Leesburg, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leesburg, New Jersey
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 Leesburg, New Jersey
Location in Cumberland County, New Jersey
Leesburg, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Leesburg, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Cumberland |
| Township | Maurice River |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.97 sq mi (5.10 km2) |
| • Land | 1.76 sq mi (4.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2) |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 601 |
| • Density | 341.48/sq mi (131.83/km2) |
| ZIP Code |
08327
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| FIPS code | 34-39870 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0877730 |
Leesburg is a small community in New Jersey, a state in the United States. It's known as an "unincorporated community," which means it's a place with a shared identity but without its own local government. It's also a "census-designated place" (CDP), which is an area the government defines for counting people. Leesburg is located within Maurice River Township in Cumberland County. If you send mail here, the United States Postal Service ZIP Code is 08327.
Contents
History of Leesburg
Early Days and Founding
The land where Leesburg now stands was first explored way back in 1691. The very first people to settle here were probably from Sweden. But the actual town of Leesburg wasn't officially started until 1795.
A man named John Lee, who built ships in Egg Harbor, founded the town. He and his brothers opened the first shipyard in Leesburg. This shipyard helped the town become a place where many coastal ships were built.
Shipbuilding and Other Industries
In 1850, another important person, James Ward, built a special "marine railway" here. This was like a ramp that could pull larger ships out of the water for repairs. The location was great because it was only six miles from the Delaware Bay, making it easy for big ships to reach.
Even though shipbuilding was the main business, Leesburg also had other successful industries in the early 1900s. The Leesburg Packing Company was a cannery that hired about 100 people during certain times of the year. There was also J. C. Fifield and Son, which made fertilizer. Today, the only major industry left from those times is WHIBCO Inc., a company that mines sand. Their offices are in the old buildings of the Del Bay Shipyard.
Community Identity
Leesburg is also home to Bayside State Prison. In 1988, the prison's name was changed from "Leesburg State Prison." Some people who lived in Leesburg were not happy about this change. They felt that the prison was the only thing many people knew about their community.
Population and People
How Many People Live Here?
According to the 2020 United States census, the population of Leesburg was 601 people.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 601 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Famous People from Leesburg
- Thomas Lee (1780–1856) was born in Leesburg. He was a very important person in politics. He represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives from 1833 to 1837. This means he helped make laws for the country during that time.
