Swedesboro, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Swedesboro is a borough
in Gloucester County
, New Jersey
, United States
. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,055.
Swedesboro was formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on April 9, 1902, from portions of Woolwich Township
.
and Delaware
in the mid- 1600’s. The English Colonial government needed a road between the towns of Burlingtown and Salem so they built the Kings Highway in 1691 which opened the southern portion of Gloucester County to more settlers. The area offered an abundance of fertile sandy soil, prime farmland and vasts tracks of oak, birch, maple and pine trees. Originally, the town was called Raccoon. In 1765 the name was changed to Swedesboro.
The early Swedes and Finns were fishermen, hunters and farmers. Through the late 1800’s, Raccoon Creek was a water route that was naturally deep enough to transport wood and farming projects to Philadelphia by the Delaware River.
, 75°18'41" West
(39.748125, -75.311411).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (3.95%) is water.
Swedesboro is an independent municipality surrounded on all sides by Woolwich Township
.
of 2000, there were 2,055 people, 771 households, and 528 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,830.8 people per square mile (1,086.9/km2). There were 860 housing units at an average density of 1,184.7 per square mile (454.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 76.93% White, 16.50% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 3.36% from other races
, and 2.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.52% of the population.
There were 771 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples
living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the borough the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $49,286, and the median income for a family was $58,721. Males had a median income of $41,346 versus $33,125 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $20,857. About 7.8% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
, the Mayor of Swedesboro, who presides over the Council is Thomas W. Fromm (D
, term ends December 31, 2011. The Swedesboro Council consists of Council President George Weeks (D, 2013), Steve Ayers (D, 2011), Salvatore "Sam" Casella (R
, 2012), Joanna Gahrs (R, 2011), Diane Hale (D, 2013) and Russell Zappala (R, 2012).
Swedesboro is in the
, a consolidated school district that serves students from both Swedesboro and Woolwich Township
. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are Margaret C. Clifford School (Grades PreK and K, 231 students) in Swedesboro, Charles C. Stratton School (Grades 1-2, 511 students) in Woolwich Township, Harker School (grades 3-5; 661 students) and Walter H. Hill School (grade 6, 279 students).
For grades 7-12, public school students are educated by the Kingsway Regional School District
. The district serves students from East Greenwich Township
, Logan Township
, South Harrison Township
, Swedesboro and Woolwich Township
. Schools in the district are Kingsway Regional Middle School and Kingsway Regional High School
.
, was one of only two settlements established in New Jersey as a part of the New Sweden
colony. The oldest extant log cabin
in the United States, the Nothnagle Log Cabin (ca. 1640) was built by Antti Niilonpoika (Anthony Neilson/Nelson) in Swedesboro. It is a registered National Historic Place, as is Trinity Episcopal "Old Swedes" Church
. Trinity was established as a Swedish Lutheran Church
in 1703; the present building dates to 1784.
Trinity Church Cemetery
is the burial place of Governor of New Jersey
Charles C. Stratton
and Congressman Benjamin Franklin Howey
, among other notable interees.
Borough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
in Gloucester County
Gloucester County, New Jersey
Gloucester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 288,288. Its county seat is Woodbury....
, 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...
. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,055.
Swedesboro was formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on April 9, 1902, from portions of Woolwich Township
Woolwich Township, New Jersey
Woolwich Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,032....
.
History
Swedesboro was settled by a small group of Swedes from PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
in the mid- 1600’s. The English Colonial government needed a road between the towns of Burlingtown and Salem so they built the Kings Highway in 1691 which opened the southern portion of Gloucester County to more settlers. The area offered an abundance of fertile sandy soil, prime farmland and vasts tracks of oak, birch, maple and pine trees. Originally, the town was called Raccoon. In 1765 the name was changed to Swedesboro.
The early Swedes and Finns were fishermen, hunters and farmers. Through the late 1800’s, Raccoon Creek was a water route that was naturally deep enough to transport wood and farming projects to Philadelphia by the Delaware River.
Geography
Swedesboro is located at 39°44'53" NorthLatitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
, 75°18'41" West
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
(39.748125, -75.311411).
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The 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...
, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (3.95%) is water.
Swedesboro is an independent municipality surrounded on all sides by Woolwich Township
Woolwich Township, New Jersey
Woolwich Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,032....
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,055 people, 771 households, and 528 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,830.8 people per square mile (1,086.9/km2). There were 860 housing units at an average density of 1,184.7 per square mile (454.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 76.93% White, 16.50% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 3.36% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.52% of the population.
There were 771 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the borough the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $49,286, and the median income for a family was $58,721. Males had a median income of $41,346 versus $33,125 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $20,857. About 7.8% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Swedesboro is governed under the BoroughBorough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
, the Mayor of Swedesboro, who presides over the Council is Thomas W. Fromm (D
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, term ends December 31, 2011. The Swedesboro Council consists of Council President George Weeks (D, 2013), Steve Ayers (D, 2011), Salvatore "Sam" Casella (R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, 2012), Joanna Gahrs (R, 2011), Diane Hale (D, 2013) and Russell Zappala (R, 2012).
