Passaic, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Passaic, New Jersey
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_



mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Passaic in Passaic County. Inset: Location of Passaic County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Passaic, New Jersey
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_name2 = Passaic
government_type = Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Gary Schaer (acting)
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1679
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = April 2, 1873
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 3.2
area_total_km2 = 8.3
area_land_sq_mi = 3.1
area_land_km2 = 8.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
area_water_km2 = 0.3
area_water_percent = 3.12
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 67103
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 8424.8
population_density_sq_mi = 21,804.7
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern (EDT)
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 40 |latm = 51 |lats = 27 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 07 |longs = 44 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 31
elevation_ft = 102
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|885342|City of Passaic, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 17, 2007.]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07055 and 07057
area_code = 973
website = http://www.cityofpassaic.com/
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-56550GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0879156GR|3
footnotes =

Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 67,861. Located north of Newark on the Passaic River, it was first settled in 1678 by Dutch traders, as Acquackanonk Township. The city and river draw their name from the Lenape word "pahsayèk" meaning "valley". [ [http://www.web-savvy.com/river/schuylkill/new_lenape.html Lenape Language / Pronunciation] , accessed September 20, 2006.]

History

The city originated from a Dutch settlement on the Passaic River established in 1679 which was called Acquackanonk. Industrial growth began in the 19th century, as Passaic became a textile and metalworking center. Passaic was formed within Acquackanonk Township on March 10, 1869, and was incorporated as an independent village on March 21, 1871. Passaic was chartered as a city on April 2, 1873."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 210.]

A famous strike in 1926 against reductions in wages involved the right of free assembly.

Passaic has been called "The Birthplace of Television". [ [http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/collections/allTV.html UCLA Film and Television Archive Television Programs Preserved 1988 - 2000] . University of California, Los Angeles. Accessed February 18, 2007.] In 1931, experimental television station W2XCD began transmitting from DeForest Radio Corp. in Passaic. It has been called the first television station to transmit to the home, and was the first such station to broadcast a feature film. Allen B. DuMont, formerly DeForest's chief engineer, opened pioneering TV manufacturer DuMont Laboratories in Passaic in 1937. DuMont later started the DuMont Television Network, the world's first commercial television network, in 1946.

Geography

Passaic is located at coord|40|51|27|N|74|7|44|W|​display=inline,title|region:US-NJ_type:city.GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), of which, 3.1 square miles (8.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (3.12%) is water. Passaic is bordered on the north, west and south by the City of Clifton, and to the east by the Passaic River.

Passaic is located 10 miles from New York City, and 12 miles from Newark Airport.

The City

Passaic has several business districts: Main Avenue begins in Passaic Park and follows the curve of the river to downtown. Broadway runs east - west through the center of the city, ending at Main Avenue in downtown. Monroe Street has many shops, restaurants and businesses reflecting the city's Latino and Eastern European populations.

The city is home to several architecturally notable churches, including St. John's Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian of Passaic, and St. John's Episcopal Church.

Southwest Passaic (known as Passaic Park) is a residential and institutional center of Orthodox Judaism, with 25-30 minyanim on Shabbos, and 1,300 families, as well as being home to numerous yeshivas, schools and other institutions. There are also kosher food and shopping establishments. [Rachel Berman, [http://www.jewishpress.com/print.do/19998/Passaic/Clifton_-_The_New_Jewish_Boom_Town.html "Passaic/Clifton - The New Jewish Boom Town"] , "The Jewish Press", November 22, 2006.]

Passaic Park takes its name from Third Ward Park. This area is also noted for its large mansions and homes of various architectural styles, especially Victorian and Tudor. Several condominium and cooperative apartment complexes are also located here including: Carlton Tower (the city's tallest structure), The Towers, and Barry Gardens (which are all located within walking distance of each other on a stretch of Passaic Avenue between Aycrigg Avenue and Barry Place).

