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64-541: In 1828, the Westminster Cracker Factory was founded. They operated out of a red clapboard building in Westminster, Massachusetts. They began manufacture of at least three cracker varieties: "common crackers, the butter cracker," and the oyster cracker . During its early days, the factory's machinery was powered by a horse on a treadmill ; steam power followed, and by 1922, the bakery was electrified. In 1909,

128-537: A 150-foot (46 m) granite column topped with a statue of George Washington, was built in 1893 to commemorate the battle. Trenton became the state capital in 1790, but prior to that year the New Jersey Legislature often met in the city. The city was incorporated on November 13, 1792. In 1792, the New Jersey State House was built, making it the third-oldest state house in the country. In 1799,

192-401: A 50-year period with the city absorbing South Trenton (April 14, 1851), portions of Nottingham Township (April 14, 1856), Chambersburg Township and Millham Township (both on March 30, 1888), and Wilbur (February 28, 1898). Portions of Ewing Township and Hamilton Township were annexed to Trenton on March 23, 1900. The earliest known inhabitants of the area that is today Trenton were

256-524: A July daily average of 76.3 °F (24.6 °C); temperatures reaching or exceeding 90 °F (32 °C) occur on 21.8 days. Episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values reaching 100 °F (38 °C). Extremes in air temperature have ranged from −14 °F (−26 °C) on February 9, 1934, up to 106 °F (41 °C) as recently as July 22, 2011. However, air temperatures reaching 0 °F (−18 °C) or 100 °F (38 °C) are uncommon. Winters are cold and damp:

320-492: A counterclaim credits Adam Exton with inventing the oyster cracker nearly 18 years later. Adam Exton, a baker in Trenton , New Jersey , immigrated to America from Lancashire , England , in 1842. In Trenton, Exton opened a cake and cracker bakery with his brother-in-law, Richard Aspden, in 1846. Although Aspden died the following year, Exton continued with the bakery (the "Exton Cracker Bakery" or "Adam Exton & Co."). He invented

384-537: A day, 36 of them to a pound, making a daily capacity of 3,600 crackers. (For the record, oyster crackers of today are much smaller and a pound of oyster crackers runs between 350 and 400 crackers, depending on manufacturer.) Trenton, New Jersey Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County . It was the capital of the United States from November 1 until December 24, 1784. Trenton and Princeton are

448-560: A group of black men arrested for the alleged murder of an elderly white shopkeeper in January 1948 with a soda bottle. They were arrested without warrants, denied lawyers and sentenced to death based on what were described as coerced confessions. With the involvement of the Communist Party and the NAACP, there were several appeals, resulting in a total of four trials. Eventually the accused men (with

512-488: A machine that rolled and docked pastry and solved the sanitary problems of hand-rolling crackers. The history of the oyster cracker was related by Exton's nephew, also named Adam Exton, in the Trenton Evening Times newspaper on May 31, 1917: Even a cracker has a history. The past, present and future of the little disc of baked dough with "Exton" stamped across the face of it was discussed by Rotarian Adam Exton, of

576-447: A photograph of the decorated cracker factory was published in the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Town of Westminster, Massachusetts by Wilbur F. Whitney. The company's owners, C. C. Dawley & Sons, were participants of that year's float, constituting "5 decorated teams representing the baking business." "Mrs. C. C. Dawley" was a member of the parade committee. By Christmas of 1912,

640-660: A slightly smaller hexagonal variety is also common. Oyster crackers are often served with oyster stew and clam chowder and have a flavor similar to saltine crackers . Oyster crackers are popular in the northeastern United States , where they are served as an accompaniment to soup, and in the Cincinnati area, where they are frequently served with that city's distinctive chili . In New England, oyster crackers are served with oyster stew and chowders. Plain oyster crackers are sometimes seasoned with various spices or pepper sauce and served as an appetizer or snack. Oyster crackers have

704-412: A taste similar to saltine crackers , but usually are less salty. In other areas of the United States, they are among the choices for crackers with soup or salads and are often available in restaurants in single serving packages. Many different companies produce oyster crackers with different combinations of shortenings and other ingredients, but retaining the same general shape and size. The origin of

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768-429: A wholesale and retail bakery established in 1936. De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies and Papa's Tomato Pies were also fixtures of the city for many years, though both recently relocated to the suburbs. Portions of Trenton are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone . The city was selected in 1983 as one of the initial group of 10 zones chosen to participate in the program. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within

