Camden, New Jersey

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City of Camden, New Jersey
Motto: In A Dream, I See A City Invincible
Map of Camden in Camden County
Map of Camden in Camden County
Coordinates: 39°56′14″N 74°06′22″W / 39.93722, -74.10611
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Camden
Settled 1626
Incorporated February 13, 1828
Government
 - Type Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
 - Mayor Gwendolyn Faison
Area
 - Total 10.4 sq mi (26.9 km²)
 - Land 8.8 sq mi (22.8 km²)
 - Water 1.6 sq mi (4.0 km²)  15.03%
Elevation [1] 20 ft (6 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 79,318
 - Density 9,057.0/sq mi (3,497.9/km²)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 08102-08110
Area code(s) 856
FIPS code 34-10000[3]
GNIS feature ID 0875105[4]
Website: http://www.ci.camden.nj.us/

The City of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. It is located just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 79,904.

Camden was originally incorporated as a city on February 13, 1828, from portions of the now-defunct Newton Township, while the area was still part of Gloucester County. On March 13, 1844, Camden became part of the newly formed Camden County.[5]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early history

Fort Nassau (located within the present boundaries of nearby Gloucester City, New Jersey), was built by the Dutch West India Company in 1626, and was the first European attempt to settle the area now occupied by Camden. Initial European activity in the vicinity of present day Camden occurred along the banks of the Delaware River where the Dutch and the Swedish vied for control of the local fur trade. Europeans continued to settle in and improve the area during the seventeenth century. Much of the growth directly resulted from the success of another Quaker colony across the Delaware River known as Philadelphia, which was founded in 1682 and soon had enough population to attract a brisk trade from West Jersey and Camden. To accommodate the trade across the river, a string of ferries began operation.[6]

[edit] 1800s onward

For over 150 years, Camden served as a secondary economic and transportation hub for the Philadelphia area. But that status began to change in the early 1800s. One of the United States' first railroads, the Camden and Amboy Railroad, was chartered in Camden in 1830. The Camden and Amboy Railroad allowed travelers to travel between New York City and Philadelphia via ferry terminals in South Amboy, New Jersey and Camden. The railroad terminated on the Camden waterfront, and passengers were ferried across the Delaware River to their final Philadelphia destination. The Camden and Amboy Railroad opened in 1834 and helped to spur an increase in population and commerce in Camden.[7]

Originally a suburban town with ferry service to Philadelphia, Camden evolved into its own city, as industry and neighborhoods grew. Camden prospered during strong periods of manufacturing demand and faced distress during periods of economic dislocation.[8]

Like most American cities, Camden suffered from decline in the 20th Century as the manufacturing base and many residents moved out to other locations. Currently, government, education, and health care are the three biggest employers in Camden; however, most employees commute to Camden and live in nearby suburbs such as Cherry Hill. Revitalization has occurred along the Camden Waterfront and in certain neighborhoods with access to Philadelphia.

[edit] Industrial history

From 1901 through 1929, Camden was headquarters of the Victor Talking Machine Company, and thereafter to its successor RCA Victor, the world's largest manufacturer of phonographs and phonograph records for the first two-thirds of the 20th century. RCA Victor contained one of the first commercial recording studios in the United States, where Enrico Caruso, among others, recorded. The General Electric Company acquired RCA in 1986.

In 1992, the State of New Jersey under the Florio Administration made an agreement with GE to ensure that GE would not close the Camden site. The state of New Jersey would build a new high tech facility on the site of the old Campbell Soup factory and trade these new buildings to GE for the existing old RCA-Victor Buildings. Later, the new high tech buildings would be sold to Martin Marietta. In 1994, Martin Marietta merged with Lockheed to become Lockheed Martin. In 1997, Lockheed Martin divested the Camden Plant as part of the birth of L-3 Communications.

