Hammonton, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hammonton, New Jersey
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Town
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William L. Black House
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| Nickname(s):
"Blueberry Capital of the World"
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Location of Hammonton in Atlantic County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Atlantic County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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Census Bureau map of Hammonton, New Jersey
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 Hammonton, New Jersey
Location in Atlantic County, New Jersey
Hammonton, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Hammonton, 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 | Atlantic | |
| Incorporated | March 5, 1866 | |
| Named for | John Hammond Coffin | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Town | |
| • Body | Town Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 41.32 sq mi (107.01 km2) | |
| • Land | 40.75 sq mi (105.54 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.57 sq mi (1.46 km2) 1.37% | |
| Area rank | 50th of 565 in state 7th of 23 in county |
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| Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,711 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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14,797 | |
| • Rank | 179th of 565 in state 6th of 23 in county |
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| • Density | 361.0/sq mi (139.4/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 464th of 565 in state 15th of 23 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08037
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| Area code(s) | 609 | |
| FIPS code | 3400129430 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885242 | |
| Website | ||
Hammonton is a town in Atlantic County, New Jersey. It is often called the "Blueberry Capital of the World." In 2020, about 14,711 people lived there. Hammonton is part of the South Jersey region. It is also close to Atlantic City.
The first European settlers arrived in Hammonton in 1812. The town was named after John Hammond Coffin. He was the son of an early settler, William Coffin. The town officially became a town on March 5, 1866. This happened through a special law from the New Jersey Legislature.
Hammonton is located between Philadelphia and the famous resort town of Atlantic City. The NJ Transit train line, called the Atlantic City Line, runs through the town. The Hammonton station is right in the downtown area.
Contents
- Exploring Hammonton's Past
- Understanding Hammonton's Geography
- People and Population in Hammonton
- Arts, Culture, and Sports in Hammonton
- Learning in Hammonton: Schools and Education
- Media and News in Hammonton
- Getting Around Hammonton: Transportation
- Hammonton Community Life and Events
- Famous People from Hammonton
- Sister City
- Images for kids
- See also
Exploring Hammonton's Past
Little is known about the Hammonton area before Europeans arrived. Stone tools found here suggest people lived here long ago. When Europeans came, the Unalachtigo Lenape people lived in this region.
As more Europeans settled, the Lenape population decreased. This was due to sickness and losing land. In 1748, a group called the West Jersey Society gained rights to a large area. This area included what would become Hammonton.
Early Settlements and Industries
In 1812, William Coffin and his family moved to the area. They built a home and ran a sawmill. Coffin bought the land and mill in 1814. The sawmill was near Hammonton Lake. The area was first called "Hammondton" after Coffin's son. Later, the name was shortened to Hammonton.
In 1817, Coffin started a glass factory. South Jersey had lots of wood and bog iron. These were important for making glass. Products were moved by the Mullica River before trains existed.
Growth with the Railroad
The early settlement, called Old Hammonton, was small. It changed from making glass to farming. Farmers grew many strawberries and blueberries. In 1854, the Camden and Atlantic Railroad arrived. This train line helped the area grow.
In 1856, a developer named Charles K. Landis and a banker named Richard Byrnes bought land. They sold smaller pieces of land for people to build on. This moved the town closer to the new railroad. The Hammonton Railroad Station opened in 1858.
In 1866, Hammonton officially became a town. Its population was about 1,422 people.
Italian Immigration and Community Life
After 1866, many Italian immigrants moved to Hammonton. Salvador Calabrasce, an Italian immigrant, helped bring many people from Sicily. Over time, Italian-Americans became a large part of the town's population.
Sports and Festivals in History
Hammonton once had a large race track called the Atlantic City Speedway. Races were held there from 1926 to 1928. The track was made of wood. It was later used for car testing. The wood was then used to build other things.
The first Hammonton Blueberry Festival was held in 1953. This celebrated the town's role as a major blueberry producer.
Understanding Hammonton's Geography
Hammonton covers about 41.32 square miles (107.01 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
The town borders several other places. These include Folsom, Hamilton Township, and Mullica Township in Atlantic County. It also borders towns in Burlington County and Camden County. Hammonton is located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain. This means the land is mostly flat. The highest point in Atlantic County is actually in Hammonton.
Hammonton is almost exactly halfway between Philadelphia and Atlantic City.
The Unique Pine Barrens
Hammonton is part of the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve. This is a special natural area. It covers 1.1 million acres and protects unique plants and animals. It was named the nation's first National Reserve in 1978.
Because it's in the Pine Barrens, Hammonton has sandy soil. This soil is perfect for growing blueberries. Low, wet areas in the Pine Barrens are also used to grow cranberries.
In 2022, a large wildfire happened in the Wharton State Forest near Hammonton. It burned over 15,000 acres. This was the biggest wildfire in New Jersey in 15 years.
