Nestled on the banks of the Delaware and Cooper Rivers in southern New Jersey, the City of Camden is home to approximately 80,000 residents. It is situated just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia and is the county seat for Camden County. The Philadelphia International Airport may be reached in fifteen minutes by car, and the city is served by several major highways, NJ Transit, the PATCO high speed rail line and the RiverLINE light rail, making it easily accessible from any point in region. Additionally, the Port of Camden is one of the most productive ports in the world, receiving cargo from hundreds of international and domestic ships each year.
Over the past half-century, Camden has followed the trend of many major industrial cities in suffering considerable disinvestment and economic decline. More recently, however, Camden has begun to attract significant public and private reinvestment and redevelopment. Efforts by the State of New Jersey have led to important government reforms and the investment of millions of dollars to rebuild infrastructure and support the growth of the city's major institutional anchors. In addition, the Camden Waterfront has been transformed by numerous entertainment venues and attractions and the arrival of market rate housing and commercial development. At the same time, bold redevelopment efforts are underway in neighborhoods and commercial corridors across the city.
The foundation of Camden's economy is its institutional anchors. Home to three universities, a medical school, three regional hospitals, as well as county, state and federal government facilities, the city has a reliable economic base upon which to continue its expansion. Camden's institutional base also includes major international corporations, including Campbell Soup Company and L3 Communications and a host of local and regional service and manufacturing companies.
