Wharton was first counted by the census in 1890, and 25% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 70% of U.S. towns · #179 of 468 in New Jersey. What drives it
1 place in town is on the National Register, among them a historic district with 6 buildings. Below: 4 old photos and papers, maps from 1888 on, and the census since 1890.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Wharton is more historic than 70% of U.S. towns, #179 of 468 in New Jersey. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
B+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Wharton’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 Wharton’s 8.2 sits above most of its state (66% of New Jersey towns have fewer) while its 6 historic buildings outnumber those of 72% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±7.9 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 Wharton’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
In 1831, the Morris Canal was completed from Newark to Phillipsburg, New Jersey across the Delaware River from the terminus of the Lehigh Canal. On the way, it passed through Boonton, Dover and Port Oram. On this route it tapped the Morris County ore fields and became a carrier for both ore and pig iron. Its main purpose, however, was as an extension of the Lehigh Canal to furnish a route for anthracite coal from the Pennsylvania mines to seaboard. Any local traffic was a gain to supplement the through anthracite freight and iron ore and its products soon became important sources of revenue. Sites on the canal were selected for docks and industry, including iron works.
Passages that mention Wharton, cut from the printed page as they were published.
A history of Morris County, New Jersey1914 · page 168Read the page →
Read the text
with merchandise for the dealers of these counties. In 1832 the Morris canal was finished, and in 1853 the Morris and Essex railroad was completed to Hackettstown. The Chester railroad, a branch of the M. & E. railroad, leaves the main line near Wharton, and passes through the eastern part of the township, Kenvil and Succasunna being stations on that line, which was opened for traffic in January, 1870. The High Bridge Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey was completed to McCainville in July, 1876, and extended to Wharton (formerly Port Oram) in 1878, a further exten-
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
A history of Morris County, New Jersey1914 · page 152Read the page →
Read the text
In the heyday of its prosperity, Randolph was considered one of the best townships in Morris county. But with the decline of iron ore mining, the closing down of its furnaces and forges, and the setting off of the town of Dover and borough of Wharton, much of its glory departed. It is located in the central part of the county ; was erected from Mendham township in 1805, and named in honor of Hartshorn Fitz Randolph, an eminent citizen of the township. The Morris canal passes through the township, as does the D., L. & W. railroad, and the High Bridge branch of the Central
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
Wharton, 1867 to 1920
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.
The Wharton post office opened in 1890, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 1895.
How does Wharton rank for history?
Wharton is more historic than 70% of U.S. towns, #179 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 Wharton?
One place: the St. Mary’s Church Historic District (listed 2023).
How old are the homes in Wharton?
25% of Wharton’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.9 points), against a typical 15% for a New Jersey town; the median home was built in 1965.
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 (7), the Library of Congress (3), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), 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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