Gloucester County, New Jersey
Swedesboro
Swedish roots, historic Kings Highway and a lively walkable downtown
Swedesboro is a compact borough completely surrounded by Woolwich Township. Its downtown blends colonial-era history, locally owned businesses, restaurants and community events within a municipality of less than one square mile.
Swedesboro town image retained from the NJTGO town assets.
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History & heritage
Swedesboro traces its roots to the New Sweden settlement period, when Swedish and Finnish settlers established communities along the Delaware Valley in the 1600s. The settlement was long known as Raccoon, a name connected to the Lenape word narraticon, before the Swedesboro name came into use in the 18th century.
The borough was incorporated from Woolwich Township on April 9, 1902. Today Swedesboro remains entirely surrounded by Woolwich while retaining its own municipal government and distinctive downtown.
Government
Borough of Swedesboro
Borough Hall
1500 Kings Highway
Swedesboro, NJ 08085
856-467-0202
Public safety & services
Police services are provided by the Woolwich Township Police Department. Fire services are provided by the Woolwich Fire Department. Swedesboro maintains borough public works, water and sewer, tax collection, zoning and other municipal services.
Emergency: 911 · Police non-emergency/dispatch: 856-589-0911
Education
Swedesboro students are served by the Swedesboro-Woolwich School District through grade 6 and Kingsway Regional School District for grades 7–12.
Swedesboro-Woolwich School District
Margaret C. Clifford School — Kindergarten; district preschool placements are available through screening/IEP.
601 Auburn Avenue, Swedesboro
Governor Charles C. Stratton School — Grades 1–2
Woolwich Township
General Charles G. Harker School — Grades 3–5
Woolwich Township
Walter H. Hill School — Grade 6
1815 Kings Highway, Swedesboro
Kingsway Regional
Kingsway Regional Middle School serves grades 7–8 and Kingsway Regional High School serves grades 9–12. The campus is in neighboring Woolwich Township.
Kingsway RegionalHistoric places
Trinity “Old Swedes” Church
1208 Kings Highway
Founded as a Swedish Lutheran congregation in 1703; the present church dates to 1784 and is one of Swedesboro’s defining historic landmarks.
Van Leer / Mortenson Log Cabin
At New Sweden Park near Trinity Church Cemetery.
A rare surviving early log structure with deep ties to the region’s Swedish settlement history.
Richardson Avenue School
Richardson Avenue & Second Street
A historically significant former segregated school building listed on the state and national registers.
John C. Rulon House
Kings Highway
Historic residence associated with a prominent local civic and business figure.
Parks, recreation & events
Auction Park
101 Leahy Avenue
Community gathering place used for seasonal events, summer food-truck nights, dancing and outdoor movies.
Joint Parks & Recreation
Swedesboro and Woolwich Township operate a joint Parks & Recreation program offering community activities, camps and events.
Community resources
Margaret Dombrosky Swedesboro Public Library
1442 Kings Highway
856-241-0594
A Gloucester County Library System branch with roots dating to 1783.
Swedesboro History Museum
Swedesboro Borough Hall, 2nd Floor
1500 Kings Highway
Operated by the Swedesboro-Woolwich Historical Society; public dates and appointments are posted by the borough.