The area now known as Trenton, was an important center for the region's Lenni Lenape (pronounced Len - au' - pay, meaning "Men of Our Nation") Indians long before European settlers arrived. They were also called Wapenachki or "People of the Rising of the Sun" by western Indian nations and Delaware (after the river) by early non-Indian settlers. The Lenape claimed to be the oldest Indian nation, and the original (root) people of the massive Algonquin nation of tribes.

The area's landscape and culture changed quickly once the first European settlers arrived in 1679. Mahlon Stacy, a tanner from Hansworth, England, and a small group of fellow Quakers chose the northernmost area between the Assunpink Creek and Burlington, an area called The Falls of the De La Warr, as their 1/10 share of the newly divided West Jersey region. Stacy's gristmill was built on the banks of the Assunpink alongside the area now known as Mill Hill Park. In 1714, after William Trent purchased (from Mahlon Stacy, the younger) 800 acres of land along both sides of the Assunpink Creek, the emerging town was increasingly known as "Trent's-town", although 'The Falls' continued to be used by locals through the Revolution.

Two pivotal Revolutionary War battles fought in Trenton marked the turning point in the nation's battle for independence (the week before the first Battle of Trenton, British commander Cornwallis had begun making plans to return to England, notifying authorities that the war was over!) For a time, Trenton was considered (along with Philadelphia, New York City, and Bethesda, MD) to be the nation's Capital.

With the completion of the Delaware & Raritan canal, and the extension of the Camden & Amboy railroad to Trenton, its important role in the country's industrial revolution was assured. By the early 20th century, the rapidly expanding city was 1st in the nation in production of ceramics and pottery, 2nd in the production of rubber, and in the top ten producers, nationally, for steel rope and cable and steel. Among the major inventions created and developed in the city are John Fitch's steamboat (operated on the river 17 years before Fulton's boat was launched), John Roebling's steel cable, and Peter Cooper & Charles Hewitt's I-beam.

City History Links
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Trenton Historic Sites
Battle Monument: http://209.123.244.140/html/monument.htm
   348 North Warren St., Trenton   737-0623
(Alexander) Douglass House: http://209.123.244.140/html/douglass.htm
   Front & Montgomery Streets, Trenton 394-1965
Cadwalader Park (Olmstead-designed): http://cadwaladerpark.com/
(The) Contemporary Victorian Townhouse Museum & Club:
   176 West State Street, Trenton  392-9727
Ellarslie, the Trenton City Museum: http://www.ellarslie.org/
   in historic Cadwalader Park, off Parkside Ave., Trenton
First Presbyterian Church of Trenton: http://old1712.org/timeline.html
(The) Friends (Quaker) Meetinghouse and history: http://home.comcast.net/~DanJones4/links.htm
Meredith Havens Fire Museum: www.trentonnj.org/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=55&TPID=6568
   244 Perry St., Trenton 989-4038
Old Barracks Museum: www.barracks.org/
           www.magweb.com/sample/amr/b003oldb.htm
Old Mill Hill District: www.trentonmillhill.org/history.html 
Riverview Cemetery: www.findagrave.com/php/famous.php?page=cem&FScemeteryid=100189;              
ww.interment.net/data/us/nj/mercer/riverview/riverview.htm
St. Michael's Church: http://209.123.244.140/html/st_michaels.htm
State House: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/statehousehistory.asp
Trenton Friends Meeting House: http://209.123.244.140/html/friends.htm; http://home.comcast.net/~DanJones4/links.htm
Trenton Masonic Temple: www.mercer50.com/Mercer%20History.pdf
   100 Barracks Street, Trenton 392-3959
Trenton Police On-Line Museum: www.tpdmuseum.com
Trenton War Memorial Building: www.state.nj.us/state/divisions/memorial/story/ 
 Militia Museum: www.state.nj.us/state/divisions/memorial/museum/index.html
William Trent House: www.williamtrenthouse.org/
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Other Trenton History Resources
History Traced by Rte. 29 (a great 6-booklet series developed by Hunter Research, Inc. while doing archaeological research during the construction of the Rte. 29 Tunnel in So. Trenton)
 Native Americans in South Trenton  
 Tale of Two Houses: Lamber/Douglas House and Rosey Hill Mansion
 Lamberton, the Port of Trenton
 The Trenton Water Power 
 Iron & Steel
 Riverview Cemetery & Trenton's (Famous) Dead
Patriots' Week in Trenton:  www.patriotsweek.com/ 
Potteries of Trenton Society (POTS): www.potteriesoftrentonsociety.org/
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