The Lenape Tribes (later referred to as the Delaware Indians) originally lived on the land that is now Jersey City. Henry Hudson, the English sea explorer, arrived in 1609 on one of his exploratory missions, meeting and greeting the locals. Then a little historical see-sawing took place. In 1630, Michael Pauw, who was the mayor of Amsterdam at the time as well as being a director of the Dutch West India Company, purchased it from Delaware. By 1660, a permanent settlement had been established. In 1664, the English arrived and renamed it New York after the Duke of York. For most of the 19th and 20th centuries, Jersey City was an import destination via its docks, and quickly became a major transportation center and important manufacturing town. It shared transportation communication facilities with New York City as the docks expanded and the railroads were integrated into the transportation mix. And like New York City, Jersey City has very much been a journey's end for new immigrants coming to live in the United States. Many high-rise buildings were quickly built, with those by the waterfront being among the tallest in the city. Known as "Wall Street West,'' the Exchange Place financial district has become one of the largest financial centers in the United States. Large financial institutions such as Chase Bank, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and UBS can all be found on the Jersey City waterfront.

If you do buy a house in Jersey City, take note that the state has more diners and shopping malls than any other in the US. If you can’t find what you want in the six malls close to Jersey City, you can go further afar and try one of the other 50 malls, outlet and shopping centers and the multitude of retail centers in the county. If you can’t get what you want in Jersey City, you probably just can’t get it!

For those with a love for food from around the world, both the waterfront in Jersey City and downtown Jersey City are the go-to places to visit. From local American, to Caribbean, and South American to Asian and Mediterranean, whatever cuisine is your particular favorite, you should be able to find it.

Jersey City is also very switched onto visual arts, and the Mural Arts Program encourages street artists with the New Jersey community supporting them.

When you’re in Jersey City, you may also want to find a little green space. Luckily, this city offers the beautiful Lincoln Park. With nearly 275 acres of natural beauty, this park has been offering a respite from city life since 1905. This space features a wide variety of athletic fields and facilities, children’s play areas, historical monuments, beautiful trails, and even public Wi-Fi access. You also have the option of visiting Ellis Island, which is a popular attraction visited by people at Liberty State Park. To keep these areas looking their best, the city is often performing renovations on different parts of these beloved parks.

The restored historic White Eagle Hall in Downtown Jersey City is worth keeping in mind. It hosts some major musical acts in its 800-seat theater which is undeniably more personal than the usual large arena spaces.