Hughesville, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hughesville, New Jersey
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Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
County | Hunterdon and Warren |
Township | Holland and Pohatcong |
Named for | Hugh Hughes |
Elevation | 190 ft (60 m) |
GNIS feature ID | 877282 |
Hughesville is a small, quiet community located in the beautiful state of New Jersey, United States. It sits right on the border where two counties meet: Hunterdon County and Warren County. This means parts of Hughesville are in one county, and parts are in another! It's also split between two townships: Holland Township and Pohatcong Township.
An unincorporated community is a place that doesn't have its own local government, like a town or a city. Instead, it's governed by the larger township or county it's a part of.
What is Hughesville?
Hughesville is a small, historic area in New Jersey. It's known for its peaceful setting along the Musconetcong River. The community has a rich past, dating back to the 18th century.
How Hughesville Got Its Name
The community of Hughesville is named after a man named Hugh Hughes. He was a lawyer from Philadelphia, a big city not too far away. Back in the 1700s, Hugh Hughes decided to build a forge in this area. A forge is a special workshop where metal is heated and shaped, often to make tools or parts. Because he built this important forge, the community that grew around it was named after him.
The Hughesville Dam and the Fish
For many years, there was a structure called the Hughesville Dam on the Musconetcong River. A dam is like a big wall built across a river. It holds back water to create a reservoir or to control the river's flow.
However, in 2016, the Hughesville Dam was removed. This was a big project done to help a special type of fish called the American shad. American shad are migratory fish, meaning they travel long distances. They need to swim upriver to lay their eggs, a process called spawning. The dam was blocking their path. By removing it, the American shad could swim much further up the Musconetcong River to find good places to spawn. This helps more fish survive and keeps the river's ecosystem healthy.