Although not incorporated until 1842 as Hamilton Township, this area represents one of the oldest (if not the oldest) formal settlements in Mercer County. In 1686, still under England's rule, the area was organized as the Township of Nottingham. In addition to including all of the present Hamilton Township, the area also included all of Trenton south of the Assunpink Creek. After becoming Hamilton Township (named after early American patriot Alexander Hamilton), township boundaries changed two more times when parts were taken: 1.) to form Chambersburg (independently incorporated in 1872 and annexed to Trenton in 1888) and 2.) to form Wilbur (incorporated 1891 and annexed to Trenton in 1898).

Many familiar areas of Hamilton Township today started as independent villages. They include Hamilton Square (which traces its roots to the mid-1700s); Yardville (originally Sandville) that grew into some prominence as a station on the Camden & Amboy rail line; North Crosswicks (originally Woodwardsville), a gristmill village; White Horse (notably named after the one tavern at that crossroads in the late 1700s); Mercerville (originally Sandtown, but also known as The Corners); and Groveville (land holdings which originally were owned by one man, John Longstreet.)

Township History Links
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Hamilton Township Historic Sites
(John) Abbott House (see Municipal page, above)
   2200 Kuser Rd. Hamilton  585-1686
Bow Hill Mansion: (owned by the Ukrainian American Society): www.getnj.com/historichouses/bowhilltrenton.shtml
   Jeremiah Avenue, Hamilton
Camp Olden Civil War Round Table & Museum www.campolden.org
   2202 Kuser Rd., Hamilton
Kuser Farm Mansion (see Municipal page, above) www.fieldtrip.com/nj/98903630.htm
   290 Newkirk Avenue, Hamilton   890-3660
Sayen House & Gardens www.sayengardens.org/Sayen%20House.htm
State Fair Grounds (now Grounds for Sculpture): www.groundsforsculpture.org/fairhist.htm
(Isaac) Watson House [headquarters of the NJ chapter/Daughters of the American Revolution]   www.njdar.org/facts.html
   151 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton/Trenton border 896-0361
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Other Hamilton Township History Resources
Tom Glover's Hamilton blog: www.glover320.blogspot.com
Gary Lippincott's Groveville blog: www.grovevillememories.blogspot.com
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