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Edinburg, New Jersey facts for kids

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Edinburg, New Jersey
Center of Edinburg
Edinburg, New Jersey is located in Mercer County, New Jersey
Edinburg, New Jersey
Edinburg, New Jersey
Location in Mercer County, New Jersey
Edinburg, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
Edinburg, New Jersey
Edinburg, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Edinburg, New Jersey is located in the United States
Edinburg, New Jersey
Edinburg, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Mercer
Township West Windsor
Elevation
72 ft (22 m)
GNIS feature ID 876107

Edinburg is a small, historic community in West Windsor, New Jersey. It's an "unincorporated community." This means it's a recognized place but doesn't have its own separate local government like a town or city. It is part of the larger West Windsor area. Edinburg is located where several roads meet. These include Old Trenton Road, Edinburg Road, and Windsor Road. This area has been around since the 1700s.

Edinburg's History

EDINBURG GENERAL STORE 2019 EDITED
The Edinburg general store, a staple of the hamlet since circa 1816.

How Edinburg Began

Edinburg started in the mid-1700s. It was a popular stop for stagecoaches. The area was first called "Assanpink." This name came from the nearby Assunpink Creek. It also came from the Lenape people. The Lenape were a group of Native Americans who lived in this area.

Many Lenape artifacts have been found in Edinburg. This suggests the Lenape might have had a settlement here. In 1703, two Lenape individuals sold land in this area. They sold hundreds of acres south of the Assunpink Creek. This land went to David Lyell, one of the first European landowners. Lyell then sold much of his land to the first colonial settlers.

Early Settlers and Name Change

Some of the first families to settle here were the Mounts, Tindalls, and Rogers. Other families included the Hutchinsons, Cubberlys, and Grooms. Around the mid-1800s, the area's name changed to "Edinburg." People say it was named to honor a popular Scottish person who lived there.

Life in Old Edinburg

"Hooper's Tavern" was a well-known local hotel. Township meetings were held there in the mid-1700s. Over the years, Edinburg grew. It had a schoolhouse, more hotels, and general stores. There was also a post office and a blacksmith shop. Other businesses included a foundry, a distillery, and a cider mill. There were also broom factories, a wheelwright, and a cooper. A shoemaker, a tanyard, and basket factories also operated here.

Edinburg Today

In the 1970s, much of the farmland around Edinburg changed. It became Mercer County Park and Mercer County Community College. New suburban homes were also built. However, Edinburg still has some of its original farmland. You can also find many houses that are 100 years old or older.

In October 2019, the Historical Society of West Windsor created an online museum. It explores the history of West Windsor, including the story of Edinburg.

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