Paterson, New Jersey is the county seat of Passaic County and the state’s third-largest city, with roughly 156,000–159,000 residents as of 2023. Founded in 1791 under Alexander Hamilton’s vision as America’s first planned industrial city, it harnessed the 77‑foot Great Falls of the Passaic River to power mills that produced silk, textiles, firearms, and locomotives—earning it the nickname “Silk City”. Today, Paterson is a vibrant melting pot: home to one of the largest Peruvian, Palestinian, Arab, Turkish, Dominican, and broader Hispanic communities in the U.S., with rich cultural heritage woven through neighborhoods like “Little Lima” and “Little Palestine”. Despite economic challenges—median household income sits around $53,700 and about 24% of residents live in poverty—Paterson retains historic landmarks, museums (such as the Paterson Museum), community festivals, and the Great Falls National Historical Park as central attractions.