Hammonton, New Jersey

Hammonton is a town in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, that has been referred to as the "Blueberry Capital of the World". As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 14,711,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 80 (−0.5%) from the 2010 census count of 14,791,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 2,187 (+17.4%) from the 12,604 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> Geographically, the town, and all of Atlantic County, is part of the South Jersey region of the state and of the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitan statistical area, which in turn is included in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.<ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.</ref>

The first European settlement of Hammonton was in 1812. It was named for John Hammond Coffin, a son of one of the community's earliest settlers, William Coffin, with the "d" in what was originally Hammondton disappearing over time. It was incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1866, from portions of Hamilton Township and Mullica Township.

The town is located directly between Philadelphia and the resort town of Atlantic City, along a former route of the Pennsylvania Railroad with Hammonton station directly in the downtown area. The route is now used by NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line.

History

Little is known about the area of Hammonton prior to European contact. Archaeological evidence, including stone tools likely dating back to the Woodland period, suggests some form of prehistoric habitation, though the details remain unclear. At the time of European contact, the region was inhabited by the Unalachtigo Lenape people.

As European settlement progressed, the Lenape population in the area declined due to disease, loss of land to European settlers, and emigration. In 1748, the West Jersey Society was granted rights over a large tract of land within the English Province of New Jersey, which included the territory that would later become Hammonton. In 1805, the Society sold a parcel of what would eventually become Hammonton, with the land passing through several owners.

In 1812, William Coffin and his family migrated to the area, building a home and managing a sawmill for John R. Coates. Coffin purchased the land and the mill in 1814. The sawmill was situated adjacent to Hammonton Lake and extended north and east of the present-day town, rather than being located within the current downtown. Originally named "Hammondton" after Coffin's son, John Hammond Coffin, the name was later simplified to Hammonton.<ref>General History Template:Webarchive, Town of Hammonton. Accessed July 17, 2012. "Hammonton is named for one of Coffin's sons, John Hammond Coffin. What began as 'Hammondton' later evolved into what we have today, minus the "d". (FYI: Coffin's other son Edward Winslow Coffin went on to found, you guessed it: Winslow!)"</ref><ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 138. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 31, 2015.</ref>

In 1817, Coffin established a glass factory in the area, taking advantage of the abundance of cheap timber and bog iron that supported South Jersey's glass industry at the time. Finished products were transported via the Mullica River before the advent of railroads, with trading stores and workers' housing established nearby.<ref name="storyofhammonton" />

The early settlement of Old Hammonton was small and experienced a shift from glass production to farming, particularly the cultivation of strawberries and blueberries. The arrival of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad in 1854, which ran to the west of Old Hammonton, prompted further development. In 1856, developer Charles K. Landis and Philadelphia banker Richard Byrnes formed Landis & Byrnes, acquiring large plots of land near the newly constructed railroad. They promoted and sold smaller parcels for development, moving the settlement closer to the railway. The Hammonton Railroad Station was established in 1858.

In 1861, Landis and Byrnes had a falling-out; Byrnes remained in Hammonton, while Landis went on to establish Vineland and Sea Isle City. In 1866, Hammonton's leaders petitioned the New Jersey Legislature to separate from Mullica Township and Hamilton Township, and Hammonton was officially incorporated as a town on March 5, 1866. At the time of incorporation, the population was recorded as 1,422.<ref name="Story">Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 69. Accessed May 28, 2024.</ref><ref name="storyofhammonton" />

A significant development in Hammonton's history following incorporation was a wave of Italian immigration. Salvador Calabrasce, an Italian immigrant and former Union Navy serviceman, moved to Hammonton after marrying a New Jersey native. He corresponded with friends in Gesso,Sicily, which attracted more immigrants to Hammonton. Through the efforts of Calabrasce and others, the town saw a growing population of Italian-Americans, who would eventually make up a substantial portion of the town's overall population.<ref name="storyofhammonton">Template:Cite book</ref>

Hammonton briefly featured a major racing track, the Atlantic City Speedway. Races were held from 1926 to 1928 on the wooden track that was built, complete with a direct rail connection. The owners had hoped to compete with the major racetracks of the era, but were unable to continue. The track served as a test track for Studebaker from 1928 to 1933 before it was demolished, and the timber used in its construction was repurposed for other buildings.

The first Hammonton Blueberry Festival was held in 1953, embracing the area's identity as a major producer of blueberries.<ref name="storyofhammonton" />

Geography

File:Hammonton NJ from airplane.jpeg

Aerial view of Hammonton

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hammonton had a total area of 41.32 square miles (107.01 km²), including 40.75 square miles (105.54 km²) of land and 0.57 square miles (1.46 km²) of water (1.37%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The town borders Folsom borough, to the southwest, and both Hamilton and Mullica townships to the southeast in Atlantic County; Shamong Township and Washington Township in Burlington County to the northeast; and Waterford Township and Winslow Township in Camden County to the northwest.<ref>Areas touching Hammonton, MapIt. Accessed January 3, 2015.</ref><ref>Atlantic County District Map, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed July 9, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref> It is located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, so is largely flat, though the highest point in Atlantic County is located along the Pennsylvania Railroad within the borders of Hammonton. The town is located almost exactly halfway between Philadelphia and Atlantic City.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located completely or partially within the town include Barnard, Bellhurst, Caldwell Crossing, Dacosta, Dutchtown, Great Swamp, Murphy, Rockford, Rockwood, Rosedale and West Mills.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref><ref>List of Municipalities in Atlantic County, New Jersey and Local Place Names, Atlantic County, New Jersey GenWeb. Accessed December 26, 2013.</ref>

