Editing Camden, New Jersey (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Camden, New Jersey}}

=== Prehistory ===
The city traces back to local indigenous [[Lenape]], who are believed to have inhabited this area 13–15,000 years prior to the first European settlers.<ref name=":0-2024">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.camdencounty.com/enjoy-camden-county/history/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Camden County, NJ |language=en-US}}</ref> 

=== Settlement years (1623–1701) ===
Between 1623 and 1627, Captain [[Cornelius Jacobsen May]], an officer with the [[Dutch West India Company]] and first director of [[New Netherland]], established [[Fort Nassau (South River)|Fort Nassau]], where the [[Delaware River]] meets Big Timber Creek, which is today known as [[Brooklawn, New Jersey|Brooklawn]]. In 1633, [[David Pietersz. de Vries|David Pietersen De Vries]], a Dutch commander, was sailing up the Delaware River when he came across Natives in control of the fort. The settlers that had been left at the fort had decided to return to [[New Amsterdam]] (''Today'' [[Manhattan|Manhattan, New York]]). [[Wouter van Twiller]], Governor of [[New Netherland]], restored Fort Nassau. He was accused of extravagant spending in the fort's reconstruction. The settlement subsequently sparked competition from European Settlers over control of the fur trade in the area.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Prowell |first1=George Reeser |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcmassbookdig.historyofcamdenc00prow/?sp=34&st=image&r=-0.137,0.149,1.111,0.461,0 |title=The History of Camden County, New Jersey |date=1886 |publisher=L. J. Richards & Co. |location=Philadelphia |pages=18 |access-date=12 November 2024}}</ref><ref name="CamdenHistory">[https://www.ci.camden.nj.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Early-Settlement.pdf Early Settlement], City of Camden. Accessed November 6, 2023. "Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, King Charles II granted all the lands between the Delaware and Connecticut Rivers to his brother, the Duke of York. In turn, the Duke of York gave a portion of these lands between the Hudson and Delaware River (New Jersey) to two loyal courtiers, Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkeley. Soon after, Berkeley was beset by financial problems and in 1673 sold his half of New Jersey to Quakers John Fenwick and Edward Byllynge."</ref>  The fort was used by the Dutch until around 1650 or 1651 when it was decided that it was far to up the river to be of any value. The buildings and stockades were demolished and Wouter van Twiller assigned Arent Corssen to find a place for another fort. 

The British first had a presence in the area in 1634. On June 21, 1634, Sir [[Edmund Plowden (colonial governor)|Edmund Ployden]] was given a charter from [[Charles I of England|King Charles I of England]] for all territory that lies between [[New England Colonies|New England]] and [[Province of Maryland|Maryland]]. After the [[Restoration (England)|Restoration]] in 1660, previous claims were largely overwritten, the land around Camden was then controlled by different nobles serving under [[Charles II of England|King Charles II]] that those associated with Sir Edmund Ployden.<ref name="CamdenHistory2">[https://www.ci.camden.nj.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Early-Settlement.pdf Early Settlement], City of Camden. Accessed November 6, 2023. "Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, King Charles II granted all the lands between the Delaware and Connecticut Rivers to his brother, the Duke of York. In turn, the Duke of York gave a portion of these lands between the Hudson and Delaware River (New Jersey) to two loyal courtiers, Sir George Carteret and Lord John Berkeley. Soon after, Berkeley was beset by financial problems and in 1673 sold his half of New Jersey to Quakers John Fenwick and Edward Byllynge."</ref> 

In 1664, the Duke of York had the King Charles II create the new colony for [[John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton|Lord John Berkeley]] and [[George Carteret|Sir George Carteret]]. It was named the [[Province of New Jersey]] after George Carteret; in 1649, he was [[Lieutenant Governor of Jersey|Governor]] of the [[Jersey|Isle of Jersey]]. Lord John Berkeley kept his share of New Jersey from 1664 until 1674, when he sold it to two [[Quakers]], [[John Fenwick (Quaker)|John Fenwick]] and [[Edward Byllynge]]. This due to political difficulties between him, Carteret, and [[List of colonial governors of New York|Governor of New York]] [[Richard Nicolls]], as well as financial difficulties. Governor Richard Nicolls had objected to the Province of New Jersey as he had exercised control over the area prior under the [[Province of New York]].<ref name="CamdenHistory2" /> After Edward Byllynge suffered a bankruptcy and having issues with his creditors, [[William Penn]], one of the creditors, was chosen to be arbitrator. They argued that he funded the purchase of Lord John Berkeley's share of the Province of New Jersey with funds that were justly due to them. It was decided that Fenwick was entitled to 10% of the share, while 90% would be controlled by trustees that are chosen for the benefit of the creditors of Edward Byllynge, who were mostly Quakers themselves. The trustees were chosen to be William Penn, [[Gawen Lawrie|Gawen Laurie]] and Nicholas Lucas. The goal was to have the trustees sell the territory to colonists so that the creditors of Edward Byllynge would be made whole. It was also hoped that Quaker may be motivated to emigrate to this territory. At the time, the [[Quakers|Society of Friends]] were flirting with the idea of "new country", where they could practice their religious beliefs and not be shamelessly persecuted. In 1676, the Quakers decided to form a colony, spittling the previous colony in two, [[East Jersey]] and [[West Jersey]] for the Quakers. Quakers settled in the area at the end of the 17th century and the start of the 18th century, drawn by promises of religious freedom, fairer taxation and more representation in government.<ref name=":0-2024" />

