What Happened to Camden New Jersey?

The story of Camden…
#camdennj #newjersey #cities #camden
References:
philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/...
www.livethevictor.com/history/
nj1015.com/3-cities-in-nj-amo...
web.archive.org/web/201108270...
web.archive.org/web/201207170...
archive.org/details/historyde...
web.archive.org/web/201904300...
www.camdencounty.com/enjoy-ca...
www.ci.camden.nj.us/history/
Gillette, Howard Jr. (2006). Camden After the Fall: Decline and Renewal in a Post-Industrial City. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press.
www.inquirer.com/archives/
www.courierpostonline.com
www.courierpostonline.com
www.shipbuildinghistory.com/hi...
www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructu...
philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/...
digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.ed...
books.google.com/books?id=IRk...
www.nytimes.com/1969/09/03/ar...
www.dvrbs.com/camden/CamdenNJ-...
camden.rutgers.edu/discover-c...
www.preservationnj.org/site/E...
www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/4sust...
Images:
"Hotel Plaza - Camden New Jersey - 15 images" by Bushido Photo is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Camden, New Jersey" by Ben Demey is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"20140526 40 Camden, New Jersey" by davidwilson1949 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Washington Street row homes - Camden NJ" by Blake Bolinger is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"20180508 14 Camden, New Jersey" by davidwilson1949 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Camden Waterfront" by Jim, the Photographer is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Rutgers and Camden" by Blake Bolinger is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Camden waterfront" by R'lyeh Imaging is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

[@rtlthemusician5598]

I live in nearby Collingswood NJ and going into Camden is like entering another world, it’s so sad what happened to it and I hope someday they can revive it somewhat

[@JerseyJeff84]

I'm in Sewell, myself. Your town has a great food spot called Sabrina's.

[@rtlthemusician5598]

@@JerseyJeff84 Sabrina’s is good NGL, and I’m glad you know us for something other than the pop shop lol

[@johnnyboy55]

Collingswood here. Collings Ave. I’m about a 10 minute walk away from Camden. Waterfront is nice but the rest of the city? Trust me,it’s never coming back. I remember visiting the old Sears store on the boulevard in 72. Same year it closed and moved to the Moorestown Mall( my hometown).

[@rtlthemusician5598]

@@johnnyboy55 same here, park Ave, Collingswood HS class of ‘21, and yes you’re right, sad as it is Camden has virtually no chance of getting out of their situation

[@tbr4207]

@@rtlthemusician5598 I’m ngl bro before I clicked on your comment I thought of the pop shop 😂💀

[@holdenackerman8783]

Rutgers-Camden’s campus, the 76ers practice facility, and a great aquarium make it the waterfront a nice area. It’s a surprisingly friendly town too

[@JimAllen-Persona]

All you have to do is make it to the waterfront….

[@bluerisk]

There is also a little ship I visited last September: the USS New Jersey. (I don't care if she is no longer enlisted).

[@bluerisk]

@@JimAllen-Persona Take the subway (8th & Market Street - in Philly), two stops, exit the Broadway station (in Camden), and hit the Martin Luther Boulevard till you hit the waterfront, and then just go left (while looking east towards Philly...also a nice opportunity to make picture from the Skyline of Philly). I met hardly anyone when I went to the New Jersey...and if tiny (less than 2 meters actually) 220 pound European survived it...what can someone do made of American steel. Overall not once I was in any trouble...not in Boston South, Hell's Kitchen, East Harlem, or while walking through half of Washington (among others from the Washington Monument to Arlington and then back up to the Capitol Hill).

[@JimAllen-Persona]

@@bluerisk If you know how to handle yourself - you’re generally fine. The New Jersey battleship has a YT channel that’s pretty interesting. I think he said at the time there were only 2 of these class of battleships that could potentially be re-activated. I drive in from the Turnpike or 295.. I remember seeing parking outside the garage had a huge fence with a tower spotter. Personally, I’d like to see the whole area renovated - it’s kind of like LIC. DC is pretty safe, it’s heading up to Georgetown from the Mall that can be an issue..they even gave a nice reticular transport bus that runs up and down the main drag in Georgetown.

[@TheFinalBoss25]

Don’t get shot getting there 😂

[@wanderer6488]

As Rutgers-Camden alumni, I have a tremendous good memory of people and places of Camden. The blowing wind of the waterfront was all my favorite. I miss a lot.

[@cardphins68]

It has been said many times before on this Channel and it's undeniable: Deindustrialization. Many of these Cities that are dependent on a specific Industry or Business are pretty much left holding the Bag when these things leave and yes, it's an empty Bag.

[@emr6153]

In other words, thanks a billion, Hillary. You really pulled a quick couple on us, assuming that you'd be gone by now. But you're not. Nor has your culpability waned with time. The years 1980-2022 may have been some of the best for anyone ever. A lopt of US are committed to making the rest your VERY WORST!!