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 Template:Convert, that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.<ref>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, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.<ref>Pinelands Municipalities, New Jersey Pinelands Commission, April 2003. Accessed November 18, 2013.</ref>

Due to its location in the 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>Template:Cite news</ref>

Climate

Hammonton lies in the northern reaches of the humid subtropical climate zone, and, similar to inland southern New Jersey, is characterized by brisk winters, hot summers, and plentiful precipitation spread evenly throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hammonton's climate is abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>Climate Summary for Hammonton, New Jersey</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 14,791 people, 5,408 households, and 3,759 families in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,715 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 81.67% (12,080) White, 3.00% (444) Black or African American, 0.28% (42) Native American, 1.37% (203) Asian, 0.01% (2) Pacific Islander, 10.81% (1,599) from other races, and 2.85% (421) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.93% (3,096) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 5,408 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18; 51.5% were married couples living together; 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.5% were non-families. Of all households, 25.0% were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.19.<ref name=Census2010/>

23.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.2 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $59,085 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,242) and the median family income was $62,354 (+/− $3,893). Males had a median income of $47,110 (+/− $4,411) versus $36,615 (+/− $3,549) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,292 (+/− $1,528). About 8.4% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Hamilton township, Atlantic County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 25, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 12,604 people, 4,619 households, and 3,270 families residing in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,843 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 87.85% White, 1.74% African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 7.83% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.88% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Hammonton town, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 10, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Hammonton town, Atlantic County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 10, 2013.</ref>

As of the 2000 Census, 45.9% of town residents were of Italian ancestry, the second-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States (behind Johnston, Rhode Island, at 46.7%), and highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.<ref>Italian Communities Template:Webarchive, EPodunk. Accessed June 9, 2007.</ref> News reports have said Hammonton leads the nation in Italian-Americans per capita.<ref>Hammonton, N.J., Leads Nation In Per-Capita Italians: South Jersey Town Known As Blueberry Capital Of The World Template:Webarchive, NBC10, June 5, 2002. Source shows 54% of population is of Italian ancestry, but provides no primary source for data.</ref>

There were 4,619 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the town was $43,137, and the median income for a family was $52,205. Males had a median income of $36,219 versus $27,900 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,889. About 5.7% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Arts and culture

Musical groups from the town include the rock band The Early November.<ref>La Gorce, Tammy. "Finding Emo", The New York Times, August 14, 2005. Accessed October 22, 2007. "Richard Reines, who owns Drive-Thru Records, which is based in the San Fernando Valley in California, believes in the New Jersey scene; Drive-Thru's roster includes Hidden in Plain View from Stanhope and the Early November from Hammonton."</ref>

Sports

In 1997, Gabriel Donio (founder and publisher of The Hammonton Gazette) proposed a minor-league baseball team called the Hammonton Blueberries, going so far as to create a team logo and a prototype uniform, as well as purchasing a 20-acre tract of land for $200,000. Donio planned to build on the site a 3,500-seat, six-million-dollar ballpark, which he described as "a rough miniature of the Brooklyn Dodgers' Ebbets Field". In 1999, the Northern League announced that they would form a six-team developmental circuit and include Hammonton as one of the clubs;<ref>Fitzgerald, Brian. "Alum hopes to bring minor league baseball to his hometown", B.U. Bridge, August 13, 1999. Accessed July 31, 2018. "Gabriel Donio (CAS'95) is president of the Hammonton Blueberries, a minor league baseball team that has yet to play a game, sign a player, or have a ballpark to call home. But this will change in the near future, says Donio, because he received some good news on August 4: the board of directors for the Northern League, the nation's largest independent baseball league, voted to start a six-team developmental division that would include southern New Jersey's Blueberries."</ref> however, this did not happen, and the proposed ballpark was not built, putting an end to the Blueberries. (Since Hammonton is less than 75 miles from Philadelphia, any pro baseball team there would either need permission from the Phillies or play in an independent league, outside of MLB's jurisdiction.)

Government

Local government

Hammonton is governed under the Town form of New Jersey municipal government. The town is one of nine municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this traditional form of government.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the Town Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The Mayor is elected to a four-year term. The Town Council includes six members elected to serve two-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats coming up for election each year.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 49.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 5. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the Mayor of Hammonton is Independent Steve DiDonato, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025. Members of the Hammonton Town Council are Deputy Mayor Tom Gribbin (I, 2023), Steven Furgione (I, 2024), Jonathan Oliva (I, 2023), Renee Rodio (R, 2024), Sam Rodio (I, 2024) and Ed Wuillermin (I, 2023).<ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor & Council, Town of Hammonton. Accessed June 6, 2023</ref><ref>2023 Municipal User Friendly Budget, Town of Hammonton. Accessed June 6, 2023.</ref><ref name=Govt>Municipal Government Template:Webarchive, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2023.</ref><ref name=Atlantic2022>2022 General Election Results - Amended, Atlantic County Clerk, updated December 5, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Atlantic2021>General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Atlantic County, New Jersey, updated January 4, 2022. Accessed February 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Atlantic2020>November 3, 2020 General Election Official Results, Atlantic County, New Jersey, update January 4, 2021. Accessed February 1, 2021.</ref>

