Trenton, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Main other{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox settlement with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | alt | anthem | anthem_link | area_blank1_acre | area_blank1_dunam | area_blank1_ha | area_blank1_km2 | area_blank1_sq_mi | area_blank1_title | area_blank2_acre | area_blank2_dunam | area_blank2_ha | area_blank2_km2 | area_blank2_sq_mi | area_blank2_title | area_code | area_code_type | area_codes | area_footnotes | area_land_acre | area_land_dunam | area_land_ha | area_land_km2 | area_land_sq_mi | area_metro_acre | area_metro_dunam | area_metro_footnotes | area_metro_ha | area_metro_km2 | area_metro_sq_mi | area_note | area_rank | area_rural_acre | area_rural_dunam | area_rural_footnotes | area_rural_ha | area_rural_km2 | area_rural_sq_mi | area_total_acre | area_total_dunam | area_total_ha | area_total_km2 | area_total_sq_mi | area_urban_acre | area_urban_dunam | area_urban_footnotes | area_urban_ha | area_urban_km2 | area_urban_sq_mi | area_water_acre | area_water_dunam | area_water_ha | area_water_km2 | area_water_percent | area_water_sq_mi | blank_emblem_alt | blank_emblem_link | blank_emblem_size | blank_emblem_type | blank_info | blank_info_sec1 | blank_info_sec2 | blank_name | blank_name_sec1 | blank_name_sec2 | blank1_info | blank1_info_sec1 | blank1_info_sec2 | blank1_name | blank1_name_sec1 | blank1_name_sec2 | blank2_info | blank2_info_sec1 | blank2_info_sec2 | blank2_name | blank2_name_sec1 | blank2_name_sec2 | blank3_info | blank3_info_sec1 | blank3_info_sec2 | blank3_name | blank3_name_sec1 | blank3_name_sec2 | blank4_info | blank4_info_sec1 | blank4_info_sec2 | blank4_name | blank4_name_sec1 | blank4_name_sec2 | blank5_info | blank5_info_sec1 | blank5_info_sec2 | blank5_name | blank5_name_sec1 | blank5_name_sec2 | blank6_info | blank6_info_sec1 | blank6_info_sec2 | blank6_name | blank6_name_sec1 | blank6_name_sec2 | blank7_info | blank7_info_sec1 | blank7_info_sec2 | blank7_name | blank7_name_sec1 | blank7_name_sec2 | caption | code1_info | code1_name | code2_info | code2_name | coor_pinpoint | coor_type | coordinates | coordinates_footnotes | demographics_type1 | demographics_type2 | demographics1_footnotes | demographics1_info1 | demographics1_info10 | demographics1_info2 | demographics1_info3 | demographics1_info4 | demographics1_info5 | demographics1_info6 | demographics1_info7 | demographics1_info8 | demographics1_info9 | demographics1_title1 | demographics1_title10 | demographics1_title2 | demographics1_title3 | demographics1_title4 | demographics1_title5 | demographics1_title6 | demographics1_title7 | demographics1_title8 | demographics1_title9 | demographics2_footnotes | demographics2_info1 | demographics2_info10 | demographics2_info2 | demographics2_info3 | demographics2_info4 | demographics2_info5 | demographics2_info6 | demographics2_info7 | demographics2_info8 | demographics2_info9 | demographics2_title1 | demographics2_title10 | demographics2_title2 | demographics2_title3 | demographics2_title4 | demographics2_title5 | demographics2_title6 | demographics2_title7 | demographics2_title8 | demographics2_title9 | dimensions_footnotes | dunam_link | elevation_footnotes | elevation_ft | elevation_link | elevation_m | elevation_max_footnotes | elevation_max_ft | elevation_max_m | elevation_max_point | elevation_max_rank | elevation_min_footnotes | elevation_min_ft | elevation_min_m | elevation_min_point | elevation_min_rank | elevation_point | embed | established_date | established_date1 | established_date2 | established_date3 | established_date4 | established_date5 | established_date6 | established_date7 | established_title | established_title1 | established_title2 | established_title3 | established_title4 | established_title5 | established_title6 | established_title7 | etymology | extinct_date | extinct_title | flag_alt | flag_border | flag_link | flag_size | footnotes | founder | geocode | governing_body | government_footnotes | government_type | government_blank1_title | government_blank1 | government_blank2_title | government_blank2 | government_blank2_title | government_blank3 | government_blank3_title | government_blank3 | government_blank4_title | government_blank4 | government_blank5_title | government_blank5 | government_blank6_title | government_blank6 | grid_name | grid_position | image_alt | image_blank_emblem | image_caption | image_flag | image_map | image_map1 | image_seal | image_shield | image_size | image_skyline | imagesize | iso_code | leader_name | leader_name1 | leader_name2 | leader_name3 | leader_name4 | leader_party | leader_title | leader_title1 | leader_title2 | leader_title3 | leader_title4 | length_km | length_mi | map_alt | map_alt1 | map_caption | map_caption1 | mapsize | mapsize1 | module | motto | motto_link | mottoes | name | named_for | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nickname_link | nicknames | official_name | other_name | p1 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13 | p14 | p15 | p16 | p17 | p18 | p19 | p2 | p20 | p21 | p22 | p23 | p24 | p25 | p26 | p27 | p28 | p29 | p3 | p30 | p31 | p32 | p33 | p34 | p35 | p36 | p37 | p38 | p39 | p4 | p40 | p41 | p42 | p43 | p44 | p45 | p46 | p47 | p48 | p49 | p5 | p50 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | parts | parts_style | parts_type | pop_est_as_of | pop_est_footnotes | population | population_as_of | population_blank1 | population_blank1_footnotes | population_blank1_title | population_blank2 | population_blank2_footnotes | population_blank2_title | population_demonym | population_demonyms | population_density_blank1_km2 | population_density_blank1_sq_mi | population_density_blank2_km2 | population_density_blank2_sq_mi | population_density_km2 | population_density_metro_km2 | population_density_metro_sq_mi | population_density_rank | population_density_rural_km2 | population_density_rural_sq_mi | population_density_sq_mi | population_density_urban_km2 | population_density_urban_sq_mi | population_est | population_footnotes | population_metro | population_metro_footnotes | population_note | population_rank | population_rural | population_rural_footnotes | population_total | population_urban | population_urban_footnotes | postal_code | postal_code_type | postal2_code | postal2_code_type | pushpin_image | pushpin_label | pushpin_label_position | pushpin_map | pushpin_map_alt | pushpin_map_caption | pushpin_map_caption_notsmall | pushpin_map_narrow | pushpin_mapsize | pushpin_outside | pushpin_overlay | pushpin_relief | registration_plate | registration_plate_type | seal_alt | seal_link | seal_size | seal_type | seat | seat_type | seat1 | seat1_type | seat2 | seat2_type | settlement_type | shield_alt | shield_link | shield_size | short_description | subdivision_name | subdivision_name1 | subdivision_name2 | subdivision_name3 | subdivision_name4 | subdivision_name5 | subdivision_name6 | subdivision_type | subdivision_type1 | subdivision_type2 | subdivision_type3 | subdivision_type4 | subdivision_type5 | subdivision_type6 | timezone | timezone_DST | timezone_link | timezone1 | timezone1_DST | timezone1_location | timezone2 | timezone2_DST | timezone2_location | timezone3 | timezone3_DST | timezone3_location | timezone4 | timezone4_DST | timezone4_location | timezone5 | timezone5_DST | timezone5_location | total_type | translit_lang1 | translit_lang1_info | translit_lang1_info1 | translit_lang1_info2 | translit_lang1_info3 | translit_lang1_info4 | translit_lang1_info5 | translit_lang1_info6 | translit_lang1_type | translit_lang1_type1 | translit_lang1_type2 | translit_lang1_type3 | translit_lang1_type4 | translit_lang1_type5 | translit_lang1_type6 | translit_lang2 | translit_lang2_info | translit_lang2_info1 | translit_lang2_info2 | translit_lang2_info3 | translit_lang2_info4 | translit_lang2_info5 | translit_lang2_info6 | translit_lang2_type | translit_lang2_type1 | translit_lang2_type2 | translit_lang2_type3 | translit_lang2_type4 | translit_lang2_type5 | translit_lang2_type6 | type | unit_pref | utc_offset | utc_offset_DST | utc_offset1 | utc_offset1_DST | utc_offset2 | utc_offset2_DST | utc_offset3 | utc_offset3_DST | utc_offset4 | utc_offset4_DST | utc_offset5 | utc_offset5_DST | website | width_km | width_mi | mapframe | mapframe-area_km2 | mapframe-area_mi2 | mapframe-caption | mapframe-coord | mapframe-coordinates | mapframe-custom | mapframe-frame-coord | mapframe-frame-coordinates | mapframe-frame-height | mapframe-frame-width | mapframe-geomask | mapframe-geomask-fill | mapframe-geomask-fill-opacity | mapframe-geomask-stroke-color | mapframe-geomask-stroke-colour | mapframe-geomask-stroke-width | mapframe-height | mapframe-id | mapframe-length_km | mapframe-length_mi | mapframe-marker | mapframe-marker-color | mapframe-marker-colour | mapframe-point | mapframe-shape | mapframe-shape-fill | mapframe-shape-fill-opacity | mapframe-stroke-color | mapframe-stroke-colour | mapframe-stroke-width | mapframe-switcher | mapframe-width | mapframe-wikidata | mapframe-zoom }}{{#invoke:Check for clobbered parameters|check | template = Infobox settlement | cat = Template:Main other | population; population_total | image_size; imagesize | image_alt; alt | image_caption; caption }}{{#if:

|

}}Template:Main other

Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. It was the capital of the United States from November 1 until December 24, 1784.<ref name=CountyMap>New Jersey County Map Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed July 10, 2017.</ref><ref name=UScapital/> Trenton and Princeton are the two principal cities of the Trenton–Princeton metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses those cities and all of Mercer County for statistical purposes and constitutes part of the New York combined statistical area by the U.S. Census Bureau.<ref name="auto">New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022.</ref> However, Trenton directly borders the Philadelphia metropolitan area to its west, and the city was part of the Philadelphia combined statistical area from 1990 until 2000.<ref name="FCC DMA Current">"Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas." Template:Webarchive, Office of Management and Budget Bulletin 13-01, February 28, 2013. Accessed April 22, 2019.</ref>

