PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ HISTORY AND LOOKUPS
County History Books
History of Bergen and Passaic Counties, New Jersey, With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men by W. Woodford Clayton; William Nelson, (1995) – 1006 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.30.1848.AR
Passaic County, New Jersey: A Genealogical Overview
Situated in northeastern New Jersey, Passaic County presents a story of two distinct regions: the densely populated, urbanized industrial heartland in the south and the scenic, rural highlands in the north. The county’s history is dominated by the city of Paterson, America’s first planned industrial city, founded at the Great Falls of the Passaic River by Alexander Hamilton’s Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures. This industrial engine drove successive waves of mass immigration from across Europe, making Passaic County an incredibly rich and diverse area for genealogical research, representing a microcosm of America’s industrial and immigrant past.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Passaic County’s creation from two of New Jersey’s original counties is the most critical first step for any family research predating 1837.
- 1837: County Formed: Passaic County was officially established on February 7, 1837.
- Parent Counties: The county was created from territory taken from two parent counties. The southern portion, including the future cities of Paterson and Passaic, was taken from Essex County. The northern portion, including Pompton and West Milford, was taken from Bergen County. Research for ancestors living in the area prior to 1837 must be conducted in the records of the appropriate parent county.
- Subsequent Formations: The county’s boundaries have been relatively stable since its formation, with minor adjustments made with neighboring counties.
- Name Origin: The county is named for the Passaic River, which flows through its length and whose Great Falls provided the waterpower that fueled its industrial birth. The name is derived from “Pasaeck,” a word from the language of the native Lenape people.
- County Seat History: Paterson was designated the county seat at the time of the county’s creation in 1837 and has remained the center of county government ever since. The historic Passaic County Courthouse complex is a major landmark in the city.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The original inhabitants of the area were various groups of the Lenape (Delaware) people, including the Acquackanonk tribe in the southern portion of the county.
- Colonial Settlement and Economy: Dutch settlers began acquiring land with the Acquackanonk Tract purchase in 1679. The region developed as a farming community with scattered Dutch homesteads. In the northern highlands, iron mining and forges, such as those in Ringwood, were important industries from the colonial era through the Revolution.
- Key Historical Events:
- The Founding of Paterson: In 1791, Alexander Hamilton and the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (S.U.M.) selected the Great Falls to create a city that would secure America’s economic independence. The raceway system they built harnessed the waterpower for mills and factories.
- Industrial Powerhouse: Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Paterson became a leading industrial center, known as “Silk City” for its dominance in silk production. It was also a major manufacturer of Colt firearms, locomotive engines, and early aircraft engines.
- Waves of Immigration: The promise of industrial jobs fueled a continuous flow of immigrants. Early waves included English, Irish, German, and Dutch settlers. From the 1880s onward, a massive influx of Italian, Polish, Russian, and Eastern European Jewish immigrants arrived, shaping the cultural and social fabric of Paterson, Passaic, and Clifton.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records, which are held in various county, state, and local repositories.
- County Offices (Paterson, NJ):
- Passaic County Surrogate’s Court: This is the primary office for genealogical research. It holds all probate records, including wills, estate administrations, and guardianship papers, from 1837 to the present.
- Passaic County Clerk’s Office: Maintains all land records (deeds and mortgages) from 1837. This office is also the repository for business records, court judgments, and some naturalization records.
- Vital Records:
- Birth, Marriage, and Death Records: New Jersey’s system can be complex.
- Pre-1848: Very few official records exist. Researchers must rely on church records, cemetery inscriptions, and family Bibles.
- May 1, 1848 – 1920: The primary repository for this crucial genealogical period is the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton. They hold the official state copies of births, marriages, and deaths.
- Post-1920: Records are held by the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. Copies of vital records can also often be obtained from the local registrar in the specific municipality (city, borough, or township) where the event occurred.
- Birth, Marriage, and Death Records: New Jersey’s system can be complex.
- Libraries and Societies:
- Passaic County Historical Society: Located at Lambert Castle in Paterson, this is a premier resource holding extensive manuscript collections, genealogical files, photographs, historical maps, and city directories.
- Paterson Free Public Library: The main branch has a strong local history collection with microfilmed newspapers, city directories, and published family histories.
- The Genealogical Society of New Jersey: A statewide organization that offers numerous publications, indexes, and resources essential for New Jersey research.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Orange County, New York (north)
- Rockland County, New York (north)
- Bergen County, New Jersey (east)
- Essex County, New Jersey (south)
- Morris County, New Jersey (southwest)
- Sussex County, New Jersey (west)