The mayor and most council members are affiliated with Hammonton First, an independent political organization that was established in 2005 and swept that November's elections, winning the mayoral seat and all three council seats.<ref>About, Hammonton First. Accessed September 2, 2020.</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Hammonton is located in the 2nd Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 8,556 registered voters in Hammonton, of which 1,851 (21.6% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,627 (30.7% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 4,076 (47.6% vs. 44.3%) were registered as unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Atlantic, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> Among the town's 2010 Census population, 57.8% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 75.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref>

In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 3,859 votes (60.08% vs 44.64% countywide), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 2,366 votes (36.84% vs 51.61%) and other candidates with 198 votes (3.08% vs 3.76%). A total of 6,423 ballots were cast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 3,420 votes here (54.4% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,777 votes (44.1% vs. 57.9%) and other candidates with 57 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 6,290 ballots cast by the town's 8,951 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.3% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Atlantic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Atlantic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 3,509 votes here (54.0% vs. 41.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,894 votes (44.5% vs. 56.5%) and other candidates with 89 votes (1.4% vs. 1.1%), among the 6,502 ballots cast by the town's 9,090 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.5% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 3,218 votes here (54.1% vs. 46.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,600 votes (43.7% vs. 52.0%) and other candidates with 47 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,947 ballots cast by the town's 7,913 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.2% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref>

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2024<ref name="2024Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|63.3% 4,697	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|35.1% 2,609	1.6% 96
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|59.9% 4,560	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|38.9% 2,957	1.2% 94
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|60.1% 3,859	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|36.8% 2,366	3.1% 198
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2012<ref name="2012Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|54.4% 3,420	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|44.1% 2,777	0.9% 57
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2008<ref name="state.nj.us">[1], New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|54.0% 3,509	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|44.5% 2,894	1.4% 89
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2004<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">[2], New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|54.1% 3,218	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|43.7% 2,600	0.8% 47

In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 2,425 votes (56.38% vs 42.46% countywide) ahead of Democrat Phillip Murphy with 1,726 votes (40.13% vs 55.14%), and other candidates with 150 votes (3.49% vs 2.41%). There were a total of 4,301 votes cast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 3,234 votes here (68.7% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 1,229 votes (26.1% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 60 votes (1.3% vs. 1.3%), among the 4,709 ballots cast by the town's 9,033 registered voters, yielding a 52.1% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county).<ref>2013 Governor: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 5, 2013 General Election Results : Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,588 votes here (53.7% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,773 votes (36.8% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 204 votes (4.2% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 93 votes (1.9% vs. 1.2%), among the 4,822 ballots cast by the town's 8,724 registered voters, yielding a 55.3% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Atlantic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref>

Education

Students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the Hammonton Public Schools.<ref>Hammonton Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Hammonton Public Schools, adopted April 7, 2022. Accessed March 20, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Hammonton School District. Composition: The Hammonton School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Hammonton."</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 3,326 students and 255.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Hammonton School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Hammonton Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>) are Early Childhood Education Center<ref>Early Childhood Education Center, Hammonton Public Schools. Accessed March 20, 2025.</ref> with 387 students in grades PreK–1, Warren E. Sooy Elementary School<ref>Warren E. Sooy Elementary School, Hammonton Public Schools. Accessed March 20, 2025.</ref> with 719 students in grades 2–5, Hammonton Middle School<ref>Hammonton Middle School, Hammonton Public Schools. Accessed March 20, 2025.</ref> with 834 students in grades 6–8 and Hammonton High School<ref>Hammonton High School, Hammonton Public Schools. Accessed March 20, 2025.</ref> with 1,318 students in grades 9–12.<ref>Public School Directory 2024-2025, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2025.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Hammonton Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Hammonton Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Students from Folsom Borough (grades 9–12) and Waterford Township in Camden County (7–12) attend the Hammonton schools as part of sending/receiving relationships with the Folsom Borough School District and the Waterford Township School District.<ref>Hammonton Public Schools 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 5, 2016. "The Hammonton Public School System serves children from Hammonton, Waterford, and Folsom – as well as over 140 NJ Department of Education Choice students."</ref><ref>Hammonton School District, Towns of Hammonton. Accessed JuneMarch 20, 2025. "Residents from Waterford attend grades 7 through 12. Residents of Folsom and Collings Lakes attend the Hammonton High School in grades 9 through 12 at a brand-new high school on a 118-acre campus."</ref><ref>Puko, Timothy. "Sending Towns Feeling Pinched by Hammonton", The Press of Atlantic City, March 13, 2007. Accessed March 20, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "The two school districts that send students to Hammonton are disputing tuition adjustments that would allow Hammonton School District to avoid a tax hike this year but cause large tax hikes in the sending districts. The school budgets for Hammonton and its sending districts Waterford and Folsom could hang in limbo well past next month's school board elections, and Waterford and Folsom could be left with budget fights and massive cuts, sending district superintendents said."</ref>

In the wake of the dissolution of the Lower Camden County Regional School District, the Hammonton board of education voted in 1999 to begin accepting an estimated 800 students from Waterford Township for grades 7–12 starting as of 2002, with the tuition paid by students from Waterford helping to lower overall costs to Hammonton taxpayers.<ref>Arnold, Stephanie L. "Hammonton Board Decides To Accept Waterford Students More Money For An Improved Curriculum Is Expected Once The 800 Junior And Senior High Pupils Arrive.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 25, 1999. Accessed September 15, 2014. "The school board has been mulling the issue since the Waterford Board of Education, in Camden County, decided in September that it wanted to send its 800 junior high and high school students to the Atlantic County school district. Last year, five of seven towns that make up the Lower Camden County Regional School District voted to dissolve it within three years, leaving each town responsible for educating its students."</ref>

