Trenton, New Jersey

Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. For a short time, from November 1 to December 24, 1784, it was even the capital of the United States. Today, Trenton is the fifth largest city in Central Jersey and the 10th-most-populous city in the whole state.

The city has grown over time. In the 2020 United States census, Trenton had a population of 90,871 people. That was an increase from the 84,913 people counted in 2010.

Trenton has a long history. People have lived there since at least June 3, 1719. It became New Jersey’s capital on November 25, 1790. The city has had many jobs over the years, from making iron and steel to working in government offices today.

History

The earliest known people in the area that is now Trenton were the Lenape Native Americans, including the Axion band who lived along the Delaware River in the mid-1600s.

The first European settlers were Quakers who arrived in 1679, led by Mahlon Stacy from Handsworth, Sheffield, England. They chose the area called the Falls of the Delaware for its opportunities to practice their religion freely.

By 1719, the town was named "Trent-towne" after William Trent, a leading landowner. The name later shortened to "Trenton." In 1758, buildings called the Old Barracks were built to house British soldiers during the French and Indian War.

During the American Revolutionary War, Trenton was an important place. On December 25–26, 1776, George Washington and his army crossed the icy Delaware River to surprise and defeat enemy soldiers there. Later, from November 1 to December 24, 1784, leaders of the country met in Trenton. Though many wanted Trenton to be the permanent capital, the final choice was made elsewhere.

Trenton became New Jersey's capital in 1790. The New Jersey State House was built there in 1792, making it one of the oldest state houses in the country. In the 1800s, Trenton grew as many people came to work in factories making pottery, wire rope, and other goods. The city became known for its pottery, earning the nickname "Staffordshire of America."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Trenton has a total area of 8.21 square miles, with a mix of land and water. It is also the second-smallest capital city in the United States in terms of land area, just behind Annapolis, Maryland.

Trenton is found near the geographic center of New Jersey, about 5 miles southeast of the exact center. It forms its own metropolitan area, called the Trenton-Princeton area, and is part of the larger Tri-State Region. People often think of Trenton as part of Central Jersey, though opinions vary about whether it is closer to New York City or Philadelphia. Trenton is one of two state capitals that borders another state, the other being Carson City, Nevada.

Trenton touches several townships in Mercer County and also connects to Pennsylvania across the Delaware River. Important transportation routes, like the Northeast Corridor, pass through Trenton, linking major cities such as Philadelphia and New York City.

Neighborhoods

Trenton has many neighborhoods, named mostly using the four main directions—North, South, East, and West. In the past, Trenton had large communities from Italy, Hungary, and Jewish families. Over time, the city has changed, and today it has many middle and lower-income African American families and newer immigrants, especially from Latin America. The Chambersburg area in South Trenton was once known for its Italian restaurants, but now it has many Latino families, mostly from Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. There is also a growing Asian community there, made up of people from Burma and Bhutan/Nepal.

The North Ward used to be a popular place for the city's middle class but faced tough times after race riots in 1968. Even so, it still has many important old buildings and historic places. North Trenton still has a Polish-American community near St. Hedwig's Roman Catholic Church, built by Polish families in 1904. This area is also home to Shiloh Baptist Church, one of the oldest and largest African American churches in the city, founded in 1888. A famous spot in North Trenton is the Battle Monument, or “Five Points,” marking where George Washington’s army fought in the Battle of Trenton during the American Revolutionary War.

South Ward is home to many Latin American, Italian-American, and African American families. The Chambersburg neighborhood there was well-known for its Italian restaurants, but many have closed or moved to the suburbs.

East Ward is the smallest neighborhood and includes the Trenton Transit Center and Trenton Central High School.

West Ward contains more suburban-style neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods in Trenton include:

• 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

Trenton, New Jersey, has a humid subtropical climate. This means the city experiences hot, humid summers and cold, damp winters.

Summers can be quite warm, with temperatures sometimes reaching above 90 °F (32 °C). Winters are chilly, and it can get cold enough for snow. The city gets about 45 inches (115 cm) of rain each year, spread fairly evenly throughout the seasons. Snow usually falls between 24 to 30 inches (61 to 76 cm) each winter, but amounts can vary a lot from year to year.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Trenton had a population of 90,871 people. The median age was 33.3 years. About 26.2% of the residents were younger than 18, and 9.8% were 65 years old or older. For every 100 females, there were 104.9 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 105.6 males aged 18 and over.

All residents lived in urban areas.

There were 30,139 households in Trenton, with 38.4% having children under 18 living in them. About 25.7% were married-couple households, 25.5% had a male householder without a spouse or partner, and 39.9% had a female householder without a spouse or partner. Around 29.7% of households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

There were 34,322 housing units, with 12.2% being vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%, and the rental vacancy rate was 8.8%.

