Dead River (New Jersey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dead River |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Somerset |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Liberty Corner, New Jersey Bernardsville, New Jersey 40°41′51″N 74°35′10″W / 40.69750°N 74.58611°W |
| River mouth | Warren Township Warren Township 217 ft (66 m) 40°39′00″N 74°31′21″W / 40.65000°N 74.52250°W |
The Dead River is a small river in New Jersey, United States. It flows through Somerset County. This river is a tributary, which means it's a smaller stream that flows into a larger river. The Dead River eventually joins the Passaic River.
Contents
Why Is It Called the Dead River?
The name "Dead River" might sound a bit strange. It doesn't mean anything scary or actually "dead" along its path. The river gets its name because the land it flows through is very flat.
- When there isn't much rain, the water in the river moves so slowly that it's hard to see it flowing at all.
- It looks almost still, as if it's "dead" or not moving.
- However, during heavy rain, the river can flow much faster.
Where Does the Dead River Flow?
The Dead River starts in Bernardsville, New Jersey. For several miles, it creates a natural border between two towns: Warren Township and Bernards Township. Both of these towns are in Somerset County.
Where It Meets the Passaic River
The Dead River flows into the Passaic River near a major highway, I-78. The spot where the two rivers meet was actually moved a little bit. This was done to make space for the highway exit ramps. A road called King George Road crosses the river at this point.
River Crossings and Nearby Areas
Further west along I-78, at Exit 33, another road crosses the Dead River. This road is known as Martinsville-Liberty Corner Road. Around this area, you can see many businesses and buildings. These developments are located in both Warren and Bernards townships, just north of the highway and south of the river.
- Two hotels are located right by the river. The Somerset Hills Hotel is in Warren. Its sister hotel, now called Indigo, is a bit further west in Bernards.
- For many years, the Indigo hotel was known as The Inn at Somerset Hills. Its lounge was even called The Dead River Pub!
- Between the two I-78 exits, there's another road that crosses the river. It's called Dead River Road in Warren and Acken Road in Bernards.
Past Industries Along the River
Before World War II (which ended in 1945), there were several brick factories along the Dead River. This was because the area had very good clay, which is a key material for making bricks.
Interesting Facts About the Dead River
The Dead River has been part of some local history.
- A housing development built in Warren in the 1960s was first called "Dead River Estates." But it became much more popular after its name was changed to "Whispering Hills." This shows how a name can make a big difference!
- For a long time, the bridge on Dead River Road was closed. It was damaged by floods and needed repairs.
- Whether to fix and reopen this bridge became a big topic in the local elections for the Warren Township Committee in 1983. This shows how local issues, even about a small bridge, can be very important to people in a community.