In the 2020 United States census, Trenton was the state's 10th-most-populous municipality,<ref name=Largest2020>Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> with a population of 90,871,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 5,958 (+7.0%) from the 2010 census count of 84,913,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn had reflected a decline of 490 (−0.6%) from the 85,403 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010 Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 89,661 in 2022,<ref name=Census2020/> ranking the city the 382nd-most-populous in the country.<ref name=ANNRNK/> Trenton is the only city in New Jersey that serves three commuter rail transit systems (Amtrak, NJ Transit, and SEPTA), and the city has encouraged a spate of transit-oriented development.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Trenton dates back at least to June 3, 1719, when mention was made of a constable being appointed for Trenton while the area was still part of Hunterdon County. Boundaries were recorded for Trenton Township as of March 2, 1720.<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. pp. 164–165. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> A courthouse and jail were constructed in Trenton around 1720, and the Freeholders of Hunterdon County met annually in Trenton.<ref>County History Template:Webarchive, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed April 18, 2011.</ref>

On November 25, 1790, Trenton became New Jersey's capital, and by November 13, 1792, the City of Trenton was formed within Trenton Township. Trenton Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798.

The city historically had a major manufacturing industry, with factories producing iron, steel, rubber, pottery, and other products that served the nation. Today Trenton's economy is dominated by the Government of New Jersey.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

File:The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton December 26 1776.jpeg

The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776, a painting by John Trumbull

File:Old Barracks, South Willow Street, Trenton (Mercer County, New Jersey).jpg

The Old Barracks in Trenton

The earliest known inhabitants of the area that is today Trenton were the Lenape Native Americans,<ref>"Before There Was Trenton: A 350th Anniversary Look at the 17th Century Display of Early New Netherland Colonial Artifacts June 22 – October 19, 2014" Template:Webarchive, Trenton City Museum, October 12, 2014. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref> specifically the Axion band who were the largest tribe on the Delaware River in the mid-17th century.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The first European settlement in what would become Trenton was established by Quakers in 1679, in the region then called the Falls of the Delaware, led by Mahlon Stacy from Handsworth, Sheffield, England. Quakers were being persecuted in England at this time, and North America provided an opportunity to exercise their religious freedom.<ref>Hunter, Richard. "Chapter 4: Land Use History" Template:Webarchive, from Abbott Farm National Historic Landmark Interpretive Plan, Mercer County, New Jersey. Accessed May 5, 2016.</ref>

By 1719, the town adopted the name "Trent-towne", after William Trent, one of its leading landholders who purchased much of the surrounding land from Stacy's family. This name was later shortened to "Trenton".<ref>Krystal, Becky. "Trenton, N.J.: One for the history buffs" Template:Webarchive, The Washington Post, February 10, 2011. Accessed January 10, 2012. "Back in the early 18th century, at least, the area was remote enough for Trent, a wealthy Philadelphia merchant, to build his summer home there near the banks of the Delaware River. And though it's dwarfed by its modern-day neighbors, at the time the home reflected its owner's 'ostentatious nature,' Nedoresow said. Further stroking his ego, he named the settlement he laid out 'Trent-towne,' which eventually evolved into the current moniker."</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 12, 2015.</ref><ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 304. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed October 12, 2015.</ref>

The first municipal boundaries were recorded on March 2, 1720, and a courthouse and jail were constructed around the same time.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1758, the Old Barracks were built to house British soldiers during the French and Indian War. On January 19, 1764, Benjamin Franklin, Postmaster General of the colonies, appointed Abraham Hunt, a Lieutenant Colonel in the New Jersey Hunterdon County militia and prominent merchant in Trenton, as the city's first postmaster. Hunt was again appointed Trenton's postmaster on October 13, 1775, shortly after the American Revolutionary War broke out.<ref name="napo">National Archives: Post Office Commissions to Abraham Hunt, 10 January 1764</ref><ref name="schuyler">Schuyler, 1929, p. 132</ref>

During the American Revolutionary War, Trenton was the site of the Battle of Trenton. On December 25–26, 1776, George Washington and his army crossed the icy Delaware River to Trenton, where they defeated Hessian troops garrisoned there.<ref>"This Day in History – Dec 26, 1776: Washington wins first major U.S. victory at Trenton" Template:Webarchive, History, November 13, 2009, updated July 27, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref> The second battle of Trenton, Battle of the Assunpink Creek, was fought here on January 2, 1777.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After the war, the Congress of the Confederation met for two months at the French Arms Tavern from November 1, 1784, to December 24, 1784.<ref name="UScapital">Parker, L.A. "City celebrating role as U.S. capital in 1784" Template:Webarchive, The Trentonian, November 6, 2009. Accessed January 10, 2012. "City and state leaders kicked off a two-month celebration yesterday with a news conference highlighting Trenton's brief role as the capital of the United States in 1784."</ref> While the city was preferred by New England and other northern states as a permanent capital for the new country, the southern states ultimately prevailed in their choice of a location south of the Mason–Dixon line.<ref>Messler, Mary J. "Chapter IV: Some Notable Events of Post-Revolutionary Times" Template:Webarchive from A History of Trenton: 1679–1929, Trenton Historical Society. Accessed May 5, 2016. "The question now resolved itself into a quarrel between the North and the South. New England favored Trenton, whereas the Southern States felt that in the selection of any site north of Mason and Dixon's line their claims for recognition were being slighted, and their interests sacrificed to New England's commercialism."</ref> On April 21, 1789, the city hosted a reception for George Washington on his journey to New York City for his first inauguration.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Trenton Battle Monument, a Template:Convert granite column topped with a statue of George Washington, was built in 1893 to commemorate the battle.<ref name=Britannica>Trenton New Jersey, United States Template:Webarchive, Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed November 19, 2023.</ref>

Trenton became the state capital in 1790, but prior to that year the New Jersey Legislature often met in the city.<ref>A Short History of New Jersey Template:Webarchive, New Jersey. Accessed January 10, 2012.</ref> The city was incorporated on November 13, 1792.<ref name="Story" /> In 1792, the New Jersey State House was built, making it the third-oldest state house in the country.<ref name=Britannica /> In 1799, the federal government relocated its offices to Trenton for a period of several months, following an outbreak of yellow fever in the then-capital of Philadelphia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

During the War of 1812, the United States Army's primary hospital was at a site on Broad Street.<ref>Some of Trenton's History Template:Webarchive, City of Trenton. Accessed October 12, 2015. "During the 1812 War, the primary hospital facility for the U.S. Army was at a temporary location on Broad Street."</ref>

Trenton had maintained an iron industry since the 1730s and a pottery industry since at least 1723. The completion of both the Delaware and Raritan Canal and the Camden and Amboy Railroad in the 1830s spurred industrial development in Trenton. In 1845, industrialist Peter Cooper opened a rolling mill. In 1848, engineer John Roebling moved his wire rope mill to the city, where suspension cables for bridges were manufactured, including the Brooklyn Bridge. Throughout the 19th century, Trenton grew steadily, as European immigrants came to work in its pottery and wire rope mills. Trenton became known as an industrial hub for railroads, trucking, rubber, plastics, metalworking, electrical, automobile parts, glass, and textiles industries.<ref name=Britannica />

The city's largest and most long-standing industry was ceramics. From the 1850s-1950s, scores of pottery companies called the city home and Trenton became known as the "Staffordshire of America." In the late 19th century Walter Scott Lenox founded the Ceramic Art Company, which eventually became Lenox, Inc., a nationally-known producer of fine china.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Lenox designed and manufactured White House china for multiple Presidents of the United States.

On February 22, 1834, portions of Trenton Township were taken to form Ewing Township. The remaining portion of Trenton Township was absorbed by the city on April 10, 1837. In 1837, with the population now too large for government by council, a new mayoral government was adopted, with by-laws that remain in operation to this day.<ref>Richman, Steven M. Reconsidering Trenton: The Small City in the Post-Industrial Age Template:Webarchive, p. 49. McFarland & Company, 2010. Template:ISBN. Accessed November 15, 2015.</ref> During the latter half of the century, Trenton annexed multiple municipalities: South Trenton Borough on April 14, 1851, portions of Nottingham Township on April 14, 1856, Chambersburg and Millham Township on March 30, 1888, and Wilbur borough on February 28, 1898.<ref name=":0" /> Portions of Ewing Township and Hamilton Township were annexed to Trenton on March 23, 1900.<ref name="Story" /><ref>Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896–1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period Template:Webarchive, p. 302. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 12, 2015.</ref>

In 1855, the College of New Jersey was founded in Trenton. In 1865, Rider University was also founded in Trenton. Mercer Community College began in Trenton in 1966.<ref name=Britannica />

The Trenton Six were a group of black men arrested for the alleged murder of an elderly white shopkeeper in January 1948 with a soda bottle. They were arrested without warrants, denied lawyers and sentenced to death based on what were described as coerced confessions. With the involvement of the Communist Party and the NAACP, there were several appeals, resulting in a total of four trials. Eventually the accused men (with the exception of one who died in prison) were released. The incident was the subject of the book Jersey Justice: The Story of the Trenton Six, written by Cathy Knepper.<ref>Blackwell, John|. "1948: A cry for justice" Template:Webarchive, The Trentonian. Accessed June 4, 2018.</ref><ref>Schlegel, Sharon. "Harrowing case of the 'Trenton Six'" Template:Webarchive, The Times, January 28, 2012. Accessed June 4, 2018. "The recently published story of the 'Trenton Six,' dramatically told in Cathy Knepper's newest book, Jersey Justice: The Story of the Trenton Six, is so filled with proven instances of injustice that it is almost hard to believe.... Reading how the men were arrested randomly and haphazardly (despite a partial witness claiming they were not the perpetrators) is horrifying. Equally upsetting is that they were held incommunicado for days without warrants, abused and drugged into confessing."</ref>