[@davidlafleche1142]

An individual needs to step up and start a new business.

[@williamhild1793]

I had no idea that Camden had both RCA-Victor and Campbell's Soup associated with them.

[@ababner317]

I remember them both.

[@JOEYdaMUSH]

Campell’s screwed up by ditching NJ tomatoes…they’re the best!

[@r.pres.4121]

Everything from either Florida or California.

[@BTman58]

What happened to Camden is the same thing that happened to all of NJ cities. There's small towns that became enclosed by suburbs. NJ decided to become a bedroom community for two states/cities (NYC/Phila).

[@travisbogetti7344]

Thanks for the content!

[@johnnyboy55]

No mention of the Sears store on Admiral Wilson Boulevard? Overall a good video of Camden.

[@phillyfan-182]

My grandfather used to work in Camden for RCA!!!

[@annenyman678]

I was born there, and it makes me so sad to see how it has gone downhill.

[@tbr4207]

Bro I miss going to the river sharks that’s the only reason I’d have to go into Camden and I’m two towns away

[@Kickinthearse923]

Pat - I would like to solve the puzzle.

[@MegaBrendan16]

Visited the battleship new jersey which is docked in Camden a few years ago which is also near the aquarium i've been to and there was a high school baseball game in which i was part of one of the teams from Pennsylvania that was played at Campbells field as a neutral site before it was demolished

[@kramalerav]

The USS Indianapolis was built in Camden.

[@MegaBrendan16]

@@kramalerav sounds interesting read about it

[@hoserlu]

It's not a place I'd go for a vacation, but it's better than what's shown here. Subaru US HQ is there now, along with the Cooper Healthcare system that's world class. It also has the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion which is a great venue for mid-tier music acts like Shania Twain, Matchbox 20 or Styx. A trip to the aquarium is wonderful, as is the Battleship NJ. There's easy transportation into the city. While the city was terrible even 25 years ago, it's come a long way, though it's got a long way to go still. There's hope for Camden, and dumb jokes can't take away from that.

[@minutebooks3245]

The city is far worse than shown here. I drove through there in 2023 and there is city block after city block after city block of empty and largely destroyed or abandoned homes. It's erie. It looks like London after the blitz.

[@DIMP11]

Funny how many NE and MW cities peaked around 1950 in terms of population and quality of life, Detroit, Camden, Cleveland, Flint, Dayton, Buffalo and more. Something went wrong clearly in the 50's, 60's and 70's. White flight being one of the reasons and more importantly Caucasian capital went out. African Americans were starting to get a level playing field in the mid 20th century with good manufacturing salaries. Then the focus in the US economy switched to Wall Street and reinsurance, mutual funds and other financial jobs that many of the AA did not have the education for or the money to afford to get educated. The good manufacturing jobs got shipped overseas to China, Mexico, India, Japan, Taiwan and later Bangladesh, Vietnam and the middle and upper class African Americans also left these cities, leaving an ill equipped under class of all races to try and cope.

[@BTman58]

Also redlining by insurance companies(as well as the federal government) lead to people within those cities unable to qualify for loans for home purchase, home improvements, or opening businesses.

[@From-North-Jersey]

Race Riots drove the white tax base away and the cities turned into Democrat voter mills.

[@njerzee911]

OF course they 'flew' NOBODY wants to be around gangs, riots, fires, drugs et al. Nice prog dissertation though.....You left out WHY did manufacturing leave?? Not just camden, why? unions forcing higher wages/benefits where the companies could not compete. Politicians selling out to the highest bidder ( like now, with china and the j'harris crime family) etc. Again, great thoughts you have albeit hysterically out of touch

[@derek20la]

The USA had a coup on 11/22/63. All major policy decisions since have been to the detriment of the average American.

[@jonpike9991]

I grew up in Norristown, PA, not too far from Camden, NJ. Campbell Soup Factory that city became a dump. They closed Arm and Hammer and Firestone in Pottstown.

[@reardenbentley9622]

i grew up right next to norristown. driving through there to get to the king of prussia mall was always so fascinating.

[@jonpike9991]

@@reardenbentley9622 you from RoFo

[@From-North-Jersey]

The unions got so out of hand the companies moved to non union right to work states.

[@GeeEm1313]

Campbells Soup left.

[@From-North-Jersey]

Greedy unions drove Campbells to right to work ,union free states.

[@jeffnovorita3017]

I know what happened. Same thing that happened to Gary, IN, Detroit, Memphis, Oakland, Newark.....

[@From-North-Jersey]

Democrats

[@mrbutch308]

No mention of Walt Whitman?

[@elintocable0072]

My whole family is from here 😁👍.

