New Providence NJ Real Estate
New Providence is a borough on the northwestern edge of Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is located on the Passaic River, which forms the county boundary with Morris County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 12,171,[10][11][12] reflecting an increase of 264 (+2.2%) from the 11,907 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 468 (+4.1%) from the 11,439 counted in the 1990 Census.[21]
History
The written history of New Providence begins in 1664 when James, Duke of York and brother to King Charles II, purchased the land that became known as the Elizabethtown Tract from the Lenape Native Americans. Its first European settlers were members of a Puritan colony established in 1720, which was the first permanent settlement of its type.[22] The settlement was originally called “Turkey” or “Turkey Town”, due to the presence of wild turkeys in the area.[23][24]
The Presbyterian Church established in 1737 was a focal point for the community, and the lack of serious injuries when the church’s balcony collapsed in 1759 was deemed to be an example of Divine intervention, leading residents to change the area’s name to New Providence.[24][25]
According to local tradition, George Washington spent the night in a local home, which still stands to this day. Supposedly, the local stream, Salt Brook, is named for an incident when the salt supply of the colonial village was dumped into the brook to prevent passing British soldiers from taking it. New Providence NJ Real Estate. Ironically, the British Army never crossed the Watchung Mountains into this region. Salt Brook winds through town, starting near the eponymous Salt Brook Elementary School.
On April 14, 1794, Springfield Township was formed, which included the present-day township, along with the towns of Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights.[26] Growth continued in the area, and on November 8, 1809, New Providence Township was formed from within Springfield Township. It included what is now Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights.[26] On March 23, 1869, Summit withdrew from the New Providence Township and reincorporated as a township without any other town.[26]
On March 14, 1899, New Providence also withdrew from New Providence Township and was reincorporated as a borough.[26] With Boroughitis sweeping across the state, many communities within townships were reverting to small, locally governed communities (mostly reincorporating as boroughs) due to acts of the New Jersey Legislaturethat made it economically advantageous for communities so do so. New Providence Township was renamed to Berkeley Heights as of November 6, 1951.[26]
The cultivation of roses played an important role in the local economy in the 1900s.[27]
New Providence had long been a semi-dry town, under which there were no bars and no restaurants permitted to sell alcoholic beverages. New Providence NJ Real Estate. New Providence NJ Real Estate. Retail liquor sales were legal and restaurant-goers may bring their own alcoholic beverages. In 2011, the borough announced that it was considering issuing on-premises liquor licenses, which could bring in as much as $500,000 for each bar granted a license, with plans to use the money raised to pay for improvements to recreation areas.[28] Liquor licenses were granted in 2015 to a pair of restaurants, ending a 100-year period in which the borough had no on-premises liquor licenses.[29]
The 2011 film Win Win is set at New Providence High School, having been written by Thomas McCarthy and Joe Tiboni, two former students at the school.[30]