=== Colonial (1702–1775) ===
The Quakers expansion, consumption of resources, along with the introduction of alcohol and disease, led to a decline in the Lenape population. The development of a ferry system along the Delaware River bolstered trade between [[Fort Nassau (South River)|Fort Nassau]] and [[Philadelphia]].<ref name="CamdenHistory" /> Through ferries, families like Coopers and the [[Kaighn family|Kaighns]] were able to establish settlements in surrounding areas. In 1773, Jacob Cooper played a significant role in developing the area which is today known as Camden, named after Charles Pratt, the Earl of Camden.<ref name="CamdenHistory" />

=== Post-colonial (1776–1827) ===
Throughout the Revolutionary War, there were several skrimishes and other effects of the war felt by locals. Development was impeded for the villiage due to the revolution, as Camden was held by the British along with Philadelphia across the [[Delaware River]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Camden |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Camden-New-Jersey |website=Britannica |publisher=Britannica |access-date=12 November 2024}}</ref>

=== Founding and early years (1828–1890) ===
In the 19th century Camden underwent significant changes, transitioning from a hub of transportation to a growing city. Camden was incorporated as a city on February 13, 1828, from portions of [[Newton Township, Camden County, New Jersey|Newton Township]], while the area was still part of [[Gloucester County, New Jersey|Gloucester County]]. In 1832, Camden Township was created as a [[Township (New Jersey)|township]] [[wiktionary:coextensive|coextensive]] with Camden City. The township existed until it was repealed in 1848.<ref name=":0" /> Camden Township was established in 1832 which was the same area as Camden City until it was reduced in 1848.<ref name="Story"/> In 1830, the [[Camden and Amboy Railroad and Transportation Company|Camden and Amboy Railroad Company]] was chartered in Camden, which connected ferry terminals from New York City to Philadelphia via rail. The railroad ended in Camden's Waterfront, where passengers would be ferried across the [[Delaware River]] to arrive in Philadelphia. Similarly to Camden's inception, transportation was a huge catalyst in its growth—the railroads opening in 1834 led to an increase in population and commerce.<ref name=":4">Greenberg, Gail. [http://www.camdencounty.com/government/about-camden-county/county-history "County History"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720085108/http://www.camdencounty.com/government/about-camden-county/county-history|date=July 20, 2011}}, [[Camden County, New Jersey]]. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref>

=== Industrial growth (1891–1950) ===
At the turn 20th Century, industry grew rapidly at the hands of companies such as the [[Victor Talking Machine Company]] (later [[RCA Victor]]), [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]], and [[Campbell Soup Company]]. These were major employers in Camden, at times employing tens of thousands in and outside of Camden.<ref name=":18">O'Reilly, David. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131228102235/http://articles.philly.com/2013-12-27/news/45596219_1_rowan-university-camden-ali-houshmand "An RCA museum grows at Rowan"]}}, ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'', December 27, 2013. Accessed October 13, 2015. " Radio Corp. of America's "contributions to South Jersey were enormous," said Joseph Pane, deputy director of the RCA Heritage Program at Rowan, which he helped create.'At its peak in the 1960s, it (RCA) employed 12,000 people; 4,500 were engineers.'"</ref><ref name=":19">[http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large/inactive/newyorkship.htm New York Shipbuilding, Camden NJ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001062358/http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large/inactive/newyorkship.htm |date=October 1, 2015 }}, Shipbuilding History, March 17, 2014. Accessed October 13, 2015. "At its peak, New York Ship employed 30,000 people. It continued in both naval and merchant shipbuilding after WWII but closed in 1967."</ref><ref name=":20">[http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=BZ&Dato=20080130&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=709280802&Ref=PH "Made in S.J.: Campbell Soup Co."]. Portal to gallery of photographs (20) related to [[The Campbell Soup Company]]. ''[[Courier-Post]]''. Undated. Accessed December 25, 2009.</ref> Its location on the Delaware River made it ideal to launch ships.