[@rn257]

Isn’t the Battleship NJ welded to the pier there as a museum? No mention WTF?

[@stuartlee6622]

What happened? Integra

[@paisan8766]

I think it’s on the comeback a little bit. I mean it’s a small place

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

Camden, NJ is my worst pick of cities in New Jersey as The Garden State struggles. Following Camden are Trenton, Newark and Patterson. As a satellite of Philly, Camden have it's own metro division and the suburbs of Camden are getting worse too. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@chuckinhouston9952]

Careful who you vote for

[@charlesdarwin7253]

I have to point out that while Camden seems INCREDIBLE compared to Philly, the actual reason this city has less overdoses than than its Pennsylvanian neighbor is because everyone in Camden is too poor to afford drugs. When you're in Camden, New Jersey you can't get away from how bad it is, even at Walt Whitman's awkwardly placed home. You don't even have a Manhattan skyline across the river to make it worth the visit, for pictures. The only photographers who go to Camden are there for the pictures of rotting houses, the city was too poor to even tear down like they did in Detroit.

[@r.pres.4121]

I have heard that Chester PA is even more impoverished than Camden.

[@charlesdarwin7253]

@@r.pres.4121 Impoverished but still not in Camden.

[@angelbankslopez577]

Home sweet home. North 26th Street. Federal Street. Broadway drug way..

[@falconinflight6235]

Call out the culture.

[@evog35viii]

Isn't the Philadelphia Flyers practice facility located in Camden?

[@RacerX780]

No. It's located in Voorhees, which is probably like 20 min from Camden.

[@evog35viii]

@RacerX780 ...👍🏽happy Friday the 13th then my friend!

[@johnnyboy55]

The Sixers practice facility is on the waterfront in Camden.

[@jaimerosado3896]

One thing for sure is that Camden is still far better off than East Saint Louis.

[@georgeparowski1420]

Unsafe at anytime Night time or Day time. If you can avoid driving through it

[@427bullis]

Crime

[@kodacres7820]

What happened? It is a ghetto, this is not confusing.

[@bill-nj6fc]

its a zoo, animals live there , thats what happen

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

What happened? Single party rule happened.

[@From-North-Jersey]

Democrats happened to Camden with a vengeance. The problem is the worse the cities fail the better the pay off is for the Democrats in terms of angry, loyal, straight party ticket, low information voters.

[@jeffkadlec8264]

That apology was pretty terrible, to be honest. That sounded like a racist apologizing, not a mistake that was apologized for But to say racism is just as bad as 100yrs ago is incredibly wrong.

[@boxcarwillie167]

What happened? Just stating a fact, Its now populated by about 70% of black residents. Im not a racist, but I used to live in Camden. Just stating a facf.

[@shepgreenberg7659]

White flight….

[@From-North-Jersey]

Don't say that like it was a plan, race riots happened and the white people who could afford to moved their families out of the burn zone.

[@Mncrr]

Everyone knows what happened. It’s just not politically correct to say

[@coleheister7390]

an over abundance of surplus farm equipment ?

[@leechjim8023]

The Elephant in the room!

[@kramalerav]

To be fair, you can’t exactly blame Campbell’s for not wanting to use fresh tomatoes grown in The Garden State.

[@markroessner6300]

What happened? Democrats!

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

With de-suburbanization truly beginning to dawn in the U.S. it's only a matter of time before Camden surpasses its former peak! :]

[@r.pres.4121]

Only certain older cities are going to enjoy that revitalization. Whether or not Camden is one of them is highly unknown at this point.

[@mikey291145]

Demographics

[@From-North-Jersey]

Democrats happened to Camden.

[@TacitusKilgore165]

Nothing nice...

[@rentslave]

1619

[@rodra72]

Keep voting for democrats

[@georgegeorgopoulos2405]

The Democrats Party.

[@mcarlkv53]

um....a certain race....

[@MrKevinEaddy]

Democrat Rule… That’s what happened

[@wmw3629]

Typical right wing hatred

[@hoopsheavenpa]

@@wmw3629you’re confusing “right wing hatred” with facts

[@r.pres.4121]

W B Jones those are not facts that is right wing propaganda as usual.

[@astralclub5964]

@@wmw3629 Rather than resorting to name calling, let’s have a contest. I’ll name all the long term Democrat held blighted cities, and you can try to find a long term Republican held crime-ridden hell hole. Guess who’ll win easily?

[@johnanderson4203]

Liberalism is what happened

[@wmw3629]

Typical Republican ignorance

[@johnanderson4203]

@@wmw3629 typical liberal/democrat ignorance

[@r.pres.4121]

Wrong it is corporate greed and abandonment that happened.

[@johnanderson4203]

@@r.pres.4121 your correct Liberal/Democrat policies and politicians