North Branch Raritan River

The North Branch Raritan River is a tributary of the Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States.[2]

North Branch Raritan River
Near the source in Mendham Borough
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew Jersey
RegionMorris County
Somerset County
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationMendham Borough
 • coordinates40°47′16″N 74°35′43″W[1]
MouthRaritan River
 • location
Branchburg
 • coordinates
40°33′20″N 74°41′15″W[1]
Basin features
River systemRaritan River

The North Branch Raritan River rises in Morris County, in eastern Mendham Borough rising out of Mendham Commons Pond, and flows generally southward into Somerset County, around the southern end of the Watchung Mountains.[2] At its end, it forms the border between Bridgewater and Branchburg Townships, and upon reaching the border of Hillsborough Township, joins the South Branch Raritan River to form the main Raritan River, which generally flows eastward from that point. This area where the branches converge was called "Tucca-Ramma-Hacking" by the Lenape, meaning the flowing together of water. It was called "Two Bridges" by the early European settlers, after a set of bridges built in 1733 that met at a small island (the island has washed away over time) on the North Branch.[3] Today the area is generally referred to as "The Confluence". In the 1970s, the state discussed plans for a Raritan Confluence Reservoir, which have been shelved due to acquisition costs.

Both North and South branches of the Raritan run nearly parallel southwards, east and west of one another, but receive their names from the direction each one flows from at their confluence.

The river gives its name to the unincorporated village of North Branch, which lies on both sides of the river in Branchburg and Bridgewater Townships.

Tributaries
  • Black River
  • Burnett Brook
  • Chambers Brook
  • Chamber's Brook
  • Clucas Brook
  • India Brook
  • Larger Brook
  • Lamington River
  • McVickers Brook
  • Middle Brook (Bedminster)
  • Mine Brook
  • Moggy Brook
  • Peapack Brook
  • Penns Brook
  • Stewart Brook

See also

References
  1. "North Branch Raritan River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. Gertler, Edward. Garden State Canoeing, Seneca Press, 2002. ISBN 0-9605908-8-9
  3. New Jersey Historical Society. "Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society." Newark: New Jersey Historical Society, 1924.


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