Collingswood is a borough in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Center City Philadelphia.

[22] Owing in part to its Quaker history, Collingswood was founded as a dry town where alcohol cannot be sold, however restaurant patrons are permitted to bring their own wine and beer to consume.

[25] The land in what is present day Collingswood was originally inhabited by Lenape Native Americans.

Later a section of Haddon Township, Collingswood was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 22, 1888, based on the results of a referendum held that same day.

[27][28][29] Collingswood has several historic homes including the 1820s-era house of the Collings family, known as the Collings-Knight homestead, which stands at the corner of Browning Road and Collings Avenue, shadowed by the Parkview at Collingswood apartment homes.

The Stokes-Lees mansion located in the 600 block of Lees Avenue dates back to 1707,[30] making it one of the oldest houses in Camden County.

Sections of Harleigh Cemetery, the location of poet Walt Whitman's tomb, are in Collingswood.

[1][2] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Knight Park.

[42][43] Collingswood's retail district is anchored by Haddon Avenue, a section of County Route 561 which runs from Camden to Haddonfield.

On Saturdays from May to November, the borough hosts a farmers' market under the PATCO line, featuring local produce, baked goods, and crafts.

Beginning in 2009, Collingswood hosts a Green Festival to raise awareness of environmental responsibility.

[47] Monthly "2nd Saturdays" have the borough's art galleries, stores and restaurants hosting new exhibitions by local, national, and international painters, sculptors, and photographers.

[49] The Rutgers University-Camden based Symphony in C orchestra's administrative and box offices are located on Haddon Avenue.

[53] Collingswood has a large LGBTQ community and Mayor Jim Maley was one of a handful of New Jersey mayors to perform midnight civil union ceremonies the day New Jersey's Civil Union law took effect in 2006; in 2013 Mayor Maley performed a number of same sex marriages at the Scottish Rite ballroom after same-sex marriage was recognized in New Jersey.

[54] In 2004, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote about the borough's "fast growing gay and lesbian community," and the statewide LGBT advocacy and education organization Garden State Equality maintained a Southern New Jersey office in Collingswood until 2010.

During the summer months, the borough offers outdoor movies and classical concerts in the park.

[60][61][62] In December 2020, Commissioner Joan Leonard announced that she would retire "in early 2021" after 24 years of service to the borough.

[63] In September 2011, the borough experienced a "super downgrade" of its credit rating by Moody's, from A1 to Ba1, as a result of an outstanding multi-million dollar loan guarantee to a property developer.

[67] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 1st congressional district is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden).

7,519 total votes were cast among the district's 10,535 registered voters in the 2016 election, yielding a 71.4% turnout.

[91][92] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 69.4% of the vote (5,192 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 27.3% (2,038 votes), with 7,478 ballots cast among the borough's 10,305 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.6%.

[93] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 63.6% of the vote (4,629 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 33.9% (2,467 votes), with 7,277 ballots cast among the borough's 9,527 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.4.

[116] The Collingswood PATCO Speedline Park and Ride station links the town to the eastern suburbs, Camden and Philadelphia by elevated rail.