Editing Chester Township, New Jersey (section)

==History==
The earliest records of individuals settling in the area date back to deeds dated in 1713, for properties located near a point where two [[Lenape]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] trails crossed at an area called Black River. With the arrival of the [[Rogerenes]] in 1730, the area developed as an agricultural community, producing [[applejack (beverage)|applejack]], flax and wool, as well as raising cattle. The Township was created from portions of [[Roxbury Township, New Jersey|Roxbury Township]] and [[Washington Township, Morris County, New Jersey|Washington Township]] on April 1, 1799, following a [[referendum|local referendum]].<ref name=Story/> A burst of economic activity occurred starting in 1875 with the discovery of [[iron ore]] in the area, which led to the construction of dozens of mines, a blast furnace and many of the commercial and residential structures in the township date to that era. The discovery of far more abundant and productive mining sites in [[Minnesota]]'s [[Mesabi Range]] ended that boom after nearly 15 years. Chester returned to its farming roots in the 20th Century.<ref>[http://chestertownship.org/about-chester-nj/history/ History], Chester Township. Accessed January 9, 2017.</ref><ref name="Cheslow"/>

It was established by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]] on April 1, 1799, from portions of both [[Roxbury Township, New Jersey|Roxbury]] and [[Washington Township, Morris County, New Jersey|Washington]] Townships, based on the results of a referendum held that day.<ref>[http://mclib.info/reference/local-history-genealogy/historical-timeline-of-morris-county-boundaries/ Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225144924/http://mclib.info/reference/local-history-genealogy/historical-timeline-of-morris-county-boundaries/ |date=December 25, 2016 }}, Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1799, April 1. Chester Township is established from Roxbury and Washington Township."</ref> Additional territories were acquired from [[Randolph, New Jersey|Randolph Township]] (in 1806) and Washington Township (1840 and 1853). Portions of the township were taken on April 3, 1930, to form [[Chester Borough, New Jersey|Chester Borough]], a separate municipality surrounded entirely by Chester Township.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. [https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf ''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''], Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 192. Accessed October 25, 2012.</ref>