Rancocas, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rancocas, New Jersey
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Rancocas Friends Meeting House
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 Rancocas, New Jersey
Location in Burlington County, New Jersey
Rancocas, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Rancocas, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Burlington |
| Township | Westampton |
| Elevation | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| Zip Code |
08073
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| Area code(s) | 609, 640 |
| GNIS feature ID | 879606 |
Rancocas is a small, special community in Westampton Township, located in Burlington County, New Jersey. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it's a recognized place but doesn't have its own separate local government like a town or city. Instead, it's part of Westampton Township.
The name Rancocas comes from a Native American word, Rankokous. This word was used for the Powhatan Lenape Nation Indian Reservation, which was also in Westampton Township. The name was also linked to a smaller group called the Ancocus. The Reservation used to be a popular spot for tourists from places like Philadelphia and New York. Later, this area became Rancocas State Park, a beautiful place to visit.
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Rancocas History
The village of Rancocas grew up along a main road called the Mount Holly–Beverly Turnpike. This road connected the towns of Mount Holly and Beverly.
Early Buildings
In 1703, a special building was put up in the community. It was a Quaker meeting house, made from logs. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs. This meeting house was a place where they could gather.
Rancocas Historic Village
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Rancocas Historic Village
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| Location | Irregular pattern bounded north and west by Willingboro border, east to Springside Road and south to 3rd Street |
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| Area | 25 acres (10 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001126 |
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| Added to NRHP | June 5, 1975 |
The Rancocas Historic Village is a special area in Rancocas that has been officially recognized for its important history. It's also known as the Rancocas Village Historic District. A historic district is a neighborhood or area that has old buildings and places that are important to the past.
Why It's Historic
This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 5, 1975. It was chosen because of its importance in architecture (how buildings were designed), commerce (business), and education. The district covers about 25 acres and includes 46 buildings that help tell its story.
Important Buildings
One of the key buildings is the Quaker meeting house on Main Street. It was built in 1772. You can see special brick patterns on it, like "Flemish bond." Close by is the Friends school, which was built in 1822, also using brick. These buildings show how people lived and learned in Rancocas a long time ago.
Gallery
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Friends meeting house, with 1772 in patterned brick work
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Friends school, built 1822
