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Barber & Howe, Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey. 1844
 

                         BURLINGTON COUNTY. (pages 85-86)

       The bounds of Burlington co. were first established (though not with much particularity in 1691. They were definitely settled by the act of 1710. The limits were reduced in 1710 by the formation of Hunterdon co., by which the Assanpink creek was made the northern boundary, and still further in 1838 by the erection of Mercer co., when the township of Nottingham was annexed to the new county. This county derives its name from the town of Burlington, which was early settled by English Friends. It is a long tract, extending from the Delaware river to the Atlantic ocean; being the only county that reaches across the width of the state. Its extreme length is about 50 miles; breadth on the NW. about 22, and near the SE. end about 13 miles. It is bounded NNW. by the Delaware river, N. by Mercer co., ENE. by Monmouth co., SE. by the Atlantic ocean, and SW. by Atlantic and Gloucester counties. The county is of an alluvial formation, composed of sand, gravel, loam, and clay, and its surface is generally level or undulating. In the interior a few miles from the Delaware, is a strip of exceedingly fertile land several miles wide, on which are some of the finest farms in the state, highly cultivated, and much improved by the Marl which abounds there. The prominent agricultural products of the county are wheat, corn, rye, oats, grass, beans, and potatoes. Beyond the above tract, for about forty miles, nearly to the sea-shore, the whole country is generally a light sandy soil covered principally with pines, in which are but few inhabitants, who are occupied in cutting timber for transportation, or are employed in the glass works and iron foundries scattered here and there over its surface. Along the sea-shore is a narrow strip of fertile land. The SE. part of the county is watered by the Little Egg Harbor river and its branches, which flow to the ocean; the NW. by the Rancocus, Crosswick's creek and other streams emptying into the Delaware.

       Burlington co. is divided into the following 11 townships, all of which, excepting Washington, were incorporated in 1798.

         Burlington       Evesham                 Mansfield            Washington
         Chester            Hanover                 Northampton       Willingboro
         Chesterfield     Little Egg Harbor   Springfield

       The population of the townships now composing the county, in 1810, was 23,745; in 1820, 25,189; in 1830, 27,209; in 1840, 32,836.