Demographics of the City of Port Jervis

 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS & POPULATION

Based on the 2000 U.S. Census Data, population of the City of Port Jervis is 8,860.  A breakdown of ages of city residents in 2000 shows:

                  AGE        % OF POPULATION

                  under 18             27.8%

                  18-64                  57.0%

                  65 +                    15.2%

  The Summary of Social Population Characteristics, which follows, shows a very stable residency, 78% of whom were born in New York State and only 39% living in a different housing unit in 1985, five years earlier. The population has few foreign-born residents (3%) with 7% speaking a language other than English at home.  

     SUMMARY OF SOCIAL POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

Foreign born residents:                                                      3.0%

Residents born in New York State:                                   78.4%

Residents living in different house, 1985:                        43.0%

Residents who speak a language other than English:    6.7%

Families with children under 18 years:                             53%

Minority population:                                                            11.9%

 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

The following is a summary of income statistics generated from the 2000 U.S. Census:

                              MEDIAN INCOMES IN 2000

                              Household:           $30,241

                              Family:                  $35,481

                              Per Capita Income: $16,525

 % OF MEDIAN FAMILY INCOMES IN 2000

$10,000-           $15,000-          $25,000-          $50,000-      Over       

$14,999           $24,999           $49,999           $99,999     $100K      

     7.9%             19%              29.1%               31%         7.6%

 EMPLOYMENT

Historically, the city's workforce was heavily dependent on the rail industry for its employment until cutbacks in rail operations reduced jobs and resulted in the closing of other businesses connected with the railroad. 

During the last 50 years, manufacturing and light industry has slowly replaced the rail transportation industry as the economic lifeblood and primary employment in the Port Jervis community; 10 companies and 1,500 jobs.  Furthermore, the highest private employment gains in Port Jervis are reflected in the services sector, a 41% increase between 1970 and 1990.  According to a report issued by the New York State Bureau of Statistics, employment trends from 1996 to the year 2006 reveal that 70% of new job growth and nearly 9 out of 10 new jobs created will be in the services sector, specifically business services which will experience the highest growth rate at 46%.

The following indicates employment in the city of Port Jervis, by sector, for the years 1970, 1980 and 1990:

TOTAL EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR:      1970-1990

                                                  1970        1980        1990

Total Employment (Persons 16+ Years)     3526        3436        3860

 Construction:                                          202         161         308

Manufacturing:                                       1241        1052        1027

Transportation, Communications,

      Utilities & Sanitary Services:                362         289         297

Wholesale & Retail:                                    743         668         688

Services:                                                   634        1117       1081

Public Administration:                                145          127        230

Other Industries:                                        199         134          229