Piscataway Township is one of the 50 oldest communities in the United States and the 5th oldest in New Jersey. The Township's three hundred plus year history serves as a source of pride for the residents of Piscataway, the state and the nation. Historic preservation is important to Mayor Wahler and his running mates - Armwood, Cahill and Griffith because they understand the importance that history plays in molding the future.

Piscataqua, as it was called in the late 1600's was a large piece of land. Most of the large surrounding towns we know now were once part of Piscataqua. The area has been a transportation hub since prehistoric times. Thousands of years ago a tribe known as the Lenape found their way to this substantial valley using a river as their path. The land was bountiful and located far enough inland to provide protection from enemies and the elements. The river was a source of food since it had an abundance of fish and also served as a waterway (the Raritan River) that the Lenape used to journey as far as the river's mouth and to the Atlantic Ocean.

When the Europeans arrived in the 1600s to settle, the goods produced by the colonists required movement from the interior settlements and farms to the more populated areas of New Netherlands, New England and the other coastal towns. Raritan Landing, located in Piscataway consisted of warehouses, businesses, shops and homes and was a bustling commercial center. The Minisink Trail was widened into a colonial highway called "The Great Road up the Rariton" and the Landing welcomed trading ships from New York, Boston, the Caribbean and Europe. Elegant homes on the east side (Piscataway) of the river proved the prominence of the Raritan Landing as one of America's most important 18th century ports.

The Raritan and the area's roads played a significant role in America's fight for Independence. Throughout the war, many skirmishes were fought along River Road. Landing Lane Bridge sustained damage numerous times and was repaired and rebuilt each time. On July 4, 1778, the second anniversary of our great nation, George Washington was headquartered at Ross Hall, and the banks of the Raritan were lined with thousands of American Patriots celebrating. At the end of the day's festivities General Washington hosted an elegant officer's ball at the mansion in Piscataway. Across the river, Queen's College (Rutgers University) was established at this time as an important institution of higher learning; a reputation proudly maintained to this day.

America, as a young nation had a public initiative to connect it's communities with a comprehensive transportation network with the goal of creating new jobs for the increasing number of immigrants coming to the United States; establishing a strong foundation of federally supported and regulated commerce to maximize economic growth. This infrastructure enabled the flow of people and goods to and from the expanding American frontier.

Piscataway Township in the 19th century was primarily a farming area, using the D&R Canal to cheaply transport produce and livestock to markets in the region's larger cities. By the middle of the 19th century, railroads had been the primary means of transporting goods, and in keeping with the area's geographical location, most of Piscataway's population centers were located along the railroad lines.

When World War II started, Piscataway was a sleepy farm community caught in the twilight of the Depression. Open space was plentiful as was quick access to mass transportation (paved highways, trains, and shipping ports). This availability prompted the United States Army to establish Camp Kilmer on the Piscataway-Edison border. Camp Kilmer was activated in June 1942, the first and largest staging area of its kind in the United States, it handled more than two and a half million troops.

Even though Piscataway was rural in nature, major mass transportation systems were nearby. By the 1950s, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway made Piscataway easily accessible. With the development of the Interstate Highway System and the construction of Route 287 in the 1960s the populous could now travel from northwest New Jersey to Central New Jersey and New York in mere minutes. A positive boom to commuters and the township's industrial tax base took place.

Our Township Public Library maintains a local reading room. Our local history museum, the Metlar-Bodine House, circa 1728, is the oldest out of the two remaining buildings from the Colonial river port, Raritan Landing. A State and National Historic Site, the building serves Piscataway and Central New Jersey as the repository for many historical artifacts. The museum is dedicated to celebrating the area's vibrant past and the development of the Raritan River Valley from prehistoric time to the present. The exhibits celebrate and teach the remarkable history of this area, which was and remains a vital transportation corridor.

Knowing the history of how the Township has transformed over the many years since the start of its existence, residents can understand how the town's Corporate Corridor established years ago is in keeping with the original reason the Lenape settled in this area. Modernization has changed the method of travel and shipping. What once was accomplished by foot and water is now achieved by car, train, and air.

Piscataway is located firmly in the Tri-State area's corporate corridor with convenient access to Route 287 and Route 18. These highways connect easily to the NJ Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, making Piscataway a great location for any company that wants easy access to New York, Philadelphia and even Washington, D.C. It also provides access for residents and visitors to the many cultural attractions in these cities.