Editing Perth Amboy, New Jersey (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the city had a total area of 5.93 square miles (15.36&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), including 4.66 square miles (12.07&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land and 1.27 square miles (3.28&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of water (21.37%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Perth Amboy, and [[South Amboy, New Jersey|South Amboy]] across the [[Raritan River]], are collectively referred to as [[The Amboys]]. Signage for Exit 11 on the [[New Jersey Turnpike]] refers to "The Amboys" as a destination. The Amboys are the northern limit of the area informally referred to as the [[Raritan Bayshore|Bayshore]].

Perth Amboy borders [[Woodbridge Township, New Jersey|Woodbridge]] (adjacent by land to the north and west), [[Sayreville, New Jersey|Sayreville]] (to the southwest, across the [[Raritan River]]), [[South Amboy, New Jersey|South Amboy]] (south across the upper reaches of [[Raritan Bay]], directly connected only by rail), and the New York City borough of [[Staten Island]] (east across the [[Arthur Kill]]).<ref>[https://global.mapit.mysociety.org/area/1010517/touches.html Areas touching Perth Amboy], MapIt. Accessed March 2, 2020.</ref><ref>[http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Government/Pages/Municipalities.aspx Municipalities], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]]. Accessed March 2, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf New Jersey Municipal Boundaries], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

[[Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities|Unincorporated communities]], localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include [[Barber, New Jersey|Barber]], Eagleswood and Florida Grove.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed May 20, 2015.</ref>

Perth Amboy sits on a geological layer of [[clay]] several hundred feet thick. Consequently, clay mining and factories such as [[A. Hall and Sons Terra Cotta]] located in Perth Amboy in the late 19th century.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/CLAY-DEPOSITS-1878.PDF ''Report of the Clay Deposits of Woodbridge, South Amboy and Other Places of New Jersey, Together With Their Uses for Fire Brick, Pottery, Etc.''], Geological Survey of New Jersey, 1878. Accessed December 18, 2019.</ref>

In its September 2005 issue, ''[[Golf Magazine]]'' named Perth Amboy the unofficial "Golf Capital of the U.S.", despite the fact that there are no golf courses within the city limits, citing the city's access to 25 of the magazine's Top 100 Golf Courses in the U.S., which can be found within {{convert|150|mi|abbr=on}} of Perth Amboy.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071111154237/http://www.golfonline.com/golfonline/travel/ranked/article/0,17742,1098535,00.html "The Golf Capital of the U.S."], ''[[Golf Magazine]]'', backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of November 11, 2007. Accessed December 19, 2019. "Amboy, N.J. (perhaps best known as Bon Jovi's early stomping grounds) is an easy drive from a quarter of the best golf courses in the country, making it the unofficial golf capital of the United States. Exactly 25 of our Top 100 Golf Courses in the U.S. are found less than 150 miles from Perth Amboy -- creating a hub of great American golf."</ref>

[[File:Victorian homes in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|Typical Victorians on High Street]]
[[File:Perth Amboy waterfront Arthur Kill.jpg|thumb|Arthur Kill along waterfront walkway just south of Ferry Slip]]

===Waterfront===
Perth Amboy features a historic waterfront, which has gone through significant [[urban renewal|revitalization]]. Local attractions include the [[Perth Amboy Ferry Slip]], two small museums, an art gallery, a yacht club, and a marina. Near the marina lies a park with a small bandshell. On Sunday afternoons in the summertime, Perth Amboy hosts the Concerts by the Bay in the park's bandshell. Every Thursday evening in the summer, Perth Amboy hosts the Mayor's Concert Series in Bayview Park. Perth Amboy also hosts an annual Waterfront Arts Festival. The waterfront is also characterized by a redbrick promenade near the water and many stately [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] homes, some on hills overlooking the bay and tree lined streets with well-manicured lawns. The land rises steeply after two blocks. This hides the rest of the town, making the waterfront look like a quiet fishing village. Points of interest on the waterfront include St. Peter's Episcopal Church, and the Proprietary House, which is now the former governor's mansion and houses a museum and some offices. [[Kearny Cottage]], which also has a museum, is here. This section of Perth Amboy once had a thriving Jewish community with yeshivas, synagogues, kosher butchers and bakers.<ref>Silverstein, Marilyn. [http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/2004/61704/sxrenaissance.html "Rabbi hopes to bring renaissance to shul"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222023457/http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/2004/61704/sxrenaissance.html |date=2012-02-22}}, ''[[New Jersey Jewish News]]'', June 17, 2004, accessed April 11, 2007. "'Once upon a time, Perth Amboy was the hub of a thriving Jewish community', observed Rabbi Israel Einhorn. 'Perth Amboy used to be the No. 1 shtetl in New Jersey. They had butchers, bakers, yeshivas,' Einhorn said as he sat in his office at Congregation Shaarey Tefiloh, an Orthodox shul on the waterfront in the economically depressed town."</ref> Today, however, there are only two synagogues left, each with only a few older members.