832-426: Is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 1.2 °F (−17.1 °C). The average precipitation is 45.47 inches (115 cm) per year, which is fairly evenly distributed through the year. The driest month on average is February, with 2.63 in (67 mm) of precipitation on average, while the wettest month is July with 4.39 in (11 cm) of rainfall on average which corresponds with

896-626: Is a photo contest titled "Westminster Crackers are Everywhere," wherein residents are encouraged to submit creative photographs of them being served the cracker far from home; pictures have included the crackers in Alaska, on beaches, and on cruise ships. As of 2023, the Cracker Festival continues to be hosted as a free October event for all, rain or shine. Oyster cracker Oyster crackers are small, salted crackers , typically rounds about 15 millimetres ( 5 ⁄ 8 inch) in diameter, although

960-583: Is also the second-smallest of the United States capital cities , behind Annapolis, Maryland . Several bridges across the Delaware River connect Trenton to Morrisville , Pennsylvania , all of which are operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission . The Trenton–Morrisville Toll Bridge , originally constructed in 1952, stretches 1,324 feet (404 m), carrying U.S. Route 1 . The Lower Trenton Bridge , bearing

1024-800: Is geographically closer to Philadelphia, many people who have recently moved to the area commute to New York City, and have moved there to escape the New York region's high housing costs. Trenton is one of two state capitals that border another state—the other being Carson City, Nevada . It is also one of the seven state capitals located within the Piedmont Plateau . Trenton borders Ewing Township , Hamilton Township and Lawrence Township in Mercer County; and Falls Township , Lower Makefield Township and Morrisville in Bucks County, Pennsylvania , across

1088-472: Is now one of the most economically distressed, torn apart by race riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Nonetheless, the area still retains many important architectural and historic sites. North Trenton still has a large Polish-American neighborhood that borders Lawrence Township, many of whom attend St. Hedwig's Roman Catholic Church on Brunswick Avenue. St. Hedwig's church

1152-554: Is served by restaurants throughout the United States. Since 2015, the Westminster Village Foundation has hosted the Westminster Cracker Festival, which celebrates the company's achievements. In 2018, thousands were in attendance, and the event featured "a 5K race , live music throughout the day, food vendors, games and [ chili cook-offs topped with the crackers], and a beer and wine garden ." One game

1216-629: Is the smallest neighborhood in Trenton and is home to the Trenton Transit Center and Trenton Central High School . The Chambersburg neighborhood is within the East Ward and was once noted in the region as a destination for its many Italian restaurants and pizzerias. With changing demographics, many of these businesses have either closed or relocated to suburban locations. West Ward is the home of Trenton's more suburban neighborhoods. Neighborhoods in

1280-414: The 2020 United States census , Trenton was the state's 10th-most-populous municipality , with a population of 90,871, an increase of 5,958 (+7.0%) from the 2010 census count of 84,913, which in turn had reflected a decline of 490 (−0.6%) from the 85,403 counted in the 2000 census . The Census Bureau 's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 89,661 in 2022, ranking

1344-694: The American Revolutionary War , Trenton was the site of the Battle of Trenton . On December 25–26, 1776, George Washington and his army crossed the icy Delaware River to Trenton, where they defeated Hessian troops garrisoned there. The second battle of Trenton, Battle of the Assunpink Creek , was fought here on January 2, 1777. After the war, the Congress of the Confederation met for two months at

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1408-465: The Delaware River in Pennsylvania . The Northeast Corridor goes through Trenton. A straight line drawn between Center City, Philadelphia and Downtown Manhattan would pass within 2000 feet of the New Jersey State House . Trenton is home to numerous neighborhoods and sub-neighborhoods. The main neighborhoods are taken from the four cardinal directions (North, South, East, and West). Trenton

1472-569: The French Arms Tavern from November 1, 1784, to December 24, 1784. While the city was preferred by New England and other northern states as a permanent capital for the new country, the southern states ultimately prevailed in their choice of a location south of the Mason–Dixon line . On April 21, 1789, the city hosted a reception for George Washington on his journey to New York City for his first inauguration . The Trenton Battle Monument ,

1536-570: The French and Indian War . On January 19, 1764, Benjamin Franklin , Postmaster General of the colonies, appointed Abraham Hunt , a Lieutenant Colonel in the New Jersey Hunterdon County militia and prominent merchant in Trenton, as the city's first postmaster. Hunt was again appointed Trenton's postmaster on October 13, 1775, shortly after the American Revolutionary War broke out. During

1600-762: The Lenape Native Americans , specifically the Axion band who were the largest tribe on the Delaware River in the mid-17th century. The first European settlement in what 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 , England . Quakers were being persecuted in England at this time, and North America provided an opportunity to exercise their religious freedom. By 1719,

