The initial growth of Camden industrially is often credited to the "big three" employers:RCA Victor,Campbell's Soup Company andNew York Shipbuilding Corporation. The "big three" felt compelled to move away from Camden in the mid-to-late-20th century as they could find cheaper workers elsewhere.[29][30] Though the city has declined in recent decades since the decline of heavy industry in the area andwhite flight to the suburbs, the city has made efforts to revitalize itself through various infrastructure and community projects.
Once known for violent crime, the restructuring of the police force in 2013 has been credited for its decline. 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.[34]
Between 1623 and 1627, CaptainCornelius Jacobsen May, an officer with theDutch West India Company and first director ofNew Netherland, establishedFort Nassau, where theDelaware River meets Big Timber Creek, which is today known asBrooklawn. In 1633,David Pietersen De Vries, a Dutch commander, was sailing up the Delaware River when he came across Natives in control of the fort. The settlers that had been left at the fort had decided to return toNew Amsterdam (TodayManhattan, New York).Wouter van Twiller, Governor ofNew Netherland, restored Fort Nassau. He was accused of extravagant spending in the fort's reconstruction. The settlement subsequently sparked competition from European Settlers over control of the fur trade in the area.[36][37] The fort was used by the Dutch until around 1650 or 1651 when it was decided that it was too far up the river to be of any value. The buildings and stockades were demolished and Wouter van Twiller assigned Arent Corssen to find a place for another fort.
The British first had a presence in the area in 1634. On June 21, 1634, SirEdmund Ployden was given a charter fromKing Charles I of England for all territory that lies betweenNew England andMaryland. After theRestoration in 1660, previous claims were largely overwritten, the land around Camden was then controlled by different nobles serving underKing Charles II that those associated with Sir Edmund Ployden.[37]
In 1664, the Duke of York had the King Charles II create the new colony forLord John Berkeley andSir George Carteret. It was named theProvince of New Jersey after George Carteret; in 1649, he wasGovernor of theIsle of Jersey. Lord John Berkeley kept his share of New Jersey from 1664 until 1674, when he sold it to twoQuakers,John Fenwick andEdward Byllynge. This due to political difficulties between him, Carteret, andGovernor of New YorkRichard Nicolls, as well as financial difficulties. Governor Richard Nicolls had objected to the Province of New Jersey as he had exercised control over the area prior under theProvince of New York.[37] After Edward Byllynge suffered a bankruptcy and having issues with his creditors,William Penn, one of the creditors, was chosen to be arbitrator. They argued that he funded the purchase of Lord John Berkeley's share of the Province of New Jersey with funds that were justly due to them. It was decided that Fenwick was entitled to 10% of the share, while 90% would be controlled by trustees that are chosen for the benefit of the creditors of Edward Byllynge, who were mostly Quakers themselves. The trustees were chosen to be William Penn,Gawen Laurie and Nicholas Lucas. The goal was to have the trustees sell the territory to colonists so that the creditors of Edward Byllynge would be made whole. It was also hoped that Quaker may be motivated to emigrate to this territory. At the time, theSociety of Friends were flirting with the idea of "new country", where they could practice their religious beliefs and not be shamelessly persecuted. In 1676, the Quakers decided to form a colony, spittling the previous colony in two,East Jersey andWest Jersey for the Quakers. Quakers 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.[35]
The Quakers expansion, consumption of resources, along with the introduction of alcohol and disease, led to a decline in the Lenape population. The development of a ferry system along the Delaware River bolstered trade betweenFort Nassau andPhiladelphia.[37] Through ferries, families like Coopers and theKaighns were able to establish settlements in surrounding areas. In 1773, Jacob Cooper played a significant role in developing the area which is today known as Camden, named after Charles Pratt, the Earl of Camden.[37]
Throughout the Revolutionary War, there were several skrimishes and other effects of the war felt by locals. Development was impeded for the villiage due to the revolution, as Camden was held by the British along with Philadelphia across theDelaware River.[38]
In the 19th century Camden underwent significant changes, transitioning from a hub of transportation to a growing city. Camden was incorporated as a city on February 13, 1828, from portions ofNewton Township, while the area was still part ofGloucester County. In 1832, Camden Township was created as atownshipcoextensive with Camden City. The township existed until it was repealed in 1848.[22] Camden Township was established in 1832 which was the same area as Camden City until it was reduced in 1848.[22] In 1830, theCamden and Amboy Railroad Company was chartered in Camden, which connected ferry terminals from New York City to Philadelphia via rail. The railroad ended in Camden's Waterfront, where passengers would be ferried across theDelaware River to arrive in Philadelphia. Similarly to Camden's inception, transportation was a huge catalyst in its growth—the railroads opening in 1834 led to an increase in population and commerce.[39]
Camden also experienced dramatic shifts in its population demographic. Immigration from Eastern Europe made them the leading ethnic group by 1920, whereas it had previously been German, British, and Irish immigrants.[43] In 1926, a bridge connecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania opened, which was formally named theBenjamin Franklin Bridge in 1956.[44] The project cost $37 million (equivalent to $657 million in 2024), split evenly between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.[45] The goal was to reduce ferry traffic between Philadelphia and Camden.
Camden Central Airport opened in 1929 and was used by several major airlines untilPhiladelphia International Airport opened in 1939 and brought air service across the Delaware River. The airport officially closed in April 1957, with a shopping center to be constructed on the 50-acre (20 ha) site.[46]
During the 1930s, Camden faced economic decline in the face of theGreat Depression. It was due to Camden's thriving industry that they did not go bankrupt. The United States role inWorld War II made the New York Shipbuilding Company the largest and most productive ship yard in the world.[47] World War II caused African American migration in and around Camden from the south as there was a need for factory workers for the war effort. Subsequently, Camden became ethnically and religiously segregated.[48] On July 17, 1951, theDelaware River Port Authority, a bi-state agency, was created to promote trade and better coordinate transportation between the two cities of Camden and Philadelphia.[49]
However, by the 1950s, manufacturing began to slow, causing industries to relocate and employment to dwindle.[48] In contrast to the growth and industrialization Camden experienced in the early 1900s, there came a drop in population and industry further into the 20th century.[48] Having reached its peak number of manufacturing jobs in 1950, by 1982 it was a quarter of what it had been. After World War II, Campbell's Soup Company and RCA Victor decentralized their production efforts in Camden.[50] This Capital Flight was an attempt to avoid an increase in labor wages which unionized workers were fighting for.[29][30] The New York Shipbuilding Company, a major contributor of naval units during World War II, shut down in 1967 due to low demand and mismanagement.[51]
During this period there was a large amount ofwhite flight, in which white residents moved to surrounding suburbs in search of safety and economic opportunity.[48] Neighborhoods were further divided by the construction of theNorth-South Freeway; 1,289 families were displaced by the highway, 85% of which were nonwhite families.[52] Along with this, civil unrest grew resulting in riots. Police brutality and crime were at an all-time high which further exacerbated Camden's problems.
Efforts to revitalize Camden began in 1980 with MayorRandy Primas. In an attempt to generate income for the city, he pursued initiatives such as the construction of a riverfront state-prison and a trash-to-steam incinerator which received substantial opposition from residents.[53][54] With the election ofMilton Milan as Camden's next mayor, he declared the city bankrupt, which resulted in $60 million of aid and the state's assumption of Camden's finances.[55] Another notable revitalization effort was the establishment of non-profit organization, The Parkside Business and Community In Partnership, which occurred in 1993 and is active today.[56]
Camden Towers (left), American Water Headquarters (center), and 11 Cooper St Apartments (right) in CamdenThe former Camden Downtown Branch of the Camden County Library
Redevelopment as an idea has loomed over the city since the 1980s, when Mayor Primas started looking for projects to be able to revitalize with the loss of several foundational industries in the preciding decades. In 2013 theNew Jersey Economic Development Authority introduced incentives for companies to relocate to Camden.[57] Other projects include the redevelopment of the Waterfront, the construction of thePhiladelphia 76ers Training Complex, and theSubaru of America's headquarters.
