NJ: Individual County Chronologies

John H. Long, Editor and Historical Compiler; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Assistant Editor; Emily Kelley, Research Associate; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant

ATLANTIC created from GLOUCESTER. (Lee, 4:283; N.J. Acts 1837, pp. 96–97; Snyder, 37)

ATLANTIC lost to BURLINGTON. (N.J. Acts 1902, pp. 403–404; Snyder, 45)

Coastal limits of ATLANTIC, CAPE MAY, MONMOUTH, and OCEAN redefined [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1906, p. 542; Snyder, 45)

Boundaries between ATLANTIC, CAMDEN, and GLOUCESTER redefined [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1938, p. 386; Snyder, 47)

7 March 1682/1683. BERGEN was created as one of four original counties in East New Jersey; Non-County Area (East) eliminated. (Shaw, 1:212, 231; Snyder, 10–11, 29–31; Wall and Pickersgill, 1:63)

Proprietors of East and West New Jersey surrendered to Queen Anne their rights to govern their colonies, and the two colonies were united into the single royal province of New Jersey. BERGEN became a county in the royal province of New Jersey; boundaries were unchanged. (Pomfret, Colonial New Jersey, 87; Snyder, 13; Swindler, 6:439–445; Van Zandt, 79)

21 January 1709/1710. BERGEN gained from ESSEX. (Snyder, 30)

BERGEN lost to ORANGE (N.Y.) when King George III approved the boundary between New Jersey and New York, as determined by a commission appointed in 1769 at the joint request of the two colonies after decades of dispute. Line defined as running from the junction of the Delaware and Neversink rivers, a spot several miles south of the terminus selected in 1719, to the Hudson River at the parallel of 40 degrees north latitude. The boundary was demarcated in 1774 and, despite small adjustments later during resurveying and a New Jersey claim to Staten Island, it has remained unchanged to the present. (Pratt, 2:789; Snyder, 13–14; Van Zandt, 76)

BERGEN's eastern boundary was redefined to assert New Jersey's claim to the western half of the Hudson River in dispute with New York [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1807, p. 18; Snyder, 34)

BERGEN lost to the creation of PASSAIC. (N.J. Acts 1837, pp. 96–97; Snyder, 36–37)

BERGEN lost to the creation of HUDSON. (N.J. Acts 1840, p. 65; Winfield, History of Hudson, 332; Snyder, 37–38)

BERGEN gained from HUDSON. (N.J. Acts 1852, pp. 43–44; Snyder, 40)

Water boundaries of BERGEN, HUDSON, MIDDLESEX, MONMOUTH, and UNION redefined to match the New Jersey–New York interstate boundary agreement of 1834, as detailed by joint commissions in 1887 and 1889 [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1892, p. 441; Snyder, 44–45)

West New Jersey created from the Non-County Area (West) the county-like court of Burlington to cover the southeastern quarter of the colony but did not provide definite limits [not mapped]. Together, the unbounded courts of Burlington and Salem covered the southern half of the colony, which area is mapped here as a single polygon under the name Indefinite Counties Area. The boundary between Non-County Area (West) and the Indefinite Counties Area is estimated to run along Assunpink Creek, where the line between Burlington and the non-county area would be formalized in 1694. (Snyder, 12)

Burlington Court lost to the creation of the county-like court of Cape May in the Indefinite Counties Area that covered the southern half of West New Jersey; territorial limits were not defined completely and clearly [not mapped]. (Snyder, 12)

West New Jersey created the county-like court of Gloucester between Burlington and Salem courts within the Indefinite Counties Area; limits of Gloucester also were not defined completely and clearly [not mapped]. (Snyder, 12)

8 January 1686/1787. Burlington Court, lying south of Assunpink Creek in the Indefinite Counties Area of West New Jersey, lost to MIDDLESEX and MONMOUTH in East New Jersey when commissioners from East and West New Jersey agreed on a new division between their colonies. The line ran west of the boundary specified in the Quintipartite Deed of 1676. The southern part of this line was demarcated in the spring of 1687 and became known as the Keith Line, named for the surveyor. The rest of Burlington Court's limits remained incomplete and unmappable [not mapped]. (Snyder, 9)

The territorial division between Burlington and Gloucester courts in West New Jersey was redefined, but remained incomplete and unmappable [not mapped]. (Leaming and Spicer, 508, 513, 514; Snyder, 29)

The territorial division between Burlington and Gloucester courts in the Indefinite Counties Area of West New Jersey was restored to its pre-1692 configuration, still incomplete and unmappable [not mapped]. (Snyder, 29)

West New Jersey converted the court of Burlington to BURLINGTON County; boundaries of BURLINGTON remained incomplete and unmappable [not mapped]. Assunpink Creek was officially designated the boundary between BURLINGTON and Non-County Area (West). Non-County Area (West) in West New Jersey was attached to BURLINGTON. (Snyder, 29–30)

