Belle Mead, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Belle Mead is a census-designated place
which straddles Montgomery Township
and Hillsborough Township
in the U.S. state
of New Jersey
.
Up until about 1875, Belle Mead, then named Plainville, was part of Harlingen
. It was a quiet farming region when about that time a New York City
contractor named Van Aken bought up all the local farms and set out to develop a city. He had the farms laid out into lots, some streets put through and named after the style of New York. He donated land for the railroad station that had a dining room underneath (the station was torn down in February, 1940). There is an abandoned train station in Belle Mead. When Van Aken went broke, the property was sold to a U.S. Senator, John R. McPherson
, who changed the name from Vanaken to Belle Mead in honor of his daughter, Edna Belle Mead McPherson, according to one popular story.
Woods Tavern in Belle Mead was a popular stop for travelers for more than 100 years and played an important social and political role. Horace Greeley
spoke there in 1872 as part of his campaign for President of the United States
. The tavern burned down in 1932.
James Baldwin
, the 20th-century author and civil rights advocate, lived in Belle Mead in the early 1940s.
Dr. John Summerskill
and his wife, Mimi LaFollette Summerskill
established the LaFollette Vineyard in Belle Mead in the 1970's. President Bill Clinton
and fourteen Democratic governors met for a strategy session and press conference at the vineyard during the 1992 presidential campaign.
The abandoned train station is said to have been built circa 1913, and was removed from service in the early 1980s. Since then, restoration projects have been announced, however, not one has progressed any further than cleaning up tree debris and graffiti.
The Belle Mead section straddles the northern portion of Montgomery Township
and the southern portion of Hillsborough Township
. For many years residents of Belle Mead had been serviced by the Belle Mead Post Office located on Route 206 in Montgomery Township
having zip code 08502. In the late 1990s Hillsborough Township
was granted its own post office servicing the entirety of its residents (zip code 08844), including that section of town formerly serviced in the Belle Mead area. Since that time the Belle Mead post office and its associated zip code (08502) services only the remaining area of Belle Mead located in the northern section of Montgomery Township
. Belle Mead is home to many peaceful communities such as Pike Run and Millers grove which are connected through Belle Mead-Griggstown road. The communities house a good portion of Belle Mead's population they are neighbored by the police station as well as the Fire Department making it an ideal place for many suburban families to raise their children.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
which straddles Montgomery Township
Montgomery Township, New Jersey
Montgomery Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,254, which represents growth of 27% since 2000 and more than 130% since the 1990 Census population figure of 9,612.Montgomery Township was...
and Hillsborough Township
Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
Hillsborough Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 38,303....
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
.
Up until about 1875, Belle Mead, then named Plainville, was part of Harlingen
Harlingen, New Jersey
Harlingen is an unincorporated area within the Belle Mead section of Montgomery Township, New Jersey. It is adjacent to the historical areas of Dutchtown, New Jersey and Bridgepoint, New Jersey. Harlingen Road and U.S. Route 206, are in Harlingen. The Harlingen Dutch Reformed Church on Route 206 is...
. It was a quiet farming region when about that time a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
contractor named Van Aken bought up all the local farms and set out to develop a city. He had the farms laid out into lots, some streets put through and named after the style of New York. He donated land for the railroad station that had a dining room underneath (the station was torn down in February, 1940). There is an abandoned train station in Belle Mead. When Van Aken went broke, the property was sold to a U.S. Senator, John R. McPherson
John R. McPherson
John Rhoderic McPherson was a United States Senator from New Jersey who served three terms of office, from 1877 - 1895....
, who changed the name from Vanaken to Belle Mead in honor of his daughter, Edna Belle Mead McPherson, according to one popular story.
Woods Tavern in Belle Mead was a popular stop for travelers for more than 100 years and played an important social and political role. Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
spoke there in 1872 as part of his campaign for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. The tavern burned down in 1932.
James Baldwin
James Baldwin (writer)
James Arthur Baldwin was an American novelist, essayist, playwright, poet, and social critic.Baldwin's essays, for instance "Notes of a Native Son" , explore palpable yet unspoken intricacies of racial, sexual, and class distinctions in Western societies, most notably in mid-20th century America,...
, the 20th-century author and civil rights advocate, lived in Belle Mead in the early 1940s.
Dr. John Summerskill
John Summerskill
John Henry Summerskill was an educator who served as the seventh president of San Francisco State University in the 1960s. Prior to this he was Vice President for Student Affairs at Cornell University. In the 1970s he was named President of Athens College in Greece...
and his wife, Mimi LaFollette Summerskill
Mimi LaFollette Summerskill
Miriam LaFollette "Mimi" Summerskill was an educator, author, political activist, and vineyard owner.-Early Years and Education:Mimi was the eldest of four children...
established the LaFollette Vineyard in Belle Mead in the 1970's. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and fourteen Democratic governors met for a strategy session and press conference at the vineyard during the 1992 presidential campaign.
The abandoned train station is said to have been built circa 1913, and was removed from service in the early 1980s. Since then, restoration projects have been announced, however, not one has progressed any further than cleaning up tree debris and graffiti.
The Belle Mead section straddles the northern portion of Montgomery Township
Montgomery Township, New Jersey
Montgomery Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,254, which represents growth of 27% since 2000 and more than 130% since the 1990 Census population figure of 9,612.Montgomery Township was...
and the southern portion of Hillsborough Township
Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
Hillsborough Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 38,303....
. For many years residents of Belle Mead had been serviced by the Belle Mead Post Office located on Route 206 in Montgomery Township
Montgomery Township, New Jersey
Montgomery Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,254, which represents growth of 27% since 2000 and more than 130% since the 1990 Census population figure of 9,612.Montgomery Township was...
having zip code 08502. In the late 1990s Hillsborough Township
Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
Hillsborough Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 38,303....
was granted its own post office servicing the entirety of its residents (zip code 08844), including that section of town formerly serviced in the Belle Mead area. Since that time the Belle Mead post office and its associated zip code (08502) services only the remaining area of Belle Mead located in the northern section of Montgomery Township
Montgomery Township, New Jersey
Montgomery Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,254, which represents growth of 27% since 2000 and more than 130% since the 1990 Census population figure of 9,612.Montgomery Township was...
. Belle Mead is home to many peaceful communities such as Pike Run and Millers grove which are connected through Belle Mead-Griggstown road. The communities house a good portion of Belle Mead's population they are neighbored by the police station as well as the Fire Department making it an ideal place for many suburban families to raise their children.