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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
The identifying mark of BURLINGTON (20 alt., 10,844 pop.) is the single track of the Pennsylvania Railroad that runs through the center of
the main street without benefit of curb or fence. In many other respects. Burlington seems to have changed little from its eighteenth century character as capital of the Province of West New Jersey. A flourishing maritime center in the early years, Burlington has since been outstripped industrially and commercially by Trenton and Camden. But the town still serves as an outlet and marketing center for the rich agricultural region inland, and it has some industrial importance.
No entrance to Burlington reveals the sequestered charm that is part of
the community. The State highway bypasses the town, but a number of roads from north, east, and south cross the adjacent flatlands and tap the business center on Broad Street. Another approach is from Pennsylvania, by way of Bristol Bridge across Delaware River. All of these roads lead
past assorted factories and monotonously plain dwellings.
Broad Street deserves its name. There is plenty of room for the leisurely trains of the Pennsylvania and for the long narrow wooden station, like a corncrib, in the heart of the business district. Since 1834 locomotives and
trains have operated on Broad Street and for the same length of time the citizens have complained about them. In 1926 the city council ordered removal of the track, but the only progress to date has been restriction of
train speeds to 6 miles an hour and a regulation for blowing the whistle. Many of the business buildings are the old homes of Quakers, modified for offices or stores. Much of their original simplicity of line and material
has been retained.
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