Amwell Valley
Encyclopedia
The Amwell Valley is a small valley in Hunterdon County
, New Jersey
, between the Hunterdon Plateau
and the Sourlands
. It comprises Stockton
, parts of Delaware Township
, West Amwell
, East Amwell
, Flemington
and Raritan Township
. The region borders the Delaware River
to the west and the South Branch Raritan River
to the east. The entire area has elevations around two-hundred feet above sea level. US 202
(including a shared section with NJ 31) is the main route running west to east through the valley. Old York Road
also passes through the valley, taking a generally more southern route (Old York crosses 202 twice in the area) through Raritan and along the Sourlands at Mount Airy. Like the Hunterdon Plateau
, Amwell Valley still has a large number of farms due to its sufficient climate, relatively flat land and the presence of silt-loams soils
. The valley is home to Amwell Valley Vineyards (now Old York Cellars) and Unionville Winery in Ringoes.
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, between the Hunterdon Plateau
Hunterdon Plateau
Hunterdon Plateau is a plateau in western Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It borders the higher Musconetcong Mountain to the northwest, the Delaware River to the west, Amwell Valley to the south and the lower lying areas of the Newark Basin to the east. The plateau's edge follows a line from Raven...
and the Sourlands
Sourland Mountain
Sourland Mountain is a long ridge in central New Jersey, extending from the Delaware River at Lambertville to the western end of Hillsborough Township near the community of Neshanic , through Montgomery Township and into Hopewell Township in Mercer County. It comprises the largest contiguous...
. It comprises Stockton
Stockton, New Jersey
Stockton is a Borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. The borough sits on the Delaware River at the western end of Amwell Valley...
, parts of Delaware Township
Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,478 people, 1,643 households, and 1,302 families residing in the township. The population density was 121.9 people per square mile . There were 1,701 housing units at an average density of 46.3 per square mile...
, West Amwell
West Amwell Township, New Jersey
The Delaware River separates West Amwell from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,383 people, 949 households, and 696 families residing in the township. The population density was 109.7 people per square mile . There were 984 housing units at an...
, East Amwell
East Amwell Township, New Jersey
-History:During the American Revolutionary War, a small but important skirmish occurred in East Amwell when local militia under Capt. John Schenck ambushed a party of British dragoons near Larison's Corner...
, Flemington
Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,581. It is the county seat of Hunterdon County....
and Raritan Township
Raritan Township, New Jersey
Raritan Township is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,185...
. The region borders the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
to the west and the South Branch Raritan River
South Branch Raritan River
The South Branch Raritan River is a tributary of the Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States.The source of the South Branch is the outflow from Budd Lake, a glacial remnant located a few miles northeast of Hackettstown...
to the east. The entire area has elevations around two-hundred feet above sea level. US 202
U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 is a highway stretching from Delaware to Maine, also passing through the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire....
(including a shared section with NJ 31) is the main route running west to east through the valley. Old York Road
Old York Road
Old York Road or King's Highway is a roadway that was built in the 18th century to connect Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with New York City, New York. Through New Jersey it was built along the Raritan "Naraticong Trail"...
also passes through the valley, taking a generally more southern route (Old York crosses 202 twice in the area) through Raritan and along the Sourlands at Mount Airy. Like the Hunterdon Plateau
Hunterdon Plateau
Hunterdon Plateau is a plateau in western Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It borders the higher Musconetcong Mountain to the northwest, the Delaware River to the west, Amwell Valley to the south and the lower lying areas of the Newark Basin to the east. The plateau's edge follows a line from Raven...
, Amwell Valley still has a large number of farms due to its sufficient climate, relatively flat land and the presence of silt-loams soils
Soil type
In terms of soil texture, soil type usually refers to the different sizes of mineral particles in a particular sample. Soil is made up in part of finely ground rock particles, grouped according to size as sand, silt and clay...
. The valley is home to Amwell Valley Vineyards (now Old York Cellars) and Unionville Winery in Ringoes.
Villages
- Larrison's Corner, formerly Pleasant Corner, was named after John W. Larison, the owner of the tavern there. The Amwell United First Presbyterian Church was formerly the German reformed church. The first house built there was a log house (now on the site of the church's graveyard), which was replaced by a stone building, simply called the "Old Stone House".
- Reaville, first called Manners Tavern (after John Manners) and then Greenville (after Richard Green), is located at the corner of Old York RoadOld York RoadOld York Road or King's Highway is a roadway that was built in the 18th century to connect Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with New York City, New York. Through New Jersey it was built along the Raritan "Naraticong Trail"...
and Amwell RoadCounty Route 514 (New Jersey)County Route 514 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from US 202 in East Amwell Township to Bayway Avenue in Elizabeth...
. George WhitefieldGeorge WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield , also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally...
gave a sermon in 1740 at the Presbyterian Church, which was moved from its original location. The village was also home to a school, a hotel, a post office, a store, shops and numerous dwelling. The current name of the village was taken from Runkle Rea, the first postmaster of the village. - RingoesRingoes, New JerseyRingoes is an unincorporated area located within East Amwell Township, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The community is served by the United States Postal Service as ZIP Code 08551. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 08551 was 5,082.-History:Ringoes is...
, named for John Ringo (originally called Ringo's) who established a tavern there, is the oldest European settlement in Hunterdon CountyHunterdon County, New JerseyHunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
. The village was built where the Nariticong Trail (which became Old York RoadOld York RoadOld York Road or King's Highway is a roadway that was built in the 18th century to connect Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with New York City, New York. Through New Jersey it was built along the Raritan "Naraticong Trail"...
and Malayelick Trail crossed. The village would come to have general stores, blacksmith shops, wheelwright shops, a hotel, a harness shop, shoemakers and cotton and woolen factory and a post office. It also was home to the Amwell Academy and the Academy of Science.
Former hamlets and villages
- Clover Hill, named for Peter C. Clover, was previously called Koughstown after Casparus Kough, Jr. and was located on Amwell RoadCounty Route 514 (New Jersey)County Route 514 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from US 202 in East Amwell Township to Bayway Avenue in Elizabeth...
and Clover Hill Road. The village was home to a tavern, store, church, hotel, blacksmith, post office and eight or nine houses. - Minksville, named after the minks found in the area, was a hamlet near Wertsville Road near Dutch Lane). It was later called Union and Unionville, due to its location of crossroads (including nearby Old York RoadOld York RoadOld York Road or King's Highway is a roadway that was built in the 18th century to connect Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with New York City, New York. Through New Jersey it was built along the Raritan "Naraticong Trail"...
).