The famous "Nipper Building" depicting RCA's famous "His Master's Voice" trademark in its tower windows has since been renovated into a luxury apartment building called "The Victor." Building 8 is set to be rehabilitated into luxury condominiums called "Radio Lofts." Both projects are the work of Dranoff Properties, a well known Philadelphia development corporation that has specialized in these types of constructions. Another older building, Victor Building No. 2, is used to this day to house the Camden City Board of Education.

From 1899 to 1967, Camden was the home of New York Shipbuilding Corporation, which at its World War II peak was the largest and most productive shipyard in the world. Notable naval vessels built at New York Ship include the ill-fated cruiser USS Indianapolis and the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. In 1962, the first commercial nuclear-powered ship, the NS Savannah, was launched in Camden.[9] The Fairview Village section of Camden (initially Yorkship Village) was a planned European-style garden village built by the Federal government during World War I to house New York Shipbuilding Corporation workers.

At Camden's peak, 10,000 workers were employed at RCA, while another 40,000 worked at New York Shipbuilding. RCA had 23 out of 25 of its factories inside Camden. Campbell Soup was also a major employer. By 1969, Camden had been losing jobs and residents for a quarter century due in large part to urban decay, highway construction, and racial tensions.

In Jefferson Cowie's "Capital Moves", Cowie refers to Camden City in the 1920s as the "Citadel of Republicanism". The decline of the Republican Party in Camden City overlapped the decline of Manufacturing.


Situated on the Delaware River, with access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Port of Camden handles breakbulk and bulk cargo. The port consists of two terminals: the Beckett Street Terminal and the Broadway Terminal (commonly known as the Port of Camden). The port receives hundreds of ships moving international and domestic cargo annually. [1]

In 2005, the Port of Camden was subject to an unresolved criminal investigation[10] and a state audit.[11]

In December 2006, Governor Jon S. Corzine speculated on moving port operations further south to allow the community greater access to the waterfront.[12]

[edit] High crime rate

Based on statistics reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Camden was the third-most dangerous city in the United States during 2002, and has been ranked the nation's most dangerous city in 2004 and 2005.[citation needed] "Most dangerous city" is based on crime statistics in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft.

City Councilman Ali Sloan-El, responding to 2004 news about the 2003 statistics, cites Camden's poverty as an important contributing factor to its high crime rate. The demographic data from the Census indicates about a third of the city's residents live below the poverty line.

However, in 2005, homicides in Camden dropped sharply, to 34 — fifteen fewer murders than were reported in 2004.[13] Though Camden's murder rate is still much higher than the national average, the reduction in 2005 was a drop of over thirty percent. Then in 2006, the numbers of murders climbed to 40. Murder rates are generally not static and change from year to year especially in smaller cities. The fact remains Camden is one of the most dangerous cities in the country.

Former mayor Milton Milan was infamous for his connections to organized crime. On June 15, 2001, Milan was sentenced to serve seven years in prison on 14 counts of corruption, including accepting mob payoffs and concealing a $65,000 loan from a drug kingpin.[14]

In 2004, Camden was declared "America's Most Dangerous City" by the Morgan Quitno Corporation,[15] up from third place in 2003 and topping the 354 cities studied. The city was named "Most Dangerous" again in 2005 out of 369 cities ranked nationwide,[16] with Detroit, Michigan and St. Louis, Missouri in second and third place respectively. In the 2006 survey, Camden dropped down to the fifth spot — behind St. Louis, Detroit, Flint, Michigan and Compton, California — out of 371 cities included nationwide in the 13th annual Morgan Quitno survey.[17]

Riverfront State Prison is located in Camden, immediately adjacent to Campbell's Field Baseball Park on the north side of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

[edit] Government

United States Courthouse.
United States Courthouse.

