Category Archives: NJ Cities Gates services

What is now Emerson was originally formed on April 8, 1903, from portions of Washington Township as the Borough of Etna, the name of a railroad station in the community.[22] The name was changed to Emerson as of March 9, 1909.[3][23] The name came from author Ralph Waldo Emerson.[24][25] The borough calls itself “The Family Town”.[26]

Rumson was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1907, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, based on results of a referendum held on June 18, 1907.[20][21]

It is known as the “doughnut” around Chester Borough since it completely surrounds it, making it part of 21 pairs of “doughnut towns” in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.[19] The township’s name is derived from Chestershire in England.[20] It is located within the Raritan Valley region.

What is now the City of Brigantine has passed through a series of names and re-incorporations since it was first created. The area was originally incorporated as Brigantine Beach Borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 14, 1890, from portions of Galloway Township, based on the results of a referendum held on June 3, 1890. On April 23, 1897, the area was reincorporated as the City of Brigantine City. This name lasted until April 9, 1914, when it was renamed the City of East Atlantic City. On March 16, 1924, Brigantine was incorporated as a city, replacing East Atlantic City and incorporating further portions of Galloway Township.[23] The borough was named for the many shipwrecks in the area, including those of brigantines.[24][25][26]

Mountainside was incorporated as a borough on September 25, 1895, from portions of Westfield Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.[20]

Dunellen was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 28, 1887, when it broke away from Piscataway Township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 23, 1886. Dunellen’s incorporation was confirmed on April 15, 1914.[18] The borough was named for the Dunellen station of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.[19]

The area became known as “Barrington” in the 1880s, when William Simpson, one of the partners that developed the area, chose the name from his home in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.[20]

Wharton was originally incorporated as the borough Port Oram by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 26, 1895, created from portions of Randolph Township and Rockaway Township, subject to the results of a referendum passed on the previous day; the name was changed to Wharton on April 16, 1902, based on a referendum held that day and subject to legislation passed on March 27, 1902.[16][17][18] The borough was named for Joseph Wharton of the Wharton Steel Company.[19][20]

The borough’s name is derived from the Raritans, a Native American group of Lenapes.[21] The name of the tribe is said to mean “forked river”,[22] “stream overflows” or “point on a tidal river”.[23][24]

In 1666, 64 Connecticut families led by Robert Treat bought land from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans and named it New Ark to reflect a covenant to worship freely without persecution. The territory included the future towns of Bloomfield, Montclair, Belleville and Nutley. When Bloomfield was established in 1812, Glen Ridge was a section “on the hill” composed mostly of farms and woodlands with the exception of a thriving industrial area along Toney’s Brook in the glen.[20] For most of the nineteenth century, three water-powered mills produced lumber, calico, pasteboard boxes and brass fittings. A copper mine and a sandstone quarry were located on the north side of the brook.[21]