Free Acres, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Free Acres, New Jersey
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Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
County | Somerset and Union |
Township | Berkeley Heights and Watchung |
Elevation | 440 ft (134 m) |
ZIP Code |
07922
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GNIS feature ID | 0876502 |
Free Acres is a special kind of community in New Jersey. It's not a separate town, but it's part of two bigger areas: Berkeley Heights in Union County and Watchung in Somerset County. It was started in 1910 as a "social experiment." This means it was a place where people tried out a new idea for how a community could work.
The idea came from Bolton Hall, a businessman and reformer from New York. He was inspired by thinkers like Leo Tolstoy and Henry George. Henry George believed in a "single tax" system. In this system, people pay taxes only on the value of the land they use, not on the buildings they build on it. The community then pays a single, larger tax payment to the local government.
Contents
About Free Acres
Free Acres is a wooded area about 75 acres (30 hectares) big. It has about 85 homes. It's located about 33 miles (53 km) west of New York City.
How Land Ownership Works
In Free Acres, people own their houses. However, they don't own the land their house sits on. Instead, they pay a lease for the land. The land itself is owned by the community as a whole. This is a unique way of managing property.
Community Features
The community has an old farmhouse and a swimming pool. The pool is filled by a natural spring.
Taxes and Community Management
Today, residents of Free Acres still pay taxes to the Free Acres Association. This is like a community group that manages the area. The tax is now more like a regular property tax. It's based on the value of both the land and any improvements, like houses.
The Free Acres Association does important jobs for the community. It takes care of the streets and the swimming pool. It also approves any changes people want to make to their homes. The association then pays a single tax payment to the two towns that Free Acres is part of.
Famous Residents
Over the years, some interesting people have lived in Free Acres.
Early Residents
- The author Thorne Smith and his wife Celia lived here.
- The famous actor James Cagney and his wife Billie were also early residents.
Scientists and Innovators
Free Acres has also been home to scientists. Many of them worked at the nearby Bell Labs in Murray Hill. Bell Labs is a famous research center where many important inventions were made.
See also
In Spanish: Free Acres para niños