The Population & Steets of New Gloucester City are fascinating. It is not a coincidence that New Gloucester City was the first to incorporate in 1889, and by the following year, the town had a population of over five thousand. In addition, the city was entitled to its own letter carrier. Street light maintenance was a major business, with Mr. Riley a well-known repairman.
The population of Gloucester City in the year 2000 was 11,456, a decline of only 28 from the previous census. During the 1990 Census, there were only three physicians practicing in the city, but by 1860, there were already three in the town. Until the 1970s, Gloucester City had a population of around five hundred. The city is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia and the Port of Philadelphia.
The city's population was diverse. One census indicates that seventy-two bushels of wheat, rye, and Indian corn were grown in the city. There was a small school system. Children were often involved in sports and recreational activities. A popular sport was soccer, a game with a ball and a stick. The game was first brought to America by the English, and is now a major professional and amateur sport.
The Philadelphia Ferry Company was established in 1850. It operated ferries from Gloucester to Philadelphia. In 1854, the company opened a bleachery and built a bank. In 1869, the Washington Manufacturing Company opened other mills. The Gloucester Gingham Mills manufacture silk, cotton, and dye. In 1871, the town also acquired the Ancona Print Works, and the Buena Vista House.