Demographics

USCensusPop
1880=6532
1890=13028
1900=27777
1910=54773
1920=63841
1930=62959
1940=61394
1950=57702
1960=53963
1970=55124
1980=52463
1990=58041
2000=67861
estimate= 67103
estyear=2007
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=16000US3456550&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=passaic&_cityTown=passaic&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Passaic city] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 10, 2008.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] [cite web
url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41084506no553.zip
format=ZIP
title=Fourteenth Census of The United States: 1920; Population: New Jersey; Number of inhabitants, by counties and minor civil divisions
publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
accessdate=2007-03-21
author=Wm. C. Hunt, Chief Statistician for Population] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 67,861 people, 19,458 households, and 14,457 families residing in the city of Passaic, New Jersey. The population density was 21,804.7 people per square mile (8,424.8/km²). There were 20,194 housing units at an average density of 6,488.6/sq mi (2,507.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 35.43% White, 13.83% African American, 0.78% Native American, 5.51% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 39.36% from other races, and 5.04% from two or more races. The cultural groupings for Hispanic or Latino of any race were 62.46% of the population. Passaic is also known for its Ukrainian enclave.Fact|date=February 2007. 60.2% spoke Spanish, 29.3% English, 2.5% Gujarati and 2.5% Polish as their first language. Among the speakers of Polish in Passaic are many Gorals. Passaic also has both a sizable Orthodox Jewish community and a growing Mexican community of over 13,000 that in 2000 made up 19.67% of the population. [http://passaic.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm]

There were 19,458 households out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 8.2% of Passaic households were same-sex partner households. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.46 and the average family size was 3.93. In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,594, and the median income for a family was $34,935. Males had a median income of $24,568 versus $21,352 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,874. About 18.4% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The City of Passaic is governed under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government under the Faulkner Act. Under this form of government, the Mayor is elected directly by the voters for a four-year term. Seven Council Members serve four year terms on a staggered basis. ["2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 154.]

The interim Mayor of Passaic is Gary Schaer, who, as City Council President automatically moved into this position upon the resignation by previous mayor Samuel Rivera, on Friday, 9 May 2008, after pleading guilty to federal charges. He was originally arrested by the FBI on September 6, 2007 in a Federal corruption probe that also included the arrests of Assemblymen Mims Hackett and Alfred E. Steele. [Baldwin, Tom. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-06-nj-probe_N.htm "11 arrested in N.J. corruption probe"] , "USA Today", September 6, 2007. Accessed September 6, 2007. "Among the arrested were state Assemblymen Mims Hackett Jr. and Rev. Alfred Steele aides in their legislative offices acknowledged. Also reportedly arrested was Samuel Rivera, the mayor of Passaic, and Keith Reid, the chief of staff to Newark City Council President Mildred Crump."] The indictment alleges that Rivera accepted a $5,000 bribe to steer fake insurance business with the City of Passaic and with the Passaic Valley Water Commission, bragging that "I can get four votes easy, easy, easy," to a witness about his ability to obtain approval from the Passaic City Council. [Staff. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk1JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MTkxODE2JnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mg= "Who's who: Overview of the politicians charged in bribery scandal"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", September 7, 2007. Accessed September 7, 2007.]

[ [http://www.cityofpassaic.com/Passaic%20Elected%20Officials/Mayor's%20Page.htm Mayor of Passaic] , City of Passaic. Accessed July 6, 2006.]

Rivera was a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, [cite web| url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml| title=Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members] a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets," and Acting Mayor Schaer is likely to continue the membership. The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Members of the City Council are Gary Schaer (Council President), Maritza Colón-Montañez, Gerardo Fernandez, Jose Garcia, Chaim M. Munk and Daniel J. Schwartz. [ [http://www.cityofpassaic.com/Passaic%20Elected%20Officials/City%20Council%20Page.htm City Council Members] , City of Passaic. Accessed July 6, 2006.] The seat previously held by Marcellus Jackson is currently empty. Jackson and former councilman Jonathan Soto were arrested also arrested on September 6, 2007 as part of the same sweep as Mayor Rivera. Before his resignation, Mayor Rivera attempted to hand-pick a replacement for Jackson, relying on is tie-breaker vote in a split council. The three council members who disagreed with Rivera's selection were able to postpone this selection by not attending the vote for the replacement, depriving Rivera of the minimum quota to produce the deadlock vote.

In addition to his roles as Council President and interim Mayor, Schaer also holds a seat in the New Jersey State Assembly. This dual-position is allowed under a grandfather clause in the state law that prevents dual-office-holding.

Federal, state and county representation

Passaic is in the Eighth Congressional District is part of New Jersey's 36th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 62. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

The Passaic City School District is a type I school district, and is an independent legal entity administered by a nine-member Board of Education elected by the voters of the school district. The school district is not a part of any regional or consolidated school district, and neither receives nor sends students, except for a limited number of special education students. The school system comprises 2 early childhood centers, 12 elementary schools (grades K-6), 1 middle school (grades 7-8), and Passaic High School for grades 9-12. The district is one of 31 Abbott Districts statewide. [ [http://www.nj.gov/cgi-bin/education/abbotts/abbotturls.pl?string=code&maxhits=100 Abbott Districts] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2008.]

