munk (2019), Zaida Polanco (2019) and Daniel J. Schwartz (2021).^{[3][75][76][77][78]}

In addition to his role as council president, Schaer also holds a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly, this dual position, often called double dipping, is allowed under a grandfather clause in the state law enacted by the New Jersey Legislature and signed into law by Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine in September 2007 that prevents dual-office-holding but allows those who had held both positions as of February 1, 2008, to retain both posts.^[79]

Corruption charges over the past decades have resulted in the federal convictions of two mayors, seven councilman and other public officials.^[80][81] Passaic Business Administrator Anthony Ianoco was terminated in February 2011 after he was charged with cocaine possession, following his arrest in Hoboken, where police arrested him after he was caught driving the wrong way in a Passaic city vehicle.^[82]

Alex Blanco became the first Dominican-American elected as mayor in the United States when he won a special election in November 2008 to succeed acting mayor Gary Schaer, who, as City Council president automatically moved into this position upon the resignation by previous mayor Samuel Rivera, after Rivera pleaded guilty to corruption charges.^[83] Blanco was elected to serve the remainder of Rivera's term, and was re-elected to a full term on May 12, 2009, with 53.1% of votes cast, defeating Passaic Board of Education member Vinny Capuana.^[84]

Federal, state and county representation[edit]

Passaic is located in the 9th Congressional District^[85] and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district.^[10][86][87] Prior to the 2010 Census, Passaic had been part of the 8th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.^[88]

New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District is represented by Bill Pascrell (D, Paterson).^[89] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2021)^[90] and Bob Menendez (Paramus, 2019).^[91][92]

For the 2018–2019 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 36th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Paul Sarlo (D, Wood-Ridge) and in the General Assembly by Gary Schaer (D, Passaic) and Clinton Calabrese (D, Cliffside Park).^[93][94] Calabrese was sworn into office on February 8, 2018 to fill the seat of Marlene Caride, who had resigned from office on January 16, 2018 after being nominated to head the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.^[95][96] The Governor of New Jersey is Phil Murphy (D, Middletown Township).^[97] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Sheila Oliver (D, East Orange).^[98]

Passaic County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large to staggered three-year terms office on a partisan basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At a reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects a Director and Deputy Director from among its members to serve for a one-year term,^[99] as of 2017^[update], Passaic County's Freeholders are Director Cassandra "Sandi" Lazzara (D, 2018; Woodland Park),^[100] Deputy Director Bruce James (D, 2017; Clifton),^[101] Assad R. Akhter (D, 2018 - appointed to serve an unexpired term; Paterson),^[102] John W. Bartlett (D, 2018; Wayne),^[103] Theodore O. Best Jr. (D, 2017; Paterson),^[104] Terry Duffy (D, 2019; West Milford),^[105] and Pasquale "Pat" Lepore (D, 2019; Woodland Park).^{[106][107][108][109]} Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Kristin M. Corrado (R, 2019; Totowa),^[110] Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik (D, 2019; Little Falls)^[111] and Surrogate Bernice Toledo (D, 2021; Prospect Park).^[112][108]

Politics[edit]

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 24,227 registered voters in Passaic, of which 8,753 (36.1% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,063 (8.5% vs. 18.7%) were registered as Republicans and 13,408 (55.3% vs. 50.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties,^[113] among the city's 2010 Census population, 34.7% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 50.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).^[113][114]

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 77.1% of the vote (12,011 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 22.1% (3,447 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (119 votes), among the 15,755 ballots cast by the city's 27,433 registered voters (178 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 57.4%.^[115][116] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 12,386 votes (72.7% vs. 58.8% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 4,012 votes (23.6% vs. 37.7%) and other candidates with 93 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 17,033 ballots cast by the city's 25,496 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.8% (vs. 70.4% in Passaic County).^[117] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 9,539 votes (66.3% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 4,291 votes (29.8% vs. 42.7%) and other candidates with 62 votes (0.4% vs. 0.7%), among the 14,391 ballots cast by the city's 23,389 registered voters, for a turnout of 61.5% (vs. 69.3% in the whole county).^[118]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 59.6% of the vote (4,109 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 39.1% (2,697 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (88 votes), among the 7,143 ballots cast by the city's 28,209 registered voters (249 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 25.3%.^[119][120] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 5,958 ballots cast (68.7% vs. 50.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 2,319 votes (26.7% vs. 43.2%), Independent Chris Daggett with 124 votes (1.4% vs. 3.8%) and other candidates with 52 votes (0.6% vs. 0.9%), among the 8,672 ballots cast by the city's 24,219 registered voters, yielding a 35.8% turnout (vs. 42.7% in the county).^[121]

