Califon

History

Califon was a station on the High Bridge Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The station was built in 1875 and is now used as a museum by the Califon Historical Society. The area that would become Califon was first called California, from Jacob Neighbor's enthusiasm in the milling business about the time the California Gold Rush broke out. The borough was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature from portions of both Lebanon and Tewksbury Townships on April 2, 1918. Local legend has it that California became a regular stop for weekend excursion trains through the countryside. When riders bought their tickets they were issued a voucher good for an ice cream; the train would stop so tourists could wander around and cash in their ice cream coupons. Anxious to exploit this source of outside revenue, residents petitioned the railroad to let them build a real station, which they did as a community project. Citing the local account again, two sign painters who came to letter the sign rode the train from Dunellen, but the background paint wasn't dry when they arrived. They sat and drank at the hotel, which later burned down. By the time the sign was ready for their artistic touch, the local tale says, "Califon" was as close to California as the inebriated painters could manage. Califon is located just north of the Ken Lockwood Gorge on the South Branch of the Raritan River. This stretch of clear water is regularly restocked by the state fisheries service . The center of Califon is the historic iron bridge spanning the South Branch of the Raritan River, which divides the borough. Recently the State of New Jersey announced that the bridge would be replaced because a loaded school bus represented more weight than the aging bridge could safely carry.…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.98 square miles (2.54 km2), including 0.96 square miles (2.48 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (2.04%). Lower Valley is an unincorporated community located along the border of Califon and Lebanon Township.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  25,825
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  24,622
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  21,783
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  21,771
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  20,975
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  20,926
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  19,820
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  19,712

Most recent

• M 2.8 — 2025-08-05
  1 km N of Hillsdale, New Jersey
• M 3 — 2025-08-03
  0 km W of Little Ferry, New Jersey
• M 2.9 — 2024-05-24
  6 km E of Califon, New Jersey
• M 2.6 — 2024-05-01
  1 km NW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 2.9 — 2024-04-27
  7 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey
• M 2.6 — 2024-04-10
  5 km WSW of Gladstone, New Jersey