About the Hunterdon County, New Jersey Area 

With a history stretching back to 1714, Hunterdon County’s scenic beauty, terrific recreational opportunities, and charming historic towns and villages make it one of New Jersey’s best-kept secrets. Less than two hours from Manhattan or Philadelphia, the county’s population of approximately 125,000 located in 26 municipalities enjoy clean, safe, close-knit communities with a rural character and steadily-growing shopping areas, including some of the nation’s largest and best outlet shopping environments. 

Location
Hunterdon County lies on the western edge of the state of New Jersey and is part of the New York metropolitan area. 

Geography/Terrain
Hunterdon County lies mostly in the Delaware River Valley and its tributaries. Rural and picturesque with charming small country towns, the county’s rolling wooded hills rise from 40 feet above sea level to an elevation of just over 1000 feet.  

Jobs
Hunterdon County’s population is very highly educated compared with the national average and ranks fourth in the US for household income. Located within easy commuting distance from New York City, Philadelphia and Allentown, Pennsylvania, the County is something of a “bedroom community” for workers who take advantage of the almost limitless opportunities in these urban areas while enjoying the delightful quality of life that the County and its municipalities afford. However many businesses are also attracted by this combination of beauty and accessibility and numerous international corporations have established themselves in the County. Educational, health and social services, and manufacturing are major employers, and tourism is a vibrant local industry. Hunterdon is also known to have some of the best outlet shopping in the country.  

Housing
Improvements in transportation services over the past two decades have increased Hunterdon County’s popularity, making it one of the fastest-growing real estate markets in the state, and bringing the development of extensive new housing, as well as the restoration of the existing rural communities. There is now a wide variety of housing available, including delightful historic Victorian-era homes, mini estates, single family detached homes, condominiums and townhouses. 

Parks and Recreation
With over 4,700 acres of parkland in 18 areas, miles of quiet rural back roads, and twenty-six charming and historic municipalities, Hunterdon County offers visitors and residents a wonderful range of cultural, scenic, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Numerous parks, nature preserves, rivers and lakes provide wonderful hiking and camping, trout and bass fishing, boating, bird-watching, and swimming, while cyclists are thrilled by the County’s safe and scenic country roads. In winter sledding and cross-country skiing are very popular. 

Hunterdon’s towns and villages draw crowds of visitors to see the sights and enjoy fine dining, often in restored historic buildings, or to shop at one of the many outlet stores for which the County has become known. Other attractions include hot air ballooning, winery tours and horse-back riding, while musical, theatrical, and visual artists provide excellent performances and exhibitions throughout the year. 

Golfers have a great range of courses to choose from, and people travel considerable distances to enjoy the challenges and satisfactions of the County’s courses. Heron Glen in the town of Ringoes is one of the highest-rated public courses in the state and is especially popular with women and seniors, while the Stanton Ridge Golf and Country Club features a links-style course with wonderful scenery and some long fairways that will test any golfer’s drive. In the foothills of the Sourland Mountains near Flemington, visitors to the Hillsborough Golf & Country Club may find it difficult to concentrate on their play, so stunning are the views of the Amwell Valley below, but they will be more than satisfied by the test of their skill that the rolling hills, tight fairways, and manicured greens of this par 70 course provide. 

Special Attractions
For 23 years the Lambertville Historical Society’s annual Autumn House Tour has delighted participants with an intimate look at some of the town’s most interesting and carefully preserved historic buildings. More than ten beautiful old houses, inns, churches and farmsteads are visited, and the details of their fascinating history and connections to interesting and famous historical figures are fully explored. 

The 73 acre Hunterdon County Arboretum in Lebanon is the headquarters of Hunterdon County's park system, Begun in 1953 as a commercial nursery growing both native and exotic trees, the Arboretum has been developed to include over two miles of nature trails that wind through beautiful gardens of annual and perennial flowers, unique trees and shrubs, wetlands and quiet evergreen forests. 