Education[edit]

Public[edit]

The Passaic City School District is a type II 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 Superintendent of Schools is Pablo Muñoz.^[122] The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide,^[123] which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on the requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.^[124][125]

As of the 2011–12 school year, the district's 16 schools had an enrollment of 13,136 students and 1,011.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.98:1.^[126] Schools in the district (with 2010–11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics^[127]) are Vincent Capuana School No. 15^[128] (209; K), Passaic School No. 16^[129] (500; PreK–K), Passaic School No. 17^[130] (377; PreK–K), Jefferson School No. 1^[131] (739; 1–6), Washington School No. 2^[132] (233; K–2), Mario Drago School No. 3^[133] (formerly Franklin School – 963; PreK–6), School No. 5^[134] (332; 4–6), Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 6^[135] (1,143; PreK–6), Grant School No. 7^[136] (283; PreK–2), Casimir Pulaski School No. 8^[137] (541; PreK–3), Etta Gero School No. 9^[138] (718; 3–6), Theodore Roosevelt School No. 10^[139] (761; K–4), William B. Cruise Memorial School No. 11^[140] (1,332; 1–6), Daniel F. Ryan School No. 19^[141] (705; PreK–5), Abraham Lincoln Middle School No. 4^[142] (1,702; 7–8), Passaic High School^[143] (2,598; 9–12).^[144][145]

Passaic County Community College opened a new campus in the city on September 11, 2008, which will allow PCCC to reach the 15% of its students who come from the city of Passaic. The college's nursing program will be relocated and expanded at the new campus to provide a qualified program to help fill the longstanding nursing shortage.^[146]

Private[edit]

St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School is an elementary school founded in 1943 that operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson and the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.^[147][148]

Established in 1895, the Collegiate School is a private coeducational day school located in Passaic, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.^[149]

The Yeshiva Gedola of Passaic is an institute of Talmudic learning for post-high-school-age men, it is led by Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Meir Stern. Passaic has two primary Orthodox K-8 elementary schools, Yeshiva Ketana and Hillel, each with a boys and girls division.

Noble Leadership Academy is an Islamic school located, serving students 320 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.^[150]

Emergency services[edit]

Fire[edit]

The Passaic Fire Department (PFD) is a paid fire department with 93 firefighters, the PFD was organized in November 1869 and became a paid department in 1909. There are two fire houses equipped with four Engines and two Ladder trucks. Passaic also operates a large foam tanker truck.^[151]

Ambulance[edit]

In October 2015, the city approved a contract under which ambulance service in the city is covered by Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corporation (MONOC), a non-profit consortium which also provides paramedic services to other municipalities in the area. Under the plan, Passaic laid off 30 EMS workers who had been employed by the city.^[152]

Hatzolah of Passaic/Clifton EMS is a volunteer service that primarily covers the Passaic Park section of town and parts of Clifton, in addition to assisting Passaic Police and EMS when requested in other parts of the city. Hatzolah operates two ambulances strategically parked throughout the community with a third on standby and available to assist neighboring chapters.^[153]

Office of Emergency Management[edit]

The OEM coordinates emergency response by all of the city's agencies - Police, Fire, Ambulance, health, and public works - to disasters and other emergencies, including large storms, the city OEM is affiliated with the Passaic County and New Jersey State OEM agencies and with the state's Emergency Management Association.

OEM also manages street traffic at all large events in the city, including festivals and parades.

The office is run by representatives of the Police and Fire departments; in addition to city staff, it makes use of volunteers from Passaic's Community Emergency Response Team and other community organizations.^[154]

Transportation[edit]

Roads and highways[edit]

As of May 2010^[update], the city had a total of 70.14 miles (112.88 km) of roadways, of which 53.20 miles (85.62 km) were maintained by the municipality, 13.82 miles (22.24 km) by Passaic County and 3.12 miles (5.02 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.^[155]

Passaic is served by state roadways including Route 3 and Route 21, the Garden State Parkway and I-80 are nearby. The city has six bridges in use spanning the Passaic River. A seventh bridge serves railroad traffic but is not currently in use.