Proprietors of East and West New Jersey surrendered to Queen Anne their rights to govern their colonies, and the two colonies were united into the single royal province of New Jersey. BURLINGTON became a county in the royal province of New Jersey; boundaries were unchanged. (Pomfret, Colonial New Jersey, 87; Snyder, 13; Swindler, 6:439–445; Van Zandt, 79)

21 January 1709/1710. BURLINGTON gained from Non-county Area (West); Non-County Area (West) detached from BURLINGTON. BURLINGTON redefined boundaries were complete and clear. The Indefinite Counties Area was eliminated. (Paterson, 2–4; Snyder, 30–32)

11 March 1713/1714. BURLINGTON lost to the creation of HUNTERDON. (Paterson, 4; Snell, 196; Snyder, 32)

BURLINGTON lost to the creation of MERCER. (N.J. Acts 1838, p. 99; Snyder, 37)

Boundary between BURLINGTON and OCEAN clarified [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1857, p. 477; Snyder, 41–42)

BURLINGTON lost to OCEAN. (N.J. Acts 1891, p. 538; Snyder, 44)

BURLINGTON gained from ATLANTIC and CAMDEN. (N.J. Acts 1902, pp. 403–404; Snyder, 45)

CAMDEN created from GLOUCESTER. (Cooper, 42; N.J. Acts 1844, p. 237; Snyder, 38)

CAMDEN lost to GLOUCESTER. (N.J. Acts 1871, p. 314; Snyder, 42)

CAMDEN lost to BURLINGTON. (N.J. Acts 1902, pp. 403–404; Snyder, 45)

CAMDEN gained from GLOUCESTER. (N.J. Acts 1926, pp. 67–71; Snyder, 45–46)

CAMDEN gained small area along Good Intent Road from GLOUCESTER [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1931, p. 38; Snyder, 47)

Boundaries between CAMDEN, ATLANTIC, and GLOUCESTER redefined [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1938, p. 386; Snyder, 47)

CAMDEN gained very small area along Great Egg Harbor River from GLOUCESTER [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1950, p. 871; Snyder, 47)

CAMDEN gained small area in Washington township from GLOUCESTER [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1998, pp. 608–610)

West New Jersey created the county-like court of Cape May from Burlington at the southern end of the Indefinite Counties Area; limits of Cape May were not defined completely and clearly [not mapped]. (Snyder, 12)

CAPE MAY gained from Indefinite Counties Area in West New Jersey after Cape May Court was converted to a county and the boundaries were defined completely and clearly. (Leaming and Spicer, 508, 513, 514; Snyder, 29)

CAPE MAY lost to GLOUCESTER. (Snyder, 29–30)

Proprietors of East and West New Jersey surrendered to Queen Anne their rights to govern their colonies, and the two colonies were united into the single royal province of New Jersey. CAPE MAY became a county in the royal province of New Jersey; boundaries were unchanged. (Pomfret, Colonial New Jersey, 87; Snyder, 13; Swindler, 6:439–445; Van Zandt, 79)

21 January 1709/1710. CAPE MAY lost to GLOUCESTER and SALEM. (Paterson, 2–4; Snyder, 30–32)

Boundary between CAPE MAY and CUMBERLAND redefined [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1822, p. 35; Snyder, 34–36)

CAPE MAY gained from CUMBERLAND. (N.J. Acts 1844, p. 246; Snyder, 38)

CAPE MAY lost to CUMBERLAND. (N.J. Acts 1845, p. 58; Snyder 38)

CAPE MAY, CUMBERLAND, and SALEM boundaries in Delaware Bay redefined [not mapped]. (N.J. Rev. Stat. 1877, p. 203; Snyder, 38–40)

CAPE MAY gained from CUMBERLAND. (N.J. Acts 1878, p. 562; Snyder, 43)

CAPE MAY gained from CUMBERLAND. (N.J. Acts 1891, p. 541; Snyder, 44)

Coastal limits of CAPE MAY, ATLANTIC, MONMOUTH, and OCEAN redefined [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1906, p. 542; Snyder, 45)

19 January 1747/1748. CUMBERLAND created from SALEM. (McMahon, 163; Paterson, 13–14; Snyder, 32)

Boundary between CUMBERLAND and SALEM redefined [no change]. (Paterson, 17; Snyder, 34)

Boundary between CUMBERLAND and CAPE MAY redefined [no change]. CUMBERLAND's jurisdiction was extended to the main ship channel in Delaware Bay, thereby asserting New Jersey's claim to the eastern half of the bay [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1822, p. 35; Snyder, 34–36)

CUMBERLAND lost to CAPE MAY. (N.J. Acts 1844, p. 246; Snyder, 38)

