Stirling dates its founding to 1740 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1950.
First census: 1,076 in 19502020 census: 2,555286 years
How did Stirling get its name?
Stirling was named by Fred Simpson Winston, who purchased about 500 acres (2.0 km2) of land in the area for development.
More on the name
He named the area after William Alexander, Lord Stirling, an American Revolutionary War general who had owned 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of land lying on both sides of the Passaic River.
Stirling was settled in 1740. A manufacturing and residential community was developed in the area of the railroad in the decades after the Civil War.
It was named by Fred Simpson Winston, who purchased about 500 acres (2.0 km2) of land in the area for development. He named the area after William Alexander, Lord Stirling, an American Revolutionary War general who had owned 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) of land lying on both sides of the Passaic River.
The Assyrian National School Association was established in Stirling in 1899 by Assyrian immigrants from Diyarbakır, Turkey.
Passages that mention Stirling, cut from the printed page as they were published.
A history of Morris County, New Jersey1914 · page 158Read the page →
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Religion and education have gone hand in hand in Passaic, schools and churches having existed from an early day. The West Line railroad rapidly developed the Passaic Valley, and everywhere can be seen prosperous villages, handsome residences and beautiful estates. Stirling, one of these prosperous villages, was named after William Alexander, called Lord Stirling. who owned a 1,000 acre tract lying on both sides of the river. Lord Stirling's residence was on the west side of the river in Somerset county; it has been modernized and can yet be seen. A great deal of valuable tim-
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History of Morris County, New Jersey1882 · page 263Read the page →
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William Alexander, called Lord Stirling, owned 1,000 acres .of land lying on both sides of the Passaic, but mostly on the north side and to the north of the pomt where the river forces its way through Long Hill. The thrifty manufacturing town of Stirling in the immediate vicinity was named in his honor. This land was at the lower end of the Great Swamp. Lord Stirling's residence was on the west side of the Passaic, in Somerset county.
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A history of Morris County, New Jersey1914 · page 284Read the page →
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many were ready to enlist in the army. From this time forth until the close of the conflict Chatham was the scene of constant military maneuvers. Part of the army was doubtlessly kept stationed here throughout the whole eight years following 1775. Lord Stirling of Basking Ridge assembled troops in the early part of 1776, and men from Chatham joined these ranks. A liberty pole was raised in front of Day’s Tavern. Young men joined themselves into battalions and began drilling. An eighteen pound cannon was planted on Prospect Hill, since called Hobart’s Hill, to give the alarm by day
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History of Morris County, New Jersey1882 · page 50Read the page →
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Alexander became the aide-de-camp of General Shirley, and he served in that capacity during the greater part of the war. In 1737 the earldom of Stirling became vacant, and on the death of his father, who made no claim to it although eniitled to do so, William Alexander preferred his claim, and in 1757 went to England to press his suit in person. In America his right to the title was never questioned. In 1761 he returned to America, and shortly
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Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
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). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) 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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