National Register Listings in
Essex County, New Jersey

Ahavas Sholom Ambrose-Ward Mansion Ampere Station Anchorage, The Anderson Park Ballantine, John, House Bardsley, Joseph, House Belleville Avenue Congregational Church Bethany Baptist Church Bloomfield Green Historic District Bloomfield Station Bradner`s Pharmacy Branch Brook Park Brick Church Station Caldwell Presbyterian Church Manse Canfield-Morgan House Carnegie Library Casa Deldra Catedral Evangelica Reformada Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Central Avenue Commercial Historic District Central Presbyterian Church Chapman, J. M., House Church Street School Clark, William, House Cliffside Hose Company No. 4 Collins House Community Hospital Congregational Church Crane, Israel, House Day Street Public School Dock Bridge East Orange Station East Orange VA Hospital Eastward Edison National Historic Site Edison Storage Battery Company Building Egbert Farm Eighteenth Avenue School Enclosure Historic District Essex County Courthouse Essex County Jail Essex County Park Commission Administration Building Fairfield Dutch Reformed Church Feigenspan Mansion Fenn, Henry, House First Baptist Peddie Memorial Church First Methodist Episcopal Church First National State Bank Building Forest Hill Historic District Four Corners Historic District Free Public Library, Upper Montclair Branch Glen Ridge Historic District Glen Ridge Historic District (Boundary Increase II) Glen Ridge Historic District (Boundary Increase) Glencoe Goodwillie, Frank, House Grace Church Griffith Building Hahne and Company Harrison, Samuel Orton, House Haskell`s Bloomfield Villa Home Office Building House at 147 Park Street House at 18 Brunswick Road House at 21 Stonebridge Road House at 52 Wayside Place House at 53 Lloyd Road House at 67 Warren Place House at 68 Eagle Rock Way House at 7 South Mountain Terrace House at 80 Lloyd Road House at 97 Warren Place House of Prayer Episcopal Church and Rectory House that Lives, The Indian and the Puritan Interstate Hosiery Mills, Inc. Mill Building Jacobus House James Street Commons Historic District James Street Commons Historic District Addendum Kelly, Eugene V., Carriage House Kingsland Manor Krueger Mansion Lincoln Park Historic District Llewellyn Park Historic District Maple Avenue School Maplewood Memorial Park (Additional Documentation) Maplewood Municipal Building Marlboro Park Historic District Marsellis House Military Park Commons Historic District Miller Street Historic District Miller, George A., House Montclair Art Museum Montclair Railroad Station Montrose Park Historic District Morris Canal Mount Pleasant Cemetery Mountain Avenue Station Mountain District Mountain Station Mulford House Murphy Varnish Works Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company New Jersey Bell Headquarters Building New Point Baptist Church Newark Broad Street Station Newark City Hall Newark Female Charitable Society Newark Metropolitan Airport Buildings Newark Orphan Asylum Newark Penn Station and Dock Bridge (Boundary Increase) North Broad Street Historic District North Reformed Church Oakes Estate Old First Presbyterian Church Orange Free Public Library Orange Memorial Hospital Historic District Orange Station Pan American C.M.A. Church Passaic Machine Works-Watts, Campbell & Company Pennsylvania Station Pine Street Historic District Post Office Building, Upper Montclair Presby Memorial Iris Gardens Horticultural Center Protestant Foster Home Queen of Angels Church Reading, M. F., House Red Gables Reformed Dutch Church of Second River Riverbank Park Route 1 Extension Salaam Temple Schultz, Charles S. House Seated Lincoln Second Reformed Dutch Church Short Hills Park Historic District Smith, S. C., House South Orange Fire Department South Orange Station South Orange Village Hall South Park Calvary United Presbyterian Church St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church St. Casimir's Roman Catholic Church St. Columba's Church St. James' A. M. E. Church St. John's Church St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church Rectory and School St. Lucy's Church St. Luke`s Church St. Mark's Episcopal Church St. Mary's Abbey Church St. Patrick's Pro Cathedral St. Rocco's Roman Catholic Church St. Stephan's Church Stanley Theater State Street Public School Stone Eagles Stone House by the Stone House Brook Sydenham House Symington House Temple B'Nai Abraham Trinity Cathedral Upper Montclair Station Van Ness House Van Reyper-Bond House Von Schmid House Vreeland Homestead Ward-Force House and Condit Family Cook House Wars of America Watchung Avenue Station Weequahic Park Historic District Wickcliffe Presbyterian Church Wight, Allyn, House Williams-Harrison House Woman's Club of Upper Montclair
The Hindenburg disaster, one of the most famous airship accidents in history, occurred in New Jersey in 1937. The German airship caught fire and crashed while attempting to dock at the Naval Air Station in Lakehurst.
Essex County, located in the northeastern part of New Jersey, has a rich and vibrant history that dates back to colonial times. The area was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native American tribe before Dutch and English settlers arrived in the 17th century. In 1666, Newark, now the county seat, was established as a Puritan settlement and quickly grew into a major trading hub and industrial center.

During the American Revolution, Essex County played a significant role. The Battle of Connecticut Farms took place in present-day Union, one of the municipalities within Essex County, where American forces successfully defended against British attacks in 1780. The county was also home to other prominent Revolutionary War events, such as the construction of forts to protect the region.

In the 19th century, Essex County experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization. The advent of the railroad and the burgeoning textile industry brought prosperity to cities like Newark and East Orange. The county became a center of manufacturing and commerce, attracting immigrants from various parts of Europe. This diversity contributed to the cultural richness that still characterizes the area today.

In the 20th century, Essex County faced many challenges as urban decay and economic decline gripped the region. However, efforts to revitalize the county have been ongoing, with extensive redevelopment projects, urban renewal initiatives, and the improvement of transportation infrastructure. Today, Essex County is a vibrant and culturally diverse community that is home to a variety of industries, educational institutions, and recreational opportunities, making it a vibrant and dynamic place to live, work, and visit.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Essex County, New Jersey.

  • 1666: Essex County, NJ is founded as one of the original four counties in East Jersey.
  • 1682: Newark is established as the county seat.
  • 1739: The first courthouse in Newark is built.
  • 1776-1782: Essex County experiences significant Revolutionary War activity, including the Battle of Connecticut Farms and the Burning of Springfield.
  • 1837: The Morris and Essex Railroad is completed, connecting Essex County to New York City.
  • 1862: Princeton Theological Seminary relocates to East Orange, bringing educational and cultural influence.
  • 1895: The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, one of the largest cathedrals in the United States, is completed in Newark.
  • 1920s: Essex County becomes a hub of roaring industrial activity, with growth in manufacturing and commerce.
  • 1930: The Art Deco-style Newark City Hall is constructed.
  • 1967: The Newark riots, a period of civil unrest, occur in response to long-standing racial tensions.
  • 1999: The iconic Prudential Center, an arena and multi-purpose venue, opens in Newark.