Peapack-Gladstone (also written as Peapack and Gladstone) is a borough in Somerset County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the borough’s population was 2,582, reflecting an increase of 149 (+6.1%) from the 2,433 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 322 (+15.3%) from the 2,111 counted in the 1990 Census. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area.

Peapack-Gladstone was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 28, 1912, from portions of Bedminster Township, subject to the results of a referendum held on April 23, 1912.

Peapack is believed to have been derived from “Peapackton”, a Lenape Native American term meaning “marriage of the waters”, a reference to the confluence of the Peapack Brook and Raritan River in the area. Gladstone was named in honor of William Ewart Gladstone, who served as British Prime Minister several times between 1868 and 1894.

Education

Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the schools of the Somerset Hills Regional School District, a regional school district serving students from Bernardsville, Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone, along with those from Bedminster Township who attend the district’s high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship.  As of the 2010-11 school year, the district’s three schools had an enrollment of 1,858 students and 156.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.86:1.

The three schools in the district (with 2010-11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Bedwell Elementary School (PreK–4, 689 students), Bernardsville Middle School (5–8, 577) and Bernards High School (9–12, 795), all of which are located in Bernardsville.

Gill St. Bernard’s School is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational day school, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.  The Cottage School and Cottage Elementary Schools serve students in preschool through the early elementary grades.

History

A lime kiln that was in operation until as late as 1950 is located at the center of Peapack. A detailed history of the town is described in the book A Journey Through Peapack and Gladstone from the local library, as well as in New Jersey Country Houses: The Somerset Hills (written by John K. Turpin and W. Barry Thomson), Mountain Colony Press, Inc. The Peapack-Gladstone Bank was established on September 21, 1921, originally named the Peapack-Gladstone Trust Company. It operates as the local bank for the greater region and is publicly traded under NASDAQ with the ticker symbol PGC.

Sports

The town is home to Stronghold Soccer Club, which plays its matches at Mount St. John’s on the grounds of Montgomery Academy.

Horseback riding is very popular throughout the area. The United States Equestrian Team also has its home in Gladstone.

Points of interest

Natirar – estate spanning 404 acres (163 ha) in Peapack-Gladstone, Far Hills and Bedminster that was sold by Hassan II of Morocco, to Somerset County and is now administered by the Somerset County Park Commission, including the 247 acres (100 ha) in Peapack-Gladstone.

Hamilton Farm Golf Club, site of the Sybase Match Play Championship since its inception in 2010, which is the only match play format event on the LPGA Tour.

Notable people

Notable current and former residents of Peapack-Gladstone include:

William Robert Cox (1901–1988), prolific writer of short stories and Western and Mystery novels mainly for the pulp and paperback markets written under multiple pseudonyms.

Hassan II of Morocco (1929-1999), King of Morocco.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929–1994), former First Lady of the United States.

Richard B. Sellars (1915–2010), Chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson.

source: wikipedia.org

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