Vol. 4, No. 10, October 2007
RSS Feeds
Hamilton Township and Mays Landing
A township that proves size does matter
The saying “all roads lead to here” must be referring to Hamilton Township. Located directly off the Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway, Black Horse and White Horse Pike, the township of Hamilton is a unique mix of history, retail and nature.
The massive township is broken down into seven major sections consisting of Cologne, McKee, Laureldale, Weymouth, Mizpah, Reega and the most well-known area of Mays Landing.
“While all in the same township, the sections are sort of like rural neighborhoods,” explains Mayor Thomas Palmentieri. “It is an ideal blend of modern suburban and rural development.”
Incorporated February 5, 1813, the township of Hamilton maintains a strong historic district located in Mays Landing. Named for first U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, the township to this day is occupied with quaint shops, distinctive eateries and houses in Mays Landing dating back to the area’s first settlers.
“This is a great historic town that’s a kaleidoscope of society,” says Deputy Mayor Nelson Gaskill.
Many of the older buildings are made of brick and sandstone dating back to the early 1800s. Mays Landing’s historical district joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1900.
“The town reflects the values of both the past and present,” says Committeeman William Beyers. “It inspires all individual tastes.”
With 115 square miles of land, Hamilton Township is the largest municipality in the state of New Jersey. It has been developed for housing and retail, but due to regulations set by the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, Hamilton Township still contains natural pinelands that cover nearly 80 percent of the municipality’s land.
The protected pinelands include rural forests for nature lovers to hike, bike and camp at any of the numerous Atlantic County parks. Not only does Hamilton Township contain beauty on land, but the serenity and sparkle of Lake Lenape and the Great Egg Harbor River allow for waterfront living off the coast.
While the beauty of nature encompasses more than three-quarters of the township, the extensive retail with a centralized shopping district is what brings thousands to the township of Hamilton each day. The area consists of more than 3 million square feet of first-class retail establishments, including the Hamilton Mall, Consumer Square and Hamilton Commons.
“We have the premiere commercial district in the county,” says Palmentieri. “We have retail and dining in a condensed area and the biggest and best movie theater complex around.”
The retail district of Mays Landing consists of more than 250 stores including stores like Macy’s, Sears, Old Navy and Target. In addition to hundreds of shopping spots, the area restaurants and entertainment make it a common stop for locals and visitors to the Jersey shore.
Whether looking to connect with nature, revisit a piece of history or shop until you drop, the vast land of Hamilton Township is a dynamic community just off the highway.
City Hall Address
6101 13th Street
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
609-625-1511
Mayor: Thomas Palmentieri
City Council: Nelson Gaskill, James Link, William Beyers and Charles Pritchard
Population: 27,499
Tax Rate (per $100): 3.593
Schools:
Joseph C. Shaner Memorial School (K-1)
George L. Hess Educational Complex (U.S. Dept. of Education Blue Ribbon School and New Jersey Dept. of Education STAR School) (2-6)
William Davies Middle School (7-8)
Oakcrest High School (9-12)
Atlantic Cape Community College
FUN FACTS
Mays Landing resident Suzette Charles claimed the crown as Miss America when Vanessa Williams resigned in 1984.
The old cotton mill located on Lake Lenape, which caught fire last month, is scheduled to undergo redevelopment into 180 luxury condominiums. While the original portion of the eight-building complex was destroyed, the plans still entail retaining the building’s historic brick, stone and masonry features that date back to the early 1800s.
The Atlantic City Race Course, located next to the Hamilton Mall, plans to increase live horse-racing dates from seven to 20 in 2008.
The Mays Landing Historic Trail offers a 3.3-mile hike or longer 5.8-mile path along the river. At low tide, the sunken Weymouth ship can be seen in the mud flats along the trail.
Atlantic Cape Community College, the state’s second community college (1964), recently announced a $30 million expansion on the main Mays Landing campus.