CUMBERLAND gained from CAPE MAY. (N.J. Acts 1845, p. 58; Snyder, 38)

CUMBERLAND, CAPE MAY, and SALEM boundaries in Delaware Bay redefined [not mapped]. (N.J. Rev. Stat. 1877, p. 203; Snyder, 38–40)

CUMBERLAND gained from SALEM. (N.J. Acts 1867, p. 917; Snyder, 42)

CUMBERLAND lost to SALEM. (N.J. Acts 1868, p. 118; Snyder, 42)

CUMBERLAND lost to CAPE MAY. (N.J. Acts 1878, p. 562; Snyder, 43)

CUMBERLAND lost to CAPE MAY. (N.J. Acts 1891, p. 541; Snyder, 44)

CUMBERLAND lost to GLOUCESTER. (N.J. Acts 1892, p. 495; Snyder, 44)

CUMBERLAND gained from GLOUCESTER. (N.J. Acts 1897, p. 188; Snyder, 45)

7 March 1682/1683. ESSEX was created as one of four original counties in East New Jersey. Two segments of the line between ESSEX and West New Jersey must be estimated, and this compilation uses the versions chosen by John P. Snyder for his book on New Jersey's internal boundaries. Non-County Area (East) eliminated. (Shaw, 1:212, 231; Snyder, 10–11, 29–31; Wall and Pickersgill, 1:63)

8 January 1686/1687. ESSEX gained from Non-County Area (West) in the northern part of West New Jersey when commissioners from East and West New Jersey agreed on a new division between the colonies. The line ran west of the boundary specified in the Quintipartite Deed of 1676. The southern part of this line was demarcated in the spring of 1687 and became known as the Keith Line, named for the surveyor. (Snyder, 9)

ESSEX lost to Non-County Area (West) in West New Jersey when the absentee governors of East and West New Jersey agreed on a compromise boundary between the two colonies that ran irregularly from the northern end of the Keith Line (1687) to the land boundary with New York. Two segments of this line must be estimated, and this compilation has adopted the versions chosen by John P. Snyder for his book on New Jersey’s internal boundaries. (Snyder, 9, 31)

Proprietors of East and West New Jersey surrendered to Queen Anne their rights to govern their colonies, and the two colonies were united into the single royal province of New Jersey. ESSEX became a county in the royal province of New Jersey; boundaries were unchanged. (Pomfret, Colonial New Jersey, 87; Snyder, 13; Swindler, 6:439–445; Van Zandt, 79)

21 January 1709/1710. ESSEX lost to BERGEN. Two segments of ESSEX's boundary with Non-County Area (West) must be estimated and have been plotted following John P. Snyder's interpretation. (Paterson, 2–3; Snyder, 30–32)

15 Mar 1738/1739. ESSEX lost to the creation of MORRIS. (Paterson, 12–13; Snyder, 32)

ESSEX lost to SOMERSET. (Paterson, 13; Snyder, 32)

Water boundaries of ESSEX, MIDDLESEX, and MONMOUTH were redefined to assert New Jersey's claim to the western half of Arthur Kill, the water separating Staten Island, N.Y., from the New Jersey mainland [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1822, p. 35; Snyder, 34–36)

ESSEX lost to the creation of PASSAIC. (N.J. Acts 1837, pp. 96–97; Snyder, 36–37)

ESSEX lost to the creation of UNION. (N.J. Acts 1857, pp. 244–245; Snyder, 41)

Boundary between ESSEX and UNION clarified [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1871, p. 604; Snyder, 42)

Boundary between ESSEX and UNION redefined [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1876, p. 482; Snyder, 42)

Boundary between ESSEX and UNION clarified [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1882, pp. 365–366; Snyder, 43)

ESSEX lost small area to UNION. (N.J. Acts 1891, p. 536; Snyder, 43–44)

Boundary between ESSEX and UNION redefined [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1892, pp. 483–484; Snyder, 44)

ESSEX gained small area from PASSAIC. (N.J. Acts 1907, p. 692; Snyder, 45)

ESSEX gained small area on the line between Millburn and Springfield townships from UNION [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1958, pp. 630–632; Snyder, 47–48)

West New Jersey created the county-like court of Gloucester between Burlington and Salem courts within the Indefinite Counties Area; limits of Gloucester were not defined completely and clearly [not mapped]. (Snyder, 12)

The territorial division between Gloucester and Burlington courts in West New Jersey was redefined but remained incomplete and unmappable [not mapped]. (Leaming and Spicer, 508, 513, 514; Snyder, 29)

The territorial division between Gloucester and Burlington courts in the Indefinite Counties Area of West New Jersey was restored to its pre-1692 configuration, still incomplete and unmappable [not mapped]. (Snyder, 29)