The Collegiate School is a private coeducational day school located in Passaic, serving students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade.

Passaic County Community College plans to open a new campus in the city of Passaic in Spring 2008. Construction commenced on the new site in Spring 2007 at 2 Paulison Avenue. The new campus will allow PCCC to reach the 15% of its students who come from the city of Passaic. The college's nursing program will be relocated and expanded at the new campus to provide a qualified program to help fill the longstanding nursing shortage.

The Yeshiva Gedolah of Passaic, an advanced yeshiva is an institute of Jewish learning for post-high school age men. Passaic also has a number of other orthodox educational institutions for primary and secondary education as well as other advanced seminaries and kollels for advanced and married students.

Commerce

Portions of Passaic are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide). [ [http://www.state.nj.us/njbusiness/financing/tax/geographic.shtml#2 Geographic & Urban Redevelopment Tax Credit Programs: Urban Enterprise Zone Employee Tax Credit] , State of New Jersey. Accessed July 28, 2008.]

Transportation

Passaic is served by state roadways including Route 3 and Route 21. The Garden State Parkway and Interstate 80 are nearby.

Local bus transportation is provided by New Jersey Transit, with service to Paterson, Rutherford, Newark, Clifton, Garfield, and Wallington among other locations.

New Jersey Transit bus 190 provides local service and interstate service to Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City.

The Passaic New Jersey Transit rail station is located in the Passaic Park section, providing service on the Main Line southbound to Hoboken Terminal, and to Secaucus Junction for New Jersey Transit and Amtrak connections to Pennsylvania Station in Midtown Manhattan, Newark Airport and points north and south. Northbound service is provided to Paterson, Ridgewood and New York stations in Suffern and Port Jervis.

Commuter jitney buses operate along Main Avenue providing service to Paterson, Union City, the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal in New York City, and points between. This service does not operate on an official schedule.

