Atco, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Atco, New Jersey
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 Atco, New Jersey
Location in Camden County, New Jersey
Atco, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Atco, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Camden |
| Township | Waterford |
| Elevation | 45 m (148 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 9,058 |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code |
08004
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| Area code(s) | 856 |
| FIPS code | 34-02020 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2806228 |
Atco is a small community in Waterford Township, located in Camden County, New Jersey. It's considered an "unincorporated community" and a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's a recognized area for counting people, but it doesn't have its own separate local government like a town.
Atco is about 16 miles southeast of Camden. It's part of the larger Philadelphia-Camden metropolitan area. While most of Atco is in Waterford Township, a small part of its southern edge is actually in Winslow Township. In 2020, about 9,058 people lived in Atco.
Atco was once home to the famous Atco Raceway, a place where people raced cars. The movie Eddie and the Cruisers was filmed there. Also, an episode of the TV show Viva La Bam was shot at the raceway in 2005. The area uses the United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08004.
Contents
Atco's History
How Atco Got Its Name
The name "Atco" likely comes from the Atlantic Transport Company. This company ordered four large ships from a shipbuilding company in Camden, New Jersey, around 1902-1903. This big order might be why the name Atco was chosen for the area. Some people also think the name might come from an old Native American word meaning "Land of many deer."
Railroad Connections
In 1854, the Camden and Atlantic Railroad was built. It traveled through the Pinelands from Camden all the way to Atlantic City. Soon after, the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad was created. This new railroad connected Atco to other communities like Toms River, Waretown, Atsion, and Vineland. These railroads helped Atco grow and connect with other parts of New Jersey.
Geography and Nature
Atco is located right on the western edge of Wharton State Forest. This forest is part of the larger Pine Barrens, a unique natural area in New Jersey. A beautiful spot in Atco is Atco Lake, which covers about 30 acres.
Atco's Climate
Atco has a climate with hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.
Schools in Atco
Atco used to have a private elementary school called Assumption School. It was run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden but closed in 2013.
Today, public school students in Atco attend schools run by the Waterford Township School District.
- Kids in kindergarten and first grade go to Atco Elementary.
- Students in second and third grade attend Thomas Richards Elementary.
- Waterford Elementary serves students in fourth through sixth grade.
After sixth grade, junior high and high school students from Atco go to schools in the Hammonton Public Schools district. Some students might also choose to attend private schools.
Getting Around Atco
Atco has its own train station. This station is part of the Atlantic City Line, which is operated by NJ Transit. You can easily get to the station from Route 73 and the White Horse Pike, also known as U.S. Route 30. The train line connects Atco to other towns and cities, including Atlantic City.
Atco's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 9,058 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 |
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In 2020, the population of Atco was 9,058 people. Most residents are White, but Atco is also home to people of Black or African American, Asian, Native American, and mixed backgrounds. About 6% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino.
Famous People from Atco
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Atco:
- Marvin Borowsky (1907–1969) was a novelist and screenwriter.
- Kellyanne Conway (born 1967) is a well-known political strategist and pollster. She was a campaign manager for Donald Trump in 2016.
- Rey Ramsey (born 1960) is an entrepreneur focused on social justice and an author.
- Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka (1943–2017) was a famous professional wrestler.
- Sally Starr (1923–2013) was a popular TV personality in the 1950s.
See Also
