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Camden, NJ

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Camden, NJ

Camden is a city in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Delaware Valley metropolitan region. The city was incorporated on February 13, 1828. Camden has been the county seat of Camden County since the county's formation on March 13, 1844. The city derives its name from Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden. Camden is made up of over 20 neighborhoods and is part of the South Jersey region of the state.

The city has a long history, which traces back to local indigenous Lenape, who are believed to have inhabited this area 13–15,000 years before the first European settlers. Quakers eventually settled in the area at the end of the 17th century and the start of the 18th century, drawn by promises of religious freedom, fairer taxation, and more representation in government. The area was not popular for settlement until the Camden and Amboy Railroad came through in the second quarter of the 1800s. In Camden, there is also a location that is tied to the Underground Railroad, which was the first stop on the Philadelphia to New York route and operated through the Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church. Established in 1832, this church stands as the oldest African American institution in the city.

One of the largest population booms came from the founding of a preserving company known as The Campbell Soup Company. This brought jobs to the area, encouraging people to move into the city for transportation considerations. Other major manufacturing companies moved into the area during the last half of the 1800s. The growth of Camden continued until the 1950s with the help of the “big three” employers that maintained facilities within the city: RCA Victor, Campbell's Soup, and New York Ship. Drastic changes in the way workers went from disorganized to unionized increased labor costs to a point where the big three moved away from Camden in the mid-to-late-20th century.

From a thriving industrial city to the flight of much of the population to suburbs, Camden has survived several changes to its demographics. Once known for violent crime, the restructuring of the police force in 2013 has been credited for the decrease in that number. As of January 2021, violent crime was down 46% from its high in the 1990s and at the lowest level since the 1960s. Overall crime reports in 2020 were down 74% compared to 1974, the first year of uniform crime reporting in the city.

Although revitalization efforts have been met with limited success so far, several philanthropic groups are active in Camden. Projects such as the redevelopment of the waterfront area brought three tourist attractions to the area: the USS New Jersey, the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, and the Adventure Aquarium. The city is the home of Rutgers University–Camden, which was founded as the South Jersey Law School in 1926,, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, which opened in 2012. Camden also houses both Cooper University Hospital and Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Camden County College and Rowan University also have campuses in downtown Camden. The "eds and meds" institutions account for roughly 45% of Camden's total employment.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 10.34 square miles (26.78 km2), including 8.92 square miles (23.10 km2) of land and 1.42 square miles (3.68 km2) of water (13.75%). Camden borders Collingswood, Gloucester City, Oaklyn, Pennsauken Township, and Woodlynne in Camden County, as well as Philadelphia across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. Just offshore of Camden is Pettys Island, which is part of Pennsauken Township. The Cooper River (popular for boating) flows through Camden, and Newton Creek forms Camden's southern boundary with Gloucester City.

Health and wellness are integral aspects of life in Camden, NJ. The city is home to several healthcare facilities, including Cooper University Hospital and Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, ensuring residents have access to quality medical care. Mosaic Wellness & Beauty offers a range of services including massages, facials, body treatments, and nail care. Float Haven Spa is known for its foot reflexology and massage therapies, this spa also offers facials, body treatments, and waxing services. Harmony Day Spa also provides massages, body wraps, and waxing. Known for its therapeutic massages, Angel's Touch Spa also offers facials, body wraps, and waxing services.

Top sites in Camden, NJ are Adventure Aquarium, Battleship New Jersey, The Whitman House.

Population: Approximately 73,000 (latest census data). Area: 10.34 sq mi (26.78 km2). Elevation: Varies. Main ZIP Code: 08101. Main Area Code(s): 856. 

FAQs

What percent of Camden, NJ is white?

The racial distribution of Camden population: 9.92% are white, 42.92% are Black or African American, 0.64% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.10% are Asian, 0.11% are Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 35.31% are some other race and 9% are multiracial. Of the 5 race categories (excluding ethnicity) identified by the Census Bureau, namely American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White; Camden has a population in all of the race categories. This confirms that Camden's population has become increasingly diverse.

Is Camden, NJ a good place to live?

Camden is in Camden County. Living in Camden offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents rent their homes. In Camden, there are a lot of bars, coffee shops, and parks. Many families live in Camden and residents tend to be liberal.

What makes Camden, NJ popular?

The “boxlike” row houses that were built for workers in the 1930s are architecturally unique; many, however, have been abandoned or torn down. The poet Walt Whitman lived in Camden from 1873 until he died in 1892; his home is maintained as a state historic site. The New Jersey State Aquarium opened in 1992. Camden is the site of an urban campus (1927) of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Camden County College (1967) is at nearby Blackwood.

Sources

City of Camden

Wikipedia

Niche

neilsberg

Britannica

Adventure Aquarium

Battleship New Jersey

The Whitman House

Cooper University Hospital

Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital

Mosaic Wellness & Beauty

Float Haven Spa

Harmony Day Spa

Angel's Touch Spa

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.