Hammonton's Climate
Hammonton has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has cool winters and hot summers. It gets plenty of rain throughout the year. The climate is good for farming.
| Climate data for Hammonton, New Jersey (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1930–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 76 (24) |
77 (25) |
90 (32) |
95 (35) |
98 (37) |
103 (39) |
105 (41) |
104 (40) |
102 (39) |
95 (35) |
86 (30) |
77 (25) |
105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41.8 (5.4) |
44.7 (7.1) |
52.0 (11.1) |
63.7 (17.6) |
73.2 (22.9) |
82.3 (27.9) |
87.3 (30.7) |
85.1 (29.5) |
78.7 (25.9) |
67.4 (19.7) |
56.4 (13.6) |
47.0 (8.3) |
65.0 (18.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 32.8 (0.4) |
34.9 (1.6) |
41.5 (5.3) |
52.3 (11.3) |
62.1 (16.7) |
71.6 (22.0) |
76.9 (24.9) |
74.8 (23.8) |
68.0 (20.0) |
56.3 (13.5) |
45.9 (7.7) |
37.7 (3.2) |
54.6 (12.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.9 (−4.5) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
31.1 (−0.5) |
41.0 (5.0) |
51.0 (10.6) |
61.0 (16.1) |
66.5 (19.2) |
64.4 (18.0) |
57.2 (14.0) |
45.3 (7.4) |
35.3 (1.8) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
44.2 (6.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −13 (−25) |
−8 (−22) |
4 (−16) |
15 (−9) |
29 (−2) |
34 (1) |
43 (6) |
42 (6) |
31 (−1) |
19 (−7) |
6 (−14) |
−5 (−21) |
−13 (−25) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.49 (89) |
2.85 (72) |
4.31 (109) |
3.71 (94) |
3.54 (90) |
4.07 (103) |
4.45 (113) |
4.69 (119) |
4.06 (103) |
4.27 (108) |
3.51 (89) |
4.56 (116) |
47.51 (1,207) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 5.7 (14) |
6.4 (16) |
2.9 (7.4) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
3.7 (9.4) |
19.0 (48) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11.1 | 10.1 | 10.9 | 11.9 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 11.9 | 10.6 | 9.5 | 11.6 | 9.2 | 10.8 | 132.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.9 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 8.9 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People and Population in Hammonton
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,404 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,776 | 26.5% | |
| 1890 | 3,833 | 115.8% | |
| 1900 | 3,481 | −9.2% | |
| 1910 | 5,088 | 46.2% | |
| 1920 | 6,417 | 26.1% | |
| 1930 | 7,656 | 19.3% | |
| 1940 | 7,668 | 0.2% | |
| 1950 | 8,411 | 9.7% | |
| 1960 | 9,854 | 17.2% | |
| 1970 | 11,464 | 16.3% | |
| 1980 | 12,298 | 7.3% | |
| 1990 | 12,208 | −0.7% | |
| 2000 | 12,604 | 3.2% | |
| 2010 | 14,791 | 17.4% | |
| 2020 | 14,711 | −0.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 14,797 | 0.0% | |
| Population sources: 1870–2000 1870–1920 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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In 2010, Hammonton had 14,791 people. There were 5,408 households. The population density was about 361.8 people per square mile.
Most people in Hammonton were White (81.67%). About 3.00% were Black. About 1.37% were Asian. About 20.93% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 23.4% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in Hammonton was 39.6 years.
Arts, Culture, and Sports in Hammonton
The rock band The Early November is from Hammonton.
Sports Dreams: The Hammonton Blueberries
In 1997, a local publisher named Gabriel Donio had an idea. He wanted to create a minor-league baseball team called the Hammonton Blueberries. He even designed a team logo and uniform. He bought land to build a baseball park. The plan was for a 3,500-seat stadium.
In 1999, a baseball league planned to include Hammonton. However, the ballpark was never built. So, the Hammonton Blueberries team did not happen.
Learning in Hammonton: Schools and Education
Students in Hammonton attend Hammonton Public Schools from kindergarten to twelfth grade. The school district has four schools. In the 2018–19 school year, there were 3,566 students.
The schools are:
- Early Childhood Education Center (grades K–1)
- Warren E. Sooy Elementary School (grades 2–5)
- Hammonton Middle School (grades 6–8)
- Hammonton High School (grades 9–12)
Students from Folsom Borough and Waterford Township also attend Hammonton schools. This helps share resources and lower costs.
Students can also choose to go to special schools. These include the Atlantic County Institute of Technology or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts.
Hammonton also had two Catholic schools: St. Joseph Regional Elementary School and St. Joseph High School. In 2020, these schools closed. However, St. Joseph High School reopened as an independent school called St. Joseph Academy.