West New Jersey converted the court of Gloucester to GLOUCESTER County, and GLOUCESTER gained from CAPE MAY, but the description of GLOUCESTER's boundaries remained incomplete and unmappable [not mapped]. (Snyder, 29–30)

Proprietors of East and West New Jersey surrendered to Queen Anne their rights to govern their colonies, and the two colonies were united into the single royal province of New Jersey. GLOUCESTER became a county in the royal province of New Jersey; boundaries were unchanged. (Pomfret, Colonial New Jersey, 87; Snyder, 13; Swindler, 6:439–445; Van Zandt, 79)

21 January 1709/1710. GLOUCESTER gained from CAPE MAY; redefined boundaries of GLOUCESTER were complete and clear. The Indefinite Counties Area was eliminated. (Paterson, 2–4; Snyder, 30–32)

GLOUCESTER lost to the creation of ATLANTIC. (Lee, 4:283; N.J. Acts 1837, pp. 96–97; Snyder, 37)

GLOUCESTER lost to the creation of CAMDEN. (Cooper, 42; N.J. Acts 1844, p. 237; Snyder, 38)

GLOUCESTER gained from CAMDEN. (N.J. Acts 1871, p. 314; Snyder, 42)

GLOUCESTER gained from CUMBERLAND. (N.J. Acts 1892, p. 495; Snyder, 44)

GLOUCESTER lost to CUMBERLAND. (N.J. Acts 1897, p. 188; Snyder, 45)

GLOUCESTER lost to CAMDEN. (N.J. Acts 1926, pp. 67–71; Snyder, 45–46)

GLOUCESTER lost small area along Good Intent Road to CAMDEN [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1931, p. 38; Snyder, 47)

Boundaries between GLOUCESTER, ATLANTIC, and CAMDEN redefined [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1938, p. 386; Snyder, 47)

GLOUCESTER lost a very small area along Great Egg Harbor River to CAMDEN [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1950, p. 871; Snyder, 47)

GLOUCESTER lost small area in Washington township to CAMDEN [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1998, pp. 608–610)

HUDSON created from BERGEN. (N.J. Acts 1840, p. 65; Winfield, History of Hudson, 332; Snyder, 37–38)

HUDSON lost to BERGEN. (N.J. Acts 1852, pp. 43–44; Snyder, 40)

Water boundaries of HUDSON, BERGEN, MIDDLESEX, MONMOUTH, and UNION redefined to match the New Jersey–New York interstate boundary agreement of 1834, as detailed by joint commissions in 1887 and 1889 [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1892, p. 441; Snyder, 44–45)

11 March 1713/1714. HUNTERDON created from BURLINGTON and Non-County Area (West). The non-county area was eliminated. (Paterson, 4; Snell, 196; Snyder, 32)

15 March 1738/1739. HUNTERDON lost to creation of MORRIS. (Paterson, 12–13; Snyder, 32)

HUNTERDON lost to the creation of MERCER. (N.J. Acts 1838, p. 99; Snyder, 37)

HUNTERDON lost to MERCER. (N.J. Acts 1839, p. 39; Snyder, 37)

HUNTERDON gained from MERCER, lost to SOMERSET. (N.J. Acts 1844, pp. 244, 253; Snyder, 38)

HUNTERDON lost to MERCER. (N.J. Acts 1845, p. 32; Snyder, 38)

HUNTERDON gained from SOMERSET. (N.J. Acts 1845, p. 45; Snyder, 38)

Boundary between HUNTERDON and SOMERSET clarified [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1965, p. 861; Snyder, 48)

In 1681, the Indefinite Counties Area implicitly arose when West New Jersey created Burlington and Salem courts without definite boundaries. The area covered the southern half of the colony; the northern limit along Assunpink Creek is estimated. (Snyder, 12)

The creation of the county-like court of Cape May from Burlington and Salem courts did not change the Indefinite Counties Area because it occurred entirely within the area and Cape May's limits were not defined completely and clearly [no change]. (Snyder, 12)

The creation of the county-like court of Gloucester between Burlington and Salem courts did not change the Indefinite Counties Area because it occurred entirely within the area and Gloucester's limits were not defined completely and clearly [no change]. (Snyder, 12)

8 January 1686/1687. The Indefinite Counties Area lost to MIDDLESEX and MONMOUTH in East New Jersey when the absentee governors of East and West New Jersey agree on a new division between their colonies. The line ran west of the boundary specified in the Quntipartite Deed of 1676. The southern part of this line was demarcated in the spring of 1687 and became known as the Keith Line, named for the surveyor. (Snyder, 9, 31)

Indefinite Counties Area in West New Jersey lost to CAPE MAY after that court was converted to a county and the boundaries were defined completely and clearly. (Leaming and Spicer, 508, 513, 514; Snyder, 29)

