You’ve probably seen the old, faded blue boxes around town or stumbled across a yellowed clipping in your grandmother’s attic. For over a century, the Bridgeton Evening News NJ was the heartbeat of Cumberland County. It wasn't just a collection of ink and paper; it was the place you went to see if your neighbor’s kid made the Honor Roll or to check the price of tomatoes at the local market.
But if you try to find a fresh copy on a newsstand today? Good luck.
The story of the Bridgeton Evening News is kinda like the story of local news across America—a mix of deep-rooted tradition, corporate shuffling, and a final, quiet digital transformation. Honestly, it’s a bit heartbreaking for those of us who remember the smell of fresh newsprint in the afternoon.
The Rise and Fall of the Bridgeton Evening News NJ
Let’s go back to 1879. That’s when it all started. For decades, the paper was the dominant voice in South Jersey. In its prime, it was moving over 25,000 copies a day. That might not sound like much in the age of viral TikToks, but back then, it was the highest circulation of any New Jersey paper south of Camden.
The Schofield family owned it for years. They kept it local. They kept it personal.
But then the 90s hit, and the corporate "musical chairs" began. First, it went to the American Publishing Company in 1989. Then MediaNews Group grabbed it in '96. By 2000, Advance Publications—the giant behind NJ.com—stepped in.
The Identity Crisis
Under Advance, the name started changing. First, it was just the Bridgeton News. Then, in 2008, they merged the Bridgeton and Millville editions to create The News of Cumberland County. It felt like the paper was losing its specific Bridgeton soul.
By 2012, the final axe fell on the brand. Advance merged it with the Gloucester County Times and Today’s Sunbeam to form the South Jersey Times.
Is There Still a Print Edition in 2026?
Short answer: No.
If you're looking for the Bridgeton Evening News NJ in physical form, that ship has sailed. In fact, even the "successor" paper, the South Jersey Times, has moved on. In late 2024, NJ Advance Media announced a massive shift. They decided to stop printing physical newspapers altogether for several of their iconic brands, including the South Jersey Times and even the massive Star-Ledger.
The final print editions hit the driveways on February 2, 2025.
Now, in 2026, everything is digital. If you want "Bridgeton news," you're looking at a screen. It’s efficient, sure. It’s fast. But you can't exactly wrap a fish in a PDF, can you?
Where to Find Bridgeton News Today
Just because the 140-year-old paper is gone doesn't mean the news stopped happening. Bridgeton is a busy place. You still need to know about the warehouse collapses, the local high school sports scores, and what the City Council is up to.
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Here is where the local coverage actually lives now:
- NJ.com (South Jersey Times Section): This is the official home for the journalists who used to work at the local papers. It’s where the big "investigative" stuff usually lands.
- The Bridgeton Beacon: A newer, digital-first outlet that has really stepped up to fill the void. They even have a podcast. It feels a bit more like the old-school "neighborhood" vibe.
- Cumberland County Government Site: If you need the dry stuff—rabies clinic schedules, election results, or public notices—this is the source.
- Social Media Groups: "Bridgeton Community" Facebook groups are basically the new front porch. Just... take the rumors with a grain of salt.
Tracking Down the Archives (Genealogy & History)
Maybe you aren't looking for today's weather. Maybe you're looking for an obituary from 1954 or a photo of the 1972 Thanksgiving Day parade.
The good news is that the Bridgeton Evening News NJ hasn't been erased. The history is preserved, but you have to know where to look.
Basically, the Lummis Library in Greenwich is your best friend. The Cumberland County Historical Society recently completed a massive project to digitize the paper. You can actually sit down and scroll through decades of local history.
If you can't make it to Greenwich, the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton keeps microfilm reels. Also, the Library of Congress "Chronicling America" project has bits and pieces of historical Bridgeton papers, though they focus more on the Bridgeton Pioneer and earlier 19th-century rags.
Why the Loss of the "Evening News" Matters
It’s easy to say, "Who cares? It’s all online."
But something changes when a town loses its specific daily paper. The Bridgeton Evening News was a "common square." Everyone read the same thing at the same time. Today, the news is fragmented. You might see a post on X (formerly Twitter), while your neighbor is reading a blog, and your cousin is just watching the 6 o'clock news from Philly.
We lose that shared narrative.
Plus, there's the "Accountability Gap." A dedicated local reporter used to sit in every boring zoning board meeting. Now? Those meetings often go uncovered unless something controversial happens.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed in Bridgeton
If you live in Bridgeton or have family there, don't let the lack of a physical paper leave you in the dark. Here is how you stay "in the know" in 2026:
- Subscribe to the NJ.com Digital Feed: It’s not free, but it supports the remaining local journalists who are actually covering Cumberland County.
- Visit the Cumberland County Library: They have digital access to many archives that would normally be behind a paywall. Plus, they are a hub for local events.
- Check the "Bridgeton Beacon": Support the independent guys. They often catch the smaller, hyper-local stories that the big NJ.com machine misses.
- Bookmark the County News Landing Page: For official "official" news, go straight to the source at cumberlandcountynj.gov.
The Bridgeton Evening News NJ might be a ghost of the past, but the community it served is still very much alive. It just takes a little more effort to find the story these days.