River Edge, New Jersey 07661

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Concise history of River Edge, New Jersey:
Early Settlement (1600s–1700s)

• Originally inhabited by the Lenape people, the area was called Tantaqua’s Plain or Aschatking.
• The first European settler, Cornelius Matthew, a Swedish land-clearer, arrived around 1683 near the Hackensack River.
• Early landowners included John Adams, Eptkey Jacobs (Banta), and Richard Pope. In 1695, David Ackerman purchased 420 acres and later built a tidal gristmill.
• The Demarest family settled in 1677 near what is now the River Edge Train Station.
• Important crossings were built: Old Bridge (1720) and New Bridge (1744), which became vital for trade and travel.

Revolutionary War Era

• River Edge (then part of New Bridge) was strategically important during the American Revolution.
• In November 1776, George Washington led his troops across New Bridge during the retreat from Fort Lee, inspiring Thomas Paine’s famous words: “These are the times that try men’s souls.”
• The Zabriskie-Steuben House (built 1752, expanded 1767) served as a fort, headquarters, and battleground.

19th Century Development

• Transitioned from farming to industry: Henry Van Saun opened a brickyard and pottery in 1811.
• The Hackensack Water Company built its first pumping station in 1874.
• The Hackensack & New York Railroad (1870) spurred suburban growth.

Incorporation and Name Change

• Incorporated as Riverside in 1894 during Bergen County’s “borough craze.”
• Renamed River Edge in 1930 to avoid confusion with other towns.

20th Century Growth

• Rapid suburbanization after World War II; farmland gave way to housing developments.
• Key infrastructure: River Edge railroad depot (1907), widened Kinderkamack Road, and new schools like Roosevelt School (1920) and Cherry Hill School (1949).
• Preservation efforts include the Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission (1995) and state acquisition of the Steuben House (1928).

T​odayRiver Edge is a vibrant suburban community that honors its colonial and Revolutionary War heritage through preserved sites like Historic New Bridge Landing, making it a significant historical destination in Bergen County.[1]


References
[1] River Edge History

Founded in River Edge, NJ