Elizabeth

Elizabeth, the first state capital of New Jersey and the birthplace of Princeton University, was founded in 1665.

Not named for the powerful English queen of the same name, as most would assume, but rather for the wife of Sir George Carteret, one of the two original proprietors of the colony, Elizabeth was an illustrious city that was extremely influential during the Revolutionary and Colonial periods, and home to numerous distinguished political and military figures. Over time, Elizabeth developed into an important industrial and economic center, welcoming the Singer Sewing Machine Company in 1873 and becoming a recognized leader in automobile manufacturing long before Detroit. As the years went on, the culturally diverse city came to serve as a crossroads for many commuting to jobs in Newark and New York City. Authors Jean-Rae Turner and Richard Koles have assembled a remarkable collection of vintage photographs of Elizabeth, documenting its history from 1665 to 1965.