Histories and Origins of New Jersey and its Counties

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NEW JERSEY was originally settled by Dutch Colonists.  It was part of NEW YORK and the area at that time was called NEW NETHERLANDS.  The Dutch surrendered to the English in 1664. Charles II of England granted James Duke of York, the land between the Delaware and Hudson Rivers. In 1665 the Duke of York granted the land to Sir George Carteret and John Lord Berkeley.  This new land was named NOVA CAESAREA by the Duke of York.  In 1676 a company of English Quakers acquired the land rights belonging to Lord Berkley.  At this time the Colony became divided between  Phillip Carteret and the Quakers.  NEW JERSEY was divided into the EAST JERSEY PROVINCE and the WEST JERSEY PROVINCE. The 4 original counties in the EAST JERSEY PROVINCE were: BERGEN, ESSEX, MIDDLESEX, and MONMOUTH. OLD GLOUCESTER County was the first County established in the WEST JERSEY PROVINCE.  In 1702 NEW JERSEY was reunited as a crown colony along with NEW YORK and under the rule of the Royal Governor of New York.  NEW JERSEY was seperated from NEW YORK for a second time in 1702.  Lewis Morris became NEW JERSEY'S Royal Governor.  NEW JERSEY one of the thirteen original colonies became the third state in 1787.

A brief history of New Jersey

Atlantic County

Bergen County

BERGEN COUNTY was one of the original counties of the East Jersey Province. The Assembly of the East Jersey Province divided the area into four original counties in 1682.  They were BERGEN, ESSEX, MIDDLESEX, & MONMOUTH.   BERGEN COUNTY was established in December of 1682 and formed March 7, 1683.  It originally included the area that is known today as HUDSON COUNTY and part of the area that is today part of PASSAIC COUNTY.  Then on October 31, 1693 BERGEN COUNTY became divided into Hackensack and Bergen Townships.  On January 21, 1710 BERGEN COUNTY gained New Barbadoes Township from ESSEX COUNTY & this area became the County seat. On February 7, 1837 a western portion of BERGEN COUNTY was transferred to PASSAIC COUNTY.  On February 22, 1840 HUDSON COUNTY was formed from a Southern portion of BERGEN COUNTY.

Burlington County

BURLINGTON COUNTY was established in part of the West Jersey Province in 1681.  Its boundry was set with GLOUCESTER COUNTY in 1692.  In 1693 the boundry was repealed.  In 1694 BURLINGTON was officially designated as a County in the West Jersey Province.  BURLINGTON'S original townships were: Burlington, Chester, Chesterfield, Evesham, Mansfield, Northampton, Nottingham, Springfield, & Willingboro. In 1710 part of BURLINGTON COUNTY was set off to form HUNTERDON COUNTY.  In 1838 Nottingham Township was set off to MERCER COUNTY.  In 1891 Little Egg Harbor Township was set off from BURLINGTON COUNTY and given to OCEAN COUNTY.  In 1902 parts of CAMDEN & ATLANTIC COUNTIES were given to BURLINGTON COUNTY.