The Indefinite Counties Area gained from CAPE MAY when GLOUCESTER gained from CAPE MAY. CAPE MAY remained the only county in the southern part of West New Jersey with complete, mappable boundaries. The northern boundary of the Indefinite Counties Area was officially designated along Assunpink Creek when the creek was specified as the boundary between BURLINGTON and Non-County Area (West) in the northern part of West New Jersey. (Snyder, 29–31)

Within the Indefinite Counties Area of West New Jersey, SALEM gained non-county territory west of CAPE MAY; boundaries of SALEM remained incomplete [not mapped]. (Learning and Spicer, 574; Snyder, 30)

21 January 1709/1710. The Indefinite Counties Area was eliminated when BURLINGTON, GLOUCESTER, and SALEM were redefined with complete and mappable boundaries. (Paterson, 2–4; Snyder, 30–32)

MERCER created from BURLINGTON, HUNTERDON, and MIDDLESEX. (N.J. Acts 1838, p. 99; Snyder, 37)

MERCER gained from SOMERSET. (N.J. Acts 1838, pp. 209–210; Snyder, 37)

MERCER gained from HUNTERDON. (N.J. Acts 1839, p. 39; Snyder, 37)

MERCER lost to HUNTERDON. (N.J. Acts 1844, p. 244; Snyder, 38)

MERCER gained from HUNTERDON. (N.J. Acts 1845, p. 32; Snyder, 38)

7 March 1682/1683. MIDDLESEX was created as one of four original counties in East New Jersey; Non-County Area (East) eliminated. (Shaw, 1:212, 231; Snyder, 10–11, 29–31; Wall and Pickersgill, 1:63)

8 January 1686/1687. MIDDLESEX gained from Non-County Area (West) and from Burlington Court in the Indefinite Counties Area in the southern part of West New Jersey when commissioners from East and West New Jersey agreed on a new division between their colonies. The line ran west of the boundary specified in the Quintipartite Deed of 1676. The southern part of this line was demarcated in the spring of 1687 and became known as the Keith Line, named for the surveyor. (Snyder, 9, 31)

MIDDLESEX lost to the creation of SOMERSET. SOMERSET was not fully organized, attached to MIDDLESEX. (Leaming and Spicer, 305; Snyder, 12, 29)

Proprietors of East and West New Jersey surrendered to Queen Anne their rights to govern their colonies, and the two colonies were united into the single royal province of New Jersey. MIDDLESEX became a county in the royal province of New Jersey; boundaries were unchanged. (Pomfret, Colonial New Jersey, 87; Snyder, 13; Swindler, 6:439–445; Van Zandt, 79)

21 January 1709/1710. MIDDLESEX lost to SOMERSET and exchanged with MONMOUTH. (Paterson, 2–4; Snyder, 30–32)

SOMERSET fully organized, detached from MIDDLESEX. (Snell, 568)

15 March 1713/1714. MIDDLESEX gained from SOMERSET. (Paterson, 4–5; Snyder, 32)

Boundary between MIDDLESEX and SOMERSET clarified [no change]. (Paterson, 103; Snyder, 34)

Water boundaries of MIDDLESEX, ESSEX, and MONMOUTH were redefined to assert New Jersey's claim to the western half of Arthur Kill, the water separating Staten Island, N.Y., from the New Jersey mainland [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1822, p. 35; Snyder, 34–36)

MIDDLESEX lost to the creation of MERCER. (N.J. Acts 1838, p. 99; Snyder, 37)

MIDDLESEX lost to MONMOUTH. (N.J. Acts 1844, p. 141; Snyder, 38)

MIDDLESEX gained from MONMOUTH. (N.J. Acts 1845, p. 148; Snyder, 38)

MIDDLESEX lost to MONMOUTH. (N.J. Acts 1847, p. 86; Snyder, 40)

MIDDLESEX gained from SOMERSET. (N.J. Acts 1858, pp. 5–6; Snyder, 40)

MIDDLESEX water boundary redefined [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1851, p. 369)

MIDDLESEX lost small areas to SOMERSET along road between Kingston and New Brunswick [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1855, pp. 490–491; Snyder, 40–41, 169, 175)

MIDDLESEX exchanged small areas with SOMERSET along road between Kingston and New Brunswick [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1858, p. 29; Snyder, 42, 169, 175, 221, 227)

MIDDLESEX lost to UNION. (N.J. Acts 1860, p. 97; Snyder, 42)

MIDDLESEX gained small area from UNION. (N.J. Acts 1871, pp. 1255–1256; Snyder, 42)

Boundary between MIDDLESEX and SOMERSET redefined [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1878, pp. 568–569; Snyder, 43)

Water boundaries of MIDDLESEX, BERGEN, HUDSON, MONMOUTH, and UNION redefined to match the New Jersey–New York interstate boundary agreement of 1834, as detailed by joint commissions in 1887 and 1889 [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1892, p. 441; Snyder, 44–45)

