Pleasant Valley is an unincorporated community located within Marlboro Township in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[2] The area reportedly received its name from George Washington after he went through the area in 1777.[3] The area is hilly and forested and is dotted by medium to large-sized residences. Pleasant Valley Road and Reids Hill Road are main roads that pass through the area connecting to Routes 34, 79, and 520.[4] A large part of land which makes up Pleasant Valley was originally granted by the King of England in 1665 to the Rev. Obadiah Holmes.[5] In 1690, the area was settled by people of Dutch heritage and the original dominant language in the area was Low Dutch.[6]
Pleasant Valley, New Jersey | |
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Pleasant Valley, New Jersey Location of Pleasant Valley in Monmouth County Inset: Location of county within the state of New Jersey Pleasant Valley, New Jersey Pleasant Valley, New Jersey (New Jersey) Pleasant Valley, New Jersey Pleasant Valley, New Jersey (the United States) | |
Coordinates: 40°22′00″N 74°12′47″W / 40.36667°N 74.21306°W | |
Country | United States |
State | New Jersey |
County | Monmouth |
Township | Marlboro |
Elevation | 197 ft (60 m) |
GNIS feature ID | 879364[1] |
Largely starting as a farming community; Apples and a type of potato called "giant" were a common crop for the area (a giant potato is roughly about the size and shape of an American football).[7] In 1916, the area "broke all records, harvesting 100 barrels of potatoes per acre.[8] The area was also known for horse farms in the 1800s. One famous trotter came from this area. In 1849, George M. Patchen was foaled. He stood 16 hands high. He was bred by HF Sickles and in 1860 trotted a record 2:23.5 at Union Course, NY.[9] Colonel Baker reported using this horse during the 1862 Second Manassas Campaign of the 1st DC Cav.[10]
In the 1950s, the area was known for pheasant hunting. This was largely due to the Pleasant Valley Game Protective Association action to release 500 pheasants in the area, the day before hunting season started. The practice went on till 1960.[11]
The scene of armed conflict during the Revolutionary War, there were skirmishes between patriot forces and the Tories and Pine Robbers;[12] reports of British foraging in this area and taking hogs, cattle and sheep back to New York were common.[13][14] In 1778, an attack on the farm of Daniel P. Schenck resulted in his death. After breaking off the attach and leaving, his wife pursued the Tories and Pine Robbers and killed one of the attackers.[15] Another documented revolutionary war fight happened on June 21, 1781 in this area. The evidence of this fighting after the war was documented in the pension of Walter Hier. He received 16 shilling, 8 pence a month for receiving a wound to his right arm "by a sword or cutlass" during hand-to-hand fighting at Pleasant Valley.[16] A four-pound cannon was placed on a farm in the area as a signal gun. When fired, the enemy was near and the local patriots would know to rally at a local farm.[17]