In the 1950s, the State of New Jersey purchased a large portion of what was then Stacy Park, a large riverfront park located next to downtown that contained large open lawns, landscaping, and promenades. Much of the park was demolished to make way for the construction of Route 29, despite the protests toward its construction. After it was built, the area was then mostly filled with parking lots and scattered state office buildings, disconnecting the city from the riverfront.<ref>Chapter 7 Riverfront District Downtown Capital District Master Plan Trenton, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, City of Trenton. Accessed November 19, 2023.</ref>

Riots of 1968

The Trenton Riots of 1968 were a major civil disturbance that took place during the week following the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis on April 4. Race riots broke out nationwide following the murder of the civil rights activist. More than 200 Trenton businesses, mostly in Downtown, were ransacked and burned. More than 300 people, most of them young black men, were arrested on charges ranging from assault and arson to looting and violating the mayor's emergency curfew. In addition to 16 injured policemen, 15 firefighters were treated at city hospitals for injuries suffered while fighting raging blazes or inflicted by rioters. Area residents pulled false alarms and would then throw bricks at firefighters responding to the alarm boxes. This experience, along with similar experiences in other major cities, effectively ended the use of open-cab fire engines. As an interim measure, the Trenton Fire Department fabricated temporary cab enclosures from steel deck plating until new equipment could be obtained. The losses incurred by downtown businesses were initially estimated by the city to be $7 million, but the total of insurance claims and settlements came to $2.5 million.<ref>Cumbler, John T. A Social History of Economic Decline: Business, Politics and Work in Trenton Template:Webarchive, p. 283. Rutgers University Press, 1989. Template:ISBN. Accessed February 12, 2014.</ref>

Trenton's Battle Monument neighborhood was hardest hit. Since the 1950s, North Trenton had witnessed a steady exodus of middle-class residents, and the riots spelled the end for North Trenton. By the 1970s, the region had become one of the most blighted and crime-ridden in the city.<ref>Listokin, David; and Listokin, Barbara. Barriers to the Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing Volume II Case Studies Template:Webarchive, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, May 2001. Accessed December 1, 2019. "Socioeconomic and housing challenges are especially severe in some of Trenton’s oldest neighborhoods. In the Old Trenton area, abandonment went unchecked for decades, and when abandoned houses were demolished by the city, the empty lots remaining would fill with garbage and vermin. Another hard-hit location was the 'Battle Monument' area: 'Time has not been kind to the Battle Monument section of this city. The five-block area, the hub of the Battle of Trenton in 1775 and of transportation in the 1950s, has in the last four decades suffered from abandonment and neglect.'"</ref>

Geography

File:2014-05-12 12 17 50 View of the "Falls of the Delaware" and downtown Trenton, New Jersey from Morrisville, Pennsylvania.JPG

The "Falls of the Delaware" at Trenton

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 8.21 square miles (21.25 km²), including 7.58 square miles (19.63 km²) of land and 0.63 square miles (1.62 km²) of water (7.62%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 /> In terms of land area, Trenton is also the second-smallest of the United States capital cities, behind Annapolis, Maryland.<ref>The 10 Least Populated State Capitals Template:Webarchive, World Atlas. Accessed August 23, 2023. "Annapolis, Maryland, the 8th smallest state capital by population is also the smallest state capital in size with an area of 6.73 square miles. Other small capitals include Trenton, New Jersey (7.66 sq mi); Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (8.11 sq mi); and Montpelier, Vermont (10.2 sq mi)."</ref>

Trenton is located near the geographic center of the state, which is located Template:Convert southeast of the city.<ref>Science In Your Backyard: New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Geological Survey. Accessed October 28, 2014.</ref><ref>Stirling, Stephen. "U.S. Census shows East Brunswick as statistical center of N.J." Template:Webarchive, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 31, 2011. Accessed May 21, 2017. "The state's geographic center remains Hamilton Township in Mercer County, just southeast of Trenton."</ref>

Mercer County constitutes its own metropolitan statistical area, the Trenton-Princeton MSA, which is part of the Tri-State Region.<ref name="auto" /> Locals consider Trenton to be a part of Central Jersey, and thus part of neither North Jersey nor South Jersey though sometimes included in both.<ref>Weiss, Daniel. "North/South Skirmishes; A film tries to draw the line between North and South Jersey." Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Monthly, April 30, 2008. Accessed June 12, 2018.</ref> They are generally split as to whether they are within New York or Philadelphia's sphere of influence. While it is closer to Philadelphia, many people commute to New York City and have moved there to escape the New York region's high housing costs.

Trenton is one of two state capitals that border another state—the other being Carson City, Nevada.<ref>Howe, Randy. Nifty 50 States Brainiac, p. 1159. Kaplan Publishing, 2008. Template:ISBN. Accessed February 12, 2014. "Carson City is one of just two capital cities in the United States that borders another state; the other is Trenton, New Jersey."</ref>

Trenton borders Ewing Township, Hamilton Township and Lawrence Township in Mercer County; and Falls Township, Lower Makefield Township and Morrisville in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.<ref>Areas touching Trenton Template:Webarchive, MapIt. Accessed March 15, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities within Mercer County, NJ Template:Webarchive, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

The Northeast Corridor goes through Trenton. A straight line drawn between Center City, Philadelphia and Downtown Manhattan would pass within 2000 feet of the New Jersey State House.

Several bridges across the Delaware River connect Trenton to Morrisville, Pennsylvania, all of which are operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.<ref>Discover Our Bridges Template:Webarchive, Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref> The Trenton–Morrisville Toll Bridge, originally constructed in 1952, stretches Template:Convert, carrying U.S. Route 1.<ref>Trenton-Morrisville (Rt. 1) Toll Bridge Template:Webarchive, Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. Accessed December 1, 2019. "The Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge carries U.S. Route 1 over the Delaware River between Trenton, New Jersey and Morrisville, Pennsylvania.... The bridge is a twelve-span, simply supported composite steel girder and concrete deck structure with an overall length of 1,324 feet."</ref> The Lower Trenton Bridge, bearing the legend "TRENTON MAKES THE WORLD TAKES", is a Template:Convert span that was constructed in 1928 on the site of a bridge that dates back to 1804.<ref>Lower Trenton Toll-Supported Bridge Template:Webarchive, Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. Accessed December 1, 2019. "The Lower Trenton Toll-Supported Bridge, also known as the 'Trenton Makes The World Takes Bridge,' connects Warren Street in Trenton, N.J. with East Bridge Street in Morrisville, Pa. -- one of three bridges connecting the two communities.... The current 1,022-foot bridge is a five-span Warren Truss built in 1928."</ref> The Calhoun Street Bridge, dating back to 1884, is Template:Convert long.<ref>Calhoun Street Toll-Supported Bridge Template:Webarchive, Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. Accessed December 1, 2019. "The Calhoun Street Toll-Supported Bridge is the oldest bridge structure owned and operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. It turned 125 years old on October 20, 2009.... Of the 20 bridges in the DRJTBC system, the Calhoun Street Toll-Supported Bridge is the only one made of wrought iron. A Phoenix Pratt truss with a total length of 1,274 feet, it also holds the distinction as the Commission’s longest through-truss bridge and the Commission’s only seven-span truss bridge."</ref>

Neighborhoods

File:2014-05-15 15 18 32 View down the Delaware and Raritan Canal from where it emerges from beneath the Trenton Freeway (U.S. Route 1) at Mulberry Street in Trenton, New Jersey.JPG

Delaware and Raritan Canal flowing under Mulberry St.

Trenton is home to numerous neighborhoods and sub-neighborhoods. The main neighborhoods are taken from the four cardinal directions. Trenton was once home to large Italian, Hungarian, and Jewish communities, but, since the 1950s, demographic shifts have changed the city into a relatively segregated urban enclave of middle and lower income African Americans and newer immigrants, many of whom arrive from Latin America. Italians are scattered throughout the city, but a distinct Italian community is centered in the Chambersburg neighborhood, in South Trenton.<ref>Di Ionno, Mark. "Chambersburg" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, July 17, 2007. Accessed March 16, 2012. "The difference between Chambersburg, the traditional Italian section of Trenton, and other city neighborhoods that have undergone 'natural progression' is that Chambersburg hung on so long."</ref> This community has been in decline since the 1970s, largely due to economic and social shifts to the suburbs surrounding the city. Today Chambersburg has a large Latino community. Many of the Latino immigrants are from Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua. There is also a significant and growing Asian community in the Chambersburg neighborhood primarily made up of Burmese and Bhutanese/Nepali refugees.

The North Ward, once a mecca for the city's middle class, is now one of the most economically distressed, torn apart by race riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Nonetheless, the area still retains many important architectural and historic sites. North Trenton still has a large Polish-American neighborhood that borders Lawrence Township, many of whom attend St. Hedwig's Roman Catholic Church on Brunswick Avenue. St. Hedwig's church was built in 1904 by Polish immigrants, many of whose families still attend the church. North Trenton is also home to the historic Shiloh Baptist Church—one of the largest houses of worship in Trenton and the oldest African American church in the city, founded in 1888.<ref>Richard Grubb & Associates. Three Centuries of African-American History in Trenton: A Preliminary Inventory of Historic Sites Template:Webarchive, Trenton Historic Society, September 2011. Accessed December 1, 2019. "Shiloh Baptist Church is the city’s oldest African-American Baptist congregation. The first groups of Black Baptists were formed in the city around 1880, with Shiloh formally organized in 1896."</ref> The church is currently pastored by Rev. Darrell L. Armstrong, who carried the Olympic torch in 2002 for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Also located just at the southern tip of North Trenton is the city's Battle Monument, also known as "Five Points". It is a Template:Convert structure that marks the spot where George Washington's Continental Army launched the Battle of Trenton during the American Revolutionary War. It faces downtown Trenton and is a symbol of the city's historic past.<ref name=BattleMonument/>

South Ward is a diverse neighborhood, home to many Latin American, Italian-American, and African American residents.<ref>"In their own words, South Ward candidates explain why they should win City Council seat" Template:Webarchive, The Trentonian, October 18, 2009. Accessed June 12, 2018.</ref> The Chambersburg neighborhood was once noted in the region as a destination for its many Italian restaurants and pizzerias. With changing demographics, many of these businesses have either closed or relocated to suburban locations.

