Editing Hammonton, New Jersey (section)

===Pine Barrens===
The town is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the [[New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve]], a protected natural area of unique ecology covering {{convert|1100000|acre}}, that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.<ref>[http://www.nj.gov/pinelands/reserve/ The Pinelands National Reserve], [[New Jersey Pinelands Commission]]. Accessed November 18, 2013.</ref> All of the town is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas in [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington]], [[Camden County, New Jersey|Camden]], [[Cape May County, New Jersey|Cape May]], [[Cumberland County, New Jersey|Cumberland]], [[Gloucester County, New Jersey|Gloucester]] and [[Ocean County, New Jersey|Ocean]] counties.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/pinelands/home/munico/municipalities/ Pinelands Municipalities], [[New Jersey Pinelands Commission]], April 2003. Accessed November 18, 2013.</ref>

Due to its location in the [[Pine Barrens (New Jersey)|Pine Barrens]], the soil is largely sandy, making it ideal for growing blueberries. Low, marshy areas, often within the Pine Barrens are also used for cranberry cultivation.

On June 19, 2022, a fire broke out in the [[Wharton State Forest]] in a remote area in the northern part of Hammonton. The Mullica River Fire consumed more than 15,000 acres of protected land and became the largest wildfire in the state in 15 years. The cause of the fire is believed to be caused by an illegal campfire.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/21/us/new-jersey-wildfire.html | title=Wildfire in New Jersey Could Become the State's Largest in Years | newspaper=The New York Times | date=June 21, 2022 | last1=Taylor | first1=Derrick Bryson | last2=Diaz | first2=Johnny }}</ref>