In recent years, Camden has transitioned from a manufacturing industry to an economy focused on education and healthcare. The Eds-and-Meds Industry has become the largest source of employment in Camden—with institutions such asCooper University Hospital,Rowan University,Rutgers-Camden,Camden County College, Virtua,Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, and CAMcare.[58] In October 2025, theNew Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJDEA) issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) to solicit development proposals of 16 acres along theNorth Camden waterfront on the site of the former prison, which had been demolished in 2009, as well as part of the Weeks Marine site; enacting on a redevelopment place in place since 2014.[59][60]
"A City Invincible" sign, the city's official tagline, near Camden'sCooper Grant neighborhoodThe BattleshipUSS New Jersey on the Camden waterfront in 2010
Camden's role as an industrial city gave rise to distinct neighborhoods and cultural groups that have affected the growth and decline of the city over the course of the 20th century. Camden is also home to historic landmarks detailing its rich history in literature, music, social work and industry such as theWalt Whitman House,[61] the Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, the Rutgers–Camden Center for the Arts and theCamden Children's Garden. Others include the Camden County Historical Society, which document the city and surrounding area's history. It was built in 1899 as a place for those who find anything that links to one's heritage and for other educational purposes.[62]
Camden's cultural history has been greatly affected by both its economic and social position over the years. From 1950 to 1970, industry plummeted, resulting in close to 20,000 jobs being lost for Camden residents.[63] This mass unemployment as well as social pressure from neighboring townships caused an exodus of citizens, mostly white. This gap was filled by new African American and Latino citizens and led to a restructuring of Camden's communities. The number of White citizens who left to neighboring towns such asCollingswood orCherry Hill left both new and old African American and Latino citizens to re-shape their community. To help in this process, numerous not-for-profit organizations such as Hopeworks or the Neighborhood Center were formed to facilitate Camden's movement into the 21st century.[48]
The Black Community has been one of the city's foundations since its founding in 1828 and have contributed heavily to the city's culture.Corinne's Place is a Black-owned soul food restaurant located in Camden, New Jersey. Corinne Bradley-Powers opened the restaurant on Haddon Avenue in 1989.[64]The Hispanic and Latino Community in the city has increased heavily in the past twenty years, but have had a long history in Camden. Puerto Rican Unity for Progress is a multi-service, community-based organization that is located in Camden and serves the Hispanic community who reside in the city. The organization was established in 1976 and opened its physical location at 437 Broadway Street in Camden in June 1978.
The Arts and Entertainment have always been presence in the city. In the early 20th century, Camden became a hub of music and innovation in entertainment with the presence of the Victor Talking Machine Company (later RCA Victor). It is the birth place of celebrities such as tragic starRuss Columbo; singer and Broadway actressLola Falana. Today, Camden is home to individuals and groups that help bulster the arts in the city.[65]
Newton Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
Camden has religious institutions including many churches and their associated non-profit organizations and community centers such as the Little Rock Baptist Church in the Parkside section of Camden, First Nazarene Baptist Church, Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church, and the Parkside United Methodist Church. Other congregations that are active now are Newton Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, on Haddon Avenue and Cooper Street and the Masjid at 1231 Mechanic St, Camden, NJ 08104.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Broadway and Ferry Ave in Camden
Father Michael Doyle, the pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church located in South Camden, has played a large role in Camden's spiritual and social history. In 1971, Doyle was part of theCamden 28, a group of anti-Vietnam War activists who planned to raid a draft board office in the city. This is noted by many as the start of Doyle's activities as a radical 'Catholic Left'. Following these activities, Monsignor Doyle went on to become the pastor of Sacred Heart Church, remaining known for his poetry and activism.[68] Monsignor Doyle and the Sacred Heart Church's main mission is to form a connection between the primarily white suburban surrounding areas and the inner-city of Camden.[69]
In 1982, Father Mark Aita of Holy Name of Camden founded the St. Luke's Catholic Medical Services. Aita, a medical doctor and a member of theSociety of Jesus, created the first medical system in Camden that did not use rotating primary care physicians. Since its conception, St. Luke's has grown to include Patient Education Classes as well as home medical services, aiding over seven thousand Camden residents.[70][71]
The city has long had a history of philanthropy and charity, dating back to its founding. The city's founding families were quakers that were very interested in charitable causes like the care of orphans and helping runaway slaves. They were members of theSociety of Friends whose members were the likes of William Penn. In 1865, the Society of Friends founded theCamden Home for Friendless Children. Since that home was segregated, the Society of Friends opened theWest Jersey Colored Orphanage in 1874.
Camden has a variety of non-profit Tax-Exempt Organizations aimed to assist city residents with a wide range of health and social services free or reduced charge to residents. Camden City, having one of the highest rates of poverty in New Jersey, fueled residents and local organizations to develop organizations aimed to provide relief to its citizens. As of the 2000 Census, Camden's income per capita was $9,815. This ranking made Camden the poorest city in the state of New Jersey, as well as one of the poorest cities in the United States.[72] Camden also has one of the highest rates of childhood poverty in the nation.[72]
About 45% of employment in Camden is in the "eds and meds" sector, providing educational and medical institutions.[33]
In 2018, the city had an average residential property tax bill of $1,710, the lowest in the county, compared to an average bill of $6,644 in Camden County and $8,767 statewide.[73][74]
Portions of Camden are part of a jointUrban Enterprise Zone. The city was selected in 1983 as one of the initial group of 10 zones chosen to participate in the program.[75] In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125%sales tax rate (half of the 6.625% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.[76] Established in September 1988, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023.[77]
The UEZ program in Camden and four other original UEZ cities had been allowed to lapse as of January 1, 2017, after GovernorChris Christie, who called the program an "abject failure", vetoed a compromise bill that would have extended the status for two years.[78] In May 2018, GovernorPhil Murphy signed a law that reinstated the program in these five cities and extended the expiration date in other zones.[79]
According to theU.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%).[8][80]
Historically, the Waterfront has always been a foundational part and major hub of the city. It was home to the New York Shipbuilding Company Shipyards until 1968. Since the 1990s, the Waterfront began a beacon of revitalization for the city. The city's waterfront, along the Delaware River is highlighted by its three main attractions, theUSSNew Jersey, theFreedom Mortgage Pavilion, and theAdventure Aquarium.[31] The waterfront is also the headquarters forCatapult Learning, thePhiladelphia 76ers Training Complex,American Water. Camden has two generally recognized neighborhoods located on theDelaware River waterfront, Central and South. Other attractions at the Waterfront are the Wiggins Park Riverstage and Marina, One Port Center, The Victor Lofts, theWalt Whitman House,[61] the Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, the Rutgers–Camden Center for the Arts, theCamden Children's Garden, Cooper's Poynt Park (former site ofRiverfront State Prison).
The most common type of home in Camden isrowhouse, similar to those in the neighboring city of Philadelphia.Saint Josephs Carpenter Society (SJCS) is a non profit that has rehabilitated 500 homes throughout the city.