East Ward is the smallest neighborhood in Trenton and is home to the Trenton Transit Center and Trenton Central High School.

West Ward is the home of Trenton's more suburban neighborhoods.

File:Trenton neighborhoods.png

Map of neighborhoods in Trenton, New Jersey

Neighborhoods in the city include:<ref>Locality Search Template:Webarchive, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref> Template:Div col

• Downtown Trenton
  • Hanover/Academy
  • Mill Hill
• East Trenton
  • Coalport/North Clinton
  • Ewing/Carroll
  • Greenwood/Hamilton
  • Villa Park
  • Wilbur
• Western Trenton (not the same as West Trenton, which is outside the city limits in Ewing)
  • Berkeley Square
  • Cadwalader Heights
  • Central West
  • Fisher/Richey/Perdicaris
  • Glen Afton
  • Hillcrest
  • Hiltonia
  • Parkside
  • Pennington/Prospect
  • Stuyvesant/Prospect
  • The Island
  • West End
• South Trenton
  • Chambersburg
  • Chestnut Park
  • Duck Island
  • Franklin Park
  • Lamberton/Waterfront
• North Trenton
  • Battle Monument (Five Points)
  • North 25
  • Top Road

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Trenton lies in the northern range of the humid subtropical (Cfa) zone, and precipitation fairly evenly distributed through the year. The Cfa climate is the result of adiabatic warming of the Appalachians, low altitude and proximity to the coast without being on the immediate edge for moderate temperatures.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Summers are hot and humid, with a July daily average of Template:Convert; temperatures reaching or exceeding Template:Convert occur on 21.8 days.<ref name=NCEI/> Episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values reaching Template:Convert. Extremes in air temperature have ranged from Template:Convert on February 9, 1934, up to Template:Convert as recently as July 22, 2011.<ref>Staff. "Heat sets new record high in Trenton at 106 degrees" Template:Webarchive, The Trentonian, July 22, 2011. Accessed February 12, 2014. "The thermometer reached a record-setting 106 degrees here in the City of Trenton, easily smashing July 22nd's previous high mark from 1926, when the temp reached 101 degrees."</ref> However, air temperatures reaching Template:Convert or Template:Convert are uncommon.

Winters are cold and damp: the daily average temperature in January is Template:Convert,<ref name= NCEI>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and temperatures at or below Template:Convert occur on 3.9 nights annually, while there are 17 days where the temperature fails to rise above freezing.<ref name=NOAA>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below Template:Convert, every few years. The plant hardiness zone at the Trenton Municipal Court is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of Template:Convert.<ref name="USDA">USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map Template:Webarchive, United States Department of Agriculture. Accessed November 26, 2019.</ref>

The average precipitation is Template:Convert per year, which is fairly evenly distributed through the year.<ref name=NCEI/><ref name=NOAA/> The driest month on average is February, with Template:Convert of precipitation on average, while the wettest month is July with Template:Convert of rainfall on average which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity.<ref name=NCEI/><ref name=NOAA/> The all-time single-day rainfall record is Template:Convert on September 16, 1999, during the passage of Hurricane Floyd.<ref name=NOAA/> The all-time monthly rainfall record is Template:Convert in August 1955, due to the passage of Hurricane Connie and Hurricane Diane. The wettest year on record was 1996, when Template:Convert of precipitation fell. On the flip side, the driest month on record was October 1963, when only Template:Convert of rain was recorded. The Template:Convert of precipitation recorded in 1957 were the lowest ever for the city.<ref>"City of Trenton, New Jersey Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan" Template:Webarchive, City of Trenton. Accessed February 12, 2014.</ref>

Snowfall can vary even more year to year. The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total is Template:Convert, but has ranged from as low as Template:Convert in the winter of 1918–1919 to as high as Template:Convert in 1995–1996, which included the greatest single-storm snowfall, the Blizzard of January 7–8, 1996, when Template:Convert of snow fell.<ref>City of Trenton, New Jersey Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Template:Webarchive, City of Trenton, adopted June 19, 2008. Accessed June 12, 2018. "The average snowfall is 24.9 inches, but has ranged from as low as 2 inches (in the winter of 1918–1919) to as high as 76.5 inches (in 1995–1996). The heaviest snowstorm on record was the Blizzard of 1996 on January 7–8, 1996, when 24.2 inches buried the city."</ref> The average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

Demographics

2020 census

Trenton, 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
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	12,530	18,391	28,621	40,905	14.13%	21.53%	33.71%	45.01%
Black or African American alone (NH)	42,089	43,497	42,286	38,386	47.46%	50.93%	49.80%	42.24%
White alone (NH)	33,247	21,022	11,442	8,510	37.49%	24.62%	13.47%	9.36%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	N/A	1,453	1,286	1,870	N/A	1.70%	1.51%	2.06%
Asian alone (NH)	474	684	923	592	0.53%	0.80%	1.09%	0.65%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	189	164	219	144	0.21%	0.19%	0.26%	0.16%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	N/A	65	30	24	N/A	0.08%	0.04%	0.03%
Other Race alone (NH)	146	127	106	440	0.16%	0.15%	0.12%	0.48%
Total	88,675	85,403	84,913	90,871	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Hispanic or Latino population

The Hispanic or Latino population in Trenton has grown significantly over the past few decades and now represents a substantial portion of the city's residents. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 45.01% of Trenton's population identified as Hispanic or Latino, up from 33.71% in 2010, 21.53% in 2000, and 14.13% in 1990. This demographic shift reflects a broader trend of increasing diversity in the city. The largest Hispanic or Latino ancestry group in Trenton is Guatemalan, accounting for 14.66% of the total Trenton population, followed by Puerto Rican (10.09%), Dominican (4.80%), and other Hispanic groups including Mexican, Honduran, and Ecuadorian communities.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This growing population has had a notable cultural, social, and economic impact on the city, contributing to its identity. In recent years, for example, the annual festival celebrating Guatemala's independence on September 15th has attracted crowds in the thousands.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Hispanic or Latino Ancestry	Pop 2020<ref name=":1" />	% 2020
Guatemalan	13,323	14.66%
Puerto Rican	9,167	10.09%
Other Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish	5,456	6.00%
Dominican	4,364	4.80%
Mexican	2,455	2.70%
Honduran	2,429	2.67%
Costa Rican	968	1.06%
Ecuadorian	948	1.04%
Other (less than 1%)	2,019	2.22%
Total Hispanic or Latino population	40,905	45.01%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 84,913 people, 28,578 households, and 17,747 families in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 33,035 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 26.56% (22,549) White, 52.01% (44,160) Black or African American, 0.70% (598) Native American, 1.19% (1,013) Asian, 0.13% (110) Pacific Islander, 15.31% (13,003) from other races, and 4.10% (3,480) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.71% (28,621) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 28,578 households, 32.0% had children under the age of 18; 25.1% were married couples living together; 28.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 37.9% were non-families. Of all households, 30.8% were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.40.<ref name=Census2010/>

25.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 106.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 107.2 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $36,601 (with a margin of error of +/− $1,485) and the median family income was $41,491 (+/− $2,778). Males had a median income of $29,884 (+/− $1,715) versus $31,319 (+/− $2,398) for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,400 (+/− $571). About 22.4% of families and 24.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Trenton city, Mercer County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 10, 2012.</ref>

Economy

File:Trenton Makes.jpg

The Lower Trenton Bridge is commonly referred to among locals as the "Trenton Makes Bridge."

Trenton was a major manufacturing center in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One relic of that era is the slogan "Trenton Makes, The World Takes", which is displayed on the Lower Free Bridge (just north of the Trenton–Morrisville Toll Bridge).<ref>Bruder, Jessica. "Jerseyana; Trenton's Fighting Words" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, May 2, 2004. Accessed March 16, 2012. "Trenton Makes, the World Takes, reads the famous red neon sign that spans a bridge between the state Capitol and Morrisville, Pa., affectionately known by locals as the Trenton Makes bridge.... In its heyday, Trenton was a world-class producer of rubber, steel, wire rope, and pottery. The cables for three famous suspension bridges – the Brooklyn, George Washington and Golden Gate – were produced here at John A. Roebling's factory."</ref> The city adopted the slogan in 1917 to represent Trenton's then-leading role as a major manufacturing center for rubber, wire rope, ceramics and cigars. It was home to American Standard's largest plumbing fixture manufacturing facility.<ref>Blackwell, Jon. "1911: 'Trenton Makes' history" Template:Webarchive, The Trentonian. Accessed October 28, 2014.</ref>

Along with many other United States cities in the 1970s, Trenton fell on hard times when manufacturing and industrial jobs declined. Concurrently, state government agencies began leasing office space in the surrounding suburbs. State government leaders (particularly governors William Cahill and Brendan Byrne) attempted to revitalize the downtown area by making it the center of state government. Between 1982 and 1992, more than a dozen office buildings were constructed primarily by the state to house state offices.<ref>Mickle, Paul. "1984: A whole new skyline" Template:Webarchive, The Trentonian. Accessed October 28, 2014.</ref> Today, Trenton's biggest employer is still the state of New Jersey. Each weekday, 20,000 state workers flood into the city from the surrounding suburbs.<ref>Raboteau, Albert. "Diversifying city's economy a major goal for Trenton" Template:Webarchive, The Times, January 30, 2003. Accessed October 28, 2014. "Another large goal is to lure private companies whose employees, officials say, are likely to work later in the evening and have more money to spend than the 20,000 or so state workers who swell downtown during business hours, then commute home to other municipalities."</ref>

Notable businesses of the thousands based in Trenton include Italian Peoples Bakery, a wholesale and retail bakery established in 1936.<ref>History Template:Webarchive, Italian Peoples Bakery. Accessed May 13, 2016. "The origin of Italian Peoples Bakery goes back to 1936 when Pasquale Gervasio, the patriarch of the family, opened a bakery on Hamilton Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey."</ref> De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies and Papa's Tomato Pies were also fixtures of the city for many years, though both recently relocated to the suburbs.

