Neshanic, New Jersey
Neshanic is an
unincorporated community within
Hillsborough Township,
Somerset County in the
U.S. state of
New Jersey.
Neshanic is located near the
South Branch Raritan River. The name comes from a tribe of the
Raritan tribe of
Lenape Native Americans who lived along the 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. The first mill was built by Burguon Woff around 1770 and there was also a
tannery which supplied
leather to the people of the village as well as to the nearby town of
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.
The Neshanic Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, it is District #79001519. Neshanic Mills was added in 1978, it is district #78001797.
