Town Spotlight

THE HISTORIC CITY OF TRENTON

BY BRYAN EVANS VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, GREATER TRENTON

From views of the iconic Trenton Makes Bridge over the Delaware River to the renowned architecture and diverse culture spanning the downtown—it’s hard to deny the beauty of our state’s historic capital city.

Trenton has deep roots embedded in the soul of American history, and is home to the famous spot where George Washington crossed the Delaware.

The city’s slogan, Trenton Makes, the World Takes, emerged when the city was known as a manufacturing city— most famous for iron, steel, and rubber industries. Companies like Trenton Iron Co. and John A. Roebling’s Sons Co. thrived in the city during the late 1800s.

A mix of old charm with newer construction, Trenton’s rich cultural amenities and residential possibilities continue to make it attractive even amid impacts of COVID-19. According to New Jersey Realtors® December 2020 housing market report, Trenton City’s median sales price clocked in at $205,000, a 25 percent increase compared to December 2019. Trenton also saw a 29 percent increase in closed sales in 2020 according to New Jersey Realtors® end of year report.

With three international airports an hour away and direct access to trains and buses, Trenton has unparalleled transit access and is known as a central meeting place between New York City and Philadelphia. The Trenton Transit Center connects with out-ofstate public transportation lines such as New York’s Amtrak and Pennsylvania’s Septa making it easy for commuters to get into the city, and Trenton is the first stop for the NJ TRANSIT RiverLINE which runs to Camden.

Beyond its access and strategic location, Trenton has a unique art and culture scene that permeates neighborhoods across the city. The New Jersey State Museum on West State Street has more than two million artifacts, objects, and specimens and is known for its planetarium, ability to interact with scientists working on fossils, and art galleries. Just a few blocks away from the museum, is the Old Barracks which was built in 1758 by the Colony of New Jersey. The barracks stood witness to the Battle of Trenton and today visitors can take a tour and experience American colonial life.

Trenton is also home to the CURE Insurance Arena which holds concerts and other large events throughout the year. The arena is now one of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution sites. Along Chambers Street, you’ll find the brand new Trenton Central High School which first opened its doors in 2019. The 374,000 square-foot school can educate nearly 1,900 hundred students, features five small learning communities, and numerous career technical education programs.

Trenton has an exciting mix of diverse restaurants and eateries spanning the entire city with cuisines hailing from 18 countries, such as the Republic of Guatemala, Mexico, Jamaica, Colombia, Greece, and more. Enjoy a cornmeal sandwich roll at Casdeluna Bar and Restaurant, barbecue brisket at 1911 Smoke House Barbecue, or perogies at Rozmaryn Restaurant. For fresh bread and sweet treats, Italian Peoples Bakery has a location on Butler Street. The bakery first opened their doors in the Trenton Italian community known as Chambersburg, and have since opened two retail locations and deliver to supermarkets and restaurants daily.

Among the many neighborhoods across the city of Trenton, Mill Hill lies in an area that has a connection to Trenton’s historic past and is also the largest open space in the downtown. Mill Hill is situated between Front Street, U.S. Route 1, and South Broad Street and is well-known for being the site of the Second Battle of Trenton–a turning point in the American Revolutionary War.

The Assunpink Creek, which runs through Mill Hill Park, provides a greenway linking the neighborhood to the Delaware River. The creek, which is now a green public space, served as General George Washington’s defensive location during the Battle of Princeton, and is the area’s first industrial site that featured a mill for grinding grain in the late 1600s. Today, Mill Hill is known for being a diverse and tight-knit community with a promising future, according to trentonmillhill.org.

About Greater Trenton

Greater Trenton is an independent 501(c) (3) nonprofit that uses private funding and a network of collaborative relationships to advance economic revitalization efforts in the state’s capital city. Greater Trenton facilitates the development and revitalization of downtown Trenton by serving as an expert resource to businesses, developers, and community partners.

Formed in the fall of 2015, Greater Trenton’s key objectives include coordinating downtown economic development projects; providing one-stop support and information for investors interested in taking on new projects; reaching out to potential residential, commercial and/or retail investors and tenants; supporting and promoting existing downtown initiatives; engaging downtown stakeholders in a strategic economic development plan; and developing investment marketing strategies.