Neshanic, New Jersey

History

The name comes from a tribe of the Raritan tribe of Lenape Native Americans who lived along the river. The settlement began in 1750 by Dutch farmers, with a church, grist mill and school, as well as a tavern owned by John Bennett, which was a focus of the community. The first mill was built by Bergen Huff around 1770. There was also a tannery which supplied leather to the people of the village as well as to nearby New Brunswick. At one time the area surrounding the Shirk farm and extending along the Sourland Mountains was the largest peach producing region in the state.

Historic district

The Neshanic Historic District is a historic district encompassing the village. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 1979 for its significance in settlement and religion. It includes 23 contributing buildings.

Demographics

2020

Neshanic was first listed as a census designated place in the 2020 United States census.

As of 2020, the population was 854.

Points of interest

Nearby Neshanic Mills was added to the NRHP in 1978. The original Mill was built in 1810 and the later rebuilt by Andrew Lane in 1876. It is also known as the Amerman Mill. It operated until the late 1940s and is now a private residence.

References

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau.
2. [https://data.census.gov/profile?g=160XX00US3450040 Census Data Explorer: Neshanic CDP, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed June 15, 2023.
3. [https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey], Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed June 9, 2023.
4. [https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/tigerwebmain/Files/tab20/tigerweb_tab20_cdp_2020_nj.html State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.
5. Baker, Robert. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-profile-of-hillsborough/178837421/ "Hillsborough: Restaurant town"], ''[[Courier News]]'', July 9, 2006. Accessed August 13, 2025, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "The Neshanic section, for example, is near the South Branch of the Raritan River, Community life for the Dutch farmers who settled there began around 1750, and centered around a church, a school, a grist mill and a tavern owned by John Bennett, which historians say was most instrumental in forming the village."
6. [https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/78001797_text National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for Neshanic Mills], [[National Park Service]]. Accessed August 13, 2025. "The land for some distance around Neshanic was owned in 1683 by John Bennett. The tract embraced several hundred acres, extended to the division line between East and West Jersey, and was bounded on the north by the South Branch of the Raritan River. As the adjoining community of Neshanic grew and the farms around it, there was a demand for various mills for the various markets. It was in 1770 that Bergen Huff built the first mill at Neshanic."
7. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-profiel-of-neighborhood/178838227/ "Neshanic's Changing Panorama Told by Lifelong Resident"], ''[[Courier News]]'', April 1, 1946. Accessed August 13, 2025, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "Mr. Schenck stated the territory surrounding the Shirk farm and extending along the Sourland Mountain at one time was the greatest peach producing region in this state. As many as 21 cars of peaches used to leave Neshanic Station by special train at one time, he said."
8. {{NRISref
9. (September 30, 2020). "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Somerset County". [[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] – Historic Preservation Office.
10. ["National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Neshanic Historic District"]({{NRHP url). [[National Park Service]].
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
12. [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/technical-documentation/table-and-geography-changes/2020/geography-changes.html "2020 Geography Changes"], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed August 13, 2025.
13. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Neshanic CDP, New Jersey".