First census: 562 in 19002020 census: 11,065126 years
How did Totowa get its name?
The name of Totowa comes from the Native American name for the Passaic Falls of the Passaic River in nearby Paterson, and literally means "sinking or falling water", or "between mountains and water".
How historic is Totowa?
C
More historic than 33% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Totowa is more historic than 33% of U.S. towns, #390 of 468 in New Jersey. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
C
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Totowa’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 Totowa’s 0.9 sits below most of its state (31% of New Jersey towns have fewer) while its 1 listings outnumber those of 51% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D to B. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±7.0 points).
Founding year: the first census (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 Totowa’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
In 1696, George Willocks, a Scottish land speculator, purchased a tract of land known as Willock's Patent, which included most of modern-day Totowa, Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson) and Little Falls. Located in the western part of Manchester Township, Willock's Patent was resold to Anthony Brockholls and the Van Houten family. The land was retitled the "Totowa Patent", and divided into three parcels, and more land was acquired through the "Garret Mountain Purchase".
Passages that mention Totowa, cut from the printed page as they were published.
Preakness and the Preakness Reformed church, Passaic County, New Jersey1902Read the page →
Read the text
Totowa, after Dr. Meyer's death, did not have another pastor until 1799, a vacancy of eight years occurring, when the Rev. II. Schoonmaker was settled over that Church in connection with Acquackanonk. Schoonmaker remained in his charge until 181(5.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Preakness and the Preakness Reformed church, Passaic County, New Jersey1902Read the page →
Read the text
In 1772, as we have noted, the three Churches of Totowa, Fairfield, and Pompton (Pompton Plains), called the Rev. Hermanns Meyer, afterwards (178!)) Doctor of Divinity, who served all three Churches until 17S5, although it seems that in 1779 and 1780, one' Matthew Leydt, or Light, who preached then at Belleville, also preached at Fairfield, doing so no doubt for Mr. Meyer's relief. In 1785, Domine Meyer gave up his labors altogether at Fairfield, and continued to serve only the Churches of Totowa and Pompton
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
Totowa, 1772 to 2008
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
The Totowa post office opened in 1900, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does Totowa rank for history?
Totowa is more historic than 33% of U.S. towns, #390 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 Totowa?
One place: the Van Houten-Van Allen House (listed 2025).
How old are the homes in Totowa?
19% of Totowa’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.0 points), against a typical 15% for a New Jersey town; the median home was built in 1958.
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 (8), the Library of Congress (2), Wikidata (1), 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 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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