In 2013, Cherokee Investment Partners had a plan to redevelop north Camden with 5,000 new homes and a shopping center on 450 acres (1.8 km2). Cherokee dropped their plans in the face of local opposition and the slumping real estate market.[87][88][89] They are among several companies receivingNew Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) tax incentives to relocate jobs in the city.[90][91][92]
Camden's public schools are operated by theCamden City School District. The district is one of 31 formerAbbott districts statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by theNew Jersey Supreme Court inAbbott v. Burke[93] which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on the requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of theNew Jersey Schools Development Authority.[94][95] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of 19 schools, had an enrollment of 7,553 students and 668.0 classroom teachers (on anFTE basis), for astudent–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.[96]
KIPP Cooper Norcross Lanning Square Primary and Middle School
In 2012, The Urban Hope Act was signed into law, allowing renaissance schools to open in Trenton, Newark, and Camden. The renaissance schools, run by charter companies, differed from charter schools, as they enrolled students based on the surrounding neighborhood, similar to the city school district. This makes renaissance schools a hybrid of charter and public schools. This is the act that allowedKnowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), Uncommon Schools, and Mastery Schools to open in the city.[107]
Under the renaissance charter school proposal, the Henry L. Bonsall Family School became Uncommon Schools Camden Prep Mt. Ephraim Campus, East Camden Middle School has become part of Mastery Charter Schools, Francis X. Mc Graw Elementary School and Rafael Cordero Molina Elementary School have become part of the Mastery charter network. The J.G Whittier Family school has become part of the KIPP Public Charter Schools as KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy.Students were given the option to stay with the school under their transition or seek other alternatives.[108]
In the 2013–14 school year, Camden city proposed a budget of $72 million to allot to charter schools in the city. In previous years, Camden city charter schools have used $52 million and $66 million in the 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 school years, respectively.[109]
March 9, 2015, marked the first year of the new Camden Charter Schools open enrollment. Mastery and Uncommon charter schools did not meet enrollment projections for their first year of operation by 15% and 21%, according to Education Law Center.[110]
In October 2016, Governor Chris Christie, Camden Mayor Dana L. Redd, Camden Public Schools Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard, and state and local representatives announced a historical $133 million investment of a new Camden High School Project.[111] The new school is planned to be ready for student occupancy in 2021. It would have 9th and 12th grade.
As of 2019, there are 3,850 Camden students enrolled in one of the city's renaissance schools, with 4,350 Camden students are enrolled one of the city's charter schools.[112] Combined, these students make up approximately 55% of the 15,000 students in Camden.
Holy Name School,[115] Sacred Heart Grade School,[116] and St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral School (founded in 1894)[117] are K–8 elementary schools operating under the auspices of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Camden.[118] They operate as four of the five schools in the Catholic Partnership Schools, a post-parochial model of Urban Catholic Education.[119]
The University District, adjacent to the downtown, is home to the following institutions:
Camden County College – one of three main campuses; the college first came to the city in 1969 and constructed a campus building in Camden in 1991.[120]
Rowan University at Camden,satellite campus – the Camden campus began with a program for teacher preparation in 1969 and expanded with standard college courses the following year and a full-time day program in 1980.[121]
Rutgers University–Camden – the Camden campus, one of three main sites in the university system, began as South Jersey Law School and the College of South Jersey in the 1920s and was merged into Rutgers in 1950.[123]
The city was once home to twoCarnegie libraries, theMain Building[128] and theCooper Library in Johnson Park.[129] The city's once extensive library system, beleaguered by financial difficulties, threatened to close at the end of 2010, but was incorporated into the county system.[130][131] Themain branch closed in February 2011,[132] and was later reopened by the county in the bottom floor of the Paul Robeson Library at Rutgers University.[133]
Camden also has threeacademic libraries; ThePaul Robeson Library at Rutgers University-Camden serves Rutgers undergraduate and graduate students, as well as students from the Camden campuses of Camden County College and Rowan University. Rutgers Law School has alaw library and Cooper Medical School at Rowan has a medical library.
The Camden Athletic Complex (former site ofCampbell's Field) which was completed in 2022. it contains a baseball field, track and field area, soccer field, and lacrosse field. TheCamden Riversharks were an American professional baseball team based in Camden, which played out of the former Campbell's Field. An investment totaling $15 million, planned to be split evenly between Rutgers and the city of Camden, will reportedly develop the area into a recreational complex for the city, as well as accommodations for the university'sNCAA Division III sports teams.[134]
The team found a property at theCamden Waterfront. An $82 million grant was approved by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to begin construction of the training facility in Camden, and was scheduled to break ground in October 2014.[135] The grant was somewhat controversial in that it saves the 76ers organization from paying any property taxes or fees that would be accrued by the building over its first decade. Vocal opponents of the facility claim that the site has now joined a list of large companies or industries that are invited to Camden with significant monetary incentive, at great expense to local tax payers as a form ofcorporate welfare.[136] Based on contingent hiring, the grant was to be paid out over 10 years, with the facility scheduled to host practices by 2016.[135] The training facilities include the two full-size courts, as well as a weight room, full hydrotherapy room, Gatorade Fuel Bar, full players-only restaurant and personal chef, medical facilities, film room, and full locker room.
This is the front of the US District Court facing Cooper Street in Camden, NJ
Since July 1, 1961, the city has operated within theFaulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under aMayor-Council form of government.[6][137] Since 1994, the city has been divided into fourcouncil districts, with a single council member elected from each of the four districts and three council members being elected at-large; previously, the entire council was elected at-large.
As of 2024[update], the Mayor of Camden is Democrat Victor Carstarphen, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025.[2] Members of the City Council are Council PresidentAngel Fuentes (D, 2025; at large), Vice President Sheila Davis (D, 2025; at large), Arthur Barclay (D, 2027; Ward 1), Christopher R. Collins (D, 2027; Ward 2), Falio Leyba-Martinez (D, 2027; Ward 3), Jannette Ramos (D, 2027; Ward 4) and Noemi G. Soria-Perez (D, 2025; at large).[138][139][140][141]
It was home to the Norcross brothers, three brothers who have dominated Southern Jersey democratic politics for the past 25 years, until legal troubles in 2024 led them to take a backseat. The city has had its struggles with corruption throughout its political history. Three Camden mayors have been jailed for corruption:Angelo Errichetti, Arnold Webster, andMilton Milan.[142]
Camden County is governed by aBoard of County Commissioners composed of seven members chosenat-large in partisan elections for three-year terms on a staggered basis by the residents of the county, with either two or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At a reorganization meeting held in January after each election, the newly constituted Board of Commissioners selects one member to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director, each serving a one-year term in that role.[150] As of 2025[update], Camden County's Commissioners are: Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. (D,Collingswood, 2026),[151] Commissioner Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell (D,Pennsauken Township, 2025),[152] Virginia Ruiz Betteridge (D,Runnemede, 2025),[153]Almar Dyer (D, Pennsauken Township, 2027),[154] Melinda Kane (D,Cherry Hill, 2027),[155] Jeffrey L. Nash (D,Winslow Township, 2027),[156] and Jonathan L. Young Sr. (D,Berlin Township, 2026).[157][150][158][159][160]
Camden has historically been a stronghold of theDemocratic Party. As of November 6, 2018, there were 42,264 registered voters in the city of Camden.[168] As of March 23, 2011, there were 43,893 registered voters in Camden, of which 17,403 (39.6%) were registered asDemocrats, 885 (2.0%) were registered asRepublicans and 25,601 (58.3%) were registered asUnaffiliated.[169] AllCamden mayors since 1935 have been Democrats. The last Republican Camden mayor was Frederick von Nieda, who only sat in office for a year.[170] During his second term, Obama visited Camden in 2015 and said that "Hold you up as a symbol of promise for the nation. This city is on to something, no one is suggesting that the job is done," the president said. "It's still a work in progress."[171] In the2012 presidential election, DemocratBarack Obama was seeking reelection and was challenged byMitt Romney. The city overwhelmingly voted for Obama in the biggest Democratic landslide in Camden's history.
