Journal Square (Ward C)
Journal Square is a business district, residential area, and transportation hub in Jersey City. The name originated from the Jersey Journal newspaper, whose headquarters was located there from 1911 to 2013. Although it has a hustle-and-bustle vibe today, back in the 1600’s, Journal Square was covered in farmhouses and manors built by the Bergen settlers. As far as transportation goes, the Jersey Central, Pennsylvania, Erie, and Lackawanna railroads all made one of their first stops in Journal Square.
For most of the twentieth century, Journal Square was the cultural entertainment center of Hudson County. It was home to the movie palaces: The State (1922- since demolished), the Stanley Theater (1928), and the Loew’s Jersey Theater (1929). The New York Daily News described Journal Square from the 1920’s to the 1960’s as “A crown jewel”. A glowing commercial, entertainment, and transportation hub of the city.”
The Journal Square Transportation Center, opened between 1973-1975, and includes the bus station, Journal Square PATH, and PATH headquarters. The Hudson County Community College campus is scattered throughout the district, and just a few blocks to the south are the Saint Peter’s University, Hudson Catholic Regional High School, and the Jersey City Armory. A collection of shops operated by two of the city’s largest ethnic groups–Filipino and Indian-American–can be found along Newark Avenue and near India Square to the north.
The neighborhoods in Journal Square are Bergen Square, Five Corners, The Hilltop, India Square, The Island, Marion, and McGinley Square.
