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The historic patterns of development for the county have been established by the geography of the area and the transportation system, which developed in Colonial times, and have grown slowly over the past 225 years.
U.S. Route 46, which runs east and west, forms a belt across the middle of the county. In general, the area to the north of Route 46, except for the Paulins Kill and Pequest valleys, is marked by rugged slopes and relatively shallow soils over bedrock, which discouraged the early development of transportation, agriculture and economic development. South of U.S. Route 46, broader valleys exist between the ridges, and this land form encouraged development. South of Route 46, broader valleys that were more conducive to development exist between ridges.
As mentioned previously, the Morris Canal was a major force in the economic development of the area. Villages such as Port Murray and Rockport owe their names and their existence to their location along the canal, which connected Warren County's agricultural areas with markets for farm products in the Newark and New York metropolitan areas.
The population centers of Phillipsburg, Hackettstown, Washington and Belvidere developed because they contained the commercial support services for the farmers in the region. During the 19th Century, industrial development began in the population centers and a sizable employment base developed. Nonagricultural employment now represents approximately 96 percent of the county's total employment, and manufacturing represents approximately 30 percent of the county's non-farm private sector payroll.
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In the 1960's there was a noticeable increase in development activity when marginal farms were sold to land developers, particularly in the northern part of the county. In the southern part of the county, below U.S. Route 46 where farming was in a stronger economic position, development for the most part continued to concentrate around the town centers. This development pattern generally endured through the 80's.
In recent years, residential development has increased dramatically. The single most important event to change the county's economy was the completion of Interstate 78 in the late 1980's, which led to more housing and commercial development - including a regional mall and several other shopping center - in the southern area of the county.
Another large development affecting Warren County was the Merrill Creek Reservoir, a 1.1 square mile reservoir built by a consortium of seven regional electric utilities. Mandated by the Delaware River Basin Commission and completed in 1988, the reservoir holds water that can be used to replenish the river during times of drought, replacing the water used by the power companies at their generating facilities along the Delaware. It is now the largest tax paying entity in the county, and includes a 290-acre nature preserve and a visitor's center that are open to the public.
The taxpayer list also indicates a change in the mix of ratables. In 1985, the six leading taxpayers were national companies involved in manufacturing. In 2000, only three among the top six are manufacturers. Of the largest 25 taxpayers, only eight are manufacturers, with shopping centers, apartments complexes, utilities and nursing homes. |