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C−History
History · Hampton Township

Hampton Township dates to 1864

More historic than 19% of U.S. towns · #447 of 468 in New Jersey. What drives it

Most of Hampton Township was built recently: 5% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1978. Below: maps from 1891 on and the census since 1870.

1864founded
0on the National Register
5%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: Adam Moss · CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answers

How Hampton Township began

When was Hampton Township founded?

1864

Hampton Township dates its founding to 1864 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1870.

First census: 1,023 in 18702020 census: 4,893162 years

How historic is Hampton Township?

C−

More historic than 19% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1868.
History grade

What drives Hampton Township’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Hampton Township is more historic than 19% of U.S. towns, #447 of 468 in New Jersey. Its age holds the grade up; its National Register listings pull it down.

C−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Hampton Township’s overall grade.
Founding era1864, from Wikidata: founded 1850–1899, an older era than 37% of U.S. townsC+Homes built before 19404.9% of homes (±2.4) · typical NJ town 14.7% · U.S. 8.4%CNational RegisterNo listings counted · typical NJ town 3.7 per 10,000 · U.S. 2.4C−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 19%
NewerOlder
New Jersey towns of 2,500+ (468)Ahead of 4%

New Jersey towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New Jersey town has 3.7 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Hampton Township’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (12% of New Jersey towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1864.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D to C−. The pre-1940 share (±2.4 points) is firm at this size.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Hampton Township’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Hampton Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Shrank, then grewLost a third of its people between 1870 and 1930, then grew 8-fold.Lost villages3 post offices opened and closed inside today’s Hampton Township, and 5 old place names are still on the map.On the map since 18914 editions of the USGS map, 1891 to 1994. Watch Hampton Township change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Hampton Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Hampton Township’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
People over time

Hampton Township, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5005,0005,500188019001920194019601980200020201,023 in 1870Low: 581

Lost a third of its people between 1870 and 1930, then grew 8-fold.

16 censuses, 1870–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Hampton Township’s Wikipedia page.

Places that used to be

Lost post offices and old corners

Three other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.

Hunt's Mills
1868–1888
Halsey
1887–1922
Baleville
1890–1918
18601940today
Hamlets and corners on the map
BalesvilleCrandon LakesHalseyMyrtle GroveWashingtonville

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

The story so far

Hampton Township, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Hampton Township yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Hampton Township is a township in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 4,893, a decrease of 303 (−5.8%) from the 2010 census count of 5,196, which in turn reflected an increase of 253 (+5.1%) from the 4,943 counted in the 2000 census. Hampton Township was formed from portions of Sussex County by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 11, 1864. The township was named for Jonathan Hampton, who donated land in 1769 to the Episcopal Church of Newton. State legislator Robert Hamilton, an Episcopalian, appreciated Hampton's generosity, and gave the township its name. Portions of the township were taken on Februar…

Hampton Township was established in 1864. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 5,196 to 4,893 (-6%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

Timeline

Hampton Township, 1864 to 2010

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1864
    FoundingHampton Township is established
  3. 1868Post officeThe Hunt's Mills post office opens
  4. 1887Post officeThe Halsey post office opens
  5. 1888Post officeThe Hunt's Mills post office closes
  6. 1890Post officeThe Baleville post office opens
  7. 1891On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  8. 20th century
  9. 1918Post officeThe Baleville post office closes
  10. 1922Post officeThe Halsey post office closes
  11. 21st century
  12. 2010CensusPopulation peaks at 5,196
By decade

Hampton Township, decade by decade

Today12 recent
Hampton Township, NJ Municipal Building, March 20252025Hampton Township, NJ Municipal Building, March 2025Paulinskill Valley Trail – Great Valley Trail, Junction Road2024Paulinskill Valley Trail – Great Valley Trail, Juncti…Great Valley Trail, Junction Road2024Great Valley Trail, Junction RoadGreat Valley Trail, Hampton Township, NJ - July 1, 20242024Great Valley Trail, Hampton Township, NJ - July 1, 20…2018-07-26 11 16 47 A topped Norway Spruce growing a new top along Sussex County Route 519 (Morris Turnpike-Newton Aven…20182018-07-26 11 16 47 A topped Norway Spruce growing a …NJ Sussex county Swartswood Lake IMG 19122012NJ Sussex county Swartswood Lake IMG 1912NJ Sussex county Swartswood Lake IMG 19112012NJ Sussex county Swartswood Lake IMG 1911The Basketball Court2011The Basketball CourtOne on One - panoramio (1)2011One on One - panoramio (1)Camp Auxilium2011Camp AuxiliumBirch (Kemah Lake, NJ)2011Birch (Kemah Lake, NJ)Hampton twp nj2005Hampton twp nj
On the map

Hampton Township on the map, 1891 to 1994

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Hampton Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Hampton Township on the 1891 USGS mapHampton Township on the 1954 USGS mapHampton Township on the 1971 USGS mapHampton Township on the 1994 USGS map1891Wallpack sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Hampton Township.

Famous people

Famous people close to Hampton Township

Nobody well known was born in Hampton Township itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Janeane GarofaloAmerican comedian and actress · b. 1964
Jim MillerMixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, born 1983 · b. 1983
Ardolph L. KlineAmerican politician · b. 1858
John W. GriggsAmerican politician · b. 1849
Rodman McCamley PriceGovernor of New Jersey · b. 1816
S
Sarah EscobarSportsperson · b. 2002
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Stillwater Township2 historic placesA−Lafayette Township1 historic placeAFredon TownshipIts storyB−Andover TownshipIts storyDFrankford Township1 historic placeB+

Questions about Hampton Township’s history

What year was Hampton Township founded?

In 1864, according to Wikidata. Hampton Township’s post office opened in 1868, and the census of 1870 counted 1,023 people here.

How does Hampton Township rank for history?

Hampton Township is more historic than 19% of U.S. towns, #447 of 468 in New Jersey. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

How old are the homes in Hampton Township?

5% of Hampton Township’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.4 points), against a typical 15% for a New Jersey town; the median home was built in 1978.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (12), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.