Jersey City Overview

Jersey City is located in Hudson County with your NYC car rental and is directly across from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It is the second largest city in the state, after Newark. It is a commercial, industrial, and manufacturing center for the state and the New York Metropolitan area. Sometimes, it is informally referred to as the sixth borough of New York City.

Jersey City history

Jersey City was once wilderness inhabited by the Lenape, a collection of tribes. In 1609, Henry Hudson was seeking an alternative route to East Asia when he landed at Sandy Hook and other areas along the North River. When he returned to the Netherlands, they sent out a company to set up a Dutch province in the area. When you visit with your NYC car rental, you may learn more about the history of the area. The area moved to British hands when they controlled the New York area. Some of the oldest surviving houses in the area are from 1742. During the American Revolution, the area was controlled by the British. After the war, it moved back to American hands. For a long time, Jersey City was a landing area for new immigrants. In the 1970s, there was some urban decay in the area, but in the 1980s, things started to turn around. Today, the city is thriving.

Exploring the city

When you are here with your NYC car rental, the best thing to do is explore the city! There are ten districts that make up Jersey City: Greenville, West Side, Journal Square, The Heights, Historic Downtown, The Waterfront, the Hackensack Riverfront, McGinley Square, Liberty State Park, and Bergen/Lafayette. Each areas is also made up of smaller neighborhoods, and each has its own aesthetic and style.

Getting down downtown

Downtown Jersey City is a good place to start with your NYC car rental. It is the area from the Hudson Rive to the Newark Bay Extension of the I-78 and the New Jersey Palisades. Newport and Exchange Place are redeveloped waterfront areas that are commercial in nature. Newport is also home to Newport Centre Mall, a large mall complex. There are some historic neighborhoods around here as well. Hamilton Park and Van Vorst Park are brownstone neighborhoods. They are beautiful to look at. Paulus Hook is a historic zone of the city.

Journal Square

Journal Square is another place to visit with your NYC car rental. It is a mixed use neighborhood where the Jersey Journal is located. This is where you will find Loews Jersey Theater, a historic movie palace that still shows films. There is also Stanley Theater, which you can tour during the week.

Liberty State Park

Liberty State Park is another must-see area of Jersey City with your NYC car rental. This is home to Central Railroad of New Jersey, the Interpretive Center, and Liberty Science Center. The park itself is a great place to explore to get great views of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The Liberty Science Center is a great place to visit with kids because they really bring science to life here. The have a number of exhibits that range from the body, to the food chain, to modern marvels. They encourage developing a love for science, and also provide a lot of entertainment their IMAX theater, 3D movies, and live science shows.

When you visit Jersey City with your NYC car rental, you will find that there are so many exciting things to do here. There are museums dedicated to the history and culture of the area, museums that will develop a love of science, places dedicated to the history of the area (Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty), and so much more.

Check out the Brooklyn car rental All Car Rent a Car location at 333 Adams St., Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hotels in Jersey City