United States presidential election results for Camden[172]
In the2016 presidential election, DemocratHillary Clinton received overwhelming support from the city of Camden. On May 11, 2016, Clinton held a rally atCamden County College.[173] In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 96.8% of the vote (22,254 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 3.0% (683 votes), and other candidates with 0.2% (57 votes), among the 23,230 ballots cast by the city's 47,624 registered voters (236 ballots werespoiled), for a turnout of 48.8%.[174][175] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 91.1% of the vote (22,197 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 5.0% (1,213 votes), with 24,374 ballots cast among the city's 46,654 registered voters, for a turnout of 52.2%.[176] In the2004 presidential election, DemocratJohn Kerry received 84.4% of the vote (15,914 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 12.6% (2,368 votes), with 18,858 ballots cast among the city's 37,765 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 49.9.[177]
United States Gubernatorial election results for Camden[172]
In the2013 gubernatorial election, DemocratBarbara Buono received 79.9% of the vote (6,680 cast), ahead of RepublicanChris Christie with 18.8% (1,569 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (116 votes), among the 9,796 ballots cast by the city's 48,241 registered voters (1,431 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 20.3%.[178][179] In the2009 gubernatorial election, DemocratJon Corzine received 85.6% of the vote (8,700 ballots cast), ahead of both RepublicanChris Christie with 5.9% (604 votes) and IndependentChris Daggett with 0.8% (81 votes), with 10,166 ballots cast among the city's 43,165 registered voters, yielding a 23.6% turnout.[180]
United States Senate election results for Camden1[172]
The Fire Administration Building on N 3rd Street in Camden, NJFire Engine at N 3rd St. Fire Administration Building.
Officially organized in 1869, theCamden Fire Department (CFD) is the oldest paid fire department in New Jersey and is among the oldest paid fire departments in the United States.[181][182][183] The Camden Fire Department currently operates out of five fire stations, organized into two battalions. Each battalion is commanded by a battalion chief, who in turn reports to a deputy chief. The CFD currently operates five engine companies, one squad (rescue-pumper), three ladder companies, and one rescue company, as well as several other special, support, and reserve units. The department's fireboat is docked on the Delaware River. Since 2010, the Camden Fire Department has suffered severe economic cutbacks, including company closures and staffing cuts.[184]
On May 1, 2013,Camden Police Department was disbanded due to a union contract that made it financially impossible to keep officers on the street. TheCamden County Police Department was formed to succeed the Camden Police Department. Camden County's Police Department brought in 25 new officers to train in neighborhoods in hopes they could regain the trust of local communities.[185] Because of the reorganized force in 2013, the number of cops in the streets has increased, and spread throughout Camden. Camden's new police force began patrolling in tandem, speaking with residents, and driving patrol cars.[186] ACNN report proposed that Camden might be a national model for whatpolice abolition or "defunding the police" could look like.[187]
Camden once had a national reputation for its violent crime rates, although recent years have seen a significant drop in violent crime, with 2017 seeing the lowest number of homicides in three decades.[188]
Morgan Quitno Press has ranked Camden as one of the top ten most dangerous cities in the United States since 1998, when they first included cities with populations less than 100,000. Camden was ranked as the third-most dangerous city in 2002, and the most dangerous city overall in 2004 and 2005.[189][190] It improved to the fifth spot for the 2006 and 2007 rankings but rose to number two in 2008[191][192][193] and to the most dangerous spot in 2009.[194] Morgan Quitno based its rankings on crime statistics reported to theFederal Bureau of Investigation in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft.[195] In 2011 inThe Nation, journalistChris Hedges described Camden as "the physical refuse of postindustrial America",[196] plagued with homelessness, drug trafficking, prostitution, robbery, looting, constant violence, and an overwhelmed police force (which in 2011 lost nearly half of its officers to budget-related layoffs).[197]
On October 29, 2012, the FBI announced Camden was ranked first in violent crime per capita of cities with over 50,000 residents.[198]
There were 23 homicides in Camden in 2017, the lowest since 1987 and almost half as many as the 44 murders the previous year. Both homicides and non-fatal shootings have declined sharply since 2012, when there were a record 67 homicides in the city.[199] In 2020 there were again 23 homicides reported. 2021 saw 23 homicides and a further reduction in violent crime, contrasting national trends.[200]
In 2018, theCamden County Police Department reported that violent crime had dropped 18%, led by a 21% decline in aggravated assaults; overall nonviolent crimes fell by 12%, the number of arson incidents fell by 29%, burglaries by 21%, and non-fatal "shooting hit incidents" had dropped by 15%.[34] In 2018, 2019, and 2020, there were 22, 24, and 23 homicides respectively.
Total violent crime in the city declined in 2022, despite 28 murders and a spike of 29% in non-violent crime, highlighted by a sharp increase in car-related crime.[201]
River Line at Walter Rand, a light rail system connecting Camden andTrenton
TheWalter Rand Transportation Center opened in May 1989 under the name of Camden Transportation Center and was renamed in 1994 for former New Jersey State SenatorWalter Rand. The surface level bus transfer center located on the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Broadway, includes both indoor and outdoor stations and runs between the hours of 6am and 9:30pm, seven days a week.[202] A majority of buses that stop at the center areNJ Transit buses that provide inexpensive and quick transportation to Philadelphia, Camden and Burlington Counties surrounding cities. The different routes include313,315,316,317,400,401,402,403,404,405,406,407,408,409,410,412,413,418,419,450,451,452,453,457 and551.[203] Depending on distance and route the bus fare varies from under a dollar for closer stops, up to fifty dollars for farther stations including Philadelphia andAtlantic City. Along with the NJ Transit buses, the center is also home to manyGreyhound Lines routes, that provide transportation to neighboring cities as well as to destinations all around the country, with fares varying based on the destination. Along with the bus stops, the center is home to two rail road system stations, the Walter Rand River Line station andPATCO, Broadway station which provides access to the buses from the surrounding area.
Since opening in March 2004, NJ Transit'sRiver Line has offered light rail service to cities along the Delaware River starting in North Camden, and terminating inTrenton. There are four stations located in the city, the southern most station is located at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion located on the Delaware River, and goes north along the river up to Trenton.[204] The second and third most south stations in Camden stop at the Camden Adventure Aquarium and at Rutgers University. The last stop in the city, the Walter Rand Transportation Center, located on Martin Luther King Boulevard and Broadway, is a major transportation hub where the PATCO, NJ Transit buses, and Greyhounds all meet.[205]
ThePATCO Speedline offers frequent 24-hour train service to Philadelphia and the suburbs to the east in Camden County, including Camden, Collingswood, Haddon Township, Haddonfield, Cherry Hill, Voorhees and Lindenwold.[206] Throughout the two states there are a total of 13 stations. Unlike most major US transit systems, the PACTO Speedline is running 24-hours a day. Opening in 1926 under the name of The Delaware River Bridge Commission, the rail consisted of six stops in Philadelphia stops and two in Camden,City Hall, andBroadway station. The first station after crossing the river into Philadelphia, Franklin Square closed in 1979 because of the low number of riders. The station was proposed for a remodel and is planned on opening during the summer of 2024.[207]
TheRiverLink Ferry opened March 1992, as a passenger ferry service that crossed the Delaware River connecting theCamden Waterfront with Philadelphia's,Penn's Landing. The ferry operates daily from May through September, and on Fridays through Sundays in April and October.[208] Docking at Wiggins Park, located between theAdventure Aquarium and theBattleship New Jersey, the ferry provides access to the Adventure Aquarium, Battleship New Jersey, Camden's Children's Garden, and theFreedom Mortgage Pavilion.[209] On the Philadelphia side of the river the ferry docks at theIndependence Seaport Museum, and provides access to the many attractions located at Penns Landing, including multiple city piers, and restaurants as well as Museums, the battle ship Olympia, and the submarine Becuna.[210] Round trip ticket prices range from $8 for children and seniors to $10 for adults while children under the age of four ride for free.[211]