Borough public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township<ref>Frequently Asked Questions Template:Webarchive, Atlantic County Institute of Technology. Accessed May 17, 2017. "What does it cost to attend ACIT? As a public school, there is no cost to Atlantic County residents of high school age. New Jersey Title 18A:54-20.1 entitles students the right to choose ACIT for their high school education."</ref> or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point.<ref>Profile, Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts. Accessed May 18, 2017.</ref>

Hammonton was home of the Catholic schools St. Joseph Regional Elementary School (for Pre-K–8<ref>About Us, St. Joseph Regional School. Accessed September 2, 2020.</ref>) and St. Joseph High School (for grades 9–12<ref>About Us, St. Joseph High School. Accessed July 26, 2013.</ref>) which operated under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Camden.<ref>Catholic Schools Directory Template:Webarchive, Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Accessed October 20, 2016.</ref> In April 2020, the Diocese of Camden announced that despite its status as a football powerhouse, St. Joseph was one of five Catholic schools in New Jersey which would close permanently at the end of the school year on June 30, 2020.<ref name=closedforeternity>"Five Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Camden to close at end of school year", Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden, April 17, 2020. Accessed September 2, 2020. "The Diocese of Camden announced today that five schools in the diocese will close, effective the end of the current school term on June 30, 2020. The three elementary schools and two high schools are: Good Shepherd Regional Elementary School in Collingswood; Saint Joseph Regional Elementary School in Hammonton; Cape Trinity Catholic Elementary School in Wildwood; Saint Joseph High School in Hammonton; Wildwood Catholic High School in Wildwood"</ref><ref>Yates, Riley. "5 N.J. Catholic schools to close, including South Jersey football powerhouse", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 17, 2020. Accessed September 2, 2020.</ref> St. Joseph Regional Elementary was to permanently close at the end of the school year as well.<ref name=closedforeternity /> St. Joseph High School reopened in September 2020 as the independent St. Joseph Academy, which operates separately from the Camden Diocese and leases the building from the Hammonton Public Schools, which had acquired the building.<ref>McGarry, Mike. "St. Joseph Academy returns to Vine Street in Hammonton", The Press of Atlantic City, August 27, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2023. "St. Joseph Academy in Hammonton finally has a home. It's a familiar one. The academy announced Wednesday night it will be located at the former St. Joseph building at 328 Vine St. The academy will lease the building from the Hammonton Board of Education."</ref><ref>Hawk, Tim. "Shuttered N.J. Catholic school revived as private academy by alumni, supporters", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 15, 2020. Accessed April 16, 2021. "Once Saint Joseph Academy opens on Sept. 21 it will be an independent private school for students grades 9 through 12 with a tuition of approximately $11,000 and nearly 150 students deeply rooted in Roman Catholic faith, DiGerolamo said, and will not be part of the diocese."</ref>

Media

Television stations

• WPSJ-CD Channel 8 Hammonton (Independent)<ref>Station Profile for WPSJ-CD, Federal Communications Commission. Accessed September 10, 2013.</ref>

Newspapers

• Hammonton Gazette<ref>Home Page, The Hammonton Gazette. Accessed September 10, 2013.</ref>
• Hammonton News<ref>The Hammonton News, The Daily Journal. Accessed September 10, 2013.</ref>

Hammonton is served by other newspapers:

• The Press of Atlantic City a major daily newspaper in South New Jersey.
• Philadelphia Daily News a major daily newspaper based in Philadelphia.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer a major daily newspaper based in Philadelphia.

Transportation

File:2021-05-31 15 54 44 View east along New Jersey State Route 446 (Atlantic City Expressway) from the overpass for Eighth Street in Hammonton, Atlantic County, New Jersey.jpg

The eastbound Atlantic City Expressway in Hammonton

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the town had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Atlantic County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Template:Convert by the South Jersey Transportation Authority.<ref>Atlantic County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed November 17, 2013.</ref>

The Atlantic City Expressway, U.S. Route 30, U.S. Route 206 and Route 54 all pass through Hammonton, as do County Route 536, County Route 542, County Route 559 and County Route 561.

Public transportation

File:Hammonton Station.jpg

Hammonton station, which is served by NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line

The Hammonton station<ref>Hammonton station Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed November 18, 2013.</ref> of NJ Transit provides passenger rail service between the Atlantic City Rail Terminal in Atlantic City and 30th Street Station in Philadelphia and intermediate points on the Atlantic City Line.<ref>Atlantic City Rail Line, NJ Transit. Accessed November 18, 2013.</ref>

NJ Transit provides bus service in Hammonton on the 554 route between Lindenwold station and Atlantic City.<ref>Atlantic County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed November 18, 2013.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed November 18, 2013.</ref>

Airport

Hammonton Municipal Airport is located Template:Convert northeast of the central business district.<ref>Hammonton Municipal Airport Template:Webarchive, Town of Hammonton. Accessed June 25, 2012.</ref>

Community

Blueberry capital

Hammonton is known as the "Blueberry Capital of the World".<ref>Urgo, Jacqueline L. "Blueberries ride high in South Jersey farm town", The Record, February 11, 2004. Accessed May 6, 2008. "In the Atlantic County farming community of Hammonton, where crops are king and ancestral connections to the land run deep, they didn't need the state to tell them the blueberry is special. After all, almost everyone in this town of 12,600 - already dubbed the 'Blueberry Capital of the World' - seems to have at least some connection to the berry."</ref>