Camden has historically been a stronghold of the Democratic Party. Voter turnout is very low; approximately 19% of Camden's voting age population participated in the 2005 gubernatorial election.[18]

[edit] Local government

Since July 1, 1961, the City has operated under a Mayor-Council form of government.[19] Under this form of government, the City Council consisted of seven Council members originally all elected at-large. In 1994, the City opted to modify the form of government to better address the changing needs of the citizenry. To that end, the City of Camden was divided into four councilman districts, instead of electing the entire Council at-large. One Council member was elected from each of the four districts. In 1995, the election was changed from a partisan election to a non-partisan Municipal Election.

Gwendolyn Faison is the Mayor of Camden. She is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition,[20] a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Members of the City Council include:

  • Angel Fuentes - City Council President and Ward 4
  • Dana Redd - Vice President and Council Member At Large
  • Curtis Jenkins - Council Member At Large
  • Michael McGuire - Ward 1
  • Francisco "Frank" Moran - Ward 3
  • Gilbert "Whip" Wilson - Council Member At Large
  • Ali Sloan-El, Sr. - Ward 2 (resigned August 30, 2006).[21]

Although not publicly elected, George Norcross III is the current political boss for the Democratic Party of Camden County, New Jersey.

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Camden is in the First Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 5th Legislative District.[22]

New Jersey's First Congressional District, covering portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Rob Andrews (D, Haddon Heights). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 5th district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Dana Redd (D, Camden) and in the Assembly by Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D, Barrington) and Joseph J. Roberts (D, Camden).[23] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[24]

Camden County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected at-large for staggered three-year terms by the residents of the county.[25] As of 2008, Camden County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. (Collingswood, term ends December 31, 2008), Freeholder Deputy Director Edward McDonnell (Pennsauken Township, 2010), Riletta L. Cream (Camden, 2008), Rodney A. Greco (Gloucester Township, 2009), Jeffrey L. Nash (Cherry Hill Township, 2009), Joseph Ripa (Voorhees Township, 2009) and Carmen Rodriguez (Merchantville, 2010).[26]

[edit] Geography

Map of Camden County Highlighting Camden
Map of Camden County Highlighting Camden

Camden is located at 39°56'14" North, 75°6'22" West (39.937195, -75.106186)[27].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.9 km² (10.4 mi²). 22.8 km² (8.8 mi²) of it is land and 4.0 km² (1.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 15.03% water.

Camden borders Collingswood, Gloucester City, Haddon Township, Pennsauken, and Woodlynne. Just offshore of Camden is Pettys Island, which is officially part of Pennsauken Township.

Camden contains the U.S.'s first federally funded planned community, Yorkship Village (now called Fairview). The village was designed by Electus Darwin Litchfield, who was influenced by the "garden city" developments popular in England at the time.[28]

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1840 3,371
—
1850 9,479 181.2%
1860 14,358 51.5%
1870 20,045 39.6%
1880 41,659 107.8%
1890 58,313 40.0%
1900 75,935 30.2%
1910 94,538 24.5%
1920 116,309 23.0%
1930 118,700 2.1%
1940 117,536 -1.0%
1950 124,555 6.0%
1960 117,159 -5.9%
1970 102,551 -12.5%
1980 84,910 -17.2%
1990 87,492 3.0%
2000 79,318 -9.3%
Est. 2006 80,010 [2] 0.9%
historical data sources:[29][30][31]

As of the census[3] of 2000[32], there were 79,904 people, 24,177 households, and 17,431 families residing in the city. The population density was 9,057.0 people per square mile (3,497.9/km²). There were 29,769 housing units at an average density of 3,374.3 units per square mile (1,303.2/km²).

The racial makeup of the city was 53.35% Black or African American, 16.84% White, 2.45% Asian, 0.54% Native American, , 0.07% Pacific Islander, and 22.83% from other races. 3.92% of residents were from two or more races. 38.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.9% of the population is foreign-born. 7.1% of the population were Whites of non-Hispanic ancestry.

There were 24,177 households out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.1% were married couples living together, 37.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.12 and the average family size was 3.62.

