Camden, New Jersey

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}}Template:Main other Camden is a city in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Delaware Valley metropolitan region.<ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> The city was incorporated on February 13, 1828.<ref name="Story">Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 104. Accessed January 17, 2012.</ref> Camden has been the county seat of Camden County<ref name="CountyMap">New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed April 26, 2022.</ref> since the county's formation on March 13, 1844.<ref name="Story" /> The city derives its name from Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden.<ref name="Hutchinson">Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.</ref><ref name="Gannett">Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 65. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 28, 2015.</ref> Camden is made up of over 20 neighborhoods,<ref name="camconnect.org">How Will Camden Be Counted in the 2010 Census?, CamConnect.org. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref><ref name="Camden Facts">Camden Facts, Camconnect.org. Accessed May 27, 2012.</ref><ref name="Locality Search">Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref> and is part of the South Jersey region of the state.

The initial growth of Camden industrially is often credited to the “big three” employers of Camden: RCA Victor, Campbell's Soup Company and New 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.<ref name="Camden, New Jersey">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Camden Transformed">Template:Citation</ref> Though the city has declined in recent decades since the decline of heavy industry in the area and white flight to the suburbs, the city has made efforts to revitalize itself through various infrastructure and community projects.

Projects such as the redevelopment of the waterfront area brought three tourist attractions to the area: the USS New Jersey, the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion and the Adventure Aquarium.<ref name="Attractions">Attractions Template:Webarchive, Camden Waterfront. Accessed July 26, 2018.</ref> The city is the home of Rutgers University–Camden, which was founded as the South Jersey Law School in 1926,<ref name="History">History, Rutgers University–Camden. Accessed April 5, 2016.</ref> and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, which opened in 2012. Camden also houses both Cooper University Hospital and Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. Camden County College and Rowan University also have campuses in downtown Camden. The "eds and meds" institutions account for roughly 45% of Camden's total employment.<ref name="camden.rutgers.edu">The Camden Higher Education and Healthcare Task Force: A Winning Investment for the City of Camden Template:Webarchive, Rutgers University–Camden, Fall 2012. Accessed July 26, 2018.</ref>

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.<ref name=WHYY>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

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Prehistory

The city traces back to local indigenous Lenape, who are believed to have inhabited this area 13–15,000 years prior to the first European settlers.<ref name=":0-2024">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Settlement years (1623–1701)

Between 1623 and 1627, Captain Cornelius Jacobsen May, an officer with the Dutch West India Company and first director of New Netherland, established Fort Nassau, where the Delaware River meets Big Timber Creek, which is today known as Brooklawn. 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 to New Amsterdam (Today Manhattan, New York). Wouter van Twiller, Governor of New 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="CamdenHistory">Early 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."</ref> The fort was used by the Dutch until around 1650 or 1651 when it was decided that it was far to 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, Sir Edmund Ployden was given a charter from King Charles I of England for all territory that lies between New England and Maryland. After the Restoration in 1660, previous claims were largely overwritten, the land around Camden was then controlled by different nobles serving under King Charles II that those associated with Sir Edmund Ployden.<ref name="CamdenHistory2">Early 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."</ref>

In 1664, the Duke of York had the King Charles II create the new colony for Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. It was named the Province of New Jersey after George Carteret; in 1649, he was Governor of the Isle of Jersey. Lord John Berkeley kept his share of New Jersey from 1664 until 1674, when he sold it to two Quakers, John Fenwick and Edward Byllynge. This due to political difficulties between him, Carteret, and Governor of New York Richard 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 the Province of New York.<ref name="CamdenHistory2" /> 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, the Society 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 and West 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.<ref name=":0-2024" />

Colonial (1702–1775)

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 between Fort Nassau and Philadelphia.<ref name="CamdenHistory" /> Through ferries, families like Coopers and the Kaighns 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.<ref name="CamdenHistory" />

Post-colonial (1776–1827)

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 the Delaware River.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Founding and early years (1828–1890)

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 of Newton Township, while the area was still part of Gloucester County. In 1832, Camden Township was created as a township coextensive with Camden City. The township existed until it was repealed in 1848.<ref name=":0" /> Camden Township was established in 1832 which was the same area as Camden City until it was reduced in 1848.<ref name="Story"/> In 1830, the Camden 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 the Delaware 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.<ref name=":4">Greenberg, Gail. "County History" Template:Webarchive, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref>

Industrial growth (1891–1950)

At the turn 20th Century, industry grew rapidly at the hands of companies such as the Victor Talking Machine Company (later RCA Victor), New York Shipbuilding Corporation, and Campbell Soup Company. These were major employers in Camden, at times employing tens of thousands in and outside of Camden.<ref name=":18">O'Reilly, David. Template:Usurped, 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.'"</ref><ref name=":19">New York Shipbuilding, Camden NJ Template:Webarchive, 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."</ref><ref name=":20">"Made in S.J.: Campbell Soup Co.". Portal to gallery of photographs (20) related to The Campbell Soup Company. Courier-Post. Undated. Accessed December 25, 2009.</ref> Its location on the Delaware River made it ideal to launch ships.

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.<ref name=":22">History, City of Camden. Accessed July 26, 2018.</ref> In 1926, a bridge connected New Jersey and Pennsylvania made its debut opening, which was named the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in 1956.<ref>Template:Usurped, WHYY-FM, backed up by the Internet 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."</ref> The project cost $37 million, which New Jersey and Pennsylvania both paid equal parts of. The goal was to reduce ferry traffic between Philadelphia and Camden. Camden Central Airport opened in 1929 (closed in 1957).

During the 1930s, Camden faced economic decline in the face of the Great Depression. It was due to Camden's thriving industry that they did not go bankrupt. The United States role in World War II made the New York Shipbuilding Company the largest and most productive ship yard in the world.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref name="AfterTheFall">Template:Cite book</ref> On July 17, 1951, the Delaware River Port Authority, a bi-state agency, was created to promote trade and better coordinate transportation between the two cities of Camden and Philadelphia.<ref>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."</ref>

Industrial decline (1951–1991)

However, by the 1950s, manufacturing came to slow causing industries to relocate and employment to dwindle.<ref name="AfterTheFall" /> 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.<ref name="AfterTheFall3">Template:Cite book</ref> Having reached its peak number of manufacturing jobs in 1950, by 1982 it was a quarter of what it had been. Post World War II, Campbell's Soup Company and RCA Victor had decentralized their production efforts in Camden.<ref>Sidorick, Daniel. Campbell Soup Company, Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Accessed April 26, 2022.</ref> This Capital Flight was an attempt to avoid an increase in labor wages which unionized workers were fighting for.<ref name="Camden, New Jersey" /><ref name="Camden Transformed" /> 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.<ref>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."</ref>

During this period there was a large amount of white flight, in which white residents moved to surrounding suburbs in search of economic opportunity.<ref name="AfterTheFall3" /> Neighborhoods were further divided by the construction of the North-South Freeway; 1,289 families were displaced by the highway, 85% of which were nonwhite families.<ref>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.'""</ref> 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.

Revitalization (1992–present)

Efforts to revitalize Camden began in 1980 with Mayor Randy 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.<ref name="Unruh">Ramsland, Katherine. "Rampage in Camden" Template:Webarchive, TruTV. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref><ref name="Katz">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> With Milton Milan's election 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.<ref>via Associated 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."</ref> 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.<ref name=":022">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web

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File:Cooper Street-Rutgers University Station.jpg

The River Line's Cooper Street–Rutgers University station stop

Redevelopment

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File:The End of Cooper St..jpg

Camden Towers (left), American Water Headquarters (center), and 11 Cooper St Apartments (right) in Camden

File:South Jersey Gas Camden NJ.JPG

The 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 the New Jersey Economic Development Authority introduced incentives for companies to relocate to Camden.<ref name="The Star-Ledger">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other projects include the redevelopment of the Waterfront, the construction of the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex, and the Subaru of America's headquarters.

2020s

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 as Cooper University Hospital, Rowan University, Rutgers-Camden, Camden County College, Virtua, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, and CAMcare.<ref name="Rurcbog.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Culture

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"A City Invincible" sign, the city's official tagline, near Camden's Cooper Grant neighborhood

File:USS New Jersey Night.jpg

The Battleship USS 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 the Walt Whitman House,<ref name="NEWS01 2009" /> the Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, the Rutgers–Camden Center for the Arts and the Camden 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 as Collingswood or Cherry 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.<ref name="AfterTheFall" />

Community

Template:See also 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.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.

Arts and entertainment

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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 star Russ Columbo; singer and Broadway actress Lola Falana. Today, Camden is home to individuals and groups that help bulster the arts in the city.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Religion

File:Service-pnp-habshaer-nj-nj0000-nj0010-photos-111470pv.jpg

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.

