Plenty of people know the name Basking Ridge without realizing it isn't a town of its own. Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, and Lyons are all communities within Bernards Township, our neighbor just south and east of Bernardsville. Together they make up one of the most varied corners of the Somerset Hills.
A Little History
Bernards Township was formed by royal charter on May 24, 1760, as Bernardston Township, and it was named for Sir Francis Bernard, then governor of the Province of New Jersey. It was incorporated in 1798 as one of the state's original 104 townships. Over time, parts of it were carved off to form new municipalities, including Far Hills in 1921 and Bernardsville in 1924. In a 1921 referendum, voters also considered making Basking Ridge a separate borough and rejected the idea by more than four to one.
Basking Ridge itself was settled in the 1720s by Presbyterian families, on land purchased from the Lenape. On December 13, 1776, General Charles Lee, then second in command to George Washington, was captured by British troops at Widow White's tavern.
The Village
The center of Basking Ridge is the Basking Ridge Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge, a Greek Revival building from 1839, anchors it. Its churchyard was long home to a white oak believed to be about 600 years old, taken down in 2017 after years of decline.
Nearby, the Brick Academy was built in 1809 as the Basking Ridge Classical School, which prepared young men for the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. Today it is home to the Historical Society of the Somerset Hills. The township's municipal offices are in a former Astor family estate.
Liberty Corner and Lyons
Liberty Corner was known in the 1720s as Annin's Corner, after landholder John Annin, and took its current name during the Revolution. On August 29, 1781, French troops under the Comte de Rochambeau camped here on their march toward Yorktown. The Liberty Corner Historic District was added to the National Register in 1991, and the village is also home to the USGA Museum.
Lyons, to the east, is known for its NJ Transit station and the Lyons VA Medical Center, whose Classical Revival brick buildings are listed on the National Register.
Parks and Open Space
Lord Stirling Park, a Somerset County park, takes its name from William Alexander, Lord Stirling, a Continental Army general, and his manor site is listed on the National Register. The township's eastern edge borders the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, and Pleasant Valley Park offers the town pool and wooded trails.
Schools and Getting Around
The Bernards Township School District serves students from pre-K through 12th grade, with Ridge High School as its high school. Liberty Corner School, which dates to the early 1900s, is the district's oldest school. As always, families should confirm current programs directly with the district.
For commuters, the township has two stations on NJ Transit's Gladstone Branch, Basking Ridge and Lyons. Trains run to Hoboken, and a few peak-hour trips go directly to New York Penn Station. Lakeland Bus Lines runs rush-hour service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. By car, Interstates 78 and 287 and U.S. Route 202 all serve the township.
What Buyers Should Know
If Bernards Township is on your list, a few practical notes:
- Check the municipality, not just the mailing address. Parts of the township use Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, or even Far Hills mailing addresses. The tax records tell you which town a property is actually in.
- Expect variety. Village streets, established neighborhoods, townhome communities, and larger country lots all sit within one township.
- Utilities vary. Some homes are on public sewer and water, while others rely on a private well or septic system. Plan your inspections around what the property actually has.
- Highlands rules. Bernards is one of the Somerset County municipalities in the New Jersey Highlands Region, where state planning rules can affect development. Your attorney and the town can explain how they apply to a given property.
The Takeaway
Bernards Township offers a little of everything: a historic village, quiet hamlets, real open space, and practical access to the city. Whether you picture yourself near the church green in Basking Ridge or on a wooded lot near Liberty Corner, it rewards people who want options close to home.
Curious about homes in Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, or elsewhere in the Somerset Hills? Call Fahey Realtors at 908.204.0600 or stop by our office at 61 Claremont Road in Bernardsville. We have been helping neighbors find their place here since 1985.