Public transportation[edit]

Local bus transportation, much passing through the Passaic Bus Terminal, is provided by NJ Transit and Community Coach with service to Paterson, Rutherford, Newark, Clifton, Garfield, and Wallington among other locations on the 74, 702, 703, 705, 707, 709, 744, 758, 780 and 970 routes. NJ Transit bus routes 161 and 190 provide local service and interstate service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City.^[156][157]

NJ Transit's Passaic rail station^[158] is located in the Passaic Park section, providing service on the Main Line southbound to Hoboken Terminal, and to Secaucus Junction for NJ Transit connections to New York Penn Station in New York City, Newark Airport and points north and south. Northbound service is provided to Paterson, Ridgewood and New York stations in Suffern and Port Jervis.^[159]

Passaic formerly had four train stations (Passaic Park, Prospect Street, Passaic and Harrison Street) on the Erie Railroad main line. In 1963, these stations were abandoned and the main line was moved to the Boonton Branch.^[160]

Commuter jitney buses operate along Main Avenue providing non-scheduled service to Paterson, Union City, the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal in Washington Heights, Manhattan, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and points between.^[161][162]

Films shot in Passaic[edit]

• 2006: Be Kind Rewind directed by Michel Gondry.^[163]
• 2009: The NBC series Mercy was set at and filmed in the old St Mary's Hospital.^[164][165]

Notable people[edit]

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Passaic include:

• Mitch Albom (born 1958), sports journalist and author of Tuesdays With Morrie.^[166]
• Brant Alyea (born 1940), former MLB outfielder, who played with four different teams from 1965 to 1972, and is one of nine players to hit a home run on his first MLB pitch.^[167]
• Ronnie Ash (born 1988), track and field athlete specializing in hurdles who was selected as part of the U.S. team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.^[168]
• John Barbata (born 1945), drummer for The Turtles.^[169]
• William J. Bate (1934–2011), politician who served as a state senator, assemblyman, and judge.^[170]
• Joan Berger (born 1933), former infielder and outfielder who played from 1951 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.^[171]
• Ernest Blood (1872–1955), high school and college men's basketball coach who was best known for his "Wonder Teams" at Passaic High School, which lost only one game in the span of a decade and set an American high school record for most consecutive victories.^[172]
• Warren Bogle (born 1946), former Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in 16 games played for the Oakland Athletics during the 1968 season.^[173]
• Terrence Boyle (born 1945), judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.^[174]
• George Breeman (1880–1937), sailor and Medal of Honor recipient.^[175]
• Herbert Brucker (1898–1977), journalist, teacher, and national advocate for the freedom of the press, who served as editor-in-chief of the Hartford Courant.^[176]
• Bob Butterworth (born 1942), former Florida Attorney General.^[177]
• Jim Castiglia (1918–2007), football fullback who played in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.^[178]
• Arthur K. Cebrowski (1942–2005), United States Navy admiral and senior U.S. Department of Defense official.^[179]
• Morris Cerullo (born 1931), Pentecostal televangelist.^[180]
• Robert L. Clifford (1924–2014) was an associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.^[181]
• Alan N. Cohen (1930–2004), former co-owner of the Boston Celtics and the New Jersey Nets.^[182]
• T. Zachary Cotler (born 1981), poet and novelist.^[183]
• Howard Crook (born 1947), opera singer, tenor.^[184]
• Edwin Decena, music video and independent film director.^[185]
• Mark DeRosa (born 1975), Major League Baseball infielder.^[186]
• Joel Diamond, record producer.^[187]
• Paul DiGaetano (born 1953), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 36th Legislative District from 1992–2006 and again from 1986–1987.^[188]
• Dow H. Drukker (1872–1963), represented New Jersey's 6th congressional district from 1914–1919.^[189]
• Evelyn Dubrow (1911–2006), lobbyist and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.^[190]
• Peter Enns (born 1961), Bible scholar.^[191]
• Bret Ernst, comedian.^[192]
• Charles Evered (born 1964), playwright.^[193]
• Donald Fagen (born 1948), musician with Steely Dan.^[194]
• Amod Field (born 1967), former wide receiver who played for the Phoenix Cardinals of the National Football League.^[195]
• Jack Fina (1913–1970), pianist and orchestra leader known as "The ten most talented fingers on radio."^[196]
• Dorothy Fuldheim (1893–1989), journalist and anchor best known for her work for The Cleveland Press and WEWS-TV.^[197]
• Joel Gersmann (1942–2005), experimental theatre playwright.^[198]
• Paul Goldberger (born 1950), Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic.^[199]
• Rafe Gomez (born c. 1962), business writer, sales support consultant, lecturer, music producer and DJ.^[200]
• Hezekiah Griggs (born 1988), entrepreneur, philanthropist, and investor who became the youngest African-American venture capitalist when he founded H360 Capital in 2011.^[201]
• David Grisman (born 1945), bluegrass musician and former member of Old and in the Way with Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead.^[202]
• Reed Gusciora (born 1960), former minority leader of the New Jersey General Assembly.^[203]
• Beth Gylys (born 1964), poet and professor.^[204]
• Art Harris (1949–1970), running back who was involved in the 1970 Marshall football team plane crash that killed everyone on board.^[205]
• Andrew R. Heinze (born 1955), playwright, non-fiction author, and scholar of American history.^[206]
• Robert Helps (1928–2001), pianist and composer.^[207]
• Craig Heyward (1966–2006), National Football League running back.^[208]
• Dennis Johnson (born 1951), former NFL defensive tackle.^[209]
• Mike Jorgensen (born 1948), former Major League Baseball player.^[210]
• Lewis Kaplan (born 1933), violinist.^[211]
• Fritz Knothe (1903–1963), former Major League Baseball player and member of "Wonder Team."^[212]
• Rich Skrosky (born 1964), football coach.^[213]
• Barbara L'Italien (born 1961), politician who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2003–2011.^[214]
• Paul J. Lioy (1947–2015), specialist in the field of environmental health and specializing in exposure science who analyzed the effects of dust in the wake of the collapse of the World Trade Center after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.^[215]
• Alex Lovy (1913-1992), animator and director who spent the majority of his career at Walter Lantz Productions.^[216]
• Fred R. Low (1860-1936), mechanical engineer, long-time editor of the journal Power, and an international figure in journalism and engineering who served as mayor of Passaic in 1908-09.^[217]
• Ray Malavasi (1930–1987), former National Football League head coach.^[218]
• William J. Martini (born 1947), former Republican Congressman.^[219]
• Mary Meriam (born 1955), poet and editor, who is a founding editor of Headmistress Press, one of the few presses in the United States specializing in lesbian poetry.^[220]
• Da'Mon Merkerson (born 1989), football cornerback who is a two-time Arena Football League ArenaBowl winner with the Arizona Rattlers.^[221]
• Larry Mialik (born 1950), former National Football League player.^[222]
