Wyckoff, New Jersey

Wyckoff is an affluent township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 16,696,[10][11][12] reflecting an increase of 188 (+1.1%) from the 16,508 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,136 (+7.4%) from the 15,372 counted in 1990.[21] As of the 2010 Census, Wyckoff ranked 55th in highest-income places in the United States with a population of at least 10,000 at $103,614 HHI.[citation needed] Statewide, Wyckoff ranked 41st among New Jersey locations by per capita income, with a per capita money income of $49,375 as of 1999, an increase of 49.1% from the $33,124 recorded in 1989.[22]

From the mid-18th century, what is now Wyckoff was a community within Franklin Township, formed on June 1, 1797, when Saddle River Township (now Saddle Brook) was split, which consisted of most of northern Bergen County west of the Saddle River. Starting in the 1840s, several new municipalities were created from portions of Franklin Township (Pompton Township on April 10, 1797, Hohokus Township (now Mahwah) on April 9, 1849, and Ridgewood Township on March 30, 1876; remaining now the Village of Ridgewood), so that today what is now Wyckoff borders eight different communities. Wyckoff was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 2, 1926, replacing Franklin Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. Portions of Wyckoff were ceded to Midland Park based on the results of a referendum held on June 9, 1931.[23]

Though there is no solid historical evidence for any of the various theories, the most commonly given origin for the name Wyckoff, which was the origin accepted by the township committee when the municipality was established, is that the name is from the Lenape word wickoff, meaning "high ground", or that it is from wickok meaning "water".[24][25] However, similarly named Wyckoff Heights in New York City is named after the Wyckoff family, who settled in the New York/New Jersey area when both states were part of the Dutch colony of New Netherlands.[26] Other sources ascribe the name to Wicaugh in Malpas, England.[27]

Zarephath, New Jersey

Zarephath (pronounced ZARRA-fath) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) and located in Franklin Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States, about 15 mi (24 km) north of Princeton.[9][10][11] As of the 2010 United States Census, Zarephath's population was 37.[4]

It was the communal home of the Pillar of Fire Church, and was the worldwide headquarters of Pillar of Fire International, which comprises the church's college, Somerset Christian College, and radio station WAWZ-FM (the farm and publishing facilities have not been in operation since the late 1970s). It is named after Zarephath, the place in the Bible where the "widow woman" sustained the prophet Elijah. Zarephath was a group of buildings located between the Delaware and Raritan Canal and the Millstone River. Following the flooding in 2011 from Hurricane Irene, the College and all Pillar of Fire ministries were ordered to move out of this floodplain. The entire campus is slated for demolition.[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, Zarephath had a total area of 0.445 square miles (1.152 km2), including 0.404 square miles (1.047 km2) of it is land and 0.041 square miles (0.105 km2) of water (9.12%) is water.[1][2]

Verona, New Jersey

Verona is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 13,332[8][9][10] reflecting a decline of 201 (-1.5%) from the 13,533 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 64 (-0.5%) from the 13,597 counted in the 1990 Census.[19]

Verona and several neighboring towns were all originally one town known as the Horseneck Tract. In 1702, a group of settlers left Newark and purchased a large tract of land northwest of their home city for the equivalent of a few hundred dollars from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans. This piece of land extended west and north to the Passaic River, south to the town center of what would become Livingston, and east to the First Watchung Mountain, and was called Horseneck by the natives because it resembled the neck and head of a horse. What was then known as Horseneck contained most of the present day northern Essex County towns: Verona, along with Caldwell, West Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, and Roseland are all located entirely in Horseneck, and parts of what are today Livingston, Montclair, and West Orange also were contained in the Horseneck Tract.[21]

After the Revolutionary War, the area of Horseneck was incorporated as "Caldwell Township" in honor of local war hero James Caldwell, a pastor who used pages from his church's bibles as wadding to ignite the ammo in soldiers' cannons and helped to drive the British out of Horseneck.[22]

West New York, New Jersey

West New York is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, situated upon the New Jersey Palisades. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 49,708,[7][8][9] reflecting an increase of 3,940 (+8.6%) from the 45,768 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 7,643 (+20.0%) from the 38,125 counted in the 1990 Census.[18]

West New York was incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on July 8, 1898, replacing Union Township, based on the results of a referendum held three days earlier.[19][20] West New York underwent a massive growth at the beginning of the 20th century, driven by development of textile industries that made North Hudson the "Embroidery Capital of the United States".[21]

The town was populated mainly with Italian Americans and German Americans.[22][23] The 1960s saw an influx of Cuban émigrés to the area,[24] once called Havana on the Hudson; it has since become one of the United States cities with a majority Hispanic population. Simultaneously, high-rise apartments, some of the tallest buildings in North Hudson, were built along Boulevard East,[25][26] adding to the population of the town, giving it one of highest population densities in the country. Since the 1980s the Hudson waterfront, which had been part of the Weehawken Terminal has been redeveloped from industrial to residential and recreational uses, including the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway.