The first Scientology church was incorporated in December 1953 in Camden by L. Ron Hubbard, his wife Mary Sue Hubbard, and John Galusha.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Service-pnp-vrg-04800-04876v.jpg

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 the Camden 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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 the Society 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Philanthropy

File:Cathedral Kitchen in Camden New Jersey.jpg

Cathedral Kitchen in Camden

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 the Society of Friends whose members were the likes of William Penn. In 1865, the Society of Friends founded the Camden Home for Friendless Children. Since that home was segregated, the Society of Friends opened the West 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.<ref name="Speer 399–408">Template:Cite journal</ref> Camden also has one of the highest rates of childhood poverty in the nation.<ref name="Speer 399–408" />

Economy

File:Campbellsoupheadquarters.jpg

Campbell Soup Company's headquarters in Camden

About 45% of employment in Camden is in the "eds and meds" sector, providing educational and medical institutions.<ref name="camden.rutgers.edu" />

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.<ref>2018 Property Tax Information, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated January 16, 2019. Accessed November 7, 2019.</ref><ref>Marcus, Samantha. "These are the towns with the lowest property taxes in each of N.J.'s 21 counties", NJ Advance Media for NJ.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."</ref>

Largest employers

• Campbell Soup Company
• Cooper University Hospital
• Delaware River Port Authority
• L3Harris Technologies, formerly L3 Technologies and L-3 Communications
• Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center
• Rutgers University–Camden
• State of New Jersey
  • New Jersey Judiciary
• Subaru of America; relocated from Cherry Hill in 2018
• UrbanPromise Ministry (largest private employer of teenagers)

Urban enterprise zone

Portions of Camden are part of a joint Urban Enterprise Zone. The city was selected in 1983 as one of the initial group of 10 zones chosen to participate in the program.<ref>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)."</ref> 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.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Program, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Businesses participating in the UEZ Program can charge half the standard sales tax rate on certain purchases, currently 3.3125% effective 1/1/2018"</ref> Established in September 1988, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Effective and Expiration Dates, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed January 8, 2018.</ref>

The UEZ program in Camden and four other original UEZ cities had been allowed to lapse as of January 1, 2017, after Governor Chris Christie, who called the program an "abject failure", vetoed a compromise bill that would have extended the status for two years.<ref>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."</ref> In May 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed a law that reinstated the program in these five cities and extended the expiration date in other zones.<ref>"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."</ref>

Geography and architecture

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 10.34 square miles (26.78 km²), including 8.92 square miles (23.10 km²) of land and 1.42 square miles (3.68 km²) of water (13.75%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1>US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 29, 2014.</ref>

Camden borders Collingswood, Gloucester City, Oaklyn, Pennsauken Township and Woodlynne in Camden County, as well as Philadelphia across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.<ref>Areas touching Camden, MapIt. Accessed March 22, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 22, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref> Just offshore of Camden is Pettys Island, which is part of Pennsauken Township. The Cooper River (popular for boating) flows through Camden, and Newton Creek forms Camden's southern boundary with Gloucester City.

Neighborhoods

Camden contains more than 20 generally recognized neighborhoods:<ref name="Locality Search" />

• Ablett Village
• Bergen Square
• Beideman
• Broadway
• Centerville
• Center City/Downtown Camden/Central Business District
• Central Waterfront
• Cooper
• Cooper Grant
• Cooper Point
• Cramer Hill
• Dudley
• East Camden
• Fairview
• Gateway
• Kaighn Point
• Lanning Square
• Liberty Park
• Marlton
• Morgan Village
• North Camden
• Parkside
• Pavonia
• Pyne Point
• Rosedale
• South Camden/Waterfront South
• Stockton
• Walt Whitman Park
• Yorkship

Waterfront

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File:Camden waterfront skyline.jpg

The Camden waterfront seen from across the Delaware River in Philadelphia in 2005

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, the USS New Jersey, the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, and the Adventure Aquarium.<ref name="Attractions" /> The waterfront is also the headquarters for Catapult Learning, the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex, American Water. Camden has two generally recognized neighborhoods located on the Delaware River waterfront, Central and South. Other attractions at the Waterfront are the Wiggins Park Riverstage and Marina, One Port Center, The Victor Lofts, the Walt Whitman House,<ref name="NEWS01 2009">"Camden's Historic Walt Whitman House". Portal to gallery of photographs (20) related to the Walt Whitman House. Courier-Post. Undated. Accessed December 25, 2009.</ref> the Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, the Rutgers–Camden Center for the Arts, the Camden Children's Garden, Cooper's Poynt Park (former site of Riverfront State Prison).

Port

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} On the Delaware River, with access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Port of Camden handles break bulk, bulk cargo, as well as some containers. Terminals fall under the auspices of the South Jersey Port Corporation as well as private operators such as Holt Logistics/Holtec International. The port receives hundreds of ships moving international and domestic cargo annually and is one of the USA's largest shipping centers for wood products, cocoa and perishables.<ref>Port History, South Jersey Port Corporation. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref>

Housing

The most common type of home in Camden is rowhouse, 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.

Camden contains the United States' first federally funded planned community for working class residents, Yorkship Village (now called Fairview).<ref name=":0">Staff. "Fairview begins new experiment" Template:Webarchive, Courier-Post, December 6, 2001. Accessed February 17, 2011. "This village-like neighborhood at the southern edge of Camden was America's first planned community for the working class."</ref> The village was designed by Electus Darwin Litchfield, who was influenced by the "garden city" developments popular in England at the time.<ref>"A Place Called Yorkship — Electus Litchfield's Plan" Template:Webarchive. Accessed June 23, 2006.</ref>

In 2013, Cherokee Investment Partners had a plan to redevelop north Camden with 5,000 new homes and a shopping center on Template:Convert. Cherokee dropped their plans in the face of local opposition and the slumping real estate market.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Katz, Matt. Template:Usurped, The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 28, 2010. Accessed April 5, 2016.</ref> They are among several companies receiving New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) tax incentives to relocate jobs in the city.<ref name="The Star-Ledger2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Nurin, Tara. "Top 10 taxpayer subsidized projects planned for Camden", WHYY, October 6, 2015. Accessed January 9, 2018.</ref>

Climate

Camden has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa in the Köppen climate classification) with hot summers and cool to cold winters.

Education

Public schools

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Camden's public schools are operated by the Camden City School District. The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Abbott v. Burke<ref>What We Do: History, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in the Abbott 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'."</ref> 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 the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.<ref>What We Do, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref><ref>SDA Districts, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref> 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 an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.<ref name="NCES">District information for Camden City School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>

High schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Camden City Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 9, 2016.</ref>) are Brimm Medical Arts High School<ref>Brimm Medical Arts High School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.</ref> (175; 9–12), Camden Big Picture Learning Academy<ref>Camden Big Picture Learning Academy, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.</ref> (196; 6–12), Camden High School<ref>Camden High School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.</ref> (347; 9–12), Creative Arts Academy<ref>Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.</ref> (290; 6–12), Eastside High School<ref>Eastside High School, Camden City School District. Accessed June 2, 2024.</ref> (784; 9–12) and Pride Academy<ref>Pride Academy, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.</ref> (63; 6–12).<ref>School Directory, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Camden City School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Camden City School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Charter and renaissance schools

File:KIPP Cooper Norcross Lanning Square Primary and MIddle School.jpg

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 allowed Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), Uncommon Schools, and Mastery Schools to open in the city.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Combined, these students make up approximately 55% of the 15,000 students in Camden.

Charter schools

• Camden's Promise Charter School
• Environment Community Opportunity (ECO) Charter School
• Freedom Prep Charter School
• Hope Community Charter School
• LEAP Academy University Charter School<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Renaissance schools

• Uncommon Schools Camden Prep
• KIPP Cooper Norcross
  • Lanning Square Primary School
  • Lanning Square Middle School
  • Whittier Middle School
• Mastery Schools of Camden
  • Cramer Hill Elementary
  • Molina Lower Elementary
  • Molina Upper Elementary
  • East Camden Middle
  • Mastery High School of Camden
  • McGraw Elementary<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Private education

Holy Name School,<ref>About, Holy Name School. Accessed February 20, 2023.</ref> Sacred Heart Grade School,<ref>Who We Are, Sacred Heart School. Accessed February 20, 2023.</ref> and St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral School (founded in 1894)<ref>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."</ref> are K–8 elementary schools operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.<ref>Schools, South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 20, 2023.</ref> They operate as four of the five schools in the Catholic Partnership Schools, a post-parochial model of Urban Catholic Education.<ref>Our Schools Template:Webarchive, Catholic Partnership Schools.</ref>

Higher education

File:Ru-camden-campus.jpg

Rutgers University–Camden and the Philadelphia skyline (background)

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.<ref>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."</ref>
• 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.<ref>Campus History Template:Webarchive, 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."</ref>
• Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (opened 2012)<ref>Minters, Brooke. Template:Usurped, 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."</ref>
• 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.<ref>Campus History Template:Webarchive, Rutgers University–Camden. Accessed October 13, 2015.</ref>
  • Camden College of Arts & Sciences<ref>College of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University–Camden. Accessed October 13, 2015.</ref>
  • School of Business – Camden<ref>RSBC Fast Facts Template:Webarchive, Rutgers School of Business Camden. Accessed October 13, 2015.</ref>
  • Rutgers School of Law-Camden<ref>About Rutgers Law, Rutgers School of Law-Camden. Accessed October 22, 2013.</ref>
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)
  • Affiliated with Cooper University Hospital
• Coriell Institute for Medical Research<ref>Our History, Coriell Institute for Medical Research. Accessed October 13, 2015.</ref>
  • Affiliated with Cooper University Hospital
  • Affiliated with Rowan University
  • Affiliated with University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Libraries

The city was once home to two Carnegie libraries, the Main Building<ref name="library">Camden, New Jersey Carnegie Library, DVRBS.com. Accessed October 13, 2015.</ref> and the Cooper Library in Johnson Park.<ref>Cooper Branch Library at Johnson Park, Johnson Park Restoration. Accessed October 13, 2015.</ref> 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.<ref>Katz, Matt. Template:Usurped, 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."</ref><ref>Holt, Bob. "Camden library system given hope by mayor's plan"Template: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."</ref> The main branch closed in February 2011,<ref>via Associated 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."</ref> and was later reopened by the county in the bottom floor of the Paul Robeson Library at Rutgers University.<ref>Camden County Library Branch at Rutgers Template:Webarchive, Camden County Library System. Accessed October 13, 2015.</ref>

Camden also has three academic libraries; The Paul 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 a law library and Cooper Medical School at Rowan has a medical library.

