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 Center City Philadelphia. In 2020, about 14,186 people lived here.
Because of its history with the Quakers, Collingswood was once a "dry town," meaning alcohol couldn't be sold. Today, restaurants allow people to bring their own wine and beer. Since 2015, craft breweries can also open in town, but they don't serve food.
Contents
History of Collingswood
Long ago, the land where Collingswood now stands was home to the Lenape Native Americans. In the late 1600s, Quakers from England and Ireland settled near Newton Creek and the Cooper River. They created a settlement known as the Newton Colony.
Much of Collingswood was once a large farm owned by the Collings family in the 1700s and 1800s. Later, on May 22, 1888, Collingswood officially became a borough. This happened after people in the area voted for it. That same year, Edward Collings Knight, a rich businessman and a descendant of the Collings family, gave land to the town. This land became Knight Park, a popular spot for recreation.
Collingswood has several old and interesting homes. The Collings-Knight homestead, built in the 1820s, belonged to the Collings family. The Stokes-Lees mansion, built in 1707, is 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 and Location
Collingswood is part of the Delaware Valley region. It's located about 5 miles east of Philadelphia and 35 miles southwest of Trenton, which is the capital city of New Jersey.
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 border, and Newton Creek forms the southern border.
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 2020 United States census counted 14,186 people living in Collingswood. The town's population has changed over the years, growing from just 539 people in 1890.
Arts and Culture
Collingswood's main shopping area is 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. In September, the town holds Collingswood Porchfest, a music event where over 100 bands play on porches around the borough.
Collingswood also cares about the environment. It has a bike share program, a community greenhouse, and a composting program. Since 2009, the town has hosted a Green Festival to teach people about being environmentally friendly.
On "2nd Saturdays" each month, local art galleries, stores, and restaurants show new art from different artists. The Perkins Center for the Arts also has a location in Collingswood.
The borough is home to 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 Rutgers University-Camden based Symphony in C orchestra has its offices on Haddon Avenue.
The annual Collingswood Book Festival brings many authors to town. One famous novel, The Silver Linings Playbook, is set in Collingswood.
Collingswood is known for being a welcoming place for everyone, including the LGBTQ community.
Parks and Recreation
Knight Park is a central spot for outdoor activities in Collingswood. It's located across from 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 borough also offers outdoor movies and classical music concerts in the park.
Government and Politics
Local Government
Collingswood is run by a group of three commissioners. These commissioners are elected by the community every four years. They work together to make decisions for the town. One of the commissioners is chosen to be the Mayor. The current Mayor is Daniela Solano-Ward.
Voting and Elections
Many people in Collingswood are registered to vote. In recent presidential elections, most voters in Collingswood have supported the Democratic Party candidates. For example, in the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris received the most votes in Collingswood.
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 total.
The schools include:
- Collingswood Preschool (for PreK students)
- James A. Garfield Elementary School (grades K-5)
- Mark Newbie Elementary School (grades K-5)
- Thomas Sharp Elementary School (grades PreK-5)
- William P. Tatem Elementary School (grades K-5)
- Zane North Elementary School (grades K-5)
- Collingswood Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Collingswood High School (grades 9-12)
Students from nearby Woodlynne and Oaklyn also attend Collingswood High School and Middle School as part of special agreements between the school districts.
Good Shepherd Regional Catholic School was a private elementary school in Collingswood. It closed permanently in June 2020.
Transportation
Public Transportation
Collingswood has a PATCO Speedline station, which is a train that connects the town to Camden and Philadelphia. It's a convenient way to travel to these cities.
NJ Transit also provides local bus routes (403, 450, and 451) that serve Collingswood and go to Camden.
Roads and Highways
Major roads that pass 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 has been around since 1921. There are also online news sites like NJ Pen and Patch Media that cover Collingswood news.
Famous People from Collingswood
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Collingswood. Here are a few:
- Richard V. Allen (1936–2024), who was a top advisor to President Ronald Reagan.
- William T. Cahill (1912–1996), a former Governor of New Jersey.
- Michael Landon (1936–1991), a famous television actor and director. He graduated from Collingswood High School.
- Kelly McGillis (born 1957), a film actress.
- Matthew Quick (born 1976), the author of the novel The Silver Linings Playbook, which is set in Collingswood.
- Bobby Ryan (born 1987), a professional hockey player.
- Richard Sterban (born 1943), a bass singer for the music group The Oak Ridge Boys.
See also
In Spanish: Collingswood para niños
