The Plainfields facts for kids
The Plainfields are a group of three towns in New Jersey. They are located where three different counties meet: Somerset, Union, and Middlesex. All three towns have "Plainfield" in their name.
These towns are:
- North Plainfield (in Somerset County)
- Plainfield (in Union County)
- South Plainfield (in Middlesex County)
Two other towns, Scotch Plains and Fanwood, are also close by.
Contents
What Are The Plainfields?
The Plainfields are a group of three towns that share a name but are in different counties. Even though they are separate towns with their own local governments, people often use the name "The Plainfields" to talk about the whole area. You might even see this name on highway signs! For example, on Interstate 78, Exit 40 points to "The Plainfields." This shows how people think of them as a connected area.
A Look at Plainfield's History
The land where The Plainfields are now was once part of a large area called the Elizabethtown Tract during colonial times. Later, it became part of Piscataway.
Early Settlers: The Quakers
In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, a group of Scottish Quakers settled this area. Quakers are a religious group known for their simple way of life and peaceful beliefs. One important settler was John Laing. His land was known as Plainfield Plantation.
How Did Plainfield Get Its Name?
Historians are not completely sure how the name "Plainfield" came to be. There are two main ideas:
- It might come from the simple, "plain" clothing worn by the Quaker founders.
- It could also refer to the flat, "plain" landscape of the area.