• Nick Mike-Mayer (born 1950), football placekicker who played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills.^[223]
• Ron Mikolajczyk (born 1950), retired professional American football offensive lineman and retired professional wrestler, who played in the NFL for the New York Giants.^[224]
• Bill Mokray (1907–1974), basketball historian and statistician enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1965 as a contributor to the sport.^[225]
• Jack Mulhall (1887–1979), silent film and talkie actor.^[226]
• Lester Novros (1909-2000), artist, animator and teacher.^[227]
• Arthur Melvin Okun (1928–1980), economist who served as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers between 1968 and 1969.^[228]
• Tom Papa (born 1968), comedian, actor, writer and television/radio host.^[229]
• Morris Pashman (1912–1999), New Jersey Supreme Court Justice, mayor of Passaic from 1951–55.^[230]
• Millie Perkins (born 1938), actress, best known for her lead role in the film The Diary of Anne Frank.^[231]
• Jason Perry (born 1976), former safety in the NFL from 1999 to 2002.^[232]
• Eleanore Pettersen (1916–2003), one of the first female architects in New Jersey.^[233]
• Joe Piscopo (born 1951), comedian and actor.^[234]
• Gerry Polci, drummer and singer with Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.^[235]
• Michael J. Pollard (born 1939), actor, Academy Award nominee for film Bonnie and Clyde^[236]
• Gerald J. Popek (1946-2008), computer scientist, known for his research on operating systems and virtualization.^[237]
• Stuart Rabner (born 1960), Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.^[238]
• Pamela Radcliff (born 1956), historian and professor at the University of California at San Diego and an authority on the history of modern Spain.^[239]
• Frankie Randall (1938–2014), musician, singer and actor.^[240]
• Joseph Rankin (1833–1886), U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.^[241]
• Ralph Rinzler (1934–1994), folk musician and folklorist.^[242]
• John Roosma (1900–1983), captain of Ernest Blood's "Wonder Teams" who became the first college player to total 1,000 points for his career while at the United States Military Academy.^[243]
• Alan Rosenberg (born 1951), Emmy Award-winning actor and activist, Screen Actors Guild President (2005–09).^[244]
• Mark Rosenberg (c. 1948–1992), film producer.^[245]
• Paul Rudd (born 1969), actor.^[246]
• Bob Russell (1908–1998), entertainer.^[247]
• Bob Russell (1914–1970), Hall of Fame songwriter.^[248]
• Nick Sakiewicz (born 1961), soccer executive.^[249]
• James Salter (1925–2015), author.^[250]
• Zoe Saldana (born 1978), actress who has appeared in films Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy.^[251]
• Víctor Santos (born 1976), Cincinnati Reds pitcher.^[252]
• Albert Schatz (1920–2005), co-discoverer of streptomycin, 1943.^[253]
• Elroy Schwartz (1923–2013), television screenwriter.^[254]
• Sherwood Schwartz (1916–2011), TV producer, best known for creating Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch.^[246]
• William Winfield Scott (1855–1935), lawyer who served as Passaic's official historian.^[255]
• The Shirelles, musicians.^[256]
• Robert Smithson (1938–1973), artist.^[257]
• Edith E. Sproul (1907–1999), pathologist whose work with Dr. Georgios Papanikolaou led to the development of the pap smear test for cervical cancer.^[258]
• Thomas Stockham (1933-2004), scientist who developed one of the first practical digital audio recording systems, and pioneered techniques for digital audio recording and processing.^[259]
• Larry Storch (born 1923), actor, star of television series F Troop.^[246]
• Tyronne Stowe (born 1965), former NFL linebacker.^[260]
• Marcia Strassman (1948–2014), actress best known for her role in the television series Welcome Back, Kotter.^[261]
• Loretta Swit (born 1937), actress, best known for her role in the television series M*A*S*H.^[234]
• Danny Szetela (born 1987), Major League Soccer player.^[262]
• Dave Szott (born 1967), National Football League player and coach.^[263]
• Jack Tatum (1948–2010), safety who played ten seasons in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers.^[264]
• Ösel Tendzin (1943–1990), Tibetan Buddhist scholar.^[265][266]
• Paul L. Troast (1894-1972), building contractor, chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority during its construction, and one-time failed gubernatorial candidate in 1953.^[267]
• Franklin Stuart Van Antwerpen (1941–2016), judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.^[268]
• Dick Vitale (born 1939), basketball coach and television sportscaster.^[269]
• Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (1904-1943), musician whose best-known compositions include "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose".^{[citation needed]}
• Liza Weil (born 1977), actress best known for roles in Gilmore Girls and How to Get Away with Murder.^[270]
• Perry Williams (born 1961), former cornerback for the New York Giants.^[271]
• Darrin Winston (1966–2008), Major League Baseball player who played two seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies.^[272]
• Saul Zaentz (1921–2014), film producer.^[273]
• Frankie Zak (1922–1972), Major League Baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates.^[274][275]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• City of Passaic, New Jersey
• Passaic Public Library
• Passaic Urban Enterprise Zone merchant directory
• Passaic City School District
• Passaic City School District's 2015–16 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• School Data for the Passaic City School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• Message Group relating to the Passaic Jewish community
• The Battle of Passaic by Mary Heaton Vorse, New Masses, May 1926, Transcribed: for marxists.org in January 2002
• Passaic, New Jersey - The Carpathian Connection