Townsbury, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Townsbury, New Jersey
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 Townsbury, New Jersey
Location in Warren County, New Jersey
Townsbury, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Townsbury, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Warren |
| Township | Liberty |
| Named for | Benjamin and John Town |
| Elevation | 157 m (515 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 881225 |
Townsbury is a small place in New Jersey, USA. It is known as an unincorporated community. This means it is a group of homes and businesses that are not officially a town or city with its own local government. Instead, it is part of a larger area called Liberty Township. Townsbury is located in Warren County.
You can find Townsbury along U.S. Route 46. It is about 12 miles (19 km) west of Hackettstown. The Pequest River flows right through this community.
Contents
History of Townsbury
Early Beginnings: Meng's Mill
The area now known as Townsbury had a different name long ago. It was first called "Meng's Mill." This name came from an early settler named John Meng. He built a grist mill there. A grist mill is a place where grain, like corn or wheat, is ground into flour.
New Owners, New Name
In the 1780s, the mill changed owners. Benjamin Town and John Town took over the business. The community then started to be called "Townsbury" after them. This is how the place got its current name.
Growth and Development in the 1800s
By the year 1882, Townsbury had grown quite a bit. It had its own post office, which helped people send and receive mail. The grist mill was still working, and a lumber mill had also been built. A lumber mill cuts logs into useful wood. At this time, Townsbury had a population of 102 people. It was a busy little center for trade in the local area.
Railroad and Recreation
A railroad line once ran through Townsbury. This was part of the Lehigh and Hudson River Railway. Trains used to carry goods and people through the community. Today, this old railroad track is no longer used by trains.
Instead, the abandoned railbed has been turned into a fun trail. It is now part of the Pequest Wildlife Management Area Trail. This trail is a recreational rail trail. A rail trail is a path for walking, biking, or running, built on an old railway line. This trail connects Townsbury to another community called Buttzville.
