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What Jersey City looked like in the 1970s

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In the 1970s, Jersey City was a major industrial center, with factories and warehouses lining the waterfront. The Port of Jersey City, one of the busiest ports on the East Coast, was a significant employer and economic driver for the city. The city was also a transportation hub, with multiple train lines, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service, and several major highways, such as the New Jersey Turnpike and the Holland Tunnel, connecting it to New York City.

The population of Jersey City in the 1970s was diverse, with many immigrants from Europe and Latin America. African Americans also made up a significant portion of the population. Many working-class residents lived in densely populated neighborhoods such as Journal Square, Greenville, and Bergen-Lafayette.

However, poverty and crime were significant issues in many of these neighborhoods. The city had a high crime rate, with many violent and property crimes reported. The city’s economy was struggling, with many factories closing or moving out of the city and high unemployment rates.

Despite these challenges, there were also signs of revitalization and redevelopment in the 1970s. The downtown area, particularly along Grove Street and Newark Avenue, was undergoing a resurgence. The city government was also working on urban renewal projects, such as the construction of new housing and the development of Liberty State Park.

#2 View of the Statue of Liberty from Jersey City, New Jersey, 1974.

View of the Statue of Liberty from Jersey City, New Jersey, 1974.

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#4 With the World Trade Center in the distance, view looking east at two children at play in a playground in a housing complex in downtown Jersey City, New Jersey, 1974.

With the World Trade Center in the distance, view looking east at two children at play in a playground in a housing complex in downtown Jersey City, New Jersey, 1974.

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#5 Aerial view, looking east, with the World Trade Center and the New York City skyline in the distance, of Montgomery Street in downtown Jersey City, New Jersey, 1974.

Aerial view, looking east, with the World Trade Center and the New York City skyline in the distance, of Montgomery Street in downtown Jersey City, New Jersey, 1974.

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#6 Bicentennial Tall Ships during Opsail (Operation Sail) from the abandoned Central Railroad of NJ in Jersey City. World Trade Center hovers over the scene, July 4 1976

Bicentennial Tall Ships during Opsail (Operation Sail) from the abandoned Central Railroad of NJ in Jersey City. World Trade Center hovers over the scene, July 4 1976

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#7 Jersey City Medical Center and its Powerhouse. Abandoned, littered and in ruins, 1977.

Jersey City Medical Center and its Powerhouse. Abandoned, littered and in ruins, 1977.

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#9 View of pedestrians crossing the street at an unidentified street corner of Jersey City, New Jersey, 1974.

View of pedestrians crossing the street at an unidentified street corner of Jersey City, New Jersey, 1974.

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#11 The abject no-man’s land at the end of Greene Street looking south to the Morris Canal, The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The abject no-man’s land at the end of Greene Street looking south to the Morris Canal, The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

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#13 Architecture in Newark, New Jersey, is seen on October 23, 1976.

Architecture in Newark, New Jersey, is seen on October 23, 1976.

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#14 A policeman walking along the boardwalk at Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1976

A policeman walking along the boardwalk at Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1976

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#15 Aerial view from the top of the Empire State Building looking south-west over 7th and 8th Avenues in Manhattan to the Hudson River and Jersey City in New Jersey beyond, 1970

Aerial view from the top of the Empire State Building looking south-west over 7th and 8th Avenues in Manhattan to the Hudson River and Jersey City in New Jersey beyond, 1970

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#17 The ramshackle Greene Street Boat Club in Jersey City with the Lower Manhattan skyline and the World Trade Center in the distance, March 1975

The ramshackle Greene Street Boat Club in Jersey City with the Lower Manhattan skyline and the World Trade Center in the distance, March 1975

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#23 Hoboken toward Jersey City (desolate industrial area by Erie Railroad tunnel through Bergen Hill), 1975

Hoboken toward Jersey City (desolate industrial area by Erie Railroad tunnel through Bergen Hill), 1975

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#24 Princess Caroline and Philippe Junot at the Ocean City Beach in Ocean City, New Jersey

Princess Caroline and Philippe Junot at the Ocean City Beach in Ocean City, New Jersey

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#25 Aerial view looking east over the Pulaski Skyway which spans the Passaic River, Jersey City, New Jersey, 1978.

Aerial view looking east over the Pulaski Skyway which spans the Passaic River, Jersey City, New Jersey, 1978.

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#26 Aerial view looking east over the Pulaski Skyway which spans the Passaic River, Jersey City, New Jersey, 1978.

