1954 Map of Califon

About this map

The South Branch Raritan River carves through the landscape near Califon, where the Central Railroad of New Jersey follows the water's edge. This mid-century view captures a period of transition in Hunterdon County, showing the proximity of early industrial and agricultural nodes like Pottersville and Oldwick to newer infrastructure. The map reveals the expansion of the Round Valley Reservoir at the southern edge, a massive engineering project that reshaped the terrain near Cushetunk Mountain. Genealogists will find numerous small-scale landmarks, including Fairmount Cem and several local schools, preserved at a scale that shows their relation to the rural road network. The presence of the State Reformatory and the scattered crossroads of Mountainville and Cokesbury illustrate the diverse social and economic character of the region during the 1950s and its subsequent revision in the early 1970s.