Woodbridge Township, New Jersey

Woodbridge Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 99,585,[8][9][10] reflecting an increase of 2,382 (+2.5%) from the 97,203 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 4,117 (+4.4%) from the 93,086 counted in the 1990 Census.[26] Woodbridge was the sixth-most-populous municipality in New Jersey in 2000 and 2010.[27]

According to Joshua Coffin, the early settlers included "Captain John Pike, the ancestor of General Zebulon Montgomery Pike, who was killed at the battle of Queenstown in 1813; Thomas Bloomfield, the ancestor of Joseph Bloomfield, some years governor of New Jersey, for whom the township of Bloomfield, New Jersey is named; John Bishop, senior and junior; Jonathan Haynes; Henry Jaques; George March; Stephen Kent; Abraham Toppan, junior; Elisha Ilsley; Hugh March; John Bloomfield; Samuel Moore; Nathaniel Webster; John Ilsley; and others."[28] Woodbridge was the site of the first gristmill in New Jersey.[29][30] The mill was built by Jonathan Singletary Dunham (married to Mary Bloomfield, relative of Joseph Bloomfield).[31][32]

The Township of Woodbridge is the oldest original township in New Jersey and was granted a royal charter on June 1, 1669, by King Charles II of England.[34] It was reincorporated on October 31, 1693. Woodbridge Township was incorporated by the Township Act of 1798 of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as part of the initial group of 104 townships incorporated in the state under the Township Act. Portions of the township were taken to form Rahway (April 19, 1858), Raritan Township (March 17, 1870, now Edison Township) and Roosevelt (April 11, 1906, now Carteret).[35][36] The township is named after Reverend John W. Woodbridge (1613–1696) of Newbury, Massachusetts, who settled in the future township in 1664.[34][37]

Great Meadows-Vienna, New Jersey

Great Meadows-Vienna was an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Independence Township, in Warren County, New Jersey, United States, located in the eastern region of the Lehigh Valley. As of the 2000 United States Census, the CDP's population was 1,264.[1]

The combined CDP existed through the 2000 Census. Effective with the 2010 United States Census, the CDP was split into its components, Great Meadows (with a 2010 Census population of 303[3]) and Vienna (981 as of 2010[4]).[5][6][7]

As of the 2000 United States Census[2] there were 1,264 people, 403 households, and 334 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 115.6/km2 (299.6/mi2). There were 413 housing units at an average density of 37.8/km2 (97.9/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.60% White, 0.79% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.95% Asian, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.[1]

West Orange, New Jersey

West Orange is a suburban[22][23]township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 46,207,[10][11][12] reflecting an increase of 1,264 (+2.8%) from the 44,943 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 5,840 (+14.9%) from the 39,103 counted in the 1990 Census.[24]

West Orange was originally part of the Native American Hackensack clan's territory, for over 10,000 years. The Hackensack were a phatry 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.

West Orange is located at the peak of the Watchung Mountains. This vantage point over the valleys East to Manhattan - had a strategic value for Leni Lenape warriors, and later George Washington's troops during the American Revolution. The wooded South Mountain Reservation has rocks shaped like the backs of large Turtles. The area is now known as "Turtle Back Rock Picnic Area" and gives its name to the Turtle Back Zoo. The Turtle Back Rocks were considered sacred to the Native Americans, as related to their Creation myth of "Turtle Island". "Turtle Island" is the Native American name for North America. In the creation myth, the world was created from a turtle's back.

Woodbury, New Jersey

Woodbury is a city in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the city's population was 10,174,[8][9][10] reflecting a decline of 133 (-1.3%) from the 10,307 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 597 (-5.5%) from the 10,904 counted in the 1990 Census.[19] Woodbury is the county seat of Gloucester County.[20]

Woodbury was originally formed as a borough on March 27, 1854, within Deptford Township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 22, 1854. On January 2, 1871, Woodbury was reincorporated as a city, based on the results of a referendum held that day.[21]

The Inspira Health Network is based in Woodbury.[22] The now-defunct Woodbury Country Club operated in Woodbury from 1897 to 2010, closing due to declining membership and mounting debt that led to a bankruptcy filing by the club.[23]

Ewansville, New Jersey

Ewansville or Ewanville is an unincorporated community located in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The community is centered on the crossing of U.S. Route 206 (US 206) and the North Branch Rancocas Creek just north of the former Philadelphia and Long Branch Railway (later Pennsylvania Railroad).[2][3][4] Ewansville was the site of a station on the aforementioned railroad and was the terminus for a short spur track to Vincentown.[4]

Ewansville is located near the tripoint of Eastampton, Pemberton, Southampton townships. Pemberton Township is situated north of the creek and east of US 206, Eastampton Township generally to the west of US 206, and Southampton comprises the remaining area. Some trailer parks line US 206 in this area but permanent houses are also located on nearby Railroad Avenue and Indian Trail.

Westfield, New Jersey

Westfield is a town in Union County of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 30,316,[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 672 (+2.3%) from the 29,644 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 774 (+2.7%) from the 28,870 counted in the 1990 Census.[20] According to a 2014 nationwide survey, Westfield is considered to be the 30th-safest city to live in the United States.[21]

The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract. Westfield was originally formed as a township on January 27, 1794, from portions of Elizabeth Township, while the area was still part of Essex County, and was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature. It became part of the newly formed Union County on March 19, 1857. Portions of the township have been taken to form Rahway Township (February 27, 1804), Plainfield Township (April 5, 1847), Cranford Township (March 14, 1871), Fanwood Township (March 6, 1878; now known as Scotch Plains) and Mountainside (September 25, 1895). The Town of Westfield was incorporated on March 4, 1903, replacing Westfield Township.[22][23] The name of the town is derived from its location in the western, undeveloped fields of the Elizabethtown tract.[24][25]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 6.743 square miles (17.463 km2), including 6.719 square miles (17.401 km2) of land and 0.024 square miles (0.062 km2) of water (0.36%).[1][2]