Since the 1980s, the Red, White and Blueberry Festival has celebrated Hammonton's status as the nation's blueberry capital.<ref>Meritt, Ben. "Blue is the word at berry fest", The Daily Journal, June 30, 2008. Accessed May 29, 2013.</ref> A Template:Convert farm in the town is Northeast's largest blueberry grower.<ref>"Phoenix Mayor Says FEMA Refused to Help With Testing", The New York Times, July 5, 2020. Accessed June 28, 2022. "'It's a little dangerous,' said Felix Nieves, 56, a supervisor at Atlantic Blueberry Company in Hammonton. The 1,300-acre farm is considered the biggest blueberry producer in the Northeast."</ref>

Hammonton and the surrounding Atlantic County produce upwards of 50 million pounds of blueberries each year thanks to traveling bands of labor from outside of the United States, though often the farms employing these undocumented workers are largely supportive of stricter border policies. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Presidential visits

Ronald Reagan visited Hammonton during his 1984 re-election campaign. Reagan's speech highlighted Hammonton's status as "Blueberry Capital of the World" and then extolled the virtues of New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen.<ref>"America's future rests in a thousand dreams inside your hearts." Template:Webarchive, text of speech delivered by Ronald Reagan on September 19, 1984, My Hammonton. Accessed October 24, 2007. "You know, today my treat is seeing for the first time the Blueberry Capital of the world.... It rests in the message of hope in songs of a man so many young Americans admire -- New Jersey's own, Bruce Springsteen."</ref>

Bruce soon disassociated himself from the politics and the use of his song "Born in The U.S.A."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hammonton has also been visited by Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt, who made whistle stops in the town.<ref>Donio, Gabriel J. Hammonton, P. 87, ff. Arcadia Publishing, 2002. Template:ISBN. Accessed December 9, 2013.</ref>

Festivals

Every year Hammonton hosts the Red, White and Blueberry festival, Our Lady of Mount Carmel festival and the Hammonton wine festival. Mount Carmel's Italian Festival dates back to 1875 and is considered the oldest such continuously run festival in the United States.<ref name=NJMonthly2012>DiUlio, Nick. "NJ's Most Italian TownIt started with a single Sicilian farmer in 1863. Now Hammonton has the highest percentage of Italians in the Garden State.", New Jersey Monthly, January 17, 2012. Accessed May 29, 2013. "But the standout event on the calendar is the annual Italian Festival sponsored by the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society. What began in 1875 as a traditional Roman Catholic two-mile long procession of saints has evolved into the longest running Italian festival in the country, with a weeklong carnival and festivities erupting every July.... The town is home to three celebrated South Jersey vineyards: Plagido's Winery, DiMatteo Vineyards and Tomasello Winery, which was started by one of the town's oldest Italian families and has been making wine for almost 80 years."</ref> Other festivals include; Hammonton Fall Beer Festival,<ref>Hammonton Fall Beer Festival, New Jersey Craft Beer. Accessed March 28, 2016.</ref> Teen Arts Festival,<ref>Teen Arts Festival, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 28, 2016.</ref> Hammonton Food Truck Festival,<ref>Brunetti, Michelle. "Hammonton hosting first ever Food Truck festival ", The Press of Atlantic City, June 8, 2015. Accessed March 28, 2016.</ref> Hammonton Green Day Festival,<ref>Hammonton Green Day Festival Template:Webarchive, Atlantic County Utilities Authority. Accessed March 28, 2016.</ref> and Crusin Main Street.<ref>Cruisin' Main Street Template:Webarchive, Cruisin Classics. Accessed March 28, 2016.</ref>

Downtown

File:Aero view of Hammonton, New Jersey 1926.jpg

Aerial view of Hammonton, New Jersey (1926)

Hammonton's downtown district has been growing for the past 20 years. The downtown area includes Bellevue Avenue, Central Avenue, Vine street, Second Street, Third Street, Twelfth Street, Egg Harbor Road, Front Street, West End Avenue, Railroad Avenue and Washington Street. The downtown includes art galleries, restaurants, wine and sports bars, banks, clothing stores, offices, a theatre, a park, and a college satellite campus, attracting shoppers from South Jersey.<ref>Home Page, Downtown Hammonton. Accessed December 9, 2013.</ref>

Every year the downtown has three parades. The Halloween and Christmas parades are the two major parades that happen in downtown. In May, there is a smaller Memorial Day parade. The Downtown also hosts the annual Christmas Tree Lighting, which is a large celebration that includes the lighting of a large tree on the corner of Bellevue and Central Avenue, Christmas carolers, a music show, carriage rides, a live nativity and the arrival of Santa. During these events the downtown stores are open late.

On the third Thursday of every month, the downtown host the "Third Thursday Events", with a different theme each month. Stores offer discounts, and people perform on the street.