1664-565: The Pillsbury Company in 1982. The rights to make Westminster Crackers were retained by Peter Dawley who started a new Westminster Cracker company in Rutland in 1988. Historically, the most famous cracker was the common cracker that filled Cracker Barrel country stores in New England. The company makes other types of crackers, but the most popular contemporary product is the oyster cracker, which

1728-525: The 1970s, largely due to economic and social shifts to the suburbs surrounding the city. Today Chambersburg has a large Latino community. Many of the Latino immigrants are from Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua. There is also a significant and growing Asian community in the Chambersburg neighborhood primarily made up of Burmese and Bhutanese/Nepali refugees. The North Ward , once a mecca for the city's middle class,

1792-463: The 19th century, Trenton grew steadily, as European immigrants came to work in its pottery and wire rope mills. Trenton became known as an industrial hub for railroads , trucking , rubber , plastics , metalworking , electrical , automobile parts, glass , and textiles industries. In 1837, with the population now too large for government by council, a new mayoral government was adopted, with by-laws that remain in operation to this day. During

1856-551: The Camden and Amboy Railroad in the 1830s spurred industrial development in Trenton. In 1845, industrialist Peter Cooper opened a rolling mill. In 1848, engineer John Roebling moved his wire rope mill to the city, where suspension cables for bridges were manufactured, including the Brooklyn Bridge . In the late 19th century, Walter Scott Lenox was internationally recognized for the fine china made in his Trenton factory. Throughout

1920-515: The Exton Cracker Company, at the weekly meeting of Trenton Rotary Club held this afternoon at Hildebrecht's... Manufacture of the Exton oyster cracker was started in Trenton, in the same location now occupied by the company's factory of Center Street, in 1847. Adam Exton, uncle of the speaker, was the originator of the oyster cracker. At the outset the factory had an output of 100 pounds of crackers

1984-509: The Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the 6 + 5 ⁄ 8 % rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants. Established in January 1986, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023. The UEZ program in Trenton and four other original UEZ cities had been allowed to lapse as of January 1, 2017, after Governor Chris Christie , who called

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2048-579: The alarm boxes. This experience, along with similar experiences in other major cities, effectively ended the use of open-cab fire engines. As an interim measure, the Trenton Fire Department fabricated temporary cab enclosures from steel deck plating until new equipment could be obtained. The losses incurred by downtown businesses were initially estimated by the city to be $ 7 million, but the total of insurance claims and settlements came to $ 2.5 million. Trenton's Battle Monument neighborhood

2112-475: The annual peak in thunderstorm activity. The all-time single-day rainfall record is 7.25 in (18.4 cm) on September 16, 1999, during the passage of Hurricane Floyd . The all-time monthly rainfall record is 14.55 in (37.0 cm) in August 1955, due to the passage of Hurricane Connie and Hurricane Diane . The wettest year on record was 1996, when 67.90 in (172 cm) of precipitation fell. On

2176-578: The city include: According to the Köppen climate classification , Trenton lies in the transition from a cooler humid continental climate ( Dfa ) and the warmer humid subtropical ( Cfa ), and precipitation fairly evenly distributed through the year. The Cfa climate is the result of adiabatic warming of the Appalachians , low altitude and proximity to the coast without being on the immediate edge for moderate temperatures. Summers are hot and humid, with

2240-453: The city the 382nd-most-populous in the country . Trenton is the only city in New Jersey that serves three separate commuter rail transit systems ( Amtrak , NJ Transit , and SEPTA ), and the city has encouraged a spate of transit-oriented development since 2010. Trenton dates back at least to June 3, 1719, when mention was made of a constable being appointed for Trenton while the area

2304-487: The city. The population density was 11,101.9 per square mile (4,286.5/km ). There were 33,035 housing units at an average density of 4,319.2 per square mile (1,667.7/km ). The racial makeup was 26.56% (22,549) White , 52.01% (44,160) Black or African American , 0.70% (598) Native American , 1.19% (1,013) Asian , 0.13% (110) Pacific Islander , 15.31% (13,003) from other races , and 4.10% (3,480) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.71% (28,621) of

2368-515: The construction of Route 29, despite the protests toward its construction. After it was built, the area was then mostly filled with parking lots and scattered state office buildings, disconnecting the city from the riverfront. The Trenton Riots of 1968 were a major civil disturbance that took place during the week following the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis on April 4. Race riots broke out nationwide following

