South Mountain Reservation covers 2,047.14 acres (8 km²) in the central section of Essex County, New Jersey, extending through the municipalities of West Orange, Maplewood, and Millburn, bordering South Orange, between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountain Range. The presence of the early Delaware Native Americans lingers in the name given to the Watchungs — the "high hills." Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the state of New Jersey. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... Map of West Orange Township in Essex County West Orange is a township located in Essex County, New Jersey. ... Map of Maplewood Township in Essex County Maplewood is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. ... Map of Millburn Township in Essex County Millburn is a township located in Essex County, New Jersey. ... Map of South Orange Village in Essex County South Orange is a Village in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. ... The Watchung Mountains are a pair of two long low ridge lateral morraines formed by glaciers in the most recent ice age, between 400 ft. ... The Lenape or Lenni-Lenape (later named Delaware Indians by Europeans) were, in the 1600s, loosely organized bands of Native American people practicing small-scale agriculture to augment a largely mobile hunter-gatherer society in the region around the Delaware River, the lower Hudson River, and western Long Island Sound. ... An Aani (Atsina) named Assiniboin Boy. ...

In 1896, John Durand, the son of Asher Brown Durand, described the mountain that includes South Mountain Reservation as Asher Brown Durand, circa 1869. ...

“a wilderness, as it probably existed at the time of Hendrick Hudson, a primitive forest abounding with deer and other wild animals, and traversed by streams alive with trout. Game was plentiful – partridges, quail, woodcock, rabbits, squirrels of every species, raccoons and foxes; while occasionally a hungry bear that had trespassed on the farmyards in the vicinity would be tracked to its den and shot.”

In 1680, wolves, bears and cougars were observed in the area, and there was a bounty on them.

The reservation has changed only slightly through the years. It's been preserved primarily in its wild state. Woodlands abound in a variety of hardwood trees, and tall hemlocks tower above streams, creeks and ponds. The west branch of the Rahway River flows through the valley. A reservoir and watershed owned by the City of Orange lies in the northern tract. The Rahway River is a river, approximately 30 mi (48 km long), in northeastern New Jersey in the United States. ... Map of City of Orange in Essex County The City of Orange Township is a City located in Essex County, New Jersey. ...

Turtle Back Zoo and the South Mountain Arena lie within its boundaries. The vistas of New York City, Elizabeth, Union Township, Staten Island, and Newark can be viewed from the eastern ridge, 550 feet (168 m) above the community of Millburn. Deep in the woods, a 25 foot (8 m) waterfall at Hemlock Falls is a dramatic feature. Turtle Back Zoo, located in West Orange, New Jersey, is one of only four zoos in that U.S. state. ... Nickname: Big Apple Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... Map of Elizabeth in Union County Union County Court House Elizabeth is a City in Union County, New Jersey, in the United States. ... Map of Union Township in Union County Union Township is a Township located in Union County, New Jersey. ... Staten Island, in yellow, lies to the southwest of the rest of New York City. ... Nickname: The Brick City Map of Newark in Essex County Coordinates: ) °′40. ...

In front of the pond called Campbell's Pond is a factory that was abandoned when its interior burned. The adjacent pond has a bridge going across it that is falling apart and is considered dangerous to cross over.

History

Foliage at Campbell Pond in the reservation

The reservation was built from land purchases begun in 1895. It took a decade to untangle the deeds and assemble all the lands at South Mountain. Before he delegated design of the Essex Parks to his stepson's firm, Frederick Law Olmsted visited the newly acquired reservation. He regarded it as some of the most beautiful and promising terrain he had ever seen anywhere. The design of South Mountain was finalized by the Olmsted Brothers in stages over the years. A good deal of construction work — trails, footbridges, shelters, etc. — was carried out by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 5021 KB) Summary Campbell Pond in South Mountain Reservation, Essex County, New Jersey during fall foliage 2005 Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): South Mountain... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 5021 KB) Summary Campbell Pond in South Mountain Reservation, Essex County, New Jersey during fall foliage 2005 Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): South Mountain... Frederick Law Olmsted, oil painting by John Singer Sargent, 1895, Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina Frederick Law Olmsted (April 26, 1822 – August 28, 1903) was a United States landscape architect, famous for designing many well-known urban parks, including Central Park and Prospect Park in New York City, the country... The Olmsted Brothers company was an extremely influential landscape design firm in the United States, formed in 1898 by step-brothers John Charles Olmsted (1852-1920) and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. ... ... Civilian Conservation Corps workers restoring the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. ...

Within the park is Washington Rock, an American Revolutionary War historic site, dating back to the late 1700s when Beacon Signal Station 9 was located here, one of 23 beacons built by General Washington to observe British troop movements quartered on Staten Island and New York City. Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, The Netherlands, Spain, American Indians Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, American Indians Canadian Indians Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene, Bernardo de Gálvez Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the... George Washington (February 22, 1732–December 14, 1799) led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and was later elected the first President of the United States. ... Staten Island, in yellow, lies to the southwest of the rest of New York City. ... Nickname: Big Apple Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ...

It was from this outlook that, on June 23, 1780, Essex County and Newark Militia were first warned that the British had launched an attack westward toward "the Gap," (Hobart Gap), a natural pathway to Washington's troops encamped at Morristown. In a pincer movement designed to gain access to the Gap, Hessian and British troops were stopped by Continental troops at the Battle of Springfield. Washington Rock served again as a lookout for the Army when reactivated during the War of 1812. June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... New Jersey State Highway 24 is a state highway in New Jersey, United States. ... Morristown is a Town located in Morris County, New Jersey. ... The term Hessian refers to the inhabitants of the German state of Hesse. ... Illustration depicting uniforms and weapons used during the 1779 to 1783 period of the American Revolution by showing four soldiers standing in an informal group General George Washington, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775. ... Combatants United States Great Britain Hessians Commanders Nathanael Greene Wilhelm von Knyphausen Strength 2,050 6,000 Casualties 15 killed, 40 wounded 25–50 or more killed {Note the appendix to The Hessians gives possible casualites estimates as being 25 killed, 75 wounded} The Battle of Springfield was a battle... Combatants United States Native Americans United Kingdom Canadian colonial forces Native Americans First Nations Peoples Commanders James Madison Winfield Scott Andrew Jackson Isaac Brock† George Prevost Tecumseh† Strength •U.S. Regular Army: 35,800 •Rangers: 3,049 •Militia: 458,463* •US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war): •Frigates:3...

Body parts

Four garbage bags containing human body parts were found on January 8, 2006, alongside South Orange Avenue in the reservation, according to authorities who are investigating the grisly discovery. This is the fifth time in the past decade that a body or body parts have been found in the reservation. January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The body parts that were discovered belonged to that of a Viktor Alekseyeva, 35 of Brooklyn. The remains were verified as Alekseyeva's after a DNA sample was taken from his mother. The identification came five months after the remains were discovered. Brooklyn (named for the Dutch city Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. ...

External links

• Essex County Parks: South Mountain Reservation
• Hike of the Week at South Mountain Reservation
• South Mountain Conservancy
• Geology of South Mountain Reservation
• NJ.com News Article

Photographs

• Hall Photo South Mountain Reservation pages
• Chris Casciano's South Mountain Reservation Flickr photoset