Paterson

Paterson (pop. 137,970), city in northeastern New Jersey, seat of Passaic County. Founded in 1791 at the falls of the Passaic River, Paterson was the site of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures, an industrialization program initiated by Alexander Hamilton to build an independent American manufacturing industry. The small settlement soon became an industrial city, specializing in silk manufacture during the 19th century. Locomotives and Colt revolvers were also made there. Today the city is a major producer of textiles, machinery, and plastics.

See also: New Jersey.