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Elizabeth, NJ - Development
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Early Days
The Indians of Staten Island sold to John Bailey, Daniel Denton and Luke Watson, a tract of land lying between the Raritan River and the Passaic River, extending westward from Newark Bay. The tract extended about 34 miles between the two rivers and about 17 miles westward from Newark Bay, comprising 500,000 acres. It included what is now the City of Elizabeth. -
The Development of Elizabeth began.
Colonel Nicolls was Governor by virtue of appointment by the then Duke of York, who had been granted the territories in North America. The deed of conveyance from the Indians was delivered on December 1, 1664 to John Baker, John Ogden, John Bailey and Luke Watson (Denton having sold his interest to Baker and Ogden). The four grantees took possession of the tract by building at least four houses before April 1665 and thus the settlement and development of Elizabeth began. -
Capital of New Jersey: Elizabethtown
Colonel Nicolls and Governor Carteret worked together, despite the confusion as to ownership of the land and developed the new town which they called Elizabethtown, probably so named in honor of Elizabeth, the wife of Sir George Carteret. Houses were constructed by the settlers and also a church where the First Presbyterian Church now stands on Broad Street next to the Courthouse. Governor Carteret made Elizabethtown the capital of the province of New Jersey and the first legislature met here. -
Elizabeth became a City.
Elizabeth became a City by the provisions of an Act of the Legislature entitled "An Act to Establish the City of Elizabeth" approved March 13, 1855. On March 22, 1855, an election was held to adopt or reject the new charter. The result of the election showing 561 in favor of adoption and 19 against, was reported to the old Boro Board on March 27, 1855, so that Elizabeth did not officially become a City until that date. -
Industrial Development: Singer Manufacturing Company
During the later part of the 19th century and into the 20th century, Elizabeth was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. Companies like the Singer Manufacturing Company (sewing machines) built huge factories here and employed tens of thousands of workers. Industries at the time included shipbuilding, automobile plants, ironworkers, breweries, machinery manufacturers and oil refining. -
Transportation Development
In the later part of the century, the City was able to transform itself into even more of a transportation hub with the development of Newark Airport, the Goethals’ Bridge, and the New Jersey Turnpike. Its seaport evolved into one of the world’s largest shipping ports with the development of containerization. Meanwhile, because of its location, Elizabeth grew into a major retail destination. -
City Seal adopted.
On a circular shield, a wooded landscape with four houses representing the first settlers. From the middle chief point, a Spanish shield pendant charged with the coat-of-arms of Sir George Carteret, Lord co-proprietor of the Province of New Jersey, a ribbon surmounting the shield with the motto of Carteret. Four fusils in feese (silver); and a canton (silver) with a sinister hand, erect, open and coupled at the wrist (red); surmounted by a scroll (silver), inscribed with the motto "Loyal Devoir" -
Elizabeth City Population Today