TheRiverLink Ferry was not the first ferry to call Camden home. Since the start of the United States there has been a need to transport goods and people across the Delaware. Before the construction of theBenjamin Franklin Bridge, there were multiple ferries that launched from Camdens waterfront including on Market street, and Vine street located in the downtown area, as well as Kaighn Avenue located in South Camden. During the winter when the river had frozen horse were used to tow the ferries across like sleds, which helped slow the number of injuries and death that occurred from individuals that walked across the ice. On one occasion the fire started aboard one of the ferries. On March 15, 1856, theDelaware River was full of floating chucks of ice rushing through the rough current when flames burst out along the upper deck. People on board did their best to calm the fire with buckets of freezing water but resorted to jumping over board.[212] As a result, over sixty people died in the accident with countless missing while only 30 made it out alive. Between the years of 1727 and 1766 more than 800 slaves were brought by three different ferries and sold in Downtown, Camden.[213] Today there are historical signs placed at these three sites to commemorate the people sold there.[214]
As of May 2010[update], the city had a total of 181.92 miles (292.77 km) of roadways, of which 147.54 miles (237.44 km) were maintained by the municipality, 25.39 miles (40.86 km) by Camden County, 6.60 miles (10.62 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation and 2.39 miles (3.85 km) by theDelaware River Port Authority.[215]
Camden has faced many environmental problems due to its history of heavy industry and the improper disposal of contaminants. Environmental concerns include air/water pollution and soil contamination. There are severalSuperfund sites throughout the city. In recent years, illegal dumping has become an issue due to the large number of vacant lots throughout the city and a lack of security and maintenance.[citation needed]
Camden, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
The2010 United States census counted 77,344 people, 24,475 households, and 16,912 families in the city. Thepopulation density was 8,669.6 per square mile (3,347.4/km2). There were 28,358 housing units at an average density of 3,178.7 per square mile (1,227.3/km2). The racial makeup was 17.59% (13,602)White, 48.07% (37,180)Black or African American, 0.76% (588)Native American, 2.12% (1,637)Asian, 0.06% (48)Pacific Islander, 27.57% (21,323) fromother races, and 3.83% (2,966) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 47.04% (36,379) of the population.[238] The Hispanic population of 36,379 was the tenth-highest of any municipality in New Jersey and the proportion of 47.0% was the state's 16th-highest percentage.[248][249] The Puerto Rican population was 30.7%.[238]
Of the 24,475 households, 37.9% had children under the age of 18; 22.3% were married couples living together; 37.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.9% were non-families. Of all households, 24.8% were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.56.[238]
31.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.0 males.[238]
The city of Camden was 47% Hispanic of any race, 44% non-Hispanic black, 6% non-Hispanic white, and 3% other. Camden is predominately populated by African Americans and Puerto Ricans.[238]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $27,027 (with a margin of error of +/− $912) and the median family income was $29,118 (+/− $1,296). Males had a median income of $27,987 (+/− $1,840) versus $26,624 (+/− $1,155) for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,807 (+/− $429). About 33.5% of families and 36.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.3% of those under age 18 and 26.2% of those age 65 or over.[250]
As of 2006, 52% of the city's residents lived in poverty, one of the highest rates in the nation.[251] 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.[252] A group of poor Camden residents were the subject of a20/20 special on poverty in America broadcast on January 26, 2007, in whichDiane Sawyer profiled the lives of three young children growing up in Camden.[253] A follow-up was shown on November 9, 2007.[254]
In 2011, Camden's unemployment rate was 19.6%, compared with 10.6% in Camden County as a whole.[255] As of 2009, the unemployment rate in Camden was 19.2%, compared to the 10% overall unemployment rate for Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties and a rate of 8.4% inPhiladelphia and the four surrounding counties inSoutheastern Pennsylvania.[256]
Corinne's Place is a Black-owned soul food restaurant located in Camden, New Jersey. Corinne Bradley-Powers opened the restaurant on Haddon Avenue in 1989.[64]
Adventure Aquarium – Originally opened in 1992, it re-opened in its current form in May 2005 featuring about 8,000 animals living in varied forms of semi-aquatic, freshwater and marine habitats. The aquarium is the only aquarium in the world to househippopotamuses.[257]
Harleigh Cemetery – Established in 1885, the cemetery is the burial site ofWalt Whitman, several Congressmen and many other South Jersey notables.[259]
Shaun T. Fitness (born 1978), motivational speaker, fitness trainer and choreographer best known for his home fitness programs T25, Insanity and Hip-Hop Abs[299]
Sig Jakucki (1909–1979), former Major League pitcher for theSt. Louis Browns, whose victory over theNew York Yankees in the final game of the 1944 season gave the Browns their only pennant[310]
Harvey Pollack (1922–2015), director of statistical information for thePhiladelphia 76ers, who at the time of his death was the only person still working for the NBA since its inaugural 1946–1947 season[315]
Tommy Roberts (1928–2024), radio and TV broadcaster who launchedsimulcast in 1984, a television feed of horse races to racetracks, casinos andoff-track betting facilities, enabling gamblers to watch and bet on live racing from all over the world[417]
Richard Valeriani (1932–2018), former White House correspondent and diplomatic correspondent withNBC News in the 1960s and 1970s[418]
Barbara Walden (born 1930), actress, dancer and businesswoman who founded one of the first American cosmetic companies offering products for Black women to be sold in major department stores[419]
^abcdeEarly Settlement, City of Camden. Accessed November 6, 2023. "Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, King Charles II granted all the lands between the Delaware and Connecticut Rivers to his brother, the Duke of York. In turn, the Duke of York gave a portion of these lands between the Hudson and Delaware River (New Jersey) to two loyal courtiers, Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkeley. Soon after, Berkeley was beset by financial problems and in 1673 sold his half of New Jersey to Quakers John Fenwick and Edward Byllynge."
^O'Reilly, David."An RCA museum grows at Rowan",The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 27, 2013. Accessed October 13, 2015. " Radio Corp. of America's "contributions to South Jersey were enormous," said Joseph Pane, deputy director of the RCA Heritage Program at Rowan, which he helped create. At its peak in the 1960s, it (RCA) employed 12,000 people; 4,500 were engineers.'"
^New York Shipbuilding, Camden NJArchived October 1, 2015, at theWayback Machine, Shipbuilding History, March 17, 2014. Accessed October 13, 2015. "At its peak, New York Ship employed 30,000 people. It continued in both naval and merchant shipbuilding after WWII but closed in 1967."
^Ben Franklin Bridge,WHYY-FM, backed up by theInternet Archive as of April 2, 2017. Accessed July 26, 2018. "First official name name: Delaware River Bridge. Officially became the Ben Franklin Bridge at its dedication in 1956. Bridge was opened to traffic at midnight on July 1, 1926."
^"Flying Halted at Central Airport To Make Way for Shopping Center",Courier-Post, May 1, 1957. Accessed November 7, 2025, viaNewspapers.com. "The spokesman said the decision to close the field was made because of building to be under. taken on the 50 acres of ground at Airport Circle.... At the request of the management of Central Airport, Camden, and in the interests of public safety, Central Airport, is officially closed as of April 17, 1957.... The closing of Central Airport, which was opened in 1929, leaves the Camden area without facilities for air travel, although several smaller fields occupy suburban locations. In the early years of its operation, the airport was used by four major air lines but with the opening of Philadelphia's International Airport in 1939, these commercial operations were gradually discontinued."
^Mathis, Mike (2010).Cherry Hill: A Brief History. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press.ISBN978-1-59629-596-4.
^abcdeGillette, Howard Jr. (2006).Camden After the Fall: Decline and Renewal in a Post-Industrial City. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press.ISBN978-0-8122-1968-5.
^About, Delaware River Port Authority. Accessed September 12, 2019. "After Pennsylvania and New Jersey reach an agreement, President Harry S. Truman signs the bill creating the Delaware River Port Authority as the successor agency to the Delaware River Bridge Joint Commission. The legislation gives the new agency the responsibility to promote international trade for Delaware River ports."
^Sidorick, Daniel.Campbell Soup Company, Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Accessed April 26, 2022.
