West Windsor Township in Mercer County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Penns Neck Historic Community
Photographed by Richard Peterson, April 4, 2026
1. Penns Neck Historic Community Marker
William Penn purchased over 6500 acres here in 1693. His sons sold it to the Schenck and Covenhoven families in 1737, who settled the area. A cemetery was built by 1746. West Windsor's first school reputedly opened nearby before 1760. The hamlet clustered around Washington Road and Route 1 in the early 1800s and prospered from stagecoach travel. The Red Lion Inn (1807) and Princeton Baptist Church (1812) were community hubs. Town Committee often met here in the 1800s.
Penns Neck featured a wainwright, blacksmith, wheelwright, schoolhouses, general stores, inns, more businesses, and substantial farms. Residents socialized at a community club from the 1920s-60s. The Radio Corporation of America opened a campus here in 1942 and pioneered many technological innovations. Penns Neck saw much suburban and commercial growth through most of the 1900s and beyond.
Celebrating West Windsor History 2023
Erected 2023 by The Historical Society of West Windsor.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1693.
Location. 40° 19.844′ N, 74° 38.217′ W. Marker is
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Central Jersey and in Greater Princeton. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Glen Acres Historic Neighborhood (approx. 0.6 miles away); Crossing the Canal at Washington Road (approx. 0.8 miles away); Scudders Mills (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Canal Dug By Irishmen (approx. one mile away); You'll Do Lobelia (approx. 1.3 miles away); Burial site of "Elsie" (approx. 1.3 miles away); Berrien City Historic Neighborhood (approx. 1.4 miles away); John & Alicia Nash (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Windsor Township.
Also see . . .
1. Historical Society of West Windsor. (Submitted on April 12, 2026, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Historic Community: Penns Neck. History of Penns Neck, published by the Historical Society of West Windsor.
"Largely centered around Washington Road and Route 1 is one of West Windsor Township's oldest historic communities. This hamlet, named after its original colonial landowner - William Penn - developed as a stagecoach stop in the early 1800s and grew significantly(Submitted on April 22, 2026, by Historical Society of West Windsor of West Widsor, New Jersey.)in the 20th century. Although much has been lost over decades, the neighborhood still retains a strong sense of place."Photographed by Richard Peterson, April 4, 20262. Penns Neck Historic Community MarkerPrinceton Baptist Church & Cemetery
Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2026, by Richard Peterson of East Windsor, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 23 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 8, 2026, by Richard Peterson of East Windsor, New Jersey. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
