Hammonton, New Jersey

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Map of Hammonton in Atlantic County
Map of Hammonton in Atlantic County

Hammonton is a town in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 12,604. Located directly between Philadelphia and the resort town of Atlantic City, along the Pennsylvania Railroad, it acts as its own microeconomic center, with more jobs than available workers in the community.

Hammonton was incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1866, from portions of Hamilton Township and Mullica Township.[1]

Contents

[edit] Geography

Hammonton is located at 39°38′28″N, 74°47′10″W (39.641181, -74.786162)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 107.4 km² (41.5 mi²). 106.9 km² (41.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.51%) is water.

Hammonton borders the Borough of Folsom, to the southwest, and both Hamilton and Mullica townships to the southeast. It also borders Camden County to the northwest, and Burlington County to the north east. It is located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, so is largely flat, though the highest point in Atlantic County is located along the Pennsylvania Railroad within the borders of Hammonton. Due to its proximity to the Pine Barrens, the soil is largely sandy, making it ideal for growing blueberries. Low, marshy areas, often within the Pine Barrens are also used for cranberry cultivation.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1930 7,656
–
1940 7,668 0.2%
1950 8,411 9.7%
1960 9,854 17.2%
1970 11,464 16.3%
1980 12,298 7.3%
1990 12,208 -0.7%
2000 12,604 3.2%
Est. 2005 13,585 [2] 7.8%
Population 1930 - 1990[3]

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 12,604 people, 4,619 households, and 3,270 families residing in the town. The population density was 117.9/km² (305.5/mi²). There were 4,843 housing units at an average density of 45.3/km² (117.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.85% White, 1.74% African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 7.83% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.88% of the population.

There were 4,619 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,137, and the median income for a family was $52,205. Males had a median income of $36,219 versus $27,900 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,889. About 5.7% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

The Mayor of Hammonton is John DiDonato. Members of the Hammonton Town Council are Deputy Mayor Ed Wuillermin, James Bertino, Rock Colasurdo, Anthony Marino, Christine Massarelli and Jerry Vitalo.[4]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Hammonton is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 9th Legislative District.[5].

New Jersey's Second Congressional District, covering all of Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County and Salem County and portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Vineland). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 9th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Leonard T. Connors (R, Forked River) and in the Assembly by Christopher J. Connors (R, Forked River) and Brian E. Rumpf (R, Forked River). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).

Atlantic County's County Executive is Dennis Levinson. The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders, administers all county business. Atlantic County's Freeholders are Francis Sutton, James Curcio, Frank Finnerty (Freeholder Vice Chairman), Alisa Cooper, Joe Kelly, Rev. Lawton Nelson, Thomas Russo, Sue Schilling and Joseph F. Silipena (Freeholder Chairman).

[edit] Education

Students in Kindergarten through 12th grade attend the Hammonton Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2003-04 National Center for Education Statistics enrollment data) are the Early Childhood Education Center with 480 students in pre-K through first grade, Warren E. Sooy Elementary School with 880 students in grades 2 - 6, Hammonton Middle School with 647 students in grades 7 and 8, and Hammonton High School with an enrollment of 1,236 students in grades 9 - 12. Hammonton High School has produced several winning sports and academic programs.

Students from Folsom Borough and Waterford Township attend Hammonton High School as part of sending/receiving relationships.

Hammonton is also the home of the parochial Saint Joseph Grade School and St. Joseph High School. St. Joe's is supported by many residents of the Roman Catholic community and is the learning center for students from across southern New Jersey. St. Joseph High School enjoys a rich athletic tradition.

[edit] Facts about Hammonton

  • Ronald Reagan visited Hammonton during his 1984 re-election campaign. Reagan's speech highlighted Hammonton's status as "Blueberry Capital of the World" and then extolled the virtues of New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen.
  • According to census data, Hammonton has the second highest per capita population of Italian Americans (45.9% of residents) in United States for a city with a population over 10,000. Johnston, Rhode Island leads the nation at 46.7%.[6]. News reports have said Hammonton leads the nation in Italian-Americans per capita[7].
  • Hammonton is the only municipality in southern New Jersey with a town form of government.
  • Andrew Rider, founder of Rider University lived in Parkdale, on the Hammonton border, and built a school there.
  • Hammonton has one acute care facility, William B. Kessler Memorial Hospital [1] and a 240-bed long term care nursing home, Innova Health and Rehab at Hammonton (formerly Greenbriar).
  • In 1949, Hammonton was the winner of the Little League World Series.

[edit] Transportation

Atlantic City Expressway, U.S. Route 30, U.S. Route 206 and Route 54 all pass through Hammonton, as do County Route 536, County Route 542, County Route 559 and County Route 561.

The Hammonton station on the Atlantic City Line of New Jersey Transit, provides passenger rail service to the Atlantic City Rail Terminal in Atlantic City, 30th Street Station in Philadelphia and intermediate points.

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] References

  1. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 69.
  2. ^ Census data for Hammmonton, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007
  3. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, accessed March 1, 2007
  4. ^ Hammonton 2007 Mayor & Council, accessed March 1, 2007
  5. ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 58, accessed August 30, 2006
  6. ^ Italian Communities. Retrieved on April 18, 2006.
  7. ^ Hammonton, N.J., Leads Nation In Per-Capita Italians: South Jersey Town Known As Blueberry Capital Of The World, NBC10, June 5, 2002. Source shows 54% of population is of Italian ancestry, but provides no primary source for data.

[edit] External Links

[edit] Local Media

  • The Hammonton Gazette - Weekly local newspaper. The print edition is published on Wednesdays. Website updated weekly with selected content from print edition.
  • The Hammonton News - Weekly local newspaper. The print edition is published on Wednesdays. Website updated Wednesday mornings, with full stories from paper edition.


[edit] Map Links

This box: view • talk • edit
Municipalities of Atlantic County, New Jersey
(County seat: Mays Landing)
Boroughs Buena | Folsom | Longport |
Cities Absecon | Atlantic City | Brigantine | Corbin City | Egg Harbor City | Estell Manor | Linwood | Margate City | Northfield | Pleasantville | Port Republic | Somers Point | Ventnor City
Town Hammonton
Townships Buena Vista | Egg Harbor | Galloway | Hamilton | Mullica | Weymouth
CDPs and other communities Collings Lakes | Elwood-Magnolia | Mays Landing | Pomona | Richland | Smithville
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