In the city the population is quite young with 34.6% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The per capita income for the city was $9,815. 35.5% of the population and 32.8% of families were below the poverty line. 45.5% of those under the age of 18 and 23.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Based on 2006 data from the United States Census Bureau, 44% of the city's residents live in poverty, the highest rate in the nation. The city had a median household income of $18,007, the lowest of all U.S. communities with populations of more than 65,000 residents, making it America's poorest city.[33]

In 2000, 28.85% of Camden residents identified themselves as being of Puerto Rican heritage. This was the third highest proportion of Puerto Ricans in a municipality on the United States mainland, behind only Holyoke, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut, for all communities in which 1,000 or more people listed an ancestry group.[34]

An extensive repository of data on the City of Camden is available at http://www.camconnect.org, a local Camden-based data warehouse. The website includes information on health, housing, education, public safety, and municipal finances. Many public documents have been archived for easy access as well.

[edit] Transportation

New Jersey Transit's Walter Rand Transportation Center is located at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Broadway. Besides being a major hub for New Jersey Transit buses and Greyhound Lines, the Walter Rand Transportation Center is also a PATCO high-speed line and River Line light rail station.

The PATCO Speedline offers frequent train service to Philadelphia and the suburbs to the east in Camden County, with stations at City Hall, Broadway (Walter Rand Transportation Center) and Ferry Avenue.

New Jersey Transit's River Line offers frequent light rail service to towns along the Delaware north of Camden, and terminates in Trenton. Camden stations are 36th Street, Walter Read Transportation Center, Cooper Street-Rutgers University, Aquarium and Entertainment Center.

New Jersey Transit bus service is available to Philadelphia on the 313, 315, 317, and 318 and various 400 series lines, to Atlantic City is served by the 551 bus. Local service is offered on the 450, 451, 452, 453, and 457 lines.[35]

Interstate 676 runs through Camden to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge on the north side of the city.

[edit] Camden Waterfront

One of the most popular attractions of Camden is the city's waterfront, along the Delaware River. The waterfront is highlighted by its four main attractions, the USS New Jersey; the Susquehanna Bank Center; Campbell's Field; and the Adventure Aquarium.

The Adventure Aquarium was originally opened in 1992 as the New Jersey State Aquarium at Camden. In 2005 after extensive renovation the aquarium was reopened under the name Adventure Aquarium. The aquarium was one of the original centerpieces in Camden's plans for revitalizing their city.

The recently renamed Susquehanna Bank Center (formerly known as the Tweeter Center) is a 25,000 seat open air concert amphitheater that was opened in 1995. It is widely considered one of the best amphitheaters in the country for sound[citation needed], and is known for its extremely large lawn seating area, as well as its view of Center City, Philadelphia. It is also the most popular spot for touring artists to perform during the summertime in the Delaware Valley.

Campbell's Field, opened in 2001, is home the Camden Riversharks Minor League Baseball team, of the Atlantic League; and the Rutgers-Camden baseball team. The stadium is considered by many ballpark enthusiasts as having one of the best outfield views in all of baseball, as the entire Ben Franklin Bridge can be seen beyond its walls.

The USS New Jersey (BB-62) was a United States Navy battleship that was intermitently active between the years 1943 and 1991. After its retirement the ship was turned into a museum along the Waterfront that opened in 2001. The New Jersey saw action in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Other attractions at the Waterfront are the Wiggins Park Riverstage and Marina, One Port Center, The Victor Lofts, the Walt Whitman House, the Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, the Rutgers-Camden Center For The Arts and the Camden Children's Garden.

The Waterfront is also served by two modes of public transportation. New Jersey Transit services the Waterfront on its River Line, while people from Philadelphia can commute using the RiverLink Ferry, which connects the Waterfront with Old City Philadelphia.