For eight weeks during summer Deer Path Park is the venue for weekly outdoor concerts that have entertained Hunterdon County residents and visitors for thirty years. The “Music Under the Stars” concerts are offered by the Parks & Recreation Department and feature nationally and locally known performing jazz, big band, folk, pop, soft rock, barbershop, and symphonic pops. Deer Path Park offers marvelous sunsets and expansive vistas and is the perfect location for an evening picnic with the family. 

Interesting Facts
The history of Hunterdon County is rich and fascinating, with links to the some of the earliest and most significant events in the nation’s history. Solitude House, built around 1725 in the town of High Bridge, later became the centerpiece of the iron plantation that became Union Forge Ironworks, and is now a museum whose exhibits illustrate the history of High Bridge. John Penn, the last royal governor of Pennsylvania was a political prisoner of war at Solitude House during the Revolution. Lambertville’s Marshall House was built in 1816 by Philip Marshall, a member of one of the oldest families in New Jersey and a relative of John Hart, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The house was the boyhood home of Marshall’s son James, who discovered gold in California in 1848 and so began the California Gold Rush.  

The historic Hunterdon County Courthouse in Flemington is the site of a fascinating theatrical re-enactment of the famous and controversial 1935 trial of Bruno Hauptmann, accused and convicted of the murder of the infant son of Charles Lindburgh, the renowned aviator. The hunt for the killer of Charles Lindbergh Jr captivated the nation, and his trial attracted world-wide attention, becoming known as the “trial of the century”. In an annual production a local theater company recreates the atmosphere and details of this sensational historic event. 

Alexandria Township, New Jersey is located in scenic Hunterdon County in western New Jersey. Settled by Europeans in the early 1700s, the township was named for James Alexander who purchased 10,000 acres in this locale in 1744.  In 1765, the split from Bethlehem established the Township of Alexandria. Alexandria includes the historic villages of Everittstown, Mt. Pleasant, Little York and part of Pittstown. Measuring 28.1 square miles, the township presently has about 5,000 residents. Farming still plays an important Alexandria Township, New Jersey is located in scenic Hunterdon County in western New Jersey. Settled by Europeans in the early 1700s, the township was named for James Alexander who purchased 10,000 acres in this locale in 1744.  In 1765, the split from Bethlehem established the Township of Alexandria. Alexandria includes the historic villages of Everittstown, Mt. Pleasant, Little York and part of Pittstown. Measuring 28.1 square miles, the township presently has about 5,000 residents. Farming still plays an important role in the life of residents. Crop, dairy and horse farms continue to dot the countryside.

Bethlehem Township is a small rural community in northwestern New Jersey.  Bethlehem Township, which means "House of Bread," was settled in the 1720s by German, Dutch, English, and Irish immigrants.  The Township's municipal government dates back to 1730.  The Township Committee has been representing the Township's citizens since its creation in 1763.  Today, Bethlehem Township is 21.38 square miles and has a population of 3,993 people. 

Bloomsbury  is located on the south side of the Musconetcong River in the northwest corner of Hunterdon County. The name is derived from the Bloom family, who were influential in the early history of the town. It was once part of Bethlehem Township, but was incorporated as a separate borough in 1905.  The Borough was originally known as "Johnson's Iron Works", named after the charcoal work of Robert Johnson on the north bank of the river. In colonial days, ore from the Musconetcong Mountain was carried down to the river and made into "blooms", masses of wrought iron from the forge. This is another theory of how the Borough received its name.  Bloomsbury is the third smallest municipality in Hunterdon County. While the 20th century saw some expansion of Bloomsbury's residential area - basically following the General character of Bloomsbury as a quiet, tree-lined, small town still remains today. We are proud of community and hope you enjoy your visit.

