Trenton
Around Trenton
Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · New Jersey · 392k people
Trenton
Locals say Central Jersey · “Trenton Makes, the World Takes”, “The Capital City”
Trenton · Princeton
Where the statehouse meets the Ivy League
Princeton orange
Welcome to Central Jersey, where the Delaware River meets the ivory tower. Whether you're here for the tomato pie or the towpath, you'll find a laid-back vibe with a deep sense of history. Get ready to argue about pork roll and root for the Tigers.
Clubs for Trenton
No clubs for Trenton yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Trenton. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Trenton. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Princeton University Ivy League campus with historic architecture and the Princeton University Art Museum.
- Princeton Battlefield State Park Site of the pivotal 1777 Battle of Princeton.
- Washington Crossing State Park Where Washington crossed the Delaware in 1776.
- Grounds for Sculpture 42-acre outdoor sculpture museum in Hamilton.
- Arm & Hammer Park Home of the Trenton Thunder minor league baseball team.
- Mercer County Park Large county park with a lake, trails, and sports fields.
- Outdoors kayak on the Delaware River
- Outdoors bike the Delaware & Raritan Canal towpath
- With kids visit Grounds for Sculpture
- With kids explore the New Jersey State Museum
- Evenings bar-hop on Nassau Street in Princeton
- Evenings catch live jazz at the Candlelight Lounge
- Locals love diner culture
- Locals love tomato pie pizzerias
Through the year
- Patriots Week December/January Revolutionary War reenactments and celebrations in Trenton.
- Communiversity ArtsFest April Spring arts festival on Princeton's campus with music, crafts, and food.
- Princeton Porchfest September Neighborhood porch concerts across Princeton.
- Princeton Festival June Opera, classical music, and theater performances in June.
- Canal Day July Celebration along the D&R Canal with kayaking, vendors, and music.
Humid subtropical with four distinct seasons. Best: Spring (April-May) and fall (Sept-Oct) are ideal.
Talk like a local
- “Central Jersey”
- The region's identity, distinct from North or South Jersey.
- “pork roll”
- The breakfast meat, called Taylor ham up north.
- “tomato pie”
- Trenton-style pizza with sauce on top.
- “the Dinky”
- The Princeton branch train to Princeton Junction.
Getaways
- Philadelphia Historic sites, museums, and cheesesteaks.
- New York City Broadway, museums, and endless neighborhoods.
- Atlantic City Boardwalk, casinos, and beach.
- Lehigh Valley Bethlehem's music scene and historic districts.
Local flavour
Teams
- Princeton Tigers NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- Trenton tomato pie Thin-crust pizza with sauce on top, a regional specialty
- Pork roll, egg and cheese Classic New Jersey breakfast sandwich on a roll
Where people go
- State capitol Trenton is the capital of New Jersey, with a historic capitol building
- Ivy League campus Princeton University's gothic-style campus
- Historic battlefields Princeton Battlefield State Park
- Diners Classic New Jersey diners, a staple of the region
Heritage and traditions
Proud of its Revolutionary War history, its Ivy League intellectual life, and a working-class capital city with a rich immigrant heritage.
Say it like a local: “jug handle” — A left-turn lane that goes right first
Festivals
- Trenton's Greek Festival May Greek food, dancing, and music at St. George Greek Orthodox Church.
- Trenton's Puerto Rican Day Parade June Celebrates Puerto Rican heritage with music, food, and a parade.
Landmarks with a story
- Old Barracks Museum Revolutionary War barracks in Trenton.
- Morven Museum & Garden Former governor's mansion in Princeton.
- Princeton Cemetery Resting place of many notable figures, including Aaron Burr.
- Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie In a historic mansion in Cadwalader Park.
Food traditions
- Pernil and mofongo Puerto Rican community's Christmas and Three Kings Day dishes.
- Trenton Farmers Market Saturday morning ritual for fresh produce and ethnic specialties.
Music and arts
- McCarter Theatre Center Tony Award-winning regional theater in Princeton.
- Princeton University Art Museum Free art museum with a renowned collection.
- Trenton's punk rock scene Home to the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market.
- Porchfest Neighborhood music festival on Princeton porches.
A little history
- 1746 Princeton University founded as the College of New Jersey.
- 1776-1777 Battles of Trenton and Princeton turn the tide of the Revolution.
- 1790 Trenton becomes the state capital.
- 19th century Trenton becomes an industrial powerhouse with pottery, rubber, and steel.
- 1930s Albert Einstein joins the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
Rivalries
- Princeton Tigers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights College football and basketball rivalry.
- Trenton Thunder vs Reading Fightin Phils Minor league baseball rivalry in the Eastern League.
- Game day Princeton's 'Bonfire' after beating Harvard in football
- Game day Trenton Thunder baseball games
- Outdoors Walk across the Washington Crossing Bridge
- Outdoors Picnic at Cadwalader Park
- With kids Visit the Old Barracks
- With kids See a show at McCarter Theatre
Locals often have a mix of Philadelphia and New York accents, with some saying 'wooder' for water and 'youse' for you all. The pork roll vs Taylor ham debate is a local shibboleth.
Only here
- The 'Trenton Makes, The World Takes' bridge sign.
- Princeton's 'Dinky' train, a short shuttle to Princeton Junction.
- The 'Battle of Trenton' reenactment in January.
- The 'Princeton Battle Monument' by Frederick MacMonnies.
New here? A few tips
- Expect hot summers and cold winters; dress in layers.
- Traffic on Route 1 can be heavy; use local roads during rush hour.
- Try a Trenton tomato pie and a pork roll sandwich.
- Learn the difference between pork roll and Taylor ham—it's a local debate.
- The Dinky train connects Princeton to Princeton Junction; it's a fun ride.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Part of Greater New York
Nearby
Every areaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaWhere every corner has a story and every cheesesteak is a legend.Lehigh ValleyPennsylvaniaWhere the steel valley meets a new day.New YorkNew YorkEvery block is a universe, every corner a story.VinelandNew JerseyWhere the fields meet the bay, and the tomatoes taste like sunshine.East StroudsburgPennsylvaniaWhere the mountains meet your soul.Atlantic CityNew JerseyBoardwalk days and blueberry nights.ReadingPennsylvaniaWhere the hills roll and the pretzels are always soft.Hemlock FarmsPennsylvaniaLakes, woods, and four seasons of calm.
Trenton-Princeton, NJ. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.