A Brief History

Walloons fled religious persecution in Belgium, and built the first recorded European settlement in New Jersey, ca. 1624, establishing a Burlington Island trading post to barter with the indigenous Lenape people. In turns occupied by Dutch, Swedes and Finns, it was seized by the English in 1664. The Quakers left oppression in England, and settled in Burlington over 325 years ago. In 1677, the Friends made a peaceful purchase agreement with axes, knives, pots, red paint and etc. for the Native American owners. As a legislative member, Quaker Robert Stacy originated a bill: an Act of the General Assembly adopted September 26, 1682 granting the Island to the City of Burlington, that its revenues might be employed,

“...for the encouragement of learning and the better education of youth.”

Thus was born the board of the oldest continual educational trust board in the United States, the Board of Island Managers, in continuous operation since 1682.

Past uses of the Island have included fortress, farms, pasture, amusement park (pictured), ferry landing and summer retreats.