Camden County

Special thanks goes to Paul Schopp for this information on Camden County

CAMDEN COUNTY was erected out of GLOUCESTER COUNTY on March 13, 1844.  At that time Washington Township was included.  In 1871 most of Washington Township was returned to GLOUCESTER COUNTY to balance out representational districting.  The Small portion that remained in CAMDEN COUNTY was added to Gloucester Township. TOWNSHIPS INCLUDED IN TODAY'S CAMDEN COUNTY PRIOR TO ITS FORMATION: *Gloucestertown- formed by Burlington Court in 1685. *Waterford- original township in Gloucester County formed in 1695. *Newton- original township in Gloucester Township formed in 1695. *Gloucester- Original township in Gloucester Township formed 1695. *Camden City- formed February 13, 1828 with Newton Township/ *Union- formed as a township November 15, 1831 from Gloucester   Township and Gloucestertown Township. *Camden Township- formed March 1, 1832 from Newton Township;   co-existent with Camden City.  Dissolved February 25, 1848   to become part of Camden City. *Delaware- formed as a township February 25, 1844 by dividing   Waterford Township in half; the westerly portion becoming   Delaware. TOWNSHIPS INCLUDED IN TODAY'S CAMDEN COUNTY SINCE ITS FORMATION: The formation of Camden County included the following political sub-divisions extant at the time : Camden City, Delaware Township, Gloucester Township, Newton Township, Union Township, Waterford Township( all described above) and Washington Township. *Washington- formed as a township from Deptford Township in Gloucester County on February 17, 1836; given to Camden county  upon its formation in 1844; most retrned to Gloucester county in 1871.  During its existence with Camden county, Washington Township was divided to form Monroe Township in Gloucester county in 1859. *Winslow- formed as a township March 8, 1845 from Gloucester Township. *Delaware- in 1852, Delaware annexed Petty's Island from Newton Township. *Centre- formed as a township March 6, 1855 from Union Township. *Stockton- formed as a township February 23, 1859 from the western portion of Delaware. *Haddon- formed as a township February 23, 1865 from the eastern portion of Newton Township. *Gloucester City- formed as a city February 25, 1868, replacing the remainder of Union Township. *Newton- in 1871, Newton Township dissolved with most of its land going to Camden City and the remainder going to Haddon Township. *Merchantville- formed as a borough March 3, 1874; first borough form of government in Camden County. *Haddonfield- formed as a borough within Haddon Township April 6, 1875; seperated from Haddon Township about 1894. *Chesilhurst- formed as a borough on November 26, 1887 from Winslow and Waterford townships. *Collingswood- formed as a borough May 22, 1888 from Haddon Township. *Pennsauken- formed as a township February 1892 from Stockton Township. *Stockton Town- formed May 1, 1894 from the remainder of Stockton Township; annexed to Camden City on March 24, 1899. *Voorhees- formed as a township on March 1, 1899 from Waterford Township. *Woodlynne- formed as a borough on March 19, 1901 from Haddon Township. *Clementon- formed as a township February 24, 1903 from Gloucester Township. *Haddon Heights- formed as a borough March 2, 1904 from Centre and Haddon townships. *Audobon- formed as a borough in March 13, 1905 from Haddon Township. *Oaklyn- formed as a borough on March 13, 1905 from Haddon Township. *Berlin Township- formed as a township April 11, 1910 from Waterford Township. *Laurel Springs- formed as a borough April 2, 1913 from Clementon Township. *Magnolia- formed as a borough April 14, 1915 from Clemton and Centre Townships. *Barrington- formed as a borough March 27, 1917 from Centre Township. *Camden City- on May 17, 1918, the city annexed part of Haddon Township; this was Yorkship village and is now known as Fairview. *Tavistock- formed as a borough Fenruary 16, 1921 from Centre Township. *Gibbsboro- formed as a borough March 8, 1924 from Voorhees Township. *Booklawn- formed as a borough on March 11, 1924 from Centre Township. *Clementon- formed as a borough on February 13, 1925 from Clementon Township. *Stratford- formed as a borough February 13, 1925 from Clementon Township. *Bellmawr- formed as a borough March 23, 1926 from Centre Township. *Mount Ephraim- formed as a borough March 23, 1926 from Centre Township. *Lawnside- formed as a borough March 24, 1926 from Centre Township and Barrington borough. *Berlin- formed as a borough March 29, 1927 from Berlin Township. *Hi-Nella- formed as a borough April 23, 1929 from Clementon Township. *Lindenwold- formed as a borough April 23, 1929 from Clementon Township. *Pine Hill- formed as a borough on April 23, 1929 from Clementon Township. *Pine Valley- formed as a borough April 23, 1929 from Clementon Township. *Somerdale- formed as a borough April 23, 1929 from Clementon Township. *Clementon- township dissolved May 16, 1941 with the remaining land going to Laurel Springs borough. *Audobon Park- formed as a borough July 3, 1947 from Audobon borough. *Cherry Hill- formed as a township November 7, 1961; replacing Delaware Township.

Cape May County

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The area that would become Atlantic County was originally known as Egg Harbor. It was part of Old Gloucester County. Somers Point was the first settlement in the lands of what would become Atlantic County. Somers Point was settled in 1693. It was named after John Somers who was a member of the Quaker Society of Friends.  John Somers was appointed by the Cape May County Court as the constable of Great Egg Harbor.  His appointment also made him supervisor of the roads. In 1695 John Somers along with a group of his fellow Quakers purchased 3000 acres of land surrounding Somers Point. In February of 1837 Atlantic County was officially established out of Gloucester County.  At that time the only official townships that made up the area were Galloway, Hamilton, Weymouth, and Egg Harbor Townships. *Pleasantville was originally a part of Egg Harbor Township, the area became a borough in 1888. *Egg Harbor City was established in 1856.

Click here to read a history of the borough of Maywood, including information on the history of Hackensack and New Barbadoes.

Click here to read a history of Pine Hill.

This information on Cape May County Comes from the book: The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundries, 1606-1968 by: John P. Snyder 1685- Cape May County Court system established. 1692- (November 12) Cape May County given boundries in the west. 1694- (May 17) Boundries changed to transfer Great Egg Harbor area to           Gloucester County. 1710- (January 21) Boundry changed. 1723- (April 2) Divided into upper, middle, and lower precincts. 1822- (November 28) Boundry with Cumberland County Clarified. 1844- (March 13) Part of Cumberland County added. 1845- (February 26) above part of Cumberland County returned. 1846- (April 10) Water boundry established. 1878- (March 26) Part of Maurice River Township, Cumberland County,          added to Upper Township, Cape May County. 1891- (April 2) Part of Maurice River Township, Cumberland County,          added to Dennis Township, Cape May County. 1906- (May 17) Coastal boundry established.