The downtown was one of the finalist for the Great American Main Street Award in 2013. The award recognizes three communities each year for their successful revitalization efforts, based on documented economic impact, small-business development, historic preservation, volunteer involvement, public/private cooperation and success over time.<ref>Post, Michelle Brunetti. "Hammonton among eight semifinalists for national Main Street Award" Template:Webarchive, The Press of Atlantic City, February 12, 2013. Accessed December 9, 2013.</ref>

Events

In 1949, Hammonton was the winner of the Little League World Series, after finishing third in the tournament in both 1947 and 1948. The Hammonton team was the first official team located outside of Pennsylvania.<ref>LeConey, Bill. "Baseball / Hammonton's Boys Of Summer / A Glance At Hammonton's 1949 Little League Journey", The Press of Atlantic City, August 28, 1999. Accessed May 15, 2012. "Hammonton's Little League team was the original 'Beast of the East.' Founded by local businessman Al Mulliner, it was the first sanctioned Little League team outside of Pennsylvania. In 1949, it made its third straight trip to Williamsport after finishing third in the first two years of World Series play."</ref>

File:Longest Line of Cakes Guiness Record in Hammonton New Jersey.jpg

Longest Line of Cakes Guinness Record in Hammonton New Jersey

On July 24, 2011, Ricca's Italian Bakery set a Guinness World Record for the Longest Line of Cakes topped with fresh blueberries donated by local farmers. This received recognition from the Mayor Steve DiDonato and all members of the Hammonton Town Council. The Hammonton Town Council Deputy Mayor Tom Gribbin announced the recognition during a town council meeting on local TV in 2011 August.<ref>[3], archive.today Guinness World Records. Accessed June 14, 2013. "The longest line of cakes measured 571.5 m (1,875 ft) topped with fresh blueberries donated by local farmers and was achieved by Ricca's Italian Bakery (USA) in Hammonton, on 24 July 2011. Hammonton Gazette Ricca's Italian Bakery Attempt at World Record 20 July 2011 in Hammonton."</ref>

In November 2014, in a study conducted by CreditDonkey.com, Hammonton was ranked second-happiest city in New Jersey. The ranking was based on restaurants, crime rate, commute, departure time, income, divorce rate, and housing.<ref>Lake, Rebecca. "Study: Happiest Cities in New Jersey", CreditDonkey.com, November 3, 2014. Accessed March 28, 2016.</ref>

Wineries and alcohol consumption

Hammonton has three active wineries – DiMatteo Vineyards, Plagido's Winery, and Tomasello Winery.<ref name=NJMonthly2012/>

On June 7, 2013, the Eagle Theatre in Hammonton became the first theater in New Jersey to sell alcoholic beverages and allow spectators to drink wine during the show. Under an arrangement reached under the authority of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Sharrott Winery will be able to sell patrons bottles of wine that can be consumed during shows at the theater.<ref>Post, Michelle Brunetti. "Wine sales planned at Hammonton's Eagle Theatre", The Press of Atlantic City, June 5, 2013, updated June 6, 2013. Accessed June 14, 2013. "Starting Friday night, audience members at The Eagle Theatre will be able to enjoy a glass of wine before and during shows. Sharrott Winery, located just over the border from Hammonton in Winslow Township, has gotten permission from the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control to sell half and full bottles of wine at the theater.... It is the first such agreement in New Jersey, said Eagle Theatre President Jim Donio."</ref>

Hammonton has also seen a growth in the craft beer industry. Since 2015, three breweries have opened in town, Tomfoolery Brewing Company, Three 3's Brewing Company, and Vinyl Brewing.<ref>Fusco, John Howard. "Hammonton is becoming a cultural hub", Courier-Post, June 20, 2017. Accessed October 2, 2017. "There are two craft breweries in town — Three 3's and Tomfoolery — with a third expected to come on‐board later this summer. Vinyl Brewing, which will be occupying space at a building that was once part of the Perrone Door Company, has family roots that go back for more than a century in Hammonton."</ref>

Popular culture

The 2002 direct-to-video horror film 13th Child, about the hunt for the Jersey Devil, was filmed in Hammonton.<ref>Nash, Margo. "The Devil You Think You Know", The New York Times, October 13, 2002. Accessed August 4, 2013. "Most of the film, made by Painted Zebra Productions, was shot at Wharton State Forest, Historic Batsto Village and Hammonton in the Pine Barrens. Its stars include Cliff Robertson, Robert Guillaume, Christopher Atkins, Lesley-Anne Down and Michelle Maryk."</ref>

A 2011 episode of Supernatural, "How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters" about the Jersey Devil, is set in Hammonton, though it wasn't filmed there.<ref>Anders, Charlie Jane. "One of Ben Edlund's Finest Hours: The Secret History of Supernatural's Deadly Turducken Slammers", io9, November 30, 2012. Accessed August 1, 2016. "'How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters' Something is eating campers in Hammonton, New Jersey – could it be the Jersey Devil?"</ref>

Hammonton made a cameo appearance in the first two episodes of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, with a scene towards the end of both episodes showing the town sign "Welcome to Hammonton, The Blueberry Capital of the World".<ref>Procida, Lee. "Hammonton welcomes Boardwalk Empire sign", The Press of Atlantic City, April 29, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2012. "In the first episode of "Boardwalk Empire," an ill-fated group of bootleggers passes by a wooden sign that reads 'Welcome to Hammonton, The Blueberry Capital of the World.'"</ref>

The Fox TV show American Idol aired its first episode of its 12th season in January 2013 with a performance by Sarah Restuccio, a seventeen-year-old girl from Hammonton. The judges enjoyed her rendition of "Mama's Song" by Carrie Underwood, but she impressed them when they asked her to sing something else and she rapped "Super Bass" by Nicki Minaj. The show featured a short clip about Sarah's life, which included showing her everyday life in Hammonton.<ref>"Season 12 Road to Hollywood: Sarah Restuccio", American Idol, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 22, 2013. Accessed September 15, 2014. "Sarah Restuccio auditioned for American Idol in honor of a friend that had passed away. Discover more about this Hammonton, NJ resident."</ref><ref>Jackson, Vincent. "Hammonton teen cut from 'American Idol'", The Press of Atlantic City, February 13, 2013. Accessed September 15, 2014.</ref>

