Hammonton, New Jersey
| Hammonton, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Nickname(s): "Blueberry Capital of the World"[1] | |
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| Coordinates: 39°39′18″N 74°46′20″W / 39.655°N 74.77222°WCoordinates: 39°39′18″N 74°46′20″W / 39.655°N 74.77222°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Atlantic |
| Incorporated | March 5, 1866 |
| Government[2] | |
| - Type | Town (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Steve DiDonato |
| - Administrator | Susanne Oddo[3] |
| Area | |
| - Total | 41.5 sq mi (107.4 km2) |
| - Land | 41.3 sq mi (106.9 km2) |
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2) |
| Elevation[4] | 95 ft (29 m) |
| Population (2007)[5] | |
| - Total | 13,500 |
| - Density | 305.5/sq mi (117.9/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08037 |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-29430[6][7] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0876915[8] |
| Website | http://www.townofhammonton.org/ |
Hammonton, founded by Charles K. Landis, is a town in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 12,604. It is located directly between Philadelphia and the resort town of Atlantic City, along a former route of the Pennsylvania Railroad currently used by New Jersey Transit's Atlantic City Line.
Hammonton was settled in 1812 and incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1866, from portions of Hamilton Township and Mullica Township.[9]
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[edit] Geography
Hammonton is located at 39°38′28″N 74°47′10″W / 39.641181°N 74.786162°W (39.641181, -74.786162).[10]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.5 square miles (107.4 km2), of which, 41.3 square miles (106.9 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2) 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 |
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| 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. 2007 | 13,500 | [5] | 7.1% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[11] | |||
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 12,604 people, 4,619 households, and 3,270 families residing in the town. The population density was 305.5 people per square mile (117.9/km2). There were 4,843 housing units at an average density of 117.4/sq mi (45.3/km2). 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.
As of the 2000 census, 45.9% of town residents were of Italian ancestry, the second-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States (behind Johnston, Rhode Island, at 46.7%), and highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.[12] News reports have said Hammonton leads the nation in Italian-Americans per capita.[13]
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
Hammonton is governed under the Town form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Town Council, with all positions elected at large. The Mayor is elected to a four year term. The Town Council consists of six members elected to serve two-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats coming up for election each year.[2]
As of 2010[update], the Mayor of Hammonton is Steve DiDonato (I). Members of the Hammonton Town Council are Jerry Barberio (I), James Bertino (R), Tom Gribbin (I), Jeanne Lewis (I), Mickey Pullia (I), and Sam Rodio (I).
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Hammonton is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 9th Legislative District.[14]
New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
9th district of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Christopher J. Connors (R, Lacey Township) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by DiAnne Gove (R, Long Beach Township) and Brian E. Rumpf (R, Little Egg Harbor Township).[15] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[16] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[17]
Atlantic County's County Executive is Dennis Levinson (Linwood).[18] The Board of Chosen Freeholders, the county's legislature, consists of nine members elected to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats coming up for election each year. As of 2009[update], Atlantic County's Freeholders are four at-large members Alisa Cooper (Linwood, term expires December 31, 2011), Frank V. Giordano (Hamilton Township, 2009), Joseph C. McDevitt (Ventnor City, 2010) and Jim Schroder (Northfield, 2011); and five members elected from districts District 1 (Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part) and Pleasantville) Charles T. Garrett (Atlantic City, 2010), District 2 - (Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part), Longport, Margate, Somers Point and Ventnor) Vice Chairman Thomas Russo (Atlantic City, 2009), District 3 (Egg Harbor Township (part), Hamilton Township (part), Linwood and Northfield) - Frank Sutton (Egg Harbor Township, 2011), District 4 (Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway Township and Port Republic - Richard Dase (Galloway Township, 2010) and District 5 (Buena Borough Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hamilton Township (part), Hammonton, Mullica Township and Weymouth) - Freeholder Chairman James Curcio (Hammonton, 2009).[19]
[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.[20]
- 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 an Emergency Room operated by AtlantiCare.
- In 1949, Hammonton was the winner of the Little League World Series.
- The Early November was a band out of Hammonton
- Hammonton is known as the "Blueberry Capital of the World."[21]
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Hammonton include:
- Victor Moore, actor [22]
- George Washington Nicholson (1832-1912), landscape painter; retired to Hammonton around 1902 until his death in 1912.[23]
- N. Leonard Smith, politician.[24]
- Gary Wolfe, professional wrestler
- Tom Ricca, Professional Wrestler / Wrestling Promoter
- The Early November, American rock band.[25]
- Jill Tracy Jacobs - an educator and the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, was born in Hammonton.[26]
- Ray Blanchard sexologist
[edit] Education
Students in Kindergarten through 12th grade attend the Hammonton Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[27]) are the Early Childhood Education Center with 495 students in pre-K through first grade, Warren E. Sooy Elementary School with 882 students in grades 2 - 5, Hammonton Middle School with 640 students in grades 6 - 8, and Hammonton High School with an enrollment of 1,369 students in grades 9 - 12.