^Dorwart, Jeffery M."Shipbuilding and Shipyards",Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Accessed November 6, 2023. "However, mismanagement, labor unrest, construction accidents on the carrier and growing restrictions on building nuclear warships so near a great city led to the closing of the Camden shipyard in 1967, contributing to growing economic and social problems in the city."
^Weingroff, Richard F."The Greatest Decade 1956-1966: Part 2 The Battle of Its Life",Federal Highway Administration. Accessed November 6, 2023. "In Camden, New Jersey, I-95 bisected low-income neighborhoods, displacing 1,093 minority families (out of a total of 1,289 families), while only about 100 low-incoming housing units were built at the same time 'with the usual consequences.'""
^viaAssociated Press."Camden and State Reach Fiscal Agreement",The New York Times, July 23, 1999. Accessed April 26, 2022. "Camden withdrew its bankruptcy petition and accepted tighter state control over its spending today, ending the fiscal crisis in New Jersey's poorest city. After intense negotiations, Mayor Milton Milan signed an agreement that will give the state greater financial oversight over the city of 87,000.... With the agreement, Camden will receive $62.5 million in state aid, said Stephen Sasala, deputy commissioner of the State Department of Community Affairs and chairman of the oversight board."
^abSpeer, Paul W.; Ontkush, Mark; Schmitt, Brian; Raman, Padmasini; Jackson, Courtney; Rengert, Kristopher M.; Peterson, N. Andrew (September 1, 2003). "The intentional exercise of power: community organizing in Camden, New Jersey".Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology.13 (5):399–408.doi:10.1002/casp.745.ISSN1099-1298.
^Marcus, Samantha."These are the towns with the lowest property taxes in each of N.J.'s 21 counties", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, April 30, 2019. Accessed November 7, 2019. "New Jersey's average property tax bill may have hit $8,767 last year – a new record – but taxpayers in some parts of the state pay just a fraction of that.... The average property tax bill in Camden was $1,710 in 2018, the lowest in Camden County."
^Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and Answers,New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "The Urban Enterprise Zone Program (UEZ) was enacted in 1983. It authorized the designation of ten zones by the New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Authority: Camden, Newark, Bridgeton, Trenton, Plainfield, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Kearny, Orange and Millville/Vineland (joint zone)."
^Racioppi, Dustin."Christie vetoes urban enterprise zone extension",The Record, February 10, 2017. Accessed November 19, 2019. "Gov. Chris Christie on Friday conditionally vetoed the Legislature's attempt to extend the Urban Enterprise Zone status for its five charter communities, calling the economic revitalization program an 'abject failure' with a 'devastating impact' on state revenue.... The Legislature returned with what it called a compromise bill, A-4189, to extend the designation for two years instead of 10 for the first five UEZs – Bridgeton, Camden, Newark, Plainfield and Trenton – which expired on Jan. 1."
^"Notice: Law Reinstates Five Urban Enterprise Zones And Also Extends The Expiration Date Of 12 Other UEZs",New Jersey Department of the Treasury Division of Taxation, May 30, 2018. Accessed November 19, 2019. "On May 30, 2018, Governor Murphy signed Senate Bill 846 (A3549). The law reinstated five expired Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZs). If your business is located in one of these zones, you may file an application to establish qualified business status. (Past certifications are no longer valid in these five zones). The five UEZs are in: *Bridgeton *Camden *Newark *Plainfield *Trenton. The UEZs in the five locations listed above expire on December 31, 2023."
^Port History, South Jersey Port Corporation. Accessed July 3, 2011.
^Riordan, Kevin."Fairview begins new experiment",Courier-Post, December 6, 2001. Accessed September 7, 2025, viaNewspapers.com. "This village-like neighborhood at the southern edge of Camden was America's first planned community for the working class."
^What We Do: History,New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in theAbbott v. Burke case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.... Full funding for approved projects was authorized for the 31 special-needs districts, known as 'Abbott Districts'."
^About, Holy Name School. Accessed February 20, 2023.
^Who We Are, Sacred Heart School. Accessed February 20, 2023.
^History and Mission, St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral School. Accessed February 20, 2023."Classes at St. Joseph School began in a home in 1894 and was staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Syracuse for the 40 families in the new parish in East Camden."
^Schools, South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 20, 2023.
^About Us,Camden County College. Accessed October 22, 2013. "The College's presence in the City of Camden began in 1969, when a diploma-completion program was begun in borrowed space to help students prepare to pass their GED test so they could begin college-level courses on the Blackwood Campus that fall. In 1991, a five-story Camden City Campus building – now called College Hall – provided the college's first permanent home in the city. The eight-story academic, retail and parking facility known as the Camden Technology Center was added in 2004 as one of the first projects completed under the Camden Municipal Rehabilitation and Economic Recovery Act."
^Campus HistoryArchived February 2, 2015, at theWayback Machine, Rowan University at Camden. Accessed October 22, 2013. "In the fall of 1969, Glassboro State College opened the Camden Urban Center at 534 Cooper Street."
^Minters, Brooke."New medical dean named at Rowan University in Camden",The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 10, 2010. Accessed July 3, 2011. "Paul Katz, who recently helped start a medical school in Scranton, was tapped Wednesday to be founding dean of another medical start-up: the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden."
^Katz, Matt."Camden preparing to close its libraries, destroy books",The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 6, 2010. Accessed October 13, 2015. "Camden is preparing to permanently shut its library system by the end of the year, potentially leaving residents of the impoverished city among the few in the United States unable to borrow a library book free. At an emotional but sparsely attended meeting of the library board Thursday, its president, Martin McKernan, said the city's three libraries cannot stay open past Dec. 31 because of severe budget cuts by Mayor Dana L. Redd."
^Holt, Bob."Camden library system given hope by mayor's plan"[permanent dead link], NJ Newsroom, August 10, 2010. Accessed October 13, 2015. "Officials in New Jersey have apparently found a way to save Camden's public library system in whole or at least part. Mayor Dana Redd said Monday that city officials will look to join the county library system."
^viaAssociated Press."Main branch of Camden public library set to close",The Star-Ledger, February 10, 2011. Accessed October 13, 2015. "The main branch of the Camden Free Public Library, in a high-ceilinged former bank building, was a victim of the same budget crisis that resulted in layoffs last month of nearly 400 city government employees, including nearly half the police department and one-third of the firefighters."
^Full Biography, Congressman Donald Norcross. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Donald and his wife Andrea live in Camden City and are the proud parents of three grown children and grandparents of two."
^Katz, Matt; and Simin, Darran."Camden's worst-case budget scenario calls for 350-plus layoffs",The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 8, 2010. Accessed July 3, 2011. "Camden will lay off more than 150 police officers, 77 firefighters, and about 150 other employees unless the mayor can wrest concessions in union contracts in the coming days, according to union officials and employees. The cuts, described as the worst-case scenario, would amount to more than a third of the city's unionized workforce."
^Everett, Renecca."Camden's 2017 murder rate was the lowest in decades. Will the trend continue?", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, January 9, 2018, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed March 22, 2020. "In a city that regularly has the highest violent crime rate in the state, any decline in homicides is good news. But local police say that the murder rate for 2017 has hit a 30-year low. The total homicides in the city in 2017 – including both murders and manslaughter cases – was 23, the lowest number going back as far as 1988, according to county spokesman Dan Keashen. It looks especially good compared to last year, when homicides spiked to 44."
^Everett, Rebecca."Camden's 2017 murder rate was the lowest in decades. Will the trend continue?", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, January 9, 2018. Accessed January 9, 2018. "The total homicides in the city in 2017 – including both murders and manslaughter cases – was 23, the lowest number going back as far as 1988, according to county spokesman Dan Keashen. It looks especially good compared to last year, when homicides spiked to 44. That's a year-to-year decline of 48 percent."
