Somerset Hills

The Somerset Hills is a region in the northern portion of Somerset County, New Jersey, United States, almost entirely north of Interstate 78. It comprises Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Bedminster Township, Far Hills, and Peapack-Gladstone. Based on the United States Census, 2000 data, population was as follows: Peapack-Gladstone 2,433 (6%), Bernardsville 7,345 (17%), Bernards Township 24,575 (56%), Bedminster Township 8,302 (19%) and Far Hills 857 (2%), for a total of 43,512.

Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, Lyons and West Millington are ZIP codes and unincorporated areas located within Bernards Township.

Bedminster Township includes the area known as Greater Cross Roads, Lamington, Pluckemin, Pottersville, and the section of Bedminster.

Background

During the decades following the Civil War, the United States experienced tremendous economic growth and the concomitant accumulation of enormous wealth by a select, but growing and increasingly interrelated, group of industrialists and financiers who were determined to join the ranks of the established upper class. To assimilate themselves into society, these new plutocrats lavishly spent their newfound wealth to acquire all of the physical manifestations of the aristocratic life, including large country houses in one or more of the country’s exclusive residential “colonies,” such the Somerset Hills of New Jersey. These great country estates were intended to be examples of conspicuous consumption and the pursuit of leisure and a blatant statement of the owner’s social standing.(Jack Turpin)

Historical Landmarks

For Details on Location try [http://www.historicalsocietyofsomersethills.org The Historical Society of The Somerset Hills website ]

Bedminster Township

*McDonalds/Klines Mill, Klines Mill Road
* [http://www.jvanderveerhouse.com Jacobus Vanderveer House, US Route 202/206]
*Lamington Historic District
*Pluckemin Historic District
*Pottersville Village Historic District
* [http://www.jvanderveerhouse.com/pr_2007_03_20_JVH_Behind_Encampment.htm The Pluckemin Artillery Encampment] America's First Military Academy

Bernards Township

* [http://www.brickacademy.org The Brick Academy, 15 West Oak Street]
*Alward Farmhouse, 40 Mount Airy Rd
*Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, 6 West Oak St
*Coffee House, 214 North Maple Avenue
*Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead, 450 King George Rd
*Lord Stirling Manor Site, 96 Lord Stirling Road
*Lyons Train Station, Lyons Road
*Franklin Corners Historic District
*Samuel Johnson House
*Van Dorn's Mill
*Franklin Corner School
*Liberty Corner Historic District (E)

Bernardsville

*Bernardsville Train Station, US Route 202 (10)
*John Parker Tavern, 2 Morristown Road (11)
*Reynolds Scherman House, 71 Hardscrabble Rd (12)
*Morristown National Historical Park, NJ Brigade (F)

Far Hills Borough

*Far Hills Train Station, US Route 202 (21)
*Alexander and James Linn Homestead, Minebrook Rd (22)

Peapack-Gladstone Borough

*Gladstone Train Station, Main Street (38)

Federal, state and county representation

The Somerset Hills Region is in the Eleventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 16th Legislative District.

External links

* [http://www.bernardsvillenj.com/ Bernardsville official web site]
* [http://www.bernards.org/ Bernards Township official web site]
* [http://www.peapack-gladstone-nj.gov/ Borough of Peapack Gladstone]
* [http://www.historicalsocietyofsomersethills.org/ The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills]
*NJReportCard|35|0350|0|Bernards Township School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3401650 National Center for Education Statistics data for the Bernards Township School District]
* [http://www.mountaincolonypress.com/ New Jersey Country Homes - The Somerset Hills Vol.1 and Vol.2.]