Category Archives: NJ Cities Gates services

What is now Old Bridge Township was originally incorporated as Madison Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 2, 1869, from portions of South Amboy Township (now City of South Amboy).[28] In a referendum held on November 5, 1975, voters approved changing the township’s name to Old Bridge Township by a margin of 7,150 votes to 4,888.[29][30] The township’s name was changed to avoid confusion with the borough of Madison in Morris County.[29][24] After the township was established, the area was made up primarily of farms and the population grew slowly. In 1880, the population was 1,662 and in 1950 it had reached 7,365. Over the next decade, a building boom started and farms gave way to developments, and the population grew to 22,772 by 1960. The 1980 census cited 51,406 people. The township saw major changes with the extension of Route 18 to the shore.

Based on data from the 2010 census, among places with a population above 50,000, West New York was the second-most densely populated municipality in the United States, with more than 52,800 people per square mile.[17]

Gloucester Township was formed on June 1, 1695, while the area was still part of Gloucester County. It was incorporated as one of New Jersey’s first 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. It became part of the newly created Camden County upon its formation on March 13, 1844. Portions of the township have been taken over the years to form Union Township (November 15, 1831; dissolved on February 25, 1868, with remaining land chartered as Gloucester City), Winslow Township (March 8, 1845) and Clementon Township (February 24, 1903; dissolved on May 16, 1941, into Laurel Springs).[21] Geographically, the township is part of the South Jersey region.

East Brunswick was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1860, from portions of both Monroe Township and North Brunswick Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Washington town within the township (February 23, 1870; became independent as South River on February 28, 1898), Helmetta (March 20, 1888), Milltown (January 29, 1889) and Spotswood (April 15, 1908).[23]

At the time of European colonization the area was the territory of Hackensack tribe of the Lenape Native Americans,[17] who maintained a settlement, Espatingh, on the west side of the hills[18][19][20] and where a Dutch trading post was established after the Peach Tree War.[21] In 1658, Peter Stuyvesant, then Director-General of New Netherland, repurchased from them the area now encompassed by the municipalities of Hudson County east of the Hackensack River. In 1660 he granted permission to establish the semi-autonomous colony of Bergen, with the main village located at today’s Bergen Square, considered to be the first chartered municipality in what would become the state of New Jersey.[22] At the time, the area of North Bergen was heavily forested, traversed by paths used by the indigenous and colonizing population and became known as Bergen Woods, a name recalled in today’s neighborhood of Bergenwood.

West Orange was originally part of the Native American Hackensack clan’s territory, for over 10,000 years. The Hackensack were a phratry of the Unami tribe of the Leni Lenape. In their language, “Leni Lenape” means, “The Original People.” The Acquackanonk sub-tribe were located along the Passaic River. They were part of the Algonquin language family, and known as “Delaware Indians” by the 18th century. They identified themselves with the totem of the Turtle. They were hunter-gatherers, matrilineal, and had cultural traditions such as wedding ceremonies. Northfield Ave and Old Indian Road in West Orange, remain as original Hackensack trails. Their main settlement was where the city of Hackensack is today. They would travel to the ocean or mountains to hunt for food. The Passaic River runs in an upside-down V shape—8 miles (13 km) west and east, and 13 miles (21 km) north of West Orange. In the centuries prior to industrial development, the Passaic River and Watchung Mountains were major geographic landmarks amidst the untouched wilderness.

As of the 2020 United States Census, the township had a total population of 95,438,[10] with the township ranking as the eighth-most-populous municipality in the state in 2020 (same place as in 2010)[21] and the second most-populous municipality in Ocean County (behind Lakewood Township, which had a population of 135,158).[22] The 2020 population increased by 4,199 (+4.6%) from the 91,239 counted in the 2010 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,533 (+1.7%) from the 89,706 counted in the 2000 Census, and by 13,335 (+17.5%) from the 76,371 counted in the 1990 Census.[23]

Hamilton was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 11, 1842, from portions of the now-defunct Nottingham Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Chambersburg borough (April 1, 1872, annexed by Trenton in 1888) and Wilbur borough (April 24, 1891, annexed by Trenton in 1898).[25] Hamilton Township derives its name from the village of Hamilton Square, which might have been named for Alexander Hamilton.[26][27]

Trenton dates back at least to June 3, 1719, when mention was made of a constable being appointed for Trenton while the area was still part of Hunterdon County. Boundaries were recorded for Trenton Township as of March 2, 1720.[26] A courthouse and jail were constructed in Trenton around 1720, and the Freeholders of Hunterdon County met annually in Trenton.[27]

Clifton was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 26, 1917, replacing Acquackanonk Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.[23] Clifton is listed under five different ZIP codes. 07011, 07012, 07013, 07014, and 07015.[24]