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 | Stephen DiDonato (2013)[3] |
| • Clerk | April Maimone |
| Area[4] | |
| • Total | 41.47 sq mi (107.4 km2) |
| • Land | 41.26 sq mi (106.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.21 sq mi (0.6 km2) |
| Elevation[5] | 95 ft (29 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[6] | |
| • Total | 14,791 |
| • Density | 360/sq mi (140/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08037[7] |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-29430[8][9] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0876915[10] |
| Website | http://www.townofhammonton.org/ |
Hammonton is a town in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 14,791.[6] 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. It was incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1866, from portions of Hamilton Township and Mullica Township.[11]
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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).[12]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.47 square miles (107.4 km2), of which, 41.26 square miles (106.9 km2) of it is land and 0.21 square miles (0.54 km2) of it (0.51%) is water.[4]
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.
Hammonton has a humid continental climate bordering on a humid subtropical climate, characterized by brisk winters, hot summers, and plentiful precipitation spread evenly throughout the year.
| Climate data for Hammonton, New Jersey (1981-2010 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 41.1 (5.1) |
44.8 (7.1) |
53.7 (12.1) |
63.9 (17.7) |
73.5 (23.1) |
82.6 (28.1) |
87.5 (30.8) |
86.0 (30.0) |
79.2 (26.2) |
67.1 (19.5) |
58.0 (14.4) |
46.8 (8.2) |
65.35 (18.53) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 22.3 (−5.4) |
24.8 (−4.0) |
31.4 (−0.3) |
40.6 (4.8) |
50.8 (10.4) |
60.4 (15.8) |
65.4 (18.6) |
63.6 (17.6) |
55.5 (13.1) |
43.8 (6.6) |
36.2 (2.3) |
27.2 (−2.7) |
43.50 (6.39) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 3.07 (78) |
3.01 (76.5) |
3.33 (84.6) |
4.67 (118.6) |
3.47 (88.1) |
3.90 (99.1) |
4.18 (106.2) |
3.91 (99.3) |
3.76 (95.5) |
4.12 (104.6) |
3.86 (98) |
4.03 (102.4) |
45.31 (1,150.9) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 6.0 (15.2) |
6.6 (16.8) |
1.7 (4.3) |
.2 (0.5) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
3.3 (8.4) |
17.8 (45.2) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.4 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 12.6 | 10.9 | 11.7 | 9.8 | 9.0 | 8.3 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 10.9 | 122.3 |
| Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 3.2 | 2.4 | .8 | .2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 7.8 |
| Source: NOAA [13] | |||||||||||||
[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% | |
| 2010 | 14,791 | 17.4% | |
| Population sources: 1930-1990[14] 2000[15] 2010[6] |
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As of the census[8] 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 per square mile (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.[15]
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.[16] News reports have said Hammonton leads the nation in Italian-Americans per capita.[17]
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.[15]
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.[15]
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.[15]
[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 2011[update], the Mayor of Hammonton is Steve DiDonato (I). Members of the Hammonton Town Council are Deputy Mayor Mickey Pullia (I), Jerry Barberio (I), Paul Esposito (I), Tom Gribbin (I), Sam Rodio (I) and Michael Torrissi, Jr. (R).[18] After Councilmember James Bertino was named to fill James Curcio's vacancy on the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Republican Michael Torrissi was selected by county committee members in February 2011 to fill Bertino's now-vacant spot on the Town Council.[19]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Hammonton is in the 2nd Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district.[20] The town was relocated to the 8th state legislative district by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[6] The new district will be in effect for the June 2011 primary and the November 2011 general election, with the state senator and assembly members elected taking office in the new district as of January 2012.[20]
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).
The 9th district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Christopher J. Connors (R, Lacey Township) and in the General Assembly by DiAnne Gove (R, Long Beach Township) and Brian E. Rumpf (R, Little Egg Harbor Township).[21] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[22] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[23]
Atlantic County's County Executive is Dennis Levinson (Linwood, term ends December 31, 2015.[24] 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; four members are elected at-large and there are five election districts, each of which elect a single member.[25] As of 2012[update], Atlantic County's Freeholders are the four at-large members Vice Chairman Frank V. Giordano (Hamilton Township, 2012)[26], Alexander C. Marino (Linwood, 2014)[27], Joseph J. McDevitt (Ventnor City, 2013)[28] and John W. Risley (Egg Harbor Township, 2014)[29]; and five district members elected from District 1 (Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part) and Pleasantville) Charles T. Garrett (Atlantic City, 2013)[30], District 2 - (Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part), Longport, Margate, Somers Point and Ventnor), Chairman Frank D. Formica (Atlantic City, 2012)[31], District 3 (Egg Harbor Township (part), Hamilton Township (part), Linwood and Northfield) - Frank Sutton (Egg Harbor Township, 2014)[32], District 4 (Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway Township and Port Republic - Richard Dase (Galloway Township, 2013)[33] and District 5 (Buena Borough, Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hamilton Township (part), Hammonton, Mullica Township and Weymouth) - James A. Bertino (Hammonton, 2012).[34][35][36]
[edit] Education
Students in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade attend the Hammonton Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[37]) are the Early Childhood Education Center (PreK-1st grade; 569 students), Warren E. Sooy Elementary School (2-5; 694), Hammonton Middle School (6-8; 834) and Hammonton High School (9-12; 1,356).