Sports

Camden Athletic Complex

The Camden Athletic Complex (former site of Campbell's Field) which was completed in 2022. it contains a baseball field, track and field area, soccer field, and lacrosse field. The Camden 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's NCAA Division III sports teams.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Philadelphia 76ers training facility

File:Phil76ersTrainFacilCamden1.tif

The training facility of the Philadelphia 76ers in Camden

The team found a property at the Camden 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.<ref name="76Grant">Template:Cite news</ref> 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 of corporate welfare.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web

}}</ref> Based on contingent hiring, the grant was to be paid out over 10 years, with the facility scheduled to host practices by 2016.<ref name="76Grant" /> 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.

File:US District Court Camden NJ.jpg

This is the front of the US District Court facing Cooper Street in Camden, NJ

Government and services

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Since July 1, 1961, the city has operated within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under a Mayor-Council form of government.<ref name="DataBook">2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 28.</ref><ref name=":5">"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> Since 1994, the city has been divided into four council 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.

File:Camden city hall.jpg

Camden's City Hall opened in 1931.

Template:As of, the Mayor of Camden is Democrat Victor Carstarphen, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025.<ref name="Mayor">Office of the Mayor, City of Camden. Accessed June 2, 2024.</ref> Members of the City Council are Council President Angel 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).<ref>Council Members, City of Camden. Accessed June 2, 2024.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, City of Camden. Accessed June 2, 2024.</ref><ref name="Camden2023">Official Election Results 2023 General Election November 7, 2023, Camden County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name="Camden2021">2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Election Results, Camden County, New Jersey, update November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

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, and Milton Milan.<ref name=":3">Hedges, Chris. " City of RuinsWalt Whitman's hometown is a Dickensian nightmare—and a warning for the rest of America", Utne Reader, March–April 2011. Accessed July 29, 2014. "Corruption is rampant, with three mayors convicted of felonies in a little more than two decades."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Camden is located in New Jersey's 1st Congressional District<ref name="PCR2012">Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 5th state legislative district.<ref name="Districts2011">Municipalities Sorted by 2011–2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name="LWV2019">2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011–2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

Camden has historically been a stronghold of the Democratic Party. As of November 6, 2018, there were 42,264 registered voters in the city of Camden.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of March 23, 2011, there were 43,893 registered voters in Camden, of which 17,403 (39.6%) were registered as Democrats, 885 (2.0%) were registered as Republicans and 25,601 (58.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated.<ref>Voter Registration Summary – Camden, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 15, 2012.</ref> All Camden mayors since 1935 have been Democrats. The last Republican Camden mayor was Frederick von Nieda, who only sat in office for a year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama was seeking reelection and was challenged by Mitt Romney. The city overwhelmingly voted for Obama in the biggest Democratic landslide in Camden's history.

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received overwhelming support from the city of Camden. On May 11, 2016, Clinton held a rally at Camden County College.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.8%.<ref name="2012Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="2012VoterReg">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Camden County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed October 15, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John 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.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Camden County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 15, 2012.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 79.9% of the vote (6,680 cast), ahead of Republican Chris 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%.<ref name="2013Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="2013VoterReg">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 85.6% of the vote (8,700 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 5.9% (604 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 0.8% (81 votes), with 10,166 ballots cast among the city's 43,165 registered voters, yielding a 23.6% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Camden County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed October 15, 2012.</ref>

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Camden Fire Department (CFD)

File:Camden NJ Fire Administration Building.jpg

The Fire Administration Building on N 3rd Street in Camden, NJ

File:Fire Truck at Fire Administration Building.jpg

Fire Engine at N 3rd St. Fire Administration Building.

Officially organized in 1869, the Camden Fire Department (CFD) is the oldest paid fire department in New Jersey and is among the oldest paid fire departments in the United States.<ref>Fire Department, City of Camden. Accessed September 12, 2019.</ref><ref>Bureau of Emergency Services Citywide Tour Command Template:Webarchive, City of Camden. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref><ref>Inception of the First Paid Fire Department in the U.S. Inception of the First Paid Fire Department in the U.S., Camdenhistory.com. Accessed April 27, 2024.</ref> 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.<ref>Katz, Matt; and Simin, Darran. Template:Usurped, 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."</ref>

Camden County Police Department (CCPD)

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Further 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. The Camden 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.<ref name=":02">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name=":32">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A CNN report proposed that Camden might be a national model for what police abolition or "defunding the police" could look like.<ref name=":37">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Crime

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.<ref name=":16">Everett, Renecca. "Camden's 2017 murder rate was the lowest in decades. Will the trend continue?", NJ Advance Media for NJ.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."</ref>Template:Infobox UCR

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.<ref name=":17">"11th Annual Safest/Most Dangerous Cities Survey: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall" Template:Webarchive. Accessed June 23, 2006.</ref><ref name=":21">"12th Annual Safest/Most Dangerous Cities Survey: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall". Accessed June 23, 2006.</ref> It improved to the fifth spot for the 2006 and 2007 rankings but rose to number two in 2008<ref name=":23">13th Annual Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall: Top and Bottom 26 Cities Overall, Morgan Quitno, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 5, 2008. Accessed April 5, 2016.</ref><ref name=":24">"City Crime Rankings, 14th Edition, 2007" Template:Webarchive. "CQ Press".</ref><ref name=":25">"City Crime Rankings 2008–2009". "CQ Press".</ref> and to the most dangerous spot in 2009.<ref name=":26">Hirsch, Deborah (November 24, 2009). "Report ranks Camden most dangerous U.S. city" Courier-Post. Accessed December 22, 2009.</ref> Morgan Quitno based its rankings on crime statistics reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft.<ref name=":27">"Report Ranks Camden Most Dangerous U.S. City". Courier-Post. November 24, 2009.</ref> In 2011 in The Nation, journalist Chris Hedges described Camden as "the physical refuse of postindustrial America",<ref name=":28">"City of Ruins". Accessed January 28, 2011.</ref> 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).<ref name=":29">"Camden, N.J., to lose nearly half its cops", Money, January 17, 2011. Accessed January 28, 2011.</ref>

On October 29, 2012, the FBI announced Camden was ranked first in violent crime per capita of cities with over 50,000 residents.<ref name="Flint">Flint drops title of most violent in nation, according to expanded FBI stats The Flint Journal via MLive.com, October 29, 2012</ref>

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.<ref name=":30">Everett, Rebecca. "Camden's 2017 murder rate was the lowest in decades. Will the trend continue?", NJ Advance Media for NJ.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."</ref> In 2020 there were again 23 homicides reported. 2021 saw 23 homicides and a further reduction in violent crime, contrasting national trends.<ref name=":31">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2018, the Camden 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%.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":33">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."</ref>

Transportation

Public transportation

File:Riverline At Walter Rand.jpg

River Line at Walter Rand, a light rail system connecting Camden and Trenton

The Walter Rand Transportation Center opened May 17, 1989 under the name of Camden Transportation Center and was later named after a former New Jersey State senator, Walter Rand in 1994. 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.<ref name="NJ TRANSIT">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> A majority of buses that stop at the center are NJ Transit buses that provide inexpensive and quick transportation to Philadelphia, Camden and Burlington Counties surrounding cities. The different routes include 313, 315, 316, 317, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 412, 413, 418, 419, 450, 451, 452, 453, 457 and 551.Template:Citation needed 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 and Atlantic City. Along with the NJ Transit buses, the center is also home to many Greyhound Lines, that provide transportation to neighboring cities as well as to much farther destinations all around the country. Like the NJ Transit buses, the Greyhound bus fares vary from inexpensive for closer destinations and much more expensive for the farther the destination. Along with the bus stops, the center is home to two rail road system stations, the Walter Rand River Line station and PATCO, Broadway station which provides easy access to the busses from the surrounding area.

Since its opening on March 14, 2004, NJ Transit's River Line has offered light rail service to cities along the Delaware River starting in North Camden, and terminating in Trenton. There are four total 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since its opening the River Line was running 24-hours a day, but switched in 2010 to no service after 10pm. Fares are priced at $1.70 and are stamped by an employee when boarding the train and fare evasion carries a fine of up to $100.<ref name="NJ TRANSIT" /> Along with physical tickets that can be purchased at each station, online tickets can be purchased through smart phones on the NJ Transit App. The River Line was the first railroad to use a diesel LRV vehicle. Using diesel LRV vehicles made it cheaper to run and much easier to start and stop because of the frequent stations and cross roads that the rail stops for.<ref name="nycsubway.org">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since the start of this type of transit multiple other cities have started to use it as well, including Austin, Texas.