A project called 'The Landings at Harborside' was to have featured 2,100 residential units along with indoor parking, {{convert|150000|sqft|abbr=on}} of retail space, a community center, and recreation amenities for the public as well.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110501103211/http://newyork.construction.com/projects/TopProjects04/Landings.asp Top Projects Started 2003-2004: The Landings at HarborSide], New York Construction, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of May 1, 2011. Accessed December 19, 2019. "The Landings at HarborSide - one of the largest comprehensive redevelopment projects in the United States between a private developer and municipality - is a comprehensive, eight-year $600 million plan that incorporates residential and retail development, recreation, parks, marina and future hotel site."</ref> However, after meeting with [[Charles Kushner]], the developer who spent two years in prison after being convicted of witness tampering, tax evasion and making illegal campaign contributions, Mayor Wilda Diaz endorsed a scaled-back design concept for the development, allowing Section 8 housing rentals instead of owner-occupied units as originally promised.<ref>Russell, Suzanne. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125156/http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20110916/NJNEWS/309160006/Perth-Amboy-s-Landings-at-Harborside-project-takes-new-direction "Perth Amboy's Landings at Harborside project takes new direction"], ''[[Home News Tribune]]'', September 16, 2011, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of April 2, 2015. Accessed December 19, 2019.</ref>

The Raritan Yacht Club is the state's second-oldest and one of the oldest [[yacht club]]s in the United States, founded in 1882 from the merger of two older clubs, one founded in 1865 and the other in 1874.<ref>[https://www.1683society.org/raritan-yacht-club Raritan Yacht Club], 1683 Society. Accessed December 19, 2019. "The Club itself was established in 1882 from two others, the Carteret Boat Club (1865) and the Perth Amboy Yacht Club (1874), making it the second oldest yacht club in New Jersey and one of the oldest in the country."</ref><ref>[http://www.ycaol.com/americasoldest.htm America's Oldest Yacht Clubs], Yachting Club of America. Accessed December 19, 2019.</ref> Also located on the waterfront and founded in 1917, St. Demetrios was one of the first Greek Orthodox churches in central New Jersey. Established by the Greek immigrants who came to the United States at the turn of the 19th century, this community has stood as a beacon of the Orthodox Faith and Hellenism in Middlesex County.<ref>[http://www.stdemetriosperthamboy.org/our-parish/parish-history/ Parish History], St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church – Perth Amboy. Accessed December 19, 2019. Founded in 1917, St. Demetrios was one of the first Greek Orthodox churches in central New Jersey."</ref>

===Downtown Perth Amboy===
[[Image:PA Bank.jpg|thumb|The Perth Amboy National Bank Building at the [[Five Corners, Perth Amboy|Five Corners]]]]
Perth Amboy was settled by Europeans in 1683 and incorporated as a city in 1718. It was founded by English merchants, Scots seeking religious freedom, and French Protestants, who sought to make use of Perth Amboy's harbor to its full potential. Downtown is the main commercial district, and is centered on Smith Street. It is an [[Urban Enterprise Zone]], and the reduced sales tax rate (half of the statewide rate) funds revitalization of Smith Street with newly planted trees, [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] streetlights, benches, garbage cans, and redbrick sidewalks.<ref>[http://ci.perthamboy.nj.us/an-invitation-from-the-chief.html Urban Enterprise Zone - An Invitation from the Chief Administrator] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111182702/http://ci.perthamboy.nj.us/an-invitation-from-the-chief.html |date=2012-01-11 }}, City of Perth Amboy. Accessed November 28, 2011.</ref><ref name=NJUEZ>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100103091626/http://www.state.nj.us/njbusiness/financing/tax/geographic.shtml Geographic & Urban Redevelopment Tax Credit Programs], State of [[New Jersey]], backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of January 3, 2010. Accessed January 24, 2012.</ref> Smith Street is a shopping center seven blocks wide, with stores catering to working-class customers. The street is flanked by mainly two- to three-story buildings of varied architecture. It also has a lone bank skyscraper called 'Amboy Towers', 10 stories tall, located at [[Five Corners, Perth Amboy|Five Corners]], the intersection of Smith Street, New Brunswick Avenue and State Street.<ref>Russell, Suzanne C. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mycentraljersey/access/1788996381.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+17%2C+2005&author=SUZANNE+C+RUSSELL&pub=Home+News+Tribune&desc=City+landmark+to+return+to+glory+days&pqatl=google "City landmark to return to glory days"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724110950/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mycentraljersey/access/1788996381.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+17%2C+2005&author=SUZANNE+C+RUSSELL&pub=Home+News+Tribune&desc=City+landmark+to+return+to+glory+days&pqatl=google |date=2012-07-24 }}, ''[[Home News Tribune]]'', February 17, 2005. Accessed November 28, 2011. "The Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency and Wilshire Enterprises, owners of Amboy Towers, also known as the Five Corners Building... He said the building, the tallest in Perth Amboy, is a city landmark."</ref> Once home to several department stores downtown, the largest storefront today is a discount retailer.

