Smithville, Burlington County, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Smithville, New Jersey
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Smithville Schoolhouse
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 Smithville, New Jersey
Location in Burlington County, New Jersey
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Burlington |
| Township | Eastampton |
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
08060
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| Area code(s) | 609 |
| GNIS feature ID | 880667 |
Smithville was once a small village in Eastampton Township, which is in Burlington County, New Jersey. It started in 1831 as a place called Shreveville. Two brothers, Jonathan and Samuel Shreve, built it as a village for making textiles (like cloth). It was located right on the Rancocas Creek.
Later, in 1865, a person named Hezekiah Bradley Smith bought the village. He changed its name to Smithville. A post office opened there in 1866. A company called H. B. Smith Machine Company was in Smithville. This company made the famous American Star Bicycle starting in 1880. The Smithville Post Office closed in 1962. In 1975, Burlington County bought the land. They turned it into the first park in the county. Today, Smithville is recognized as a historic place. It is listed on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places.
Contents
Smithville: A Historic Village
Smithville began as a busy place where people worked and lived. It was important for making textiles and later for building bicycles. The village's history shows how towns grew around industries in the past.
The Amazing Bicycle Railroad
In 1892, a man named Arthur Hotchkiss invented something cool: a bicycle railroad. He got a special permission, called a patent, for his idea. He then made a deal with the Smith Machine Company in Smithville to build it.
The first track was about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) long. It went almost straight from Smithville to Pine Street in Mount Holly. This railway crossed the Rancocas Creek ten times! It was ready for the Mount Holly Fair in September 1892. The main idea was to help factory workers travel quickly from Mount Holly to the Smithville factory. A monthly ticket for commuters cost $2.00.
How the Bicycle Railroad Worked
Riding the bicycle railroad was fast! The fastest trip ever recorded was 4.5 minutes. On average, a trip took about 6 to 7 minutes. This unique railway was even shown at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. This was a huge world's fair in Chicago.
However, the railway had only one track. This meant riders could not pass each other. If two riders met going in opposite directions, one had to move off onto a side track. By 1897, fewer people were using the railway. It eventually fell apart because it was not kept in good condition.
Famous People from Smithville
Some interesting people have connections to Smithville:
- Charles R. Chickering (1891-1970): He was a freelance artist. He designed 77 different U.S. postage stamps. He did this while working at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