The PATCO Speedline offers frequent train service to Philadelphia and the suburbs to the east in Camden County, including Camden, Collingswood, Haddon Township, Haddonfield, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, and Lindenwold.Template:Citation needed 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 6 Philadelphia stops, and only two Camden stops, City Hall, and Broadway station. In 1951 Pennsylvania and New Jersey signed a contract allowing the expansion of the railroad.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These expansions included station between Camden and Lindenwold. Unlike the River Line the PATCO uses automated fare collection. 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From 1969 to 2006 the system used plastic tickets which had an oxide layer on the entire back side used for magnetic encoding. Starting in 2006 the use of contactless paper tickets with a much smaller magnetic strip made the production and storage of tickets much cheaper and less wasteful. Along with the paper tickets frequent rides could buy a plastic reusable card that could be refilled and also provide discounts on both fairs and specifics store near each station. Stations outside of the cities including Ferry ave, Collingswood, Vestment, Haddonfield, Woodcrest, Ashland, and Lindenwold, provide free day time parking and one dollar overnight parking, while the stations in the cities do not have access to parking.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The RiverLink Ferry opened March 1992, as a passenger ferry service that crossed the Delaware River connecting the Camden Water Front with Philadelphia's, Penn's Landing. The ferry operates daily from May through September, and on Fridays through Sundays in April and October.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Docking at Wiggins Park, located between the Adventure Aquarium and the Battleship New Jersey, the ferry provides access to the Adventure Aquarium, Battleship New Jersey, Camden's Children's Garden, and the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On the Philadelphia side of the river the ferry docks at the Independence 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Penn's Landing opened up the opportunity to exploring the historical section of Center City Philadelphia including Independence Hall, and City Hall. 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The RiverLink 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 the Ben 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 ave 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, the Delaware was full of floating chucks of ice rushing through the ruff 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 3 different ferries and sold in Downtown, Camden.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Today there are historical signs placed at these three sites to commemorate the people sold there.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Roads and highways

File:2020-07-12 13 52 09 View east along Interstate 76 (Walt Whitman Bridge Approach) at Exit 354 (U.S. Route 130 NORTH, New Jersey State Route 168, Interstate 676, Camden, Gloucester) in Camden, Camden County, New Jersey.jpg

Eastbound on I-76 at I-676 in Camden

File:Ben Franklin Bridge at sunrise 2009-09-02 06-08-46 4w.jpg

The Benjamin Franklin Bridge at sunrise, connecting Camden (right) with Philadelphia

Template:As of, the city had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Camden County, Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Template:Convert by the Delaware River Port Authority.<ref>Camden County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

Interstate 676<ref>Interstate 676 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2018. Accessed November 24, 2022.</ref> and U.S. Route 30<ref>U.S. Route 30 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, March 2018. Accessed November 24, 2022.</ref> run through Camden to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge on the north side of the city. Interstate 76 passes through briefly and interchanges with Interstate 676.<ref>Interstate 76 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2013. Accessed November 24, 2022.</ref>

Route 168 passes through briefly in the south<ref>Route 168 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2017. Accessed November 24, 2022.</ref> and County Routes 537,<ref>County Route 537 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, July 2012. Accessed November 24, 2022.</ref> 543,<ref>County Route 543 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, August 2006. Accessed November 24, 2022.</ref> 551<ref>County Route 551 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, June 2012. Accessed November 24, 2022.</ref> and 561<ref>County Route 561 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, June 2012. Accessed November 24, 2022.</ref> all travel through the center of the city.

Environmental problems

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Unsourced section 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 several Superfund 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.Template:Fact

Demographics

2020 census

Camden, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	% 1990	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	12,582	5,671	3,792	2,922	14.38%	7.10%	4.90%	4.07%
Black or African American alone (NH)	46,151	39,753	34,277	27,800	52.75%	49.75%	44.32%	38.72%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	265	188	235	126	0.30%	0.24%	0.30%	0.18%
Asian alone (NH)	1,008	1,869	1,599	1,229	1.15%	2.34%	2.07%	1.71%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	N/A	20	15	11	N/A	0.03%	0.02%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	213	129	109	315	0.24%	0.16%	0.14%	0.44%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	N/A	1,255	938	1,476	N/A	1.57%	1.21%	2.06%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	27,273	31,019	36,379	37,912	31.17%	38.82%	47.04%	52.81%
Total	87,492	79,904	77,344	71,791	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

At the 2020 United States census, Camden was the 14th-most populous municipality in the state,<ref name="Largest2020">Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> with a population of 71,791,<ref name="Census2020" /><ref name="LWD2020" /> a decrease of 5,553 (−7.2%) from the 2010 census count of 77,344, when it was the 12th-largest in the state by population, falling behind both Brick Township and nearby Cherry Hill,<ref name="Census2010">DP-1 – Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Camden city, Camden County, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2011.</ref><ref name="LWD2010" /> which in turn reflected a decline of 1,984 (-2.5%) from the 79,318 counted in the 2000 census.<ref name="Quick2000" /><ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated a population of 71,100 for 2023, making it the 532nd-most populous municipality in the nation.<ref name="ANNRNK">Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 20,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2023 Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023, United States Census Bureau, released May 2024. Accessed May 30, 2024. Note that townships (including Edison, Lakewood and Woodbridge, all of which have larger populations) are excluded from these rankings.</ref>

2010 census

Demographic profile	1950<ref name="TWPS0076">"Table 31. New Jersey – Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Large Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990", United States Census Bureau, released July 13, 2005. Accessed November 6, 2023. For 1970, data was used from the 15% sample for Hispanic / Non-Hispanic percentage counts.</ref>	1970<ref name="TWPS0076" />	1990<ref name="TWPS0076" />	2010<ref name="Census2010" />
White	85.9%	59.8%	19.0%	17.6%
—Non-Hispanic	N/A	52.9%	14.4%	4.9%
Black or African American	14.0%	39.1%	56.4%	48.1%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	N/A	7.6%	31.2%	47.0%
Asian	—	0.2%	1.3%	2.1%

The 2010 United States census counted 77,344 people, 24,475 households, and 16,912 families in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 28,358 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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) from other 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.<ref name="Census2010" /> 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.<ref>Staff. "New census data shows N.J.'s population grew most in southern counties, became more racially diverse", The Star-Ledger, February 3, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2013.</ref><ref>Mascarenhas, Rohan. "Census data shows Hispanics as the largest minority in N.J.", The Star-Ledger, February 3, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2013.</ref> The Puerto Rican population was 30.7%.<ref name="Census2010" />

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.<ref name="Census2010" />

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.<ref name="Census2010" />

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.<ref name="Census2010" />

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-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.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Camden city, Camden County, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2012.</ref>

As of 2006, 52% of the city's residents lived in poverty, one of the highest rates in the nation.<ref>"Poverty in the City of Camden" Template:Webarchive, Legal Services of New Jersey, April 2007. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref> 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.<ref>Fahim, Kareem. "Rethinking Revitalization; In Crumbling Camden, New Challenges for a Recovery Plan", The New York Times, November 5, 2006. Accessed February 17, 2011.</ref> A group of poor Camden residents were the subject of a 20/20 special on poverty in America broadcast on January 26, 2007, in which Diane Sawyer profiled the lives of three young children growing up in Camden.<ref>Diaz, Joseph. "Waiting on the World to Change", 20/20, January 25, 2007. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref> A follow-up was shown on November 9, 2007.<ref>Diaz, Joseph. Template:Usurped, 20/20, November 9, 2007, backed up by the Internet Archive as of October 28, 2009. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref>

In 2011, Camden's unemployment rate was 19.6%, compared with 10.6% in Camden County as a whole.<ref>2011 NJ Annual Average Labor Force Estimates by Municipality, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Labor Planning and Analysis, March 30, 2012. Accessed July 2, 2012.</ref> 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% in Philadelphia and the four surrounding counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania.<ref>Staff. "S. Jersey faring worse on jobs than Phila. area", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 29, 2009. Accessed July 26, 2011. "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."</ref>

Points of interest

• 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.<ref name=":1" />
• 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 house hippopotamuses.<ref>About Us, Adventure Aquarium. Accessed October 13, 2015.</ref>
• Waterfront Music Pavilion – An outdoor amphitheater/indoor theater complex with a seating capacity of 25,000. Formerly known as the Susquehanna Bank Center.
• Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial – Opened in October 2001, providing access to the battleship USS New Jersey that had been towed to the Camden area for restoration in 1999.<ref>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."</ref>
• Harleigh Cemetery – Established in 1885, the cemetery is the burial site of Walt Whitman, several Congressmen and many other South Jersey notables.<ref>Staff. "Camden's Spot of Peace in a Troubled World — Harleigh is More Than Just a Cemetery. It's Also a Park.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 28, 1992. Accessed October 22, 2013. " For decades after it opened in 1885, Harleigh Cemetery was a favorite destination of many Camden residents, a park and outdoor art museum, much like Fairmount Park in Philadelphia."</ref>
• Walt Whitman House
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Camden County, New Jersey

In popular culture

The fictional Camden mayor Carmine Polito in the 2013 film American Hustle is loosely based on 1970s Camden mayor Angelo Errichetti.<ref>Associated Press "Real Life Camden Mayor Portrayed In American Hustle Film Was Complex Character, The Star-Ledger. Accessed February 24, 2016.</ref>

The 1995 film 12 Monkeys contains scenes on Camden's Admiral Wilson Boulevard.<ref>Everts, Bart."Admiral Wilson Boulevard", Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Accessed February 24, 2016.</ref>

