Hamden, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hamden, New Jersey
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Captain Jacob Gearhart House
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Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
County | Hunterdon |
Township | Clinton |
Elevation | 51 m (167 ft) |
Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
GNIS feature ID | 876902 |
Hamden is a small place in New Jersey, United States. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's an "unincorporated community." This means it's part of a larger area called Clinton Township. Hamden is located in Hunterdon County.
This community is found just east of the South Branch Raritan River. It's about 3 miles west of the Round Valley Reservoir. Hamden is also about 3 miles south-southeast of the Spruce Run Reservoir. These are both large bodies of water.
Discovering Hamden's Past
Hamden has a long and interesting history. It was once a busy area with mills and shops.
Early Beginnings of Hamden
Back in 1759, two brothers named Phillip and John Grandin bought a very large piece of land. It was about 1,000 acres, which is like 750 football fields! This land became known as the Hamden Tract.
On this land, the Grandin brothers built important businesses. They had a grist mill, which ground grain into flour. They also had a fulling mill, which was used to clean and thicken wool cloth. There was even a blacksmith shop where metal items were made. A place called Abbott's Tavern was also located here, which was like an inn or restaurant.
Famous People and Structures
The farmhouse of Jacob Gearhart is also nearby. He was an important person who lived from 1735 to 1813. Jacob Gearhart was a captain in the American Revolutionary War. This war was when the United States fought for its independence.
Hamden was also home to a special bridge. It was called the Fink Through-Truss Bridge, or simply the Hamden Bridge. This bridge was built in 1858. It was so important that it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes buildings and places that are important to American history. Sadly, the bridge collapsed in 1978.