===Harbortown===

[[File:Tottenville ferry pilings jeh.JPG|thumb|Looking across [[Arthur Kill]] to Harbortown (center)]]
[[Harbortown, Perth Amboy|Harbortown]] is a [[townhouse]] development on the waterfront which continues to be expanded since construction started in 1987. [[Section 8 (housing)|"Section 8"]] housing along with more affluent homes can be found in Harbortown, an economically and ethnically diverse townhouse development in the city.<ref>Deas, Wayne L. [https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/16/nyregion/perth-amboy-s-rebirth-tied-to-project.html "Perth Amboy's Rebirth Tied To Project"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 16, 1987. Accessed July 14, 2012. "The massive Harbortown waterfront development will displace the old Union Carbide warehouse near State and Parker streets on Arthur Kill. The multi-million-dollar development is to consist of 2,250 town houses, a marina, lagoon and restaurant along 120 acres of the waterfront."</ref>

This area was the Lehigh Valley Railroad marshaling yards where coal was loaded onto barges for shipment to New York City and elsewhere until the LVRR went bankrupt in 1976.<ref>Heiss, Ralph A. [https://books.google.com/books?id=BfbYjCQvLvcC Lehigh Valley Railroad Across New Jersey''], ''[[Arcadia Publishing]]'', 2009. {{ISBN|9780738565767}}. Accessed December 19, 2019.</ref>

===Hall Avenue===
Hall Avenue is a neighborhood centered on Hall Avenue east of the [[NJ Transit]] train tracks. The street itself, Hall Avenue, is no longer the commercial strip it once was. However, there is a recently built strip mall on the corner of Hall Avenue and State Street called the "Firehouse Plaza". There is also a "Banco Popular" branch of the bank headquartered in Puerto Rico. However, Hall Avenue is now primarily residential. Most of the homes are aging apartments, but there are also some newly constructed homes. Hall Avenue remains a traditional [[Puerto Rican American|Puerto Rican]] neighborhood, and it hosts the city's annual Puerto Rican Day Festival, which is held on the same day of the historic Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City.<ref>Staff. [http://njtoday.net/2011/06/09/puerto-rican-festival-this-weekend/ "Puerto Rican Festival This Weekend"], ''News Record'', June 9, 2011. Accessed January 24, 2012.</ref> Rudyk Park is north of [[New Jersey Route 440|Route 440]] and features the Roberto Clemente Baseball Field and an industrial park.

===Southwestern section===
The southwestern section is a mainly working-class residential neighborhood with some light industry, once the site of [[Eagleswood Military Academy]]. The city's largest strip mall is located here. This neighborhood has a large and diversified Hispanic neighborhood with many [[Dominican American|Dominicans]], Puerto Ricans, and recently, South Americans. Much of the city's [[Mexican American|Mexican]] population also lives in this section. Previously, this section of Perth Amboy had a large Irish population and was once named "Dublin". Following the Irish came the Eastern Europeans, primarily Polish and Hungarian. Most of the housing consists of small one- or two-family houses. The main commercial strip is Smith Street, west of the [[NJ Transit]] train tracks.

===Western section===
The western section of the waterfront is west of Kearny Avenue. It is an overwhelmingly blue-collar Hispanic neighborhood. Most of the homes are over 100 years old; many are modest row houses. Sadowski Parkway Park lines through the southern end of the neighborhood and has a walkway with a beach. The park also hosts the Dominican festival and other festivals during the summer.

===State Street===

State Street is a neighborhood east of the NJ Transit train tracks, north of Fayette Street, and south of Harbortown. Like the southwestern section of Perth Amboy, it is predominantly working-class Hispanic. In addition, this neighborhood had many industries and factories before they moved overseas. The neighborhood is mainly Caribbean Hispanic. This section once had a large [[Cuban American|Cuban community]]. The State and Fayette Gardens, an apartment complex in the neighborhood, were called "The Cuban Buildings" at one time. The Landings at Harborside redevelopment project is being constructed in this neighborhood.

===Amboy Avenue===
Amboy Avenue is a quasi-suburban, working to middle-class neighborhood. It is also referred to as the "Hospital section" or the "High School section" due to the fact that these places are located in the neighborhood. Today most residents are Hispanic; Amboy Avenue once had a strong [[Italian American|Italian]] population.

===Maurer===
[[Maurer, Perth Amboy|Maurer]] is a chiefly working to middle-class neighborhood that lies in the northern part of Route 440. It is heavily industrial with many oil refineries and brownfields. Like Amboy Avenue, it is quasi-suburban.

===Chickentown===
Chickentown is a neighborhood in the western part of Route 35 south of Spa Springs, just south of Route 440. It shares many of the same characteristics of Spa Springs but to a lesser extent. The city's largest park, Washington Park, is located here. It received its name from all the chicken farms (hens and eggs) that were located here before World War II.