^Borowski, Neill."CCPD: Total Violent Crime Down in 2022; Motor Vehicle Crime Up Sharply",Camden, NJ, Patch, January 9, 2023. Accessed March 11, 2023. "Although total violent crime continued to decline in the city last year, the number of auto thefts and thefts from autos, especially stealing catalytic converters, was up sharply, according to 2022 statistics from the Camden County Police Department.... Murder and manslaughter incidents totaled 28 in 2022, the highest number since there were 44 in 2016.... But the 2022 increases in murders and robberies were offset by declines in aggravated assaults and rapes to produce a lower violent crime count. The non-violent crime count of 2,002 was up 29% and at the highest point since 2019."
^Brubaker, Harold."S. Jersey faring worse on jobs than Phila. area",The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 29, 2009. Accessed September 7, 2025. "The unemployment rate in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties was 10 percent in September, compared with 7.1 percent in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware Counties.... The jobless rate of 19.2 percent in the troubled city of Camden weighs on the figure for South Jersey, but even without it the aggregate rate for the three counties which are home to nearly a quarter of the region's population was 9.6 percent. Add Philadelphia's 11 percent unemployment rate to the mix in Southeastern Pennsylvania and the overall rate there jumps to 8.4, still significantly below the rate in South Jersey."
^History,Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial. Accessed November 20, 2016. "On Sept. 12, 1999, the ship was towed by the tug Sea Victory from Bremerton to Philadelphia where it arrived on Nov. 11. On 20 January 2000, Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig announced that the battleship would be donated to Home Port Alliance of Camden, N.J., for use as a museum."
^"James Cardwell"Archived March 23, 2016, at theWayback Machine, DVRBS.com. Accessed August 14, 2019. "James Cardwell, born and raised in Camden, appeared in 26 movies, beginning in the 1944.... Albert "Al" Cardwell graduated from the Alfred Cramer Junior High School at 28th and Mickle Streets in East Camden, and went on to Woodrow Wilson High School on Federal Street, graduating in February of 1940."
^Vitarelli, Alicia."Camden native stars as George Forman in new movie 'Big George Foreman'",WPVI-TV, April 23, 2023. Accessed May 7, 2023. "Camden native and Cheyney University graduate Khris Davis has the leading role inBig George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of The World."
^Wood, Richard.Contemporary Authors, p. 228.Gale Research International, 1998.ISBN9780787619954. Accessed July 29, 2019. "Johnson, Charles Floyd (Chas. Floyd Johnson) Personal: Born on February 12, in Camden, NJ; son of Orange Maull (a real property officer) and Bertha Ellen (a school principal; maiden name, Seagers) Johnson"
^Hyman, Vicki."Card Sharks host Jim Perry, Camden native, dead at 82", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, November 24, 2015. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Camden-born TV game show host Jim Perry has died of cancer after a five-year battle, according to news reports. He was 82."
^Staff."Obituary",Chicago Tribune, October 28, 1953. Accessed October 22, 2013. "A native of Camden, NJ, Bailey began his art career with the Philadelphia Times in 1892."
^"Camden boxer Alexander earns draw in debut",Courier-Post, July 23, 2008. Accessed October 22, 2013. "Max Alexander didn't get the victory he so badly sought, but things could have turned out worse for the Camden boxer who was making his debut last weekend as a cruiserweight with a 200-pound weight limit."
^Staff."Eagles sign Camden's Baker"Archived October 23, 2013, at theWayback Machine,The Times, March 12, 2009. Accessed October 22, 2013. "The Eagles yesterday made another move in free agency to bolster their depth in the secondary, signing Camden native Rashad Baker to a one-year contract."
^Hagenmayer, S. Joseph."James Corea, 63, radio talk-show host and former owner of gym",The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 5, 2001, backed up by theInternet Archive as of March 8, 2001. Accessed January 3, 2018. "James Corea, 63, of Haddonfield, the well-known gym owner and host of local radio talk shows about fitness, died Saturday shortly after his arrival at Kennedy Memorial Hospitals-University Medical Center/Cherry Hill.... Born in Camden, Mr. Corea was a graduate of Camden Catholic High School, where he was, not surprisingly, an athlete."
^Romalino, Carly Q."Going for the Gold",South Jersey Times, June 13, 2008. Accessed September 15, 2023. "Golden, who is a native of Camden, N.J., started training in the sport at the Gloucester County Dance and Gymnastics Academy in Deptford."
^"Ex-NFL player opts for Border Patrol career", ProCanes.com, January 14, 2009. Accessed March 11, 2018. "Green, who was born and raised in Camden, N.J., said it was never his boyhood dream to play football. He started playing football during his junior year at Woodrow Wilson High School at the urging of one of the team's coaches."
^viaAssociated Press."Cheyney Selects New Grid Coach",Hanover Evening Sun, August 3, 1979. Accessed January 21, 2018. "Andy Hinson, former Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference coach of the year, has been named head football coach at Cheyney State College, a spokesman announced today.... The 1949 graduate of Camden, N.J., High School, was New Jersey scholastic football coach of the year following his first of three seasons there in 1973."
^Staff."Kenny's Korner",Orlando Sentinel, October 3, 1988. Accessed January 21, 2018. "The Philadelphia Eagle who thought he wanted to run a corner deli in Camden, N.J., is back on the team. Eagles spokesman Jim Gallagher confirmed Saturday that former wide receiver Kenny Jackson has signed a 1-year contract with the team. He retired after the 1987 season to run a deli called Kenny's Korner."
^Leon Lucas, Camden History. Accessed May 7, 2023. "Leon Lucas, born in Camden, New Jersey on September 4, 1901, was the son of Polish immigrants."
^Mike Moriarty Stats,Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed January 21, 2020. "Born: March 8, 1974 (Age: 45-319d) in Camden, NJ... High School: Bishop Eustace Preparatory School (Pennsauken, NJ)"
^Halperin, Frank."A world of sports under one roof",Courier-Post, March 9, 2008. Accessed September 7, 2025, viaNewspapers.com. "Among the local legends are Camden's Ray Narleski, an American League All-Star who played for the Cleveland Indians during the 1950s."
^Silva, Matthew."Temple's Haason Reddick 'had a feeling' about Arizona Cardinals",Courier-Post, April 27, 2017. Accessed July 14, 2019. "Reddick, a defensive end and linebacker for Temple University and Camden native, was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 13th-overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia on Thursday."
^Lynch, Ray; and Young, Michael E."Buddy Rogers, 71, Former Champion Wrestler"Archived November 29, 2014, at theWayback Machine,Sun-Sentinel, June 28, 1992. Accessed November 17, 2014. "Mr. Rogers was raised in Camden, N.J., where he was known as 'Dutch' Rhode, went to high school and worked for a while as a Camden police officer. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and worked in a shipyard in Camden."
^Frank, Reuben."Savitsky, of Eagles' '48–'49 champs, dies at 88"[dead link], CSNPhilly.com, September 6, 2012. Accessed November 6, 2018. "Savitsky was born in New York, but his family moved to South Jersey in the 1930s, and he grew up on Pershing Street in Camden and attended Camden High School."
^Darrell Wilson,Wagner Seahawks football. Accessed February 25, 2024. "A native of Camden, NJ where he starred at Pennsauken High School, Wilson is a 1981 graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he earned All-American honors."
^Bo Wood NFL Stats, Pro Football Archives. Accessed September 13, 2022. "Born: November 3, 1945 Camden, NJ High School: Haddon Heights (NJ)"
^Lentz III, Harris M."Clark, David Aaron", p. 106 inObituaries in the Performing Arts, 2009: Film, television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture.McFarland and Company, 2016.ISBN9780786456451. Accessed August 14, 2019. "Clark was born in Camden, New Jersey, on September 5, 1960."
^"Obiruary Joseph C. Strasser",Courier-Post, June 28, 2019. Accessed April 2, 2025. "Born in Camden NJ, he grew up in Collingswood, and graduated from Camden Catholic High school in 1958."