In October 2013 the MTV reality show True Life, featured the episode "True Life Presents: My Dad Is A Bro" about a girl in her twenties and her father in his fifties, who both party. The episode takes place throughout Hammonton.<ref>"True Life Presents: My Dad Is A Bro", MTV. Accessed December 9, 2013.</ref>

In the summer of 2013, scenes from the independent film The Honour were filmed in Hammonton.<ref>Staff. "Indie Film, The Honour, Shot in Hammonton", Courier-Post, August 2, 2013. Accessed December 9, 2013. "Daria Berenato (left) of Hammonton and Christina Heath of Hamilton film a scene in their upcoming indie film called The Honour. The LGBT film was shot in Hammonton and other places around South Jersey."</ref>

In May 2015, a commercial for the male clothing brand, Chubbies Shorts, was filmed on South Second Street in Hammonton.<ref>Post, Michelle Brunetti. "Film shoot transports Hammonton back to the 1980s", The Press of Atlantic City, May 18, 2015. Accessed August 31, 2015. "The big dance number, which shut down Second Street between Bellevue Avenue and Vine Street, is part of a short film the Hammonton company is doing for California-based Chubbies Shorts."</ref>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hammonton include:

• Ashante "Thee" Adonis (born 1990), professional wrestler with SmackDown<ref>Tehuti Miles, Maryland Terrapins football. Accessed August 6, 2023. "Hometown: Hammonton, N.J.; High school: Hammonton HS"</ref>
• Tyler Bellamy (born 1988), soccer player<ref>#2 Tyler Bellamy, Defender Template:Webarchive, Rochester Rhinos. Accessed August 4, 2013. "Hometown: Hammonton, NJ"</ref>
• Jill Biden (born 1951), educator and First Lady of the United States<ref name=PI2012>LaBan, Craig. "Blueberries to tacos: South Jersey town's shift de cuisine", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 28, 2012. Accessed October 22, 2012. "It's the birthplace of the vice president's wife, Jill Biden, not to mention the hometown of pro wrestler Gary 'The Pitbull' Wolfe."</ref>
• Ray Blanchard (born 1945), sexologist<ref>Ray Blanchard, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Accessed June 25, 2012.</ref>
• Reverend Gary Davis (1896–1972), blues and gospel singer who was also proficient on the banjo, guitar and harmonica<ref>Kooper, Al. "New Music for Old People: ZZ Hill, Rev. Gary Davis, Curtis Stigers, Andy Stochansky and More", The Morton Report, October 17, 2014. Accessed November 27, 2017. "'When I Die I'll Live Again' — Rev. Gary Davis (2:51)... That most important 'Someone' took him to Heaven on May 5, 1972 from Hammonton, New Jersey, where he lived at the time."</ref>
• J. D. DiRenzo (born 1988), American football offensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers<ref>Schroeder, Charles. "Hammonton's JD DiRenzo to fulfill boyhood dream by signing with NFL team: 'It's now my job to prove them right'", The Press of Atlantic City, May 2, 2023. Accessed December 19, 2023. "But DiRenzo, a 2017 St. Joseph High School graduate who played offensive line at Sacred Heart (Fairfield, Connecticut) and Rutgers universities, had worked too hard over too many years to think his boyhood dream of playing football at its highest level was over. He was right. On Monday, while downstairs at his family’s Hammonton home, he got a call."</ref>
• Anthony Durante (1967–2003), professional wrestler<ref>Woodward, Buck. "This Day In History: Jeff Hardy Wins The World Title, Undertaker & Austin Win Tag Gold, Thesz Vs. Mascaras And More", PWInsider.com, July 26, 2010. Accessed August 4, 2013. "1967 - Anthony Durante is born in Hammonton, New Jersey."</ref>
• Ace Enders (born 1982), musician<ref>Jackson, Vincent. "Making a new start; Hammonton's Ace Enders has a new disc, a new band and is looking to write a new chapter in his music career", The Press of Atlantic City, February 11, 2009. Accessed August 4, 2013. "Enders, of Hammonton, had beaten the odds. Not only was he making a living playing his music, he and his four-piece band had just released its second album, 'The Mother, The Mechanic, and the Path.'"</ref>
• Marie Howland (1836–1921), feminist writer<ref>Trahair, R. C. S. Utopias and Utopians: An Historical Dictionary, p. 192. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999. Template:ISBN. Accessed August 4, 2013.</ref>
• Johnnie O. Jackson (born 1971), professional bodybuilder and powerlifter<ref>Johnnie Jackson, Flex. Accessed August 4, 2013. "Place of Birth: Hammonton, NJ"</ref>
• Nelson Johnson (born 1948), former Atlantic County Superior Court Judge and author of Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, a chapter of which about Enoch L. "Nucky" Johnson—"Atlantic City's Godfather"—became the basis for the series Boardwalk Empire<ref>Kinney, Josh. "How 'Boardwalk Empire' Found Nelson Johnson" Template:Webarchive, Atlantic City Weekly, January 16, 2012. Accessed December 9, 2013.</ref><ref>Clark, Michael. "Author Nelson Johnson strikes gold with infamous Atlantic City characters", The Press of Atlantic City, August 14, 2010. Accessed June 14, 2013. "A native of Hammonton, Johnson got his first taste of politics when he was elected as a Democrat to Atlantic County's Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1975, where he served until 1980.</ref><ref>Strauss, Robert. "Atlantic City's Godfather: A Q&A with Judge Nelson Johnson, whose book—Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City—was made into an HBO miniseries", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed December 9, 2013. "He still commutes from rural Hammonton—where he grew up—to his Atlantic City courtroom. We spoke with Johnson—no relation to Nucky—about his fascination with all things Atlantic City."</ref>
