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The recent census data shows that the Hispanic population shrunk between 2000-2010 while the African American and Asian (Arab) population grew.
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Nexis, that's NOT what the Census Bureau states. If you look it up on wikipedia's website (they get it right from the Census Bureau)
Passaic, New Jersey - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia you will see that the percentage of Hispanics from 2000 to 2010 increased from 62.46% to 71.02%. Also, the African-American population DECLINED In Passaic to 10.64% of the population. This is down from almost 14% in 2000. Nexis, where did you get your information from?
However, the time that Passaic began to decline, the 1960's, is about accurate. You (Nexis) do have a point that the suburbanization of America had something to do with the decline of Passaic. However, it was also partially due to the decline in manufacturing jobs over the years and the growth of large shopping malls in suburban municipalities.
My grandfather grew up there in the 1930's. He told me it was kinda nice, though always blue-collar. The part that he grew up on, east of downtown near the river was described as full of tenements and recent arrivals from Eastern Europe (according to the 1930's WPA literature). However, slightly run-down it was in those days must not compare too well with how terrible it looks now. I drove down one street looking for the old house that he grew up in. Not only was it not there...NOTHING seemed to be there. I looked around for numbers on the buildings and street names when someone walked right up to my car and knocked on the window! Scared the you-know-what out of me and I never drove down that way again.
Anyway, so there is a new mall going up on Market and Passaic streets??? Do you have any additional information on that proposal? I am very curious to hear more!
As for Passaic Park, the southwestern corner of the city, it seemed OK. It did not look too different from Clifton. I did notice a large Jewish community remaining in the area. It was downtown and especially the area to the east that was pretty terrible.
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