Notable people

Actors and actresses

• Christine Andreas (born 1951), Broadway actress and singer<ref>Staff. "Hail, cabaret, Convention an Up-Close Celebration of Vocal Talent", Philadelphia Daily News, June 6, 2002. Accessed October 22, 2013. "Camden native Christine Andreas first earned her performing stripes as a Broadway musical star – appearing in hit revivals of My Fair Lady, Oklahoma and On Your Toes, and new ventures like Rags, Words and Music and The Scarlet Pimpernel."</ref>
• James Cardwell (1921–1954), actor, The Fighting Sullivans<ref>"James Cardwell" Template:Webarchive, 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."</ref>
• Joanna Cassidy (born 1944), actress<ref>Brady, James. "In Step With: Joanna Cassidy", Miami Herald, November 25, 1990. Accessed March 14, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Born: Aug.2, 1944, in Camden, N.J."</ref>
• Jimmy Conlin (1884–1962), character actor<ref>via Associated Press. "Jimmy Conlin, Actor, Is Dead", The Lincoln Star, May 8, 1962. Accessed July 29, 2019. "Conlin, bom in Camden, N.J., had been in show business 62 years."</ref>
• Khris Davis (born 1987), actor<ref>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 in Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of The World."</ref>
• Chas. Floyd Johnson (born 1941), television producer and actor, The Rockford Files, Magnum, P.I. and Red Tails<ref>Wood, Richard. Contemporary Authors, p. 228. Gale Research International, 1998. Template:ISBN. 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"</ref>
• Edward Lewis (1919–2019), film producer and writer, Spartacus and for his collaborations with John Frankenheimer, producing or executive producing nine films together<ref>Smith, Harrison. "Edward Lewis, 'Spartacus' producer who helped break the blacklist, dies at 99", The Washington Post, August 13, 2019. Accessed August 14, 2019. "Edward Lewis was born in Camden, N.J., on Dec. 16, 1919."</ref>
• Ann Pennington (1893–1971), Broadway actress, dancer and singer, Ziegfeld Follies and George White's Scandals<ref>Freeman, William M. "Ann Pennington, Dancing Star, Dies", The New York Times, November 5, 1971. Accessed July 29, 2019. "Miss Pennington was born in Camden, N.J., on Dec. 23, 1894."</ref>
• Jim Perry (1933–2015), television game show host, singer, announcer and performer<ref>Hyman, Vicki. "Card Sharks host Jim Perry, Camden native, dead at 82", NJ Advance Media for NJ.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."</ref>
• Tasha Smith (born 1969), actress, director and producer, Boston Common<ref>Ortiz, Eric. "Camden's 'Funny Chick'; Tasha Smith grew up in a hardscrabble neighborhood of east Camden, where the temptations of the streets seemed to outweigh those of the classroom. During her freshman year at Camden High School, she dropped out, turned to drugs, and forged friendships with people who would wind up in jail or dead.", New Jersey Monthly, December 20, 2007. Accessed July 29, 2019. "Tasha Smith grew up in a hardscrabble neighborhood of east Camden, where the temptations of the streets seemed to outweigh those of the classroom. During her first year at Camden High School, she dropped out, turned to drugs, and forged friendships with people who would wind up in jail or dead."</ref>

Architects and artists

• Vernon Howe Bailey (1874–1953), artist<ref>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."</ref>
• Stephen Decatur Button (1813–1897), architect<ref>Lurie, Maxine N.; and Mappen, Marc. "Button, Stephen Decatur", Encyclopedia of New Jersey, p. 110. Rutgers University Press, 2004. Template:ISBN. Accessed September 7, 2011.</ref><ref>Stephen Decatur Button, DVRBS.com. Accessed September 7, 2011.</ref>
• Alex Da Corte (born 1980), visual artist<ref>Alex Da Corte: Free Roses, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. Accessed January 25, 2016. "Alex Da Corte was born in Camden, New Jersey, in 1980."</ref>
• Frank De Martini (1952–2001), architect and 9/11 first responder
• Jona Frank (born 1966), portrait photographer and author, Cherry Hill; A Childhood Reimagined<ref>Cherry Hill; A Childhood Reimagined Template:Webarchive, Monacelli Press. Accessed March 26, 2022. "Jona Frank (b. 1966, Camden, NJ) grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, the daughter of an accountant and homemaker."</ref>
• Mickalene Thomas (born 1970), artist<ref>Smith, Roberta. "Loud, Proud and Painted; 'Mickalene Thomas: Origin of the Universe,' at Brooklyn Museum", The New York Times, September 27, 2012. Accessed October 15, 2012. "But Ms. Thomas, who was born in Camden, N.J., and lives in Brooklyn, has been exhibiting for only six years."</ref>

