Small-town living in the Blueberry Capital of the World
When visitors come to Hammonton, they know they’re in the Blueberry Capital of the World; the number of blueberry farms breaking up the surrounding pine barrens might clue them in, but the town’s welcome sign is more obvious. Plenty of through traffic between Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore has helped to preserve the cheerful business district, but the town itself is far from transient. Sticky is the right word for Hammonton, and not just because of the berry juice. In the minds of longtime locals, there’s something about this pocket of southern New Jersey that keeps them around for decades of harvest-heavy summers and winters lit with Christmas lights along Bellevue Avenue. “Hammonton is a Norman Rockwell picture if you can imagine that – it's a throwback to a different time where you had parades, a sense of place and generations that live here for years and years,” says Steve DiDonato, Hammonton’s Mayor. “People are very friendly. When you’re walking around, even strangers are saying, ‘Hi, how are you? Good morning, good evening.’ It’s a unique place. When Hammonton gets in your bones, it’s hard to walk away from it.”
Set between Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore lies the quiet town of Hammonton.
Visit "The Blueberry Capital of the World" in Hammonton.
Spend the day browsing small boutiques in Hammonton, just minutes from Newtonville.
Nesco is known for its large blueberry farms.
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Modern blueberry husbandry and coastal commuting from Hammonton
Hammonton and blueberries are synonymous for a reason; although other states and countries have cut into New Jersey’s industry dominance, Hammonton is still home to one of the top-producing operations in the northeast. The sandy soil that supports southern New Jersey’s pine barrens is also ideal for the blueberry bushes sprouting on farms of many sizes that specialize in everything from international distribution to pick-your-own experiences. Not everyone in Hammonton has a blue thumb. Several manufacturing and fabrication companies are also housed in the town. AtlantiCare, a major southern New Jersey healthcare provider, operates a handful of specialist offices and an emergency room at the AtlantiCare Health Park at Hammonton. Major thoroughfares bring day trippers through the active small business district within Hammonton, also serving to connect local commuters to more distant urban hubs.
Both the Atlantic City Expressway and White Horse Pike pass through Hammonton, taking commuters further inland or out to New Jersey’s South Shore. Atlantic City is over 30 miles away, and Center City Philadelphia is roughly equidistant in the opposite direction. NJ Transit’s Atlantic City Line offers train service between the same two cities from Hammonton Station. Public transit is limited, but NJ Transit buses make stops along Bellevue Avenue. Though the general aviation Hammonton Municipal Airport is in town, many use Atlantic City International Airport, just over 20 miles away.
Polyvel Incorporated is one of many industries headquartered in Hammonton.
Residents of Hammonton enjoy the close proximity to AtlantiCare Hospital and workforce.
Southern New Jersey's pine barrens cradle Hammonton, a quaint farming town.
Turn down almost every street in Hammonton to find a fresh blueberry farm.
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Hammonton’s preserved 20th century homes and New Traditional developments
Much of Hammonton is a gridded collection of small-town residential streets lined by single-family home styles of the early 20th century – from simple National homes and bungalows to grand Queen Annes trimmed with wraparound porches. “There’s a lot of older houses. On the old Millionaires Row on Central Avenue, they can still sell for close to a million,” says Frank Tees, a real estate agent with Joe Wiesner Realty with 11 years of experience selling in southern New Jersey. “Hammonton is a destination for people if they have family or friends living there. Nobody leaves. Even when the inventory is good elsewhere, Hammonton’s is always lighter because nobody moves.” A handful of New Traditional single-family and townhome developments are helping to meet demand for housing in Hammonton. Farther outside of town, sidewalks fall away, replaced by fenced-off farmland, pines and homes on well-spaced lots. The median price of a single-family home in Hammonton is $405,000, on par with the national median of $406,100 given by the National Association of Realtors.
Gran Queen Anne homes with wrap around porches are historically 3 stories tall in Hammonton.
Bungalows with covered porches fill the residential streets of Hammonton.
Much of Hammonton is a gridded collection of small-town residential streets.
