28% of North Plainfield’s homes were built before 1940
More historic than 96% of U.S. towns · #29 of 468 in New Jersey. What drives it
3 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 145 buildings between them. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1888 on, and the census since 1900.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, North Plainfield is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #29 of 468 in New Jersey. All 2 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of North Plainfield’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 North Plainfield’s 64.0 sits above most of its state (83% of New Jersey towns have fewer) while its 146 historic buildings outnumber those of 91% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on two of the three inputs, so a change in either one moves the letter more than it would with three. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.6 points).
Founding year: our sources. 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 North Plainfield’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 North Plainfield. 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 North Plainfield.
The story so far
North Plainfield, in brief
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of North Plainfield yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
North Plainfield is a borough in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located within the Raritan Valley region. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 22,808, an increase of 872 (+4.0%) from the 2010 census count of 21,936, which in turn reflected an increase of 833 (+3.9%) from the 21,103 counted in the 2000 census. North Plainfield Township was created from portions of Warren Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature passed on April 2, 1872. The borough of North Plainfield became an independent municipality on June 9, 1885. The name derives from Plainfield, which in turn derived its name from a local estate and for its scenic location. …
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 21,936 to 22,808 (+4%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
From the old history books
What they wrote about North Plainfield in 1901
Passages that mention North Plainfield, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Plainfield and North Plainfield1901 · page 26Read the page →
Read the text
sion of Methodism. Lots were purchased in North Plainfield, and at Monroe avenue and West Fourth street, suitable buildings erected, and Sunday schools organized. In 1893 Grace church, in North Plainfield, was organized, and in December, 1896, Monroe Avenue church, after three years of nominal connection with the present church, was formally separated and organized, Pastoral Roll—G. F. Brown and J. N. Crane, 1832-3; J.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Plainfield and North Plainfield1901Read the page →
Read the text
History of North Plainfield The first election for the formation of a borough in North Plainfield township was held on February 17, 1885. The whole number of votes cast was 441, of which number Diy were cast for incorporation and 224 against. The election was declared lost.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
North Plainfield, 1880 to 2005
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born 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.
North Plainfield is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #29 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 North Plainfield?
Three places: the Washington Park Historic District (listed 1987), the Green Brook Park (2004) and the VanDerventer-Brunson House (2004).
How old are the homes in North Plainfield?
28% of North Plainfield’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.6 points), against a typical 15% for a New Jersey town; the median home was built in 1954.
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 (6), the National Register of Historic Places (3), Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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