Harrison

History

The area that is now Harrison was the southernmost part of the land grant awarded to William Sandford in 1668. When that grant was divided in 1671 between Sandford and his uncle, Nathaniel Kingsland of Barbados, Sandford's share included Harrison. While Sandford and his family established a plantation on the northern portion of his tract, there is no evidence they developed any significant part of Harrison. Upon his death in 1691, Sandford's land passed to his wife, Sarah Sandford (née Whartman). Upon her death , she passed most of the land, including Harrison, to her son William (). In 1729, William transferred the southern parts of his upland to three of his sons, John, Robert and Peter, each receiving a lot that included a portion of Harrison's upland. John and Robert sold their lots to members of the Schuyler family in 1733 and 1736, respectively, and migrated westward, John to Newark and Robert to Pine Brook. The disposition of Peter's lot is not known, but no further record of him is found in or near Harrison. A road to the Hudson Waterfront was completed in 1750, named for Douwe's Ferry which it met at its eastern end to cross the Hackensack River. In 1790 the state legislature decided that "public good would be served by a 64-foot road from Paulus Hook to Newark Courthouse". By 1795, a bridge over the Hackensack long and another over the Passaic long (at the site of the Bridge Street Bridge) were built creating an uninterrupted toll road connection. It is now known as the Newark-Jersey City Turnpike. In 1826, the New Jersey Legislature formed Lodi Township from the southern portion of New Barbadoes Neck in Bergen County. The first committee meeting of the Township of Harrison was held on April 16, 1840, and it is widely accepted that Harrison was named…

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 1.33 square miles (3.44 km2), including 1.21 square miles (3.14 km2) of land and 0.12 square miles (0.30 km2) of water (8.72%). The town borders the municipalities of East Newark and Kearny in Hudson County; and Newark across the Passaic River in Essex County.

Race & ethnicity