A Survey of the Canals and Water Raceways of New Jersey

Abstract

Canals and water raceways played an important role in the history and economic development of New Jer-sey. Much of the early settlement and industrial activity centered on areas with water transportation and water power. But many of these canals and raceways have been forgotten and lost. A small percentage still exist as abandoned waterways. A smaller percentage are still in use, for either their original purpose or for recreation. A new survey of the current and historic canals and water raceways of New Jersey found 171 of them. The locations are available in a GIS shapefile that indicates their current status (active or abandoned) and condition (wet or dry). The shapefile also shows the locations of locks and inclined planes on the Mor-ris Canal and the Delaware & Raritan Canal. The number of mapped historical water raceways in an area directly correlated to the interest and activity of local historians. Undoubtedly many more water raceways remain to be rediscovered. This report will be updated by the New Jersey Geological Survey as additional canals and water raceways are identified and reliably located.