Head west from Bedminster on a fall afternoon and the landscape opens up. Fields, stone walls, and wooded ridges take over, and the villages get smaller and older. This is Tewksbury Township, in the northeastern corner of Hunterdon County, and for many buyers it is where the Somerset Hills feeling continues into true country.
Tewksbury borders Bedminster in Somerset County (along the Lamington River), Chester Township and Washington Township in Morris County, and Califon, Clinton Township, Lebanon Township, and Readington Township in Hunterdon. It is a township of villages rather than a single downtown.
A Little History
The land was home to the Lenape before European settlement began in the early 1700s. Tewksbury held a township meeting as early as 1755, and on February 21, 1798, it was incorporated as one of New Jersey's original 104 townships. The name is thought to come from Tewkesbury, England.
English settlers were followed by a large German community beginning around 1749. Their village was known as New Germantown until World War I, when anti-German sentiment led residents to rename it Oldwick. Zion Lutheran Church in Oldwick, established in 1714, is described as the oldest German Lutheran parish in New Jersey.
The Villages
Oldwick is the village most people picture. The Oldwick Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, covers about 170 acres along Main Street (County Route 517) and nearby streets, with a mix of Victorian, Federal, and Georgian-style homes. It carries its own ZIP code, 08858.
Pottersville is split between Tewksbury and Bedminster. It began as a mill village; William Willet built mills here as early as 1756, and the community later took its name from Serrin Potter, who bought them in 1783. In the late 1800s the area was known for peaches, enough that a railroad spur reached the village in 1888. Most of the village was listed on the National Register as the Pottersville Village Historic District in 1990, and it uses ZIP code 07979.
Mountainville, tucked into the hills, has its own historic district, listed on the National Register in 1993. The township also includes smaller place names such as Fairmount, Farmersville, Cokesbury, and Vernoy.
Outdoors
Tewksbury hosts part of the Columbia Trail, a rail trail built on the former Central Railroad of New Jersey High Bridge Branch and maintained by Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation. The trail's surface is mostly fine crushed stone, which makes it popular for walking, running, and easy cycling, especially when the leaves are turning.
Beyond the trail, much of the appeal is simply the setting: country roads, farms, and long views.
Schools
The Tewksbury Township Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Tewksbury Elementary School and Old Turnpike School. High school students attend Voorhees High School in Lebanon Township, part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. As always, we encourage families to confirm details directly with the districts.
Getting Around
Interstate 78 passes through the township, with access via Oldwick Road (County Route 523) at Exit 24, and County Route 517 runs through Oldwick. That combination keeps Bedminster, Route 287, and the larger regional road network within reach while the township itself stays rural.
Notes for Buyers
- Addresses vary. Because of the villages and post offices, a Tewksbury home may carry an Oldwick, Pottersville, Califon, or other mailing address. Confirm the municipality when comparing taxes and schools.
- Historic districts. If you are drawn to an older home in Oldwick, Pottersville, or Mountainville, ask early about any local review before planning exterior changes.
- Country systems. Many properties rely on private wells and septic systems, and some include barns or acreage. Our earlier guides on well and septic and on buying a home on acreage are a good starting point.
The Takeaway
Tewksbury offers historic villages, open country, and an easy connection to the rest of the Somerset Hills. For buyers who want a little more land and quiet without losing touch with Bedminster and Bernardsville, it deserves a close look.
Curious about Tewksbury, Oldwick, or Pottersville? Call Fahey Realtors at 908.204.0600 or stop by 61 Claremont Road in Bernardsville. We would be glad to show you around.
