Hunterdon Plateau
Encyclopedia
Hunterdon Plateau is a plateau
in western Hunterdon County
, New Jersey
. It borders the higher Musconetcong Mountain
to the northwest, the Delaware River
to the west, Amwell Valley
to the south and the lower lying areas of the Newark Basin
to the east. The plateau's edge follows a line from Raven Rock
to Flemington
. From there it follows a curved path west of the South Branch Raritan River
until it meets with the Musconetcongs. It is generally unmarred as a plateau, excluding some of the small valleys of tributaries along the Delaware, of Lopatcong Creek and Wickecheoke Creek
and Cakepoulin/Capoolong Creek Valley. Other features are Thatcher's Hill and Sand Hill which form southeastward extensions to the plateau due to a valley of Walnut Brook and the curve of the plateau there. This also occurs between Lockatong Valley and the Delaware River. A small ridge called Barren Ridge runs through Alexandria
and Union Township
rises slightly above the rest of the plateau. Another feature in Holland Township
called Gravel Hill also rises above the rest of the plateau. There are numerous cliffs along the Delaware where the plateau meets it such as Milford Bluffs where prickly pear cacti
grow, a rarity in Hunterdon County. The pleateau includes Milford, New Jersey
, Frenchtown, New Jersey
, parts of Kingwood
, Delaware, Raritan Township
, Flemington
, Franklin Township
, Union Township
, Bethlehem
, Alexandria
and Holland
. Because of the soil types and relatively flat terrain on the plateau, there are still many farms across the area.
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
in western Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
, 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...
. It borders the higher Musconetcong Mountain
Musconetcong Mountain
Musconetcong Mountain is a ridge in the Highlands region of New Jersey running south of and parallel to the Musconetcong River. The ridge travels through Alexandria, Holland, Bethlehem and Lebanon Township.-Central Delaware Valley American Viticultural Area:...
to the northwest, the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
to the west, Amwell Valley
Amwell Valley
The Amwell Valley is a small valley in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, between the Hunterdon Plateau and the Sourlands. It comprises Stockton, parts of Delaware Township, West Amwell, East Amwell, Flemington and Raritan Township. The region borders the Delaware River to the west and the South...
to the south and the lower lying areas of the Newark Basin
Newark Basin
The Newark Basin is a sediment-filled rift basin located mainly in northern New Jersey but also stretching into south-eastern Pennsylvania and southern New York. It is part of the system of Eastern North America Rift Basins.-Geology:...
to the east. The plateau's edge follows a line from Raven Rock
Raven Rock, New Jersey
Raven Rock is an unincorporated area and hamlet along the Delaware River approximately 3 miles north of Stockton, within Delaware Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States...
to Flemington
Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,581. It is the county seat of Hunterdon County....
. From there it follows a curved path west of the South Branch Raritan River
South Branch Raritan River
The South Branch Raritan River is a tributary of the Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States.The source of the South Branch is the outflow from Budd Lake, a glacial remnant located a few miles northeast of Hackettstown...
until it meets with the Musconetcongs. It is generally unmarred as a plateau, excluding some of the small valleys of tributaries along the Delaware, of Lopatcong Creek and Wickecheoke Creek
Wickecheoke Creek
Wickecheoke Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in Hunterdon County, New Jersey in the United States.It originates in Raritan Township on the Hunterdon Plateau and flows through Croton and Locktown before cascading off the Plateau where it passes under the Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge,...
and Cakepoulin/Capoolong Creek Valley. Other features are Thatcher's Hill and Sand Hill which form southeastward extensions to the plateau due to a valley of Walnut Brook and the curve of the plateau there. This also occurs between Lockatong Valley and the Delaware River. A small ridge called Barren Ridge runs through Alexandria
Alexandria Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,698 people, 1,535 households, and 1,290 families residing in the township. The population density was 170.6 people per square mile . There were 1,598 housing units at an average density of 58.0 per square mile...
and Union Township
Union Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,160 people, 1,666 households, and 1,162 families residing in the township. The population density was 324.8 people per square mile . There were 1,725 housing units at an average density of 90.9 per square mile...
