by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement
March 17, 2026
Long before there were tea parties in Boston Harbor or declarations of independence, a new county, known as Morris, was formed in 1739. Named for Lewis Morris, the first Royal Governor of New Jersey, Morris County had long attracted settlers with its rich landscape and plentiful resources. Indeed, the establishment of Morris County as its own entity set in motion the incorporation of the first formal townships within its current boundaries: Hanover, Morris, and Pequannock – with Roxbury not far behind.
At its formation, the county, much larger than it is today, encompassed what would later become Sussex County (1750) and Warren County (1824). Its residents, growing weary of paying taxes to the sprawling Hunterdon County, whose seat was in faraway Trenton, petitioned for a formal separation, which was granted by the state legislature on March 15, 1739. Four townships were quickly carved out and incorporated just a year later on March 25, 1740. One of which, Greenwich Township, is today in Warren County.
Unsurprisingly, Hanover, once the moniker for the area, was bestowed upon one of these early townships. Despite being whittled down from its original 500 sq. mile, Hanover Township boasted an ever-increasing population that was drawn to the area’s resources, including timber, iron ore, and water power courtesy of the Whippany River. Neighboring Pequannock Township also drew many to the area with its fertile and abundant land formed by the marsh-like conditions in its plains. Although never the site of large-scale industry, Morris Township also offered agricultural opportunities which led to a thriving, rural community that produced wheat, oats, and corn. It was also home to the more densely populated Morristown, newly named the county seat.
The young county continued to develop, attracting greater numbers of inhabitants, which in turn necessitated the creation of even more townships. In fact, Roxbury, which had benefitted not only from fertile farmlands but also the ore underneath it, secured incorporation just months later in December 1740. Many other vibrant communities were still to come, but these initial townships began the making of Morris County.
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