Califon was a station on the High Bridge Railroad, and although the mills were there for some time, it was quite a while before growth became evident in the mid-nineteenth century. It was first called California, from Jacob Neighbor's enthusiasm in the milling business about the time the California gold-fever broke out. The Borough was formed officially from Lebanon and Tewksbury Townships in 1918.  The Califon Historical Society registered 170 structures with the national Register of Historic Places. A charming Victorian Village. The houses are marked with the names of the builders and their dates of establishment rather than with street numbers.

Clinton’s location in beautiful rural Hunterdon County and the wonderfully rich historical and cultural heritage it shares with neighboring hamlets have earned the town the description as the quintessential American small town. With extraordinary scenery and outdoor recreational opportunities and a close-knit, safe, and friendly community, Clinton’s 2,600 residents enjoy a quality of life that has become rare in modern America, and yet they live not much more than an hour from all that the urban areas of New York and Philadelphia have to offer.  The Town of Clinton is located in central Hunterdon County, in northwest New Jersey. Clinton is not to be confused with the Township of Clinton, which is a separate municipality on its boundary. Both share easy access to major highways including U.S. Routes 78 and 22, and also State Highway Route 31

The Township of Clinton is located in north-central Hunterdon County, itself located in western/northwestern New Jersey. Clinton Township is bordered by the following municipalities: the Townships of Raritan, Readington, Tewksbury, Lebanon and Franklin, and also the Borough of High Bridge and the Town of Clinton (and because of the similar names, it is not uncommon for the Town and the Township to be confused). Added to the list is the Borough of Lebanon (yes, there are also two of those), though unlike the other bordering municipalities, it is not accurate to try to find this municipality on the periphery of Clinton Township; instead, look within the Township's boundaries because it entirely surrounds the Borough. With 33 square miles, the character of the Township remains heavily rural despite considerable housing construction in recent years. The Township's population is estimated at 13,000 residents. Major highways traversing the Township include U.S. Routes 78 and 22, and also State Highway Route 31.

The Township of Delaware lies along the Delaware River forming the western boundary of Hunterdon County. The Delaware and Raritan Canal parallels the Delaware River on the southern border of the township. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 4,478. The historic community of Sergeantsville is located within Delaware Township.  Delaware was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1838, from portions of the now-defunct Amwell Township, based on the results of a referendum held that same day. Portions of the township became Stockton Borough in the late 1800's.  The sole remaining historic covered bridge (abutments constructed in 1750; bridge built in 1872) in New Jersey crosses the Wickecheoke Creek between Sergeantsville and Rosemont.  North of the Delaware the Township remains much as it looked in the 1700s. The rolling fields and picturesque barns belong to farms that have changed little in the last two hundred years.

East Amwell Township is located in the southeastern corner of the County where it borders both Somerset and Mercer Counties. Amwell Township was established by a royal patent from Queen Anne in 1708. Its territory comprised 200 square miles and included the present day Delaware, Raritan, Readington, East and West Amwell Townships and portions of Clinton, Lebanon and Tewksbury Townships. In 1846, Amwell was split into East and West Amwell and in 1954 a final adjustment was made to the two township's boundary lines. 

Flemington, is the county seat of Hunterdon County, where you sense a special quality of life, enjoy small town friendliness, see beautifully restored and preserved architecture, and tke pride in a historic district where 60 percent of the buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a borough where people stroll along its streets, where local residents and tourists mingle exchanging smiles and sharing the Victorian atmosphere. Our Main Street has been touted as one of the prettiest in America, lined with shade trees and a fascinating mix of Greek Revival and Victorian buildings.

Franklin Township is centrally located in Hunterdon County. It was established in 1845 when it was created from Kingwood Township. In its early days Franklin was a Quaker settlement. The most reliable records that are available about the early days of the Township are found in the minutes of the Friends' Meeting in Quakertown. From these documented facts concerning the old families have been gathered, but they do not go back as far as the first settlement.  The Capoolong Creek, which runs through the village of Pittstown, was an attraction to early settlers and they soon established three of the oldest churches in present day Hunterdon: Thomas Episcopal, established in 1723, Bethlehem Presbyterian, organized in 1730 and the Quaker Church in 1733.  Just outside of Pittstown is the Sky Manor Airport, a busy country airport which offers a wide range of activities such as sky diving and hot air ballooning.