rises slightly above the rest of the plateau. Another feature in Holland Township
Holland Township, New Jersey
Holland Township is a township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 5,291....
called Gravel Hill also rises above the rest of the plateau. There are numerous cliffs along the Delaware where the plateau meets it such as Milford Bluffs where prickly pear cacti
Eastern prickly pear
Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the Eastern Prickly Pear or Indian Fig, is a native cactus found in most of eastern North America. It ranges from Montana eastward to southern Ontario and then on to Massachusetts, south to Florida and westward to New Mexico.The green stems of this low-growing...
grow, a rarity in Hunterdon County. The pleateau includes Milford, New Jersey
Milford, New Jersey
Milford is a Borough located in western Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,233....
, Frenchtown, New Jersey
Frenchtown, New Jersey
Frenchtown is a Borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,373....
, parts of Kingwood
Kingwood Township, New Jersey
- History :Kingwood Township is famous for the local captain who rounded up the boats for George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolutionary War.-Demographics:...
, Delaware, Raritan Township
Raritan Township, New Jersey
Raritan Township is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,185...
, Flemington
Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,581. It is the county seat of Hunterdon County....
, Franklin Township
Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,990 people, 1,091 households, and 890 families residing in the township. The population density was 130.7 people per square mile . There were 1,125 housing units at an average density of 49.2 per square mile...
, Union Township
Union Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,160 people, 1,666 households, and 1,162 families residing in the township. The population density was 324.8 people per square mile . There were 1,725 housing units at an average density of 90.9 per square mile...
, Bethlehem
Bethlehem Township, New Jersey
Bethlehem Township falls under the 'Northern New Jersey' climate zone. According to the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist at Rutgers University, the Northern climate zone covers about one-quarter of New Jersey and consists mainly of elevated highlands and valleys which are part of the...
, Alexandria
Alexandria Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,698 people, 1,535 households, and 1,290 families residing in the township. The population density was 170.6 people per square mile . There were 1,598 housing units at an average density of 58.0 per square mile...
and Holland
Holland Township, New Jersey
Holland Township is a township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 5,291....
. Because of the soil types and relatively flat terrain on the plateau, there are still many farms across the area.
Towns on the Plateau
- FrenchtownFrenchtown, New JerseyFrenchtown is a Borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,373....
, a borough on the banks of the Delaware named after Swiss FrenchSwiss FrenchSwiss French is the name used for the variety of French spoken in the French-speaking area of Switzerland known as Romandy. Swiss French is not to be confused with Franco-Provençal/Arpitan or Romansh, two other individual Romance languages spoken in areas not far from Romandy.The differences...
-speaking Paul Henri Mallet-Prevost, with numerous galleries, restaurants and lodgings - MilfordMilford, New JerseyMilford is a Borough located in western Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,233....
, a borough earlier called Burnt Mills (after a mill burned down in 1769) and Millford, Milford sits along the Delaware with a handful of shops and restaurants - PittstownPittstown, New JerseyPittstown is an unincorporated area within portions of Alexandria Township and Franklin Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States, named after William Pitt. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08867...
, a small village named after William PittWilliam Pitt, 1st Earl of ChathamWilliam Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
, with a spa and a few restaurants and the southern end of the Capoolong Creek Trail
Sites of Interest
- Bridge Street in Frenchtown
- Capoolong Creek Trail
- D&R Canal TrailD&R Canal TrailThe D&R Canal trail is a recreational trail in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The trail is made up of three segments that transverse three counties: a canal towpath from New Brunswick to Trenton; a canal towpath / rail trail from Trenton to Bull's Island; and a rail trail from Bull's Island to...
- Milford Bluffs
- Oak Summit School, Frenchtown
- Phillips Farm- pick your own
- Schick Reserve
- Ship Inn Brewery
- Volendam WindmillVolendam WindmillVolendam Windmill is a smock mill located on Adamic Hill Road in Holland Township, New Jersey, United States.The Volendam Windmill Museum is a working mill driven by wind, used for grinding raw grain into flour...