MIDDLESEX lost small area in Madison township to MONMOUTH [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1939, p. 657; Snyder, 47)

7 March 1682/1683. MONMOUTH was created as one of four original counties in East New Jersey; Non-County Area (East) eliminated. (Shaw, 1:212, 231; Snyder, 10–11, 29–31; Wall and Pickersgill, 1:63)

8 January 1686/1687. MONMOUTH gained from Burlington Court in Indefinite Counties Area in southern West New Jersey when commissioners from East and West New Jersey agreed on a new division between their colonies. The line ran west of the boundary specified in the Quintipartite Deed of 1676. The southern part of this line was demarcated in the spring of 1687 and became known as the Keith Line, named for the surveyor. (Snyder, 9, 31)

Proprietors of East and West New Jersey surrendered to Queen Anne their rights to govern their colonies, and the two colonies were united into the single royal province of New Jersey. MONMOUTH became a county in the royal province of New Jersey; boundaries were unchanged. (Pomfret, Colonial New Jersey, 87; Snyder, 13; Swindler, 6:439–445; Van Zandt, 79)

21 January 1709/1710. MONMOUTH exchanged with MIDDLESEX. (Paterson, 2–3; Snyder, 30–32)

Water boundaries of MONMOUTH, ESSEX, and MIDDLESEX were redefined to assert New Jersey's claim to the western half of Arthur Kill, the water separating Staten Island, N.Y., from the New Jersey mainland [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1822, p. 35; Snyder, 34–36)

MONMOUTH gained from MIDDLESEX. (N.J. Acts 1844, p. 141; Snyder, 38)

MONMOUTH lost to MIDDLESEX. (N.J. Acts 1845, p. 148; Snyder, 38)

MONMOUTH gained from MIDDLESEX. (N.J. Acts 1847, p. 86; Snyder, 40)

MONMOUTH lost to creation of OCEAN. (N.J. Acts 1850, p. 73; Snyder, 40)

Boundary between MONMOUTH and OCEAN clarified [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1851, p. 323)

MONMOUTH's northern boundary in Raritan Bay redefined [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1866, p. 964; Snyder, 42)

MONMOUTH gained from OCEAN. (N.J. Acts 1869, p. 151; Snyder, 42)

Water boundaries of MONMOUTH, BERGEN, HUDSON, MIDDLESEX, and UNION redefined to match the New Jersey–New York interstate boundary agreement of 1834, as detailed by joint commissions in 1887 and 1889 [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1892, p. 441; Snyder, 44–45)

Coastal limits of MONMOUTH, ATLANTIC, CAPE MAY, and OCEAN redefined [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1906, p. 542; Snyder, 45)

MONMOUTH lost to OCEAN. (N.J. Acts 1928, p. 683; Snyder, 46)

MONMOUTH gained small area in Madison township from MIDDLESEX [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1939, p. 657; Snyder, 47)

15 March 1738/1739. MORRIS created from ESSEX and HUNTERDON. (Paterson, 12–13; Snyder, 32)

Boundary between MORRIS and SOMERSET redefined [no change]. (Paterson, 14; Snyder, 34)

MORRIS lost to creation of SUSSEX. (Paterson, 15; Snyder, 34)

George Carteret and the other New Jersey proprietors executed the Quintipartite Deed to divide New Jersey into two distinct colonies, East New Jersey and West New Jersey. Both colonies were unorganized and technically were non-county areas. A version of the dividing line that was different from the original specifications was accepted and demarcated in part in 1687 (Keith Line), the remainder was redefined in detail in 1688; segments of this line have been used to compose many county boundaries. Parts of the 1688 line must be estimated, and this compilation uses the versions chosen by John P. Snyder for his book on New Jersey's internal boundaries. Another survey of the dividing line, more accurately reflecting the original deed, was performed in 1743 (Lawrence's Line); it affected land ownership but not the county lines. (Snyder, 9, 13; Swindler, 6:398; Van Zandt, 79)

7 March 1682/1683. Non-County Area (East) eliminated when BERGEN, ESSEX, MIDDLESEX, and MONMOUTH were created in East New Jersey, covering the entire colony. (Shaw, 1:212, 231; Snyder, 10–11, 29–31; Wall and Pickersgill, 1:63)

West New Jersey created from Non-County Area (West) the county-like courts of Burlington and Salem but did not provide definite limits for them [not mapped]. Together, the unbounded courts covered the southern half of the colony, which area is mapped here as a single polygon under the name Indefinite Counties Area. The northern portion of the colony remained completely unorganized. The boundary between Non-county Area (West) and the Indefinite Counties Area is estimated to run along Assunpink Creek, where the line between Burlington and the non-county area would be formalized in 1694. (Snyder, 12)

