New Providence’s post office opened in 1804, and 1 of its places is on the National Register
More historic than 61% of U.S. towns · #244 of 468 in New Jersey. What drives it
Most of New Providence was built recently: 9% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1962. Its Register listing is the Murray Hill Station. Below: 3 old photos and papers, maps from 1888 on, and the census since 1900.
From New Providence’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers
How New Providence began
When was New Providence founded?
1804
The New Providence post office opened in 1804, the earliest record of the town by name. Another post office, Murray Hill (1885), opened inside today’s town and later closed.
First census: 565 in 19002020 census: 13,650222 years
How historic is New Providence?
B
More historic than 61% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
Founding year: the first New Providence post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).The full story ↓
History grade
What drives New Providence’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, New Providence is more historic than 61% of U.S. towns, #244 of 468 in New Jersey. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.
B
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of New Providence’s overall grade.
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 New Providence’s 1.5 sits near the middle of its state (38% of New Jersey towns have fewer) while its 2 historic buildings outnumber those of 60% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to B+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.2 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date.
Founding year: the first post office (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 New Providence’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of New Providence. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1888Plainfield 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 New Providence.
Places that used to be
Lost post offices and old corners
New Providence’s post office has been open since 1804. Another post office, Murray Hill, opened and closed inside today’s town.
New Providence
1804–today
Murray Hill
1885–1967
18001910today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Benders CornerMurray HillOakwood Park
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
The written history of New Providence begins in 1664 when James, Duke of York and brother to King Charles II, purchased the land that became known as the Elizabethtown Tract from the Lenape Native Americans. Its first European settlers were members of a Puritan colony established in 1720, which was the first permanent settlement of its type. The settlement was originally called "Turkey" or "Turkey Town", due to the presence of wild turkeys in the area.
The Presbyterian Church established in 1737 was a focal point for the community, and the lack of serious injuries when the church's balcony collapsed in 1759 was deemed to be an example of divine intervention, leading residents to change the area's name to New Providence.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
The New Providence post office opened in 1804, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does New Providence rank for history?
New Providence is more historic than 61% of U.S. towns, #244 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.
What is on the National Register in New Providence?
One place: the Murray Hill Station (listed 1984).
How old are the homes in New Providence?
9% of New Providence’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.2 points), against a typical 15% for a New Jersey town; the median home was built in 1962.
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 (24), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, 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.
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