Athletes

• Max Alexander (born 1981), boxer<ref>"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."</ref>
• Rashad Baker (born 1982), professional football safety, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders<ref>Staff. "Eagles sign Camden's Baker" Template:Webarchive, 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."</ref>
• Martin V. Bergen (1872–1941), college football coach<ref>Staff. "Martin Y. Bergen, Lawyer, Athlete — Former Football and Baseball Player at Princeton, Famous as Backfield Coach, Dies — Family Noted in Jersey — Bergen County Named for His Ancestors — Was Attorney for Caruso's Daughter", The New York Times, July 9, 1941. Accessed October 22, 2013. "Born in Camden, N.J., he was a descendant of one of New Jersey's oldest families, one for which Bergen County was named."</ref>
• Art Best (1953–2014), football running back who played three seasons in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears and New York Giants<ref>Staff. "Art Best, former Hartley and Notre Dame football star, dies at 61", The Columbus Dispatch, October 17, 2014. Accessed October 13, 2015. "Arthur R. Best was born in Camden, N.J."</ref><ref>Art Best Template:Webarchive, The Pro Football Archives. Accessed October 13, 2015.</ref>
• Audrey Bleiler (1933–1975), infielder who played in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for 1951–1952 South Bend Blue Sox champion teams<ref>Madden, W. C. All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book, McFarland & Company, 2000. Template:ISBN. Accessed March 4, 2012.</ref>
• Fran Brown (born 1982), head coach of the Syracuse Orange football team<ref>Pastor, Shawn. "Fran Brown to interview for Temple job on Monday", 247Sports, December 9, 2018. Accessed December 21, 2018. "Brown is a native of Camden, N.J., who played quarterback at Camden High School."</ref>
• Jordan Burroughs (born 1988), Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling who won Gold at the London Olympics in 2012<ref>Fensom, Michael J. "Jordan Burroughs: Gold medalist speaks about Olympic wrestling, NJSIAA state title in 2006", Inside Jersey, March 8, 2013. Accessed December 21, 2016. "Jordan Burroughs, a Camden native, began his wrestling career as a five-year old and by 24 he has won an NJSIAA state title, two NCAA championships, a world championship and a gold medal at the London Olympics."</ref>
• Sean Chandler (born 1996), safety for the New York Giants of the National Football League<ref>Dunleavy, Ryan. "'Self-made' Sean Chandler at home with Giants after growing up homeless in Camden; 'Toughest kid I ever coached'", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 25, 2018. Accessed July 14, 2019. "After going undrafted, Camden native Sean Chandler has been making plays in camp with the Giants."</ref>
• Frank Chapot (1932–2016), Olympic silver medalist equestrian<ref>Fox, Margalit. "Frank Chapot, Olympic Show Jumper and Mainstay of the Sport, Dies at 84", The New York Times, June 25, 2016. Accessed June 26, 2016. "The son of Frank Joseph Chapot and the former Dorothy Davis, Frank Davis Chapot was born on Feb. 24, 1932, in Camden, N.J. He was reared on his parents' horse farm in Walpack, N.J."</ref>
• Duce Chestnut, American football cornerback for the Syracuse Orange<ref>Duce Chestnut, Syracuse Orange football. Accessed November 29, 2024. "Hometown: Camden, N.J.; High School: Camden"</ref>
• James A. Corea (1937–2001), radio personality and specialist in nutrition, rehabilitation and sports medicine<ref>Hagenmayer, S. Joseph. Template:Usurped, The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 5, 2001, backed up by the Internet 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."</ref>
• Joseph W. Cowgill (1908–1986), politician who served as the Minority Leader of the New Jersey Senate<ref>Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 165, p. 238. J.A. Fitzgerald, 1941. Accessed July 15, 2022. "Joseph W. Cowgill (Dem., Camden) Mr. Cowgill was born in Camden, N.J., April 24, 1908."</ref>
• Donovin Darius (born 1975), professional football player for Jacksonville Jaguars<ref>Staff. Template:Usurped, The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 11, 2007. Accessed September 7, 2011. "Darius, who will turn 32 next month, had been a mainstay in Jacksonville's secondary since he was the club's first-round pick in the 1998 draft out of Syracuse. But the Jaguars released him in June, trying to get younger and faster on defense. He is a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High in Camden."</ref><ref>Donovin Darius, National Football League. Accessed November 12, 2007.</ref>
• Rachel Dawson (born 1985), field hockey midfielder<ref>Rachel Dawson Template:Webarchive, USA Field Hockey. Accessed December 20, 2007.</ref><ref>"Olympic Feature-Field Hockey's Rachel Dawson". Portal to gallery of photographs (15) related to Rachel Dawson. Courier-Post. August 12, 2008. Accessed December 28, 2009.</ref>
• Fadil Diggs, college football defensive lineman for the Syracuse Orange football team<ref>"Fadil Diggs", Syracuse Orange football. Accessed November 28, 2024. "Hometown: East Camden, NJ; High School: Woodrow Wilson"</ref>
• Rawly Eastwick (born 1950), Major League Baseball pitcher who won two games in 1975 World Series<ref>Newman, Mark. "Series opens on historic date: Red Sox, Rockies in line to add to Oct. 24 legacy" Template:Webarchive, Major League Baseball, October 24, 2007. Accessed September 7, 2011. "1950: Rawly Eastwick was born in Camden, N.J. He became a key pitcher for Cincinnati's Big Red Machine, pitching five games in the 1975 World Series and winning Games 2 and 3 on his way to a second ring."</ref><ref>"Rawly Eastwick Statistics and History", Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed September 7, 2011.</ref>
• Shaun T. Fitness (born 1978), motivational speaker, fitness trainer and choreographer best known for his home fitness programs T25, Insanity and Hip-Hop Abs<ref>Kuperinsky, Amy. "How celebrity trainer Shaun T went from Camden survivor to fitness superstar", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 8, 2016, updated July 21, 2017. Accessed September 27, 2018. "Shaun Thompson was born in Camden and spent his early years with his mother and brother in Philadelphia."</ref>
• Rasheer Fleming (born 2004), basketball player who plays for the Saint Joseph's Hawks<ref>Rasheer Fleming, Sports Reference. Accessed December 6, 2024. "Hometown: Camden, NJ High School: Camden (NJ)"</ref>
• Sean Golden (born 1983), former artistic gymnast and member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team<ref>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."</ref>
• Jamaal Green (born 1980), American football defensive end who played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears and the Washington Redskins<ref>"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."</ref>
• Dara Greig (born 2000), professional ie hockey player for the Montreal Victoire of the Professional Women's Hockey League<ref>Dara Greig, Colgate Raiders women's ice hockey. Accessed February 27, 2025. "Born: Dara Greig in Camden, New Jersey."</ref>
• Brad Hawkins (born 1998), American football safety, who played for the New England Patriots of the National Football League<ref>Greenspan, Jared. "Brad Hawkins’s winding journey: How a post-graduate year shaped his Michigan tenure",Michigan Daily, November 17, 2021. Accessed October 7, 2022. "Entering his senior year of high school, Brad Hawkins had his future neatly laid out in front of him. Hawkins, a four-star wide receiver prospect from Camden, N.J., committed to Michigan in June 2015."</ref>
• George Hegamin (born 1973), offensive lineman who played for NFL's Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers<ref>Template:Usurped, database Football. Accessed September 30, 2007.</ref>
• Harry Higgs (born 1991), professional golfer<ref>Martin, Sean. "Meet the rookies: Harry Higgs", PGA Tour, October 7, 2019. Accessed November 6, 2019. "Birthplace: Camden, New Jersey"</ref>
• Andy Hinson (born Template:Circa), retired American football head coach of the Bethune–Cookman University Wildcats football team from 1976 to 1978 and of the Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Wolves from 1979 to 1984<ref>via Associated 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."</ref>
• Steve Hoffman (born 1958), senior assistant for special teams for the Atlanta Falcons
• Kenny Jackson (born 1962), former wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles and co-owner of Kenny's Korner Deli<ref>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."</ref>
• Sig Jakucki (1909–1979), former Major League pitcher for the St. Louis Browns, whose victory over the New York Yankees in the final game of the 1944 season gave the Browns their only pennant<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Jaryd Jones-Smith (born 1995), American football offensive tackle for the Las Vegas Raiders of the NFL<ref>Jaryd Jones-Smith, Pittsburgh Panthers football. Accessed December 14, 2020. "Hometown: Camden, N.J."</ref>
• Leon Lucas (1901–1971), boxer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics, turned professional and went on to found Donkey's Place, a sandwich shop which is well known for its cheesesteak<ref>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."</ref>
• Mike Moriarty (born 1974), former Major League infielder for the Baltimore Orioles<ref>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)"</ref>
• Ray Narleski (1928–2012), baseball player with Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers<ref>Halperin, Frank. Template:Usurped, Courier-Post, March 9, 2008. Accessed July 2, 2012. "Among the local legends are Camden's Ray Narleski, an American League All-Star who played for the Cleveland Indians during the 1950s."</ref>
• Harvey Pollack (1922–2015), director of statistical information for the Philadelphia 76ers, who at the time of his death was the only person still working for the NBA since its inaugural 1946–1947 season<ref>Goldstein, Richard. "Harvey Pollack, a Statistician in N.B.A. From Day 1, Dies at 93", The New York Times, June 24, 2015. Accessed June 24, 2015. "Herbert Harvey Pollack was born on March 9, 1922, in Camden, N.J., a son of dressmakers, but grew up in Philadelphia near Shibe Park (later Connie Mack Stadium), home to baseball's Phillies and Athletics."</ref>
• Dwight Muhammad Qawi (born 1953), boxing world light-heavyweight and cruiserweight champion, International Boxing Hall of Famer known as the "Camden Buzzaw"<ref>Dettloff, William. "Camden Buzzsaw tore through competition in the ring as well as the streets; While his contemporaries were fine-tuning their skills in the amateur circuit, Dwight Muhammad Qawi was developing his game on the streets of Camden, N.J., writes William Dettloff.", ESPN, June 13, 2008. Accessed October 15, 2012. "Qawi? 'I learned to fight on the streets in Camden [N.J.],' he told ESPN.com."</ref>
• Haason Reddick (born 1994), linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League<ref>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."</ref>
• Buddy Rogers (1921–1992), professional wrestler, NWA World Heavyweight Champion and inaugural WWWF World Heavyweight Champion<ref>Lynch, Ray; and Young, Michael E. "Buddy Rogers, 71, Former Champion Wrestler" Template:Webarchive, 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."</ref>
• Mike Rozier (born 1961), collegiate and professional football running back who won Heisman Trophy in 1983<ref>"Mike Rozier". Portal to gallery of photographs (26) related to Mike Rozier. Courier-Post, December 5, 2008. Accessed December 25, 2009.</ref>
• George Savitsky (1924–2012), offensive tackle who played in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles<ref>Frank, Reuben. "Savitsky, of Eagles' '48–'49 champs, dies at 88"Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore, 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."</ref>
• Art Still (born 1955), collegiate and professional football defensive end and cousin to Devon Still<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Devon Still (born 1989), collegiate and professional football defensive end<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Billy Thompson (born 1963), college and professional basketball player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat<ref>"Billy Thompson Stats and History", basketball-reference.com. Accessed December 20, 2014.</ref>
• Sheena Tosta (born 1982), hurdler, Olympic silver medalist 2008<ref>Woods, David. "Hurdler Tosta makes most of a second chance", USA Today, August 18, 2008. Accessed February 2, 2011. "Tosta, 25, is a UCLA graduate who was born in Camden, N.J., and attended high school in Garfield, Va."</ref>
• Frank Townsend (1933–1965), professional wrestler and musician<ref>"Humphrey to Headline Wednesday's Mat Card", The Bridgeport Post, February 17, 1959. Accessed February 23, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Frank Townsend, the popular 'Singing Wrestler' from Camden, N. J., has been matched with Wild Bull Curry, the beetle-browed ruffian from Hartford."</ref>
• Dajuan Wagner (born 1983), professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Polish team Prokom Trefl Sopot<ref>"Dajuan Wagner". Portal to gallery of photographs (73) related to Dajuan Wagner. Courier-Post. July 25, 2007. Accessed December 28, 2009.</ref>
• Jersey Joe Walcott (1914–1994), boxing world heavyweight champion, International Boxing Hall of Famer<ref>via Associated Press. "Messages to Loser Criticize Verdict — Telegrams, Phone Calls Deluge Walcott Home in Camden, but Joe Is Elsewhere", The New York Times, December 7, 1947. Accessed November 13, 2013. "Jersey Joe Walcott went into seclusion today as telegrams poured in at his modest Camden home rapping the split decision that deprived him of the heavyweight title."</ref>
• Darrell Wilson (born 1958), American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Wagner Seahawks football team<ref>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."</ref>
• Bo Wood (born 1945), former American football player and high school coach, who played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons<ref>Template:Usurped, Pro Football Archives. Accessed September 13, 2022. "Born: November 3, 1945 Camden, NJ High School: Haddon Heights (NJ)"</ref>

Authors, poets and writers

• Betty Cavanna (1909–2001), author, teen romance novels, mysteries and children's books<ref>via Associated Press. "E. Cavanna Harrison; Prolific U.S. Writer", Los Angeles Times, August 15, 2001. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Born in Camden, N.J., Harrison contracted polio as a child and it left her with a slight limp."</ref>
• Mary Chalmers (born 1927, class of 1944), author and illustrator who wrote children's books frequently featuring cats<ref>Mary Chalmers Papers, University of Southern Mississippi. Accessed December 3, 2024. "Mary Eileen Chalmers was born on March 16, 1927 in Camden, New Jersey."</ref>
• David Aaron Clark (1960–2009), author, musician, pornographic actor and pornographic video director<ref>Lentz III, Harris M. "Clark, David Aaron", p. 106 in Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2009: Film, television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland and Company, 2016. Template:ISBN. Accessed August 14, 2019. "Clark was born in Camden, New Jersey, on September 5, 1960."</ref>Template:Circular reference
• Andrew Clements (1949–2019), writer of children's books, known for his debut novel Frindle<ref>Sandomir, Richard. "Andrew Clements, 70, Dies; Wrote Best-Selling Children's Books", The New York Times, December 15, 2019. Accessed September 15, 2020. "Andrew Elborn Clements was born on May 29, 1949, in Camden, N.J., and grew up in nearby Oaklyn and Cherry Hill before moving with his family to Springfield, Ill., when he was in the sixth grade."</ref>
• Andrea Dworkin (1946–2015), radical feminist leader, who criticised pornography and was a victim of forced prostitution<ref>Fox, Margalit. "Andrea Dworkin, Writer and Crusading Feminist, Dies at 58", The New York Times, April 12, 2005. Accessed August 22, 2023. "Andrea Rita Dworkin was born on Sept. 26, 1946, in Camden, N.J., and earned a bachelor's degree in literature from Bennington College in 1968."</ref>
• Michael Lisicky (born 1964), non-fiction writer and oboist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra<ref>McCauley, Mary Carole. "BSO oboist Michael Lisicky's books recall department stores of the past", The Baltimore Sun, November 18, 2013. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Lisicky, who was born in 1964, was just a boy when he began accompanying his mother to the department stores anchoring the towns and cities around Camden, N.J., where he grew up."</ref>
• Nick Virgilio (1928–1989), haiku poet<ref>Staff. "Here, There & Everywhere: An Insider's Guide to What's Hot in Town", Philadelphia Daily News, May 10, 1985. Accessed February 2, 2011. "Friday Nick Virgilio, one of the world's most respected haiku poets, makes a hometown appearance Friday at 8 p.m. at Camden's Walt Whitman Center, 2nd & Cooper streets."</ref>
• Walt Whitman (1819–1892), essayist, journalist and poet<ref>"Walt Whitman"Template:Dead link. Portal to gallery of photographs (29) related to Walt Whitman. Courier-Post. September 24, 2008. Accessed December 28, 2009.</ref>

