Clementon

Nestled inconspicuously less than 20 miles east of Philadelphia, the village of Clementon once bore all the markings of an early-20th-century county seat: mills, lumberyards, a thriving charcoal industry, waterworks, locomotive access, and entrepreneurial residents. Incorporated as a borough in 1925, the town’s abundant lakes and the allure of Clementon Lake Park quickly elevated Clementon’s status to a popular recreational hotspot. Vacationers and residents alike recall traffic at the town’s small intersections on Sunday nights as Depression-era amusement seekers headed home from weekends spent diving, boating, and picnicking. Declared “the busiest little town in South Jersey” in an early promotional film, Clementon remains etched in collective memories as a mecca of busyness and merriment.