[edit] Redevelopment

Camden had been passed over for redevelopment for many decades. The dawn of the 21st Century has brought new redevelopment plans. Campbell Soup Company has decided to go forward with a scaled down redevelopment of the area around its corporate headquarters in Camden, including an expanded corporate headquarters. The nearby Sears building was bought by a local developer, with plans for loft-style housing and commercial businesses. Cherokee Investment Partners had a grand plan to redevelop north Camden with 5,000 new homes and a shopping center on 450 acres. Cherokee dropped their plans in the face of local opposition and the slumping real estate market.

[edit] Education

Camden's public schools are operated by Camden City Public Schools. The district is one of 31 Abbott Districts The schools are the 3rd worst in the countrystatewide.[36]

Rutgers University and Rowan University, both of which are public universities, maintain campuses in downtown Camden. Additionally, the city is home to one of Camden County College's three campuses.

Camden is also home to Cooper University Hospital, which is nationally recognized as a leader in the area of trauma.

[edit] Sports

Club Sport League Venue Logo
Camden Riversharks Baseball Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Campbell's Field

[edit] Additional facts

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] Noted residents

Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman

Some noted current and former residents:

[edit] References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Camden, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 16, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Population Finder: Camden city, New Jersey. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-07-24. “The 2006 population estimate for Camden city, New Jersey is 79,318.”
  3. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 104.
  6. ^ Camden: Early Settlement, accessed February 7, 2007.
  7. ^ A Brief History of Camden County, accessed February 7, 2007.
  8. ^ Rutgers University Computing Services - Camden
  9. ^ Encarta Encyclopedia: Ship, accessed June 23, 2006.
  10. ^ Port Audit Decried As Political Attack, Red Orbit, September 8, 2005.
  11. ^ South Jersey Port Corporation: Office of the State Auditor, accessed December 30, 2006.
  12. ^ Corzine outlines his vision for rebirth of Camden, The Courier-Post, December 24, 2006.
  13. ^ Fewer Camden Murders in 2005, WPVI-TV, January 2, 2006.
  14. ^ Metro Briefing New Jersey: Camden: Milan Begins Sentence, The New York Times, July 16, 2001.
  15. ^ 11th Annual Safest/Most Dangerous Cities Survey: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall, accessed June 23, 2006.
  16. ^ 12th Annual Safest/Most Dangerous Cities Survey: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall, accessed June 23, 2006.
  17. ^ 13th Annual Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall, accessed October 30, 2006.
  18. ^ Voter Participation in Camden City: Gubernatorial Election, accessed June 23, 2006.
  19. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 28.
  20. ^ Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members.
  21. ^ Graham, Troy; Anastasia, George. "Sloan El, A.C. official plead guilty", The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2006-08-30. Retrieved on 2006-09-06. 
  22. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  23. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  24. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  25. ^ What is a Freeholder?, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  26. ^ Board of Freeholders, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed April 14, 2008.
  27. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  28. ^ A Place Called YORKSHIP - Electus Litchfield's Plan, accessed June 23, 2006.
  29. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990. Retrieved on 2007-03-03.
  30. ^ Campbell Gibson (June 1998). Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in The United States: 1790 TO 1990. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
  31. ^ Wm. C. Hunt, Chief Statistician for Population. Fourteenth Census of The United States: 1920; Population: New Jersey; Number of inhabitants, by counties and minor civil divisions (ZIP). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-03-21.
  32. ^ Camden (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
  33. ^ Camden poorest city in U.S., The Courier-Post, August 30, 2006.
  34. ^ Puerto-Rican Communities, accessed August 28, 2006.
  35. ^ Camden County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed June 21, 2007.
  36. ^ Abbott Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2008.
  37. ^ William John Browning, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 16, 2007.
  38. ^ Donovin Darius, National Football League. Accessed November 12, 2007.
  39. ^ Rachel Dawson, USA Field Hockey. Accessed December 20, 2007.
  40. ^ George Hegamin, database Football. Accessed September 30, 2007.
  41. ^ Francis Ford Patterson, Jr., Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 26, 2007.
  42. ^ John Farson Starr, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 24, 2007.

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