United States

Raritan Landing, New Jersey

18th-century inland port on the Raritan River, New Jersey

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Historical Context

About

Raritan Landing is a historical unincorporated community located within Piscataway Township in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, which was once an inland port, the farthest upstream point ocean-going ships could reach along the Raritan River, across from New Brunswick. Begun in the early 18th century it remained vital until the mid 19th century, when most of the port was abandoned. The remains of the community now reside buried beneath Johnson Park on the south side of River Road, Remnants of the era, mostly the bluff overlooking the Raritan, include the Cornelius Low House, Metlar-Bodine House, and the Road Up Raritan Historic District and an archeological site. The nearby East Jersey Olde Towne Village is home to a permanent exhibition about the Raritan Landing.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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Port emerges

1720s

Community growth documented

1740s

Decline and abandonment

mid 19th century

Excavations begin

1979

Archaeological site listed

1979

Archaeological listing expanded

1984

Route 18 project continuation and plan

2012

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Storage Structures

Warehouses
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Domestic and Habitation Structures

HousesVillagesTowns
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Environmental and Natural Features

Landscaped EarthworksSoil Layers
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Transportation and Communication Structures

RoadsQuays
Knowledge Base

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Reference

Details

Country

United States

Coordinates

40.51° N, -74.46° E