Cumberland County

Cumberland County was created in 1748 from Salem County.  On January 30, 1748 the Colonial Legislature passed and act establishing the east side of Salem County to be formed into a new county that would be called Cumberland County.  It was given the name Cumberland County by the Governor, Jonathan Belcher who named it in honor of the Duke of Cumberland.  The newly formed Coumberland County was divided into six townships: Deerfield, Fairfield, Greenwich, Hopewell,  Maurice River, and Stowe Creek.

Essex County

Essex County was formed in 1683 from the province of East Jersey.  It was one of the six original County's fromed within this province.  In 1837 part of Passaic County was formed from a northern portion of Essex County.  In 1857 Union County was formed from the southern portion of Essex County.  Elizabethtown (known today as the City of Elizabeth) was formed in 1664.  This was origianally part of Essex County and would later become part of Union County when it was split off in 1857. Towship origins *1666- The founders of Newark bought the land from the Indians.  *1683- Essex County formally established. *1793- The township of Springfield was formed from part of Elizabethtown           and Newark. *1798- The Horseneck Track was seperated from Newark. The present           day towns included in that area are: West Caldwell, North Caldwell,           Caldwell, Verona, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Essex Falls, Roseland,             and Livingston. *1806- The township of Orange is formed at the foot of the Orange           Mountains.  *1812- Bllomfield Township is incorporated.  The original township             included the present towns of: Bellville, Glen Ridge, Montclair, and          Nutley. *1813- A section of Springfield and Caldwell known as "Spring Brook" is           joined to form Livingston. *1834- Clinton Township is formed from Southern Newark, half of Orange,           and a small portion of Elizabeth. *1839- The eastern third of Bloomfield, formally known as the Second           River section is taken to form Bellville. *1852- Irvington, originally known as Camptown , if formed from Clinton           Township. *1853- Nutley is formed from part of Bloomfield Township. *1857- Millburn is established as a township. *1863- East Orange is formed from the eastern part of Orange Township. *1868- Montclair is formed from part of Bloomfield Township. *1869- Part of Clinton Township is returned to Newark. *1869- Woodside is formed from part of Bellville. *1869- South Oranage Village is formed from a portion of Orange           Township. *1871- Woodside is returned to Newark. *1877- A section of Millburn known as Short Hills is planned as a           residential village. *1888- Essex Fells is purchased from the Estate of General William Gould. *1889- Vailsburgh s formed from a portion of Newark. *1892- A small section of South Orange Township is returned to Newark. *1892- Caldwell is formed.  It originally contained the towns known today           as North Caldwell and West Caldwell. *1895- Glen Ridge is formed from a section of Bloomfield Township. *1897- More sections of Clinton Township are returned to Newark. *1898- North Caldwell is officially established from Caldwell. *1902- The remaining section of Clinton Township is returned to Newark. *1904- West Cladwell is officially established from Caldwell. *1907- Vailsburgh is returned to Newark. *1907- Verona is formed from part of Caldwell. *1908- A small part of the section of South Orange Township known as          Maplewood is returned to Newark. *1908- Cedar Grove is established from part of Verona. *1908- Roseland is formed from part of Livingston. *1922- Maplewood is formed from part of South Orange Township. *1964- Fairfield is formed from Caldwell.

Click here to read more about the history of Newark.

Gloucester County

Old Gloucester County was formed on May 26, 1686 from the third and fourth tenths of the Province of West Jersey.  The original townships at that time were Deptford, Egg Harbor, Gloucester, Greenwich, Newton, and Waterford.  It also included present day Atlantic County and Camden County.  The Township of Washington which is todays largest township in Gloucester County, was incorporated on February 17, 1836.  The Township of Washington was moved to Camden County in March of 1844. The Township was moved back into Gloucester County on February 28, 1871.  Those interested in the history of Gloucester county should read the information above on Camden county as their history is intertwined.

Click here to read more about the history of the Township of Washington.