A charming Split-Level home on a sizable lot in Newtonville.
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Shopping and dining in downtown Hammonton
Hammonton’s downtown centers around Bellevue Avenue, where sidewalks run past rows of preserved commercial buildings leftover from the town’s glass manufacturing days. Old-fashioned facades house trendy new businesses and classic mainstays, from fitness studios and breweries to pharmacies and hardware stores. Family-owned restaurants far outnumber chains, whether they’re serving Italian entrees or Mexican favorites. Roadside markets pop up around town through growing season, and while farm fresh blueberries are popular, Hammonton’s farmers also stock plenty of other fresh produce. “In the summer, we get the highest quality foods, it’s literally farm to stand to table,” DiDonato says.
Dine inside or order to go at Nuevo El Mariachi Loco in Hammonton.
Nesco Residents can buy fresh produce at some of the many farm stands.
Spend the day browsing small boutiques in Hammonton, just minutes from Newtonville.
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Blueberries, Italian heritage and parades in Hammonton
Naturally, Hammonton hosts a blueberry festival; a blueberry pie eating contest and plenty of on-theme berry food vendors help produce the the Red, White & Blueberry Festival at the end of each June. The annual Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Festival, put on in partnership with local churches, is the most anticipated annual tradition, however. For a week each July, Italian food, live music, carnival rides, a religious procession and fireworks are the center of the nearly 150-year-old tradition. Outside of major festivals, Hammonton is well-known for shutting down Bellevue Avenue for holiday parades. The Eagle Theatre started as a silent movie theater in the early 20th century, and since its revitalization in the 2000s, has become a beloved venue for plays and musicals.
The annual Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Festival is hosted in Hammonton.
For a week each July, Italian food, live music, carnival rides, are hosted in Hammonton.
The Eagle Theatre started as a silent movie theater in the early 20th century in Hammonton.
Nesco NJ is a farming community right next to the town of Hammonton NJ.
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Hammonton Lake Park, trips to the South Shore
Hammonton Lake Park is the center of Hammonton’s recreation, whether for walking around or fishing in its central lake or cheering at Hammonton Little League games. Private hubs include an 18-hole golf course and a family fun center known for its dozens of bowling lanes and themed seasonal train rides. Wharton State Forest is the town’s northeastern neighbor, a vast section of the pine barrens packed with hiking and biking trails, kayak-friendly stretches of the Mullica River, and industrial-era ruins to explore. Atlantic City’s free beaches are a straight shot down its namesake expressway, but beachgoers might check out seasonal rates for beach tags in places like Ocean City.
Hammonton Lake Park is the center of Hammonton’s recreation, for walking around or fishing.
Cheer on Hammonton Little League games at Hammonton Lake Park.
Play 1-on-1 with friends at New Brooklyn Park.
Winslow Township has plenty of natural areas for those who like to spend time outdoors.
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Dual credit at Hammonton High
Hammonton School District earns a B-plus from Niche. All four of the district’s schools are clustered along White Horse Pike, including B-plus-rated Hammonton High School, which offers dual credit courses in partnership with Camden County College, Atlantic Cape Community College and Stockton University. Graduate students attend classes at Stockton University’s Kramer Hall, a satellite campus in Hammonton.
Kids of Hammonton prepare for college at Hammonton High School.
Stockton Universities Kramer Hall is located in Hammonton.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School is a Catholic private school in Berlin, NJ.
Continue your education close to home in Erial at Camden County College
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Crime statistics and weather in Hammonton
According to data reported by the Hammonton Police Department to the FBI, violent crime decreased by about 11.5% and property crime did not change from 2022 to 2023. Both Hammonton’s property and violent crime rates are lower than state and national rates.
Hammonton experiences four temperate seasons, including hot summers and below-freezing winters at the two extremes. The best months for fresh blueberries are June and July.
Elisa is a full time Awarded Professional Realtor Since 1985. She Specializes in Real Estate Sales & Marketing Homes in Atlantic and Cape May County New Jersey AC to OC.
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