Frenchtown Borough is located along the banks of the Delaware River. Various names have been applied to this settlement after the many ferry operators residing on both sides of the river. Alexandria Ville and Frenchtown were the official names by which this community was known. The Borough was formed from Alexandria Township in 1867.  The first bridge across the Delaware at Frenchtown was built in 1844, and the town's prosperity increased as it became a gateway to Pennsylvania.  Surrounding the antique shops, art galleries, craft shops, restaurants and cafes on Race and Bridge Streets is a charming small town with many beautiful old homes, the natural beauty of the river and a walking path, which let you slip away to the past.

Glen Gardner is located at the extreme western border of Lebanon Township and was formed from Lebanon and Bethlehem Townships in 1919. Known for many years as Eveland's Tavern for John Eveland who kept a tavern here, it later became known as Spruce Run Mills and Sodom. The village and post office were officially changed to Glen Gardner in 1871 in honor of the Gardner Brothers who established a chair and frame factory here

Hampton is a charming riverside village on the banks of the Musconetcong River slipped into the twentieth century with little changed since its settlement in 1800. In 1880, the town was comprised of a store, hotel, cabinet manufacturer, blacksmith, wheelwright shop, grist mill, school house and about 25 dwellings. Hampton was once known as Junction because the New Jersey Central and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroads crossed through here.

High Bridge is located in the rolling hills of Northern Hunterdon County, Western New Jersey, High Bridge is quintessentially small town America. Situated midway between New York City and Philadelphia, it is most easily found travelling on Route 78, exit 17, between the Round Valley and Spruce Run Reservoirs. Easily accessible to major roadways including Routes 78, 22, 287, 80, and 31, our Borough offers scenic natural beauty including the Ken Lockwood Gorge as the State's premier fly fishing stream. A section of High Bridge lies within Voorhees State Park that includes the Paul H. Robinson Observatory.

Holland Township is located in the northwestern part of the County. The Delaware River forms its boundary with Pennsylvania and the Musconetcong River its boundary with Warren County. It was created from Alexandria Township in 1874. In 1876 it was remerged with Alexandria Township and separated as a municipality of its own again in 1879.  The Volendam Windmill Museum on Adamic Hill Road is well worth the trip in to this rural area of the County. The windmill is a living museum which demonstrates an authentic model of a mill driven by wind, used for grinding raw grain into flour. The sixty foot structure is seven stories high with sail arms sixty-eight feet from tip to tip.

Kingwood Township  is one of the western townships of the County. It is shaped like a keystone or a wedge with the narrow end to the south. It was originally established around 1746 when it was separated from Bethlehem Township. Its present boundaries were established when Franklin was separated off in 1845 and when part was given to the Borough of Frenchtown in 1876.

Lambertville is located on the Delaware River in the southwestern portion of the county. During the 1700's, the City was named after various operators of ferries across the river to Pennsylvania, ultimately becoming known as Coryell's Ferry, after Emanuel Coryell who owned the Ferry. Coryell's Ferry was the western terminus of the New Jersey portion of the York Road (which is now known as Route 202) connecting New York and Philadelphia. The City was named Lambertville in 1814 when the post office was established and honored the Honorable John Lambert, a local resident and United States Senator.

Lebanon Borough, located north of Round Valley Reservoir and completely surrounded by Clinton township, is only one square mile and has approximately 1,200 residents. Known in the early part of the 19th century as Jacksonville in honor of President Lincoln's Secretary of war, the area has had a number of other names over the years to include - Lebanonville, Lebanonville Depot and finally Lebanon. The Borough was officially formed in 1926.  The center of Lebanon, a charming small Borough, has changed little in the past century.  The Dutch Reformed Church at the corner Brunswick Avenue and Maple Street, now known as the Lebanon Reformed Church, has been serving the spiritual needs of the community since 1747 and is one of the oldest churches in the county.

