Trenton, New Jersey
This photo is courtesy of
Jason R. DeCesare. Copyright © 1998.
- The city of Trenton is situated on the east bank of the Delaware River in New Jersey, at the head of navigation.
- Located in the Northeast corridor, it is less than an hour southwest of New York City and northeast of Philadelphia.
- Trenton's Mayor: Douglas H. Palmer (since 1990).
- Population: About 85,000 people (1990 Census - 88,675).
- Land Area: 7.5 sq. miles.
- The area was settled as "The Falls" by English Quakers around 1679 when they built a mill on the Delaware's falls.
- The city was named for Philadelphia merchant William Trent in 1721; he laid out the plans for the town.
- George Washington defeated the British and Hessians in the Revolutionary War's First Battle of Trenton (December 26, 1776).
- However, the British recaptured the city in the Second Battle of Trenton (January 2, 1777).
- Trenton served briefly as the nation's capital in 1784, and again in 1799.
- It has been the state capital of New Jersey since 1790.
- Trenton has been incorporated as a city since 1792.
- It also serves as the county seat for Mercer County.
- The city was home to minor league baseball teams including: Trenton Senators (1936-1938), Trenton Giants (1939-1950), and other teams in 1883-1885 & 1908-1914.
- It is home to the Eastern League's Trenton Thunder (Double-A baseball) and Mercer County Waterfront Park (since 1994).
- Trenton is also the home of the East Coast Hockey League's Trenton Titans and Sovereign Bank Arena (since 1999).
- The city's leading industries of the past include: iron and steel (from the mid 1700's), pottery and ceramics (mid 1800's), rubber products (late 1800's).
TRENTON'S OFFICIAL WEB SITE
The photo at the top of the page shows the free bridge (commonly referred to as the "Trenton Makes" bridge) spanning the Delaware River between Trenton, New Jersey and Morrisville, Pennsylvania.
For local news, check out the Trentonian or the Trenton Times.
