According to lawschoolsinusa, the city of Camden, New Jersey is located in the southwestern part of the state and is situated along the Delaware River. The city covers an area of 8.7 square miles and is home to approximately 74,000 people. Camden is bordered by the municipalities of Pennsauken Township, Merchantville, Gloucester Township, Cherry Hill, Haddon Township, and Collingswood.
Camden’s geography is characterized by its lush green spaces, which are crisscrossed by numerous waterways including the Cooper River and Newton Creek. The city also contains several parks such as Pyne Point Park and Cooper River Park which offer recreational activities for residents to enjoy.
The city has a diverse topography with an elevation ranging from sea level along its riverfront to over 150 feet in certain areas. Camden also features a variety of terrain including hills, valleys, plains and wetlands. These natural features contribute to Camden’s unique character and provide a variety of habitats for local wildlife species such as foxes, owls, deer and birds.
Camden’s climate is typical of the Mid-Atlantic region with hot summers and cold winters resulting in moderate temperatures year-round. Precipitation in Camden averages 43 inches per year with snowfall occurring during winter months typically between December and March.
Overall, Camden’s geography contributes to its unique character with lush green spaces interspersed with natural waterways providing numerous recreational opportunities for residents while diverse topography provides habitats for local wildlife species. The city’s climate is also typical of the Mid-Atlantic region allowing for moderate temperatures throughout the year coupled with seasonal precipitation creating an ideal environment for living or visiting this vibrant city on the banks of Delaware River.
History of Camden, New Jersey
According to a2zcamerablog.com, the history of Camden, New Jersey dates back to 1677 when the city was first founded as a port community by English settlers. Located along the Delaware River, Camden quickly grew in size and importance due to its strategic location and access to transportation routes.
In the late 1700s, Camden was an important industrial center with numerous factories and shipyards located along its waterfront. The city also became a major hub for trade and commerce with goods being shipped up and down the river from Philadelphia to other parts of the US.
During the 19th century, Camden continued to grow in population and industry with numerous factories producing ironworks, glassware, shoes, textiles, cigars and candy among other products. The city also became a major transportation hub with several railroads connecting it to other cities throughout the region.
In 1844, Camden was officially incorporated as a city. In 1877 it became the county seat of Camden County which is now part of modern day South Jersey. In 1900, Camden had reached its peak population of over 120,000 people making it one of the largest cities in New Jersey at that time.
Over the next few decades, Camden experienced a series of economic downturns resulting in large-scale factory closures leading to a decline in population and economic activity within the city limits. By 1950s there were fewer than 90,000 people living in Camden which further declined over time due to suburban flight from urban areas across America during this period.
Today’s Camden is undergoing revitalization efforts aimed at improving quality of life for residents while preserving its unique history and character as an important port city on Delaware River for centuries. These efforts are slowly but surely transforming this once thriving industrial center into an attractive urban destination for residents and visitors alike.
Economy of Camden, New Jersey
The economy of Camden, New Jersey is a mix of old and new industries. Historically, the city was an important industrial center, producing ironworks, glassware, shoes, textiles, cigars and candy among other products. This industry-based economy provided many jobs for the city’s residents and helped to make Camden one of the largest cities in New Jersey at the turn of the 20th century.
However, over the next few decades Camden experienced a series of economic downturns resulting in large-scale factory closures leading to a decline in population and economic activity within the city limits. By 1950s there were fewer than 90,000 people living in Camden which further declined over time due to suburban flight from urban areas across America during this period.
Today’s Camden is undergoing revitalization efforts aimed at improving quality of life for residents while preserving its unique history and character as an important port city on Delaware River for centuries. These efforts are slowly but surely transforming this once thriving industrial center into an attractive urban destination for residents and visitors alike.
The modern economy of Camden is now largely focused on services such as healthcare, education and government jobs. The largest employers in the city are Cooper University Health Care System (7000+ employees), Virtua Health (5000+ employees), Campbell Soup Company (3000+ employees) and Rutgers University–Camden (2000+ employees). Other major employers include Lockheed Martin Corporation, Subaru America Inc., TD Bank Financial Group and Philadelphia Shipyard Incorporated among many others.
In addition to its service oriented economy, Camden is also home to many cultural attractions including museums such as Adventure Aquarium; parks such as Wiggins Waterfront Park; entertainment venues like BB&T Pavilion; art galleries like The Center for Art & Education; movie theaters like Ritz 16 Theater; music venues like Susquehanna Bank Center; sports arenas like BB&T Pavilion; historical sites like Walt Whitman House; shopping centers like Cherry Hill Mall; restaurants & bars etc. All these attractions contribute significantly towards tourism related revenue for the local economy.
Politics in Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden, New Jersey is governed by a mayor-council form of government. The mayor is elected at-large and serves a four-year term. The Mayor has the power to appoint department heads, veto ordinances passed by the City Council, and submit an annual budget to the Council for approval. The current Mayor is Francisco “Frank” Moran who was elected in 2018.
The City Council is composed of nine members who are elected from wards throughout the city. Each member serves a four-year term and works with the Mayor in decision making and policy implementation for the city.
Camden has long been considered a Democratic stronghold, with Democrats dominating most elections since the 1950s. In recent years, however, Republicans have made gains in local elections due to dissatisfaction with perceived failures of Democratic leadership in addressing crime and other issues facing Camden residents.
In addition to local politics, Camden has been represented in Congress since 1949 by Democrat Donald Norcross who currently serves as U.S Representative for New Jersey’s 1st congressional district which includes all or parts of seven counties including Camden County where Camden is located. Norcross was first elected in 2014 after previously serving as a state senator and Assemblyman from 2010-2014 representing District 5 which included parts of Camden County.
At the state level, Camden is represented in both chambers of the New Jersey Legislature by Democrats including Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez who represents District 5 (which includes parts of Burlington County) along with Assemblywoman Patricia Egan Jones (District 5) and Assemblyman Arthur Barclay (District 5).
Overall, it is clear that while there are divisions within political parties at both local and state levels, Democrats remain dominant in local politics in Camden as well as at higher levels such as Congress and State Legislature due to their strong support from constituents living within city limits. This support continues even despite dissatisfaction with some aspects of Democratic leadership such as crime rate which remains one of highest per capita among cities across America despite efforts by current Mayor Frank Moran to address this issue through increased police presence on streets as well increased investment into public safety initiatives such as ShotSpotter technology which helps detect gunshots more quickly so that police can respond faster to potential incidents before they escalate into something more serious or deadly.
