Penns Neck, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Penns Neck, New Jersey
Unincorporated community
The historic Penns Neck Baptist Church.
Penns Neck, New Jersey Location in Mercer County, New Jersey Show map of Mercer County, New Jersey Penns Neck, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Penns Neck, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Mercer
Township	West Windsor
Elevation	98 ft (30 m)
GNIS feature ID	879214

Penns Neck is a small, special community in West Windsor Township, New Jersey. It's located in Mercer County. This area grew up where two important roads met: the old Trenton-New Brunswick Turnpike (now U.S. Route 1) and Washington Road.

You can find the Penns Neck Circle and the historic Penns Neck Baptist Church (built in 1812) right here in Penns Neck. A train line, called the Princeton Branch or "Dinky," has also run through this area since 1865. It used to have a stop called Penns Neck station until 1971.

Discovering Penns Neck's Past

The Penns Neck-based Schenck-Covenhoven cemetery, where some of West Windsor's first settlers were buried in 1737.

Let's explore the interesting history of Penns Neck! This area was once a huge piece of land, about 6,500 acres. It was first bought by William Penn, who was a Quaker and the founder of Pennsylvania.

How Penns Neck Got Its Name

In 1737, two families, the Schencks and the Covenhovens, bought this land from William Penn's sons. This was around the same time that another nearby area, Dutch Neck, was settled. That same year, the name "Penns Neck" first appeared, named after William Penn himself! For a short time, it was also called "Williamsborough."

Soon after, the Schenck and Covenhoven families began to settle this area. It was surrounded by natural landmarks: the Stony Brook to the west, the Millstone River to the north, the Assunpink Creek to the south, and Penn Lyle Road to the east.

Growing Through the Years

• Early 1700s: In the late 1730s and 1740s, the Schenck-Covenhoven cemetery was built. This was a special burial ground for the early settlers.
• 1800s: The community really started to grow after the Brunswick Pike (which is now Route 1) was planned in 1804 and finished in 1807. This new road brought more people and activity.
• New Buildings: With the new road, places like the Red Lion Inn were built. In 1812, the Princeton Baptist Church, also known as the Penns Neck Baptist Church, was built. This church helped make the intersection of Route 1 and Washington Road the main center of the community.

Learning More About Local History

In October 2019, the Historical Society of West Windsor created an online museum. This museum helps everyone learn about the history of West Windsor, including the story of Penns Neck!