From Trails to Turnpikes: A Brief History of the Early Roads of New Jersey

Follow along with the winding history of early roads in New Jersey in this week’s vlog. With the first routes being converted from Native American trails, road-building experienced a boom during the Turnpike Era of the 19th century. Replaced by the Morris Canal as the fastest means of transportation in the area, local turnpikes were mostly abandoned by 1829, but not before leaving their mark on the landscape.

[@MillerMeteor74]

Thank you for this. Previous to watching this I had no idea what a shunpike was. I believe there's a Shunpike Road in Cape May County, if I remember correctly.

[@geralderdek282]

Very informative and well narrated. Thanks.

[@jtidema]

Very interesting, especially the maps! Thanks. FYI, I think you mean the Morris Turnpike was 20 FEET wide?

[@petercarmeci8317]

Excellent video. As a NJ native, born and raised in Bergen County, this was really cool.

[@tombiggs4687]

This is possibly Morris County-centric? The two pikes from Edison to Trenton (now rt 27, and Princeton Pike at the lower end) and the Brunswick Pike between New Brunswick and Trenton (now Route 1) were a huge boon to travelers and cargo transportation. Trenton was the farthest up ships could ride the tide, and then cargo could be carried northeast on those pikes.
York Road (named for the Duke of York) was there from early colonial times, running from Newark (?), crossing the Delaware at New Hope, down to Philadelphia. Rt 202 roughly follows its old right of way, but there are several sections of road still called Old York Road. It may not have been as well-paved as the newer toll roads but it was *the* way to get from NYC to Philadelphia.
I know there were a number of turnpikes in south Jersey, can't think of any right now besides White Horse Pike.

[@samanthab1923]

I grew up in Monmouth Co. took Rt 520 right to the beach from Holmdel. Go west & you wind up at the Delaware. I actually live in New Hope now & you can see a toll house on 202 & Aquatong. Is Rt 1 or 9 the Old Post Rd.?

[@tombiggs4687]

@@samanthab1923 I don't know the history of Rt 9. I live sorta close to New Hope, and I do know that Rt 413, Durham Road, used to be a turnpike. They preserved one of the toll houses in Newtown, by the Eagle shopping center.

[@samanthab1923]

@@tombiggs4687 Very cool

[@samanthab1923]

@@tombiggs4687 Will keep an eye out 👋

[@timstollery9260]

"20 miles wide?"

[@marksandor2830]

Where can I acquire these maps?

[@lesjones5684]

What about south Jersey 😢😢😢😢

[@tombiggs4687]

I thought that right away, though I don't know much of south Jersey except the parts I take to the shore. 🙂 I thought of White Horse Pike though, what others? I grew up near both Brunswick Pike (Rt 1) and Princeton Pike, very important turnpikes when they were built, not sure why they weren't mentioned.

[@tomhughes4980]

😂

[@Puchiaca69]

Route 1

[@stephensmith5982]

Not very informative or comprehensive as regards New Jersey seems to concentrate on Morris County.

[@IamNiggler]

I'm that nigga

[@benzzc3626]

Yes, the title is misleading.