Camden also experienced dramatic shifts in its population demographic. Immigration from Eastern Europe made them the leading ethnic group by 1920, whereas it had previously been German, British, and Irish immigrants.<ref name=":22">[http://www.ci.camden.nj.us/history/ History], City of Camden. Accessed July 26, 2018.</ref> In 1926, a bridge connected New Jersey and Pennsylvania made its debut opening, which was named the [[Benjamin Franklin Bridge]] in 1956.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170402130137/http://www.whyy.org/tv12/secrets/bfb.html Ben Franklin Bridge]}}, [[WHYY-FM]], backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of April 2, 2017. Accessed July 26, 2018. "First official name name: Delaware River Bridge. Officially became the Ben Franklin Bridge at its dedication in 1956. Bridge was opened to traffic at midnight on July 1, 1926."</ref> The project cost $37 million, which New Jersey and Pennsylvania both paid equal parts of. The goal was to reduce ferry traffic between Philadelphia and Camden. [[Camden Central Airport]] opened in 1929 (closed in 1957).

During the 1930s, Camden faced economic decline in the face of the [[Great Depression]]. It was due to Camden's thriving industry that they did not go bankrupt. The United States role in [[World War II]] made the New York Shipbuilding Company the largest and most productive ship yard in the world.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mathis |first=Mike |title=Cherry Hill: A Brief History. |publisher=The History Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-59629-596-4 |location=Charleston, South Carolina}}</ref> World War II caused African American migration in and around Camden from the south as there was a need for factory workers for the war effort. Subsequently, Camden became ethnically and religiously segregated.<ref name="AfterTheFall">{{Cite book |last=Gillette |first=Howard Jr. |title=Camden After the Fall: Decline and Renewal in a Post-Industrial City |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-8122-1968-5 |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}}</ref> On July 17, 1951, the [[Delaware River Port Authority]], a bi-state agency, was created to promote trade and better coordinate transportation between the two cities of Camden and Philadelphia.<ref>[http://www.drpa.org/about/history.html About], Delaware River Port Authority. Accessed September 12, 2019. "After Pennsylvania and New Jersey reach an agreement, President Harry S. Truman signs the bill creating the Delaware River Port Authority as the successor agency to the Delaware River Bridge Joint Commission. The legislation gives the new agency the responsibility to promote international trade for Delaware River ports."</ref>

=== Industrial decline (1951–1991) ===
However, by the 1950s, manufacturing came to slow causing industries to relocate and employment to dwindle.<ref name="AfterTheFall" /> In contrast to the growth and industrialization Camden experienced in the early 1900s, there came a drop in population and industry further into the 20th century.<ref name="AfterTheFall3">{{Cite book |last=Gillette |first=Howard Jr. |title=Camden After the Fall: Decline and Renewal in a Post-Industrial City |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-8122-1968-5 |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}}</ref> Having reached its peak number of manufacturing jobs in 1950, by 1982 it was a quarter of what it had been. Post World War II, Campbell's Soup Company and RCA Victor had decentralized their production efforts in Camden.<ref>Sidorick, Daniel. [https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/campbell-soup-company/ Campbell Soup Company], Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Accessed April 26, 2022.</ref> This Capital Flight was an attempt to avoid an increase in labor wages which unionized workers were fighting for.<ref name="Camden, New Jersey" /><ref name="Camden Transformed" /> The New York Shipbuilding Company, a major contributor of naval units during World War II, shut down in 1967 due to low demand and mismanagement.<ref>Dorwart, Jeffery M. [https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/shipbuilding-and-shipyards/ "Shipbuilding and Shipyards"], ''[[Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia]]''. Accessed November 6, 2023. "However, mismanagement, labor unrest, construction accidents on the carrier and growing restrictions on building nuclear warships so near a great city led to the closing of the Camden shipyard in 1967, contributing to growing economic and social problems in the city."</ref>

During this period there was a large amount of [[white flight]], in which white residents moved to surrounding suburbs in search of economic opportunity.<ref name="AfterTheFall3" /> Neighborhoods were further divided by the construction of the [[Interstate 676#New Jersey|North-South Freeway]]; 1,289 families were displaced by the highway, 85% of which were nonwhite families.<ref>Weingroff, Richard F. [https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/50interstate2.cfm "The Greatest Decade 1956-1966: Part 2 The Battle of Its Life"], [[Federal Highway Administration]]. Accessed November 6, 2023. "In Camden, New Jersey, I-95 bisected low-income neighborhoods, displacing 1,093 minority families (out of a total of 1,289 families), while only about 100 low-incoming housing units were built at the same time 'with the usual consequences.'""</ref> Along with this, civil unrest grew resulting in riots. Police brutality and crime were at an all-time high which further exacerbated Camden's problems.

