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Blackwood, New Jersey
Aerial view of the main campus of Camden County College in Blackwood
Aerial view of the main campus of Camden County College in Blackwood
Map of Blackwood CDP in Camden County. Inset: Location of Camden County within New Jersey.
Map of Blackwood CDP in Camden County. Inset: Location of Camden County within New Jersey.
Blackwood, New Jersey is located in Camden County, New Jersey
Blackwood, New Jersey
Blackwood, New Jersey
Location in Camden County, New Jersey
Blackwood, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
Blackwood, New Jersey
Blackwood, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Blackwood, New Jersey is located in the United States
Blackwood, New Jersey
Blackwood, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Camden
Township Gloucester
Area
 • Total 1.23 sq mi (3.20 km2)
 • Land 1.22 sq mi (3.16 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)  0.72%
Elevation
46 ft (14 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 4,622
 • Density 3,788.52/sq mi (1,462.76/km2)
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08012
Area code(s) 856
FIPS code 34-06040
GNIS feature ID 02389213
"At Blackwoodtown, N.J.", 1851, courtesy of Library of Congress

Blackwood is a small community in New Jersey, located within Gloucester Township. It is part of Camden County. In 2020, about 4,622 people lived there.

Blackwood is about 10 miles (16 km) from the city of Camden. It is also about 14.6 miles (23.5 km) from Philadelphia. This community is a key part of the South Jersey region.

One important place in Blackwood is the main campus of Camden County College. This college also has its own radio station, WDBK, which has been on the air since 1977. You can listen to it on 91.5 FM.

History of Blackwood

Solomon Wesley UMC NJ
Solomon Wesley United Methodist Church, a historic building in Blackwood.

Blackwood was first settled around 1750. It was originally called Blackwoodtown. A man named John Blackwood, who came from Scotland, started mills here. He was a fuller, which means he cleaned and thickened cloth.

The area became a busy crossroads village. It was an important center for local government and transportation by the 1830s. A stagecoach line, like an old bus service, stopped here. This line connected Camden and Woodbury.

Later, in 1891, the Camden County Railroad arrived. This helped Blackwood grow even more. From 1891 to 1932, Blackwood Lake was a popular summer resort. People would come to enjoy the lake and the area.

Geography of Blackwood

Blackwood covers a total area of about 1.235 square miles (3.20 km²). Most of this is land, about 1.226 square miles (3.18 km²). A small part, about 0.009 square miles (0.023 km²), is water.

The community has some natural water features. These include Blackwood Lake and a stream called Farrows Run.

Parks and Recreation

Blackwood offers several places for outdoor fun and activities:

  • Gloucester Township Health and Fitness Trail: This trail was once known as the Blackwood Railroad Trail. It's a great place for walking or running.
  • Kiwanis's Baseball Fields: You can find these fields at Marshall & Railroad Ave. They are perfect for playing baseball.
  • Al Raw's Field: This field is located on Lincoln Drive.
  • Harwan Park: This park is on the Black Horse Pike.
  • State Street Park: Another local park for residents to enjoy.

Population Information

Historical population
Census Pop.
1980 5,219
1990 5,120 −1.9%
2000 4,692 −8.4%
2010 4,545 −3.1%
2020 4,622 1.7%
Population sources: 1980
1990-2010 2000
2010 2020

In 2010, there were 4,545 people living in Blackwood. There were 1,687 households, which are groups of people living together. About 1,210 of these were families.

Blackwood is a diverse community. Most residents are White. There are also people who identify as Black or African American, Asian, and other races. About 5.94% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Blackwood in 2010 was about 40.2 years old. About 22.4% of the population was under 18 years old.

Blackwood Historic District

Blackwood Historic District
BLACKWOOD HISTORIC DISTRICT, CAMDEN COUNTY.jpg
Blackwood First Methodist Episcopal Church
Location Black Horse Pike, Baptist Lane, Church and Elm streets, Central and East Railroad avenues
Area 42 acres (17 ha)
Architectural style Greek Revival, Queen Anne
NRHP reference No. 89000996
Significant dates
Added to NRHP July 27, 1989

The Blackwood Historic District is a special area that helps protect old buildings. It covers about 42 acres (17 hectares). This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

It is important for showing how the community and businesses grew. The district includes 87 important buildings. One notable building is the Blackwood First Methodist Episcopal Church. It was built in 1856. Its design combines Greek Revival and Italianate style elements.

Education in Blackwood

Students in Blackwood attend several schools. These schools are part of different districts.

Public Schools

Most public schools are part of the Gloucester Township Public Schools district.

  • Blackwood Elementary School
  • Gloucester Township Elementary School
  • Charles W. Lewis Middle School

Older students attend Highland Regional High School. This high school is part of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District.

Other Schools

  • The Kingdom Charter School of Leadership is a charter school. It serves students from Kindergarten through sixth grade. Students are chosen by a lottery system.
  • Our Lady of Hope Regional School is a Roman Catholic elementary school. It is managed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. This school was formed in 2008 when two other schools merged.

Higher Education

For students seeking education after high school, Blackwood has:

  • Pennco Tech
  • Camden County College

Notable People from Blackwood

Many interesting people have connections to Blackwood. Here are a few:

  • Jersey Bakley (1864–1915): He was a professional baseball pitcher. He started playing in the major leagues in 1883.
  • Nick Comoroto (born 1991): A professional wrestler. He has worked for big wrestling companies like WWE and All Elite Wrestling.
  • Mike Daniels (born 1989): An American football player. He played as a defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals.
  • John A. Dramesi (1933–2017): A brave soldier who was held captive during the Vietnam War.
  • David R. Mayer (born 1967): A politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly. He also served as mayor of Gloucester Township.
  • Joseph Menna (born 1970): A talented sculptor.
  • Gabriela Mosquera (born 1977): A politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2012.
  • Billy Paul (1934–2016): A Grammy Award-winning soul singer.
  • Joe Vitt (born 1954): He was an interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints football team.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Blackwood (Nueva Jersey) para niños

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