Camden, New Jersey is undergoing a transformation for the better, like much of New Jersey's large cities. In 2004, the city was ranked as the most dangerous city in the United Stateshttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6555449/, but the city and state government have been hard at work to make improvements and decrease crime rates.

Given its dangerous reputation, many visitors might be surprised as they walk down the Camden Waterfront, which includes a newly redone aquarium, multi-million dollar apartments and a beautiful marina, to name only a few of the city's many attractions.http://www.aboutnewjersey.com/Regions/city-detail.php?city=camden-camden-county-nj-70

These improvements fall in line with the city's vision and mission. The city aims to transform itself to a government that serves the interests of its people by initiating state of the art technology, accountability within the governing body, and responsive service systems. It hopes to "build Camden's diverse community by effectively, efficiently and equitably enhancing resident's quality of life, attracting private investment, stimulating growth citywide and delivering services with a commitment to excellence."http://www.ci.camden.nj.us/index.html

The city of Camden has a long, rich history as part of one of the first area settled in America.http://www.ci.camden.nj.us/history/earlysettlement.html The most influential period for this city, however, would come centuries later in the closing years of the nineteenth century. Fresh immigration, subsequent urban growth, and industrial expansion transformed the city as never before and laid the roots of what the modern Camden could be.

The new industries in the city were among the most important developments. In only ten years, the city had seen an increase of fifty-five manufactories by 1870 to total 125. They included The John H. Dialogue Shipyard at Kaighns Point, later called Wood, Dialogue and Company, Joseph Wharton's Camden Metal Works, later known as the American Nickel Works, Henry Bottomley's Camden Woolen Mills, Charles F. Hollingshed's Cooper's Point Iron Works, and the canning factory that Joseph Campbell and Archibald Anderson built on North Second Street in 1869.http://www.ci.camden.nj.us/history/industrialization.html

The Camden Waterfront bustles with people of all ages who come to enjoy any number of the affordable attractions within its scope. Below is a list of attractions one can enjoy any time of year!

• Adventure Aquarium
• Battleship New Jersey
• Camden Riversharks
• Tweeter Center
• Camden Children’s Garden
• Wiggins Park & Marina
• RiverLink Ferry
• Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center
• Rutgers Camden Center for Arts
• Walt Whitman House
• Victor Lofts
• Campbell’s Soup Company
• Harleigh Cemetery
• Camden County Historical Society
• New York Shipbuilding Companyhttp://www.camdenwaterfront.com/attrac.asp