===Revitalization (1992–present)===
Efforts to revitalize Camden began in 1980 with Mayor [[Randy Primas]]. In an attempt to generate income for the city, he pursued initiatives such as the construction of a riverfront state-prison and a trash-to-steam incinerator which received substantial opposition from residents.<ref name="Unruh">Ramsland, Katherine. [http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/mass/howard_unruh/index.html "Rampage in Camden"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519084501/http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/mass/howard_unruh/index.html|date=May 19, 2011}}, ''[[TruTV]]''. Accessed July 3, 2011.</ref><ref name="Katz">{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Matt |date=March 20, 2009 |title=Camden trash plant is criticized – Many at a permit-renewal hearing urged tougher pollution controls. But officials defended the site. |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/1270D744A6AC3CF0?p=AWNB |access-date=November 9, 2016 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |via=newsbank.com}}</ref> With [[Milton Milan|Milton Milan's]] election as Camden's next mayor, he declared the city bankrupt which resulted in $60 million of aid and the state's assumption of Camden's finances.<ref>via [[Associated Press]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/23/nyregion/camden-and-state-reach-fiscal-agreement.html "Camden and State Reach Fiscal Agreement"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', July 23, 1999. Accessed April 26, 2022. "Camden withdrew its bankruptcy petition and accepted tighter state control over its spending today, ending the fiscal crisis in New Jersey's poorest city. After intense negotiations, Mayor Milton Milan signed an agreement that will give the state greater financial oversight over the city of 87,000.... With the agreement, Camden will receive $62.5 million in state aid, said Stephen Sasala, deputy commissioner of the State Department of Community Affairs and chairman of the oversight board."</ref> Another notable revitalization effort was the establishment of non-profit organization, The Parkside Business and Community In Partnership, which occurred in 1993 and is active today.<ref name=":022">{{Cite web |last=Campo |first=Matt |date=Fall 2010 |title=Parkside Business & Community In Partnership: Community Development Case Study |url=https://rwv.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ParksideBusinessPartnership.pdf |access-date=28 April 2024}}</ref>[[File:Cooper Street-Rutgers University Station.jpg|thumb|The [[River Line (NJ Transit)|River Line]]'s [[Cooper Street–Rutgers University station]] stop]]
==== Redevelopment ====
{{Main|Redevelopment of Camden, New Jersey}}
{{See also|List of tallest buildings in Camden}}
[[File:The End of Cooper St..jpg|alt=An image of Camden Towers, American Water Headquarters and 11 Cooper St Apartments|thumb|Camden Towers (left), American Water Headquarters (center), and 11 Cooper St Apartments (right) in Camden]]
[[File:South Jersey Gas Camden NJ.JPG|thumb|The former Camden Downtown Branch of the Camden County Library]]

Redevelopment as an idea has loomed over the city since the 1980s, when Mayor Primas started looking for projects to be able to revitalize with the loss of several foundational industries in the preciding decades. In 2013 the [[New Jersey Economic Development Authority]] introduced incentives for companies to relocate to Camden.<ref name="The Star-Ledger">{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/south/index.ssf/2014/12/camden-bound_companies_set_to_receive_630_million_in_state_tax_breaks.html|title=Camden-bound companies set to receive $630&nbsp;million in state tax breaks|work=The Star-Ledger|date=December 15, 2014}}</ref> Other projects include the redevelopment of the Waterfront, the construction of the [[Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex]], and the [[Subaru of America]]'s headquarters.

==== 2020s ====
In recent years, Camden has transitioned from a manufacturing industry to an economy focused on education and healthcare. The Eds-and-Meds Industry has become the largest source of employment in Camden—with institutions such as [[Cooper University Hospital]], [[Rowan University]], [[Rutgers University–Camden|Rutgers-Camden]], [[Camden County College]], Virtua, [[Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital|Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center]], and CAMcare.<ref name="Rurcbog.com">{{Cite web |year=2014 |title=Eds and Meds as an Economic Engine for the City of Camden and the State of New Jersey |url=http://rurcbog.com/wp-content/uploads/RURCBOG_Report2.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220194320/http://rurcbog.com/wp-content/uploads/RURCBOG_Report2.pdf |archive-date=2016-12-20 |access-date=December 5, 2016 |website=rurcbog.com |publisher=Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors}}</ref>