Urban Enterprise Zone

Portions of Trenton are part of an 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 Template:Webarchive, 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 Template:Frac% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Program Template:Webarchive, 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 January 1986, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Effective and Expiration Dates Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed January 8, 2018.</ref>

The UEZ program in Trenton 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" Template:Webarchive, 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" Template:Webarchive, 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>

In 2018, the city had an average property tax bill of $3,274, the lowest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,292 in Mercer County and $8,767 statewide.<ref>2018 Property Tax Information Template:Webarchive, 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" Template:Webarchive, 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 Trenton was $3,274 in 2018, the lowest in Mercer County."</ref> The city had the sixth-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 5.264% in 2020, compared to 2.760% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.<ref>"Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates" Template:Webarchive, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 6. Trenton Equalized tax rate in Trenton, Mercer County, was 5.264 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Mercer County: 2.760"</ref>

Landmarks

• New Jersey State Museum – Combines a collection of archaeology and ethnography, fine art, cultural history and natural history.<ref>4 Museums in One Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State Museum. Accessed January 5, 2015.</ref>
• New Jersey State House was originally constructed by Jonathan Doane in 1792, with major additions made in 1845, 1865 and 1871.<ref>State House History Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 5, 2015.</ref>
• New Jersey State Library serves as a central resource for libraries across the state as well as serving the state legislature and government.<ref>About the NJ State Library Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State Library. Accessed January 5, 2015.</ref>
• Trenton City Museum – Housed in the Italianate-style 1848 Ellarslie Mansion since 1978, the museum features artworks and other materials related to the city's history.<ref>Welcome to the Trenton City Museum Template:Webarchive, Trenton City Museum. Accessed December 1, 2019. "The museum is located in Ellarslie Mansion, an Italianate villa built in 1848. The mansion is the centerpiece of Cadwalader Park, which was designed by the famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, whose most famous work is New York City’s Central Park."</ref>
• Trenton War Memorial – Completed in 1932 as a memorial to the war dead from Mercer County during World War I and owned and operated by the State of New Jersey, the building is home to a theater with 1,800 seats that reopened in 1999 after an extensive, five-year-long renovation project.<ref>Frequently Asked Questions about the War Memorial Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed September 7, 2013.</ref>
• Old Barracks – Dating back to 1758 and the French and Indian War, the Barracks were constructed as a place to house British troops in lieu of housing the soldiers in the homes of area residents. The site was used by both the Continental Army and British forces during the Revolutionary War and stands as the last remaining colonial barracks in the state.<ref>About the Building Template:Webarchive, Old Barracks Museum. Accessed December 1, 2019. "In 1758, during the French and Indian War, the building now referred to as the Old Barracks was constructed by the colony of New Jersey in direct response to petitions from residents who were protesting compulsory quartering of soldiers in their own homes. It was one of five such buildings throughout New Jersey constructed for the purpose of housing British soldiers during the winter months of the war, and it is the only one still standing."</ref>
• Trenton Battle Monument – Located in the heart of the Five Points neighborhood, the monument was built to commemorate the Continental Army's victory in the December 26, 1776, Battle of Trenton.<ref name=BattleMonument>Trenton Battle Monument Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry. Accessed September 7, 2013.</ref> The monument was designed by John H. Duncan and features a statue of George Washington atop a pedestal that stands on a granite column Template:Convert in height.<ref>Designing the Monument Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry. Accessed September 7, 2013.</ref>
• Trenton City Hall – The building was constructed based on a 1907 design by architect Spencer Roberts and opened to the public in 1910. The council chambers stand two stories high and features a mural by Everett Shinn that highlights Trenton's industrial history.<ref>Trenton City Hall Template:Webarchive, Library of Congress. Accessed September 7, 2013.</ref>
• William Trent House – Constructed in 1719 by William Trent, who the following year laid out what would become the city of Trenton, the house was owned by Governor Lewis Morris, who used the house as his official residence in the 1740s. Governor Philemon Dickerson used the home as his official residence in the 1830s, as did Rodman M. Price in the 1850s.<ref>About the 1719 Trent House Template:Webarchive, William Trent House. Accessed December 1, 2019. "William Trent built his country estate north of Philadelphia, in New Jersey, at the Falls of the Delaware River about 1719.... In 1720 Trent laid out a settlement, which he incorporated and named 'Trenton.'"</ref>
• Adams and Sickles Building (added January 31, 1980, as #80002498) is a focal point for West End neighborhood, and is remembered for its soda fountain and corner druggist.<ref>Lamar, Martha L.; Powell, L. Matthew; Davies, David S. "Adams and Sickles Building" (PDF) Template:Webarchive, National Register of Historic Places National Park Service, June 5, 1979. Accessed May 13, 2016.</ref>
• Friends Burying Ground, adjacent to the Trenton Friends Meeting House, is the burial site of several national and state political figures prominent in the city's early history.<ref>Trenton Society of Friends Meeting House Template:Webarchive, Destination Trenton. Accessed May 13, 2016. "In the burying-ground adjoining the Meeting House are buried many citizens who played prominent parts in the early history of the city."</ref>
• Trenton Friends Meeting House (added April 30, 2008, as #08000362), dating back to 1739, it was occupied by the British Dragoons in 1776 and by the Continental Army later in the Revolutionary War.<ref>Trenton Friends Meeting House (PDF) Template:Webarchive, National Register of Historic Places National Park Service. Accessed May 13, 2016.</ref>
• Carver Center – formerly the Sunlight Elks Lodge, it was named after George Washington Carver, African-American agricultural scientist and inventor. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in ethnic heritage - Black, from 1922 to 1975.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref>
• Old Masonic Temple - 1793 historic building put on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property to the State House Historic District.

• Trenton City Museum.JPG

  The Trenton City Museum, located at the Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park

• William Trent House, Trenton, NJ.jpg

  William Trent House

• Carver Center, Trenton, NJ.jpg

  Carver Center

Sports

Club	League	Venue	MLB affiliate	Established	Championships
Trenton Thunder	MLB Draft League	Trenton Thunder Ballpark	None	1994	5

File:Mercer County Waterfront Park.jpg

Arm & Hammer Park

Because of Trenton's near-equal distance to both New York City and Philadelphia, and because most homes in Mercer County receive network broadcasts from both cities, locals are sharply divided in fan loyalty between both cities. It is common to find Philadelphia's Phillies, Eagles, 76ers, Union and Flyers fans cheering (and arguing) right alongside fans of New York's Yankees, Mets, Nets, Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, Jets, Red Bulls and Giants or the New Jersey Devils.<ref>Fitzpatrick, Frank. "Jersey's split sports personality Great Divide: Eagles and Giants fans" Template:Webarchive, The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 11, 2009. Accessed October 12, 2015.</ref>

Between 1948 and 1979, Trenton Speedway, located in adjacent Hamilton Township, hosted world class auto racing. Drivers such as Jim Clark, A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Richard Petty and Bobby Allison raced on the one-mile (1.6 km) asphalt oval and then re-configured Template:Frac-mile race track.<ref>Huneke, Bill. "Trenton Speedway lives on at Pocono" Template:Webarchive, The Times, July 6, 2013. Accessed October 12, 2015. "As Indy Car racing returns to Pocono this weekend after a 24-year absence, only a few of the drivers competing were even alive when Trenton's last event was run in 1979."</ref> The speedway, which closed in 1980, was part of the larger New Jersey State Fairgrounds complex, which also closed in 1983. The former site of the speedway and fairgrounds is now the Grounds for Sculpture.<ref>History of State Fairgrounds Template:Webarchive, Grounds for Sculpture. Accessed March 16, 2012. As horses were replaced by automobiles for transportation, cars became the main attraction on the fairground's racetrack. 'Lucky' Teter and his Hell Drivers made the headlines in the 1930s; in the sixties it was midget car races and a 200-mile race for Indianapolis cars and drivers."</ref>

The Trenton Thunder, minor league team owned by Joe Plumeri, plays at 6,341-seat Arm & Hammer Park, the stadium which Plumeri had previously named after his father in 1999.<ref>McGeehan, Patrick. "Private Sector; A Wall St. Son at Nasdaq's Table " Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, December 17, 2000. Accessed January 5, 2015. "Mr. Plumeri, who owns a minor league team affiliated with the Red Sox, the Trenton Thunder, has even drawn Mr. Simmons to the team's stadium, Samuel J. Plumeri Field, to watch his beloved team play exhibition games."</ref><ref>Arm & Hammer Park Trenton, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues. Accessed January 5, 2015. "The playing field was named in 1999 in honor of Samuel Plumeri Sr., one of the driving forces in bring baseball back to New Jersey's state capital."</ref><ref>Pahigian, Josh. The Ultimate Minor League Baseball Road Trip: A Fan's Guide to AAA, AA, A, and Independent League Stadiums Template:Webarchive, p. 45. Rowman & Littlefield. Template:ISBN. Accessed January 5, 2015.</ref> The team was previously affiliated with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and, before moving to Trenton, the Chicago White Sox, but became an unaffiliated collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League beginning in 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Trenton Freedom of the Professional Indoor Football League were founded in 2013 and played their games at the Sun National Bank Center. The Freedom ended operations in 2015, joining the short-lived Trenton Steel (in 2011) and Trenton Lightning (in 2001) as indoor football teams that had brief operating lives at the arena.<ref>Foster, David. "Sacked: Trenton Freedom indoor football team folds" Template:Webarchive, The Trentonian, August 26, 2015. Accessed October 12, 2015. "The Trenton Freedom is the latest professional sports team to shutter operations in the capital city, following the same doomed path of several other organizations at the Sun National Bank Center.... The Trenton Freedom, a member of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL), became the third indoor football team to fail at the Sun National Bank Center, lasting one year longer than the previous two. The Trenton Steel called the 8,000-seat arena home for six games in 2011. A decade earlier, the Trenton Lightning lasted just one season."</ref>

