Manalapan Brook

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Manalapan Brook
Manalapanbrook1.jpg
Manalapan Brook facing west
Location
CountryUnited States
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • coordinates40°11′29.2″N 74°23′35.3″W / 40.191444°N 74.393139°W / 40.191444; -74.393139[1]
Basin size43 sq mi (110 km2)
Basin features
ProgressionRaritan River, Atlantic Ocean
River systemRaritan River system
Helmetta Pond section of Manalapan Brook, with the Helmetta water tower in the background

Manalapan Brook is a tributary of the South River in Monmouth and Middlesex counties, New Jersey in the United States.[2]

Course[]

The Manalapan Brook's source is at 40°11′26″N 74°23′51″W / 40.19056°N 74.39750°W / 40.19056; -74.39750[3] in western Monmouth County, a few miles south of Monmouth Battlefield State Park, and roughly adjacent to the headwaters of the Manasquan River, Matchaponix Brook and Millstone River systems in the much larger Raritan Basin.[1][2][4][5] This long brook flows generally north, traversing, along with its tributaries, much of Monmouth and Middlesex Counties.

Its drainage basin, the Manalapan Brook watershed, is a 43-square-mile (110 km2) area, includes the municipalities of Millstone Township, Freehold Township, Manalapan Township, Englishtown, Monroe Township, Jamesburg, Helmetta, Spotswood, South Brunswick Township, and East Brunswick Township.[6]

There are man-made lakes created by dames alongside the course of the brook, including: Bulk's Lake (near the Charleston Springs Golf Course in Millstone), Millhurst Pond (Manalapan), Lake Manalapan (Jamesburg), Helmetta Pond (Helmetta), and Devoe Lake (Spotswood).

After crossing the dammed section named Lake Manalapan in Jamesburg, Manalapan Brook continues north along CR 615 (Main Street) before flowing into Devoe Lake in Spotswood. The flow then merges with the Matchaponix Brook forming the South River at 40°23′33″N 74°22′58″W / 40.39250°N 74.38278°W / 40.39250; -74.38278[3] along the border of Spotswood and Old Bridge Township.

History[]

The historic Millhurst Mill in Manalapan
The Manalapan Brook flowing behind the Millhurst Mill
  • The name of the brook Manalapan is Lenape for "good cultivation" or "good country".[2] The name also derives from Manalapan Township, one of the several municipalities the stream flows through. The Lenape fished at Lake Manalapan and the surrounding watershed.[7]
  • The rich soil deposits in the watershed made it ideal for cultivation in the 19th and 20th centuries.[8] The viability of being able to cultivate agriculture in this watershed, allowed there for various mills to become established along this long brook. Most notable of mills located on the brook, included Millhurst Mill in Manalapan, Buckelew Mills (owned by the prestigious Buckelew family) in Jamesburg, and G. W. Helme Snuff Mill (established by George Washington Helme) in Helmetta.[9][10][11]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Peck, Jim. "Where are the headwaters of Manalapan Brook?". mycentraljersey.com. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Gertler, Edward. Garden State Canoeing, Seneca Press, 2002. ISBN 0-9605908-8-9
  3. ^ a b "Manalapan Brook". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map
  5. ^ New Jersey Land Types 1954, Rutgers Cartography. Accessed September 1, 2021.
  6. ^ "WATERSHED PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PLAN FOR THE MANALAPAN BROOK WATERSHED". New Jersey Water Supply Authority, on behalf of the Manalapan Brook Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan Project Committee Watershed Protection Programs. February 2011. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  7. ^ "Welcome to Jamesburg: History of Jamesburg". Accessed September 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "New Jersey Watershed Authority: Watershed Protection and Restoration Plan for the Manalapan Brook Watershed". February 2011. Accessed September 8, 2021.
  9. ^ Celano, Clare Marie (May 28, 2015). "Businesses keep it in the family". News Transcript. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Jamesburg History Archives". Accessed September 8, 2021.
  11. ^ "The History Girl: Tobacco Town: The George W. Helme Sunff Mill". Accessed September 8, 2021.

External links[]

Coordinates: 40°21′16″N 74°25′59″W / 40.354361°N 74.433188°W / 40.354361; -74.433188


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