Middlesex was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1913, from portions of Piscataway, based on the results of a referendum held on May 6, 1913.[21] The borough’s name derives from Middlesex, England.[22][23]
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]
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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
Mantua Township was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1853 from portions of Greenwich Township. Portions of the township were taken to form East Greenwich Township (February 10, 1881) and Pitman (May 24, 1905).[21] The township is named after Mantua, in Italy[22] or for a Mantua sub-tribe of the Lenape Native Americans.[23][24]