Atco, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Atco is an unincorporated area in Waterford Township
in Camden County
, New Jersey
, United States
, in the Philadelphia-Camden
metropolitan area, located 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Camden. The town is at the western edge of Wharton State Forest
and the Pine Barrens
. Atco is the home of the Atco Raceway
, and served as the location for movie, Eddie and the Cruisers
. In 2005, an episode of Viva La Bam
was shot at the raceway. Atco Lake
is a 30 acre lake in Atco. The area is served as United States Postal Service
ZIP Code
08004.
As of the United States 2000 Census, the population for ZIP Code Tabulation Area
08004 was 14,299.
Camden and Atlantic Railroad was founded in 1854; it crossed the Pinelands
from Camden
to Atlantic City
. The Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad was established soon after, linking Atco to communities such as Toms River
, Waretown
, Atsion and Vineland
.
The story of the Atco Ghost is popular in Atco. Legend has it that a young boy was killed by a car while chasing a ball - when there is a second full moon in a month he can be seen playing in the same street.
.
Atco public schools serve K-6 grade. Atco Elementary (grades to 1-2), Thomas Richards Elementary (grades 3-4) and Waterford Elementary (K, and grades 5-6) serve students from Atco. Junior high school and high school students from Atco are served by Hammonton Public Schools or parochial schools of their choice.
on the Atlantic City Line
, which is operated by New Jersey Transit
. The station is accessible from Route 73 and the White Horse Pike (U.S. Route 30
).
Waterford Township, New Jersey
Waterford Township is a Township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 10,494....
in Camden County
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in the Philadelphia-Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
metropolitan area, located 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Camden. The town is at the western edge of Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest
Wharton State Forest is a state park in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The largest single tract of land in the state park system of New Jersey, it encompasses approximately of the Pinelands northwest of Hammonton, in Burlington, Camden, and Atlantic counties. The entire park is located within ...
and the Pine Barrens
Pine Barrens (New Jersey)
The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops originally imported by European settlers didn't take well...
. Atco is the home of the Atco Raceway
Atco Raceway
Atco Raceway is a 1/4 mile drag strip located in Atco, New Jersey. Opened in 1960, it is the oldest drag strip in New Jersey. The track is also sanctioned by the NHRA, the largest sanctioning body in drag racing. Atco Raceway held over 265 events last year making it one of the busiest tracks in...
, and served as the location for movie, Eddie and the Cruisers
Eddie and the Cruisers
Eddie and the Cruisers is a 1983 American film directed by Martin Davidson with the screenplay written by the director and Arlene Davidson, based on the novel by P. F. Kluge...
. In 2005, an episode of Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared...
was shot at the raceway. Atco Lake
Atco Lake
Atco Lake is a 30 acre lake in Atco, New Jersey. The lake is located within , which is 77 acres and is owned by Camden County. The lake is located on U.S. Route 30 ....
is a 30 acre lake in Atco. The area is served as United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
08004.
As of the United States 2000 Census, the population for ZIP Code Tabulation Area
ZIP Code Tabulation Area
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are statistical entities developed by the United States Census Bureau for tabulating summary statistics from Census 2000. This new entity was developed to overcome the difficulties in precisely defining the land area covered by each ZIP code...
08004 was 14,299.
History
The area gets its name from the Atlantic Transport Company, though other possible derivations have been offered, one of which is from the Indian word for "Land of many deer." The Atlantic Transport Company of West Virginia placed a major order with the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, New Jersey for four big ships launched 1902-3, which may have something to do with the choice of the name Atco at this time.Camden and Atlantic Railroad was founded in 1854; it crossed the Pinelands
Pinelands
Pinelands can refer to the following things:* Pine Barrens * New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve* Pinelands Regional School District, a school district in Tuckerton, New Jersey, USA...
from Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
to Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. The Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad was established soon after, linking Atco to communities such as Toms River
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
, Waretown
Waretown, New Jersey
Waretown is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Ocean Township, in Ocean County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 1,582. Waretown is home to Albert Music Hall and 2009 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, George E...
, Atsion and Vineland
Vineland, New Jersey
Vineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724...
.
The story of the Atco Ghost is popular in Atco. Legend has it that a young boy was killed by a car while chasing a ball - when there is a second full moon in a month he can be seen playing in the same street.
Education
Atco is the site of Assumption School, an elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of CamdenRoman Catholic Diocese of Camden
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden is a particular church or diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, located in New Jersey, United States, and presides over Roman Catholic parishes and schools in the six southern New Jersey counties of Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland,...
.
Atco public schools serve K-6 grade. Atco Elementary (grades to 1-2), Thomas Richards Elementary (grades 3-4) and Waterford Elementary (K, and grades 5-6) serve students from Atco. Junior high school and high school students from Atco are served by Hammonton Public Schools or parochial schools of their choice.
Transportation
Atco has a train stationAtco (NJT station)
Atco is a New Jersey Transit train station in the Atco section of Waterford Township, New Jersey on the Atlantic City Line. Its Amtrak station code is ATO. Eastbound service is offered to Atlantic City and Westbound service is offered to Philadelphia...
on the Atlantic City Line
Atlantic City Line
The Atlantic City Line is a rail line operated by New Jersey Transit between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Atlantic City, New Jersey, operating along the corridor of the White Horse Pike. It runs over trackage that was controlled by both the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Pennsylvania-Reading...
, which is operated by New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
. The station is accessible from Route 73 and the White Horse Pike (U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 30 is a U.S. highway running from Astoria, Oregon east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the U.S. state of New Jersey, US 30 runs from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge at the Delaware River in Camden, Camden County while concurrent with Interstate 676 southeast to Virginia...
).
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Atco include:- Sal Scafidi, major league baseball player in the 1970's. Played for the Philadelphia Phillies. Born Atco, currenyly lives in Princeton, NJ.
- Sally StarrSally StarrSally Starr was a movie actress from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.She was a Broadway actress before making her debut in motion pictures. She performed on stage from the age of fourteen. Starr debuted in Frolics featuring Ted Lewis as a teenager. She later appeared in George White's Scandals.When Starr...
, actress who had a popular kids cartoon TV show in the fifties and sixties that broadcast in and over the Delaware Valley.
External links
- Census 2000 Fact Sheet for Zip Code Tabulation Area 08004 from the United States Census BureauUnited States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
. - National Dragster Records shattered, history made in Atco
- The Official website of the Delaware Valley Paranormal Association
- Legends & Lore Double Feature: Atco Ghost & The Downingtown Twin Tunnels