Aerial view looking east over the Pulaski Skyway which spans the Passaic River, Jersey City, New Jersey, 1978.

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#27 Pulaski Skyway with 1970s cars on a typically smoggy day. The Kearny Generation Station from 1925 was still in use and burning coal. Jersey City, Nov 1977

Pulaski Skyway with 1970s cars on a typically smoggy day. The Kearny Generation Station from 1925 was still in use and burning coal. Jersey City, Nov 1977

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#28 The World Trade Center and Lower Manhattan hover across the Hudson, Jersey City, March 1976.

The World Trade Center and Lower Manhattan hover across the Hudson, Jersey City, March 1976.

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#30 Two water towers on top of Ellis Island. Trash and a stripped abandoned car by the Morris Canal small basin, Jersey City, April 1976

Two water towers on top of Ellis Island. Trash and a stripped abandoned car by the Morris Canal small basin, Jersey City, April 1976

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#39 A fenced off overgrown area that was too toxic to remediate, Jersey City, March 1974

A fenced off overgrown area that was too toxic to remediate, Jersey City, March 1974

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#40 Abandoned cranes, barge at left, industrial wasteland, and old Jersey Central railroad facility in the distance at left,Jersey City, 1975

Abandoned cranes, barge at left, industrial wasteland, and old Jersey Central railroad facility in the distance at left,Jersey City, 1975

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#41 Abandoned pier at Exchange Place in Jersey City with World Trade Center across the Hudson, March 1975

Abandoned pier at Exchange Place in Jersey City with World Trade Center across the Hudson, March 1975

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#42 Battery Park City landfill towards Jersey City from the abandoned West Side Highway in front of the World Trade Center(its shadow on the left), May 1974

Battery Park City landfill towards Jersey City from the abandoned West Side Highway in front of the World Trade Center(its shadow on the left), May 1974

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#43 Bicentennial Tall Ships during Opsail from the abandoned Central Railroad of NJ in Jersey City, July 4, 1976

Bicentennial Tall Ships during Opsail from the abandoned Central Railroad of NJ in Jersey City, July 4, 1976

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#44 Exchange Place and the World Trade Center on Bicentennial Day in Jersey City, July 4, 1976

Exchange Place and the World Trade Center on Bicentennial Day in Jersey City, July 4, 1976

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#45 Greene Street Boat Club in Jersey City with the Lower Manhattan skyline and the World Trade Center in the distance, 1975

Greene Street Boat Club in Jersey City with the Lower Manhattan skyline and the World Trade Center in the distance, 1975

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#47 Hoboken Erie Lackawanna Railroad Terminal looking from decrepit old Jersey City piers, March 1976

Hoboken Erie Lackawanna Railroad Terminal looking from decrepit old Jersey City piers, March 1976

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#50 Industrial, railroad and rotting pier ruins in Jersey City from the Statue of Liberty, March 1973

Industrial, railroad and rotting pier ruins in Jersey City from the Statue of Liberty, March 1973

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#52 Jersey City panoramic view from the 58th floor of the World Trade Center, April 1974

Jersey City panoramic view from the 58th floor of the World Trade Center, April 1974

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#56 Large pool of gasoline swirls around the Statue of Liberty from a ruptured pipeline at the Exxon facility near Black Tom and Caven Point in Jersey City, June 1972

Large pool of gasoline swirls around the Statue of Liberty from a ruptured pipeline at the Exxon facility near Black Tom and Caven Point in Jersey City, June 1972

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#58 Looking east to Lower Manhattan and the World Trade Center near the New Jersey Turnpike exit 14B from James Hamil Drive, March 1974

Looking east to Lower Manhattan and the World Trade Center near the New Jersey Turnpike exit 14B from James Hamil Drive, March 1974

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#59 The abandoned Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal Jersey City, Aug. 1976

The abandoned Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal Jersey City, Aug. 1976

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#62 The view from a PATH train end-window on a trip from Newark to New York, Jersey City, March 1977

The view from a PATH train end-window on a trip from Newark to New York, Jersey City, March 1977

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#63 World Trade Center, Lower Manhattan, abandoned Central Railroad of NJ Terminal and railroad land(Liberty State Park is here now), Jersey City, 1975

World Trade Center, Lower Manhattan, abandoned Central Railroad of NJ Terminal and railroad land(Liberty State Park is here now), Jersey City, 1975

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