McKee City, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
McKee City, New Jersey
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McKeetown Fire Tower
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 McKee City, New Jersey
Location in Atlantic County, New Jersey
McKee City, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
McKee City, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Atlantic |
| Township | Hamilton |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Named for | Colonel John McKee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.83 sq mi (12.52 km2) |
| • Land | 4.82 sq mi (12.48 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 69 ft (21 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,758 |
| • Density | 2,024.90/sq mi (781.79/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 34-42420 |
| GNIS feature ID | 878219 |
McKee City is a community located in Hamilton Township, in New Jersey. Even though its name includes "city," it's not a big city. It's a busy area with many shops and homes. It was named after Colonel John McKee, an African American who bought and sold land.
Today, McKee City is a center for businesses. It has a large shopping center called the Hamilton Mall, which opened in 1987. It also used to be the home of the Atlantic City Race Course, a place for horse racing.
Contents
The Story of McKee City
How It Started
McKee City was created in 1884 by a man named Colonel John McKee. He wanted to build a special community. It started as a farming area with a sawmill, a school, a general store, and a community hall. These were all near the old Pennsylvania-Reading Railroad.
Colonel McKee planned to build a large community, about 4,000 acres big. He wanted it to be a place where African Americans from the southern states could settle after the Civil War. Many simple houses were built for people to live in. These houses did not have fancy things like indoor plumbing or heating at first.
Colonel McKee's Vision
Colonel McKee had big plans for this community. He wanted the people living there to improve the land. He hoped his vision for McKee City would fully come true. However, he passed away before all his plans could be finished.
After his death, Colonel McKee left a large sum of money, about $2 million from 1902. He wanted some of this money to be used to build a Catholic church, a rectory (where a priest lives), and a convent (where nuns live) in McKee City. But his family disagreed about his will. Because of this, the money was not given out as he wished. So, the buildings Colonel McKee dreamed of were never built.
Who Lives in McKee City?
Population Numbers
The number of people living in McKee City is counted regularly. According to the 2020 United States census, the population of McKee City was 9,758 people. This number helps us understand how many people call McKee City home.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 9,758 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 |
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