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History

Millburn began as a Colonial settlement with agricultural origins. The community evolved into a 19th-century mill/factory economy, and then became a Victorian residential community. Many examples of its rich history still stand, including architecturally significant homes and historic districts.

Once part of the Elizabethtown and Newark settlements created in the 1660s and then of Springfield Township in 1793, Millburn became a separate township within Essex County on March 20, 1857. In 2007, the township celebrated its 150th anniversary, which it marked with numerous special events and activities.

The distinct topography of Millburn has been instrumental in its development and history. With irregular land surfaces, the first inhabitants (the Lenape Indians) beat trails around the small “short hills.” The streams cascading through these hills fueled Colonial mills and factories into the 19th century. During the Revolution, George Washington allegedly viewed his troops from atop a strategic point in South Mountain Reservation.

After the Revolution, the area gradually changed from one of farms to one of grist, lumber and paper mills, due to the natural formation of ponds. Scotsman Samuel Campbell built the first paper mill in 1790. Most of the early mills were paper mills, including the one that is now the site of the Paper Mill Playhouse, but felt and hat mills eventually dominated the industry. In 1835, with the Morris and Essex Railroad completed, Millburn and its local industries were linked to the big cities in the East and the coal regions in the Northwest. The name “Millburn” was decided upon partly because many of the town’s residents hailed from Scotland, and the mill and burn (Scottish word for stream) reminded them of home.

Because of its location and railroad access, Millburn underwent a major change in the late 1800s when two residential suburbs were developed within its borders. In 1872, the Wyoming Land and Improvement Company purchased 100 acres of land, and the first speculative real estate development was started with the creation of the Wyoming section.

Two years later, Stewart Hartshorn, inventor of the spring window shade, acquired more than 1,500 acres to build his ideal village called “Short Hills” — the first planned commuter suburb in America.

By the turn of the 20th century, roads, homes and schools began to cover the western slopes of Short Hills. With the development of these areas, Millburn Township has evolved into the premier suburban community that it is today.