jennifer bryan
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Manhattan and which stand in Jersey City. Despite this growth in business, in the year 2000
almost 19% of Jersey City’s population reported living below the poverty level (Census 2000).
Like New York City, Jersey City has long been a key point of entry for immigrants from
diverse lands. With a total population of 240,055, Jersey City is the second most populous city
in New Jersey, just behind the city of Newark (Census 2000). Out of all cities in the United
States with populations over 100,000, Jersey City is the fourth most densely populated with over
16,111 persons per square mile (City and County Data Book 2000).
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Although Jersey City’s
population is twenty five times smaller than that of New York City, it is similar to New York
City in terms of its racial/ethnic diversity. In 2000, the racial composition of Jersey City was
approximately 28% Hispanic/Latino, 27% Non-Hispanic Black, 24% Non-Hispanic White, 16%
Non-Hispanic Asian, 4% from two or more races, and 1% Other (Census 2000).
In addition to its racial/ethnic diversity, Jersey City is home to a very large number of
recent immigrants. In fact, in 2000 34% of Jersey City’s total population were foreign born. Of
the foreign born, 49% immigrated to the United States between 1990 and 2000, and 79%
between 1980 and 2000 (Census 2000); thus, recent immigrants make up a significant proportion
of the population. In the 1980s, Arab Muslims from Egypt began immigrating to Jersey City in
large numbers. Spurred on by political and economic turmoil within Egypt, Egyptian Muslims
were attracted to Jersey City for its proximity to New York City and Newark airport, and its
word of mouth reputation as a place with affordable rents, good employment opportunities, and a
large Egyptian population.
It is difficult to know exactly how large the Muslim community is in Jersey City because
the Census does not ask a question on religion; however, Muslim community leaders estimate it
to be in the tens of thousands. While the city’s Muslim community is comprised of people from
diverse backgrounds, including Pakistani, Moroccan, and African American Muslims, a steady
stream of Arab immigrants have formed its core for several years. In the year 2000, 6,764
persons in Jersey City reported having Arab ancestry; this makes Arabs the fourth largest
ancestry group in Jersey City. Of the 6,764 persons reporting Arab ancestry, 4,820 were
Egyptian (Census 2000). Since Jersey City is home to a significant number of Egyptian (Coptic)
Christians, all persons reporting Arab and or Egyptian ancestry are not Muslim. Nonetheless,
Jersey City’s Muslim population is large enough to support the city’s nineteen mosques, three
Islamic centers, two Islamic schools and over two hundred Muslim owned businesses.
Convention