A Brief History of Belleville N.J.

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Belleville, New Jersey

A brief history

About the Township...

Belleville is a small historic township in the northeast corner of Essex County, New Jersey. Its population of 34,213 covers an area of 3.2 square miles.

While it contains substantial industrial and commercial activities, it is primarily a residential community with a student population of 4,519, according to the board of education.

The student body is 56 percent minority, comes from more than 30 different nations, and speaks with twice that number of dialects in the home.

It is also a student population living in a township ranked as the 64th most "economically distressed" in the state, and one in which nearly 20 percent of all students are classified as "economically disadvantaged".

History of Belleville and Nutley

The land that would eventually make up Belleville and Nutley was originally inhabited by the Lenni Lenape Indians.

The Dutch arrived in the early 1600s and chose this area because the Netherlands owned New York and New Jersey.

English Puritans led by Robert Treat also settled in the area around the same time.

The English conquered the Dutch in 1664, making it possible for James, Duke of York, to then control the land.

James gave New Jersey to his friends, Lord John Berkeley and Philip Carteret.

In the beginning, the area consisting of present day Belleville and Nutley, was part of Newark.

Residents in this section wanted their independence, so the land was given to Bloomfield.

The portion of what is now Belleville and Nutley gained its independence in 1839 and was named Second River. A Frenchman renamed the town Belleville, meaning "Beautiful Town."

Sources

Belleville Public Schools

Belleville Historical Society

In 1753, the first steam engine came to Belleville to aid in the mining process. Mining quickly became a large and profitable business.

The steam engine also powered the machinery in the factories, making work more efficient.

The metal from the mine and the presence of the steam engine are credited with sparking the industrial revolution in the area.

Railroads were the direct result of the steam engine. By 1870, a steam railroad ran from Belleville to Newark. The ability to easily transport goods to a big city was a boon to the town's economy.

Belleville split up again to form the township of Franklinville in 1874. This new township assumed the responsibility for its independence by collecting taxes and maintaining roads.

Franklinville constantly evolved, adding telephone lines, electric lights and a railroad depot. This economic growth attracted businessmen from Manhattan.

In 1902, Franklinville established a town government. At the suggestion of a resident who had many nut trees on her property, the town was renamed Nutley.

Throughout the 20th century, Belleville and Nutley continued to grow into the prosperous and respectable towns visible today.

Both offer strong businesses, caring communities and opportunities for diverse recreation.

Concerned citizens have worked to carefully restore and preserve landmarks so that history of the towns may be seen for years to come.

Belleville Historical Society