Parks and recreation

• Cadwalader Park – Trenton's largest city park covering Template:Convert, it was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who is most famous for designing New York City's Central Park.<ref>Cadwalader Park Template:Webarchive, Trenton City Museum. Accessed December 1, 2019. "Cadwalader Park is the largest urban park in the City of Trenton (109.5 acres). It is crossed by the Delaware & Raritan (D&R) Canal State Park.... Discussions among Hill and other Trenton civic leaders led to the engagement of Frederick Law Olmsted’s firm to design a park in 1890."</ref>

Government

File:2014-08-30 10 53 29 View of Trenton City Hall in Trenton, New Jersey from the northwest.JPG

Trenton City Hall, seat of local government

Local government

Template:See also Trenton is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government, one of 79 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey Template:Webarchive, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a seven-member city council. Three city council members are elected at-large, and four come from each of four wards. The mayor and council members are elected concurrently on a non-partisan basis to four-year terms of office as part of the November general election.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 73.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" Template:Webarchive, p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>City Council Overview Template:Webarchive, Trenton, New Jersey. Accessed December 1, 2019. "The City of Trenton is governed within the Faulkner Act, formerly known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law. Under this act, the Mayor-Council system was developed in 1792."</ref>

In October 2020, the city council overrode a mayoral veto and shifted municipal elections from May to November, with proponents citing the increased turnout and savings to the city of $180,000 in each election cycle. The mayor and members of council all had their term-end dates extended by six months and moved to December 31 from June 30, 2022.<ref>Avilucea, Issac. "Trenton council overrides mayor’s Election Day veto" Template:Webarchive, The Trentonian, October 1, 2020. Accessed May 3, 2022. "Council had the last say in this one. The governing body overrode Mayor Reed Gusciora’s veto of an ordinance that moves the municipal election from May to November. The change also moves runoffs to December rather than June and gives the mayor and council members another six months in office.... Vaughn suggested the city would see increased voter turnout and savings as much as $181,000 by aligning Trenton with other municipalities in Mercer County that conduct elections with the general election."</ref> The city retained a provision that would have a December runoff in the event that the candidate with the most votes does not obtain a majority.<ref>Biryukov, Nikita. "Another town poised to join others moving local elections to November Nonpartisan spring races dwindle as towns seek to boost turnout, cut election costs" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Monitor, August 11, 2021. Accessed May 3, 2022. "He added the city would likely have to foot the bill for a December runoff election in case no candidate won a majority during the nonpartisan November vote, though that’s nothing new. Trenton already paid for runoff elections held in June before."</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Trenton is Reed Gusciora, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.<ref>Office of the Mayor Template:Webarchive, Trenton, New Jersey. Accessed May 3, 2022. "Reed Gusciora (born March 27, 1960) was sworn in as the 48th mayor of the City of Trenton on July 1st, 2018. Prior to becoming Mayor, he served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 1996, representing the 15th Legislative District, which includes portions of Mercer and Hunterdon Counties."</ref> Members of the city council are Jasi Edwards (at-large), Crystal Feliciano (at-large), Teska Frisby (West Ward), Yazminelly Gonzalez (at-large), Joseph A. Harrison (East Ward), Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg (South Ward) and Jennifer Williams (North Ward).<ref name=Council>Trenton City Council Chambers Template:Webarchive, Trenton, New Jersey. Accessed February 2, 2023. No members are listed as of date accessed</ref><ref>2022 Municipal Data Sheet Template:Webarchive, Trenton, New Jersey. Accessed February 2, 2023.</ref><ref name=MercerOfficials>Mercer County Elected Officials Template:Webarchive, Mercer County, New Jersey, as of November 12, 2019. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref><ref name=Mercer2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Results Template:Webarchive, Mercer County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 8, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Mercer2022RunoffWards>Trenton North and South Ward Council Run-Off Election December 13, 2022 Official Results Template:Webarchive, Mercer County, New Jersey Clerk, updated January 17, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023.</ref><ref name=Mercer2022RunoffAtLarge>Trenton Council At-Large Run-Off Election January 24, 2023 Official Results Template:Webarchive, Mercer County, New Jersey, Clerk, updated February 1, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023.</ref>

As they had not exceeded the minimum of 50 percent in the November 2022 general election, a runoff was held in December for the seats in the North and South Wards. Jennifer Williams won the North seat by a single vote against Algernon Ward,<ref>Wildstein, David. "Williams still wins by one vote after Trenton recount Two additional ballots added to count after hand tally, but results remained the same" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Globe, January 14, 2023. Accessed February 13, 2023. "Jennifer Williams gets to hold on to her North Ward seat on the Trenton City Council after prevailing in a recount of ballots cast in the December 13 runoff election by one vote. Williams defeated Algernon Ward, Jr, 428 to 427, after a hand recount found two votes that had previously been uncounted."</ref> which made Williams the first transgender individual to be elected to a city council position in New Jersey history as well as being the first LGBTQ+ city council member in Trenton history.<ref>Difilippo, Dana. "Transgender councilwoman takes office in Trenton" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Monitor, January 6, 2023. Accessed February 13, 2023. "From Florida’s notorious 'don’t say gay' law to bathroom bans to the controversy over new sex ed standards in New Jersey schools, Jennifer Williams has felt a mounting alarm at policies and proselytism that demonize the transgender community.... Sunday, Williams made history when she was sworn in as the Trenton City Council’s first LGBTQ member — and the first transgender person elected to any municipal council statewide."</ref> Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg won the South ward seat, defeating Damian G. Malave who had been ahead on Election Day but short of the cutoff, while a January 2023 runoff had Jasi Edwards, Crystal Feliciano and Yazminelly Gonzalez winning the three at-large seats.<ref name=Mercer2022/><ref name=Mercer2022RunoffWards/><ref name=Mercer2022RunoffAtLarge<ref>Fox, Joey. "Edwards, Feliciano, Gonzalez overwhelmingly win Trenton at-large council runoff" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Globe, January 24, 2023. Accessed February 2, 2023. "Jasi Edwards, Crystal Feliciano, and Yazminelly Gonzalez have easily won three at-large seats on the Trenton City Council, defeating three other candidates in the runoff for an election that initially came before voters more than two months ago.... By the time a judge ordered a runoff to be held after all, it was too late to hold it alongside two ward-based runoffs, which were scheduled for December 13. Instead, the election was set for today – a full 77 days after voters first cast ballots in the at-large race. In the meantime, North and South Ward runoff voters narrowly elected Jennifer Williams and Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg, bringing the council to a bare four-member quorum before the reorganization of government on January 1."</ref>

In February 2023, Judge William Anklowitz of the New Jersey Superior Court heard a case for election challenges in the North Ward runoff election for both candidates Algernon Ward and Jennifer Williams. Three of the ballots Ward contested were all rejected because they were mail-in ballots that were returned without the required inner envelope. The other rejection Ward challenged was a case involving a cure letter that a voter sent to the wrong place, leading to it being not counted. Williams contested one ballot that was not counted due to it having both a vote for Ward and for Williams. Judge Anklowitz determined that the slash through Ward's vote signaled the voter's intention to vote for Williams and thus determined the vote should have been counted. These election challenges were heard following a recount that was held that did not change the outcome of the vote. Jennifer Williams thus remained to hold her seat on Trenton City Council for the North Ward seat.<ref>Fox, Joey. "Williams will remain on Trenton City Council after judge rejects election challenge" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Globe, February 15, 2023. Accessed November 19, 2023.</ref>

Mayor's conviction and removal from office

On February 7, 2014, Tony F. Mack and his brother, Raphiel, were convicted by a federal jury of bribery, fraud and extortion, based on the details of their participation in a scheme to take money in exchange for helping get approvals to develop a downtown parking garage as part of a sting operation by law enforcement.<ref>via Associated Press."Mayor Tony Mack of Trenton Is Found Guilty of Taking Bribes" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, February 7, 2014. Accessed February 12, 2014.</ref> Days after the conviction, the office of the New Jersey Attorney General filed motions to have Mack removed from office, as state law requires the removal of elected officials after convictions for corruption.<ref>"NJ calls for convicted Trenton mayor Tony Mack to be removed", WPVI-TV, February 10, 2014. Accessed February 12, 2014. "The state Attorney General's Office filed a request Monday with a state Superior Court judge, asking that Tony Mack be kicked out of office, stripped of his pension and be barred from holding elected office again.... Under state law, people convicted of corruption cannot continue to hold public office. But since Mack has not resigned, the state is asking a judge to enforce the law."</ref> Initially, Mack fought the removal of him from the office but on February 26, a superior court judge ordered his removal and any actions taken by Mack between February 7 and the 26th could have been reversed by Muschal.<ref name="MuschalJuly">Pizzi, Jenna. "Trenton council to vote to install George Muschal as interim mayor" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, March 4, 2014. Accessed October 12, 2015. "Council members decided to amend the agenda for their regularly scheduled meeting to include the action of appointing Muschal to the interim post. He will serve until a new mayor – elected in May – takes over July 1."</ref> Previously, Mack's housing director quit after it was learned he had a theft conviction. His chief of staff was arrested trying to buy heroin. His half-brother, whose authority he elevated at the city water plant, was arrested on charges of stealing. His law director resigned after arguing with Mack over complying with open-records laws and potential violations of laws prohibiting city contracts to big campaign donors.<ref>via Associated Press. "A year of turmoil, stumbles for Trenton's mayor" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, July 9, 2011. Accessed January 10, 2012.</ref>