Hispanic or Latino population

The Hispanic or Latino population in Trenton has grown a lot over the past few decades and now makes up a big part 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 earlier years. The largest Hispanic or Latino groups in Trenton are Guatemalan, followed by Puerto Rican, Dominican, and other groups including Mexican, Honduran, and Ecuadorian communities. This growing population has helped shape the city's culture and traditions. For example, the yearly celebration of Guatemala's independence on September 15 draws many people.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 84,913 people, 28,578 households, and 17,747 families in Trenton. The population density was very high. There were 33,035 housing units.

The racial makeup was 26.56% White, 52.01% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 15.31% from other races, and 4.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 33.71% of the population.

Of the households, 32.0% had children under 18, 25.1% were married couples living together, 28.1% had a female householder without a husband, and 37.9% were non-families. About 30.8% of households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The average household size was 2.79, and the average family size was 3.40.

About 25.1% of the population was under 18, 11.0% was from 18 to 24, 32.5% was from 25 to 44, 22.6% was from 45 to 64, and 8.8% was 65 years old or older. The median age was 32.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.5 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and older, there were 107.2 males.

The median household income was $36,601, and the median family income was $41,491. About 22.4% of families and 24.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including many young people and older adults.

Economy

Trenton used to be a big place for making things in the late 1800s and early 1900s. You can still see the words "Trenton Makes, The World Takes" on the Lower Free Bridge. The city picked this saying in 1917 to show how it was a leader in making rubber, wire rope, ceramics, and cigars. It even had the biggest factory for American Standard's plumbing products.

Like many U.S. cities in the 1970s, Trenton had tough times when jobs in factories and industries started to disappear. To help the city, leaders made Trenton the center of New Jersey's government. Between 1982 and 1992, they built many office buildings for state workers. Today, the state of New Jersey is Trenton's biggest employer, with 20,000 workers coming into the city each day from the nearby suburbs.

Some well-known businesses in Trenton include Italian Peoples Bakery, which has been making bread since 1936. De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies and Papa's Tomato Pies were also famous for many years, but they moved away from the city.

Urban Enterprise Zone

Part of Trenton is in an Urban Enterprise Zone. This special area was started in 1983 to help create jobs. Shoppers in the zone pay less sales tax at certain stores. The zone was set up in January 1986 and was supposed to end in December 2023.

The zone’s rules were stopped in 2017 when Governor Chris Christie said the program wasn’t working well. But in May 2018, Governor Phil Murphy brought the program back and changed the end date for other zones.

Landmarks

See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Mercer County, New Jersey

• New Jersey State Museum – This museum has many interesting collections, including art, history, and natural science.
• New Jersey State House was built in 1792 and has had many additions over the years.
• New Jersey State Library helps libraries all over the state and supports the state government.
• Trenton City Museum is in the beautiful Ellarslie Mansion and shows artworks and history about Trenton.
• Trenton War Memorial was finished in 1932 to honor those who died in World War I. It has a large theater with 1,800 seats.
• Old Barracks dates back to 1758 and was used by soldiers during the Revolutionary War. It is the last remaining colonial barracks in the state.
• Trenton Battle Monument marks the spot where the Continental Army won the Battle of Trenton in 1776. It has a statue of George Washington on top.
• Trenton City Hall was built in 1910 and has a large mural showing Trenton's industrial past.
• William Trent House was built in 1719 by William Trent, the man who helped found Trenton.
• Adams and Sickles Building is famous for its old soda fountain and pharmacy.
• Friends Burying Ground is next to the Trenton Friends Meeting House and is where many important early leaders are buried.
• Trenton Friends Meeting House dates to 1739 and was used by soldiers during the Revolutionary War.
• Carver Center was once a lodge and is now named after George Washington Carver, a famous scientist.
• Old Masonic Temple is a historic building from 1793.

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

William Trent House

Carver Center

Sports

Trenton is close to both New York City and Philadelphia, so people there often support teams from both cities. You might see fans of teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees cheering and talking together.

From 1948 to 1979, the Trenton Speedway in nearby Hamilton Township hosted exciting car races. Famous drivers like Jim Clark, A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Richard Petty, and Bobby Allison raced there. The speedway closed in 1980, and today the site is the Grounds for Sculpture.

Teams

Current

The Trenton Thunder plays at 6,341-seat Trenton Thunder Ballpark. The team used to be connected to big leagues like the New York Yankees, but since 2021, it has been a collegiate summer baseball team in the MLB Draft League.