Federal, state and county representation
Swedesboro is in the 2nd Congressional district.Swedesboro is in the
Education
Public school students in grades PreK-6 attend the Swedesboro-Woolwich School DistrictSwedesboro-Woolwich School District
The Swedesboro-Woolwich School District is a consolidated public school district that serves students in Kindergarten through sixth grade from two communities in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. Communities in the district are Swedesboro and Woolwich Township.For grades 7-12, students...
, a consolidated school district that serves students from both Swedesboro and Woolwich Township
Woolwich Township, New Jersey
Woolwich Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,032....
. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are Margaret C. Clifford School (Grades PreK and K, 231 students) in Swedesboro, Charles C. Stratton School (Grades 1-2, 511 students) in Woolwich Township, Harker School (grades 3-5; 661 students) and Walter H. Hill School (grade 6, 279 students).
For grades 7-12, public school students are educated by the Kingsway Regional School District
Kingsway Regional School District
The Kingsway Regional School District is a regional school district serving students from five communities in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The district serves students in grades 7-12 from East Greenwich Township , South Harrison Township , Swedesboro...
. The district serves students from East Greenwich Township
East Greenwich Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,430 people, 1,901 households, and 1,515 families residing in the township. The population density was 368.1 people per square mile . There were 1,971 housing units at an average density of 133.6 per square mile...
, Logan Township
Logan Township, New Jersey
Logan Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 6,032....
, South Harrison Township
South Harrison Township, New Jersey
South Harrison Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 2,417....
, Swedesboro and Woolwich Township
Woolwich Township, New Jersey
Woolwich Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,032....
. Schools in the district are Kingsway Regional Middle School and Kingsway Regional High School
Kingsway Regional High School
Kingsway Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grade from five communities in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Kingsway Regional School District...
.
History and landmarks
Swedesboro, along with BridgeportBridgeport, New Jersey
Bridgeport is an unincorporated area within Logan Township, located in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08014....
, was one of only two settlements established in New Jersey as a part of the New Sweden
New Sweden
New Sweden was a Swedish colony along the Delaware River on the Mid-Atlantic coast of North America from 1638 to 1655. Fort Christina, now in Wilmington, Delaware, was the first settlement. New Sweden included parts of the present-day American states of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania....
colony. The oldest extant log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
in the United States, the Nothnagle Log Cabin (ca. 1640) was built by Antti Niilonpoika (Anthony Neilson/Nelson) in Swedesboro. It is a registered National Historic Place, as is Trinity Episcopal "Old Swedes" Church
Trinity Church (Swedesboro, New Jersey)
Trinity Church is a historic church on the northwest corner of Church Street and King's Highway in Swedesboro, New Jersey ....
. Trinity was established as a Swedish Lutheran Church
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
in 1703; the present building dates to 1784.
Trinity Church Cemetery
Trinity Church Cemetery, Swedesboro
Trinity Church Cemetery is located behind Trinity Church on the corner of Church Street and Kings Highway, in the town of Swedesboro, in Gloucester County, New Jersey.-Background:In 1641, Peter Hollander Ridder, the second governor of New Sweden purchased from local Indians the entire eastern...
is the burial place of Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Charles C. Stratton
Charles C. Stratton
Charles Creighton Stratton was a politician from New Jersey, who served in the United States House of Representatives and was later the 15th Governor of New Jersey.-Biography:...
and Congressman Benjamin Franklin Howey
Benjamin Franklin Howey
Benjamin Franklin Howey was an American Republican politician who represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1883 to 1885.-Biography:...
, among other notable interees.
Notable residents
- R.J. Page (1989–), former fastest man in the state of NJ and current NCAA track and field sprinter for the Boston University TerriersBoston University TerriersThe Boston University Terriers are the nine men's and twelve women's varsity athletic teams representing Boston University in NCAA Division I competition. The men compete in basketball, cross country, ice hockey, rowing, soccer, swimming, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, and wrestling...
. - Dorien BryantDorien BryantDorien Lamar Bryant is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He went undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft, but later signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent....
(1985–), former college football wide receiver for the Purdue BoilermakersPurdue BoilermakersBoilermakers is the official nickname for the intercollegiate athletic teams of Purdue University. As is common with athletic nicknames, it is also used as colloquial designation of Purdue's students and alumni at large....
and Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
signatory. - Charles Garrison HarkerCharles Garrison HarkerCharles Garrison Harker was a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was killed in action at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in northern Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign...
(1837–1864), brigadier general in the Union ArmyUnion ArmyThe Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... - William Nicholson JeffersWilliam Nicholson JeffersCommodore William Nicholson Jeffers was a U.S. Navy officer of the 19th century. He took part in combat operations during the Mexican-American War and the Civil War, and during the 1870s and early 1880s served as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance.-Early life and career:Jeffers was born in...
(1824–1883), United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer.
External links
- Borough of Swedesboro Website
- Brief History of the Early Swedes in New Jersey
- Brief History of Swedesboro & Woolwich NJ
- Swedesboro-Woolwich School District
- Data for the Swedesboro-Woolwich School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Kingsway Regional School District
- Kingsway Regional High School