A Brief History of Trenton NJ- Jamie Yoos

Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state New Jersey. The population gathered from the 2010 United States Census was 84, 913. Trenton is known for being the site of George Washington’s first victory over the redcoats in the War of Independence and where he famously crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night in 1776. In December 1787, state representatives met in Trenton and unanimously approved the newly drafted Constitution of the United States. Trenton is named after William Trent, a soldier, Indian trader, and land speculator of the 1700s. The town was originally called “Trent-towne” and was later shortened to the name we know today. Trenton became the state capital of New Jersey on November 25 1790 and was later incorporated as a city in 1792. Sections of the township were taken on February 22, 1834, to form Ewing Township.

  • Major Manufacturing Center- Trenton was a major manufacturing center for the country in the 1800s-1900s. Steel, rubber, wire, rope, linoleum, and ceramics were all commonly produced in Trenton. Trenton adopted the slogan “Trenton Makes, the World Takes” in the 1920s and began to share it on billboards. The slogan was attached to the Lower Free Bridge, just north of the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge, and it soon became known as the “Trenton Makes Bridge.”
  • Colleges and Universities of Trenton- Trenton doesn’t have many colleges or universities, but it is home to a select few including Thomas Edison State College and Saint Francis Medical Center Nursing School as well as a few others. Thomas Edison State College was founded in 1972 was named after New Jersey born inventor Thomas Edison who is known for applying the principles of mass production to invention development and is said to be the developer of the first industrial research center in the nation. Rider University got its start in trenton In addition, Rider University, which got its start in Trenton just after the Civil War, relocated between Trenton and Princeton in Lawrenceville, in the early 1960s. TCNJ also started in trenton before moving to Ewing Township in the 1960s.
  • Museums- Trenton showcases its pride in being significant to the Revolutionary and Civil War in museums including Trenton City Museum, Old Barracks Museum, the National Guard Militia Museum, and the New Jersey State Museum. Trenton City Museum offers historical collections of tableware, sanitary ware, and art ware produced during Trenton’s ceramic production peak giving spectators a glimpse into the colonial life of Trentonians in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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