2432-474: The daily average temperature in January is 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), and temperatures at or below 10 °F (−12 °C) occur on 3.9 nights annually, while there are 17 days where the temperature fails to rise above freezing. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below 0 °F (−18 °C), every few years. The plant hardiness zone at the Trenton Municipal Court

2496-428: The downtown area by making it the center of state government. Between 1982 and 1992, more than a dozen office buildings were constructed primarily by the state to house state offices. Today, Trenton's biggest employer is still the state of New Jersey. Each weekday, 20,000 state workers flood into the city from the surrounding suburbs. Notable businesses of the thousands based in Trenton include Italian Peoples Bakery ,

2560-530: The exception of one who died in prison) were released. The incident was the subject of the book Jersey Justice: The Story of the Trenton Six , written by Cathy Knepper. In the 1950s, the State of New Jersey purchased a large portion of what was then Stacy Park, a large riverfront park located next to downtown that contained large open lawns, landscaping, and promenades . Much of the park was demolished to make way for

2624-552: The factory was "turning out 100 bbls [barrels] of crackers daily." The 1913 Directory of Massachusetts Manufactures lists the Westminster Bakery as owned by C. C. Dawley & Sons. Circa 1922, their slogan was "Westminster Crackers: As good as can be made." Westminster Cracker Company was owned by the Dawley family for more than 100 years. Dawley & Shepard, Inc., headed by President David Dawley, sold its breading factory to

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2688-536: The federal government relocated its offices to Trenton for a period of several months, following an outbreak of yellow fever in the then-capital of Philadelphia. During the War of 1812 , the United States Army 's primary hospital was at a site on Broad Street. Trenton had maintained an iron industry since the 1730s and a pottery industry since at least 1723. The completion of both the Delaware and Raritan Canal and

2752-412: The flip side, the driest month on record was October 1963, when only 0.05 in (0.1 cm) of rain was recorded. The 28.79 in (73 cm) of precipitation recorded in 1957 were the lowest ever for the city. Snowfall can vary even more year to year. The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total is 24 to 30 inches (61 to 76 cm), but has ranged from as low as 2 in (5.1 cm) in

2816-517: The latter half of the century, Trenton annexed multiple municipalities: South Trenton Borough on April 14, 1851, portions of Nottingham Township on April 14, 1856, Chambersburg and Millham Township on March 30, 1888, and Wilbur borough on February 28, 1898. In 1855, the College of New Jersey was founded in Trenton. In 1865, Rider University was also founded in Trenton. Mercer Community College began in Trenton in 1966. The Trenton Six were

2880-439: The legend "Trenton Makes The World Takes Bridge", is a 1,022-foot (312 m) span that was constructed in 1928 on the site of a bridge that dates back to 1804. The Calhoun Street Bridge , dating back to 1884, is 1,274 feet (388 m) long. Trenton is located near the geographic center of the state, which is located 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of the city. The city is sometimes included as part of North Jersey and as

2944-588: The murder of the civil rights activist. More than 200 Trenton businesses, mostly in Downtown, were ransacked and burned. More than 300 people, most of them young black men, were arrested on charges ranging from assault and arson to looting and violating the mayor's emergency curfew. In addition to 16 injured policemen, 15 firefighters were treated at city hospitals for injuries suffered while fighting raging blazes or inflicted by rioters. Area residents pulled false alarms and would then throw bricks at firefighters responding to

3008-434: The population were under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 106.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 107.2 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income

3072-419: The population. Of the 28,578 households, 32.0% had children under the age of 18; 25.1% were married couples living together; 28.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 37.9% were non-families. Of all households, 30.8% were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.40. 25.1% of

3136-439: The program an "abject failure", vetoed a compromise bill that would have extended the status for two years. In May 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed a law that reinstated the program in these five cities and extended the expiration date in other zones. In 2018, the city had an average property tax bill of $ 3,274, the lowest in the county, compared to an average bill of $ 8,292 in Mercer County and $ 8,767 statewide. The city had

3200-458: The sixth-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 5.264% in 2020, compared to 2.760% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%. Trenton has long been part of the Philadelphia television market. After the 2000 United States census , Trenton was shifted from the Philadelphia metropolitan statistical area to the New York metropolitan statistical area. With

3264-534: The southern tip of North Trenton is the city's Battle Monument, also known as "Five Points". It is a 150 ft (46 m) structure that marks the spot where George Washington 's Continental Army launched the Battle of Trenton during the American Revolutionary War . It faces downtown Trenton and is a symbol of the city's historic past. South Ward is a diverse neighborhood, home to many Latin American, Italian-American, and African American residents. East Ward

