Union City in Hudson County N.J. has the distinction of being the most densely populated city in the U.S. and also has the second highest Cuban population after Miami FL. The two nicknames for the city - being "The Embroidery Capital of the United States" and "Havana on the Hudson" - are apt summaries of much of the city history. Early settlers from Eastern Europe, particularly Germany, along with Dutch, Swiss and Austrian immigrants,founded the European-style lace making industries for which they were famous in their home countries. Ultimately, the Schiffli lace machines made Union City famous for the lace and embroidery industry here. Many of the factories have since closed but lace is still made in this area. During the 60's with the turmoil in Cuba, many Cubans fled their country and settled in Union City partly due to the prospects of work in the industry. Over the years, as that immigration continued, as well as influx from other South American countries, the 'essense' of Union City has changed dramatically. What is less well known about the city, is the history of the churches, particularly those of the Roman Catholic faith. My intent is to explore some of the historical landmarks of Union City and include photographs of the architecture in this gallery. The first images posted are of Saint Michael the Archangel Monastery, now known as the Hudson Presbyterian Church. Here is a link to information about the history of the monastery: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_and_Church_of_Saint_Michael_the_Archangel. I hope in the coming months to add many more photos of the historical buildings in this city. Here is a link to one of the very interesting historical timeline of one of the founding embroidery companies in the area: http://www.conrad-industries.com/history.php