Elsinboro Township, New Jersey

Elsinboro Township is a township in Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,001, a decrease of 35 (−3.4%) from the 2010 census count of 1,036, which in turn reflected a decline of 56 (−5.1%) from the 1,092 counted in the 2000 census.

Elsinboro's first mention dates back to May 12, 1701, though it was also mentioned in records on November 28, 1676. The details and date of its original incorporation are unknown. The township was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's original group of 104 townships.} The township was named for Fort Nya Elfsborg.

History

At the time of European colonization in the 17th century the Delaware River was known as the South River and the Salem River was known as Varkens Kill, or Hogg Creek. In 1641, without having a patent, a group of 60 settlers (20 families) from the New Haven Colony (in today's Connecticut) purchased land along the kill from indigenous Lenape.

Shortly after Johan Björnsson Printz, governor of New Sweden, arrived in the colony in 1643, he instructed that Fort Nya Elfsborg be built. Named after the Old Älvsborg Fortress off shore from Gothenburg, Sweden, it was located on the Delaware River between Salem River and Alloway Creek. In 1655 Peter Stuyvesant, on behalf of the Dutch West India Company, re-asserted control over the region, which was later captured by the British in 1664.