Perth Amboy is a City located in Middlesex County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 47,303.
Perth Amboy is located at 40°31'10" North, 74°16'31" West (40.519455, -74.275326).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.5 km2 (6.0 mi2). 12.4 km2 (4.8 mi2) of it is land and 3.1 km2 (1.2 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 20.07% water.
The city is named after Perth, Scotland, and was originally granted to a company of Scottish noblemen, headed by the Duke of Melfort "Amboy" is an Algonquin name for the area, also appearing in South Amboy.
As of the census of 2000, there are 47,303 people, 14,562 households, and 10,761 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,820.9/km2 (9,892.0/mi2). There are 15,236 housing units at an average density of 1,230.7/km2 (3,186.2/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 46.41% White, 10.04% African American, 0.70% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 35.59% from other races, and 5.61% from two or more races. 69.83% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. Perth Amboy is also roughly 50% Caribbean Hispanic, mainly Puerto Rican and Dominican.
There are 14,562 households out of which 40.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% are married couples living together, 21.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% are non-families. 20.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.20 and the average family size is 3.63.
In the city the population is spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,608, and the median income for a family is $40,740. Males have a median income of $29,399 versus $21,954 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,989. 17.6% of the population and 14.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.1% of those under the age of 18 and 12.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Perth Amboy was settled in 1683 and incorporated as a city in 1718. It was founded by English merchants, Scots seeking religious freedom, and French Protestants. They sought to use Perth Amboy's harbor to its full potential. Reality however never matched its expectations.
Perth Amboy became the capital of East Jersey. It was the capital from 1684 until the union of East and West Jersey in 1702 and it was also alternate capital with Burlington until 1790. The wealthy came and lived here but they left due to hostilities. New Jersey merchants also chose New York City instead of Perth Amboy as their destination. Perth Amboy became sleepy but then came the ceramic industries.
By 1890, immigration and industrialization transformed Perth Amboy. Factories like Guggenheim and Sons as well as Copper Works Smelting Company fueled a thriving downtown and employed many area residents. Perth Amboy also grew after it became the tidewater terminal for the Lehigh Valley Railroad and a coal shipping point. Perth Amboy also witnessed tightly knit and insular ethnic neighborhoods such as Budapest, Dublin, and Chickentown. Immigrants from Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Russia, and Austria quickly dominated the factory jobs. Perth Amboy was also a resort town in the 1800s and early 20th century.
Today, Perth Amboy's immigrants are primarily Hispanic. Unfortunately the immigration growth occurred at a time when factories were being demolished and plants were being closed down; thus Perth Amboy became part of the rust belt. Once a resort town, Perth Amboy's beaches are no longer in use for swimming because of the polluted waters. Competition from the malls out of town forced the big chain stores out of Perth Amboy's downtown. There are no movie theaters or major department stores remaining in Perth Amboy. The overcrowded schools are slightly passing or failing as Perth Amboy is an Abbott funded district. There is also a large and growing number of students who cannot read or write in English.
However, since the early 1990s Perth Amboy has seen a recent redevelopment stage. Crime rates are much lower, small businesses have started to open up, and with the presense of an Urban Enterprise Zone there is a 3% Sales Tax instead of the statewide 6% Sales Tax.
The waterfront has also seen a rebirth. The marina has been extended, there are new promenades, parks, and housing overlooking the bay. Perth Amboy is still continuing for an attempt of an upheaval in the waterfront. A new project called Landings at Harborside will feature 2,100 residential units composed of town homes and mid-rise luxury condominiums along with indoor garage parking. There were also be 150,000 square feet of retail space with an international market, restaurants, specialty shops, community center, and recreation amenities for the public as well. It is an eight year and $600 million plan. Moreover there will be an extension of Route 440 to High Street connecting commuters from the Outerbridge Crossing directly to the waterfront. Also of historical noteworthy, noted abolitionists Angelina and Sarah Grimke lived in Perth Amboy.
Source:
PerthAmboyNewJersey.com
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