History of Bergen County, NJ

Bergen County, New Jersey, was established in December 1682 (formed 7 Mar 1683), when the Assembly of East Jersey divided the Province into four original counties: Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, and Monmouth. It originally included the area that is today Hudson County, and part of the area that is today Passaic County. On October 31, 1693 Bergen County was divided into Bergen and Hackensack Townships. In 1709 (January 21, 1710) New Barbadoes township was transferred from Essex County to Bergen, and became its county seat. On February 7, 1837 part of Bergen County's area was transferred to form Passaic County.

On February 22, 1840 an area of Bergen County, including the ancient settlement of Bergen, was set off as Hudson County. On February 19, 1852 part of Harrison Township, of Hudson County, was added to Bergen County as Union Township. What is today Bergen County was settled by the Dutch, French, Scotch, German, English and others, but the character of the county was predominantly Dutch and of an agricultural nature until about 1850. It was about then that the railroads began to open the area as a commuting locality, and wealthy merchants, bankers and lawyers from the cities made towns in Bergen County their summer or year-round homes.

Bergen County Maps Index

1650 Bergen County Map as documented by the First Reformed Church
Courtesy of:: Harland B. Kinzley

1876 Section of Mid Hackensack in Bergen County
As you will note, each platted area has the name of the current (1876) owner on it. That is its historical value. The Atlas was a commercial venture, it also carries ads and steel engravings of sites, homes and businesses. Courtesy of: Harland B. Kinzley

For additional New Jersey Maps see

Bergen County Volunteer Coordinator & Webmaster, Janice Brown [contact me by email]