Communications

Passaic uses telephone area code 973.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Passaic include:
*Mitch Albom (born 1958), author of "The Five People You Meet in Heaven". [ [http://www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writer.asp?cid=883056 Meet the Writers: Mitch Albom] , accessed December 19, 2006.]
*Terrence Boyle (born1945), judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. [ [http://www.wcl.american.edu/alumni/pub/reunion05summer.pdf?rd=1 "CLASS OF 1970 PROFILE ON ALUMNI - The Honorable Terrence Boyle"] "Reunion Times", American University Washington College of Law, Summer 2005. Accessed May 13, 2007. "Terrence Boyle was born and raised in Passaic, New Jersey."]
*George Breeman (1880-1937), sailor and Medal of Honor recipient. [ [http://www.breeman.org/ A site dedicated to George Breeman and the USS Breeman (DE-104)] , accessed December 19, 2006.]
*Bob Butterworth (born 1942), former Florida Attorney General. [ [http://www.courttv.com/archive/national/decision_2000/111400-butterworth_ap.html " Florida attorney general winds up in spotlight"] , Court TV, November 14, 2000. Accessed May 13, 2007. "A native of Passaic, N.J., Butterworth was particularly invincible in his 1998 re-election effort after playing a key role with former Gov. Lawton Chiles in helping Florida secure a $13 billion settlement with tobacco companies."]
*Arthur K. Cebrowski (1942-2005), United States Navy admiral and senior U.S. Department of Defense official. [Singer, Jeremy. [http://www.space.com/spacenews/archive05/Cebrowski_112105.html "Military Transformation Pioneer Arthur Cebrowski Dies at 63"] , "Space News", November 21, 2005. Accessed May 13, 2007. "Cebrowski, a native of Passaic, N.J., graduated from Villanova University in Pennsylvania in 1964, and entered the Navy that same year."]
*Alan N. Cohen (1930-2004), former co-owner of the Boston Celtics and the New Jersey Nets. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1857529 "Sports exec also had stake in Nets, MSG"] , ESPN.com, August 11, 2004. Accessed May 13, 2007. "Cohen was born in Passaic, N.J., on December 19, 1930."]
*Cpl. Anthony Damiano, achieved fame on hit TV show "COPS"
*Mark DeRosa (born 1975), Major League Baseball infielder. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6094/ Mark DeRosa player profile] , accessed December 19, 2006.]
*Dow H. Drukker (1872-1963), represented New Jersey's 6th congressional district from 1914-1919. [ [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000505 Dow Henry Drukker profile] , United States Congress. Accessed July 16, 2007.]
*Evelyn Dubrow (1911-2006), lobbyist and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/06/21/national/a164331D96.DTL "Garment Workers Lobbyist Dubrow Dies"] , "San Francisco Chronicle", June 21, 2006.]
*Charles Evered (born 1964), playwright
*Donald Fagen (1948-), musician with Steely Dan. [Robbins, Ira. [http://alacarte.lexisnexis.com/partners/int/google/landingpage.asp?id=21180936&mtid=1&ws=9j0hDk1UboE=&ws_pub=Newsday%20(New%20York)&ws_date=March%201,%202006&ws_len=648&ws_lni=4JCJ-49B0-TWCV-43CG-00000-00&ws_lastupdate=20060829&ws_title=At%20long%20last,%20Fagen%20puts&ws_refer=http://news.google.com/archivesearch?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&tab=wn&q=%22donald+fagen%22+passaic "At long last, Fagen puts the 'Cat' out; Steely Dan founder releases first solo album in 13 years"] , "Newsday", March 1, 2006. Accessed September 8, 2007. ""Working in the off portions of Steely Dan's four decades of on-and-off-again existence, the Grammy-winning singer-keyboardist from Passaic, N.J., has come up with three albums in 24 years..."]
*Jack Fina (1913-1970), musician
*Paul Goldberger (born 1950), Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic
*Reed Gusciora (born 1960), former minority leader of the New Jersey General Assembly. [ [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=8173 Assembly Member Reed Gusciora] , Project Vote Smart. Accessed November 22, 2007.]
*Robert Helps (1928-2001), pianist and composer. [Kozinn, Allan. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9800E2DF113DF931A35751C1A9679C8B63 "Robert Helps, 73, Concert Pianist And a Wide-Ranging Composer"] , "The New York Times", December 2, 2001. Accessed November 22, 2007.]
*Craig Heyward (1966-2006), National Football League running back. [ [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2006/05/30/2003310862 "Heyward lived hard and died young"] , "Taipei Times", May 30, 2006.]
*Dennis Johnson (1951-), former NFL defensive tackle. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JOHNSDEN01 Dennis Johnson] , database Football. Accessed January 28, 2008.]
*Mike Jorgensen (born 1948), former Major League Baseball player
*Lewis Kaplan, violinist. [ [http://www.juilliard.edu/asp/fsnew/faculty_details.php?FacultyId=116&School=College&Division=Music Lewis Kaplan] , Juilliard School. Accessed December 20, 2007.]
*Martin Krugman (1919-?), successful hair salon and wig shop proprietor who was a suspect in the 1978 Lufthansa heist and later allegedly murdered in 1979
*Richard Liptak (born 1985), radio host on WMSC 90.3 FM.Fact|date=July 2008
*Anthony Mason (1925-), actor.
*Ray Malavasi (1930-1987), National Football League head coach. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE5DB103FF935A25751C1A961948260 "Ray Malavasi Is Dead; Former Coach of Rams"] , "The New York Times", December 16, 1987. Accessed November 22, 2007.]
*William J. Martini (born 1947), former Republican Congressman. [ [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000207 William J. Martini] , "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress". Accessed December 26, 2006.]
*Michael Marisi Ornstein (born 1963), filmmaker and actor.Fact|date=January 2008
*Bill Mokray (1907-1974), basketball historian and statistician enshrined to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1965 as a contributor to the sport. [ [http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-bill-mokray.html William G. "Bill" Mokray enshrined as a contributor in 1965] , Basketball Hall of Fame. Accessed July 13, 2007. "Mokray's romance started while a student at Passaic High School during the era of the 'Passaic High School Wonder Teams.'"]
*David Packer (born 1962), actor.Fact|date=July 2008
*Millie Perkins (born 1938), actress, best known for her lead role in the film "The Diary of Anne Frank". [Scheuer, Philip K. [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/441284962.html?dids=441284962:441284962&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jan+29%2C+1958&author=PHILIP+K+SCHEUER&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Anne+Frank's+Role+Settled&pqatl=google "Anne Frank's Role Settled: Millie Perkins, 18, Winner; Brynner's Schedule Busiest"] , "Los Angeles Times", January 29, 1958. Accessed June 2, 2008. "Diary" has its Anne Frank. She is Millie Perkins, magazine cover-girl who was born in Passaic, N.J., 18 years ago and educated in Fairlawn, N.J.]