8 January 1686/1687. Non-County Area (West) of West New Jersey lost to ESSEX and MIDDLESEX in East New Jersey when commissioners from East and West New Jersey agreed on a new division between their colonies. The line ran west of the boundary specified in the Quintipartite Deed of 1676. The southern part of this line was demarcated in the spring of 1687 and became known as the Keith Line, named for the surveyor. (Snyder, 9, 31)

The Non-County Area (West) of West New Jersey gained from ESSEX and SOMERSET in East New Jersey when the absentee governors of East and West New Jersey agreed on a compromise boundary between the two colonies from the north end of the Keith Line (1687) eastward to New York. This line was the boundary between the colonies until 1702 when they were unified, after which it continued as a boundary between counties. Two segments of the line must be estimated, and this compilation has adopted the versions chosen by John P. Snyder for his book on New Jersey’s internal boundaries. The southern limit at Assunpink Creek is estimated, based on long use. (Snyder, 9, 31)

When West New Jersey converted Burlington, Gloucester, and Salem courts into counties, it specified Assunpink Creek as BURLINGTON's northern limit and attached Non-County Area (West) to BURLINGTON [not mapped]. (Snyder, 29–31)

21 January 1709/1710. Non-County Area (West) lost to BURLINGTON, and it was detached from BURLINGTON. (Paterson, 2–4; Snyder, 30–32)

11 March 1713/1714. Non-County Area (West) lost to the creation of HUNTERDON. The non-county area was eliminated. (Paterson, 4; Snell, 196; Snyder, 32)

OCEAN created from MONMOUTH. (N.J. Acts 1850, p. 73; Snyder, 40)

Boundary between OCEAN and MONMOUTH clarified [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1851, p. 323)

Boundary between OCEAN and BURLINGTON clarified [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1857, p. 477; Snyder, 41–42)

OCEAN lost to MONMOUTH. (N.J. Acts 1869, p. 151; Snyder, 42)

OCEAN gained from BURLINGTON. (N.J. Acts 1891, p. 538; Snyder, 44)

Coastal limits of OCEAN, ATLANTIC, CAPE MAY, and MONMOUTH redefined [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1906, p. 542; Snyder, 45)

OCEAN gained from MONMOUTH. (N.J. Acts 1928, p. 683; Snyder, 46)

PASSAIC created from BERGEN and ESSEX. (N.J. Acts 1837, pp. 96–97; Snyder, 36–37)

PASSAIC lost small area to ESSEX. (N.J. Acts 1907, p. 692; Snyder, 45)

West New Jersey created from the Non-County Area (West) the county-like court of Salem to cover the southwestern quarter of the colony but did not provide definite limits [not mapped]. Together, the unbounded courts of Salem and Burlington covered the southern half of the colony, which area is mapped here as a single polygon under the name Indefinite Counties Area. The boundary between Non-County Area (West) and the Indefinite Counties Area is estimated to run along Assunpink Creek, where the line between Burlington and the non-county area would be formalized in 1694. (Snyder, 12)

West New Jersey created the county-like court of Gloucester between Salem and Burlington courts within the Indefinite Counties Area; limits of Gloucester also were not defined completely and clearly [not mapped]. (Snyder, 12)

West New Jersey converted the court of Salem to SALEM County; boundaries of SALEM remained incomplete and unmappable [not mapped]. (Snyder, 29–31)

Within the Indefinite Counties Area of West New Jersey, SALEM gained non-county territory west of CAPE MAY; boundaries of SALEM remained incomplete [not mapped]. (Leaming and Spicer, 574; Snyder, 30)

Proprietors of East and West New Jersey surrendered to Queen Anne their rights to govern their colonies, and the two colonies were united into the single royal province of New Jersey. SALEM became a county in the royal province of New Jersey; boundaries were unchanged. (Pomfret, Colonial New Jersey, 87; Snyder, 13; Swindler, 6:439–445; Van Zandt, 79)

21 January 1709/1710. SALEM gained from CAPE MAY. SALEM's redefined boundaries were complete and clear. The Indefinite Counties Area was eliminated. (Paterson, 2–4; Snyder, 30–32)

19 January 1747/1748. SALEM lost to creation of CUMBERLAND. (McMahon, 163; Paterson, 13–14; Snyder, 32)

Boundary between SALEM and CUMBERLAND redefined [no change]. (Paterson, 17; Snyder, 34)

SALEM's jurisdiction was extended to the main ship channel of the Delaware River, thereby asserting New Jersey's claim to the eastern half of the river [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1822, p. 35; Snyder, 34–36)

SALEM, CAPE MAY, and CUMBERLAND boundaries in Delaware Bay redefined [not mapped]. (N.J. Rev. Stat. 1877, p. 203; Snyder, 38–40)

SALEM lost to CUMBERLAND. (N.J. Acts 1867, p. 917; Snyder, 42)

