Atco

Atco, New Jersey
—  Unincorporated community  —
Atco, New Jersey
Coordinates: 39°46′11″N 74°53′15″W / 39.76972°N 74.8875°W / 39.76972; -74.8875Coordinates: 39°46′11″N 74°53′15″W / 39.76972°N 74.8875°W / 39.76972; -74.8875
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Camden
Township	Waterford
Elevation	148 ft (45 m)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
GNIS feature ID	874410[1]

Atco is an unincorporated area in Waterford Township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States, in the Philadelphia-Camden metropolitan area, located 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Camden. The town is at the western edge of Wharton State Forest and the Pine Barrens. Atco is the home of the Atco Raceway, and served as the location for movie, Eddie and the Cruisers. In 2005, an episode of Viva La Bam was shot at the raceway. Atco Lake is a 30 acre lake in Atco. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08004.

As of the United States 2000 Census, the population for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 08004 was 14,299.

History

The area gets its name from the Atlantic Transport Company, though other possible derivations have been offered, one of which is from the Indian word for "Land of many deer."^[2] The Atlantic Transport Company of West Virginia placed a major order with the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, New Jersey for four big ships launched 1902-3, which may have something to do with the choice of the name Atco at this time. Camden and Atlantic Railroad was founded in 1854; it crossed the Pinelands from Camden to Atlantic City. The Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad was established soon after, linking Atco to communities such as Toms River, Waretown, Atsion and Vineland.

The story of the Atco Ghost is popular in Atco. Legend has it that a young boy was killed by a car while chasing a ball - when there is a second full moon in a month he can be seen playing in the same street (Burnt Mill Road).

Education

Atco is the site of Assumption School, an elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.^[3] Atco public schools serve K-6 grade. Atco Elementary (grades to 1-2), Thomas Richards Elementary (grades 3-4) and Waterford Elementary (K, and grades 5-6) serve students from Atco. Junior high school and high school students from Atco are served by Hammonton Public Schools or parochial schools of their choice.

Transportation

Atco has a train station on the Atlantic City Line, which is operated by New Jersey Transit. The station is accessible from Route 73 and the White Horse Pike (U.S. Route 30).

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Atco include:

• Sal Scafidi, major league baseball player in the 1970's. Played for the Philadelphia Phillies. Born Atco, currently lives in Princeton, NJ.

• Sally Starr, actress who had a popular kids cartoon TV show in the fifties and sixties that broadcast in and over the Delaware Valley.^[4]

References

External links

• Census 2000 Fact Sheet for Zip Code Tabulation Area 08004 from the United States Census Bureau.
• National Dragster Records shattered, history made in Atco
• The Official website of the Delaware Valley Paranormal Association
• Legends & Lore Double Feature: Atco Ghost & The Downingtown Twin Tunnels

v t e Municipalities and communities of Camden County, New Jersey, United States County seat: Camden Cities Camden Gloucester Boroughs Audubon Audubon Park Barrington Bellmawr Berlin Brooklawn Chesilhurst Clementon Collingswood Gibbsboro Haddon Heights Haddonfield Hi-Nella Laurel Springs Lawnside Lindenwold Magnolia Merchantville Mount Ephraim Oaklyn Pine Hill Pine Valley Runnemede Somerdale Stratford Tavistock Woodlynne Townships Berlin Cherry Hill Gloucester Haddon Pennsauken Voorhees Waterford Winslow CDPs Ashland Barclay-Kingston Blackwood Cherry Hill Mall Echelon Erlton-Ellisburg Glendora Golden Triangle Greentree Springdale Communities Albion Ancora Atco Blenheim Blue Anchor Braddock Cedar Brook Chews Landing Erial Glendale Kirkwood Kresson New Freedom Osage Sicklerville Tansboro West Berlin Woodcrest