*Jason Perry (born 1976), former safety in the NFL from 1999 to 2002. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=PERRYJAS01 Jason Perry] , database Football. Accessed February 17, 2008.]
*Kenneth Peterson (S/Sgt). Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple with Oak Leaf Cluster.
*Joe Piscopo (born 1951), comedian.
*Gerry Polci, drummer and singer with Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. [Cowen, Richard. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22476446.html "CLASS OF '95 EXITS HALLS OF ACADEMIA"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", May 19, 1995. Accessed May 13, 2007. "Polci, 42, a Passaic native and former drummer with Frankie Valli..."]
*Michael J. Pollard (born 1939), actor. [Kloman, William. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00F14FD3A5910738DDDA80B94DB405B888AF1D3 "Pollard: From Disney To 'Bonnie and Clyde'; Michael J. Pollard"] , "The New York Times", March 31, 1968. Accessed July 9, 2008. "MICHAEL J. POLLARD broke into show biz in a third grade production of "H.M.S. Pinafore" in Passaic, New Jersey, in which he played one of the First Lord's cousins."]
*Stuart Rabner (born 1960), Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/governor/cabinet/stuart_rabner.html Stuart Rabner: State Attorney General] , State of New Jersey. Accessed September 20, 2007. "Rabner grew up in Passaic and was graduated summa cum laude in 1982 from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University."]
*John Roosma (1900-1983), captain of Ernest Blood's "Wonder Teams" who became the first college player to total 1,000 points for his career while at the United States Military Academy. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9404E4DF1239F937A25752C1A965948260&scp=1&sq=%22John+Roosma%22 "Col. John Roosma Dead at 83; Basketball Star at West Point"] , "The New York Times", November 14, 1983. Accessed January 11, 2008.]
*Alan Rosenberg (born 1951), Emmy Award-winning actor and activist, Donald Fagen's cousin
*Paul Rudd (born 1969), actor.Fact|date=July 2008
*Bob Russell (1914-1970), Hall of Fame songwriter
*Bob Russell (1908-1998), entertainer. [Thomas, Robert McG. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE7DF113AF931A35751C0A96E958260 "Bob Russell, Entertainer, Is Dead at 90"] , "The New York Times", February 2, 1998. Accessed October 20, 2007. "A native of Passaic, N.J., Mr. Russell, whose father was a Russian-born baker, lived in Schenectady, N.Y., before moving to Manhattan at 9, catching the opera bug and changing his name from Roltner to Russell."]
*Sherwood Schwartz (born 1916), TV producer [imdb name|id=0777442|name=Sherwood Schwartz]
*Víctor Santos (born 1976), Cincinnati Reds pitcher
*The Shirelles, musicians
*Robert Smithson (1938-1973), artist
*Larry Storch (born 1923), actor
*Tyronne Stowe (born 1965), former NFL linebacker. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=STOWETYR01 Tyronne Stowe Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards] , databaseFootball.com. Accessed February 19, 2008.]
*Marcia Strassman (born 1948), actress, grew up in Passaic, across the street from Alan Rosenberg.
*Michael Stroka (born 1938), actor
*Loretta Swit (born 1937), actress.Kaufman, Gail. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22388138.html "PASSAIC -- KIDS FIND TALENT IN THEIR OWN BACK YARD NEW BOOK LAUDS CITY'S ACHIEVERS"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", February 11, 1997. Accessed May 12, 2007. "What do Anthony Mason, Loretta Swit, and Joe Piscopo have in common? Beside being nationally known, they hold the city of Passaic as part of their past."]
*Danny Szetela (born 1987), Major League Soccer player
*Dave Szott (born 1967), National Football League player and coach
*Franklin Stuart Van Antwerpen (born 1941), judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. [ [http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=2437 Van Antwerpen, Franklin Stuart] , Federal Judicial Center. Accessed June 2, 2008.]
*Jack Tatum (1948-), football player. [ [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzNzYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcxMDYxODQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMg= "Darryl Stingley, 55, dies"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", April 6, 2007. Accessed May 12, 2007. "He was only 26 when he clashed head-on with Passaic's Jack Tatum of the Raiders during an exhibition at the Oakland Coliseum as they leaped for a pass."]
*Dick Vitale (born 1939), sportscaster. [ [http://www.hoophall.com/news/finalists_2004.htm DREXLER, CALHOUN AND WOODARD HIGHLIGHT 16 FINALISTS FOR NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME] , Basketball Hall of Fame press release dated February 15, 2004. "DICK VITALE, a native of Passaic, NJ., has been synonymous with college basketball for more than 20 years as the lead color announcer for ESPN."]
*Perry Williams (born 1961), former cornerback for the New York Giants. [Sturken, Barbara. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0D81230F932A05750C0A967958260 "Off the Field, Giants Call New Jersey Home"] , "The New York Times", March 31, 1991. Accessed February 5, 2008.]
*Darrin Winston (1966-2008), Major League Baseball player who played two seasons in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies. [Staff. [http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808170376 "DARRIN A. WINSTON, 42, of Clarksburg in MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP"] , "Asbury Park Press", August 17, 2008. Accessed September 4, 2008. "DARRIN A. WINSTON, 42, of Clarksburg in MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP, passed away Friday, Aug. 15, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Passaic, he lived in Edison before moving to Millstone Township 10 years ago."]
*Saul Zaentz (born 1921), film producer. [Narvaez, Alfonso A. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B13FA3C5A167493C3A9178ED85F428785F9 "Oscar Winners Return For Passaic Festivities"] , "The New York Times", May 1, 1976. Accessed June 2, 2008. "Porky Zaentz and Beansie Lieberman came home today, and Mayor Gerald Goldman, members of the City Council and 200 others gathered on the steps of City Hall to honor the two local boys who had made good."]
*Michael Zager (born 1943), musician and producer
*Frankie Zak (1922-1972) Major League Baseball player, Pittsburgh Pirates

