Neighborhoods in Perth Amboy, New Jersey facts for kids

Perth Amboy, New Jersey is a city located where the Raritan River meets the Arthur Kill and Raritan Bay. It's part of an area called the Raritan Bayshore.

Exploring Perth Amboy's Neighborhoods

Perth Amboy has many different neighborhoods, each with its own unique feel and history. Let's take a look at some of them!

The Historic Waterfront

Perth Amboy's waterfront is a special place with a long history. It's where the city first began! This area has been updated and now offers lots to see and do. You can find two small museums, an art gallery, a yacht club, and a marina here.

There's also a park with a small stage called a bandshell. In the summer, you can enjoy "Concerts by the Bay" on Sunday afternoons. The waterfront also has a lovely redbrick walkway and many beautiful old Victorian homes. Some of these homes are on hills, looking out over the bay. You can also find some great seafood restaurants here.

Important spots on the waterfront include St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and the Proprietary House. The Proprietary House used to be the governor's home and now has a museum. Kearny Cottage, another historic building, also has a museum.

Waterfront West: A Lively Community

West of Kearny Avenue, you'll find the western part of the waterfront. This neighborhood is mostly home to Hispanic families. Many of the houses here are over 100 years old, and some are charming row houses.

Sadowski Parkway Park runs along the southern edge of this area. It has a walkway and a beach, though the beach isn't used for swimming anymore. This park is a popular spot for festivals, like the Dominican festival, during the summer months.

Downtown Perth Amboy: The Main Street

Downtown Perth Amboy is the city's main shopping area, centered around Smith Street. This area is part of an "Urban Enterprise Zone," which means sales tax is lower here (3.5% instead of 7%). This extra money helps make Smith Street look nice with new trees, old-fashioned streetlights, benches, and redbrick sidewalks.

Smith Street is a busy shopping area, about seven blocks long, with many stores that serve local families. Most buildings are two or three stories tall. There's also a tall, 10-story bank building called Amboy Towers at a busy intersection known as the Five Corners. While there used to be several big department stores downtown, today the largest is a discount store called Bargain Man.

The Gateway Neighborhood: A Welcoming Spot

The Gateway neighborhood is in the southwest part of Perth Amboy, west of the train tracks. It's called "Gateway" because it's a main entrance to the city (from Route 35 and Smith Street). It's also a place where many new immigrants to Perth Amboy first settle.

This area used to be called Dublin because many Irish families lived there. Now, it's very diverse. While there's still an Eastern European influence (like Sipo's Bakery and Joe's Meat Market), the neighborhood is mostly Latino. You can find Jamaican and Portuguese restaurants, but the main groups are Dominicans, Mexicans, and Peruvians.

The Barber Section: Home to Festivals

The Barber Section is a neighborhood centered on Hall Avenue, east of the train tracks. It's bordered by Sewaren to the north and Lehigh Valley RR to the south. The water is to the east, and the NJ Transit RR is to the west. This area includes Harbortown Terrace, a housing development near the Arthur Kill.

This neighborhood has long been home to many Puerto Rican families. It hosts the three-day Puerto Rican festival in Rudyk Park. This festival happens on the same Sunday as the famous Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. Besides Puerto Ricans, you'll also find Dominican and Mexican families living here.

State Street: A Changing Area

State Street is a neighborhood east of the NJ Transit train tracks, north of Fayette Street, and south of Harbortown. Like other parts of Perth Amboy, it's mostly a working-class Hispanic neighborhood. This area used to have many factories, but most have moved away.

The neighborhood is mainly Caribbean Hispanic. It once had a noticeable Cuban community. An apartment complex called State and Fayette Gardens was even known as "The Cuban Buildings" at one point. A new housing project called The Landings at Harborside is being built in this neighborhood.

Amboy Avenue: The Hospital and High School Area

Amboy Avenue is a neighborhood that feels a bit like the suburbs, home to working and middle-class families. It's often called the "Hospital section" or the "High School section" because these important places are located here. While it's mostly Hispanic today, Amboy Avenue used to have a strong Italian population.

Budapest: A Diverse and Industrial Area

As its name suggests, Budapest was once a Hungarian neighborhood. Today, it's a very diverse area with many Latino families, as well as Portuguese, African American, and Eastern European residents. It's mainly a working to middle-class neighborhood in the northern part of Route 440. This area has many industrial sites, including oil refineries. Like Amboy Avenue, it has a somewhat suburban feel.

Chickentown: Home to Washington Park

Chickentown is a neighborhood in the western part of Route 35, south of Spa Springs and just south of Route 440. It shares some similarities with Spa Springs. The city's largest park, Washington Park, is located here.

Spa Springs: A Quiet and Wealthy Spot

Spa Springs, located in the northwestern part of the city, is one of Perth Amboy's most attractive and middle-class areas. The people living here tend to be older. Spa Springs is also the wealthiest neighborhood in town and feels the most suburban, with many single-family houses and garages.

Goat Hill: A Neighborhood from the Past

Goat Hill was a small neighborhood in Perth Amboy, close to the waterfront and just north of Hartford Street. This name was most popular between the 1890s and 1950s.