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Trenton is the capital of New Jersey, a state of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 85,403. Trenton is located in almost the exact center of the state. Due to this, it is sometimes included as part of North Jersey and as the southernmost city of the New York metropolitan area. Others consider it part of South Jersey and as the northernmost city of the Delaware Valley metropolitan area. Locals consider it to be a part of Central Jersey, and thus part of neither region, though in truth the city has more communication and transportation links with the Delaware Valley than it does with New York It is the county seat of Mercer County. The City of Trenton is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.
Trenton is the home of the Trenton Thunder minor league baseball team, which is affiliated with the New York Yankees, and the Trenton Titans, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. The New Jersey State Prison, which has two maximum security units and houses the state's most dangerous criminals, is also located in Trenton.
This city is an anchor city for the Delaware Valley metropolitan area. Trenton and its immediate suburbs are often lumped together and referred to as "Greater Trenton" by locals.
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Trenton is located at 40°13'18" North, 74°45'22" West (40.221741, -74.756138)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.1 km² (8.1 mi²). 19.8 km² (7.7 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 6.01% water.
Trenton borders Ewing Township, Lawrence Township, Hamilton Township, and the Delaware River. Several bridges across the Delaware River connect Trenton to Morrisville, Pennsylvania.
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 85,403 people, 29,437 households, and 18,692 families residing in the city. The population density is 4,304.7/km² (11,153.6/mi²). There are 33,843 housing units at an average density of 1,705.9/km² (4,419.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 32.55% White, 52.06% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 10.76% from other races, and 3.20% from two or more races. 21.53% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 29,437 households out of which 32.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.0% are married couples living together, 27.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% are non-families. 29.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.75 and the average family size is 3.38.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $31,074, and the median income for a family is $36,681. Males have a median income of $29,721 versus $26,943 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,621. 21.1% of the population and 17.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26.8% of those under the age of 18 and 19.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The chief employer in the city is the State of New Jersey and a number of state and federal government buildings are located downtown. The presence of these workers has proven crucial to the survival of many of Trenton's restaurants primarily located in an area of South Trenton known as Chambersburg.
Trenton's public school system has been a topic of discussion by state legislators and education administrators for many years. The lone public high school in Trenton, Trenton Central High School, was named due to the fact that at one point it was the only public high school anywhere in Mercer County. This "central" school has gone from being one of the greatest public schools in the state in the 1950s to being one of the worst in the 1990s. Trenton Central High School is now a poster-child for poor inner city public schools in New Jersey. However, the surrounding townships now all contain their own high school, with three high schools in the Trenton suburb of Hamilton. A fact of note is that as Trenton's population has continually declined since the 1950s, Hamilton's has increased. As of 2000 Hamilton's population was recorded as being higher than that of Trenton.
The crime rate in Trenton has been the topic of much debate. Lower than most New Jersey cities, Trenton still has significant crime, compared to other municipalities in Mercer County. Disputes between Trenton residents often arise from differences in city wards. There are the regular North, South, East, and West wards as well as subdistricts to each section. For example, South Trenton has a number of distinct sections, including an area known as "The Bottom" as it is the southernmost part of the city bordered by Hamilton and the Delaware River. This area has a higher crime rate than other parts of South Trenton and is home to Centre Street, commonly referred to police and Trentonians as "Cocaine Ave."
On a positive note, there is significant improvement in many of the neighborhoods, including the Mill Hill section of the city, which has become a trendy and desirable place to live. The area around the State House district has also seen positive growth, as has the area between Greenwood Avenue and Hamilton Avenue. City government, the police and concerned citizens have been working diligently to improve the quality of life in the city.
Trenton is a unique city in that there are more than 60 distinct ethnicities living here. There are many Eastern Europeans (primarily Polish) who generally live in the northeast part of the town, along Olden Avenue. There are also Latinos and Hispanics from all over the world, as well as many African Americans. You'll also find a significant Irish population, too. Perhaps best known, though, is Trenton's Italian history.
Right now, the city might not be a big tourist destination, but residents know that because of the international feel of the city, Trenton has some of the best food on the east coast. Steeped in Italian tradition is Chambersburg, located in the South Ward, and is known for its fantastic Italian restaurants, bakeries and delicatessens. The Chambersburg neighborhood also has some good burger joints, as well as terrific Mexican food. You can also find some of the best cheesecake along Hamilton Avenue. Throughout the city, there are great Irish pubs, Caribbean restaurants, and Polish delis and bars.
The new hockey arena as well as some of the other entertainment venues are thought to have contributed to the overall improvement of city life.
The first settlement which would become Trenton was established by Quakers in 1679, in the region then called the Falls of the Delaware, led by Mahlon Stacy from Handsworth, Sheffield, UK. Quakers were being persecuted in England at this time and North America provided the perfect opportunity to exercise their religious freedom.
By 1719, the town adopted the name "Trent-towne", after William Trent, one of its leading landholders who purchased much of the surrounding land from Stacy's family. This name later was shortened to "Trenton".
During the American Revolution, the city was the site of George Washington's first military victory. On December 26, 1776, Washington and his army, after crossing the icy Delaware River to Trenton, defeated the Hessian troops garrisoned there (see Battle of Trenton). After the war, Trenton was briefly the national capital of the United States in November and December of 1784. The city was considered as a permanent capital for the new country, but the southern states favored a location south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Trenton became the state capital in 1790, but prior to that year the Legislature often met here. The town was incorporated in 1792.
In 1896 the first professional basketball game was played in Trenton between the Trenton Basketball Team and the Brooklyn YMCA.
A famous relic of Trenton's past as major manufacturing center is the slogan "Trenton Makes, the World Takes" displayed on the Delaware River Bridge. The city adopted the slogan in the 1920s to represent Trenton's leading role at the time as a major manufacturing center for steel, rubber, wire, rope, linoleum and ceramics.
Some well-known Americans born in Trenton include comedian Ernie Kovacs, , football Pro-Bowler Troy Vincent, basketball star Dennis Rodman, former New York City mayor David Dinkins, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and General Norman Schwarzkopf.
| Maps and aerial photos | ||
| Street map (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=40.221741&longitude=-74.756138&zoom=6) | Topographic map (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=40.221741&lon=-74.756138&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100) | Aerial photograph (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-74.756138&lat=40.221741&w=750&h=500) | ||
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