Hudson County

On February 22, 1840 a southern portion of Bergen County, which included the ancient settlement of Bergen was set off and established as Hudson County.  The original Jersey City was located in what was called the "Paulus Hook" section and was incorporated officially into Jersey City in 1820. It became independent of Bergen in 1840.  The area that surrounded this early Jersey City was known as Van Vorst and became independent of Bergen in 1843.  Van Vorst became part of Jersey City on March 18, 1851. In 1843 the original Bergen Township divided into Bergen and North Bergen.  The town of Hudson was seperated from North Bergen in 1852. Bayonne was seperated from Bergen in 1852 and Greenville was seperated from Bergen Township in 1853. Circa 1867 the idea of merging all of Hudson County into one municipality of Jersey City made the rounds.  In 1869 a vote was held about the merger. The townships at the time participating in the vote were: Jersey City, Hudson City, Bergen Township, Hoboken, Bayonne, Greenville, Weehawken, West Hoboken, North Bergen, Union Township, and the Town of Union. While the outcome of the overall vote was in favor as uniting as one municipality only the towns whose overall vote was in favor would actually consolidate and they had to be coninuous location wise. The only continuous approving towns were: Jersey City, Bergen Township, and Hudson City. On March 17, 1870 Jersey City, Bergen Township, and Hudson City merged into Jersey City.  Both the Town of Union and Union Township (who were overall in favor of the merger) could not consolidate with Jersey City due to the dissenting vote of West Hoboken, which laid between them and Hudson City.  Greenville also voted against the merger, but in 1873 they agreed and merged into Jersey City as well. In 1895 the borough of East Newark was established from what was then the first ward of the town of Kearny.  The citizens of that area felt their interests were being neglected and thus they broke away and established East Newark.

Click here to read a history of Harrison

Hunterdon County

Hunterdon County was originally part of Burlington County in the West Jersey Province.  On March 11, 1714 an enactment by the General Assembly set Hunterdon County off from Burlington County.  The original Hunterdon County consisted of a vast territory which was nearly four time the size of present day Hunterdon County. Hunterdon was originally defined as the lands and upper parts of of the western division of the province of New Jersey, lying northwards of Assunpink Brook.  This territory embraced all the land from the Assunpink to to the boundry line between the provinces of New York and New Jersey.  Nearly 100% of present day Mercer, Morris, Warren, and Sussex were contained within the original Hunterdon County. Morris County was created in 1739. Sussex County was created in 1753. Warren County was created in 1824 out of Sussex County Mercer County was established in 1838.

Click here to read a history of the Township of Califon.

Mercer County

Mercer County was created in 1838 from parts of Burlington, Hunterdon, Milddlesex, and Somerset Counties. History of East Windsor Township *1675 Settlers receive permission to form Middlesex County in the province of New Jersey. Perth Amboy serves as the county seat. *Starting in 1702 the land that would become East Windsor Township is bought, sold, and settled. *1750 On March 9th, King George II of Great Britain creates the Township of Windsor in the southern part of Middlesex County. The Township includes all the land between Princeton and Allentown. *1797 After residents disagree about how to maintain public roads, the New Jersey Legislature divides Windsor Township into East Windsor and West Windsor. *1798 The New Jersey Legislature formally incorporates East Windsor Township on February 22nd. The Township Committee holds its first meeting in Rescarrick Moore's tavern. *1838 East Windsor becomes part of Mercer County after the New Jersey Legislature creates Mercer from parts of Burlington, Hunterdon, and Middlesex Counties. The new county is named in honor of Revolutionary General Hugh Mercer, who died during the Battle of Princeton. *1853 The New Jersey Legislature incorporates the Borough of Hightstown from land in East Windsor Township. History of Hamilton Township *In 1686, the Township of Nottingham was organized. *In 1842, the name was changed to Hamilton Township. History of Lawrence Township *Lawrence Township was founded in 1697 and was known as Maidenhead, named by the early Quaker settlers after a Thames River village later incorporated into the City of London. Originally Maidenhead was part of Burlington County and the state of West Jersey. In 1714, the Township became part of the newly-constituted Hunterdon County *The Township was legally incorporated through an act of the State legislature in 1798. In 1816, the municipality was renamed Lawrence, after Captain James Lawrence, commander of the frigate Chesapeake and one of the naval heroes of the War of 1812 History of Princeton Borough *Settled in the late 17th century, it was named Prince-Town in honor of Prince William of Orange and Nassau. In 1756 it became the home of the College of New Jersey - now Princeton University - with the entire college housed in Nassau Hall, the largest academic building in the colonies. *The Battle of Princeton, fought in a nearby field in January of 1777, proved to be a decisive victory for General George Washington and his troops. Two of Princeton's leading citizens signed the Declaration of Independence, and during the summer of 1783, the Continental Congress met in Nassau Hall making Princeton the country's capital for four months.

Click here for more information and history on  East Windsor Township.

Click here for more information and history of Hamilton Township.

Click here for more information and history of Lawrence Township.

Click here for more information and history of Princeton Borough

Click here for more information on all the towns in Mercer County.

Middlesex County

Middlesex County was formed in 1683 from the Province of East Jersey.  Somerset County split from Middlesex County in 1688.  Part of Mercer County was formed from part of Middlesex County in 1838.

Click here for a history of Fairlawn.