Documentary History of American Water-works

Hudson County

Hudson County, New Jersey

Hudson County was formed in 1840.

The Hudson County Aqueduct Company was incorporated in 1865 by Edgar B. Wakeman, William Keny, Rufus Story, Isaac B. Culver, Robert L. Smith, Augustus A. Hardenburgh, Moses B. Bramhall, Henry D. Van Nostrand, John M. Cornelison, John Armstrong, Jacob R. Schuyler, John Hilton, Edwin R. V. Wright, James Watson, Garret Van Horn, Edwin C. Bramhall, and John R. Halliday "for the purpose of supplying the towns of Bayonne, Greenville, Bergen, Hudson City, and places adjacent with pure and wholesome water" using "water from the Hackensack river (or other streams from which it may be convenient and practicable to take water), in such portions as may be required by the inhabitants of said places." The company could also 'make and enter into any contract in like manner with the water commissioners of Jersey City, for a supply of water from the works of the said water commissioners of Jersey City,"

This was one of the first attempts to form a large multi-community water system.

Bayonne became a city in 1869 and built its own water distribution system in 1882 that purchased water from Jersey City. Hudson City built a distribution system in 1859 that purchased water from Jersey City. Bergen was incorporated as a city in 1868 and was annexed to Jersey City in 1870 along with Hudson City. Greenville was annexed to Jersey City in 1873.

Water for all of the communities is provided by Jersey City, with Bayonne owning its own distribution system. The entire water system is managed by Suez Water North Jersey.

References
1865 Trenton State Gazette, January 17, 1865, Page 3.
The citizens of the towns of Bergen, Bayonne and Hudson City, being unable to secure a necessary supply of pure water from the Passaic Water Company, will make an application to the Legislature to give them power to organize a new water company, with a capital of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing it to three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. It is proposed to erect new buildings on the upper part of the Hackensack River, and lay the pipes a distance of ten miles, through the main streets of the above named towns.

1865 An act to incorporate the Hudson County Aqueduct Company. April 6, 1865.

1868 Map showing the location of proposed roads in the County of Hudson, NJ. This map shows the communities mentioned in the 1865 charter.