New Jersey has a long, rich history as one of the 13 original colonies, but the earliest European settlers date back to the 1600s.

Since then the state has exploded with over 550 municipalities.

Here's a look at the town with oldest roots in the Garden State and some of the earliest ones in Bergen and Passaic counties.

Earliest settlement: From Pavonia/Bergen to Jersey City

Long before towering skyscrapers and PATH trains, the land that would become Jersey City was part of one of New Jersey’s earliest European settlements, now frequently cited as the state’s oldest municipality.

According to the archives at the New Jersey City University, the earliest European foothold on the west bank of the Hudson River (then called the North River) was Pavonia, a patroonship acquired in 1630 by M

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