SALEM gained from CUMBERLAND. (N.J. Acts 1868, p. 118; Snyder, 42)

SOMERSET was created in East New Jersey from MIDDLESEX; not fully organized, attached to MIDDLESEX. (Leaming and Spicer, 305; Snyder, 12, 29)

SOMERSET lost to Non-County Area (West) in West New Jersey when the absentee governors of East and West New Jersey agreed on a compromise boundary between the two colonies that ran irregularly from the northern end of the Keith Line (1687) to the land boundary with New York. (Snyder, 9, 31)

Proprietors of East and West New Jersey surrendered to Queen Anne their rights to govern their colonies, and the two colonies were united into the single royal province of New Jersey. SOMERSET became a county in the royal province of New Jersey; boundaries were unchanged. (Pomfret, Colonial New Jersey, 87; Snyder, 13; Swindler, 6:439–445; Van Zandt, 79)

21 January 1709/1710. SOMERSET gained from MIDDLESEX. (Paterson, 2–3; Snyder, 30–32)

SOMERSET fully organized, detached from MIDDLESEX. (Snell, 568)

15 March 1713/1714. SOMERSET lost to MIDDLESEX. (Paterson, 4–5; Snyder, 32)

SOMERSET gained from ESSEX. (Paterson, 13; Snyder, 32)

Boundary between SOMERSET and MORRIS redefined [no change]. (Paterson, 14; Snyder, 34)

Boundary between SOMERSET and MIDDLESEX clarified [no change]. (Paterson, 103; Snyder, 34)

SOMERSET lost to MERCER. (N.J. Acts 1838, pp. 209–210; Snyder, 37)

SOMERSET gained from HUNTERDON. (N.J. Acts 1844, p. 253; Snyder, 38)

SOMERSET lost to HUNTERDON. (N.J. Acts 1845, p. 45; Snyder, 38)

SOMERSET lost to MIDDLESEX. (N.J. Acts 1850, pp. 5–6; Snyder, 40)

SOMERSET gained small areas from MIDDLESEX along road between Kingston and New Brunswick [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1855, pp. 490–491; Snyder, 40–41, 169, 175)

SOMERSET exchanged small areas with MIDDLESEX along road between Kingston and New Brunswick [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1858, p. 29; Snyder, 42, 169, 175, 221, 227)

Boundary between SOMERSET and UNION adjusted to follow small change in Green Brook [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1876, pp. 484–485; Snyder, 42–43)

Boundary between SOMERSET and MIDDLESEX redefined [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1878, pp. 568–569; Snyder, 43)

Boundary between SOMERSET and HUNTERDON clarified [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1965, p. 861; Snyder, 48)

SUSSEX created from MORRIS. (Paterson, 15; Snyder, 34)

SUSSEX lost to ORANGE (N.Y.) and ULSTER (N.Y.) when King George III approved the boundary between New Jersey and New York, as determined by a commission appointed in 1769 at the joint request of the two colonies after decades of dispute. Line defined as running from the junction of the Delaware and Neversink rivers, a spot several miles south of the terminus selected in 1719, to the Hudson River at the parallel of 40 degrees north latitude. The boundary was demarcated in 1774 and, despite small adjustments later during resurveying and a New Jersey claim to Staten Island, it has remained unchanged to the present. (Pratt, 2:789; Snyder, 13–14; Van Zandt, 76)

SUSSEX lost to creation of WARREN. (N.J. Acts 1824, pp. 146–147; Snyder, 36)

UNION created from ESSEX. (N.J. Acts 1857, pp. 244–245; Snyder, 41)

UNION gained from MIDDLESEX. (N.J. Acts 1860, p. 97; Snyder, 42)

Boundary between UNION and ESSEX clarified [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1871, p. 604; Snyder, 42)

UNION lost small area to MIDDLESEX. (N.J. Acts 1871, pp. 1255–1256; Snyder, 42)

Boundary between UNION and ESSEX redefined [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1876, p. 482; Snyder, 42)

Boundary between UNION and SOMERSET adjusted to follow small change in Green Brook [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1876, pp. 484–485; Snyder, 42–43)

Boundary between UNION and ESSEX clarified [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1882, pp. 365–366; Snyder, 43)

UNION gained small area from ESSEX. (N.J. Acts 1891, p, 536; Snyder, 43–44)

Boundary between UNION and ESSEX redefined [no change]. (N.J. Acts 1892, pp. 483–484; Snyder, 44)

Water boundaries of UNION, BERGEN, HUDSON, MIDDLESEX, and MONMOUTH redefined to match the New Jersey–New York interstate boundary agreement of 1834, as detailed by joint commissions in 1887 and 1889 [not mapped]. (N.J. Acts 1892, p. 441; Snyder, 44–45)

New Jersey: Individual County Chronologies