New Jersey has endured quiet a few disasters over the past few centuries including a handful in Mercer County.
Some of these catastrophes that happened here in Mercer County range from natural disasters to accidental disasters. These tragedies really seem unbelievable when you read about them but in fact they are a part and always will be a part of the history of this central Jersey county.
NJ.com listed the Garden States' worsts disasters and here are the ones they highlighted in Mercer County.
Floods swamped New Jersey in January 1996, and Mercer County, where thousands were forced to evacuate, was among the hardest hit areas. In Trenton alone, 2,000 people fled their homes. The Delaware River crested in Trenton on January 20, with the water reaching 22.2 feet. Nearly three feet of water filled the basement of the Statehouse Annex.
Hurricanes Connie and Diane - New Jersey was slammed by back-to-back hurricanes, Connie and Diane, in 1955. Multiple people died in Mercer County as a result of the storms. The resulting flooding remains the flood of record for the Delaware River.
Chandler Oilcloth Works explosion - Yardville was rocked on May 2, 1916, when the Chandler Oilcloth plant exploded, killing three people and injuring six more, according to the New York Times.
Trenton Match Factory explosion - Three people were injured on July 24, 1894, according to the New York Times, when the Trenton Match Factory exploded.