Popular culture references

*In the 1960s television sitcom "F Troop", the character, Cpl. Randolph Agarn (played by Larry Storch), hails from Passaic, Storch's home town. The city is occasionally mentioned - and featured - in episodes.
*The short-lived Ellen Travolta sitcom "Makin' It" was set in Passaic, although, at the time of the disco-themed show, the city actually had little disco culture of its own. Ms. Travolta had an occasional role in Welcome Back Kotter, which starred Ms. Strassman as Mrs. Kotter.
*Numerous music groups have performed at the Loop Lounge on Broadway. Performers have included: Faith No More. Dead Milkmen, They Might Be Giants, APB, Gang of Four, My Chemical Romance, and The Smithereens.
*The city's name was mentioned in "Raging Cory," an episode of Boy Meets World.
*Several scenes of "Be Kind, Rewind" starring Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Jack Black, Mos Def, and Sigourney Weaver were filmed in Passaic, the film's setting.
*On February 24, 1973, Passaic's Capitol Theatre was the site of the final live show by American rock 'n' roll band The Byrds.
*In the 1920s, the Passaic High School basketball team, led by coach Ernest Blood, won 159 consecutive games, earning the nickname "Wonder Team".
*The title character of the series "Sledge Hammer!" was said to be born in Passaic.
*One of the mock Bialystock and Bloom musicals in "The Producers" was called "South Passaic".
*Passaic is mentioned in the HBO series "Flight of the Conchords" when the band goes on a warm-up tour by playing a club in Passaic and damaging the club's amplifier.
*In the episode "Total Re-Carl" from "Aqua Teen Hunger Force", Frylock sends away for organs to help re-build Carl's body from the "Passaic Organ Bank".
*Burt ("BS") Levy's series of novels starting with "The Last Open Road" features a young Italian-American mechanic from Passaic who becomes involved in the American sports car racing scene in the 1950s.
*The original release of The Sims included an exterior wallpaper called "Passaic Aluminum Siding". [http://guides.ign.com/guides/11754/page_2.html]

References

External links

* [http://www.cityofpassaic.com Passaic City official website]
* [http://www.passaicuez.com Passaic Urban Enterprise Zone merchant directory]
* [http://www.passaic-city.k12.nj.us/ Passaic City School District]
*NJReportCard|31|3970|0|Passaic City School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3412540 Data for the Passaic City School District] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://thelooplounge.com The Loop Lounge]
* [http://passaicjews.com Message Group relating to the Passaic Jewish community]