• Margaret Mead (1901–1978), cultural anthropologist who did some of her first research in Hammonton<ref>Margaret Mead, American National Biography. Accessed December 26, 2013. "Before Margaret Mead reached her teens, she accompanied her mother on field trips to Hammonton, New Jersey, where Emily Mead was engaged in sociological research among Italian immigrants."</ref>
• Victor Moore (1876–1962), actor<ref>Funke, Lewis B. "Victor Moore, or Forty Years a Timid Man; The comedian, even off-stage, is shy and has the air of one who is always baffled.", The New York Times, January 6, 1946. Accessed June 25, 2008.</ref>
• Rita Myers (born 1947), video installation artist.<ref>"Berkshire Museum sets Myers video installation", North Adams Transcript, November 15, 1989. Accessed January 18, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "In the Drowning Pool: A Video Installation by Rita Myers opens at The Berkshire Museum Jan. 6.... Myers was born in Hammonton, N.J., in 1947."</ref>
• George Washington Nicholson (1832–1912), landscape painter who retired to Hammonton around 1902 and lived there until his death in 1912<ref>Genocchio, Benjamin. "An Artist's Work Gets Its First Cataloging and Show", The New York Times, July 20, 2008. Accessed October 28. 2017. "Nicholson spent most of his career in Philadelphia. It is assumed that he made a living selling his depictions of American and foreign subjects to collectors. He continued to visit New Jersey to see relatives and to paint the southern shore and marshes, and eventually retired there in 1902, spending the final decade of his life in the town of Hammonton."</ref>
• Ron Previte (born 1943), former member of the Philadelphia crime family<ref>Anastasia, George. "Police: Hammonton Raids Broke Up A Betting Ring", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 17, 1996. Accessed November 18, 2013. "Sources said yesterday the bookmaking ring was part of a broader gambling and loan-sharking operation controlled by reputed mob figure Ron Previte of Hammonton."</ref><ref>McAleer, Pete. "Hammonton mob informant misses life left behind", copy of article from The Press of Atlantic City, June 14, 2004. Accessed November 18, 2013. "Ron Previte, who once ran Hammonton's underworld from the booth of a diner on the White Horse Pike, is not quite sure what to do with himself these days."</ref>
• Thomas Ricca (Tom Ricca, born 1968) former professional WWE wrestler
• Andrew Rider (1866–1898), founder of Rider University, who lived and was buried in Hammonton<ref>Community Advisory Board, Rider University. Accessed April 7, 2015. "Rider University's founder and first president Andrew Rider and his wife Ida Rider resided in Hammonton and are buried there."</ref>
• Nicodemo Scarfo (born 1929), member of the American Mafia who was Boss of the Philadelphia crime family, who spent summers working in Hammonton as blueberry picker<ref>Bender, William. "Phil Leonetti's tell-all book shows he's crazy like a fox", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 12, 2012. Accessed March 28, 2016. "Scarfo went from a boy picking blueberries in Hammonton to a paranoid despot who Leonetti says wanted to slit his own wife's throat."</ref>
• Tony Siscone (born 1949), professional race car driver<ref>Staff. "Hammonton's Siscone Pursuing Safety Drive", The Press of Atlantic City, July 11, 1989. Accessed July 8, 2013. "A popular school teacher, a successful businessman and an outstanding race driver, Tony Siscone may be one of Hammonton's more renowned citizens."</ref>
• Alma Joslyn Whiffen-Barksdale (1916–1981), mycologist who discovered cycloheximide<ref>Alma Whiffen Barksdale Records Template:Webarchive, New York Botanical Garden. Accessed January 25, 2013. "Alma Whiffen Barksdale (1916-1981) was born in Hammonton, New Jersey, 25 October 1916."</ref><ref>Who's who of American Women and Women of Canada, Volume 5, p. 72. A.N. Marquis Company, 1968. Accessed November 27, 2017. "Barksdale, Alma Whiffen (Mrs. Walter Lane Barksdale), scientist; b. Hammonton, N.J., Oct. 25, 1916; d. Charles Stuart and Amy (Joslyn) Whiffen"</ref>
• Gary Wolfe (born 1967), professional wrestler<ref name=PI2012/>

Sister city

• San Gregorio da Sassola, Province of Rome, Template:Flag<ref>Staff. "Italian Heritage On Parade", The Press of Atlantic City, August 25, 2008. Accessed May 15, 2012. "Residents stepped out Saturday, formalizing their 'sister city' relationship between San Gregorio da Sassola, Italy, and Hammonton, which brands itself as the most Italian town in the United States."</ref>

External links

• Hammonton Town website
• Hammonton Public Schools
• Template:NJReportCard
• Data for the Hammonton Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• Hammonton Lions Club Template:Webarchive
• Hammonton United Services Association
• Hammonton Area Ministerium
• MainStreet Hammonton Template:Webarchive
• St. Joseph Regional High School
• Hammonton First
• Hammonton Republican Club Template:Webarchive
• Hammonton Democratic Club
• The Hammonton Gazette – Hammonton's local newspaper. The print edition is published on Wednesdays. Website updated weekly with selected content from print edition.
• The Hammonton News – The print edition is published on Wednesdays. Website updated Wednesday mornings, with full stories from paper edition.