Located about 10 miles off New York City in Passaic County, Clifton, New Jersey is immediately recognizable to many because of its use for filming the famous television show "The Sopranos." The city is accessed by Route 3 and Route 46. It is also served by the Garden State Parkway, Route 19 and Route 21. A major attraction for people who decide moving to Clifton is the housing prices. Those moving to Clifton will find affordable housing, a close proximity to New York and good educational facilities.
Economy:
The city has a very developed economic foundation with a variety of industries having active operations here. Most of the people work in the service sector. Construction is also a strong industry in the area and employs the largest percentage of the male population as compared to other sectors. Education and healthcare are the next major providers of employment and contributors to the economy. The proximity to New York means that a large number of offices of many companies are located in Clifton due to the cheaper office space. Online businesses like websites and customer care call centres are based here. Overall these businesses provide a handsome median household income of $58,401 to the residents of Clifton. As living costs are comparatively less than other cities comparable to Clifton, many people prefer moving to Clifton over its sister cities.
History:
The city traces its origin as one of the townships developed along the Morris Canal. The canal was built according to the plans set out by George P. McCullough in 1834. His idea was to build a canal that would then be used as a transport channel from the coast to numerous inland cities. Initially the idea was successful and was used by numerous coal transport barges. The administration charged for transport of goods and passengers. However, ultimately the idea turned out to be a failure. It was eventually eliminated by the railroad as the slow water transport could simply not keep up with the more efficient railroad. The canal then became more popular for its recreational use for canoeing and fishing in summer and skating in the winter. The city was incorporated in 1917 as Clifton.
Tourism:
Clifton has numerous trails for hiking and cycling. There are also two golf clubs for enthusiasts, namely, the Upper Montclair Country Club and the Glen Ridge Country Club. As with other New Jersey cities, Clifton also has extensive parks and green areas. There is also the West Essex Rail Trail, the High Mountain Summit Loop, the Mills Reservation Trail and the Great Falls of the Passaic River. The nearby city of New York provides a hub for popular entertainment as well. Places worth visiting in Clifton include the Hamilton House Museum, Lambert Castle, Westfield Garden Plaza, the Paterson Mall Shopping Centre, Great Falls Cultural Centre and the China Town Ice Cream Factory.