To many New Jerseyans, Paterson is a place of mystery and misunderstanding.
The state’s third-largest city is often associated only with its troubles: crime, violence, poverty. But rarely is Paterson seen for its people — a vibrant patchwork of 56 ethnic and religious backgrounds speaking nearly 100 languages and dialects. It’s a town of evolution and progress, founded as one of America’s first industrial cities — Alexander Hamilton developed early waterpower systems utilizing the Great Falls. This gave way to prosperous firearm, locomotive and especially textile production, earning Paterson its nickname: “The Silk City.”