Lebanon Township is the extreme northern township of Hunterdon County. It borders on both Warren and Morris Counties. Old Lebanon Township was created in 1731. Its original borders were from the Musconetcong River all the way down to Readington Township. Out of this large township were formed the townships of Clinton and Tewksbury as well as High Bridge, Clinton and Glen Gardner Boroughs

Milford is located on the Delaware River in the northwestern portion of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The Borough dates to the mid-18th century when a grist mill was established here. After the mill was destroyed by fire in 1769, the settlement became known as Burnt Mills. The town became commonly known as "Millford" by the beginning of the 19th century but by 1844 had lost one "l". It was incorporated in 1911 but the official incorporation was not registered until 1925.  A special town in its present day, Milford maintains its sense of reality and hometown charm. Many local businesses are family owned and operated. The whole community invites visitors and neighbors to share their pride in "Milford on the Delaware", its heritage and its culture

Raritan Township comprises only a little more than one fourth of the old Amwell Township (embracing the territory of the townships of Raritan, Delaware, East and West Amwell) which was purchased from the Indians in 1703. Raritan was formed from Amwell in 1838. One of the eastern townships of central Hunterdon County, Raritan is rhombic shaped resulting in its extreme northern and western points reaching far into the townships adjoining it to the north and west.

Readington Township was formed on July 15, 1730. It was the first new township created after Hunterdon became a county. Containing almost forty-eight square miles, it remains the largest township in the County. Bounded on the north by the Lamington River and Rockaway Creek; east Somerset County; south, the South Branch of the Raritan River; and west by the old West Jersey Society's line which crosses the Cushetunk Mountains. Early settlement was mainly of Dutch origin.

Stockton, located along the Delaware River north of Lambertville, was first known as Reading Ferry and subsequently Howell's Ferry. With the arrival of the railroad, the name was changed to Centre Bridge Station which corresponded to the post office and hamlet on the Pennsylvania side of the river. With the establishment of its own post office in 1851, the village was renamed Stockton. The Borough was incorporated in 1898, having been separated from Delaware Township.  The tiny town remains today as it was in the eighteenth century. for all its small size and charm, the town is presided over by an old inn. The Stockton Inn (formally known as Colligan's Stockton Inn), established in 1710, is the inn that was immortalized by Richard Rodgers in the song "There's a small hotel with a wishing well", sung in the Broadway play "On Your Toes". The inn was first built as a private residence and it is believed to have been converted in 1832.

Tewksbury Township is situated in the northeastern corner of the County and borders on both Morris and Somerset Counties. It was formed from Lebanon Township and the first township meeting was held on March 11, 1755. The original settlers were of English extraction. However, a large German contingent settled here around 1749 and theirs became the strongest influence when Tewksbury became a township. Zion Lutheran Church in Oldwick (formerly New Germantown) is the oldest German Lutheran parish in New Jersey.  Oldwick, with a charming mixture of Victorian, Federal, New England and Georgian style homes is protected by historic legislation.

Union Township was formed from the southern part of Bethlehem Township in 1853. It was named for Union Furnace which was producing iron as early as 1700. Union Furnace and its forge produced cannon balls for the Revolution and shoes for horses and oxen, as well as farm implements. Forests gave way to farm fields as trees were cut down to stoke the furnace. A farm community then developed along with the accompanying industries of basket making and tanning.

West Amwell Township was originally part of Amwell Township which was formed in 1708 when Hunterdon County was still part of Burlington County. West Amwell split from East Amwell in 1846. The Delaware Indians had a path through the woods from Lambertville through Mount Airy, Ringoes and Reaville to Newark upon which the Old York Road was subsequently laid.

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