Military

• Joe Angelo (1896–1978), U.S. Army veteran of World War I and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross<ref>Private First Class Joseph T. Angelo, Heroes of Camden, New Jersey. Accessed April 5, 2016.</ref>
• Mary Ellen Avery (1927–2011), pediatrician whose research led to development of successful treatment for Infant respiratory distress syndrome<ref>Dr. Mary Ellen Avery, National Library of Medicine. Accessed October 22, 2013. "Mary Ellen Avery was born in 1927, in Camden, New Jersey."</ref>
• Boston Corbett (1832–1894), Union Army soldier who killed John Wilkes Booth<ref>Furgurson, Ernest B. "The Man Who Shot the Man Who Shot Lincoln; The hatter Boston Corbett was celebrated as a hero for killing John Wilkes Booth. Fame and fortune did not follow, but madness did.", The American Scholar, March 1, 2009. Accessed July 7, 2016. "He had worked at his trade of hat finisher in New York, then lived in Camden while employed in Philadelphia."</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Steven Ferrari (born 1962), career United States Army officer who retired as a major general<ref>Santana, Rebecca. "A man with a very big mission", The Record, December 2, 2007. Accessed April 2, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Spotlight Name: Steven Ferrari Age: 45; born Jan. 25, 1962, in Camden"</ref>
• Joseph C. Strasser (1940–2019), rear admiral of the United States Navy who served a tour as President of the Naval War College<ref>"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."</ref>
• John P. Van Leer (1825–1862), Union Army officer<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Musicians

• Graham Alexander (born 1989), singer-songwriter, entertainer and entrepreneur, Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles and Let It Be and founder, of Victor Talking Machine Co.<ref>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."</ref>
• Butch Ballard (1918–2011), jazz drummer who performed with Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Duke Ellington<ref>Morrison, John F. Template:Usurped, Philadelphia Daily News, October 10, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2013. "George was born in Camden and grew up in Frankford. He attended Northeast High."</ref>
• Paul Baloche (born 1962), Christian music artist, worship leader, and singer-songwriter<ref>"Paul Baloche: A Songwriter's Worship", Christian Broadcasting Network. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Paul grew up in Camden, New Jersey, in a strong Catholic family."</ref>
• Carla L. Benson, vocalist<ref>Lloyd, Jack. Template:Usurped, The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 27, 1987. Accessed June 29, 2016. "For more than four years, Benson, 33 and a native of Camden, was one of the Sweeties, the female trio that backs LaBelle."</ref>
• Cindy Birdsong (born 1939), vocalist, The Supremes<ref>Bascom, Lionel C., ed. Voices of the African American Experience, p. 673. ABC-CLIO, 2009. Template:ISBN. Accessed July 29, 2019. "Cindy Birdsong: I was born in Mt. Holly, New Jersey and raised in Camden, the oldest of eight kids."</ref>
• Nelson Boyd (1928–1985), jazz bassist<ref>Yanow, Scott. Bebop, p. 156. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2000. Template:ISBNAccessed July 29, 2019. "Nelson Boyd b. Feb. 6, 1929, Camden, NJ"</ref>
• Vedra Chandler (born 1980), singer and dancer<ref>Allen, Evelyn. "HMHS Alum, Broadway Performer Returns To Camden Roots" Template:Webarchive, 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."</ref>
• Russ Columbo (1908–1934), baritone, songwriter, violinist and actor<ref>Grudens, Richard. The Italian Crooners Bedside Companion, p. 205. Celebrity Profiles Publishing, 2004. Template:ISBN. 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:"</ref>
• Buddy DeFranco (1923–2014), jazz clarinetist<ref>Nelson-Gabriel, Melissa; and Gans, Charles J. via Associated Press. "Camden-born jazz great Buddy DeFranco dies at 91", Courier-Post, December 28, 2014. Accessed December 29, 2014. "Born in 1923 in Camden, DeFranco was raised in South Philadelphia and began playing the clarinet at age 9."</ref>
• Sam Dockery (1929–2015), hard bop pianist<ref>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."</ref>
• Wayne Dockery (1941–2018), jazz double bassist<ref>"Hommage à Wayne Dockery : le contrebassiste et le cheminot; Une centaine d'invités, dont Archie Shepp, célébreront, le 30 septembre au Sunside à Paris, le contrebassiste mort en juin.", Le Monde, September 28, 2018. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Né à Camden (New Jersey) le 27 juin 1941, le contrebassiste Wayne Dockery est mort le 11 juin 2018 des suites d'un cancer."</ref>
• Nick Douglas (born 1967), musicianTemplate:Citation needed
• Lola Falana (born 1942), singer and dancer<ref>Arnold, Patrick via Associated 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."</ref>
• Heather Henderson (born 1973), singer, model, podcaster, actress and Dance Party USA performer<ref name="Camden">Template:Cite news</ref>
• Richard "Groove" Holmes (1931–1991), jazz organist<ref>Staff. "'Groove' Holmes, 60, A Giant to Jazz, Friends", The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 2, 1991. Accessed July 3, 2011. "Born and raised Richard Jackson in Camden, Groove took his stepfather's last name for show business."</ref>
• Leon Huff (born 1942), songwriter and record producer<ref>Leon Huff- Gamble-Huff Music Template:Webarchive. Accessed December 8, 2012.</ref>
• Barbara Ingram (1947–1994), R&B background singer<ref>Lloyd, Jack. Template:Usurped, The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 24, 1987. Accessed June 29, 2016. "That's fine with Benson, Benton and Ingram, Camden natives who grew up together."</ref>
• Eric Lewis (born 1973), pianist popularly known as ELEW<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Ronny J (born 1992), record producer, rapper and singer<ref>Nosnitsky, Andrew. "Meet Ronny J, the aggro rap producer rupturing eardrums The New Jersey native explains how he went from playing in the church choir to soundtracking South Florida's warped rap sound.", The Fader, February 21, 2018. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Over the past few years, no rap producer's name has been more synonymous with distortion than Ronny J. Though born in Camden, New Jersey, the 25-year-old is best known as the sonic anchor to South Florida's rambunctious hip hop scene."</ref>
• Anna Sosenko (1909–2000), songwriter and manager<ref>Nemy, Enid. "Anna Sosenko, 90, Producer, Songwriter and Stars' Friend", The New York Times, June 11, 2000. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Ms. Sosenko was born in Camden, N.J., on June 13, 1909, the daughter of Rebecca and Simon Sosenko."</ref>
• Jade Starling (born Template:Circa), singer-songwriter who was the lead vocalist for 1980s band Pretty Poison<ref>"Pretty Poison's Jade Starling: Madonna Meets Lucille Ball", The Morning Call, April 19, 1986. Accessed March 20, 2025. "Jade, originally from Camden, N.J., grew up in Merchantville."</ref>
• Richard Sterban (born 1943), bass singer, Oak Ridge Boys<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>"Oak Ridge Boys Just A Couple Of Philly-area Country Boys", The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 28, 1994. Accessed December 5, 2017. "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."</ref>
• Frank Tiberi (born 1928), band leader, Woody Herman Orchestra<ref>McNally, Owen. "Woody Herman's 'Herd' Still Thundering, 70 Years Later", Hartford Courant, July 13, 2006. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Born in Camden, N.J., Dec. 4, 1928, Tiberi was a musical prodigy in a working-class, Italian immigrant family."</ref>
• Tye Tribbett (born 1976), gospel music singer, songwriter, keyboardist and choir director<ref>"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 of Greater 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."</ref>
• Julia Udine (born 1993), singer and actress, Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway<ref>Blank, Matthew. "Playbill.com's Cue & A: Phantom of the Opera U.S. Tour Star Julia Udine", Playbill, January 14, 2014. Accessed July 29, 2019. "Where you were born/where you were raised: Born in Camden, NJ. Raised in Voorhees, NJ."</ref>
• Jack Vees (born 1955), composer and bassist<ref>Belli, Brita. "Multimedia premiere 'The Raft' features experimental music, art, and alumni", Yale News, April 3, 2018. "Growing up in Camden, New Jersey, a young Jack Vees, founder and director of the Center for Studies in Music Technology at Yale, was entranced by the story."</ref>
• Crystal Waters (born 1967), house and dance music singer and songwriter, "Gypsy Woman" and "100% Pure Love"<ref>Waters, Crystal. "Take Five With Crystal Waters", All About Jazz, May 9, 2013. Accessed November 24, 2018. "She was born in Camden, New Jersey to a jazz family, right outside of Philadelphia."</ref>
• Buster Williams (born 1942), jazz bassist<ref>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."</ref>

