BORDENTOWN THEN & NOW

The area was settled in 1682 when Thomas Farnsworth, an English Quaker, moved up river from Burlington to make a new home for his family on a windswept bluff overlooking a broad bend in the Delaware River. Farnsworth Landing then became the center of trade for the region. Joseph Borden, for whom the town is named, arrived here in 1717. By May 1740 he had a line of stage coaches and boats traveling between New York and Philadelphia. With patriots Francis Hopkinson (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), Colonel Kirkbride, Colonel Hoagland, and Thomas Paine in residence, the area became a hotbed of revolutionary fervor. The town was occupied by the Hessians in 1776 and pillaged and burned by the British in May and June of 1778.

Other famous residents included Joseph Bonaparte, ex-king of Spain and Naples and brother of Napoleon, and Clara Barton, who to 1843 started the first free public school in New Jersey in the original schoolhouse which still stands near the center of town. Ms Barton later founded the American Red Cross.

Although the town hosts a rich history, it is also a modern community with much to offer residents and visitors alike. Situated at the northern tip of Burlington County and bordering Hamilton Township, it is located at the crossroads of the American Revolution and today's modern highways. Serviced by the New Jersey Turnpike, Routes 130 and 206, and Interstates 295 and 195, Bordentown enjoys easy access to the cultural and commercial advantages of Princeton, Trenton, New York, and Philadelphia.

The revitalized business district of this "little city with a lot of charm" offers visitors a pleasant diversion The town's beautiful and historically significant architecture houses many interesting shops and restaurants, as well as a friendly and Caring community.

We welcome your visit to charming Historic Bordentown Cityl

Bordentown Then & Now
Thomas Paine
John Bull