Author Archives: njgate

What is now South River was originally formed as the town of Washington within East Brunswick Township on February 23, 1870. South River was incorporated as an independent borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1898, replacing Washington town.[21][22] It was named after the South River, which marks the borough’s eastern and northeastern boundary.[23][24]

The name “Pequannock”, as used in the name of the township and of the Pequannock River, is thought to have been derived from the Lenni Lenape Native American word Paquettahhnuake, meaning “cleared land ready or being readied for cultivation”.[21][22][23][24][25] The name “Pompton” has been cited by some sources to mean “a place where they catch soft fish”.[26][27]

As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city’s population was 15,188[23] a decrease from 16,116 in 2010,[24][25][26] reflecting a decline of 814 (−4.8%) from the 16,930 counted in the 2000 census, which had in turn increased by 131 (+0.8%) from the 16,799 counted in the 1990 census.[27]

Highland Park was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1905, when it broke away from what was then known as Raritan Township (present-day Edison).[20] The borough was named for its location above the Raritan River.[21]

[19][20][21][22] As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough’s population was 13,574,[23][24][24][25] reflecting an increase of 734 (+5.7%) from the 12,840 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 36 (+0.3%) from the 12,804 counted in the 1990 Census.[26]

Fairview was formed on December 19, 1894, from portions of Ridgefield Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.[20][21] The borough was formed during the “Boroughitis” phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.[22] The borough is named for its view of the Hackensack River valley.[23]

While the area of today’s Branchburg has a history antedating the American Revolutionary War, the township itself was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 5, 1845, from portions of Bridgewater Township.[20] The township is named for its location at a point where branches of the Raritan River merge.[21]

Ramsey was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 10, 1908, from portions of Hohokus Township (whose remnants are now Mahwah Township). Additional territory was annexed from Waldwick in 1921, and portions of the borough were ceded to Saddle River in 1925.[21]

Hammonton was settled in 1812 and was named for John Hammond Coffin, a son of one of the community’s earliest settlers, William Coffin, with the “d” in what was originally “Hammondton” disappearing over time.[22][23] It was incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1866, from portions of Hamilton Township and Mullica Township.[24] It is located directly between Philadelphia and the resort town of Atlantic City, along a former route of the Pennsylvania Railroad that is used by NJ Transit’s Atlantic City Line.

Located just north of the historic town of Morristown (separated by a thin strip of Morris Township) and adjacent to the regional Morristown Municipal Airport, Hanover Township offers many public attractions including the Whippany Railway Museum,[22] the Frelinghuysen Arboretum[23] and the Morris County Library. Patriots’ Path, a wilderness walkway and bike trail that stretches for 26 miles (42 km), also passes through the township along the Whippany River.[24]