From February 7 to July 1, 2014, the acting mayor was George Muschal who retroactively assumed the office on that date due to Mack's felony conviction, who had taken office on July 1, 2010.<ref name=MuschalSwornIn>Zdan, Alex; and Pizzi, Jenna. "Acting Mayor George Muschal assumes office and vows to put Trenton 'on the right track'" Template:Webarchive, The Times, February 26, 2014. Accessed May 21, 2017.</ref> Muschal, who was council president, was selected by the city council to serve as the interim mayor to finish the term.<ref name="MuschalJuly"/>

Federal, state, and county representation

File:New Jersey State House.jpg

The New Jersey State House in Trenton

Trenton is located in the 12th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 15th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government Template:Webarchive, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011–2020 Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref><ref name=LWV2011>2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government Template:Webarchive, p. 65, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed May 22, 2015.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 37,407 registered voters in Trenton, of which 16,819 (45.0%) were registered as Democrats, 1,328 (3.6%) were registered as Republicans and 19,248 (51.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 12 voters registered to other parties.<ref>Voter Registration Summary – Mercer Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 21, 2012.</ref>

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2024<ref name="2024Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|16.7% 3,117	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|82.2% 15,372	1.1% 215
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2020<ref name="2020Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|11.2% 2,443	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|88.2% 19,304	0.6% 146
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2016<ref name="2016Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}{</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|7.7% 1,715	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|90.6% 20,131	1.7% 379
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2012<ref name="2012Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|6.2% 1,528	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|93.4% 23,125	0.4% 97
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2008<ref name="state.nj.us">2008 Presidential General Election Results: Mercer County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 21, 2012.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|8.3% 2,157	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|91.1% 23,577	0.6% 141
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2004<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">2004 Presidential Election: Mercer County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 21, 2012.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|16.9% 3,791	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|82.5% 18,539	0.6% 146

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 93.4% of the vote (23,125 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 6.2% (1,528 votes), and other candidates with 0.4% (97 votes), among the 27,831 ballots cast by the city's 40,362 registered voters (3,081 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.0%.<ref name=2012Elections/><ref name=2012VoterReg>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 89.9% of the vote here (23,577 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 8.2% (2,157 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (141 votes), among the 26,229 ballots cast by the city's 41,005 registered voters, for a turnout of 64.0%.<ref name="state.nj.us"/> The 2004, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections were the only elections where the Republican nominee obtained over 10.0% of the vote since at least 2004. Since at least the same year, George W. Bush in 2004 presidential election and Donald Trump in 2024 presidential election were the only Republicans to receive over 15.0% of the vote in Trenton.

Gubernatorial elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2021<ref>2021 General Election Results: Governor Mercer County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State, updated December 14, 2021. Accessed March 10, 2023.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|10.7% 987	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|88.6% 8,120	0.7% 59
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2017<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|8.6% 872	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|89.8% 9,128	1.7% 169
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2013<ref name="2013Elections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|24.7% 3,035	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|74.7% 9,179	0.7% 77
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2009<ref name="2009 Governor: Mercer County">2009 Governor: Mercer County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 21, 2012.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|12.4% 1,560	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|83.7% 10,235	3.5% 440
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2005<ref>2005 Governor: Mercer County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections. Accessed December 31, 2017.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|15.3% 1,982	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|81.0% 10,484	3.6% 471

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 74.7% of the vote (9,179 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 24.7% (3,035 votes), and other candidates with 0.6% (77 votes), among the 11,884 ballots cast by the city's 38,452 registered voters (407 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 30.9%.<ref name=2013Elections/><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 81.6% of the vote here (10,235 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 12.4% (1,560 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 2.4% (305 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (135 votes), among the 12,537 ballots cast by the city's 38,345 registered voters, yielding a 32.7% turnout.<ref name="2009 Governor: Mercer County"/>

Fire department

The city of Trenton is protected on a full-time basis by the city of Trenton Fire and Emergency Services Department (TFD), which has been a paid department since 1892 after having been originally established in 1747 as a volunteer fire department.<ref>Fire Department Template:Webarchive, City of Trenton. Accessed March 15, 2020. "The Trenton Fire Department traces its roots back to a blacksmith shop at Broad and Front Streets where, on February 7, 1747, a group of volunteers formed the Union Fire Company. The volunteers served the city well for the next 145 years until, on April 4, 1892, the paid department was established."</ref> The TFD operates out of seven fire stations and operates a fire apparatus fleet of 7 engine companies, 3 ladder companies and one rescue company, along with one HAZMAT unit, an air cascade unit, a mobile command unit, a foam unit, one fireboat, and numerous special, support and reserve units, under the command of two battalion chiefs and a deputy chief/tour commander each shift.<ref>Fire Department Facilities Template:Webarchive, City of Trenton. Accessed March 15, 2020.</ref><ref>Fire & Emergency Services Apparatus Template:Webarchive, City of Trenton. Accessed March 15, 2020.</ref>

Education

Colleges and universities

Trenton is the home of two post-secondary institutions: Thomas Edison State University, serving adult students around the nation and worldwide<ref>Fast Facts Template:Webarchive, Thomas Edison State College. Accessed August 11, 2013.</ref> and Mercer County Community College's James Kerney Campus.<ref>The James Kerney Campus Template:Webarchive, Mercer County Community College. Accessed August 11, 2013.</ref>

The College of New Jersey, formerly named Trenton State College, was founded in Trenton in 1855 and is now located in nearby Ewing Township. Rider University was founded in Trenton in 1865 as The Trenton Business College. In 1959, Rider moved to its current location in nearby Lawrence Township.<ref>Historic Rider Template:Webarchive, Rider University. Accessed February 12, 2014. "Gradually growing in size and scope through the first half of the 20th century, Rider began its move to a more spacious, suburban campus in 1959, when the first offices and classes moved to a 280-acre tract of land on Route 206 in Lawrence Township, N.J."</ref>

Public schools

The Trenton Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Trenton Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification Template:Webarchive, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed March 15, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Trenton School District. Composition: The Trenton School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the City of Trenton."</ref> 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 Template:Webarchive, 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 Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref><ref>SDA Districts Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref> The district's board of education, comprised of seven members, sets policy and oversees the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its superintendent administration. As a Type I school district, the board's trustees are appointed by the mayor to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for re-appointment each year. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district.<ref>New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.</ref><ref>Board of Education Template:Webarchive, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed March 15, 2020.</ref> The school district has undergone a 'construction' renaissance throughout the district.Template:Citation needed

As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of 25 schools, had an enrollment of 14,852 students and 966.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.4:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Trenton Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> The district includes 13 elementary schools,<ref>Grades PreK-3, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed May 4, 2024.</ref> six intermediate schools,<ref name="TrentonIntermediate2024">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> three middle schools,<ref name="TrentonMiddle2024">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and three high schools.<ref name="TrentonHigh2024">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They are as follows:

Name	Grade(s)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Early Childhood Learning Center	Pre-Kindergarten	N/A
Benjamin C. Gregory Elementary School	K–3rd	269
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School		349
Cadwalader Elementary School		163
Carroll Robbins Elementary School		413
Darlene C. McKnight Elementary School		361
Dr. Crosby Copeland Elementary School		296
George Washington Elementary School		289
Gershom Mott Elementary School		357
Joseph Stokes Elementary School		306
Luis Muñoz-Rivera Elementary School		366
Patton J. Hill Elementary School		502
Paul Robeson Elementary School		341
William Harrison Elementary School		239
Battle Monument Intermediate School	4th–6th	460
Clara Parker Intermediate School		515
Hedgepeth-Williams Intermediate School		582
Joyce Kilmer Intermediate School		498
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School		354
Ulysses S. Grant Intermediate School		542
Arthur J. Holland Middle School	7th–8th	513
Dr. MLK Jr. Middle School		568
Grace A. Dunn Middle School		670
Daylight/Twilight High School	7th–12th	479
Trenton's Ninth Grade Academy	9th	796
Trenton Central High School	9th–12th	2,255

Eighth-grade students from all of Mercer County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Mercer County Technical Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its Health Sciences Academy, STEM Academy and Academy of Culinary Arts, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.<ref>Heyboer, Kelly. "How to get your kid a seat in one of N.J.'s hardest-to-get-into high schools" Template:Webarchive, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 2017. Accessed November 18, 2019. "Mercer County has a stand-alone specialized high school for top students: a Health Sciences Academy at the district's Assunpink Center campus. The district also offers a STEM Academy at Mercer County Community College. How to apply: Students can apply online in the fall of their 8th grade year."</ref><ref>High School Programs Template:Webarchive, Mercer County Technical Schools. Accessed November 18, 2019.</ref>

Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf (previously New Jersey School for the Deaf and New Jersey State Institution for the Deaf and Dumb), the statewide school for the deaf, opened in Trenton in 1883 and was there until 1923, when it moved to West Trenton.<ref>Kull, Helen. "Ewing Then and Now: The first school for the deaf in N.J." Template:Webarchive, Community News, February 27, 2017, updated January 11, 2022. Accessed January 19, 2022. "By 1882, an act of the legislature founded the N.J. State Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. The school was housed in a two-story, brick building at Chestnut and Hamilton avenues in Trenton, which had formerly been the Soldiers’ Children’s Home of N.J., housing orphans of Civil War soldiers."</ref>

Charter schools

Trenton is home to several charter schools, including Capital Preparatory Charter High School, Emily Fisher Charter School, Foundation Academy Charter School, International Charter School, Paul Robeson Charter School and Village Charter School.<ref>Approved Charter Schools Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 12, 2014.</ref>

