Wickatunk, New Jersey
| Wickatunk, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated community | |
Wickatunk from Pleasant Valley Road approaching Route 79
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 Wickatunk, New Jersey
Wickatunk, New Jersey
Wickatunk, New Jersey
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| Coordinates: 40°21′00″N 74°14′53″W / 40.35000°N 74.24806°WCoordinates: 40°21′00″N 74°14′53″W / 40.35000°N 74.24806°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 New Jersey
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| County | Monmouth |
| Township | Marlboro |
| Elevation | 174 ft (53 m) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| GNIS feature ID | 881818 |
Wickatunk is an unincorporated community located within Marlboro Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. Elevation above sea level is 180 feet (55 m). It was founded in 1695 by three Scottish servants from the community of Toponemus (no longer in existence in Marlboro Township). Originally surveyed by George Keith, in a letter he states:
"After some time I may give thee a particular account of all thy land I have surveyed for thee and what I reckon dew for it. John Laing and his family are well and lyke to do well, and so John Sym and his family. Also thou hast thy share laid out at Wickington (Wickatunk).
After the initial settlement, the plan in the early 1700s called for a village center with small town lots surrounded by plantations. However, that plan was not workable as it did not allow for townspeople to have farming land.
Research suggests the name derives from the Delaware (Algonquian) "wikwetung", meaning "the fishing place".
Known for the potato harvest from nearby farms, in 1923 the town hosted Representatives from "all the potato seed raising sections of the country" and Canada. In addition to the potatoes, the area was also well known for Stayman and Rome apples - winning state awards and registered Holstein Friesian cattle. The area was also known for manufacturing liquor and many area farms were raided for violations of the Volstead Act in the late 20's and early 30's.
A central feature of the community for years was the Wickatunk shipping point, part of a single track 12-mile (19 km) railroad line from Matawan to Freehold, New Jersey. Having been included on the list of most dangerous railroad crossings by the Automobile Club of America in 1908 the station and crossing were demolished in the 1970s. The rail station was on tracks formally owned by the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Currently, the Henry Hudson Trail uses this right of way and passes through Wickatunk.
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Wikipedia