Source for years 1959 and 1987: Moss, M.L. (1988) "New York vs. New Jersey: A New Perspective", Portfolio, Summer. Source for year 2000: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Distribution of General Cargo Operations, Port of New York, 1959, 1987 and 2000

The above figure depicts a classic example of port terminal expansion and relocation. Most, if not all, port activities were thus disconnected from the traditional urban core (Manhattan and Brooklyn) and relocated towards peripheral settings (New Jersey and Staten Island) having available land and higher accessibility to rail and interstate road infrastructures.