The International Academy of Trenton, owned and monitored by the SABIS school network, became a charter school in 2014. On February 22, 2017, Trenton's mayor, Eric Jackson, visited the school when it opened its doors in the former Trenton Times building on 500 Perry Street, after completion of a $17 million renovation project. After receiving notice from the New Jersey Department of Education that the school's charter would not be renewed due to issues with academic performance and school management, the school closed its doors on June 30, 2018.<ref>Foster, David. "Trenton charter school officially announces closure as 9th Grade Academy readies move-in" Template:Webarchive, The Trentonian, June 1, 2018. Accessed July 11, 2018. "In a statement sent to The Trentonian on Friday, International Academy of Trenton (IAT) Charter School Board President Larry Chenault 'regretfully' accepted the doomed fate of the school, which spent $17 million to renovate the former Times of Trenton building into a state-of-the-art learning center.... IAT was informed in January by the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) that the school, which educated 650 students, would be losing its charter at the end of this month for poor student performance and classroom mismanagement."</ref>

Private schools

Trenton Catholic Academy high school serves students in grades 9–12, while Trenton Catholic Academy grammar school serves students in Pre-K through 8th grade; both schools operate under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton.<ref>School Finder Template:Webarchive, Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. Accessed May 21, 2017.</ref>

Trenton is home to Al-Bayaan Academy, which opened for preschool students in September 2001 and added grades in subsequent years.<ref>About Us Template:Webarchive, Islamic School of Trenton. Accessed February 12, 2014.</ref>

Trenton Community Music School is a not-for-profit community school of the arts. The school was founded by executive director Marcia Wood in 1997. The school operates at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and the Copeland Center for the Performing Arts.

Crime

The Trenton Police Department was founded in 1792, when the city was incorporated. It works in conjunction with the Mercer County Sheriff's Office.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2005, there were 31 homicides in Trenton, which at that time was the largest number in a single year in the city's history.<ref>"Trenton murders hit all-time high" Template:Webarchive, The Signal, January 25, 2006. Accessed June 7, 2015. "With 31 murders, 2005 was the deadliest year in Trenton's history, up from 18 in 2004."</ref> The city was named the 4th "Most Dangerous" in 2005 out of 129 cities with a population of 75,000 to 99,999 ranked nationwide in the 12th annual Morgan Quitno survey.<ref>12th Annual Safest/Most Dangerous Cities Survey: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall Template:Webarchive. Accessed June 23, 2006.</ref> In the 2006 survey, Trenton was ranked as the 14th most dangerous city overall out of 371 cities included nationwide in the Morgan Quitno survey, and was again named as the fourth most dangerous municipality of 126 cities in the 75,000–99,999 population range.<ref>13th Annual Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall Template:Webarchive, Morgan Quitno. Accessed October 30, 2006.</ref>

In September 2011, the city laid off 108 police officers due to budget cuts; this constituted almost one-third of the Trenton Police Department and required 30 senior officers to be sent out on patrols in lieu of supervisory duties.<ref>Zdan, Alex. "Trenton police layoff plan to go into effect today" Template:Webarchive, The Times, September 16, 2011. Accessed January 10, 2012. "The 108 police officers slated to be terminated represent one-third of the force. Demotions affecting nearly 30 members will send current lieutenants and sergeants back to the street, depleting supervisor levels and the detective bureaus in an effort to keep patrols close to their current strength."</ref>

In 2013, the city set a new record with 37 homicides.<ref>Queally, James. "N.J. homicides soared to seven-year high in 2013 after surges in Newark, Trenton" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, January 1, 2014. Accessed February 12, 2014. "In Trenton, the number of homicides soared to 37, the most in the state capital's recorded history."</ref> In 2014, there were 23 murders through the end of July and the city's homicide rate was on track to break the record set the previous year until an 81-day period when there were no murders in Trenton; the city ended the year with 34 murders.<ref>Brown, Keith. "Trenton homicides down, but not by much, in 2014" Template:Webarchive, The Star-Ledger, January 1, 2015. Accessed May 16, 2016. "There were 34 homicides in Trenton in 2014 – a year following an inglorious record-setting 37 homicides in 2013."</ref><ref>McEvoy, James. "Authorities ID Trenton homicide victim, investigate separate shooting" Template:Webarchive, The Times, October 19, 2014. Accessed May 16, 2016. "Sutphin's slaying was the first homicide in Trenton since July 30 when Tyshawn Goodman, 25, of Trenton, and George Jamison, 44, of Pennington, were shot to death in what police believed were separate robberies. The nearly three months of relative peace followed a bloody start in which the city saw 23 homicides in the first seven months of the year."</ref> In 2020, the city surpassed the 2013 homicide number with a record 40 homicides.<ref>Shea, Kevin {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The New Jersey State Prison (formerly Trenton State Prison) has two maximum security units. It houses some of the state's most dangerous individuals, which included New Jersey's death row population until the state banned capital punishment in 2007.<ref>A Short History of Trenton State Prison Template:Webarchive, InsideOut: Fifty Years Behind the Walls of New Jersey's Trenton State Prison. Accessed March 16, 2012.</ref>

Transportation

Roads and highways

File:2014-05-12 11 31 16 View north along U.S. Route 1 (Trenton Freeway) from the overpass for East State Street in Trenton City, Mercer County, New Jersey.jpg

U.S. Route 1 through downtown Trenton, looking north from the East State Street overpass

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 Mercer County, Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Template:Convert by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.<ref>Mercer County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, March 2019. Accessed January 26, 2021.</ref>

Several highways pass through the city.<ref>Mercer County Highway Map Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed March 9, 2023.</ref> These include the Trenton Freeway (part of U.S. Route 1)<ref>U.S. Route 1 Straight Line Diagram Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated May 2018. Accessed March 10, 2023.</ref> and the John Fitch Parkway, which is part of Route 29.<ref>Route 29 Straight Line Diagram Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated July 2014. Accessed March 10, 2023.</ref> Canal Boulevard, more commonly known as Route 129, connects U.S. Route 1 and Route 29 in South Trenton.<ref>Route 129 Straight Line Diagram Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2018. Accessed March 10, 2023.</ref> U.S. Route 206,<ref>U.S. Route 206 Straight Line Diagram Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2017. Accessed March 10, 2023.</ref> Route 31<ref>Route 31 Straight Line Diagram Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated May 2017. Accessed March 10, 2023.</ref> and Route 33<ref>Route 33 Straight Line Diagram Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2017. Accessed March 10, 2023.</ref> also pass through the city via regular city streets (Broad Street/Brunswick Avenue/Princeton Avenue, Pennington Avenue, and Greenwood Avenue, respectively).

Route 29 connects the city to Interstate 295 and Interstate 195, the latter providing a connection to the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) at Exit 7A in Robbinsville Township, although the section near downtown is planned to be converted to an urban boulevard.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Public transportation

File:Trenton Transit Center NEC NJT Overview.jpg

The Trenton Transit Center, which serves Amtrak, NJ Transit, and SEPTA

Public transportation within the city and its nearby suburbs is provided in the form of local bus routes run by NJ Transit. SEPTA provides bus service to adjacent Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The Trenton Transit Center, located on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor, serves as the northbound terminus for SEPTA's Trenton Line (local train service to Philadelphia) and southbound terminus for NJ Transit Rail's Northeast Corridor Line (local train service to New York Penn Station). The train station also serves as the northbound terminus for the River Line, a diesel light rail line that runs to Camden.<ref>Trenton Station Renovation Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed March 16, 2012.</ref> Two additional River Line stops, Cass Street and Hamilton Avenue, are located within the city.<ref>River Line System Map Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed November 24, 2022.</ref> Long-distance transportation is provided by Amtrak train service along the Northeast Corridor.<ref>Trenton, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, Amtrak. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref>

The closest commercial airport is Trenton–Mercer Airport in Ewing Township, about Template:Convert from the center of Trenton, which is served by Frontier Airlines.<ref>McEvoy, James. "Frontier Airlines cancels service from Trenton-Mercer to 5 destinations because of lack of demand" Template:Webarchive, Times of Trenton, January 5, 2015. Accessed January 5, 2015. "As of Tuesday, Frontier Airlines will discontinue service to Nashville, Tenn., St. Louis, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Cleveland because of lack of demand, Frontier spokesman Todd Lehmacher said in an email. Service to Cleveland ended last month."</ref> Nearby major airports are Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport, located Template:Convert and Template:Convert away, respectively, and reachable by direct New Jersey Transit or Amtrak rail (to Newark) and by SEPTA Regional Rail (to Philadelphia).

NJ Transit Bus Operations provides bus service between Trenton and Philadelphia on the 409 route, with service to surrounding communities on the 600, 601, 603, 606, 607, 608, 609, 611 and 624 routes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed November 20, 2012.</ref><ref>Mercer County Rider Guide Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed November 27, 2019.</ref>

The Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association offers service on the Route 130 Connection between the Trenton Transit Center and the South Brunswick warehouse district with stops along the route including Hamilton train station, Hamilton Marketplace, Hightstown and East Windsor Town Center Plaza.<ref>Mercer County Bus Service Template:Webarchive, Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref>

Media

Trenton is served by two daily newspapers, The Times and The Trentonian, and a monthly advertising magazine, "The City" Trenton N.E.W.S.. Radio station WKXW and Top 40 WPST are also licensed to Trenton. Defunct periodicals include the Trenton True American. A local television station, WPHY-CD TV-25, serves the Trenton area.<ref>Home page Template:Webarchive, WZBN. Accessed December 7, 2011.</ref>

Trenton is part of the Philadelphia television market but some local TV operators also carry stations serving the New York City market. While it is its own radio market, many Philadelphia and New York stations are easily receivable.

Trenton was the site of the studios of the former public television station New Jersey Network.Template:Philly TV

Notable people

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Category see also

See also

• Relocation of the United States Government to Trenton
• USS Trenton, 4 ships

Sources

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite letter

External links

• City of Trenton website
• Trenton Historical Society
• Template:Gnis
• US Census Data for Trenton, NJ