Day 48: Koreatown, Palisades Park, New Jersey
📌APIA Every Day (48) - Palisades Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, often referred to as "Koreatown" or "Little Korea in America," emerged as a prominent ethnic Korean enclave during the significant influx of immigrants in the 1990s. Drawn by the area's safety, reputable schools, and convenient proximity to the George Washington Bridge for city commuting, a pattern of Koreans moving from NYC to Bergen County developed. Palisades Park now boasts the highest concentration of Korean populations in America, with 52% of the borough comprising Koreans. It has become a central hub of Korean American culture, featuring diverse businesses, community centers, schools, and hosting national martial arts tournaments. It serves as more than just a Korean hotspot; it also acts as a showcase for significant moments in Korean history through monuments commemorating World War II's comfort women and the tragic sinking of the Sewol Ferry in 2014.
Besides Koreans, there is also a significant Latin and Central American population, specifically Guatemalan. When the White exodus, the large-scale migration of White people from areas becoming more racially/ethnically diverse, occurred in the 90s and 2000s, Guatemalans migrated to the borough for labor opportunities. The residence of both immigrant groups in Palisades Park has been beneficial, with Guatemalans finding employment in the area and Korean businesses establishing a steady income. However, there are rising tensions between the two linked to gentrification issues.
Koreatown has become a comfort to the Korean American community in New Jersey, and while there are intricate nuances to understand about this ethnic enclave and surrounding immigrant residents, Palisades Park plays a vital role in building a Korean presence often overlooked in America.
LEARN MORE:
New York Times: As Koreans Pour In, a Town Is Remade
New York Post: New Jersey’s Little-Known Koreatown is Better Than NYC’s
NJ: As Korean Population Grows, Palisades Park Learns the Language
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