Rowland's Mills, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rowland's Mills, New Jersey
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 Rowland's Mills, New Jersey
Location in Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Rowland's Mills, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Rowland's Mills, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Hunterdon |
| Township | Readington |
| Elevation | 131 ft (40 m) |
| GNIS feature ID | 879845 |
Rowland's Mills is a small, historic community in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It is an unincorporated community, which means it's a recognized place but doesn't have its own separate local government. You can find it on the western side of Readington Township.
Contents
History of Rowland's Mills
Rowland's Mills has a long and interesting past. It started as a busy center for grinding grain and cutting wood.
Early Beginnings
The story of Rowland's Mills began in 1760. That year, a gristmill was built in this spot. A gristmill is a place where grain, like wheat or corn, is ground into flour. Later, around the time of the American Revolutionary War, a sawmill was also built. Sawmills are used to cut logs into lumber.
Growth of the Community
In the early 1800s, a small village, or "hamlet," started to grow around these mills. It was located along a road that connected two other towns, Flemington and Clinton. This made it a convenient stop for travelers and farmers.
In 1838, a man named Rynear Rowland bought the mills. The village was later named after him. At its busiest, Rowland's Mills had many important places. There was a general store where people could buy supplies. There was also a blacksmith shop, owned by Oliver Hart Ewing, where metal tools and horseshoes were made. Many houses were built for the people who lived and worked there.
Decline of the Mills
However, by the late 1800s, the community started to shrink. It became almost empty by the 1920s. This happened when the main road through the village was made wider. This new road was called State Route 30, which later became modern New Jersey Route 31. The changes to the road meant that traffic bypassed the old mill complex, and the community lost its central importance.
Transportation
Even though the community is small, it still has an important transportation link. The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line runs right through Rowland's Mills. This railway was once the main line for the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