Students from Folsom Borough (for grades 9-12) and Waterford Township (for 7-12) attend the district's schools as part of sending/receiving relationships with the Folsom Borough School District and the Waterford Township School District.[38][39]
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.[40]
[edit] Media outlets
[edit] Television stations
- WPSJ-LD Channel 8 Hammonton (Independent)
[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 (4.8 km) northeast of the central business district.
[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.[41]
- Hammonton is the only municipality in southern New Jersey with a town form of government.
- Hammonton has an Emergency Room operated by AtlantiCare.
- In 1949, Hammonton was the winner of the Little League World Series.
- Hammonton is known as the "Blueberry Capital of the World."[42]
- Hammonton made a cameo appearance in the first and second episodes of the HBO series "Boardwalk Empire". A scene towards the end of both episodes showed the town sign "Welcome to Hammonton, The Blueberry Capital of the World"
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Hammonton include:
- Jill Biden (born 1951), educator and the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, was born in Hammonton.[43]
- Ray Blanchard (born 1945), sexologist.[citation needed]
- Nelson Johnson, author of Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, a chapter of which became the basis for the series Boardwalk Empire.[44]
- Victor Moore (1876-1962), actor.[45]
- George Washington Nicholson (1832–1912), landscape painter who retired to Hammonton around 1902 and lived there until his death in 1912.[46]
- N. Leonard Smith, politician.[47]
- The Early November, American rock band.[48]
- Gary Wolfe (wrestler) (born 1967), professional wrestler.[citation needed]
[edit] Sister cities
San Gregorio da Sassola, Province of Rome, 
Italy
[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.
- ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed September 3, 2011.
- ^ a b GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2000 for Atlantic County, New Jersey -- County Subdivision and Place, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 29, 2011.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Town of Hammonton, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b c d 2011 Apportionment Redistricting: Municipalities sorted alphabetically, New Jersey Department of State, p. 4. Accessed June 29, 2011.
- ^ Look Up a ZIP Code, United States Postal Service. Accessed September 3, 2011.
- ^ 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: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=phi. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed September 2, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Hammonton town, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 3, 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Mayor & Council, Town of Hammonton. Accessed June 29, 2011.
- ^ Procida, Lee. "Michael Torrissi takes oath of office as Hammonton councilman", The Press of Atlantic City, February 28, 2011. Accessed June 29, 2011. "Newly appointed Republican Councilman Michael Torrissi took his seat for the first time Monday night after the local county committee chose him to replace James Bertino, who is now a freeholder... Torrissi replaces Bertino as the sole Republican on a council dominated by the independent Hammonton First party after Bertino replaced James Curcio on the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Curcio was elected to serve as county surrogate."
- ^ a b 2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 58. Accessed June 29, 2011.
- ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
- ^ "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 January 12, 2012.
- ^ Atlantic County District Map 2008 (Graphical Approximation) , Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Frank V. Giordano, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Alexander C. Marino, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Joseph C. McDevitt, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ John W. Risley, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Charles T. Garrett, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Frank D. Formica, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Frank Sutton, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Richard Dase, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ James A. Bertino, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Marino, Sue. "Newly seated freeholders give Republicans 8-1 majority , Shore News Today, January 4, 2012. Accessed January 12, 2012. "Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson was the first to take the oath of office.... District 3 Freeholder Frank Sutton of Egg Harbor Township was sworn into his third term....Jim Bertino of Hammonton was sworn in to his first elected term on the freeholder board representing District 5.... John Risley of Egg Harbor Township was sworn into office as an at-large freeholder by his friend, Curcio.... District 1 Freeholder Charles Garrett, the board’s lone Democrat, was out of state during the reorganization. The first order of the governing body was to elect a chairman and vice chairman for 2012. Nominated by Sutton and seconded by Freeholder Joe McDevitt, Frank Formica of District 2 was chosen chairman, as he was in 2011. At-Large Freeholder Frank Giordano was returned as vice chairman."
- ^ Data for the Hammonton Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed June 29, 2011.
- ^ Hammonton Public Schools 2010 School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 29, 2011. "We have a wonderful school system that serves the children of Hammonton, Waterford, and Folsom."
- ^ Puko, Timothy. "Sending Towns Feeling Pinched by Hammonton", The Press of Atlantic City, March 13, 2007. Accessed June 29, 2011. "The two school districts that send students to Hammonton are disputing tuition adjustments that would allow Hammonton School District to avoid a tax hike this year but cause large tax hikes in the sending districts. The school budgets for Hammonton and its sending districts Waterford and Folsom could hang in limbo well past next month's school board elections, and Waterford and Folsom could be left with budget fights and massive cuts, sending district superintendents said."
- ^ Atlantic County Schools, Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Accessed July 22, 2008.
- ^ "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."
- ^ 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.[dead link]
- ^ Clark, Michael. "Author Nelson Johnson strikes gold with infamous Atlantic City characters", The Press of Atlantic City, August 14, 2010. Accessed September 3, 2011. "A native of Hammonton, Johnson got his first taste of politics when he was elected as a Democrat to Atlantic County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1975, where he served until 1980."
- ^ 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."
[edit] External links
- Hammonton Town website
- Hammonton Public Schools
- Hammonton Public Schools's 2009–10 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
- The Hammonton Gazette - Hammonton's local newspaper. 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.
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