Politicians and public officials

• John F. Amodeo (born 1950), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 2nd Legislative District from 2008 to 2014<ref>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."</ref>
• Rob Andrews (born 1957), U.S. representative for New Jersey's 1st congressional district, served 1990–2014<ref>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."</ref><ref>Andrews, Robert Ernest, (1957 – ), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 12, 2018. "Andrews, Robert Ernest, a Representative from New Jersey; born in Camden, Camden County, N.J., August 4, 1957"</ref>
• David Baird Jr. (1881–1955), U.S. Senator from 1929 to 1930, unsuccessful Republican nominee for governor in 1931<ref>Staff. "David Baird Jr., Ex-Senator, Dies — Jersey G.O.P. Leader Was President of Lumber and Insurance Companies", The New York Times, March 1, 1955. Accessed October 22, 2013. "Mr. Baird was born in Camden."</ref>
• David Baird Sr. (1839–1927), United States Senator from New Jersey<ref>Baird, David, (1839–1927), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed April 5, 2016.</ref>
• Arthur Barclay (born 1982), politician currently serving on the Camden City Council. Formerly represented the 5th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2016 to 2018.<ref>Assemblyman Arthur Barclay Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed August 18, 2016.</ref>
• U. E. Baughman (1905–1978), head of United States Secret Service from 1948 to 1961<ref>via Associated 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."</ref>
• William J. Browning (1850–1920), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in U.S. House of Representatives, 1911–1920<ref>William John Browning, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 16, 2007.</ref>
• William T. Cahill (1912–1996), politician who served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1958–1970) and as Governor of New Jersey (1971–1975)<ref>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."</ref>
• Bonnie Watson Coleman (born 1945), politician who has served as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 12th congressional district since 2015<ref>Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey: 2004 Edition, p. 266. Lawyers Diary and Manual, LLC, 2004. Template:ISBN. Accessed October 6, 2019. "The assemblywoman was born in Camden and attended public schools."</ref>
• Mary Keating Croce (1928–2016), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly for three two-year terms, from 1974 to 1980, before serving as the Chairwoman of the New Jersey State Parole Board in the 1990s<ref>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."</ref>
• Lawrence Curry (1936–2018), educator and politician who served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1993 to 2012, was born in Camden<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Michellene Davis, lawyer and executive who served as acting State Treasurer of New Jersey<ref>"Jersey Jotter", Courier-Post, February 20, 1988. Accessed November 6, 2023, via Newspapers.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."</ref>
• James Dellet (1788–1848), politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama<ref>James Dellet, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed October 16, 2017. "Dellet, James, a Representative from Alabama; born in Camden, N.J., February 18, 1788"</ref>
• Angel Fuentes (born 1961), former Assmblyman who has served as President of the Camden city council<ref>Steele, Allison. "In Camden, former assemblyman returns to Council seat", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 10, 2016. Accessed October 16, 2017. "Former Assemblyman Angel Fuentes, who served for 16 years on Camden's City Council, is returning to his old job."</ref>
• Carmen M. Garcia, former Chief judge of Municipal Court in Trenton, New Jersey<ref>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."</ref>
• Oz Griebel (1949–2020), banker, lawyer and political candidate who ran for Governor of Connecticut<ref>Gosselin, Kenneth R. "R. Nelson (Oz) Gribel", Hartford Courant, October 23, 1995. Accessed May 14, 2024. "Born: June 21, 1949, Camden, N.J."</ref>
• John J. Horn (1917–1999), labor leader and politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature before being nominated to serve as commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Industry<ref>Hagenmayer, S. Joseph. Template:Usurped, The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 11, 1999. Accessed October 6, 2016. "Mr. Horn had lived in Seaside Park, Ocean County, for the last 20 years. Raised in Camden, he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, where he was an end on the football team."</ref>
• Robert S. MacAlister (1897–1957), Los Angeles City Council member, 1934–1939<ref>Robert Stuart MacAlister reference file, Los Angeles Public Library. Accessed September 7, 2011.</ref>
• Richard Mroz, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities<ref>Avril, Tom. Template:Usurped, 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."</ref>
• Donald Norcross (born 1958), U.S. Congressman representing New Jersey's 1st congressional district<ref>Norcross, Donald, (1958 – ), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 12, 2018. "Norcross, Donald, a Representative from New Jersey; born in Camden, Camden County, N.J., December 13, 1958"</ref>
• Christine O'Hearn (born 1969), lawyer serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey<ref>Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees: Christine Patricia O'Hearn", United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Accessed January 29, 2023. "Birthplace: State year and place of birth. 1969; Camden, New Jersey"</ref>
• Francis F. Patterson Jr. (1867–1935), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in U.S. House of Representatives, 1920–1927<ref>Francis Ford Patterson Jr., Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 26, 2007.</ref>
• William T. Read (1878–1954), lawyer, who was President of the New Jersey Senate and Treasurer of New Jersey<ref>"William T. Read Sr., Jersey Ex-Senator", The New York Times, August 8, 1954. Accessed July 2, 2022.</ref>
• William Spearman (born 1958), politician who has represented the 5th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2018<ref>Assemblyman Bill Spearman, Camden, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 14, 2020. "Born and raised in Camden City, Assemblyman Spearman is a lifelong resident and a former city councilman."</ref>
• John F. Starr (1818–1904), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in U.S. House of Representatives, 1863–1867<ref>John Farson Starr, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 24, 2007.</ref>

Other

• Quaesita Cromwell Drake (1889–1967), chemist who was a professor and chair of the chemistry department at the University of Delaware for 38 years<ref>General Catalogue of the Officers and Graduates of Vassar College, Volume 4, p. 319. Vassar College, The A. V. Haight Company, 1910. Accessed March 21, 2023. "Quaesita C. Drake, [born] Camden, N. J.; [residence while in college] Haddonfield, N. J., Camden and Atlantic City, N. J.; [present residence] 301 Market St. Camden."</ref>
• Margaret Giannini (1921–2021), physician and specialist in assistive technology and rehabilitation, who was the first director of the National Institute of Disability Rehabilitation Research<ref>"Oversight Hearings on the National Institute of Handicapped Research: Joint Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Select Education of the Committee on Education and Labor and the Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Technology of the Committee on Science and Technology, House of Representatives, Ninety-seventh Congress, First Session, Hearings Held in Washington, D.C., on October 12, 1981", United States Government Printing Office, 1982. Accessed July 22, 2021. "Biographical Sketch Of Margaret J. Giannini, M.D., F.A.A.P.... Personal: Born - Camden, New Jersey, May 27, 1921"</ref>
• Elie Honig (born 1975), attorney and CNN senior legal analyst<ref>Baxter, Christopher. "New N.J. chief of criminal prosecutions sharpened skills battling N.Y. mobsters", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 24, 2013. Accessed January 12, 2023. "Honig was born in Camden. His mother was a social worker, and when he was 2 months old, he attended his father’s graduation from Rutgers School of Law."</ref>
• Richard Hollingshead (1900–1975), inventor of the drive-in theater<ref>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."</ref>
• Aaron McCargo Jr. (born 1971), chef and television personality who hosts Big Daddy's House, a cooking show on Food Network<ref>"McCargo Cooks!". Portal to gallery of photographs (11) related to Aaron McCargo Jr. Courier-Post. July 16, 2008. Accessed December 28, 2009.</ref><ref>"Aaron McCargo Cooking Lesson". Portal to gallery of photographs (18) related to Aaron McCargo Jr. Courier-Post. January 26, 2009. Accessed December 28, 2009.</ref><ref>Aaron McCargo Jr. Template:Webarchive. Accessed December 27, 2009.</ref><ref>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's Next 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."</ref>
• Lucy Taxis Shoe Meritt (1906–2003), classical archaeologist and a scholar of Greek architectural ornamentation and mouldings<ref>Staff. A Community of Scholars: The Institute for Advanced Study Faculty and Members 1930–1980 Template:Webarchive, p. 289. Institute for Advanced Study, 1980. Accessed November 22, 2015. "Meritt, Lucy Shoe 48–49, 50–73 HS, Classical Archaeology Born 1906 Camden, NJ."</ref>
• Newton Morton (1929–2018), population geneticist<ref>Sherman, Stephanie L., et al. "Newton E. Morton (1929–2018)", American Journal of Human Genetics, June 7, 2018. Accessed May 28, 2024. "Morton was born in 1929 in Camden, New Jersey, to parents who descended from the pilgrims of Massachusetts."</ref>
• Thomas J. Osler (1940–2023), mathematician, former national champion distance runner and author<ref>"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."</ref>
• Jim Perry (1933–2015), game show host and television personality<ref>Clothier, Gary. "Ask Mr. Know It All" Template:Webarchive, 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."</ref>
• Dorcas Reilly (1926–2018), chef, homemaker and inventor, best known for popularizing the green bean casserole<ref>Zraick, Karen. 'Dorcas Reilly, Creator of the Classic American Green-Bean Casserole, Dies at 92", The New York Times, October 24, 2018. Accessed November 29, 2024. "Dorcas Lillian Bates was born on July 22, 1926, in Woodbury, N.J.... She and her brother, Linwood Tomlinson Bates, grew up in Glassboro, N.J., and Camden."</ref>
• Tommy Roberts (1928–2024), radio and TV broadcaster who launched simulcast in 1984, a television feed of horse races to racetracks, casinos and off-track betting facilities, enabling gamblers to watch and bet on live racing from all over the world<ref>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."</ref>
• Howard Unruh (1921–2009), 1949 mass murderer<ref name="Unruh"/>
• Richard Valeriani (1932–2018), former White House correspondent and diplomatic correspondent with NBC News in the 1960s and 1970s<ref>Barnes, Mike. "Richard Valeriani, Longtime 'NBC Nightly News' Correspondent, Dies at 85", The Hollywood Reporter, June 18, 2018. Accessed June 18, 2018. "A native of Camden, New Jersey, Valeriani attended Yale University on a full scholarship and served as sports editor of the Yale Daily News."</ref>
• 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<ref>Taylor, Angela. "Cosmetics for Black Women: The Timing Was Right", The New York Times, July 8, 1978. Accessed February 2, 2025. "Barbara Walden was born in Camden, N.J., about 45 years ago, the daughter of a comfortably established businessman."</ref>
• Mary Schenck Woolman (1860–1940), pioneer in vocational education for women<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Phil Zimmermann (born 1954), programmer who developed the Pretty Good Privacy method of data encryption<ref>Garfinkel, Simson. PGP: Pretty Good Privacy, p. 85. O'Reilly Media, Inc., 1995. Template:ISBN. Accessed July 29, 2014. "Zimmermann was born in Camden, New Jersey, in 1954, but his parents soon moved to southern Florida."</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website
• Invincible Cities: A Visual Encyclopedia of the American Ghetto, documentary photography of Camden by Camilo José Vergara and Rutgers University
• Template:Gnis