Author Archives: njgate

Greenwich Township, Warren County, New Jersey

Greenwich Township has at various times been a part of most of Northwestern New Jersey’s counties. The township was first mentioned in official documents on October 9, 1738, as a part of Hunterdon County. On March 15, 1739, it became part of the newly formed Morris County. On January 22, 1750, portions of the township were taken to form Hardwick Township. On June 8, 1753, Sussex County was created, and Greenwich Township was shifted again. Portions of the township were taken on May 30, 1754, to form both Mansfield Township and Oxford Township. The township was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. It found its current home when Warren County was formed on November 20, 1824. On April 8, 1839, portions of the township were taken to create Franklin Township and Harmony Township. On March 7, 1851, Phillipsburg was created from parts of Greenwich, and Pohatcong Township went off on its own as of January 1, 1882.[21] The township was named for Greenwich, England.[22]

Independence Township, New Jersey

Independence Township was originally created on November 11, 1782, from Hardwick Township, while the area was still part of Sussex County, and was incorporated as one of the state’s initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Most of Independence Township became part of the newly created Warren County on November 20, 1824, with the remainder becoming part of Green Township in Sussex County. Portions of the township were taken to form Hackettstown (March 9, 1853) and Allamuchy Township (April 4, 1873).[20] The township was named for American independence.[21]

Rochelle Park, New Jersey

What is now Rochelle Park was originally incorporated as Midland Township on March 7, 1871, from portions of New Barbadoes Township. Portions of the township were taken to form the boroughs of Delford (on March 8, 1894; now Oradell), Maywood (June 30, 1894), Riverside (also June 30, 1894; now River Edge) and Paramus (March 2, 1922). Rochelle Park was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 5, 1929, replacing Midland Township, based on the results of a referendum held on that same day that passed by a 503–69 margin.[20] The main impetus behind the change in name was to avoid confusion with the nearby community of Midland Park.[21] The township was named for the port city of La Rochelle, France.[22][23]

Union Beach, New Jersey

Union Beach was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 16, 1925, from portions of Raritan Township (now Hazlet), based on the results of a referendum held on April 16, 1925.[21] A 100-acre (40 ha) farm in the future borough was owned by the Poole family since the days of the American Revolutionary War. Following the development of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, the Poole Farm became the site of the Union Subdivision in 1908,[22] while an area that had been called East Point Beach Estates was renamed Union Beach by developer Charles Carr in 1920.[23]