Princeton, New Jersey
The Lenape Native Americans were the earliest identifiable inhabitants of the Princeton area. Europeans settled into the region in the late part of the 17th century, arriving from Delaware to settle West Jersey and from New York to settle East Jersey. The site destined to become Princeton lay amid the wilderness between these two provinces. Henry Greenland was the first European to find his home within the future municipal boundaries. He built a house in 1683 along with a tavern where representatives of West and East Jersey met to set their common boundary. His son-in-law Daniel Brimson inhabited the area by 1690 and left property in a will dated 1696. Nathaniel Fitz Randolph attested in his private journal on the 28th of December 1758 that Princeton was named in 1724 upon the construction of the first house by James Leonard. Leonard referred to the community as Princetown when describing his large estate in his diary. The name became common within the subsequent decade though no official documentary backing exists for its origin. One theory suggests the municipality is named after Prince William of Orange while another points to a landowner named Henry Prince. No evidence backs the latter contention. A royal prince seems more likely given three nearby towns bore names for royalty including Kingston Queenstown and Princessville.
In the pivotal Battle of Princeton in January 1777 George Washington forced the British to evacuate southern New Jersey. After this victory Princeton hosted the first Legislature under the State Constitution to decide the State's seal governor and organization of its government. Two original signers of the Declaration of Independence Richard Stockton and John Witherspoon lived in Princeton. Princetonians honored their citizens' legacy by naming two streets in the downtown area after them. On the 10th of January 1938 Henry Ewing Hale called for a group of citizens to establish a Historical Society of Princeton. Later the Bainbridge House constructed in 1766 by Job Stockton would be dedicated for this purpose. Previously the house was used once for a meeting of Continental Congress in 1783 as a general office and as the Princeton Public Library. The house has kept its original staircase flooring and paneled walls. Around 70% of the house has been unaltered aside from safety features such as wheelchair access and electrical work. The house is owned by Princeton University and leased to the Princeton Historical Society for one dollar per year. Nassau Hall briefly served as the U.S. capitol in 1783 during these revolutionary events.
Princeton University one of the world's most prominent research universities is a dominant feature of the community. Established in 1746 as the College of New Jersey it relocated to Princeton ten years later. Its main campus has its historic center on Nassau Street and stretches south from there. The university bears its name and moved to the community in 1756 from its previous location in Newark. Princeton University was featured at the top of U.S. News & World Reports national university rankings for the ninth consecutive year in 2024. It also topped comparable lists by Forbes and The Wall Street Journal. The Institute for Advanced Study maintains extensive land holdings covering 800 acres known as the Institute Woods. Albert Einstein once lectured here though he never held a formal faculty position. Princeton Theological Seminary the first and oldest seminary in America of the Presbyterian Church USA has its main academic campus in Princeton with residential housing located just outside in West Windsor Township. Westminster Choir College established on a large campus in Princeton in 1932 resided previously in Dayton Ohio and then briefly in Ithaca New York before relocating. In 2020 Rider moved all activities of Westminster Choir College from Princeton to its Lawrenceville campus leaving the Princeton campus largely unused while legal wrangling continues about its future.
For much of its history the community was split into two separate municipalities: a township and a borough. The central borough was completely surrounded by the township. The borough seceded from the township in 1894 in a dispute over school taxes. Residents in the township tried unsuccessfully to merge borough and township in a struggle that lasted nearly fifty years. The first failed attempt to consolidate occurred in 1953 with 63% of township voters favoring merger and 57% of borough voters opposing it. Subsequent attempts were voted down by borough residents due to different zoning needs between the densely populated borough versus widely spaced properties of the township. An attempt to consolidate in 1979 passed with 70% support in the township but failed in the borough by 33 votes. Although township voters again supported a 1996 merger referendum by an almost 3, 1 margin about 57% of borough voters rejected the consolidation proposal. The residents of both municipalities voted on the 8th of November 2011 to merge them into one. This was the first referendum when university student voters were encouraged and allowed to register locally which likely contributed strongly to the measure passing. The consolidation took effect on the 1st of January 2013 creating the Municipality of Princeton.
People born in or residing closely associated with Princeton include Matthew Abelson hammered dulcimer player who grew up there and was introduced to the instrument at age 6. Aaron Burr Sr co-founder of Princeton University served as its second president from 1748 to 1757 while owning slaves during his tenure. His son Aaron Burr third Vice President under Thomas Jefferson killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel and is buried in Princeton. Svetlana Alliluyeva daughter of Joseph Stalin defected to the United States and lived in Princeton until her death in 2011. She made a public show of burning her Soviet passport saying she would never return to the Soviet Union. Peter Benchley author of Jaws lived and died in Princeton after moving there following publication of his novel in 1974. Mary Chapin Carpenter country/folk singer born and grew up in Princeton became a Nashville darling in 1989 with her album State of the Heart. Saul Bellow Pulitzer Prize-winning author lived and wrote here alongside figures like T.S. Eliot and Thomas Mann. Milton Babbitt influential composer theorist and teacher who wrote music described as intensely rational died at age 94 in Princeton.
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Common questions
Who were the earliest inhabitants of Princeton New Jersey?
The Lenape Native Americans were the earliest identifiable inhabitants of the area. Europeans settled into the region in the late part of the 17th century from Delaware and New York.
When was Princeton named and what is its origin story?
Princeton was named in 1724 upon the construction of the first house by James Leonard. One theory suggests the municipality is named after Prince William of Orange while another points to a landowner named Henry Prince but no evidence backs the latter contention.
What happened during the Battle of Princeton in January 1777?
George Washington forced the British to evacuate southern New Jersey during the pivotal battle. Nassau Hall briefly served as the U.S. capitol in 1783 during these revolutionary events.
How did Princeton University get its name and when did it relocate?
Established in 1746 as the College of New Jersey the institution moved to Princeton ten years later. The university bears its current name and relocated to the community in 1756 from its previous location in Newark.
When did the merger between Princeton township and borough take effect?
The residents of both municipalities voted on the 8th of November 2011 to merge them into one. The consolidation took effect on the 1st of January 2013 creating the Municipality of Princeton.
Who lived in Princeton including notable figures like Aaron Burr and Svetlana Alliluyeva?
Aaron Burr third Vice President under Thomas Jefferson is buried in Princeton while his father Aaron Burr Sr co-founded the university. Svetlana Alliluyeva daughter of Joseph Stalin defected to the United States and lived in Princeton until her death in 2011.