The Second River, or Watsessing River, in the state 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...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, is the second main tributary

Tributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the Passaic River

Passaic River

The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey,...

 encountered while travelling upstream from its mouth at Newark Bay

Newark Bay

Newark Bay is a tidal bay at the confluence of the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers in northeastern New Jersey. It is home to the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the largest container shipping facility in Port of New York and New Jersey, 3rd largest and one of busiest in the United States...

.

From its source in West Orange

West Orange, New Jersey

West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207...

 to the Passaic, it is approximately 5 mi (8 km) long.

From West Orange, the Second River passes generally easterly through the towns of Orange

Orange, New Jersey

The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...

 and East Orange

East Orange, New Jersey

East Orange is a city in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the city's population 64,270, making it the state's 20th largest municipality, having dropped 5,554 residents from its population of 69,824 in the 2000 Census, when it was the state's 14th most...

, where it is joined by Wigwam, Parrow, and Nishuane Brooks, then turns slightly to the north (though still generally easterly), and enters the town of Bloomfield

Bloomfield, New Jersey

Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 47,315. It surrounds the Bloomfield Green Historic District.-History:...

. Here, at Watsessing Park

Watsessing Park

Watsessing Park is a park in Essex County, New Jersey, in the city of East Orange and the town of Bloomfield. The park covers 69 acres , just west of the Garden State Parkway, and contains the confluence of the Second River and Toney's Brook....

, it is joined by Toney's Brook

Toney's Brook

Toney's Brook is a tributary of the Second River in Essex County, New Jersey in the United States.Toney's Brook originates in Montclair just northwest of the Upper Montclair railway station. In Montclair it is joined by two tributary streams and continues through Anderson Park, Edgemont Memorial...

.

After leaving Bloomfield, it enters the town of Belleville

Belleville, New Jersey

Belleville is a Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 35,926.-History:...

 (which was, early in its history, also named "Second River"), and turns slightly to the south (though still generally easterly). Soon into Belleville, it forms the border between Belleville and Newark

Newark, New Jersey

Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...

. Finally, it joins the Passaic River, on its way to Newark Bay.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Second River supported a sizable industrial complex of mills and factories.

The Reformed Dutch Church of Second River

Reformed Dutch Church of Second River

Reformed Dutch Church of Second River, also known as the Belleville Dutch Reformed Church was founded in 1697 as a Dutch Reformed Church, located in present day Belleville, New Jersey. The church is named after the Second River which is a tributary of the Passaic River. The church was rebuilt in...

 is named after this river.

Tributaries

(As encountered travelling upstream):

• Toney's Brook
  Toney's Brook
  Toney's Brook is a tributary of the Second River in Essex County, New Jersey in the United States.Toney's Brook originates in Montclair just northwest of the Upper Montclair railway station. In Montclair it is joined by two tributary streams and continues through Anderson Park, Edgemont Memorial...
  
  
• Nishuane Brook
• Parrow Brook
• Wigwam Brook

See also

• List of rivers of New Jersey