Media and News in Hammonton
Hammonton has its own television station, WPSJ-CD Channel 8.
Local newspapers include the Hammonton Gazette and Hammonton News. Larger newspapers like The Press of Atlantic City and The Philadelphia Inquirer also serve the area.
Getting Around Hammonton: Transportation
_from_the_overpass_for_Eighth_Street_in_Hammonton,_Atlantic_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Many roads and highways pass through Hammonton. These include the Atlantic City Expressway, U.S. Route 30, and U.S. Route 206.
Public Transport Options
The Hammonton station offers train service. You can travel between Atlantic City and Philadelphia on the Atlantic City Line.
NJ Transit also provides bus service in Hammonton. The 554 bus route connects to Lindenwold station and Atlantic City.
Local Airport
Hammonton Municipal Airport is located about 3 miles (5 km) northeast of the town center.
Hammonton Community Life and Events
The Blueberry Capital
Hammonton is famous as the "Blueberry Capital of the World."
Since the 1980s, the Red, White and Blueberry Festival has celebrated this title. One farm in Hammonton is the largest blueberry grower in the Northeast. It covers 1,300 acres. Hammonton and nearby areas produce over 50 million pounds of blueberries each year.
Presidential Visits to Hammonton
Several U.S. presidents have visited Hammonton. Ronald Reagan came during his 1984 re-election campaign. He spoke about Hammonton being the "Blueberry Capital."
Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt also made stops in the town.
Fun Festivals in Hammonton
Every year, Hammonton hosts many festivals. The Red, White and Blueberry Festival celebrates blueberries. The Our Lady of Mount Carmel festival is very old, dating back to 1875. It is one of the oldest Italian festivals in the United States.
Other festivals include:
- Hammonton Fall Beer Festival
- Teen Arts Festival
- Hammonton Food Truck Festival
- Hammonton Green Day Festival
- Crusin Main Street
Exploring Downtown Hammonton
Hammonton's downtown area has grown a lot in the last 20 years. It includes streets like Bellevue Avenue and Central Avenue. The downtown has art galleries, restaurants, shops, and a theater. There's also a park and a college campus. Many people from South Jersey come to shop and visit.
The downtown area hosts three parades each year. The Halloween and Christmas parades are very popular. There is also a smaller Memorial Day parade in May. The annual Christmas Tree Lighting is a big celebration. It includes carolers, music, carriage rides, and Santa's arrival.
On the third Thursday of each month, the downtown has "Third Thursday Events." Each month has a different theme. Stores offer discounts, and performers entertain people on the street.
In 2013, Hammonton's downtown was a finalist for the Great American Main Street Award. This award recognizes communities that have successfully improved their downtown areas.
Special Events and Achievements
In 1949, the Hammonton team won the Little League World Series. They had placed third in 1947 and 1948. Hammonton was the first official team from outside Pennsylvania to win.
On July 24, 2011, Ricca's Italian Bakery set a Guinness World Record. They made the Longest Line of Cakes. These cakes were topped with fresh blueberries from local farms. The town council recognized this achievement.
In 2014, a study ranked Hammonton as the second-happiest city in New Jersey. This ranking looked at things like restaurants, safety, and income.
Famous People from Hammonton
Many notable people have connections to Hammonton:
- Ashante "Thee" Adonis (born 1990), a professional wrestler.
- Tyler Bellamy (born 1988), a soccer player.
- Jill Biden (born 1951), an educator and the First Lady of the United States.
- Reverend Gary Davis (1896–1972), a blues and gospel singer.
- J. D. DiRenzo (born 1988), an American football player.
- Anthony Durante (1967–2003), a professional wrestler.
- Ace Enders (born 1982), a musician.
- Marie Howland (1836–1921), a feminist writer.
- Johnnie O. Jackson (born 1971), a professional bodybuilder.
- Nelson Johnson (born 1948), a former judge and author. His book Boardwalk Empire became a TV series.
- Margaret Mead (1901–1978), a famous cultural anthropologist.
- Victor Moore (1876–1962), an actor.
- Rita Myers (born 1947), a video installation artist.
- George Washington Nicholson (1832–1912), a landscape painter.
- Thomas Ricca (born 1968), a former professional wrestler.
- Andrew Rider (1866–1898), the founder of Rider University.
- Tony Siscone (born 1949), a professional race car driver.
- Alma Joslyn Whiffen-Barksdale (1916–1981), a mycologist who discovered cycloheximide.
- Gary Wolfe (born 1967), a professional wrestler.
Sister City
Hammonton has a sister city:
- San Gregorio da Sassola, Province of Rome,
Italy
Images for kids
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Census Bureau map of Hammonton, New Jersey
See also
In Spanish: Hammonton (Nueva Jersey) para niños
