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] In March 2018, Bloomberg ranked Westfield as the 99th wealthiest place in the United States, and the 18th wealthiest in New Jersey.[21] According to a 2014 nationwide survey, Westfield is considered to be the 30th-safest city to live in the United States.[22]

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.[23][24] The name of the town is derived from its location in the western, undeveloped fields of the Elizabethtown tract.[25][26]

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]

Woodbury Heights, New Jersey

Woodbury Heights is a borough located in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough's population was 3,055,[8][9][10] reflecting an increase of 67 (+2.2%) from the 2,988 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 404 (-11.9%) from the 3,392 counted in the 1990 Census.[19]

Woodbury Heights was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 6, 1915, from portions of Deptford Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 27, 1915. Portions were exchanged with Woodbury in 1925, and portions of the city were annexed on March 22, 1938. Portions were exchanged with Deptford Township in 1956 and other portions were annexed from the township in 1965.[20] The borough was named for the city of Woodbury, which in turn was named for its founder Henry Wood, who settled in the area in 1683 after arriving from Bury, England, at the age of 80 to escape religious persecution.[21][22][23]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.228 square miles (3.182 km2), including 1.222 square miles (3.166 km2) of land and 0.006 square miles (0.016 km2) of water (0.50%).[1][2]

Westville, New Jersey

Westville is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 4,288,[8][9][10] reflecting a decline of 212 (-4.7%) from the 4,500 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 73 (-1.6%) from the 4,573 counted in the 1990 Census.[19] The Borough of Westville is known as "The Gateway to South Jersey!"[20]

Westville was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1914, from portions of Deptford Township and West Deptford Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 28, 1914. The borough was reincorporated on March 8, 1924.[21][22] Legislation had been passed in 1900 to create Westville, but it had to have a majority vote in favor of the new municipality in both Deptford and West Deptford.[23] The borough was named for Thomas West, who built a home in the area in 1775 that still stands.[24][25][26]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.378 square miles (3.568 km2), including 1.024 square miles (2.652 km2) of land and 0.354 square miles (0.916 km2) of water (25.66%).[2][3]

Woodstown, New Jersey

Woodstown is a borough in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 3,505,[8][9][10] reflecting an increase of 369 (+11.8%) from the 3,136 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 18 (−0.6%) from the 3,154 counted in the 1990 Census.[19]

Woodstown was established on July 26, 1882, from portions of Pilesgrove Township based on the results of a referendum held that same day. The borough's incorporation was confirmed on March 3, 1925.[20] The borough was named for early settler Jackanias (or Jaconias) Wood.[21][22][23][24]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.625 square miles (4.209 km2), including 1.585 square miles (4.104 km2) of land and 0.040 square miles (0.105 km2) of water (2.49%).[1][2]

Westwood, New Jersey

Westwood (known as "The Hub of the Pascack Valley"[21]) is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 10,908,[10][11][12] reflecting a decline of 91 (-0.8%) from the 10,999 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 553 (+5.3%) from the 10,446 counted in the 1990 Census.[22] Westwood is part of the New York metropolitan area.[23] Many of its residents regularly commute to New York City for work and leisure, many using public transportation.[24][25]

Westwood was officially incorporated as a borough on May 8, 1894, from portions of Washington Township, early during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.[26][27] Isaac D. Bogert served as the first mayor of the Borough.[28] In April 1909, Westwood was enlarged through the annexation of the "Old Hook" section of the borough of Emerson,[29] and on September 24, 1957, portions of the borough were exchanged with Emerson.[26]

The Lenni-Lenape Native Americans inhabited this part of the state and shared it with the transient hunters and trappers until the permanent settlers began to enter in mid-18th century.[30] In the early 19th century, the area that would later become Westwood was within the larger political boundaries of Harrington Township, which had been established by royal charter in 1775. In 1840, the western half of Harrington Township became Washington Township, with the Hackensack River as the dividing line.[26] Washington Township was an agrarian region with isolated farmsteads. Early families, including the Hoppers and Ackermans, are buried at the Old Hook Cemetery. An 18th-century mill was situated at the dammed stream near the intersection of today's Mill Street and First Avenue. This mill was on an important east west pathway and was the first on Musquapsink Brook.[31] The mill was largely destroyed after a fire set by an arsonist and was dismantled in 1910.[32]

Wrightstown, New Jersey

Wrightstown is a borough in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 802[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 54 (+7.2%) from the 748 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 3,095 (-80.5%) from the 3,843 counted in the 1990 Census.[20]

Wrightstown was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 4, 1918, from portions of New Hanover Township and North Hanover Township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 26, 1918.[21] The borough was named for John Wright, an early settler who contributed the land that became the settlement of Wrightstown.[22][23]

The borough is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha), that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.[25] Part of the borough is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Burlington County, along with areas in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.[26]

Wharton, New Jersey

Wharton is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 6,522,[8][9][10] reflecting an increase of 224 (+3.6%) from the 6,298 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 893 (+16.5%) from the 5,405 counted in the 1990 Census.[19]

Wharton was originally incorporated as the borough Port Oram by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 26, 1895, created from portions of Randolph Township and Rockaway Township, subject to the results of a referendum passed on the previous day; the name was changed to Wharton on April 16, 1902, based on a referendum held that day and subject to legislation passed on March 27, 1902.[20][21][22] The borough was named for Joseph Wharton of the Wharton Steel Company.[23][24]

In 1831, the Morris Canal was completed from Newark to Phillipsburg, New Jersey across the Delaware River from the terminus of the Lehigh Canal. On the way, it passed through Boonton, Dover and Port Oram. On this route it tapped the Morris County ore fields and became a carrier for both ore and pig iron. Its main purpose, however, was as an extension of the Lehigh Canal to furnish a route for anthracite coal from the Pennsylvania mines to seaboard. Any local traffic was a gain to supplement the through anthracite freight and iron ore and its products soon became important sources of revenue. Sites on the canal were selected for docks and industry, including iron works.[25]

Wyckoff, New Jersey

Wyckoff is a 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]

Wallington, New Jersey

Wallington is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 11,335,[9][10][11] reflecting a decline of 248 (-2.1%) from the 11,583 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 755 (+7.0%) from the 10,828 counted in the 1990 Census.[20]

Wallington was created as a borough on January 2, 1895, based on a referendum held on December 31, 1894, from area taken from Bergen Township and Saddle River Township.[21] The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through New Jersey, in which 26 boroughs were formed in Bergen County alone in 1894, with Wallington the last of the 26 to be formed by an 1894 referendum.[22] Sections of Wallington were ceded to Garfield in 1898.[21][23][24] The borough is said to have been named for Walling Van Winkle (1650–1725), who built a home in the future borough.[25][26][27]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.034 square miles (2.679 km2), including 0.983 square miles (2.546 km2) of land and 0.051 square miles (0.132 km2) of water (4.93%).[1][2]

Whippany, New Jersey

Whippany is an unincorporated community located within Hanover Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States.[2] Whippany's name is derived from the Whippanong Native Americans, a tribe that once inhabited the area. Whippanong meant "place of the willows", named for the trees growing along the banks of the Whippany River.[3]

The earliest European settlers to live along the Whippany River can be traced back to 1685. The Whippany River was an integral part of life in the area; it provided the water power for the various mills which operated in the town.[4]