Author Archives: njgate

The Lenape Native Americans who settled on the banks of the Rancocas Creek in what is present-day Hainesport called the area Sandhickney.[20] The first European settlers were Quakers who arrived in 1677.[20]

Oceanport was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 6, 1920, from portions of Eatontown Township (now Eatontown), based on the results of a referendum held on May 11, 1920.[20]

Little Silver was established with a King’s land grant in 1663 and settled in 1667.[20] Little Silver was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 19, 1923, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 28, 1923.[21]

Logan Township was originally formed as West Woolwich Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1877, from portions of Woolwich Township. That name lasted just less than a year, as the name was changed to Logan Township as of March 6, 1878.[19]

Maurice River Township was first formed as a precinct on January 19, 1748, and was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey’s initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to form Millville on March 1, 1866.[20] The township derives its name from Maurice, Prince of Orange.[21][22]

Lebanon Township is the extreme northern township of Hunterdon County. It borders both Warren and Morris Counties. When Lebanon Township was created in 1731, its original borders extended from the Musconetcong River to Readington Township.[18]

Watchung was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 23, 1926, from portions of North Plainfield Township (now Green Brook Township) based on the results of a referendum held on April 20, 1926.[21][22] The name “Watchung” comes from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans, meaning “high hills”[23] or from “watschu,” meaning “hill.”[24]

Union was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 17, 1853, from portions of Bethlehem Township. Clinton Town was formed on April 5, 1865, within portions of the township, and became an independent municipality in 1895.[21] The township was named for Union Furnace, which was producing iron from 1742 until the 1780s.[3] The name “Union” was chosen over the alternative “Rockhill”, which was a community at the southern end of the township.[22]

The township is one of six municipalities in New Jersey under the name Washington (one of which is a borough, five of which are townships). Washington Township, Warren County completely surrounds the borough of Washington. Mansfield Township, also in Warren County, borders both this municipality and another Washington Township in Morris County.

Shamong was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 19, 1852, from portions of Medford Township, Southampton Township and Washington Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Woodland Township (March 7, 1866) and Tabernacle Township (March 22, 1901).[19] In April 1902, portions of Hammonton and Waterford Township were annexed to the township.[20] The township’s name comes from Native American terms meaning “place of the big horn”, from the words oschummo (“horn”) and onk (“place”).[21][22]