Collingswood, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Collingswood, New Jersey
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Borough
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Collingswood Commercial Historic District in September 2013
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| Motto(s):
Fidelis in Omnibus (Faithful in all things)
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Location of Collingswood in Camden County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Camden County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
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Census Bureau map of Collingswood, New Jersey
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 Collingswood, New Jersey
Location in Camden County, New Jersey
Collingswood, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Collingswood, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | Camden | |
| European settlement | 1682 | |
| Incorporated | May 22, 1888 | |
| Named for | Collings family | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Walsh Act | |
| • Body | Board of Commissioners | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.94 sq mi (5.01 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.83 sq mi (4.74 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2) 5.90% | |
| Area rank | 418th of 565 in state 19th of 37 in county |
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| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,186 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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14,204 | |
| • Rank | 186th of 565 in state 9th of 37 in county |
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| • Density | 7,751.9/sq mi (2,993.0/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 56th of 565 in state 3rd of 37 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08107–08108
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| Area code(s) | 856 | |
| FIPS code | 3400714260 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 885191 | |
Collingswood is a small town, called a borough, in Camden County, New Jersey. It's located about 5 miles east of Philadelphia. In 2020, about 14,186 people lived there.
Because of its history with the Quakers, Collingswood used to be a "dry town." This meant that alcohol could not be sold in stores or restaurants. However, now, restaurants can allow customers to bring their own wine and beer. Also, since 2015, special craft breweries are allowed to open in town, but they can't serve food.
Contents
History of Collingswood
The land where Collingswood is now was first home to the Lenape Native Americans. Later, in the late 1600s, Quakers from England and Ireland settled here. They started a community called the Newton Colony.
Much of Collingswood was once a large farm owned by the Collings family. The town was named after this family. Collingswood officially became a borough on May 22, 1888. That same year, Edward Collings Knight, who was related to the Collings family, gave land to the town. This land became Knight Park, a popular spot today.
Collingswood has several old and important homes. The Collings-Knight homestead, built in the 1820s, was the home of the Collings family. The Stokes-Lees mansion is even older, dating back to 1707. This makes it one of the oldest houses in Camden County. Part of Harleigh Cemetery, where the famous poet Walt Whitman is buried, is also in Collingswood.
Geography of Collingswood
Collingswood is located in the Delaware Valley, which is a region around the Delaware River. It is about 5 miles east of Philadelphia. The state capital of New Jersey, Trenton, is about 35 miles to the southwest.
The borough covers about 1.95 square miles (5.04 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Collingswood shares its borders with several other towns. These include Camden, Cherry Hill, Haddon Township, Oaklyn, Pennsauken Township, and Woodlynne.
The Cooper River forms the northern edge of Collingswood, and Newton Creek forms the southern edge.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 539 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,633 | 203.0% | |
| 1910 | 4,795 | 193.6% | |
| 1920 | 8,714 | 81.7% | |
| 1930 | 12,723 | 46.0% | |
| 1940 | 12,685 | −0.3% | |
| 1950 | 15,800 | 24.6% | |
| 1960 | 17,370 | 9.9% | |
| 1970 | 17,422 | 0.3% | |
| 1980 | 15,838 | −9.1% | |
| 1990 | 15,289 | −3.5% | |
| 2000 | 14,326 | −6.3% | |
| 2010 | 13,926 | −2.8% | |
| 2020 | 14,186 | 1.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 14,204 | 2.0% | |
| Population sources: 1890–2000 1890–1920 1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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In 2020, the population of Collingswood was 14,186 people. This was a small increase from the 2010 census.
In 2010, there were 13,926 people living in Collingswood. Most residents were White (81.78%), with Black or African American people making up 9.11% of the population. About 9.67% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Collingswood in 2010 was 39 years old. About 19.4% of the population was under 18 years old.
Arts and Culture in Collingswood
Collingswood has a lively downtown area, especially along Haddon Avenue. This street is famous for its many different restaurants, offering food from all over the world.
From May to November, Collingswood hosts a popular farmers' market every Saturday. You can find fresh local produce, baked goods, and handmade crafts there.
The borough also has programs to help the environment. These include a bike share program, a community greenhouse, and a composting program. Every year, Collingswood holds a Green Festival to teach people about being environmentally friendly.
On the second Saturday of each month, local art galleries, shops, and restaurants host new art shows. The Perkins Center for the Arts also has a location in Collingswood, offering art programs.
If you like theater, Collingswood has two theater groups: the Collingswood Community Theatre and the Collingswood Shakespeare Company. They put on shows throughout the year. The Scottish Rite Auditorium, built in 1930, also hosts local plays and concerts by famous musicians.
The Symphony in C orchestra, which is based at Rutgers University-Camden, has its offices on Haddon Avenue.
Collingswood also hosts an annual Book Festival. Many authors come to this event, including Matthew Quick, who wrote the novel The Silver Linings Playbook, which is set in Collingswood.
Parks and Recreation
Knight Park is a main spot for outdoor fun in Collingswood. It is located near Collingswood High School. The park is where the high school's sports teams play their home games, including field hockey, lacrosse, baseball, and softball. During the summer, the town also shows outdoor movies and holds classical music concerts in the park.
Education in Collingswood
The Collingswood Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. The school district has nine schools. In the 2021–22 school year, about 2,264 students were enrolled.
The schools include:
- Collingswood Preschool (PreK)
- James A. Garfield Elementary School (K-5)
- Mark Newbie Elementary School (K-5)
- Thomas Sharp Elementary School (PreK-5)
- William P. Tatem Elementary School (K-5)
- Zane North Elementary School (K-5)
- Collingswood Middle School (6-8)
- Collingswood High School (9-12)
Students from Woodlynne attend Collingswood High School for grades 9-12. Students from Oaklyn attend Collingswood Middle School and High School for grades 6-12.
Transportation
Public Transportation
The Collingswood PATCO Speedline station is a key way to travel. You can take the train from here to nearby towns, Camden, and Philadelphia.
NJ Transit also has local bus routes (403, 450, and 451) that connect Collingswood to Camden.
Roads and Highways
Major roads that go through Collingswood include U.S. Route 30 and U.S. Route 130. County Route 561, also known as Haddon Avenue, is another important road in the borough.
Media
The Retrospect is a weekly newspaper that covers local news in Collingswood and nearby towns. It was started in 1921 and has its office on Haddon Avenue. Collingswood is also part of the Philadelphia media market.
Notable People from Collingswood
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Collingswood. Here are a few:
- Richard V. Allen (born 1936), who was a top advisor to President Ronald Reagan.
- William T. Cahill (1912–1996), who served as the Governor of New Jersey.
- Don Casey (born 1937), a former coach for NBA basketball teams like the Los Angeles Clippers.
- Marguerite de Angeli (1889–1987), a famous children's author.
- Ralph W. E. Donges (1875–1974), who was a judge on the New Jersey Supreme Court.
- Cathy Engelbert (born 1965), the first female CEO of a major U.S. accounting firm and now the Commissioner of the WNBA.
- Glenn Foley (born 1970), a former football quarterback for the New York Jets.
- Michael Landon (1936–1991), a well-known television actor and director.
- Kelly McGillis (born 1957), a film actress.
- Matthew Quick (born 1976), the author of The Silver Linings Playbook.
- Bobby Ryan (born 1987), a professional hockey player.
- Richard Sterban (born 1943), the bass singer for The Oak Ridge Boys.
- Gary Williams (born 1945), a successful college basketball coach.
See also
In Spanish: Collingswood para niños
