Plainfield History & Resources
Plainfield's story is told and kept by a network of museums, societies, and public offices. Here's where to visit, research, and learn more.
The 1746 Nathaniel Drake House, home of the Historical Society of Plainfield.
Plainfield in the Revolutionary story, including the Drake House.
Plainfield's largest historic district — 99 acres of 1875–1925 homes.
The Crescent Area Historic District, near downtown Plainfield.
A designated district on Plainfield's east side.
The Putnam-Watchung Historic District.
The Broadway Historic District.
Listed on the National Register in 1993.
The Plainfield Public Library's Local History collection is the deepest archive in the city. A board-recommended book list is being compiled and will appear here.
Own a historic property? Send us photographs, deeds, dates, and family history — owner-contributed details will appear alongside each property as this archive grows.
Coming: current photographs of the 600+ properties across Plainfield's historic districts. Want to help photograph your block? Volunteer — we'll assign you a street.
The city's designated historic districts and landmarks.
Maps of each of Plainfield's local historic districts.
Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board, and HPC agendas and minutes.
Local-history archives and the Collier Photograph Collection.
The federal register and what listing a property means.
New Jersey's office for Register listings and project review.
Every NJ and National Register place in Union County, Plainfield included.
Statewide advocacy and the annual 10 Most Endangered list.
N.J.S.A. 40:55D — the rules that govern planning and zoning.
N.J.S.A. 40A:12A — the redevelopment-designation statute.