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3328-648: The southernmost city of the Tri-State Region , while others consider it a part of South Jersey and thus, the northernmost city of the Delaware Valley . However, Mercer County constitutes its own metropolitan statistical area , the Trenton- Princeton MSA. Locals consider Trenton to be a part of Central Jersey , and thus part of neither region. They are generally split as to whether they are within New York or Philadelphia's sphere of influence. While it

3392-408: The term "oyster cracker" is unclear, but it may be that they were originally served with oyster stew or clam chowder or possibly that they look somewhat like an oyster in its shell. Other names include "water cracker," "Philadelphia cracker," and "Trenton cracker". The Westminster Cracker Company , currently of Rutland, Vermont , claims to have been making oyster crackers since 1828. However,

3456-464: 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 was later shortened to "Trenton". The first municipal boundaries were recorded on March 2, 1720, and a courthouse and jail were constructed around the same time. In 1758, the Old Barracks were built to house British soldiers during

3520-602: The two principal cities of the Trenton–Princeton metropolitan statistical area , which encompasses those cities and all of Mercer County for statistical purposes and constitutes part of the New York combined statistical area by the U.S. Census Bureau . However, Trenton directly borders the Philadelphia metropolitan area to its west, and the city was part of the Philadelphia combined statistical area from 1990 until 2000. In

3584-473: The winter of 1918–1919 to as high as 76.5 in (194.3 cm) in 1995–1996, which included the greatest single-storm snowfall, the Blizzard of January 7–8, 1996 , when 24.2 inches (61.5 cm) of snow fell. The average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity. The 2010 United States census counted 84,913 people, 28,578 households, and 17,747 families in

3648-420: Was $ 36,601 (with a margin of error of +/− $ 1,485) and the median family income was $ 41,491 (+/− $ 2,778). Males had a median income of $ 29,884 (+/− $ 1,715) versus $ 31,319 (+/− $ 2,398) for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 17,400 (+/− $ 571). About 22.4% of families and 24.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over. Trenton

3712-535: Was a major manufacturing center in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One relic of that era is the slogan "Trenton Makes, The World Takes", which is displayed on the Lower Free Bridge (just north of the Trenton–Morrisville Toll Bridge ). The city adopted the slogan in 1917 to represent Trenton's then-leading role as a major manufacturing center for rubber, wire rope, ceramics and cigars. It

3776-600: Was built in 1904 by Polish immigrants, many of whose families still attend the church. North Trenton is also home to the historic Shiloh Baptist Church—one of the largest houses of worship in Trenton and the oldest African American church in the city, founded in 1888. The church is currently pastored by Rev. Darrell L. Armstrong, who carried the Olympic torch in 2002 for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Also located just at

3840-460: Was formed within Trenton Township. Trenton Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. On February 22, 1834, portions of Trenton Township were taken to form Ewing Township . The remaining portion of Trenton Township was absorbed by the city on April 10, 1837. A series of annexations took place over

3904-493: Was hardest hit. Since the 1950s, North Trenton had witnessed a steady exodus of middle-class residents, and the riots spelled the end for North Trenton. By the 1970s, the region had become one of the most blighted and crime-ridden in the city. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city had a total area of 8.21 square miles (21.25 km ), including 7.58 square miles (19.63 km ) of land and 0.63 square miles (1.62 km ) of water (7.62%). In terms of land area, Trenton

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3968-424: Was home to American Standard 's largest plumbing fixture manufacturing facility. Along with many other United States cities in the 1970s, Trenton fell on hard times when manufacturing and industrial jobs declined. Concurrently, state government agencies began leasing office space in the surrounding suburbs. State government leaders (particularly governors William Cahill and Brendan Byrne ) attempted to revitalize

4032-624: Was once home to large Italian, Hungarian, and Jewish communities, but, since the 1950s, demographic shifts have changed the city into a relatively segregated urban enclave of middle and lower income African Americans and newer immigrants, many of whom arrive from Latin America. Italians are scattered throughout the city, but a distinct Italian community is centered in the Chambersburg neighborhood, in South Trenton. This community has been in decline since

4096-512: Was still part of Hunterdon County . Boundaries were recorded for Trenton Township as of March 2, 1720. A courthouse and jail were constructed in Trenton around 1720, and the Freeholders of Hunterdon County met annually in Trenton. Abraham Hunt was appointed in 1764 as Trenton's first Postmaster. On November 25, 1790, Trenton became New Jersey's capital, and by November 13, 1792, the City of Trenton

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