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Somerset County History

 

Barber, John Warner; Publisher: S. Tuttle, New York, 1844. Historical collections of the state of New Jersey: containing a general collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc. relating to its history and antiquities, with geographical descriptions of every township in the state: illustrated by 120 engravings. Pages 739-763.

Somerset the most central county in the state, was early settled by the Dutch, and set off from Middlesex co., in 1688. In the preamble to the act, it was stated: "Forasmuch as the uppermost part of the Raritan river is settled by persons whom, in their husbandry and manuring their land, forced upon quite different ways and methods from the other farmers and inhabitants of Middlesex, because of the frequent floods that carry away their fences on the meadows, the only arable land they have, and so by consequence of their interest is divided from the other inhabitants of the said county: Be it therefore enacted, &c." Its bounds have been altered at different times, and in 1838, by the formation of Mercer co., when the S. portion of Nottingham township was annexed to that county, Somerset co. is about 25 m. long, breadth of about 15 m., and is bounded N. by Morris co., E. by Essex and Middlesex, S. by Mercer co., and W. by Hunterdon co. It is well watered by the Raritan and its branches. The Delaware and Raritan canal enters at its SE corner, and following up the valley of the Millstone river to its junction with the Raritan, there pursues the valley of that river to New Brunswick. The surface of the county is diversified; the central and SE. portion tolerably level, the S. and SW. hilly, and the NE. quite mountainous. The soil of the hills is mostly clay and stiff loam, the plains sandy loam, and the mountain valleys limestone. The county is generally fertile, particularly in the valleys, and produces a variety of crops. It is divided into the following seven townships: —

Bedminster, Bernard, Bridgewater, Franklin, Hillsborough, Montgomery, Warren,

Somerset co. had in 1810, a population of 14,728; in 1820, 16,508; in 1830, 17,689; in 1840, 17,451.

History of Somerset County, NJ | History of Municipalities

  • History of Somerset County NJ
  • Somerset County is one of America's oldest counties. The area was first settled in 1681, in the vicinity of Bound Brook, and the county was established by charter on May 22, 1688. Most of the early residents were Dutch. General George Washington and his troops marched through the county on several occasions and slept in many of the homes located throughout the area. Parts of the Delaware and Raritan Canal run through the county. Somerset County also played an important part during both World War I and World War II with weapons depots and the manufacturing of the army's woolen blankets.

History of Municipalities

Can't Find the Town? See New Jersey Place Names List

Historical Society of Somerset Hills

National Register of Historic Places: Somerset Co., New Jersey

Last Updated: April 26, 2022

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