Where can you go to be close enough to be part of two of the biggest cities in the country? Those in Pennsauken, New Jersey, will tell you how convenient it is for them. For those in Pennsauken, larger areas of New Jersey are within reach and just a short drive away. However, Pennsauken is often considered to be a suburb of Pennsylvania, making it one of the more desirable places to live for those who commute to work each day.

If you’ve never heard of Pennsauken, you may not be alone. But to give you a quick history breakdown, here are some interesting facts about Pennsauken.

An Interesting Name With A Deep History

For some people, just saying, “Pennsauken” can be a bit of a challenging tongue twister. And while it’s debated as to where the name Pennsauken truly came from, many think that it originated with the Lenni Lenape Native American tribe. Pennsauken sounds closely similar to “Pindasenauken,” which was a Lenape word for “tobacco pouch.” None the less, the name of Pennsauken was taken and it was official recognized as a township in 1892. It’s certainly one of the newer areas in the state of New Jersey, but it already has a history that has made up for lost time.

The First Drive-In Theater

If you love hoping in your car and heading to the drive-in theater, then you might want to thank the team at Camden Drive-In in Pennsauken. Camden Drive-In is often credited as the first drive-in theater in the nation. The first movie that played at the Camden was Wives Beware, which was later released in the theaters as Two White Arms. Drive-in theaters are certainly a part of classic Americana history, and the Camden Drive-In started it all.

A Post-Depression Expansive Boom

The 1920s are known as a decade in America that was full of dark days and economic fallout. The Great Depression had lasting affects on countless individuals around the country. However, in the 1930s there was a strong push in people who moved to Pennsauken. In fact, the area went from a total population that was just over 6,000 in the 1920s, to nearly 17,000 in the 1930s. The increase of over 161% in population was the most in Pennsauken history, and it was the beginning of many founding parts of the area.

Did You Know?

Did you know that two of the largest employers in Pennsauken are Pepsi and J&J Snack Foods. These two companies have large manufacturing plants on a large industrial park where many people from Pennsauken live. In addition, Sun Seng is a market that accommodates to the large growing population of Asian people moving to Pennsauken township.

Pennsauken is a hidden gem that can be found alongside the Delaware River. Head south and you will find yourself in New Jersey, with plenty of options to enjoy. Or you can go across the river into Philadelphia, where even more entertainment and sightseeing choices are available. No matter what it is that you are looking for, Pennsauken has it. And with such a memorable history with plenty of interesting facts, it’s certainly a place worth seeing.