Paterson was defined by the waterfall near which it was located, just as the river and previous glaciers had defined and refined the land of northern New Jersey. As the first planned industrial city in America, Paterson was once known as the "Silk City" due to the thriving textile manufacturing businesses powered by the falls. While the silk and cotton mill businesses eventually declined, Paterson has redefined itself as a regional service center and has maintained the historical thread of the industry that made Paterson part of the early fabric of the United States.