Students from Folsom Borough and Waterford Township attend Hammonton High School as part of sending/receiving relationships with the respective school districts.[28]
Hammonton is home of the Catholic schools St. Joseph Regional Elementary School and St. Joseph High School, which operate under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Camden.[29]
[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.
Hammonton Municipal Airport is located 3 miles (5 km) northeast of the central business district.
[edit] External links
- Hammonton Town website
- Hammonton Public Schools
- Hammonton Public Schools's 2008–09 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Hammonton Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- MyHammonton.com - Information and Resource Portal for Hammonton, NJ. Restaurant Guides, job listings, community message boards, & news resources
- Hammonton Lions Club
- Hammonton United Services Association
- Hammonton Area Ministerium
- MainStreet Hammonton
- St. Joseph Regional High School
- Hammonton First
- Hammonton Republican Club
- Hammonton Democratic Club
[edit] Local media
- The Hammonton Gazette - The print edition is published on Wednesdays. Website updated weekly with selected content from print edition.
- The Hammonton News - The print edition is published on Wednesdays. Website updated Wednesday mornings, with full stories from paper edition.
[edit] References
- ^ Urgo, Jacqueline L. "Blueberries get their due", The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 25, 2004. Accessed May 19, 2008. "In this Atlantic County farming community, where crops are king and ancestral connections to the land run deep, they didn't need the state to tell them the blueberry is special. After all, almost everyone in this town of 12,600 - already dubbed the "Blueberry Capital of the World" - seems to have at least some connection to the berry."
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 49.
- ^ Town Administrator, Town of Hammonton. Accessed May 6, 2008.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographical Names Information System: Town of Hammonton, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Hammmonton, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2008.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 69.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Italian Communities, Epodunk. Accessed June 9, 2007.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 2008 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 58. Accessed September 30, 2009.
- ^ "Legislative Roster: 2010-2011 Session". New Jersey Legislature. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ County Executive Dennis Levinson, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed August 31, 2009.
- ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed August 31, 2009.
- ^ "America's future rests in a thousand dreams inside your hearts.", text of speech delivered by Ronald Reagan on September 19, 1984, My Hammonton. Accessed October 24, 2007. "You know, today my treat is seeing for the first time the Blueberry Capital of the world.... It rests in the message of hope in songs of a man so many young Americans admire -- New Jersey's own, Bruce Springsteen."
- ^ Urgo, Jacqueline L. "Blueberries ride high in South Jersey farm town", The Record (Bergen County), February 11, 2004. Accessed May 6, 2008. "In the Atlantic County farming community of Hammonton, where crops are king and ancestral connections to the land run deep, they didn't need the state to tell them the blueberry is special. After all, almost everyone in this town of 12,600 - already dubbed the 'Blueberry Capital of the World' - seems to have at least some connection to the berry."
- ^ Funke, Lewis B. "Victor Moore, or Forty Years a Timid Man; The comedian,even off-stage,is shy and has the air of one who is always baffled.", The New York Times, January 6, 1946. Accessed June 25, 2008.
- ^ George Washington Nicholson, Art & Architecture of New Jersey. Accessed May 6, 2008.
- ^ N. Leonard Smith, Vote-USA.org. Accessed October 7, 2007.
- ^ La Gorce, Tammy. "Finding Emo", The New York Times, August 14, 2005. Accessed October 22, 2007. "Richard Reines, who owns Drive-Thru Records, which is based in the San Fernando Valley in California, believes in the New Jersey scene; Drive-Thru's roster includes Hidden in Plain View from Stanhope and the Early November from Hammonton."
- ^ Hale, Charlotte (2008-08-24). "Jill Biden is an educator and much more". The News Journal. http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080824/NEWS02/808240382. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
- ^ Data for the Hammonton Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 21, 2008.
- ^ Hammonton Public Schools 2007 School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 21, 2008. "The Hammonton Public School District services the 40.8-square-mile (106 km2) Town of Hammonton as well as participating in a receiving relationship with Folsom (grades K-8) and Waterford Township (grades K-6) school districts."
- ^ Atlantic County Schools, Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Accessed July 22, 2008.
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