Atco, New Jersey

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 at 39.769 North, -74.887 West. 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 1983. An episode of "Viva La Bam" was shot at the raceway. 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 Transportation Company, though other possible derivations have been offered. [Beck, Henry Charlton. [http://books.google.com/books?id=5o4X4JVDaTkC&pg=PA291&lpg=PA291&dq=atco+%22Atlantic+Transportation+Company%22&source=web&ots=KaMzbKQGx6&sig=LFQV-SD8A9WaPJVtilczd_wWEY0&hl=en "Jersey Genesis: The Story of the Mullica River"] , via Google Books, p. 291. "More pertinent to us is the fact that Atco, in the same neighborhood, took its name from the Atlantic Transportation Company..."] 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.

Atco Ghost

Legend has it that the ghost of a young boy haunts Burnt Mill Road in Atco. Supposedly, about 8 years ago a young boy was killed by a speeding car or truck(depending on who is telling the story) after he ran out into the road chasing after a ball. If you go to Burnt Mill Road at night, park at the gate of the soccer fields then blink your light three times. Then drive up to the third telephone pole, and turn off your lights you might see the boy chasing after his ball.

I practice on the soccer fields on the same streets. I have done this before and I DID see the ghost. If you do it correctly it will work. On August 9th, 2008, Delaware Valley Paranormal Association(DVPA) announced that they will be filming a documentary on [http://www.delvalparanormal.org/atcoghost/atcoghost.html the Atco Ghost] that is scheduled to be released this upcoming Halloween.

Besides the DVPA's film, the Atco Ghost has also been featured in the book, Weird NJ.

Education

Atco is the site of [http://assumptionparishatco.com Assumption School] , an elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. [ [http://www.camdendiocese.org/schools/cc.html Camden County Schools] , Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Accessed July 10, 2008.]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Atco include:
*Sally Starr, Actress who had a TV show in the fifties that broadcast in and over the Delaware Valley. [ [http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/sallystarr.html Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia: Sally Starr] , accessed November 26, 2006]

References

External links

* [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=86000US08004&_geoContext=01000US%7C86000US08004&_street=&_county=&_cityTown=&_state=&_zip=08004&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=860&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=&show_2003_tab=&redirect=Y Census 2000 Fact Sheet for Zip Code Tabulation Area 08004] from the United States Census Bureau.
* [http://www.westjerseyhistory.org/articles/atcolake/index.shtml Atco Lake and Dam: Its Origins and History]
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4078/is_200506/ai_n13642770 National Dragster Records shattered, history made in Atco]
* [http://www.delvalparanormal.org The Official website of the Delaware Valley Paranormal Association]
* [http://www.delvalparanormal.org/atcoghost/doublefeature,html Legends & Lore Double Feature: Atco Ghost & The Downingtown Twin Tunnels]