Clifton, city, Passaic County, northeastern New Jersey, on the Passaic River; settled 1685, incorporated 1917. It is an industrial center located near New York City; products include textiles, steel, electronic equipment, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The community grew rapidly in the late 1940s and '50s. Its name is derived from the cliffs of Garret Mountain, on its western boundary. Population 74,388 (1980); 71,742 (1990); 78,672 (2000).
