6 Most Eccentric Towns in New Jersey
What do you look for in a town or any other destination? Is it the sense of community, the local cuisine, or is your taste more eccentric? New Jersey is chock-full of interesting and unusual events, laws, and towns. The Garden State has something for everyone, and before it became the most densely populated U.S. state, the land gave rise to the Appalachian Mountains. By 13,000 B.C.E., Paleo-Indians were already inhabiting what was called Lenapehoking (the land of the Lenape). Today, people from all around the country come here to visit Atlantic City, explore Liberty State Park, tour the Grounds for Sculpture, and engage in other activities. Out here, it can be cold and snowy, or warm and humid, so timing is everything. Some of the most fascinating places await in the small towns of New Jersey!
Cape May Point
You will find this borough at the tip of the Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County. It is also the location of the Cape May Lighthouse, built in 1859, and is still open for climbing! Visitors like to take pictures of the SS Atlantus, a concrete ship partially submerged off the coast. It is a rather historic place and clearly proud of it, as large commercial developments and chain restaurants are prohibited here. There are some fine substitutes here, though; for instance, Sunset Beach, known for "Cape May diamonds," has quartz pebbles polished by the sea. If you are still interested in history, a bit of exploring will likely land you at Fort Miles Battery 223—a World War II fortification encased in thick concrete.
Lambertville
Nicknamed the "Antique Capital of New Jersey" because of its many antique shops, Lambertville harbors a number of interesting tidbits. It is also home to the annual Shad Festival (held in late April), where locals celebrate the migration of American shad fish from saltwater to freshwater to reproduce—with all the best parts of a celebration, of course: food and music. Interestingly, the Delaware and Raritan Canal runs through the town, which was used for coal transportation back in the day. Today, and speaking of transportation, you can also find the Lambertville Station, a converted 19th-century train station turned restaurant and inn!
Ocean Grove
A small community within Neptune Township known for the Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove is home to an incredible wooden structure built in 1894 for religious revivals. There are over one hundred tents here in an area known as “Tent City,” and you would not believe it until you see it—some of them have been inhabited seasonally since the late 1800s! The town is also one of the last dry towns in New Jersey, prohibiting alcohol sales. If you are still looking for something to pique your interest, you can visit Paranormal Tower—a museum that holds many famous American paranormal artifacts.
Mount Holly
A small town of 10,000, Mount Holly is home to the Burlington County Prison Museum, one of the oldest continually operating prisons in the U.S., until it shut down in 1965. As it turns out, a bunch of small paranormal societies claim the prison museum is haunted! There are many things to check out in and around this eccentric place. The people of Mount Holly host the Fire & Ice Festival, combining ice sculpting and some incredible chili cook-offs. Rancocas Creek cuts through the town, and its history as a vital trade route for Native Americans and settlers is quite interesting. In fact, many streets retain their 18th-century names, like High Street and Pine Street.
Clinton
Named after DeWitt Clinton, this eccentric small town is home to Red Mill, an 1810 structure now a museum that has appeared in countless photographs. They do, in fact, host a rubber duck race annually. Thousands of ducks are released into the South Branch Raritan River, definitely worth checking out during the month of July. Also worth checking is the Hunterdon Art Museum, located in a restored 19th-century stone mill. The town has a love for antiquity, and that is why the Clinton Historic District preserves over 200 years of architecture. You can see it all via the walkable iron bridges that connect different parts of town over the river!
Madison
A fairly colorful town of around 16,500, Madison has a love for preserving its historic beauty. You can probably catch the community activities throughout the year. In fact, the Madison Farm & Artisan Market is one of several, and visitors will find many attractions to go to, along with live music and local produce. The Museum of Early Trades and Crafts is an excellent pick if you are looking for historical attractions, and the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey offers cultural experiences for visitors! There is much love for culture in Madison, and the Madison Community Arts Center stands as a testament to that—anybody can walk in.
Final Thoughts
It is important to change things up every once in a while, see something you have never seen before, learn new things, and hear new stories. New Jersey, with its eccentric towns and fascinating traditions, offers the perfect backdrop for such adventures. From towns where you cannot pump your own gas to places that preserve 18th-century street names, something unique is always waiting to be discovered. If you are the adventurous type or if you simply have the curiosity to find out, these small towns in New Jersey promise plenty of surprises.