Former

Parks and recreation

Cadwalader Park is the biggest park in Trenton. It covers 109.5 acres and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same person who designed New York City's Central Park.

Government

Trenton has a mayor and a city council. The mayor and council members are chosen in elections by the people of Trenton. They serve four-year terms.

In 2014, a mayor was convicted of serious legal issues and had to leave office. The city council chose a new acting mayor to finish the term.

Trenton is part of New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, represented in the U.S. Congress by Bonnie Watson Coleman. New Jersey’s senators are Cory Booker and Andy Kim.

The city is also part of New Jersey’s 15th legislative district, represented in the state legislature by Shirley Turner in the State Senate and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Anthony Verrelli in the General Assembly.

Mercer County, where Trenton is located, has a County Executive and a Board of County Commissioners who help run the county.

In past elections, most voters in Trenton have chosen Democratic candidates.

Fire department

The city of Trenton is kept safe by the Trenton Fire and Emergency Services Department (TFD). This department has been a paid team since 1892, but it started in 1747 as a group of volunteers. The TFD works from seven fire stations and has many vehicles and tools to help put out fires and respond to emergencies. These include fire trucks, ladder trucks, rescue vehicles, and special equipment to handle different kinds of situations. The department is led by chiefs who manage each shift.

Education

Trenton, New Jersey, is home to several schools and colleges. Two important places for higher learning are Thomas Edison State University, which helps adult students from around the world, and Mercer County Community College’s James Kerney Campus.

The city also has public schools for students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. These schools are part of a special group that receives extra support and funding from the state for building and updating their schools. There are many different schools, including elementary, intermediate, middle, and high schools. Some students from Mercer County can also apply to special career-focused schools to learn skills like health sciences, science and technology, or cooking.

Trenton also has private schools, such as Trenton Catholic Academy, which serves students from preschool to high school, and Al-Bayaan Academy, which began with preschool and added more grades over time. There is also a community music school that offers arts programs.

Crime

The Trenton Police Department began in 1792 and works with the Mercer County Sheriff's Office.

In some years, Trenton had more violent incidents than usual. For example, in 2005, there were many serious crimes, and the city was noted as one of the places with more such incidents compared to others of similar size. Similar patterns continued in later years, with some periods having more incidents than others.

The New Jersey State Prison (formerly Trenton State Prison) holds some of the state's most difficult cases. It used to house people sentenced to the most severe punishment, but the state changed its laws in 2007.

Transportation

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, Trenton had about 169 miles of roads. Most of these roads were kept up by the city itself. Some were maintained by Mercer County, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

Several important roads go through Trenton. These include the Trenton Freeway, which is part of U.S. Route 1, and the John Fitch Parkway, which is part of Route 29. Other roads like U.S. Route 206, Route 31, and Route 33 also pass through the city.

Route 29 links Trenton to Interstate 295 and Interstate 195. The latter connects to the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 7A in Robbinsville Township, though plans exist to change this part near downtown into a nicer street.

Public transportation

People can use buses to travel around Trenton and nearby areas. NJ Transit runs local bus routes, and SEPTA offers bus service to Bucks County in Pennsylvania.

The Trenton Transit Center is a busy train station on the Northeast Corridor. It is the end point for SEPTA’s Trenton Line to Philadelphia and for NJ Transit’s Northeast Corridor Line to New York Penn Station. The station also marks the start of the River Line, a light rail that goes to Camden. There are two other River Line stops in Trenton: Cass Street and Hamilton Avenue. Amtrak also provides long-distance train service along the Northeast Corridor.

The nearest airport is Trenton–Mercer Airport in Ewing Township, about 8 miles from Trenton’s center. Major airports nearby include Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport.

NJ Transit Bus Operations runs buses between Trenton and Philadelphia, as well as to surrounding communities. The Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association also offers a bus service called the Route 130 Connection, which goes from the Trenton Transit Center to the South Brunswick warehouse district, stopping at Hamilton train station, Hamilton Marketplace, Hightstown, and East Windsor Town Center Plaza.

Media

Trenton has two daily newspapers, The Times and The Trentonian, along with a monthly magazine called "The City" Trenton N.E.W.S.. The city also has radio stations like WKXW and WPST. There is a local television station, WPHY-CD TV-25, that serves the area.

Trenton is part of the Philadelphia television market, but some local TV operators also show stations from the New York City market. Even though Trenton has its own radio market, many stations from Philadelphia and New York can be picked up easily. In the past, Trenton was home to the studios of the public television station New Jersey Network.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Trenton, New Jersey

See also: Category:People from Trenton, New Jersey

Trenton, New Jersey, has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some of these individuals have made important contributions in fields like sports, entertainment, and more. The city continues to be a place where interesting and influential people live and grow.