^Darrow, Chuck."Person to Watch: Graham Alexander Reviving the Victor music legacy",South Jersey Magazine, January 2016. Accessed July 29, 2019. "Two decades later, Alexander, 26, a Camden native now living in Haddonfield, not only knows the story of RCA Victor and its forebear, the Victor Talking Machine Co., but he has taken it upon himself to revive the brand that was once a household name."
^Allen, Evelyn."HMHS Alum, Broadway Performer Returns To Camden Roots"Archived July 30, 2019, at theWayback Machine, The Retrospect, February 10, 2017. Accessed July 29, 2019. "Before long-time Camden resident, Broadway performer and singer Vedra Chandler saw her name up in lights, she had one thought in mind – to return home to spread her love, expertise and support to the community that helped raise her."
^Grudens, Richard.The Italian Crooners Bedside Companion, p. 205. Celebrity Profiles Publishing, 2004.ISBN9780976387701. Accessed July 29, 2019. "Columbo – A Career Cut Short Bing Crosby spoke kindly of his rival Russ Columbo, the Camden, New Jersey-born Prisoner of Love' recording star of the 1930s:"
^Steele, Allison."Samuel Dockery, 86; Philadelphia jazz pianist",The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 28, 2015. Accessed December 11, 2022. "Born in Camden, Mr. Dockery was the oldest of eight siblings raised by a single mother who taught her children how to play piano, said his sister Dolly Roth, of Mount Laurel."
^Arnold, Patrick viaAssociated Press."Her Simple Night Club Act Is Enough For Lola Falana",Toledo Blade, March 21, 1980. Accessed July 2, 2012. "A native of Camden, Miss Falana began attending dance school when she was three, and before she reached her teens she had landed a slot in the late Dinah Washington's night club act."
^"New Name, New Everything".Courier-Post. January 23, 1987.
^DeLuca, Dan."Just a couple of Philly-area country boys",The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 28, 1994. Accessed July 30, 2025. "Bonsall grew up in the Harrowgate section of Philadelphia, near the Tioga Street el stop; Sterban was born across the river in Camden and grew up in Collingswood."
^"Camden gospel singer Tye Tribbett sends spiritual messages through music",The Star-Ledger, April 20, 2014. Accessed September 2, 2019. "'He Turned It,' arguably the most critically acclaimed recording released by a New Jersey artist in 2013, is the climactic track ofGreater Than, Tribbett's fifth album – a varied, inspiring and creative set. Grammy voters took note of the album's brilliance: This January, the Camden artist walked away from the Staples Center in Los Angeles with two trophies."
^Wynn, Ron."Buster Williams: Blendability",JazzTimes, April 1, 2001. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Though Williams began working professionally upon graduating from Camden High School in Camden, New Jersey, he eventually took some courses in Composition and Harmony and Theory at Combs College of Music in Philadelphia."
^Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, 2008, p. 255. E. J. Mullin, 2008. Accessed December 4, 2022 "John F. Amodeo, Rep., Margate - Mr. Amodeo was born Aug. 1, 1950, in Camden and raised on Absecon Island. He attended Margate schools and is a graduate of St. Augustine Prep."
^Benson, Josh."A Spoiler Is Lurking South Of Trenton",The New York Times, November 28, 2004. Accessed August 22, 2018. "Just ask Representative Rob Andrews, the hyper-talented son of Camden who ran for governor in 1997 as the anointed champion of the South Jersey Democratic machine."
^viaAssociated Press."Ex-Secret Service Head Dead At 73",Ocala Star-Banner, November 7, 1978. Accessed October 22, 2013. "A native of Camden, Baughman started his Secret Service career as a clerk-stenographer in the Philadelphia office in 1927 and qualified as an agent by going out on investigations to gain experience."
^Stout, David."William T. Cahill, 84, Former Governor",The New York Times, July 2, 1996. Accessed July 29, 2019. "Mr. Cahill, the son of Irish immigrants, was born in Philadelphia. His family moved to Camden when he was a boy, and he was an outstanding baseball and basketball player at Camden Catholic High School."
^Naedele, Walter F."Mary DiSabato; headed N.J. State Parole Board",The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 23, 2016. Accessed October 27, 2016. "Born in Camden, Mrs. DiSabato graduated from Camden High School in 1946 and served as a Sixth District Assemblywoman, covering parts of Camden and Burlington Counties from 1974 to 1980, son Stephen Croce said."
^"Jersey Jotter",Courier-Post, February 20, 1988. Accessed November 6, 2023, viaNewspapers.com. "Camden resident Michellene Davis, a 10th grade student from the Pennsauken Campus of Camden County Vocational and Technical Schools, received ninth honors as Ms. Future Business Leader in the Southern Regional competitions of Future Business Leaders of America, which is a national business organization for high school business students."
^Six, Jim."Garcia confirmed for reappointment to parole board",The Star-Ledger, January 10, 2008. Accessed July 25, 2016. "The full Senate this week confirmed Governor Jon Corzine's nomination of Carmen M. Garcia for reappointment to a six-year term on the state parole board. Garcia, who grew up in Camden and Pennsauken, is one of two appointed parole board members exclusively assigned to decide parole matters related to juvenile offenders housed in juvenile institutional and residential facilities under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC), as well as juvenile offenders housed in State prisons."
^Avril, Tom."Whitman Picks A Five-year Aide As Chief Counsel",The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 5, 1999. Accessed August 5, 2015. "Gov. Whitman yesterday named as her chief counsel Richard S. Mroz, an administration member since 1994 who recently has coordinated state involvement in economic-development projects such as redeveloping the waterfront in his native Camden."
^Sullivan, Joseph F."The Last Drive-In in New Jersey Is Fading to Black",The New York Times, August 31, 1991. Accessed January 17, 2012. "The first drive-in was the brainchild of Richard Hollingshead Jr. of Camden, who experimented by mounting a movie projector on the roof of his car to show home movies on the side of a building."
^LaGorce, Tammy."For Cooks Who Compete, the Challenges of Fame",The New York Times, January 28, 2011. Accessed July 2, 2012. "Aaron McCargo Jr., the bold-flavor-favoring winner of season 4 of Food Network'sNext Food Network Star, did. Mr. McCargo has had his own show,Big Daddy's House, since 2008; the network guaranteed him six episodes as a result of his win. 'It's rocking along,' said Mr. McCargo, 38, a native of Camden who still lives in the area but will not disclose where."
^"It All Adds Up: Running, teaching and math.",Rowan University, September 16, 2009. Accessed November 24, 2020. "A Camden native who'd been considering a career in engineering, Dr. Osler suddenly had an opportunity, while still an undergraduate himself, to teach his first calculus course."
^Clothier, Gary."Ask Mr. Know It All"Archived September 29, 2012, at theWayback Machine,Youngstown Vindicator, February 12, 2012. Accessed July 2, 2012. "Jim Perry was born in 1933 in Camden, N.J. He was a talented athlete in high school. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Perry became a singer, taking over for Eddie Fisher at Grossingers in the Catskill Mountains."
^Goldstein, Stan."At the Starting Gate: A Camden TV Network",Courier-Post, November 4, 1972. Accessed January 9, 2020. "Unless you're Tommy Roberts, a canny East Camden native with a flair for fashion, a gift for gab and an insistent 'can do' attitude."
Core cities are metropolitan core cities of at least a million people. The other areas are urban areas of cities that have an urban area of 150,000+ or of a metropolitan area of at least 250,000+. Satellite cities are in italics.
.jpg)
_at_Exit_354_(U.S._Route_130_NORTH%2c_New_Jersey_State_Route_168%2c_Interstate_676%2c_Camden%2c_Gloucester)_in_Camden%2c_Camden_County%2c_New_Jersey.jpg)
