One of the busiest ports, business and manufacturing centers in the US is situated on the west bank of the Hudson River in New Jersey. Jersey City has always been a major port for incoming immigrants and the city is important in the manufacture of textiles and electronics. It also has oil refineries and chemical and petroleum plants. The city is unusual in that most of its streets are named rather than numbered. Boulevards are named after the famous e.g. John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Many drives are named after historical figures e.g. Christopher Columbus Drive and Martin Luther King Drive.

The area is one of the most cosmopolitan in America with many Hispanic, Asian, Cuban, Filipino and Italian residents. Jersey City is a thriving place now but it has not always been so. In the latter part of the 20th century, the city suffered crime, political corruption scandals and poverty. However, there has been a recent re-juvenation with some districts becoming a fashionable area to live. These residential areas have high quality stores and restaurants. Businesses have moved into the area and many international financial institutions have re-located from New York City, across the water.

In addition to becoming part of the modern community of the future, the people of Jersey City also take pride in their past and there are three districts whose buildings are protected for their historical significance. These brownstone areas, as they are known, are Van Vorst Park, Hamilton Park and Harsimus Cove. Education is also important to the area with a number of colleges and New Jersey City University.

The city has an unusual world record in its Colgate Clock, sponsored by the Colgate-Palmolive Company. Constructed in 1924, it is the largest clock in the world and is fifty feet in diameter. There is an impressive museum which houses a permanent collection, mounts exhibitions and runs workshops for local schools, colleges and adult groups. There are displays of historical and contemporary art works, industrial artifacts, maps, photographs and textiles relating to the area. The city has several marinas and boat owners can get out on the Hudson River via Liberty State Park. Sailing centers offer lessons for boating beginners and visitors can book a cruise round New York Harbor. Jersey City has done much to secure its economic future and addressed its formerly poor image, making it a better place for its citizens and visitors.

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