McKee City, New Jersey

McKee City is an unincorporated community located within the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States.[2] The community was named after Colonel John McKee (1821–1902), an African American property speculator. Although its name includes the word "city", McKee City is not an actual city — it is currently a crossroads of commerce that has replaced tenant farmers with retail stores and residential neighborhoods.

McKee City, New Jersey
Unincorporated community
McKee City
Location within Atlantic County. Inset: Location of Atlantic County within New Jersey.
McKee City
McKee City (New Jersey)
McKee City
McKee City (the United States)
Coordinates: 39°27′01″N 74°38′27″W
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountyAtlantic
TownshipHamilton
Founded1884
Named forColonel John McKee
Elevation
21 m (69 ft)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID878219[1]

McKee City is the home of the Atlantic City Race Course, along with numerous commercial businesses, including the Hamilton Mall, which opened in 1987.[3]

History

McKee City was founded by Colonel John McKee in 1884. It was originally a farming community, along with a sawmill, a schoolhouse, a general store, a community hall, and several farms near the former Pennsylvania-Reading Railroad (currently the site of the Black Horse Pike). Colonel McKee intended to build a 4,000 acre planned community where African Americans from the south could settle after the Civil War. A number of dormitory-type houses were built without frills like inside plumbing or heating.[4] Leases were carefully designed to ensure that the tenants improved the land. The Colonel had great plans for this settlement, but he died before they could all be realized.[5]

Upon his death, Colonel McKee made a $2 million bequest, to be administered by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia headed by Archbishop Patrick John Ryan, to be partly used "to build a Catholic church, rectory and convent in McKee City..."[6] However, the will was disputed by McKee's family, the funds were not distributed, and the facilities Colonel McKee envisioned were not built.

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References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: McKee City, New Jersey
  2. Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed June 9, 2016.
  3. Jim Waltzer; Tom Wilk (2001). Tales of South Jersey: Profiles and Personalities. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 0-8135-3007-5. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  4. Byles, Samantha (October 1, 2012). "Colonel John McKee, Unsung Hero of Fatherless Boys in Need Of Scholarships, Finally Gets Tombstone". Philadelphia Inquirer; Good Black News. Retrieved 2013-11-06.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  5. Taylor, Grace (2007-11-11). "McKee City". eht.com (Egg Harbor Township). Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2013-01-06.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  6. Ryan, Patrick (2010-02-26). Archbishop Patrick John Ryan His Life and Times: Ireland - St. Louis - Philadelphia 1831-1911. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4389-9822-0. Retrieved 2013-01-06.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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