The City of Paterson, located on the Passaic River in New Jersey was once one of the mightiest industrial cities of the United States. It has a rich history as the Nation's first planned industrial city, as well as containing some of the country's oldest textile mills and businesses.
In 1792, Alexander Hamilton formed an investment group called the Society of Useful Manufactures (the "SUM") whose funds would be used to develop a planned industrial city in the United States that was later to become Paterson. Hamilton believed that the United States needed to reduce its dependence on foreign goods and should instead develop its own industries.
The industries developed in Paterson were powered by the 77-foot high Great Falls of the Passaic, and a system of water raceways that harnessed the power of the falls. The district originally included dozens of mill buildings and other manufacturing structures associated with the textile industry and later, the firearms, silk, and railroad locomotive manufacturing industries. In the latter half of the 1800's, silk production became the dominant industry and formed the basis of Paterson's most prosperous period, earning it the nickname "Silk City." Paterson was also the site of historic labor unrest that focused on anti-child labor legislation, safety in the workplace, a minimum wage, and reasonable working hours.
In 1792, Alexander Hamilton formed an investment group called the Society of Useful Manufactures (the "SUM") whose funds would be used to develop a planned industrial city in the United States that was later to become Paterson. Hamilton believed that the United States needed to reduce its dependence on foreign goods and should instead develop its own industries.
The industries developed in Paterson were powered by the 77-foot high Great Falls of the Passaic, and a system of water raceways that harnessed the power of the falls. The district originally included dozens of mill buildings and other manufacturing structures associated with the textile industry and later, the firearms, silk, and railroad locomotive manufacturing industries. In the latter half of the 1800's, silk production became the dominant industry and formed the basis of Paterson's most prosperous period, earning it the nickname "Silk City." Paterson was also the site of historic labor unrest that focused on anti-child labor legislation, safety in the workplace, a minimum wage, and reasonable working hours.
Royce: yo whats really good Justin?!?! When we goin down to Silk City?
Justin: Silk City?! Where is that?
Royce: PATERSON MA DUDE
Justin: Paterson? oh aight then trillz.
Justin: Silk City?! Where is that?
Royce: PATERSON MA DUDE
Justin: Paterson? oh aight then trillz.
by Royds May 4, 2006
Get the Paterson mug.Underrated state school in New Jersey. Better then montclair state and getting up there with rutgers.
by student who transfered around April 15, 2009
Get the William Paterson University mug.City in Northern New Jersey, located in Passaic County, in which it is the county seat. Third largest city in New Jersey with a population of over 150,000 people. The city is mostly Hispanic with a large Dominican, Puerto Rican, Colombian and Peruvian population, also large Black, Arab, Turkish, Caribbean, and, Italian population. Founded in 1792, as the nation's first planned industrial city, by Alexander Hamilton, the city is know as the "Silk City" for it's large amount of silk mills around the Great Falls.
by OmegaBlue June 24, 2006
Get the Paterson, NJ mug.Once one of the mightiest industrial cities in the world this city has become a typical stinking, crack infested, deteriorating northern Jersey cesspool of minority underachievement and jihadist terror cells. The "Great Paterson Falls" looks like Willie Wonka's chocolate river waterfall placed in an urban setting.
by Samantha Minardi May 8, 2008
Get the Paterson mug.A town in Passaic County (meaning North NJ) next to a ghetto town called Paterson. Paterson used to be nice, but then a lot of hispanics and negative-charged people moved in giving it and WEST Paterson a bad name. Paterson people think WP is lame or boring b/c its pretty safe and relativly friendly.
A lot of Paterson people move to W.Paterson when they get enough money to move into the apartments (that are ratehr going downhill) and enroll their kids in WP schools (or enroll when they are still in Paterson).
If you call West Paterson 'Paterson' a lot of people (especially older, lifelong residents) will get pissed and correct you since WP isn't a ghetto full of gangs, drugs but families, some of whom have been there for a long time.
My friend in town recently told me they voted to change the name to Woodland Park or soemthing with the initals WP to try and knock-off the confusion.
WP also has the same area-code as Little Falls (another next-door town) so along with Paterson, some people mistake WP for Little Falls, but that isn't nearly as bad since LF is also a nice little town with a cutesy little waterfall which stems its name.
A lot of Paterson people move to W.Paterson when they get enough money to move into the apartments (that are ratehr going downhill) and enroll their kids in WP schools (or enroll when they are still in Paterson).
If you call West Paterson 'Paterson' a lot of people (especially older, lifelong residents) will get pissed and correct you since WP isn't a ghetto full of gangs, drugs but families, some of whom have been there for a long time.
My friend in town recently told me they voted to change the name to Woodland Park or soemthing with the initals WP to try and knock-off the confusion.
WP also has the same area-code as Little Falls (another next-door town) so along with Paterson, some people mistake WP for Little Falls, but that isn't nearly as bad since LF is also a nice little town with a cutesy little waterfall which stems its name.
My grandparents hate when people mistake West Paterson for Paterson.
PatersonKid: Ahhh man. Dis town is like...so got-damn lame!
WPkid: Don't you belong in Paterson??
West Paterson, NJ is a pretty nice place to grow up.
PatersonKid: Ahhh man. Dis town is like...so got-damn lame!
WPkid: Don't you belong in Paterson??
West Paterson, NJ is a pretty nice place to grow up.
by JerseyGirlHereToStay December 24, 2008
Get the West Paterson, NJ mug.by Barry G. September 8, 2004
Get the east paterson mug.Paterson, NJ (also called the Silk City or P-town), is one of the roughest places to live. The city was the first industrial city in the country, and the main production item was silk (nicknamed the silk city). Now, that age has come to an end and the city is a poverty-stricken wasteland. The city's residents are mainly Hispanic and Black. Paterson has a very high crime rate and is a very dangerous place. It is a very corrupt city, covered in graffiti, and has drug dealers on every street corner. P-town is a nickname given to it by its younger residents. Paterson has a population of about 150,000 and is currently the third largest city in the state of New Jersey. It is located in Passaic County and is the county seat. And above all, the city is not welcome to rich wiggers wanting thier little taste of the ghetto, so if you're not originally from Paterson don't go there (especially if you're white, but no other races are excluded). AND I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!!
by PLR September 7, 2006
Get the Paterson, NJ mug.